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Wordless wednesday: All grown up!

3 days old

 With Ayden being almost a year old I have been looking back at the pictures from the beginning. How LITTLE he was! I can't even....I just can't even handle it. Love you so much Lil man!

9.5 months old

Be Still...Be Still?!!

Be Still. Be STILL.

Psalms 46:10

Being Still... with a seven month old that's a rare occurrence. Lil Man keeps me busy. moving. The fact that this is being written with him sitting in his highchair is a miracle I feel. But that verse has been on my heart since bible study yesterday. It hit me like a load of bricks.

We are going through a bible study called Breathe: Making room for the Sabbath, by Priscilla Shirer. (I Highly recommend it and you can find it here on amazon.com) It talks about  how we need to put boundaries around even the good things in our life so we don't allow ourselves to become a slave  to that thing, activity, or routine. That God intended for us to have breathing room in our life and that is one reason why He created the Sabbath. That we had a day of rest. But the author also talk about the Sabbath as being a mindset. To put Sabbath boundaries on our life. To resist the urge to continue. To rest. Learning that it is OK to put boundaries on our life to allow breathing room. Isn't that so freeing to know? Maybe I am the only one having this revelation but that's alright. I am slowly getting the hang of this whole Stay-at-home mom, homemaker role I have taken on since I stopped working. Sometimes I wonder why I was so excited in the first place. How do I find joy in the endless dishes and laundry? I usually have music or the TV on when I'm cleaning because I'm not going to lie, I HATE cleaning. My best friend Jess can attest to this from when we lived together. Haha good memories.

But amidst the chaos, am I missing something? An opportunity to talk with my God and listen for His voice? I think God wants me to know He is the God of dirty dishes and laundry piles. He can meet me even in the mundane of my everyday. I just need to shut down the chaos and talk with God. He doesn't mind if I do dishes while we chat, does He?

Well that's all. Just wanted to share a little of what was on my heart. Hope it blesses someone else :)     

He's here! Welcome Baby Ayden!

Photo Credit: Jess Pentecost

Well He is finally here! My little man, my whole world....my son. I could not be a more proud and in love momma. As hard as parts of the past few weeks have been, it's a blessing in disguise. A good friend, who also just had a baby back in May, told me that we make it through these first few weeks, the hardest ones, by the grace of God and nothing else. And it has only been by His grace that I have made it through some of these long nights where we struggled with breastfeeding, sleeplessness (on Ayden's part), or any number of other newborn daily struggles. This is one of the hardest and most rewarding things I have ever done.

Here is a little recap on how this little peanut came into this world:
There we were at 40 weeks, 2 days and he had still refused to turn. My parents had arrived in town the day before and were anxiously waiting to meet their first grandchild. So Ken and I gathered our things and headed to the hospital that morning, June 26th, 2014 for our scheduled c-section. So many emotions, fear and excitement, running through my mind. This is not at all how I planned my sons birth to occur. I had researched, I had prepared, my birth plan was typed! I felt defeated and in some way responsible, AS IF I could have in anyway changed that my son was stuck and too big to turn. And for the record, we tried!

 "Leave it to a little boy, to 

ruin mom's best laid plans."

 We met my friend Trisha on the way up to Labor and Delivery. "let's have a baby!" I said to her as we made our way to check in. She was going to be with me through my labor and delivery but since plans had changed, she would be with us in the room before and after the c-section instead. 

Photo Credit: Jess Pentecost

My great friend Jess had been entrusted with photographing this event and arrived just in the nick of time to shoot a few pictures right before they whisked me away to the OR (Operating Room). Ken was handed a pair of scrubs, a hat, and a mask. He would get to sit by my side during it all, but had to be in hospital garb. 

Once that had me all hooked up and my spinal block had been done, Ken was allowed to come assume his place in a little chair right next to my head. An OR is not a very warm and fuzzy place to be, let alone be relaxed when you're awake while in one. I could not have done this, bringing my little man into the world, if Ken had not been there to hold my hand and talk me through it all. I was numb from the chest down but I could feel pressure and tugging as they made their way in to getting Ayden out and into the world. 

Then, I heard that first cry. It was all over then. I was in love. Hadn't even seen him yet and I was in love. Then they held his little body up over the curtain in-between me and the doctor and I saw his wrinkly little body. The cutest baby you'd ever seen. That moment is forever etched in my mind. I was really a mom now. That screaming baby getting checked over by the NICU nurse, was mine. And you better believe he came out kicking and screaming. I have never heard a baby scream so loud, but he was mad and he was going to be heard. :)

Ken had the camera with him and was taking pictures the moment Ayden landed under the warmer. Once he had been checked once over and cleared by the NICU nurse, they wrapped him and gave him to Ken until Dr. L. was finished closing me up. When all was said and done we were in the OR for less than 30 minutes total. 

I could not stop crying when I first held him in that OR. All my anxiety and fear of having surgery had fallen away and I could not contain the smile on my face from seeing this little tiny human that I had created. 

We made it back to the recovery room where Trisha and Jess were waiting and Jess jumped on taking pictures of everything, which I am so grateful I had her there to do that. I then had a 2 hour window to start breastfeeding if he would latch and to be monitored before we were taken to our postpartum room. 

Photo credit: Jess Pentecost

A special thanks to go out to my nurse Debbie who was absolutely AMAZING throughout the entire prep, c-section and recovery. She helped and made me feel safe, encouraged, understood, and relaxed. The PERFECT Labor and Delivery nurse you could ever have. And that meant so much.    

There could not be any greater privilege or responsibility than being blessed with a child and I could not fathom trading it for anything in the world. I pray everyday that God is giving me the strength and wisdom to raise this little guy into a man of God.

Keep watch as I'll start posting about my breastfeeding journey and my new adventures into motherhood! :) 

Scripture of the Week: April 13, 2014

Pregnancy Funny :)

This has been my week :)

Childbirth Prep: "You're planning on what?!"

 When talking about wants and desires for childbirth it's always important to remember not everyone has the same views as you do. Every person you talk to has a different experience, scary stories, and why it was the hardest thing they've ever done.

I have started reading a book by Robert A. Bradley, M.D. called Husband-Coached Childbirth: The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth. In the world of natural childbirth this method is widely spoken on and referred to as a go to guide. From checklists for each stage of labor to Dad’s role in coaching thru contractions and labor pain, everything is covered and discussed in detail.

“Building better, deeper, and more trusting communication skills with your partner in preparation for a drug-free childbirth.” (Husband-Coached Childbirth: The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth)

                The first few chapters have been talking about how animals, when giving birth are instinctual in knowing how to give birth. Why would there be any reason that, as Human Beings, we cannot learn to be instinctual and birth our babies in the way God created our bodies to; to treat birth as a normal physical process and not a medical emergency.  He also heavily touches on the point that being prepared in all aspects of birth is essential. You do not run a marathon without ever warming up, or training. It is the same with giving birth. You must train your body in preparation for the huge job it is going to do in birth your baby into this world. And that is exactly what birth is: A Job. Not an emergency. Birthing my baby boy has become significantly less scary to me once I grasped this concept.  It makes so much more sense now as I am researching and learning more about it.

                This book is written so well it is hard to put down once you start getting into it. This is great information that is presented in a realistic and factual standpoint. Dr. Bradley gives you all the tools you and your support team (mainly my Husband) need to approach the birthing experience with a more calm and insightful outlook.  I can’t wait to share as I learn on my journey to achieve a more natural birth.

The World of Cloth! Entering it and not losing your mind....

One ideal I am holding to in this first pregnancy is that I want to choose the best things for my little one that I can. Also along that line I need to not go broke :)

When I first started researching Cloth Diapering (CD) I was very overwhelmed by the massive amount of work it seemed to entail. Then as I dove deeper and learned about the ways it actually can benefit your baby and save you money, my interest was heightened. I have learned so much on the side of just how financially it can save you thousands of dollars in disposable diapers and it's is really better for the landfills.

Random fact: It takes 500+ years for a disposable diaper to completely decompose in a landfill and that's due mainly to the amount of plastic and chemicals that are used.

I have gotten some funny looks when people find out my plan is to CD my kids. This is just one aspect of my approaching motherhood and if it is not for you that is totally ok! CD is not for everyone! I am just excited to share my experience, trials, and adventures with this as I figure it all out.

I have started to slowly order cloth diapers off of different websites in the past few months. I am going with the Pocket Diaper approach. There are inserts that can be stuffed inside the diaper or layered on-top and interchanged when soiled. Here are some pictures of what I have collected so far.

These are all one size fits all pocket diapers that have snaps on the front to shrink them for when baby is smaller. They are rated for 10-35lbs. The small cream diaper on the bottom left is actually a newborn AIO (All-in-one) diaper that is basically a cloth version of a disposable where you use once and wash.

This is called a wet bag. Its purpose in life is to contain wet and soiled inserts and diapers while you are on the go outside of the house. It has two zippered pockets and is water resistant on the inside. I will need to collect a few of these so you have plenty to take a clean one whenever you have an outing. You can, on laundry day, just throw it into the wash with your diapers and inserts.

Wordless Wednesday

This is me at 18 weeks pregnant with Baby A.

Graco Travel System: Stroller and Classic Connect infant car seat

This year on Black Friday Walmart put on sale a Graco stroller and car seat combo for $99. Even after Black Friday there were still some left in stores for the same low price. My Husband and I decided this was a good opportunity to get a key item we will need for after our little bundle of joy is delivered. It required some simple assembly and is lightweight and durable. The car seat comes with the base for being in the car and can also detach and fit inside the stroller for while they are still an infant. Not only is it easy to put together,  it's cute and can't wait to have my baby sitting in it!

The Miracle of Life: a journey begins

       My husband and I went for our 11 week checkup yesterday. Since my doctor said it was too early to hear a heartbeat we did an ultrasound. The heart was beating strong and the baby kicked! It was so amazing to see the little life that is growing inside my womb. Transitioning from being a married woman to an expectant mother is proving to be an experience I never expected. From all the aches and pains to the nausea and not to mention everything you can not do or eat. It's overwhelming to be presented with all these rules and guidelines you have to follow, making you think "How could I ever do this right and keep all my sanity?" It's also scary thinking that one wrong step and you could harm your baby or you. And then you see that ultrasound... a hand flings up and a leg kicks, and you have long forgotten the worries and stresses of being pregnant and are filled with awe and pure joy at the little life growing inside of you. Well at least this was my experience and since this is my first I have little to compare with. Maybe I'm just crazy, hormonal and pregnant but knowing that I'm carrying a life, growing a tiny human, is cause enough for me to be in awe of how amazing God is and how a miracle is happening inside of me....sorry for the cliche. Sometimes to really appreciate life, I think looking at it where it begins is so vital. Can not wait to share this journey with you. Hope you tag along!

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