Things I've learned...

Here are some things I've learned since becoming a Mommy- some are funny, some are serious.

1. I never knew I could love someone so much as I do my little girl
2. I think Jeff is a mega Hottie when he holds Faith
3. Poop can drip out of a diaper and onto a foot...and leave a trail on the carpet from the living room to the changing table in the nursery
4. The cry of a baby in the backseat of a car when you are driving is probably the most stressful sound I've ever heard... ever...
5. Sometimes someone (not to mention any names) can poop and spit up at the exact same time
6. If poop or pee gets on my sheets any time between 12am and 6am, I wipe it with a wipe, throw a towel over it, and go back to sleep- yes, on top of the poop or pee
7. I can fit into regular bathroom stalls now...
8. Running errands is a BIG deal, and I usually avoid them without Jeff
9. I can't figure out a good way to go grocery shopping- I can't see over the carseat sitting on top of the cart
10. I sit and wait for Baby Faith to smile... sometimes I just stare at her for a long time...
11. It is not always wise to kiss baby's feet- sometimes they take a dip into a dirty diaper when getting changed.
12. Sometimes jealousy creeps into my heart when someone else holds my baby for too long! Give her back! :)
13. The swing was a great invention- I've give that person a big HIGH FIVE!
14. You can't be prepared for being a parent- you just have to learn as you go along.
15. Having a baby makes me love Jeff even more- gosh, I can't even describe it!

Alright, that's it for now!

The Birth of Faith

It was 10:30pm on Wednesday night, October 13. We were scheduled to go in early Thursday morning where Noel would break my water and induce labor. Jeff and I were crawling into bed, well, for me, it was more of heave myself into bed, when I felt the first of my water breaking.

I went to the bathroom to confirm, and it was definitely my water breaking. I called out to Jeff to come to the bathroom, and with nervous excitement, I told him my water has just broken. He went to the top of the stairs and yelled down for my mom to come upstairs...we would be meeting Baby Faith soon!

And then the contractions started. Whatever I had been feeling for the last week was NOTHING compared to this immense and indescribable pain wracking my body. It started at my spine and intensified around my sides and met at my belly button. It was like a leg cramp but no relief. And this happened every 5 or so minutes.

The drive to the hospital, although only 10 minutes away, was hard. Jeff was trying to remain calm and telling me to try and relax my body, but there was no way I could relax. Why do they tell you to do that?

We checked in, and got settled into the room. For 3 hours I wanted to go natural, and when I hit 4cm and the contractions were coming closer and closer together, and I literally felt like I couldn't do it anymore, I asked for the epidural.

And my life changed.

I slept, chatted, and enjoyed my time watching my contractions on the monitor.

By 8:15am I was dilated to 10cm, and Noel had just arrived at the hospital. She told me to labor down, so they rolled me to my side for 30 minutes. Then at 8:45 I started pushing, and by 9:14am I held Baby Faith in my arms!

She was 7lb 8oz of pure beauty (even with all the gross stuff on her) and 20 inches long!

Although I wouldn't say I "enjoyed" labor, it was an overall positive experience. :)

3D Baby

Well, after waking up really sad that nothing happened last night, I went to see my Midwife today at 3:30. They did an ultrasound to see how big Faith was and to check out how much fluid is around her! She scored a 100% and things look great!

That said, the technician estimated her to be 8lb 5 oz. "AHH!" That was my first reaction. Second: "Time to get this baby outta there before she grows any more!"

So, after talking to my midwife, I'm dilated to 3 cm (she stripped my membranes) and she said that if I don't have Faith before, she'll schedule me to be induced on Thursday. Not through Pitocin, but by breaking my water!

So, we'll go into the hospital at 6am on Thursday! Water will be broken around 8:30- hopefully Faith will arrive soon after that! :)

Keep us all in your prayers! Sorry picture is blurred- Scanner isn't working so I had to take a picture of the 3D ultrasound...

Eggplant and Old Wives

Well, there is an old wives tale that says Eggplant Parmesan induces labor... there is actually a restaurant in Cobb County, GA that claims 300 babies (over the last 23 years) have been born within 48 hrs of eating their eggplant parmesan.

That said, my Mom and I went to Olive Garden yesterday for lunch and BOTH ordered the dish.

Less than 24 hrs later, my midwife Noel told me I'm almost 3 cm dilated, 70% effaced, and Baby Faith is in the -1 station. :) Noel was like "wow, that is a HUGE change in a week...I guess I'll be seeing you REALLY soon"... so then I said "how about tonight or tomorrow morning?" She laughed.

So, whether I was dilated or not before the eggplant parmesan, I have to say it seems very "coincidental"...

So, here is a picture or two of me- the huge preggo lady who can't wait to hold little Baby Faith soon!

10

Wow- it's been a long time since I blogged- like, almost 20 weeks. Wanna know how I knew that? I'm 35 weeks preggers, and last time I blogged I was 16 week. Needless to say, I've changed a lot. And that is what I will talk about today...

10. I find crumbs on the top of my belly- sometimes hours after I ate...
9. I've knocked Jeff in the head with my belly as I walk by him in a chair...
8. The term "sucking in your stomach" doesn't apply anymore (see above)...
7. Getting up off the couch is actually an ordeal and harder than I thought...
6. There is a circumference to my belly- and now there is an underside to it...
5. I can't fit into many of my maternity clothes, even the ones with stretchy waists...
4. Reading books about how much a Daddy loves his daughter makes me cry... a lot...
3. The offer from Jeff to paint my toenails was sweet...the result, well...
2. I'm so tired that I don't care that Jeff has "the race" on right now...
1. I crossed the threshold of being comfortable over looking cute- even at Church...

Those are just 10 ways my life has changes these last 20 weeks!

Spoiled Rotten

Back in February, when I was feeling pretty nauseated, Jeff would fix me breakfast in bed. We had read that if a preggo lady eats before she gets up, many times the nausea would dissipate.

Well, my nausea stopped about 6 weeks ago, and I'm still getting breakfast in bed every morning! What an awesome husband I have. Jeff wakes up earlier than me, and when I wake up, he stops whatever he's doing and fixes me breakfast.

I just had to brag on him.

Oh yeah, and I'm 16 weeks tomorrow! CRAZY! Totally not ready to be a mom- sometimes I get really anxious because I don't really know how to take care of a little baby! And then I remember there are four of us in this family- me, Jeff, Baby Rhea, and our Savior who gives us the strength to choose to die to self. And that reassures me. A lot.

Stitches and Stuff

So, I started a new project- SEWING. The product: burp cloths. Why? Seems like everyone I know is having babies these days, so I thought a great present would be to make homemade burp cloths.

I used Jill's tutorial and followed her pattern and directions.

I think they turned out cute! Do you? I'll make sets of 4 for the gifts. :)

Pickles and Icecream

So, we've all heard the stories of the wife asking her husband to go to the store late at night to buy pickles and icecream. Well, though I've definitely wanted both (not at the same time), today was the weirdest craving I've had yet...

I wanted to literally eat the cream cheese block all at once. I showed some restraint and forced myself to eat protein.... a japanese fried porkchop from last night, but this was probably the weirdest meal I've put together yet...

8 way stop signs

I know this is pretty boring because the title of the blog basically says what I want to talk about- what is the procedure for 8 way stop signs? Think there is no such thing? Come to Lexington...

4 way stops are bed enough- my blood pressure rises slightly as I pay attention to the 3 other car's wheels to see when they stop turning... and then trying to figure out who goes next- here is my dilemma:

If we all arrive at the stop sign at the same time, the person to your right is supposed to go first- right? BUT, we are all to the right of someone... now add 4 MORE cars to the equation- each direction has a left turning lane.

I just sit there until the person behind me honks... :)

Good Comments=Good Chocolate?

Jeff recently called I.N.G. (and online savings company) with a question about our account. Being the nice guy he is, Jeff politely kept in mind that the man he was talking to was not the cause of the issue, and was super nice.

After about 10 minutes of solving the issue, Jeff reassured the guy that he was very satisfied with I.N.G. and this issue didn't affect his opinion at all.

The result? The man said "It's Valentine's Day, and we were asked to send a chocolate bar to one customer we talk to today. I choose you."

Cool, huh?

Our Big Move as A Married Couple

I really think marriages are tested during moves. Money is always an issue (how many boxes and rolls of tape do we need?). And even if you start packing 3 weeks ahead of time, the last few days seem to fill with unending tasks. And you know what I ALWAYS wait until the last minute to buy- Mattress bags. I don't know why- they are always on my list of things to buy, but it seems to me that I'm running around town trying to find a seller or mattress bags the day before the move.

Still, with all the little things that can make for a stressful move, the Lord was gracious and we're here in Kentucky with all of our possessions. Driving the U-haul over the WV mountains in the blizzard was an interesting day, but we'll save that for another day.

A tip for you? Buy mattress bags a week before you move.