Emery's Birth Story

Something about going into our 41 week appointment Monday May 13th and hearing I was still 3 cm and nothing had changed made me relax. I wasn't happy to agree to an induction Friday and I wasn't too excited about spending another week twiddling my thumbs but somehow in our minds it calmed things. Monday night came around and I went to bed per usual only to be woken around 2:30am with a contraction. I'd been feeling contractions for weeks but I knew immediately this lower ab cramp like contraction was labor. I waited and sure enough another then another came. I shut my eyes and tried desperately to get rest because if this was going to be anything like Moses' birth I needed rest. Every 7 min I was back to concentrated breathing and then the bathroom trips started. Contractions bounced from 5 to 3 min apart for most of the morning. Around 5am I was on all fours in the bed trying a new position to work through a contraction when Davy rolls over and noticed; very excitedly he asked "are you in labor?!" and I couldn't lie "yes, but go back to sleep and relax"....yeah right. I could see his mind wheeling and we hugged and giggled and tried to chill out. My goal was for Moses to wake up naturally for school, get him out the door, and then head to the hospital.

Things started to pick up and by the time Moses woke I was hiding during contractions so he wasn't alarmed. By 7:15am I was asking Davy how much longer before they got out of the house aka how much longer before we can go to the hospital. Before Moses left we got to sit him down and share with him today was the day Baby Brother was coming; to say he was excited was an understatement. To be able to understand that when he got picked up from school he would get to meet him was so much fun for him to think about and made our hearts swell. 

At 8am we were checking into triage and by 8:30am I was hearing the nurse's surprising voice as she couldn't believe I was already 6cm and extremely favorable. At that time she asked about pain management and after a slight waiver of pure fear of the unknown I told her I wanted nothing. She left and I cried; cried because 1. this just got real 2. I was actually attempting unmedicated birth 3. finally.

Once we got settled into our room our nurse Joanna walked us through some checks that needed to be done and once we shared I wanted to go unmedicated she turned on her crunchy side and was 100% supportive the entire time. For the next two hours I labored in the shower, walked around, and sat on the birth ball.

 

I was surprised to find that during contractions I didn't want anyone to speak a word and the only comfort I needed was Davy's hand to squeeze. Between contractions I came back to earth fully aware and able to hold conversations, laugh, and feel normal; such a difference between last time when I felt so much was out of my control. I even fell asleep on the birth ball leaning onto the bed at 8cm during a set of contractions which I didn't even know was possible.

Around 11:30am Jane, my midwife, checked to find I was 8cm with a very bulging bag; we decided we could wait until it broke naturally or she could break it and most likely I could start pushing so I went for the 2nd option because at this point a few more intense contractions were worth the few minuets her breaking it would shave off. Once waters were broken she said I was welcome to start pushing on the next contraction. Wait a minuet, is this a joke? I was so surprised that we were here; we were to the pushing stage and I'd come this far is such a short time and more importantly I wasn't freaking out! Jane sat on the side of the bed with Davy to my left and the nurse on my right and I started pushing.

The ring of fire is exactly how it sounds and ouch, it burned! Two contractions in they made it sound like he was practically out and I was able to feel the top of his head. Between the excitement, the adrenalin, and the burning I was able to push him out two contractions later.

At 11:52am our Emery Shepherd was here!
9 pounds 13 ounces 21 inches long!

 

It was surreal; he was here, perfectly healthy, sitting on my chest...all before lunchtime.

After we got settled into our room our first visitor was Big Brother Moses which is exactly how I wanted it. He came into the room and almost immediately wanted to know where the surprise was that Emery had mentioned in the letter "he wrote" to him that day. After opening his Big Brother present he started to become more interested and the rest is history. The touching, the kissing, the more kissing, the holding, the loving.

 

As first time parents there were lots of tears; fear of the unknown, fear he would die in his sleep, fear we weren't doing things right. This time around we were ol' pros and even found ourselves twiddling our thumbs Wednesday ready to go home. Here are a few more pictures of our hospital stay and our very chunky (who doesn't even look chunky today!) boy in his going home outfit.

 

God is so good and we are so blessed. To be given Moses to raise and love was enough to last a lifetime so to have Emery is like icing on the cake; our wonderful family of four.

{bump} this.

Update written on April 15th. The last two pictures were taken after this update but you get the idea; I'm ready, oh so ready!

 

Has it really been a month since I posted an update? I try not to talk too much about the bump but gosh it feels like so much has changed since then. And to think I thought that felt like the final stretch at 33 weeks? Ha! With 2 weeks until my due date its crunch time! I swear that’s all the midwife needs to say is 2^nd babies come sooner than your first and you’ve got me thinking I’m having a baby tomorrow. According to my last two checkups my body doesn’t seem anywhere near ready for labor but as my Mom kindly reminds me she was checked with zero progression the day she has my sister so… God’s timing is perfect, right?

35 weeks

 

Physically: I’m tired. 9pm feels like 10pm and the simple task like straightening up the house is daunting because bending down to pick up 15 small objects creates heartburn for hours! I haven’t been to the gym in a week and I don’t see myself bumping around on the elliptical much more; possibly a few times in the lap pool but yall, I’m tired! Just this past week I started to have terrible carpel tunnel in both my hands specifically my fingers which makes me feel very old but also very useless. I also just got a linear line in the lightest brown tint which I was not expecting because I didn’t have it last time. It’s so crazy how our bodies change over these 40 weeks and then can actually somewhat go back to normal; God’s creations can blow your mind!

Remember how I talked about living in dresses? I wasn’t kidding. I bounce between 3 or 4 and wear them every chance I get even if the stripes make my belly look like a dining room table for 10.

37 weeks

My emotions in a nutshell: Ahhh yay whoaaaa weee ahhh yay. Mixed, so mixed. Am I ready to go into labor tomorrow? Not really. Am I ready to meet this little guy and feel reach for the starts over the fence world series kind of love? YES! Mostly I’m not ready because I’m feeling anxious about labor and what time or day it will be and where Moses will be and all those details you can’t control that I want to control.

Retrospect: I’m so very thankful how easy this pregnancy has been. I know so many people that struggle just to get pregnant then struggle with severe versions of the things I’ve slightly encountered then have complications and yeah…I’m blessed. So very blessed. 

39 weeks and Funny story about this picture: it's horrible. I had bedhead and felt nasty but wanted to document in case it was my last belly shot, ya know? As my loving Husband said "you know how some women get really fat noses when they're pregnant? You don't have one at all but this picture makes it look like you do"...THANKS HUNNY!

 

{hermit}

In hiding is what I’d like to call it. I have about 5 posts floating around (some even written out) but I can’t bring myself to publish. I’m officially sick of being around strangers because if my belly comes up one more time I may throat punch someone. I get it; it’s a way for people to connect, they are being friendly, they are making small talk, they want to talk about this experience, yadda yadda who cares I’m over it! I’d be happy as a clam if he came tonight or in 2 weeks but it’s being seeing by the public that’s killing me. I’ve completely hermit crabbed out and that includes leaving Aprils playlist, belly updates, or whatever else I wanted to talk about buried away.

{bump} countdown

The curiosity and fears have started to creep in. Between nesting desires and budgets post baby and getting baby gear together I’ve failed to remember I actually have to give birth again. Ideally I want to try to go all natural like I tried last time but why is it just now dawning on me I might need to prepare for such a thing? I think all the memories of labor pains and contractions of pushing out a human are starting to float back into memory and my first thoughts are flee and run for help; it’s going to be "too painful" to "deal with" and I’m already counting myself out. Just recently I started reading natural birth stories and digging back into research and while yes they’re raw and maybe make me remember too much there is a common thread shared between all the stories and that’s empowerment. Empowerment over this incredible ability God’s given women to grow and then birth a child; taking your body into your control and being in tune from start to finish. In the end if it doesn’t work out that’s okay too but I want to feel brave and ready when the day comes. I’ve committed the rest of this pregnancy to be dedicated into getting my body and mind ready; practicing labor positions, reading more stories, reminding sweet Hubs how wonderful he was last time, and being present.

24 weeks

As for a physical update: I feel huge. My weight gain has been slow and steady (up a total of 27 lbs at my 33 week apt yesterday) but lately I feel like the belly and extra weigh are starting to take a toll on my body. The simple things like getting out of bed or sleeping comfortably have become a challenge. And the peeing, oh the peeing. With Moses I’ve never experienced being large in the warm months and after a small taste of 80 degree weather this month I started to freak out. I have nothing to wear, I’m going to melt, and I can’t survive the 90’s that are coming! I plan to live in dresses the next 7 weeks and the rest of the post partum summer and I can already tell my daily mantra is going to be: you just had a baby, give yourself a break.

25 weeks

 

We’ve pulled out most of the baby gear and I kid you not I died over the cuteness of little baby outfits at least 17 times while unloading a storage tub. First it brings up wonderful memories of Moses sporting those same outfits but then I kept saying "no way will the baby be that small" or "no way there is really a difference in 3 or 6 month outfits" which I know firsthand there are. The tub and pump and Boppy were less eventful but it feels great to know we have about 80% of the things we need and now I just need to find a place for everything in a tiny house!

30 weeks

Overall, this experience has been great. We talked labor prep and just labor in general at my appointment yesterday and it all just felt surreal. We are in the home stretch, 7 weeks left, and we’re having another baby.
Two things: I need to take a 33 week picture and add it because this last one does not do the belly justice...objects in mirror are wayyy bigger than they appear! And another thing: I swear I don't wear black all the time! It just so happens I'm wearing black a lot of the weekends when I've been taken pictures but in reality I only own 1 black tank and 2 black tops :)

The 25 {21-25}

I challenged myself this past year by completing 25 personal goals...to read the full list go here and to read (and see) the details of 1-5 go here and 6-10 go here and 11-15 go here and phew 16-20 go here.

21. Take a 7 day fast from TV

As I mentioned in #8 I did these two together and basically avoided all media outlets for the week. It was funny how many times in conversation it would come up “oh did you see….” And I would have to remind them I didn’t see it nor do I want you to share it with me. After all if your husband is highlighting everything that happened then I might as well have seen it myself. There were some nights I choose to fold laundry in my bedroom instead of the living room so Davy would still enjoy TV and I wouldn’t be tempted to watch. I read more than normal and spent free time working on a TO DO list instead of vegging out. About once a month I’m tempted to get cable but then remind myself how easy it is to get sucked in with our 10 channels and I feel like with 100 I may never vacuum my house again!

 

22. Jump off the high dive at Wakulla Springs

Between our unexpected move over the summer, my week long road trip, and getting pregnant in August I regretfully didn’t do this.

23. Spend time with my Grandma outside of the holidays

This didn’t happen either. Right after Christmas we found out she had failing health and ended up getting her chest cracked open during open heart surgery. It was scary and made me realize even more why I wanted to spend more time with her; she won’t be here much longer and I don’t want any regrets. We visited her just this past weekend at home where she is recovering wonderfully from everything and it was so refreshing to see her. No excuses I must see her more this year!

24. Color some part of my hair a non-natural color (I’m thinking purple)

Purple hair, don’t care. It’s small because I have a professional job. Sadly it’s faded so much since I got it done a month ago but I love it; it’s my very small revolt against adulthood.

25. Get pregnant

Even with all of our conversations I wasn’t sure if this was going to happen when I wrote this list in 2012. We wanted more children but money and logistics and honestly just being ready kept delaying the process until spring of 2012 when we started to set timelines of removing prevention and actually making this happen. And then it did. And we floated around on cloud nine elated. And we found out I was forever outnumbered in the house. And now here we are entering the third trimester and daydreaming about newborn life. Oh, what a sweet way to end the list.

 

One thing I wasn’t expecting to do over the last year was read so much; 18 books to be exact. I surprised myself because although as an adult I finally enjoy reading but I never felt like I was a book worm. My problem is I start reading a book, it consumes every moment of my free time, and then it’s done a few days later. 

 

I don’t plan on making another 25 list this year because we are already expecting so much change I’m ready to ride the wave!

{bump} 2.0

This is what a baby book looks like in 2013; re posted Instagram photos and a few short blips about how things are going.

Gained 6 pounds in the first 18 weeks…then between 18 and 22 put on another 6. In other words, I enjoyed the holidays. Trying to cut back on my sweets a little to see if that helps…

In other news I have a pregnancy craving; Chick Fil A spicy chicken sandwich and their milkshakes, specially a strawberry milkshake. With Moses I don’t remember ever having cravings that went on for weeks (although as a result of that pregnancy I now eat mushrooms, onions, and tomatoes- weird!) but this my friends is a craving. Tuesday a 2pm? Great time for a treat! Thursday at 10am? Why not! I could eat them pretty much anytime of the day.

It took all your dumb New Year’s Resolutions to help me realize (so crap it’s pretty much a resolution) I need to exercise more. I promised myself this past summer when prepping for this pregnancy that I would stay active; most importantly to have a productive birth but to also help with post baby weight loss. But have I been hitting the gym? No. Have I been taking evening walks with the boys? No because it’s pitch black when I get home! So yadda yadda holidays are over, Moses birthday is over, and I’ve got the next four months to get active again!

I think last time I updated I was crying about getting dressed and while it’s not smiley, happy Clueless style mornings it’s getting better. I’ve sank into a weekend wardrobe and throw on a few dresses or skirts for work. My favorite part of dressing my pregnant body is the ability to wear tight shirts with  no love handles or muffin tops or doughnut holes or whatever you want to call them; just nice smooth lines!

If we’ve talked in the last few weeks and you asked if we had a name yet and I said no; I was lying. We actually tossed around this name the day we found out we were having a boy but not until recently have we confirmed this is it. We both love it. So why haven’t we shared? Because we can’t figure out a middle name! Davy thinks I’m crazy for not picking one yet but nothing has felt right and until it feels right and we love it I don’t need anyone to make me second guess our choice.

17 weeks

 

 20 weeks

 



 

 22weeks

 

Cra.

Happy Monday my friends; where the iced espresso drinks are never large enough and my To Do list is a mile long because IT’S MONDAY AND I NEED TO DO EVERYTHING RIGHT AWAY.

Today I’m over on Julie’s blog sharing a little glimpse into just how crazy I really am. Not the crazy sexy cool kind but the she’s losing her mind kind.

With my last pregnancy being over 4 years ago and a good case of Mommy Mush Brain it’s hard to say if last time was anywhere close to this pregnancy and my Super Senses. I’m not sure if the Super Sniffer or my Super Taster is worse but the combo of the two has me acting like a blood hound most days.

For example I’m sitting on the couch trying to enjoy my Dove dark chocolate square (in case you haven’t heard 12 doses of sugar a day keeps the Gestational Diabetics at bay) when all the sudden...

Keep reading at http://back2basicsblog.com/2013/01/tales-super-senses/ ...

I’ll be posting a full update later this week with bump pictures and all!

3:1

A boy Mom.

An outnumbered Mom.

A grateful Mom.

Walking into our ultrasound a couple weeks ago (yikes I’ve been busy) I was just praying to see a pounding heart and a bouncing baby. And I did. The ultrasound was amazing to see all of his fingers and toes and kidneys and brain. He had one hand above his head for a while reassuring us he’s perfectly comfortable just chilling in his little home. And for anyone who doubts 2012 technology, he’s definitely a boy; I have the very distinctive picture to prove it.

We couldn’t wait to tell Moses so we drove right to school to see him. Two of his favorite things are treats and sweets so we knew immediately how to tell him; with a sweet treat!

I sat him on the park bench and explained if you open it and it’s blue that means it will be a brother and pink will be a sister. He could hardly contain his excitement which radiated to all of us. His initial reaction was “these are white pretzels” (so much for pink or blue) but then once he saw the wrapping he understood. He was elated. So so happy for baby brother….and for a treat.

 

 

After that we rushed over to my Moms to let them know and snap a picture of Moses before the sun went down. We used the same box and wrapped up a blue Christmas ornament to let them find out the gender. Thanks to 2012 technology (no idea how they survived the 80’s and surprise babies) we Skyped my sister so she could be there and then let me Mom open the box. Funny thing is my Mom already knew soley based on how Davy was acting. She said he was too calm and collected for it to be a girl (in case you didn’t know Davy was freaked out to have a girl and she was very aware of that) so when he didn’t come inside with a shocked plastered look on his face she knew. 

My mother in law however was a different story completely. She was making herself sick with anxiety waiting to find out. She has been very outspoken she wants, no needs, a granddaughter. Davy was helping my teasing her in texts that we were at the doctors and knew the answer and she’d have to wait until dinner to find out. Finally at 7:15 she came in looking sick with worry to open her box. Obviously she’s happy with another grandson but within 10 minutes asked does this mean we will try for a 3^rd. Ha! Let me be a Mom of two before we even go down Family of Five Lane.

So there you have it, we are having another son.

What’s his name? Don’t even ask!

10 toes {perfection}

Come May we are bringing home a wonderful...

10 fingers.
10 toes.
Perfectly healthy.
Perfectly happy parents.
And
Perfectly happy BIG brother.

Worry.

Starting last Thursday I’ve been a nervous wreck about tomorrow. Those {dang} baby boards have got me thinking about more things then I’d like to yet I can’t get myself to delete it. Then someone I know personally went in for her 18 week check up with baby number 3 and found out the cord was wrapped around her neck and she was already in heaven. Cue fear. Cue trusting no One. Cue me freaking out. What if there is no heartbeat? What if they’re missing a limb? What if my world comes crashing down tomorrow? Then this happened:

³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The first half of Sunday service church was literally written for me.  What am I worrying? Where is my trust in the Lord? Caroline, remember, this is a gift God has entrusted to Davy and I to take care of here on earth. Why am I worrying?

Tomorrow has been decided. God already knows every single hair on their little head. God already knows what they will look like, what they will act like, who they will marry, how they will die.  Thankfully I don’t need to worry about a thing. I have been so blessed to carry this baby for the past 17 weeks that there is no need to focus on tomorrow.

So then I handed over my worry to the Lord. Here ya go, along with my 8 billion other faults, let me praise You the rest of my days for the life You’ve given me. Jesus came to this earth to die for me and the sugar on top is I don’t have to worry.

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

 ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-24

Blurp {16 weeks}

Every day I stand in front of my closet and struggle with what to wear. I’m in that awkward stage of pregnancy where no regular pants fit properly but only some maternity pants look decent. Most of my normal shirts are too short for maternity pants but most of maternity shirts are too big for this baby bump. My face is breaking out more than normal and my hair just straight up sucks. I haven’t felt this ugly is a long time. Glowing, yeah right.

This isn’t a fish for compliments and this isn’t to say I’m not grateful. Davy kindly reminded me that once that little baby is lying on my chest all these rough self confidence days will vanish and nothing in the world will matter except that moment. It’s just frustrating. 

Another thing on my pregnant mind is our appointment next week; you know, the big gender reveal. Since the day we started telling people of course they want to know “what do you hope you’re having” which a head’s up for everyone who’s not experience being a mother already: it’s a really hard annoying question! The last thing I want to do is yell from every rooftop I wish I’m having a __ then come to find out it’s not that and everyone thinks I’m disappointment. Of course a healthy baby that makes it to full term that grows up without any physical or mental condition is exactly what I want. Of course a little boy would be cheaper because I have a ba-gillion things already. Of course a little girl would be great because then we would have” a complete set”. This is what I keep telling myself; regardless of the gender outcome I’ll be happy but in my heart I want to agree with this statement. I have to remember so many women struggle with infertility and miscarriages and to be nit-picky about the specifics is just plain ridiculous.

The plan was to post a bump picture (finally) but I couldn’t find my belt to belt together my cardigan and dress today so of course the entire outfit is ruined. Soon, my friends, very soon. 

160.

One hundred and sixty beats a minute and all was well in the world. Yesterday we had our first baby appointment. I should have taken my own advice weeks ago and got off the dang baby community boards because I was officially having anxiety for days leading up to the appointment; what is the sac was empty? What if there was no heartbeat? What if I can’t trust Gods plan even after telling myself 1,000 times to relax? In all honesty this is the justified reason I’ve come up with; because so much love is riding on this. When we had Moses we were young and scared and had no idea how it would feel loving your child; how your heart could burst open with so much joy. But now we know and we want so desperately to be able to love this little one outside of the womb.

For those who have gone down baby lane know the first appointment is the longest possible one in history just in case you needed an hour and a half more to worry until you get to have the ultrasound.  Fun fact: also my first time “seeing the light” while getting my blood drawn....all the way down to the loud ringing in your ears, inability to open your eyes, slumping down into the chair, and then soaking your clothes with sweat.  Just in case people didn’t know I was there, they did now. But you know what? None of it mattered once we saw the perfect sac, our perfect baby, and that perfect heartbeat.

You made beautiful things out of dust

And in only the most perfect way He knows how to create people out of love.  Our little love bean flickering away in there while we sit plastered with smiles on our faces.

All my delight is in you, Lord.

Surreal, but in a wonderfully incredibly happy way; this is finally happening! I was reading someone else’s blog and they talked about having a Bible verse they clung to during each of their pregnancies; I hadn’t thought much about it again until the day I tested and officially knew. I unofficially knew days before because sore parts of my body screamed something is different!

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart"

Psalm 37:4

It hit me like a ton of bricks, like God washed over me with peace and joy; you’ve delighted in Me and here is one of the biggest desires in your life. Bam. Boom. It’s happening.

How I’m feeling: weird. I want to skip hop jump and be myself but I’ve been feeling blah for days now. Lost my drive to exercise and I’m super tired especially at night. Emotionally I’m slightly disconnected but trying desperately to get it together. I don’t want to be hormonal or unavailable emotionally so I’m hoping this is just a wave. Speak of waves, I’ve been getting waves of nausea at night which are not fun in the slightest.

How I’m acting: like I have a big secret and I’m scared to talk to anyone in fear they will guess. So silly, I know, because we’re ecstatic and want to tell people…just not yet.

Because I can’t talk to anyone during the day about this I’ve turned to some baby communities online to check in and chat with other ladies which have turned out to be maybe not the best idea. I feel like communities either have 1. Women who’ve been trying for so long and talk the initial lingo like perfect English (AF, BFP, BFN, BB, ect, ect, WTH?) or 2. Women who have it all together and all planned out and giving baby names at 4 weeks or 3. Sad stories and extreme nervousness. Number three is the worst; I can’t live like that. I have to trust that God has a plan and I have to put my trust in Him daily. If I were to start reading or worrying too much I would make myself sick. This baby is God’s and He has literally gifted to Davy and I to take care of on Earth—so why freak out when he already knows every minute detail of this baby’s life?

Pregnancy Lane.

Among being one of the best places to stalk those from your past Facebook has some other fun features as well like taking strolls through memory lane. I came across a picture of myself pregnant and it caught me off guard; I was 9 months pregnant and radiantly happy. It got me thinking about my 41 week journey and the way it can emotionally, mentally, financially physically change a person. Let’s take a stroll…

My first pregnant picture. Oh….this picture, the bittersweet joy it brings me. Back then I thought I was a little chubby but oh my gosh what I wouldn’t give to have that body again!

This was always a fun situation; pregnant tailgating. I got so many stares and drunken girls touching my belly and asking {inappropriate} questions.

I love this memory; our semi planned out and slightly rushed maternity session. My friend Sarah snapped these at sunset on the only strip of undisturbed scenery we could find in Destin that evening between restaurants and condos. 

New Year's eve...officially past my due date but that didn't stop us from going to a party to downtown 2010! The guys were showing off their "catching" skills.

And this, this is the picture. I was 9 months pregnant and having a blast with girlfriends. We were laughing and taking a group photo and I remember feeling great. Looking back my jaw drops at how huge my belly had grown; I was so oblivious back then!

One thing all these pictures have in common; happiness. I had such a happy wonderful pregnancy and these little life snapshots show it. Yes I did have a numb butt in my office chair for months but honestly everything else was a breeze. Ladies, don’t ever be camera shy when you’re pregnant….it’s those little movements in life worth remembering.

nine.

This is why I would never call myself a “blogger”, I can’t even stay consistent with blogging once a month! It’s been way too long since I updated last and I hate myself for it because there are so many little details I wish I would have wrote down while still fresh in my mind.
Biggest thing going on, 5 more day’s until Moses’ due date! Five days, less than a week, ah! We went to the doctors yesterday and I have had the same progression for three weeks in a row now. 1 cm dilated, 70% effaced, and he’s sitting around -1 pelvis station. So he’s placed himself in a nice little spot, and 70% is a good number, but for three weeks in a row now…. Come on Moses’, give us a little progression forward! I want him to come when he’s ready, and I’m not going to have them induce labor (unless medically necessary), but it just seems so discouraging that he hasn’t budged in weeks! Most people say 1st babies come later than earlier, plus I’m content with him not coming on Christmas (TOMORROW), so I guess he can just hang in there until he’s ready. When mom was pregnant with Danyell she went to the doctors and they told her o you have a while don’t worry and then that weekend sitting on the toilet her water broke and Danyell was born three weeks early- so you really never know when they’re coming!
Tomorrow or two weeks away, he’s coming regardless and I’m so excited, and extremely nervous at the same time. Because I love to have a plan and control over most situations it makes me extremely anxious knowing I will have no idea what his birthday will consist of and have no way to put it on pause or go back and do it different. I feel a little better now that most of the stuff being packed in the hospital bags is sitting on the floor in piles ready to be put in the bag, and we have a birth plan and phone list typed up ready to go. His nursery is all set up (I love it and need to learn how to post pictures on here!) and the car seat is in my car (although Davy and I are convinced we did it wrongL).
I don’t know if the emotional side has really overwhelmed me yet because it hasn’t really registered, I’m going to be a mother to someone for the rest of their life. Davy and I will be parents and take care of someone else’s life every single day. It’s a responsibility that’s completely foreign to me and I think will stay that way until the day he’s born. Someone will call my mommy and I will be someone’s hero at one point in their life. It’s a roll that you can read up and practice only so much until its reality and I’m holding him in my arms. My friend Sarah Gray keeps telling me that moment when they put them on your stomach after their born is something she will never forget and advises me to feel take in that moment and treasure it.
I could go on forever but will wait until after Christmas to update again. I promise to keep more frequent with my thoughts and details.
Who knows….the next time I sign on Moses could be here!

eight.

I looked at the baby counter and 46 days left seems to have come so quick. Maybe because so much has changed since I last blogged that I feel like it’s all coming to an end (and well beginning at the same time) so soon!
First, we signed the lease and started moving into our new place! I love it and wish I could start living there now, just half the house is still in boxes and the bed is currently an air mattress. My nesting is now stronger than ever so even if I just go over for a little bit each day and unload a box or clean up an area it makes me feel good. Thankfully, we already have most of the big furniture or the stuff we don’t have people have given us. The only big thing we’re missing right now is a TV stand for our new massive TV and a dresser for Moses’ room. I can’t wait to walk in the house with it all set up and decorated and it finally feel like home.
Second, we got engaged! It happened on Wednesday the 29th, I’ve just been too busy to blog the details. Lets just say I was completely surprised and Davy did an amazing job planning it all out. He had me in tears, and laughing, and overwhelmed with happiness.
Third, and currently happening in less than three hours is, my work baby shower! Today is going by so slow anticipating the excitement of this afternoon. It still baffles me how people I work with would put effort and money into someone they barely know! Everyone is walking around so bubbly today just as excited for me to open all the gifts, and see the cake and decorations as I am! I can’t wait to blog about how great the shower was, but I already know it’s going to exceed my expectations!
Just an update on the birthing class, it’s amazing and also exceeding my expectations. The class is just for informative and Vikki is teaching us things I never even knew about during delivery and has just completely calmed our nerves about the big day. Davy also loves the class and that has made it a total bonding experience; I know that on the big day he is going to be the best coach! I feel so relaxed and call me crazy, but have even considered not getting an epidural!

seven.

62 days left seems like an eternity…..
I have nothing but good news to share. The biggest thing is we found a place to live! Well, hopefully. It’s this great 2/1 in Killearn that has a big carport and screened in back porch. It’s higher than we would have liked to pay, but still within out budget. The reason I say hopefully is because it’s not ours yet, we have to submit our application today and hope it gets approved! We really want the place, and the renters would love for us to move there, it’s just a matter of our application going through. Keep your fingers crossed and pray that it’s ours by the first of the month!
Another exciting thing is I started a completely new project at work. I won’t bore with all the details, but it’s a much needed change of pace and work the past two days has actually been enjoyable!
Finally, we started our birthing class last night (or as Davy likes to call it, our “breathing” class)! I was a bit nervous/ anxious driving to the class because I didn’t know what to expect. What the teacher would be like, what the other people in the class would be like, and just overall if it would freak me out even more about d-day (or b-day). Thankfully, it was better than I expected. There is only four other couples in the class with us and most of them seem pretty normal and have the same kind of fears I do about labor. The teach is my good friend Lauren’s mother who I’ve already heard is a good teacher, but never knew how knowledgeable she was! The first class we just introduced ourselves and talked about discomforts of pregnancy and ways to prevent/help them. The class is 2 ½ hours long each week, which seemed like a long time to learn about birthing, but in actuality there is so much she wants to tell us, she had to cut herself off. And another I thought was funny is we have snack time halfway through class- I feel that’s only appropriate with a room full of pregnant women! I hope we get a lot out of the class and when the actual day comes we can practice some of the moves and not just lay there and freak out!

six.

The day has come. Stretch marks have arrived! Since my mom and sister didn’t have them barely at all, and I’ve been applying the stretch mark lotion for months now, I figured I would get lucky, but no! So far, four little ½-1 inch stretches have appeared on the low part of my belly. Davy actually had to point them out because my belly sticks out so far I couldn’t even see them until I looked in the mirror! I’m not too worried about them because they are so tiny, but we still have 9+ weeks to go, and in that time fifty more could appear! I’m (as well as Davy) excited about post baby getting into shape and my ultimate goal is to weigh/ feel better than I did before I got pregnant! Hopefully the recovery will be easy and I’ll be motivated enough (with four hours of sleep a night) to get into shape fast!
It’s Friday and I couldn’t be happier! Work has become so routine and slow lately, the days drag on making everything move in slow motion! I know I can’t stay up until 2 am anymore, but at least I can stay up as late as my body will allow knowing I can sleep in the morning! This weekend we are supposed to be viewing a few move places and I'm really excited to see if any of them work out, or could be put on the list of serious potentials..... I'm so ready to move!

five.

(october 20th, 2008)
10 weeks to go, I can’t believe it!

The time creeps by day by day, but when I step back and look at the big picture, only 10 more Mondays (maybe less) before he’s here! Not this past weekend, but the Thursday before that I started to experience cramping in my upper legs and lower abdomen that night. I went to sleep and woke up with the cramps still there. All morning at work it felt like I was experiencing terrible period cramps and since I no longer have a period, I thought something was wrong. The pain wouldn’t stop so the early afternoon I called the doctors and they told me to go into triage to get them checked out. Hearing you have to go to the hospital because something could be wrong is not a good feeling. Especially only being 28/29 weeks at the time, I knew it couldn’t be safe for Moses’ or me to already feel like this. At the hospital, they hooked me up to monitors and saw some small contractions going on. They checked me out and everything seemed to be closed and normal. Nothing serious enough to do any more test, so they sent me home with instructions to take Tylenol and rest. The rest of the weekend was normal but Monday morning the pain was back. Since I had already been told it was nothing serious, I just took Tylenol and dealt with it, and slowly they calmed down and only came sporadically the rest of the day. I’m assuming they were just extreme Braxton hicks because thankfully I have not had them again.
Work is throwing me a baby shower on the 13th of November and I’m so excited! i have gone to two baby showers recently and it just makes me so happy seeing all the cute little stuff and I can’t wait to open everything Moses’ will someday use. Mom told me yesterday she knows of two people making him blankets! I can’t believe people would take the time to make something so special for someone they’ve never even met. I have great friends and blessed tremendously.
Last week at the doctors the scale said I had gain 5 lbs in the last two weeks, and that scares me to death! I’m not over the weight limit yet, but all the sudden instead of being on the lower end, I’m at the upper end! I really need to be careful these next 10 weeks watching what and how much I eat. Especially with the holidays coming up I have to be extra careful I don’t blow up!
We only have one more pre marital counseling session left and that’s extremely exciting! I have loved all the sessions and most of the homework because each time I feel like I learn valuable advice and have already started seeing some of it play out. It has been great for our relationship and I hope it only continues to get stronger! Everything is closing in towards the end of the year and instead of being stressed like I normally would be, I’m so happy and looking forward to it all actually happening!

four.

(october 6th, 2008)Happy 28 weeks today, the weeks seem to go by so fast now a days…. But his birthday seems so far away!
So we’re once again on the issue of bedding. The two hardest things so far have been picking out a name (which we have now and love) and picking out bedding. There are just so many options and ideas and directions you could take the nursery, I just can’t make up my mind! Two months ago I thought I fell in love with once and mom bought it offline for me… but the more I look at in the more I don’t like it. It has tans and light browns in it as well as a light green/yellow stripe as some of the background color and it just doesn’t match the rest of the bold animals. So I started looking around online again and found some I really like. They had a great deal the set on e bay so I bid on it yesterday and was the highest bidder for the last 5 hours. By 30 or so seconds before it ended someone outbid me and I lost! I cried due to disappointment and hormones! It was just such a great deal, and the only listing for that bedding on eBay, so I’m pretty bummed we didn’t get it. But that doesn’t mean I’m giving up. I just need to look around and not settle, or spend too much on something I know I will like for more than two months!
The weekend was nice, too bad it’s Monday and I’m back at work. Davy and I went on a brunch picnic Saturday morning because the weather was so nice. We went to the Indian mounds, which I haven’t been to since I was little, and it turned out to be a perfect place to get away and enjoy the amazing weather. We also watched FSU beat Miami (yay) at his parent’s house and I finally hung out with my good friend, Sarah Kate Saturday night.