Sage Marynn Gourley

I found a paper on the top of our fridge written by Chris titled, "Sage's Birth Story - 4/27/2018" - I had no idea he kept these notes and I am forever grateful he did because it gave me the extra push I needed to get Sage's birth story finally documented + it made me relive one of the greatest days of my life. 

Friday, April 27th

6:30am - Arrived at the hospital to check in and get settled.

6:45am - Found out the nurse who helped us with Graham & Jett will be the one taking care of us. Soooo excited to have her (Sarah).

9:30am - Epidural placed by Kevin. Shay's been asking for the epidural since we left the house :)

10:30am - Couldn't be a more perfect day. Sunny and clear with an amazing view of the mountains. We are both feeling so grateful to be here with a healthy baby. Every time I get close to Shay, the baby's heart rate increases. Sagey is a daddy's girl.

1:10pm - Pushing started and Shay is ready to bring this little girl to our arms.

No more notes were written by Chris after that because he was holding up my left leg as I pushed for the next hour and forty one minutes - worth every single second! We finally met our Sagey girl at 2:51pm. All 7lbs 11oz and 19 inches of her!

Sage Marynn Gourley

(Her middle name comes from her grandma's MARtha + JelYNN but pronounced like Mairin)

And I guess from here on out we'll just let the pictures do the talking... :)

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... clearly time flies when you're having fun and trying to figure out this whole parenting thing, since it only took me a year and a half to document Sage on the blog? ha.

I can't help but tear up looking at the last picture of all three of us getting ready to go home... mostly tears of happiness, because little did me and Chris know we had just hit the jackpot with the perfect baby! But also tears because Shay in that picture had NO idea how much her nips were about to go through . . . breastfeeding was NO joke! Worth it, though.

Someday I'll be able to play catch-up on this blog, but that day is not today.

Maternity Pictures!

Remember that one time I had Kyra Cummings (@kc_photography_utah) take maternity pictures for me in February and she did absolutely perfect?! Also, remember how I (okay, really Kyra) got Chris to agree to be in these pictures with me?! I'm so happy with how they turned out and that I have something to remember the beauty and joy that has come with this pregnancy.

Our baby girl is scheduled to arrive on April 27th (4 days! HOW!?) and I think that whole "nesting" thing has kicked in... I was super productive today. And by productive I mean that I folded that  laundry pile that has been on our floor for 5 days + actually made dinner + packed my hospital bag. Okay, so maybe that burst of energy was really due to the fact that I got myself a dirty diet Dr. Pepper today, but we can still call it nesting, right?! Plus, don't you think posting my maternity pictures to this blog so I can cross it off my to-do list can be considered nesting? I think so! Even if you don't agree, I will say I'm right, since I'm almost 39 weeks pregnant. Ha. Poor Chris...he's heard that statement probably more times than necessary.

Anyway, I realize I have been the absolute worst at documenting this pregnancy. It's definitely not from lack of excitement for this girl to arrive... I just think this pregnancy has truly flown by and the time has snuck up on me and my true procrastinating self. And if we're being honest, I think half of me has been super nervous to document this pregnancy too much in fear of something bad happening, but I keep reminding myself that I just need to have faith that everything will work out how it's supposed to, and this little girl deserves to be celebrated no matter what! So, here we are!

As excited as I am to meet this girl, I am truly going to miss being pregnant. I have loved every minute of it and feel so grateful that I've made it this far and been able to experience what I have. This is also why I'm so grateful Kyra took these pictures for us... so I have something to look back on and remember this amazing time in my life that I never want to take for granted!

Talk Thirty To Me

I can't believe that Chris turned the big 3 0 on April 12th! To be honest, I think he's handling it better than most. For one, he's still wearing sweatpants for date night. Second, he spent a good portion of his birthday weekend playing the game "PUBG" with his friends (think Halo but more annoying + weird)... unless those are signs of a midlife crisis and I'm just missing it?! The only thing that I think kind of shook Chris up about being 30 is when I reminded him that I met him when he was 23... which weirdly enough is a time when he wore less sweatpants. I also thought I'd remind him (multiple times) that this is his last birthday with just the two of us celebrating (we are so excited to meet baby girl this month!).

I can't say I blame Chris for handling turning 30 so well... the kid has accomplished quite a bit for himself in his 20's! He served a mission, graduated from BYU, got married to quite a catch ;) earned his Master's, and has continuously climbed higher at work all while managing to go on fun trips and maintain favorite uncle, friend, and husband status! Chris might be one of those rare breeds that just gets better with age... I'll check back in with you when he turns 40.

(sidenote: there is a funny story behind my journey to get those d*mn balloons you see behind Chris' head! Definitely saving it for another post another day. Just know it involves a lot of pregnancy hormones.)

Now in true blogger fashion, I couldn't let his 30th birthday pass by without making a list of 30 things to know + love about Chris Gourley. Okay, and maybe because I feel guilty about not putting all these things on sticky notes for Chris to wake up to on his birthday because I kind of had a 37-weeks-pregnant meltdown the night before Chris' birthday. 

...enjoy! 

1. Biggest pet peeve is when someone won't text back or just say "no."

2. Claims he "managed Grovecrest Elementary's main office for 6 months" in 6th grade and that they never let anyone else do that. 

3. Personality colors are yellow and red - which explains how he can be part manchild + successful manager all at once.

4. Makes THE best Brazilian limeaids + grilled pineapple ever.

5. HATES if there are any holes in his socks.

6. Loves taking baths with bath bombs + bubble bath!

7. Currently into drinking protein shakes every morning.

8. Favorite candy bar is a Reese's FastBreak.

9. Weirdly good at folding towels.

10. Has the best lookin' back pockets... if you know what I mean.

11. Loves voice-to-text.

12. Rarely knows the right lyrics to songs... but sings anyway!

13. Always willing to serve others.

14. Can always spot deer/bucks/turkeys at the most inconvenient times. Usually in the car.

15. Best Pickleball player.

16. Will do borderline sketchy stuff if it means he can get something for free or at a really good deal :)

17. Secretly loves our cat, Lupin! Even if he will never say it out loud. 

18. Hates green beans and doesn't eat corn unless it's still on the cob.

19. Rarely watches a movie more than once.

20. Happiest when with groups of people - very much an extrovert.

21. Has a very specific way of loading the silverware in the dishwasher. 

22. Doesn't like strong smells... you'll never see him set foot in a Lush or Bath and Body Works store.

23. Favorite basketball player of all time is Tim Duncan.

24. Loves getting massages or his back scratched... multiple times a day.

25. Does not respond well at all to negativity or nagging.

26. Convinced that he would be the greatest waiter of all time + dreams of being an adjunct professor. 

27. Is a big penny pincher. 

28. Doesn't like scary movies. 

29. Always willing to put up with me and my crazy emotional self!

30. About to be the best dad in the world so soon!

I LOVE YOU, CHRIS GOURLEY! 

High Fitness (Find Your Happy!!!)

This is my "I workout while I'm pregnant, so I better let everybody know about it + so please validate me for working out while pregnant post."

Jokes.

... but we all know that person, right?

I would almost consider myself that person if I didn't have this bad habit of grabbing a donut (specifically square donut from Lehi bakery!!!) and Diet Dr. Pepper right after my High class every Saturday morning... ha. Don't worry, though...because Chris is totally on board with that routine because a donut + a caffeinated beverage is the magic concoction to make me have what we call a "productive AF" Saturday!

ANYWAY, sorry to get sidetracked by donuts/caffeinated beverages! The real reason I started writing this post was to declare my love for HIGH Fitness!

First of all, if you haven't been to a HIGH class yet, you need to - like yesterday! Holy endorphins! So many feels! It's not a rare occurrence to find me tearing up during the warm-up (even when I'm not pregnant). I JUST LOVE HIGH FITNESS OKAY!? Annnd maybe my body doesn't quite know what to do with any emotion besides cry?

But really, as I was coming home from my workout the other night, I couldn't help but get a little emotional thinking about what HIGH Fitness has done for me these last couple of years.

In February of 2016, I remember just being so sad + discouraged after trying to get pregnant for almost 8 months, and then finding out I don't ovulate. I remember reaching out to my friend, Jenessa,  telling her I need a friend in Lehi and that we should hangout and that's when she said, "I have been obsessed with this HIGH Fitness class... you should come try it!"If you know me, you know I am not usually a "yes" type of girl (I know I'm the worst), but this is one of those things I actually said yes to and I'm so grateful I did - I was hooked after my very first class!

Pretty sure it was love at first... burpee? But really! I remember the music just being so fun, and the choreography was so simple + easy to follow. It was such an empowering class! I loved how I felt after and I loved that the class environment was so welcoming. Two years later, and I still feel like that with every class... it never feels like a competition or you're being judged. It's just a bunch of awesome chicks looking to have fun and get their sweat on + trying not to pee their pants.

It may seem like I'm getting sappy and emotional about a fitness class, but that's only because I'm getting sappy and emotional about a fitness class. I'm sorry, I can't help it! HIGH Fitness came into my life when I feel like I needed it most, and it has been a constant ever since!  I am forever grateful that I was introduced to something that I could always look forward to even while going through some of the most difficult things I've ever been through in my life. I love how it makes me feel physically/emotionally, I love all the women I've gotten to know from class, and I love that I've found something that makes me feel like... ME! Most of all, I'm just grateful I found something that makes me truly HAPPY!

Okay, I'm starting to realize that this post is getting more lengthy + sappier than a lot of my posts about Chris... so I guess I just want to end by giving you my unsolicited advice:

Find YOUR happy!

I hope it's HIGH Fitness... but if not, that's okay! Just find something that you can always look forward to. Preferably something that gets you moving and sweaty. Maybe it's weight-lifting or Zumba or walking your dog... whatever it may be, just make sure it's something for YOU.

...and then top it off with a square donut + caffeinated beverage.

NOW GO FIND YOUR HAPPY, GIRL!

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Okay, please forgive this what I'm now just noticing very scatterbrained post... it obviously sounded a lot more motivating and uplifting in my head post-HIGH the other night. Endorphins + my weak blogging muscle don't make quite as lovely of a concoction as donuts and caffeinated beverages.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Sanderson Disneyland 2018

Three days at Disneyland and this is the best/only picture we got of the whole Sanderson crew... time flies when you're having fun? Or maybe I should just be honest and tell you that the chances of getting a family picture is slim to none when you're traveling with that many stubborn Sanderson men + it's their 4th day at a theme park?

Even if it's tough to get a picture of the Sanderson crew, that doesn't mean that this post will be lacking in pictures... you've been warned! And YES I'm already aware that the majority of these vacation pictures are of me drinking Butterbeer at Harry Potter World... that sh*z was so good... so I'm not even sorry about it.

OKAY! Disclaimers have been disclaimed! Let's do this- The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Sanderson Disneyland 2018!!!

The Good:

- The Sanderson kids on the flight! Everyone did so good! ( + JetBlue.. they won me over when they gave me a full can of diet Coke + endless leg room!)

- Grandma and grandpa Walker joining in on the fun.

- THE FOOD! Sadly, most of what I consumed was not pictured. Actually, it might be a good thing because you'd probably be convinced that my belly is 90% food and only 10% baby, which.... it probably is. But holy beignets, dole whips, churros, corndogs, monte christo sandwhiches, and pomme fries!!! 

- Going along with the food... eating at Cafe New Orleans was so fun! + Me and Chris were probably a little too grateful for the refillable Diet Cokes.
- Hitting the 3rd trimester mark on the first day in Disneyland! Never been more grateful or felt so magical.
- Our hotel being within walking distance of the park.
- Averi's outfits of the day.
- FROZEN show in California Adventure! So many feels.
- Watching my niece and nephews do the Jedi Training! Tears were shed... not only by me, but by Rylin when she had to go up against Kylo Ren. Ha!
- Radiator Springs... the biggest thrill ride I went on during the vacation. Freaking love that ride.
- BUTTERBEER AT HARRY POTTER WORLD! Frozen or regular... just give me the Butterbeer! Even Chris liked it.
- Watching Mitch at Harry Potter World... I've never seen my brother so giddy.
- Walking through Hogwarts castle. The details!
- The tour at Universal Studios.
- The California weather.
- Chris jumping into bed with me every morning to feel baby girl move.
- Fantasmic! Always.
- Experiencing Toon Town and Turtle Talk with Crush for the first time.
- Our "princess squad" on Saturday.
- My mom and dad giving all the grandkids a $25 giftcard to spend at Disneyland... so fun seeing all the nieces and nephews pick out a toy! + Picking out a hoodie for baby girl Gourley!

The Bad:
- Sleeping in separate beds at our hotel (Chris might not agree that it was completely bad though)
- No Diet Dr. Pepper anywhere to be found in Disneyland.
- Main street in Disneyland being closed + Paradise Pier in California Adventure being remodeled.
- Losing Chris' wallet in California Adventure.
- The World of Color. Kids were not impressed staring at adult sweaty bums for 30 minutes.
- Universal Studios. Not impressed besides Harry Potter World.
- The Krusty Burger at Universal... hahaha.
- The serious right tilt we had going on in Pirates of the Caribbean.
- Sanderson's not knowing how to work the stroller pass.
- Not getting pictures of our "princess squad" shirts the last day.
- Not getting enough family pictures in general.
- Grandma and grandpa not being scheduled on the same flight as us on our way home :(

The Ugly:
- My fingers at the end of every day. Straight up looked like corndogs (and not in a good Disneyland corndog type of way)
- Me ugly crying because of losing Chris' wallet (BUT! It was immediately turned in to guest relations and my prayers were answered. Never underestimate the magic of Disney!!)
- The showers not draining in our hotel room...
- The amount of refined carbohydrates I consumed on this trip.
- Coming back to reality in freezing cold Utah.

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Obviously, the good far outweighed the bad or the ugly on this trip! Which is exactly why I've been trying to think of a way to convince Chris we need to go back to Disneyland like yesterday. Chris has already told me we're not going until our first born is at least 8 years old... but I'm going to keep believing in the magic that is Disney. I love Disney, but I love my family even more, so I'm SO happy we got to put the two together and go on this epic trip that I will always remember!

Until next time, Disneyland (hopefully sooner than 8 years)! You will be missed. I only ask that you don't have main street closed down next time + maybe quit raising your prices? But that's it!