Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014 in review

This year was jam packed full of FUN and FAMILY! Two of my favorite things.

Here's my favorite memories from 2014... 

We went on our first kid-free vacation.

 

Our kitchen got a major facelift.

 
 
We celebrated Josh's 33rd birthday.

 

I threw my sister-in-law a baby shower!

 

Jacob got to ride on Thomas!

 

We celebrated Easter with family. 

 

Josh knocked me up

 

We celebrated Mother's Day and Father's Day. 

 

Jacob turned TWO and had a fun construction party!

 

We went on another kid-free vacation.

 

We celebrated my BIG 3-0 in a little way. (And I was totally okay with it)

 

We had our SIXTH wedding anniversary!

 

Jacob started school and continues to LOVE it!

 

We took our annual trip to the State Fair. 

 

We prepared for our second little gentleman. 

 

We celebrated Thanksgiving with family and a  H U G E  baby bump. 

 

Judson made his big debut. 

 

We celebrated Christmas and sent out late holiday cards and Judd's birth announcement. 

 
Christmas 2014 // Happy Holidays + Judd's Birth Announcement

I happen to be one of those women who hates being pregnant. I know it's a beautiful thing and I really am so grateful that I can get pregnant and have had easy pregnancies. However, I still hate being pregnant. I just don't feel beautiful or myself at all. So, being pregnant most of this year was kinda a bummer for me. But what's a few months in the long run?

I look forward to 2015 for so many reasons, but mostly I'm excited to watch our family adjust and figure out how to be a mom to 2.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Happy Holidays + Judd's Birth Announcement

Now that all our holiday cards / birth announcements have been delivered, I thought I'd share it here too. It's also a sneak peak at baby Judson's newborn photos, which I cannot wait to share!!

Wishing you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

 
 

Friday, December 26, 2014

Christmas 2014

This Christmas was relaxing but high-maintenance all at once. I guess that's the best way to describe the newborn phase in general, huh?
 
We originally planned on having all the family over on Christmas Eve for a little brunch (thrown by my mom and MIL), but both the boys had colds and I didn't want my niece to come over and get sick too. So, my parents and sister were the only ones to join us. It was perfect! We opened presents, ate breakfast casserole, cheesecake and cookies, played with all of Jakey's new toys, and snuggled my favorite present, Mr. Judd.
 




On Christmas Day, we just hung around the house as a family of four (EEK- still love saying that!) and played with Jacob's toys and watched movies.


Since Jacob opened all the gifts from us and grandparents on Christmas Eve, he just opened Santa's gifts on Christmas Day. It actually worked out great, and I hope we can do that every year moving forward. I think he was able to really focus on the gifts by spreading them out over two days.

Santa brought Jacob a Mack truck (from Cars) and several die cast cars to go in the hauler. It's what he's been saying he wanted for months now, and I think he was pretty happy!

 

I made chocolate monkey bread, a la Mix & Match Mama. It was delicious, but HUGE! We barely put a dent in it.


We attempted to get a picture of the boys in their matching pajamas, but Jacob was being a turd and then Judd peed on himself. This was the best we could do. :)


 
 
And then Judd had a wardrobe change, which I had to document because it's his FIRST CHRISTMAS! Those eyebrows...

 
And lastly, we finally let Jacob open his big present from his Coco (my MIL). He was totally scared of the Big Wheel at first, but warmed up to it and took a few laps around the house. He's such a crack up!


Anyways, I hope y'all had a lovely Christmas with lots of family time and yummy food! I feel so incredibly blessed this year, but can't help but look forward to next year and how much fun it'll be!
 

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Judson is Here!

The past week has been such a whirlwind! Phew! But I'm happy to report we're 1 week into being a family of 4 and we're all still alive!

Before I forget, I want to jot down all the details of Judd's labor and delivery. It was very similar to Jacob's, just an hour faster!

We checked into our room at 7:45am and I put on my gown and answered a ton of questions. 


At 8:45am, the nurse started my pitocin via IV. It took awhile for me to feel any substantial contractions and I believe the pitocin was at a 12 by then (it can go all the way to 40, but a woman ready to have her baby only needs 20).

At 11am, my OB arrived to check on me. I was still 1cm but my cervix had thinned a bit. She attempted to break my water, which was super painful. She used a foot long plastic stick (and her arm hand) to stab the sac. According to her, she was able to nick the sac but didn't break it completely. Throughout the next few hours, I had a slow trickle of water, especially during contractions.


The next few hours my contractions started getting much more painful, especially in my back. I walked around a bit, sat on the birthing ball and even clawed Josh's back to help through the contractions. But ultimately, they won. I got my epidural at 2:45pm. I had labored for 6 hours, and felt like I had gone just as far as I could naturally. Of course, I felt huge mommy guilt (which I promised myself I wouldn't do). Just like last time. But, of course, after it kicked in, I was wondering why I didn't get it sooner. 

Once the epidural kicked in around 3pm, my nurse checked me and put my catheter in. Thank you for waiting until I was numb to do that, by the way. At that point I was almost a 4, 70-80% effaced and my water had officially broken. 

 
At 4:30pm, I was a "stretchy" 4 and 90% effaced. By this point I was getting a bit disheartened. I was just really sick of laying on that bed! So the nurse switched up my position to almost a chair-like position to use gravity. 

By 5:45pm, I was only a 6 and my nurse thought lying on my side would help. She said the baby was sideways, so maybe if I lay on my side it'll help get him down into position. I nearly fell asleep in that position! Ha!

45 minutes later she came in to check on me because from the look of the monitors (baby's heart rate was dropping slightly during my contractions) it looked like I was ready to start pushing. Start pushing?! I was only a 6 last time you checked! Ahhh...sound familiar?? 
 
Sure enough, I was ready! Based on my last labor, she didn't want to do any practice pushes, so she gave me another hit of the epidural and called my OB. 

In the meantime, the room was prepped and family was called. Shift change was approaching, but the nurse that had been with us all day decided to stick around and take pictures for us. So glad she did, because she really captured everything beautifully!

Once my OB arrived, she geared up and I started pushing. 9 pushes later, exactly like with Jacob, sweet Judson was born! 
 
 
December 10, 2014 at 7:07pm. 7lbs. 15oz., 20". His APGAR scores were 9 and 9 and his jaundice level was 3.9. 

 
My OB put him directly on my chest and I kissed and loved on him for a few minutes before Josh cut the cord and the baby team took him for evaluation. 




Over the next 2 days we recovered in the hospital and had a few guests. Including the best big brother in the entire world.

 
My heart actually explodes with happiness when I look at this picture. I've had a lot of guilt over the past few weeks and especially now that we're home from the hospital. I just pray that Jacob knows how much we love him and how important he is. But looking at this picture, it reassures me that giving him a brother is ultimately the best present ever and we are doing the right thing.

According to our parents, Jacob was so excited to come to the hospital to "check on mommy and daddy and to see Judson". I could see it in his eyes. He really is the sweetest little boy and I thank God every day for him!


On Monday we took our first trip out as a family of 4 to see the pediatrician. Judson weighed 7lbs. 11oz. (he was down to 7lbs. 7oz. when we left the hospital), so he had gained 4oz. since leaving the hospital. We had a few concerns, including a wheezing sound that he makes and a bit of a gargle when he nurses. She said the wheezing was due to a soft trachea, which will harden over time. The gargle is because his suck-swallow-breathe pattern isn't quite in-sync yet, which I also think is making it harder for him to nurse. Its not that he's a bad nurser AT ALL (my nipples haven't gotten swore once), but it just seems like he's not as strong as Jacob, so he's clusterfeeding a lot to get full. Which she reassured me was completely normal for this stage, especially as my milk starts to come in.

So, like I said at the beginning of this post- we're home now and recovering. It's really been a blur and I'm not entirely sure what day it even is, but we're all alive and happy for the most part.

I pray that over the next month we can find a rhythm as a family of 4 and start to enjoy the time together. Right now we're deep in survival mode. I also pray we can get breastfeeding down and start to work on sleep, because I really cannot function without it.

All in all, sweet JudderBug, we love you so much already. You light up our lives and truly complete our family. I can't wait to see you evolve and grow, but right now- I'm going to enjoy your babiness while I can.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Baby #2 - 40 weeks

And just like that- another due date come and gone. As I sit here and process all the emotions running through my head, the one that sticks out most is thankfulness. I am so thankful to have had this opportunity again. That God trusts ME enough to make a baby, and then I get the privledge of being his mommy! It really doesn't get any better than that!

I'm also so so thankful to my amazing husband. My partner. My best friend. I honestly do not know how I would've made it through the last 9 months without you! You are my rock and my hero and I love you so much. 

And lastly, I'm thankful to the little boy who made me a mommy first. Thank you for loving me on my bad days (God knows we've had a handful) and forgiving me when I snapped at you. Thank you for teaching me what unconditional love is. And thank you for always bringing joy to my life. I love you, nugget! And I cannot wait for you to meet your baby brother!

Although I have to admit, I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm a bit disheartened. You go 8 months of your life willing this day to come, and when it does and you don't have a baby in your arms, its a little underwhelming. But like I said, I am so thankful to have gotten here.

 
How far along: 40 weeks
 
Baby's size: Watermelon
 
Weight gain: 33lbs.

Maternity clothes: Yes

Stretch marks: None

Sleep: Sleep has been terrible this week. My brain just won't just off and I can't get comfortable.

Gender: BOY!

Movement: LOTS! Especially at night this week.

Best moment this week: Getting things done around the house, and meeting with my OB this morning to discuss the game plan for tomorrow.

Worst moment this week: Josh had to work a full 5 days last week, so that was rough. But we survived! :)

Looking forward to: Judson's arrival!!!

Food cravings: Milk and queso :-P

Weirdest food I ate this week: Nothing, really...

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope

Labor signs: Nothing, really. Still only 1cm.

Symptoms: tired, hemorrhoids, baby brain, itchy stomach, linea negra and melasma on my face

Workouts: None at all

What I miss: I would just repeat what I said last week, because it's all still very true.

Similarities/differences between last pregnancy: Overall this pregnancy has been very very similar to the last one. Not much to complain about, really. Check out my last pregnancy at 40 weeks here.

Things that suck: Nothing!

Things that don't suck: Meeting baby TOMORROW!

Monday, December 8, 2014

Hospital Bag

I think 39 weeks 6 days is a marvelous time to pack your hospital bag! Well, that's if you're like me and have a steel trap of a vagina. I'm not bitter, promise.

Last go around I packed entirely too much stuff, for me and for the babe, so I'm trying to simplify the list this time. The good news is, if you happen to forget something, the hospital has everything you'll need for the baby. It might not be the best stuff, but it works! Here are my lists.
 
hospital bag essentials for mom
Nursing camis  I had a really good experience with these camis with Jacob, so I plan on buying a few more this time, since they do get a little nasty after a year of use! Buy a size larger than you would normally to account for your ginormous ta-tas.
Comfy pants  these are my all-time favorite lounge pants. I've been wearing them every day since about 36 weeks and plan to wear them for another 36 weeks. Ha! I so wish I was kidding. And I love that they come in long.
Open front cardigan/jacket  I prefer zippered jackets and I have several lightweight ones from ON, but they didn't have them online anymore. The one I linked to would work great too though! Anything to cover yourself up when visitors come.
Socks/slippers  either will do, I love these Sherpa booties at ON and fuzzy socks are always nice! The hospital gets very cold, so you'll want something for your tootsies.
Boppy  I can't say enough good things about the Boppy pillow! It's the best and really helps support the baby when you're delirious (and I think it'll be great to help Jacob hold the baby!).
Toiletries/makeup  as crazy as it sounds, you will want to put on a little makeup and maybe even do your hair after your first shower. It's just nice.
Pillow  and make sure you put an old, colored pillowcase on. You'll thank me later. ;)
Camera/iPhone/chargers  need I say anything about this? Just don't forget your chargers, for the love of God!

hospital bag essentials for baby
Several NB zippered sleep & plays  I prefer zippered ones because they're easier to get on and off, and I like footed ones (for obvious reasons).
Several blankets  bring the extra soft, thick blankets, baby will love them! Jacob STILL sleeps with the blanket we brought to the hospital all those years ago.
Several hats & socks  these are just nice to bring because, again, the hospital is so cold!
A present for his cool big bro  Hot Wheels are kinda a go-to around here, Jacob can't get enough! I also made a sweet book for Jacob all about the day he was born. I can't wait to give that to him!

So what do y'all think? Anything I left out? I'm sure all my southern friends are wondering where the monogrammed layette set is. Bless your hearts. 

Friday, December 5, 2014

Jacob - 2½ years


Age: 2½

Height: 29"

Weight: 36lbs.

Nicknames: Jakey (this is what he calls himself), Jake, J-bird, Boo Boo, Boosheto, Big Boy

 
Milestones: My goodness, Jacob has changed so much over the last 6 months! I chalk a lot of it up to him starting school, but he's also just growing and maturing. His communication and vocabulary is incredible! He comes up with new ideas and sentences, is so observant and is constantly pointing out all that he sees or asking what something is or what happened. He can count to 15, knows all his colors and shapes and animals, and we're working on ABCs now. He can successfully open my iPhone or iPad and get to whatever he wants (usually YouTube, DisneyJr, games or videos). He can unlock and open all the doors in our house, unless they have baby locks. We actually had to put a baby lock on the pantry door because he can now climb up the shelves and get to the cookies and pudding cups. Lord, help us! Physically, he's very strong. He can carry rather heavy stuff, he runs faster than me, can climb ladders (and shelves), takes on any and every slide at parks, and he rarely stays put when we put him in the stroller. He loves to stay active and engaged, which I can tell is going to be our biggest challenge this winter with a new baby (and we can't necessarily go out every day). Overall, I'd say he's really turning into a little person with his own personality and opinions. I love seeing him learn new things and remember it. It's such a rewarding part of the parenting process!

Sleep: Just when I thought his sleep schedule changed, he goes and changes it up again! Whew! So I don't really know what to say about that! Ha! Generally speaking though, he wakes up around 7:30-8am, takes a 1-2 hour nap and goes to bed around 8pm.


Eating: He's still very picky with what he eats. I try so hard to push healthy options, fruits and veggies, but he gravitates towards bread, pastas, cheese, milk, and sweets (just like his dad). He will eat most fruit, so we offer that as much as we can. I'd say his favorite meal is macaroni & cheese with a turkey dog and ketchup. His favorite fruit is probably either bananas or green grapes (has to be green). His favorite snacks are Pirate Booty and Goldfish, and he gets a cookie after naptime (either Oreos or Chips Ahoy). We give him a YoKids smoothie every night before bathtime and he slurps those up (but doesn't really like homemade smoothies- go figure)! In terms of liquid, he looooves his milk. He could drink milk 24/7. I try to put the milk up between meals and offer water or "gatorake", which he loves.

Clothes size: He's still wearing some 3T stuff, but I've started buying 4T.


Diaper size: Size 6 Cruisers. In terms of potty training, he doesn't really seem interested at all. He's been peeing on the potty nightly before bathtime for months now, and he occasionally will ask to go potty throughout the day, but for the most part we're still in diapers.
 
Teeth: 16 total, and he's working on his 2 year molars currently.


Favorite toy: He loves all his cars, trucks, tractors, etc. He is always carrying around his little Hot Wheels. He also loves to play in the backyard with all his little construction trucks. And he loves to play at parks.

Likes: playing outside, watching his shows on TV, playing on our iPhones or iPad, going for car rides

Dislikes: being told "no", mealtimes, when we take the electronics away


Personality: He's kind, funny, compassionate, empathetic, cautious, sensitive, obedient, silly, curious, and smart. He's very much like his daddy. He has started to show his independence through tantrums, which usually begin first thing in the morning (before mom has had her coffee- UGH!) or right after nap, and usually consist of him wanting/not wanting something...over and over...

Looking forward to: Seeing how he reacts to his new baby brother. He usually loves babies, so I'm excited about that, but we've never actually brought one home. Ha! He is such a sweet little boy though, so I think he'll do great! I'm also looking forward to the Christmas season and all that entails. He thoroughly enjoyed our trip to visit Santa, and has loved watching all the Christmas movies so far.


Overall, I just can't say enough about this little boy. He's such a sweet soul. He is so funny and energetic. He's getting so BIG! Every time I look at him, I wonder where my little baby went. He's such a joy and I really do feel like the luckiest mom in the world to have him as my son. I know the next few months are going to be tough on him, but I pray he knows how much we love him and what a blessing it is to have a sibling. Love you more than life itself, nugget!