I'm baaaaaack!

I've decided I need to get back into blogging. Jayden is growing up so fast that I need a way to document his little life so I don't forget what I'm thinking about now. I wrote a few little personal journals when I first found out I was pregnant and I found them the other day and I loved reading what my thoughts were at that time. I had already forgotten the details and I don't want to miss the details of Jayden's life. They are just too special to be forgotten! Plus I think others may enjoy reading about them too!

So in order to bring this blog up to date, here's a synopsis of what's been happening the last 4 months (4 months!)...

• 36 Weeks: At 36 weeks we had a little scare where we thought my water had broke. It was about 10:00 at night and I kept feeling like I had to pee and it seemed never ending so, since there was no pain involved, I didn't think it was an infection and I called my midwife. She thought we had better go to the hospital just in case. So we did and they admitted me and everything. That was surprising; I had just expected that they would check me and then if my water had, in fact, broke, they would admit me then. But no, they admitted me right away, wheeled me up to a room (which felt kind of foolish since I was perfectly capable of walking, albeit very slowly since my hip and back were giving me so much pain), had me put on a (backless, eek!) gown, hooked me up to monitors, asked me a million questions and then checked me. It all felt very surreal because I was having no contractions so it kind of felt like we were playing make believe but I was also nervous too because they were all acting like I was going to have the baby that night and I knew he wasn't ready to come yet. Thankfully, I ended up having a minor infection after all, thus the excessive peeing and my water had not broke after all. That was a relief! And now we were prepared for when I really did go into labor since we had just had a trial run!  

• 37 Weeks: I went on maternity leave starting at 37 weeks and enjoyed a couple weeks of relaxation, organization and preparation. Different family members came to visit (my grandparents, aunt, mom and inlaws) and see our new house and I was able to get our new house more in order before the baby arrived. One thing I want to remember during this time is that I had time to take care of our dog Maia. We would go on walks, not every day, but lots of days. I miss that now since our dog no longer lives with us and may not again. I also want to remember how huge I felt because I look back on pictures now and I don't actually think I look all that huge but man oh man, I felt GINORMOUS. Lots of things hurt like my hips and back which actually make moving quite difficult, let alone walking around the neighborhood. That pain all seems like a distant memory now though which is good news! I never thought I would get rid of it at the time.

• 39 Weeks: At 39 weeks, I did go into labor. And I will post my birth story on a seperate posting since that will be a long one.

• September 2: On September 2 at 3:52pm, Jayden Noah arrived weighing 7lbs, 10oz and measuring 20 inches long. He was everything that I had prayed and hoped for. He had a head full of dark hair, blue eyes, and a perfectly shaped head (not misshapen from a rough delivery or forceps). He was also the perfect size - I was so afraid of having a giant baby since it kind of runs in both our families. The only thing that really didn't go as "planned" was that he wasn't able to breastfeed right away since he took in a little meconium when he delivered so they had to work that out of him and give him some oxygen before I was able to try feeding him. That's another posting too - the trials and joys of breastfeeding. Stay tuned.

• Newborn:

• 3 Weeks:

• 6 Weeks:

• 8 Weeks: 

• 12 Weeks:

• And now here we are at 3 months and (almost) 2 weeks and I have a very active little boy. Well, very active, and yet a great little sleeper too. Just as he was everything I hoped and prayed for when he was first born, he is still everything I had hoped and prayed for as he is showing more and more of his personality. I heard once that you should pray very specifically for what kind of baby you want. So, since I was a little worried about how I would be as a mother, I prayed for a good little baby who had a great disposition. And guess what, I got one! Jayden never cries unless he needs to tell you something like if he's hungry or tired. He sleeps like, well... like a baby. He started sleeping through the night (5 or 6 hour stretches) at about 5 weeks even though I am exclusively breastfeeding. And he takes usually 2 two hour naps during the day, in addition to a few cat naps (30 minutes or so). He is always quick to smile, although in the first few weeks, even though it was still too early for them to smile, I figured I was going to have a very serious little boy because he had quite the stern little face sometimes.

He is such an absolute joy to be around and he has made the transition to motherhood extremely easy. If it's true that God only gives you what you can handle, and I believe that very much, then it's obvious that God knew I could not handle a fussy/colicky baby the first go-around. Jayden is the polar opposite of that description.

36 Weeks

This week: 36 weeks - that'd be 9 months. That's right, I've been pregnant 9 months and it's not over yet!
Total weight gain/loss: 35 lbs or so
Sleep: Interrupted. I wake up several times during the night, sometimes to pee, but usually just because I can't find a comfortable position. I don't think I'll ever sleep on my left side again after I have the baby. And I so miss sleeping on my back!
Best moment of the (last few) weeks: Being able to feel the baby' little feet and his little booty as he moves around. DJ and I joke that sometimes it looks like he's trying to stand up in my stomach because it will majorly bulge on one side of my stomach like he's trying to escape.
Movement: He's still moving quite a bit but it's changed from a rolling movement to more of a side to side movement where a foot will often make contact with my ribs.
Food cravings: Sugar is still the name of the game and actually even more so then before to the point that I really don't ever want salty stuff. I just always want something sweet. I've been eating a ton of fruit this summer. Mmmmm
Gender: Boy
What I miss: Oh man, so much. Sleeping comfortably, walking comfortably, moving comfortably in general. I cannot wait till I feel NORMAL again!
What I am looking forward to: I am SOO excited to meet my little boy. I've gotten to the point that I try to picture what he looks like and I just can't wait to see him. I'm also looking forward to figuring out how to be a mom! Also I'm really ready to get his nursery done and get everything organized and ready for his arrival! Oh, and I'm also excited to be able to tell everyone his name!
Weekly Wisdom: Wow, the "wisdom" really has been flowing the last couple of weeks. I didn't receive much unsolicited advice in the beginning of the pregnancy but now that I'm closer to D-day and it's quite obvious I will be a mother very soon, people let the information flow. Some of it is really helpful and some of it is really annoying but mostly I do appreciate the information more often than not. Since I'm a first-time mom, there's a lot I don't know!
Milestones: The little dude is all done developing and he could be born at any time really. Right now he's just putting on the weight and building rolls. He's probably around 4 or 5 lbs and he will gain an ounce a day from here on out.

27.5 Weeks - 87 days to go

This week: 27 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Probably in the 25 pound neighborhood - that's what the scale said a week or so ago so it may even be a little more than that by now. I've given up caring too much. Bring on the poundage. But not really. I mean, it would be easier to just stop caring, and you might say that I have if you saw the rate at which I can eat, say, a piece of cake, or two... but I know it will be a lot easier after the baby is born to lose the weight if I'm more careful now. Hm... so much easier to say then to do.
Sleep: Well I've increased my pillow to human ratio from 1:1 to 4:1 so if that tells you anything... Sleep is definitely becoming more interrupted due to aches and pains that wake me up. I've been trying to fix the problem by propping pillows here and there but thankfully, I'm able to fall asleep again fairly quickly if I do wake up.
Best moment of the week: This should really be best moment from the last few weeks since this post is so overdue. The best moment has been putting an offer on our first house and having it accepted! It's so exciting to think of bringing our baby home to OUR own home. The idea of having a baby is becoming more and more real!
Movement: The movement is becoming more and more pronounced. I feel him rolling around all the time and a lot of the time I can see it too which is crazy because my entire stomach moves. I still LOVE feeling his movements though. They aren't painful yet! And both my mom and DJ's mom have gotten to feel his movements too although I have found the little dude to have a bit of stage fright. He'll be moving like crazy and then as soon as someone else tries to feel him, he'll either stop completely or just give a little nudge. What a stinker.
Food cravings: I've still got a major sweet tooth. I love fruit and, of course, the less healthier things like cake, cookies, and other homemade goodies that I've been getting a plethora of lately since I've been visiting my parents and inlaws.
Gender: Boy
What I miss: Wine! I knew I would miss this once summer hit. I've never been a huge wine/beer drinker in the first place, but I do enjoy a glass once in awhile so I've missed not being able to have one with my mom on the deck or with my mother-in-law at her home while I've been in Rapid. Oh well. Small sacrifice!
What I am looking forward to: In the more immediate future - more baby showers! And in the little further immediate future - moving into our new house!!
Weekly wisdom: I thought it was kind of funny today at the furniture store while shopping for a glider for the nursery when the salesman said that I should start "training" my baby now, in utero, to enjoy a rocking chair versus riding in the car. I didn't quite understand everything he was talking about but the general idea was that he thought babies got used to certain things while in the womb and that's how they would be comforted once they were born as well. So if I wanted a rocking chair to soothe the little dude then I had better start a-rockin' now because so far all I've done is ride around in a car all over the country. The last thing I want my kid to do is demand midnight car rides.
Milestones: Little dude is like 2 whole pounds now! What a chunker! And he's about 14.5 inches long. It's amazing, too, that if for some reason he was born right now, he would have a pretty good chance of surviving. Although I don't know if I would, at least mentally. I am SO not there yet. Holy cow. I need about 12 more weeks to prepare. Please God.

Lightbulb!

I was reading the Other People's Chicken blog and a post she wrote about gardenias hit me like a ton of bricks. (I also must credit the lovely picture above to Miss Chicken.) Here's a part of the post:

I know it might seem strange, me having a crush on a flowering shrub, but I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it. The captivating fragrance, the waxy white flowers that look like they were fashioned out of fondant, the way it always knows just what to say when I've had a hard day. I'm driving the children crazy with gardenia arrangements in every room, not to mention my theatrical proclamations each time we leave the house. BEAUTIFUL! I yell as we pass the shrub each morning on our way out the door, sometimes forcing them to stop and inhale. I feel so lucky, and yet-it's only for a while. We're not always going to live here, that's for darn sure. In this house, this city....on earth. And I don't want to miss a thing, not anymore, so I'm going to savor it all. Right down to the gardenias.  


That's how I've been feeling!! I finally have an answer to my unspoken question! I've been smelling (more like hyperventilating) this oh-so-amazing, wonderful, intoxicating scent for some time now and although I didn't know what it was as it wafted through our open windows, I knew I never wanted it to go away. Ever. The scent alone was making me weepy to leave Knoxville because I just know they weren't going to have air that smells like this in brown, windy Wyoming. And now it's been confirmed. Gardenias don't grow there. They're a southern flower. But at least I'm not alone in my magnolia-induced drunkeness. And that makes me feel a little better. Now I'm just hoping I can find a magnolia-scented candle that smells just like it does outside. Yeah right. (But for those of you who may actually know of such a thing, because I'm still going to hold to the hope that somewhere out there there IS a company that has developed a magic formula to emanate the real smells of nature and not just a poor perfumy replica, and you're familiar with this heavenly magnolia smell, seriously, PLEASE please please buy several of whatever it is and I will pay you back. With interest!! I am willing to pay big bucks to take this smell with me.)

24 Weeks - 111 days to go

This week: 24 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Let's put it this way...I'm on track to set records... As of yesterday I have gained 19 pounds. The pregnancy books all say that I should gain a TOTAL of 25 pounds for the ENTIRE pregnancy. Yeaaaah.
Sleep: Not too shabby. I get hot flashes periodically in the middle of the night because my preggers pillow keeps me plenty warm so I have to stay uncovered for awhile to cool off but it hasn't been bad enough that I can't sleep.
Best moment of the week: My coworkers had a baby shower for me over the lunch hour today. It was so thoughtful and so sweet because I felt like it was something they didn't have to do. I barely work directly with them and we only talk to each other periodically so I didn't form any strong relationships with any of them. And yet, they wanted me to feel appreciated and they totally did a good job! And there were cupcakes. 'Nuff said.

Also, although this wouldn't normally be considered a "best" moment, I had my glucose test yesterday and the drink that I had to take wasn't NEAR as bad as everyone said it would be. I was very nervous about that and was very pleasantly surprised to find it palatable.
Movement: Constant. Within the last couple of days, the kicks and movements in general have been getting stronger. Sometimes I feel movement from both sides of my belly at the same time which is just straaange. And I can often feel just movement inside without even seeing or feeling any kicks from the outside. That's also really strange. I still mistake some of the movement for something else like just general stomach bubbles or body twinges but then I remind myself that no, it's actually a baby.
Food cravings: Movie popcorn which has initiated two seperate dates to the movies the past two weekends. That's like the most we've gone almost the entire 9 months we've lived here! But like all the other cravings, I'm over it now. No more popcorn for me. It doesn't even sound good. The sugar cravings are even getting a tiny bit better but that one definitely holds the record so far for longest craving in my pregnancy.
Gender: Boy
What I miss: Being able to bend over or move without feeling like I'm taxing myself. Seriously, I feel every pound that I've gained; it's ridiculous. Packing for our move has been quite the chore. I'm really only good for about two hours at a time and then I've gotta take a rest. (I don't think DJ minds that part one bit!)
What I am looking forward to: Preparing my new house for the baby - I can't wait to decorate a little space for him and set up all his clothes and toys and supplies in organized little drawers and containers. I'm also looking forward to getting our cloth diapers and mentally preparing myself for that whole process.
Weekly wisdom: Something I've been hearing a lot lately is to take it easy when packing and moving to Wyoming. Well-meaning advice for sure but it's hard to know what's "taking it easy" and what's overdoing it. I'm just trying to listen to my body. Hummmmmmmmmm... ("Listening to my body" always sounds so hippiesh to me even though I know it's true.)
Milestones: We have a little 12 incher now. He actually might be smaller than that given his genetics but I'd like to think that he's at least a foot long now. I'd also like to point out at this point that although I'm expecting them at some point, so far, no stretch marks!! Woo hoo! I have started to lotion up at night though since it feels like I'm growing more and more, but I know nothing will stop the inevitable. But oh man, that cocoa butter does smell good!

Becoming one with nature - Part 2

After the previous weekend was such a disappointment from being stormed out, we decided to postpone our packing for one more weekend and try camping again. And this time, it was great for all 24 hours. Instead of just the 4 we enjoyed the weekend before.

We loaded up the car once again and this time remembered to buy our firewood before we got to the campground. Good looking firewood, huh?


We successfully set up our cozy tent again. Well, DJ did and I took pictures.


And then it was time to reeeelax. And take more pictures.




Oh, see that fire? I should mention that DJ started that fire with no matches. He's an old pro now ya know. What can I say? Just poof! Let there be fire!

Ok, some old coals that were left smoking in the pit may have helped a little but still...impressive, eh?


Maia did some exploring. I think she has the easiest job of any of us of becoming one with nature. She fits right in.








More chillaxin'...




And then it was time for a little hike to the lake that we never even got to see on our last trip to the campground.



Goooorgeous!!!

It was as beautiful as we'd been told. There was a great little path that went all the way around the lake but that was about 3.5 miles so we just went a little ways. We found a huge spillway that had a cement bridge going across it and made that our turnaround point. It was a beautiful walk through the woods and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. Not too hot, not too cold. Juuuuust right.









After the hike, it was time for some very important matters to be taken care of. And that would be...

...roasted marshmallows. Myfirst couple of attempts resulted in burnt marshmallows.

But I got better as the night wore on. By the end of the night, not only were the coals perfect, but they aided in roasting perfectly brown marshmallows. DJ, on the other hand, burns his marshmallows, on purpose. I've never heard of such a crazy notion.

The rest of the night was perfectly uneventful. It got very cold at night but our tent was oh so cozy. I was also hoping and praying that, for once, I wouldn't have to get up in the middle of the night, as is the usual these days, to make a trek to the bathroom but, no such luck. I got to enjoy the campground during even the wee hours of the night.

It was a beautiful campround, a wonderful experience and one that we hope to repeat again once we get to Wyoming!

Becoming one with nature

DJ and I decided to get a camping trip in before we left the beautiful Smoky mountains. Our first attempt was going splendidly -- we found the perfect site with only one visible neighbor, we got the tent set up for the first time with no problems (or arguments),

we got a great campfire going also with no arguments (we tend to argue a lot when we don't know what we're doing, or rather when one or the other person thinks they know what they are doing and doesn't think the other person does),

we made some mac & cheese with DJ's new Jet Boil, improvising where necessary when we realized we forgot certain things,

and we cooked some hot dogs after I whittled a stick with some scissors that we could (sort of) lodge the hot dog on long enough to get some heat on it.

It was all so great and sure, we knew there was a little rain in the forecast but heck, we had one weekend to make use of our new camping supplies in the great Tennessee wilderness and I was not about to let a little rain spoil our plans.

AND THEN....

The weather decided it didn't care what kind of stubborn will I was planning to exude in order to become one with nature, and it let loose its fury anyway. Or rather, the campground host notified us, and the rest of the campground, that all heck was going to break loose any minute in the form of 75 mph winds and a tornado watch and that we should definitely consider leaving.

LEAVING?!?! Wha...

But, but...we just set everything up, my perfectly padded bed was waiting for me to sleep on it, marshmallows were calling my name from the trunk of the car, we hadn't even seen the beautiful gorgeous lake that we had heard so much about.

My mind started working. Maybe we can tough it out. I mean, really how strong are 75 mph winds anyway?? I'm sure our trusty little tent could handle it - it wasn't even fluttering with the breezes as it was. And then we were told that last time they had to take shelter in the bathrooms, there were only 50 mph winds and these were expected to be at least 20 mph faster. Ummm yeah....that's all we needed to hear. Let's get the heck out of here!! We probably set a record for how fast we got everything packed in, rolled up and thrown back into the car before leaving a puff a dust in our wake as we shot out of the campground, followed by many others who also decided to make the same kind of getaway.

We made it back Knoxville as the rain came down, mind you, no winds were playing a part in the part of the storm that we saw, but we decided it was better to be safe than sorry and the radio stations were saying that there was a huge storm coming. We were so disappointed. We had spent a total of 4 hours at the campground.

So we decided to try it again the next weekend... (to be continued)