[New Baby + New Mommy= NEW LIFE]

she's a major crack up w/her faces

It's been exactly 3 weeks since 'Alilia has been born. From day one life had changed tremendously, of course we haven't gotten much sleep  and visitors are nonstop but I'm soaking it all up and enjoying every second of it. I absolutely LOVE being a mother. I can't even grasp my finger around the thought that she really is all mine....okay and Shawns too. Haha... I had to apologize to my poor husby the other day because I wasn't sharing her enough lol...but no worries, I'll be all over sharing her with dirty diapers and showering when those duties come into effect. ;) Just not yet, I still get a little freaked with Shawn being all new to it. The other day was the first time I left them alone because I had a dentist appointment, that alone scared me and I was home asap just to find that they were just fine and Shawn had everything under control.
Anyway, I know pregnancy, birth, and even recovery is different for everyone, but the stories that I've heard- my heck, I've been so scared of giving birth, but most of all recovery. However, pregnancy was pretty cool the only time I ever hated it was when I no longer had fit into my pants haha...oh and when I saw my first stretch mark (i seriously cried haha dramatic much?) Birth/Labor were pretty good for me as well. Recovery itself, thankfully, has been pretty chill too. I don't know if it's because I'm just amazingly strong {insert joking face haha} or if it's just because it's my first and I've just been expecting the WORST, whatever it is though- I'm glad all has turned out for the best and our baby girl is healthy and growing.
Just these past 3 weeks have gone by so fast, I can't even believe 'Alilia will be a month next week. So here are just a few pics of the last 3 weeks.... in case I don't get around to updating her 1 month blog, because we all know how bomb I am at updating my blog.......... NOOOTTT!!! lol..
 (YES I PLAN ON UPDATING EVERY MONTH ON HER! HAHA...)

'Alilias WELCOME HOME & [TRYING] to eat healthy for my nursing child. =)

...being showered w/gifts from my awesome friends and family...
....and napping with daddy....

....and showered some more...

....running out of room...
but hey, I'm not complaining, thanks for all the diapers yall...

my beautiful namesake stopped in from Vegas to see my 'Alilia.
She cried...and cried...and smothered baby cakes w/tons of smooches!

.....this growing child of mine....

....just a few of her faces...

....me and my doll....
i freakin love her

Like I said before, although life has changed big time and this is all new to me, I wouldn't change the world one bit for it. I love every moment with my adorable little baby and our little family. She's so perfect......until she screams lol. She is really easy going and doesn't give me a hard time at all. Let's just hope it all stays that way. haha

XoXo & cheers to this new baby, new mommy, and new life!

Love, US

[ Alilia Ali'itasi Asiata ]

Okay so I'm a bit late on the whole birth story but better late than never right?? Plus I thought that me being a new mom could be a good excuse for slacking on keepin up with my blog... haha So here it is...

Our Birth Story:

Monday (June 25th) afternoon we slept in a little. After cleaning up around the house I had Shawn drop me at my moms while he went to get our oil changed and work out. While I was there I ended up running dance practice with Sia since it had been her first show back since having 2 kids. I was totally dying lol...not only from being out of breath but also because I felt I was having light cramps. Afterwards, about 4pm we headed to the Gallivan Center for band and show rehearsal, even there I didn't feel to good- it was so hot and I still had cramps. =/ After Shawn had picked me up from the Gallivan Center we headed home just in time to get ready and return back to the show. On my way home the cramps increased but I was so busy trying to hurry and get ready and grab last minute show things while I was out of breath just getting ready.

The show turned out great, the girls did good and made me really want to return to dancing. I think I probably had too much fun and got caught up being busy I didn't realize I had been cramping up. Anyway, on our way home that night my parents called us and we met up with them to eat at Village Inn, and even at Village Inn I couldn't even eat because my cramps had increased so bad. By then I thought for sure they were Braxton Hicks if anything. There my parents gave us their hotel room they had received from doing the show. They told us to take the room since it'd probably be our last night before baby comes....i think they jinxed us ;) haha...

We took em up on the deal and headed back downtown to the Marriott. The whole car ride there I felt cramps, but they were coming at consecutive times...it was a bit odd because I never had cramps like that before. I still didn't mind em though... still ignored em- or at least tried to. As the pain increased I decided just to take a hot bath. That was like heaven.... it felt so good and my cramping stopped of course, BUT... I was seriously dying of heat in there so I got out and low and behold- started crampin up again. =/ All this time though I had been spotting and it was like the later it got the more I'd bleed. It was really strange....but still I didn't think it was anything. We laid down to sleep and of course Shawn knocked out lol... I would sleep for about 10 minutes and wake right back up to the pain of cramping. =( Then it turned into every 7 minutes that it was cramping... by then it was about 3AM. I could not take it anymore. I got up, pulled out the laptop and googled "the difference between Braxton Hicks and Labor contractions". LOL... Don't judge me...how was I suppose to know?? haha After reading the difference I now knew I was having contractions because the pain had been through my lower back and to the front. It was seriously to the point where I almost couldn't walk. Then I remembered what the doc said- that once I get to the point where I can't speak through contractions...then I should come in. Well...being that we were downtown and about 20 minutes from our hospital I woke up my sound asleep husband, because if anything I wanted to be able to walk to the car instead of being hauled off during labor in an ambulance at 3:30am. I'm sure the hotel guests wouldn't appreciate that. haha I told Shawn I thought that we should go home and at least be closer to the hospital if anything. He agreed so graciously....it surprised me. haha
We got in the car, Shawn said a prayer (that of course I cried through haha) and headed out. During our ride I got a bit frustrated because it felt like Shawn had taken THE bumpiest and longest road to the freeway (even though it's not that far from 200 south to catching the freeway on 400 south lol, dramatic much?? lol)  and not only that the pain had increased even more. Oh my gosh...I wanted someone to just shoot me. haha... As we got closer to our exit Shawn suggested we just go straight into the hospital and see whats wrong. We checked in about 4:30... I changed.... and managed to take this pic while in pain. lol...

The nurses soon came in and took tests. When results came back they told me I was dilated to a 6. HOLY COW... ARE YOU KIDDING ME? and here I am thinking I was having Braxton Hicks all day. haha... Anyway, they radio'd some folks and said it was time to prepare for labor. I then was taken to my labor room. The nurses then asked me if I wanted to get the epidural.... and of course I wanted it. lol.. The anesthesiologist then came in to give it to me. Now, I've heard a bunch of crazy things about getting the epidural and how big the needle is or how bad it hurts to get it. At that time I can say I was pretty chill... My back was to him so I was straight....and it seemed that nothing could seriously be as painful as the cramps I was just having.....until I looked at Shawn. He was looking at the anesthesiologist like he was crazy. I got a little frightened looking at Shawn so I looked away and suddenly a crazy thought came to mind. I could not believe in hopefully less than a few hours I was actually gonna be a mother- I was gonna have a daughter...a child, someone would belong to me, someone's life would depend on my decisions....it was so crazy, I felt numb.......but then realized the epidural was kickin in. ;) LOL....

After I got the epidural, my mom and sister Lusi walked in. By now it was about 5:30am. We sat and talked, and THANK GOD for the epidural because apparently I had been having contractions that whole time and didn't feel anything. The doctor on duty came in and we talked for a little, he then broke my water to speed up the process. Of course I still didn't feel anything, but was relieved that at least my water had broken. He also told me my OB would be in at 7 so he would end up delivering baby. I was so happy!! =) After that doc had left my dad and brother Josh walked in. I was so happy to see them. I knew what they were there for and so glad they had come. They gave me a wonderful blessing of comfort- exactly what I needed. =) Right after they gave it to me the nurses had been swapping out shifts. The one's I was with since I got there introduced me to the new nurse Aneisa- she was a sweetheart. She decided to check me just to see where I was, when she checked she said I was fully dilated to a 10 and that it was time to prepare for labor....FOR REAL! haha. Soon after my OB, Dr. Kaelberer came in. =) Aneisa gave me the "pushing lecture" and suggested we do a practice push.
So Shawn was on my right, Aneisa on my left, mom and lusi on the sides, and Dr. Kaelberer in front. 1....2...3... and I pushed. Everyone gasped of course because just with that one practice push baby began crowning. hahahaha... So then we I just pushed 3 more times and BAM..baby was out. haha. As hard as it was push I remember wanting to laugh because once I knew babies head was out and I was pushing the last pushes I looked up at mom and she was full on crying covering her mouth. LOL... it was so funny...

It was amazing and seemed pretty fast to me. Baby was born at 7:44am. Weighing in at 7lbs 6oz. and 20.5 inches long. They cleaned her off and handed her to me. My heart seriously almost stopped. I was so taken by the fact that I just gave birth to her. It was the most fascinating thing to me. Let's just say I'm so grateful for priesthood power. The blessing I had received eased EVERYTHING. My testimony of the priesthood power has strengthened because of my delivering experience. The whole time during my pregnancy I was freaked out about actually giving birth. I was scared and expecting the worst. =( But after my dad and brothers blessing, everything was smooth sailing from there- even to now as I'm still recovering and baby's health. She is so strong, so beautiful, and so healthy and I couldn't ask for anything more....




As Shawn and I sat there and held her and adored the heck out of her guessing who she looked like and which features of ours she had, we [still struggled with a name.] Through out the whole pregnancy we were seriously on stuck mode with a name for her. We knew we wanted Shawns sister Segas name to be part of babys name but just didn't know how we'd do it. I remembered my mom had told me a story of her great grandma 'Alilia (daughter of King Tupous sister) who had been the last child born in the palace in Tonga when the palace was still in Niua Toputapu. And since I heard the name, I fell in love with it. =) I mean, I didn't know I'd ever name my daughter that but when I held her and just looked at her sweet face I knew that'd be her name. Ali'itasi is her middle name- that also happens to be Segas name. Segas name Ali'itasi comes from a grand aunt of theirs that raised their dad. So it really is an honor for our baby girl to be named after 'Alilia and Ali'itasi, being that it's Segas name as well as their grand aunt. =) I love our babies name, but I promise it's not because she's my daughter....more because of how feminine, pretty, and because of where the names actually come from. 


Anyway.....There's her story....
I was going to have my cousin do photograph her birth story but being that she had gotten in late that Monday night from Miami travelling with her 3 babies I didn't even dare bother her at 4am. haha Plus I was lookin' all kindza hash after giving birth...hahaha, but I'm glad I actually got to get this out on blog while it's all still very fresh to me. Just within the past 2 weeks of having baby, life has dramatically changed.....for the good though. I thought life had changed after marriage. Well it changed even more after having baby, but I absolutely love every second of it and wouldn't trade it for the world. I love my 'Alilia Ali'itasi Asiata and thank God everyday for such and amazing blessing in my life. 

Love you baby girl....

Here are just some pictures from our hospital stay. Thank you to all the wonderful nurses and staff at IMC for such a wonderful experience. And an even bigger THANK YOU to our incredible family and friends who took the time to visit us during this special life changing event, we love you ALL!! XOXO

...going to shower...
she always calms down when she holds her daddys finger
....already daddys little girl....

...my Delta Girls coming to visit the newest edition to the Delta Fam... ;)
Aunty Leah, Aunty Aida, and Aunty Eta

....didn't make it to my work shower they had for me, so they brought my shower to me....
best CoWoRkErs and team EVER =)

...of course SHE would take over MY bed...

....twinners?....

....chunky monkey & chunky MOMMY's face...
ewww....but i love it because it's our first picture =)

We start em young

Thank you Aunty Sela & Aunty Saga for the Ute gear!

[ i wonder???? ]

I've been an aunty for a few years now and I absolutely love every moment of being an aunty. I love hanging out with my nieces and nephews and just love and adore the heck out of them. I love that I don't mind spending any money or any amount of money on them.... if I had all the money in the world it'd definitely be spent on them. I love the cute little conversations I have with them, and the silly things that come out of their mouth's seriously crack me up. I love how bright they are and how sometimes they'll listen to me instead of their parents ;) hahaha I especially love that they THINK that I'm such a cool human being. I'm in love with their little innocent and forgiving spirits. The fact that they love me no matter how I discipline them (when i absolutely need to) teaches and humbles me so much, I love learning from them and their own little personalities and characteristics. Most of all though, just the fact of them being an offspring of my sister/brother does it all, sends me right over the top.... I feel like they could seriously be my  own.

Now... with me having my own child very soon... I've wondered.... and it seriously has boggled my mind as I babysit, hold, or even just watch them playing these past few months IF it's even possible to love my own child as much as I love my nieces and nephews. ;( I'm not ashamed to admit it...it kinda scares me. I've even cried to my sister and my husband about it (hopefully this is just part of the pregnancy lol). We've talked about it... I know I will love my baby girl- I mean heck, I'm already obsessed with her in my belly, but....... will I love her the same way? Will I adore her the same way I adore my sweet, cheeky, naughty, and crazy little nieces and nephews?? I know most likely I will..... lol but it's just something I've thought about a lot lately- could I seriously love another human being more or the same way I love these other little peeps of mine?? I don't like thinking about it, but it's something that always comes to mind, and really kinda bugs me at the same time. It's like I've kinda been like a second mother to them (at least that's how I feel) and so i'm just a little unsure of how it'll be post birth.

Even when I see Shawn with our nieces and nephews I wonder the same thing. He feels the same way but doesn't think about it as much as me. He's pretty sure she'll have him wrapped around her little finger- kinda like how mommy has him. ;p LOL... na j/k.

I do know though that there are a lot of things my nieces and nephews do that I hope and pray I won't tolerate or teach my own child LOL... jk Like when I see my one of my nieces or nephews do something naughty, I'm like "Oh heeeck no, my daughter is not gonna do that!" hahaha But then again I'm pretty sure i'm all talk now and it'll all be different once she makes her arrival in 7 weeks. So 'til then wish me luck w/all this. ;)

[ this & that ]

I'm almost 8 months.

I feel more lazy every day with the shorter amounts of breaths I have as my uterus is expanding. 

I totally feel my waddle coming on... which means no more heels or wedges for the next 2 months, how will I even manage this?? haha Oh well, at least I get to shoe shop huh??
I need the restroom every 20 minutes...I SWEAR!
My feet are swelling.....so are my fingers (my ring almost doesn't come off).

But even with all that..... I still love being pregnant. I still love the feeling of knowing a little human being is growing inside of me- I just feel like I have a purpose on earth even more. I know I'm limited to so many activities totally of my normality....

....but not these past few weeks....

* We traded in our '99 Lexus RX 300 for a newer car... a Ford 500, but it runs and works much better for us and is in our budget*

* The NFL draft happened..... (that post is later)

..during the draft..
-ichat w/matt & killing time taking pics because this was THE longest day EVER! lol

* Doctors appointments are more frequent as we get closer....and they've all actually turned out good, THANK GOD!!! (Another post soon to come)

* We've had plenty of family time.....and alone time. =) I now know Shawn has waaaay more laundry than ME...changing 3 times a day with all his work outs. Still can't complain though....I love doing his laundry- REALLY, i do. I actually love being a wife! lol =)

i hate goodbyes, even though this looks like I'm super excited to get rid of him lol

* Baby preparations have fully gone into action.....all of our attention and extra money {that we do have} is going to baby prep.

*I am and will be a bit widowed from now til baby arrives.....so that means more ME time with my girls, family, and just catching up on books and movies!! YAY...can't complain about that ;) Got my husband out and now it's just smooth sailin' from here on out..... IF {keyword: IF} I can manage living with out him now.. :'(

*Shawn's an official college graduate! haha Can't believe he's done with school (SO FAR) but due to things with football he wasn't able to attend his own graduation. He has no idea how proud I am of him and his accomplishments. He got his bachelors pretty dang fast. Once we've got things squared out and all ya best believe I'm throwing a grad party for my grad. ;)

Things to come:

* If I can handle it and my doctor allows me, I just might be going to Hawaii for this weekend for either fireknife competition and/or Malone and Sinas wedding.... so I am crossing my fingers. =) My parents are going too, so can ya say FREE TRIP???? Doesnt' sound too bad huh? haha

* In 2 weeks I take the stage again (this time 8 months pregnant) for a reggae bash in Arizona I had committed to long ago. Due to contracts and all I'm kinda stuck on backing out, plus I miss the stage. I know it'll be much much harder this time around and w/being about 20 lbs heavier w/a big belly, shorter breaths in between my words, and singing and TRYING to work the stage....hoooiii this will be interesting so please pray for me because I am dying to get up there!

* Constant visits to the chiropractor to work on Shawn..... ugh- Times like this I have a love/hate relationship w/the insurance company. =/

*More baby prepartions..... and picking out of names for our little girl!!!

So with all that's passed and to come, I feel pretty dang accomplished- fat and heavy, but in an accomplised sorta way ;) hahaha....I'm still excited to see what's in store for us as far as everything. That's just a brief update on us, so with all that said, Please keep us in your prayers, wish us luck, God bless you all, Congrats to all the graduates this year & may the odds forever be in your favor lol..... (or however that goes).

[wrecked]

...at our latest appt, had to take the glucose drink...
GROSS! but crossing we're good on gestational diabetes. 

I consider myself pretty lucky but it's more along the lines of, simply blessed. Since I've been pregnant I haven't had any problems, besides getting fat lol. No morning sickness', no throwing up, no heartburn, no cravings, etc....oh and on top of all of that, with our doctors appointments we've been blessed with news that baby is growing right and healthy so I can positively say  it's been a pretty smooth kind of pregnancy [insert joyful, relieved, happy face]. 




Now if anything, I've noticed that in the past 3 weeks or so I've been an emotional wreck. I didn't say much because I thought it was the "wedding" stress that was getting to me (even though my wedding wasn't stressful to me at all haha). Then, after the wedding and even with starting marriage and all the changes that have occured I've been a pretty happy camper (you know if you follow my blog and/or instagram haha), it really has been great. But...... dun dun dun...... haha- I've realized that I get emotional about things I don't normally get emotional about.Did that make sense? lol.

For example:
Like I had mentioned in my post prior to this one, we attended Tehamatas Tahiti Fet this past weekend. We got there just as ages 4-5 were competing against each other. I was so excited to see them perform. After tearing up and then trying to hold back any tears, crossing my fingers no tears would fall  (because that would just be so lame if I was crying at a tahiti fet lol) all I seriously kept thinking about was "I can't wait til my daughter enters these fets!!" lol... Or at least starts dancing. I pray that she'll be as passionate about dancing and singing as much as I am... or at least performing. I love performing so I hope if any of me rubs off on her, it's that. hahaha.. and if not then she better be a good athlete and competitive like her dad......lol and if not that then it doesn't matter, I will love her the same.

Another example:
Just between conversations I have with Shawn and others...but mostly with Shawn, I find that I get easily offended by things he would say, or says, which at any other time I totally wouldn't mind it...or I'd probably say something mean back haha. But I didn't, I was just offended. And I KNOW he didn't even mean it like that- it was the way I took it. So after being all depressed and offended for about 2 hours (haha) I realized this had to just be part of the pregnancy....or i hope at least haha.

Then I thought of Wirthlins talk and quote: "Come what may and Love it...." and I thought about my whole pregnancy. I've definitely had a good one that I can't really complain about and above all things just the experience alone has been such a beautiful one. Just the fact of knowing I have a little human being in there fascinates the heck out of me. Feeling her movements (even though they are keeping me up at night now) is such an amazing feeling. My weight gain, which I think has been the suckiest part of this, doesn't really bother me to much because I'd much rather be a fat mama than have an unhealthy baby.I'm glad my family is there for me and to have Shawn by my side the whole way just makes everything perfect.


Over all though, I really had to take a step back and look at this whole experience. I'm blessed and seriously can NOT complain about life at all right now. I will proudly admit praying together as a couple and fasting has really helped A LOT....more than I could ever imagine. And on the days that we forget to pray together.... oh how Satan works us. hahahaha... 

28 weeks...entering my last trimester. 

So if anything, I'm glad that the Lord's opened up my eyes to see my situation in a whole different way. To take a step back and realize that even though I might be feeling a little depressed or offended for a few hours, I really am blessed with the best around me. I have an awesome support system that I wouldn't trade the world for, an amazing companion that adores the heck out of me pregnant and fat or not lol, and a healthy baby girl.
 I still can't even wrap myself around the fact that in less than 3 months we will meet our baby girl. She has no idea how much we're trying to prep for her to meet this world. I don't even think she knows how much in love I am with her and stoked to have her here. I also still hope she is down to enter competitions and just love the stage. ;) haha... So here's to baby girl....in whom we still don't have a name for. lol...