I really challenged myself to write monthly letters to each of you, and it has just not gone as planned. It's been a while since I've actually jotted down some notes about each of you and we just got back from a very short trip to San Antonio so I thought this would be a good time.
Jessa, my beautiful Jessa! You are almost 4 years old! Almost 2 more months and it will be your birthday celebration! You talk about birthdays a lot and get very excited to go to any and every birthday party we get invited to. We have already pick out a project for your birthday party, we are going to be building bird houses with 10 of your friends this year. You have been watching Handy Manny and play with the tools ALL THE TIME! You don't have all the tools, in fact I have absolutely no idea where we even got the 3 that we do have, but we have been scouting out ebay to see if we can complete your set! You love building things, figuring out how things work... I will be shocked if you choose a career that is not in the engineering field. You are one of the smartest kids I know and shock me everyday with your memory. You have by far the best memory of anyone I have ever met... including all adults. The other day we went to Target and I gave you a list of 3 things I wanted you to help me remember. I asked you out of curiosity a week later to see if you still remembered the 3 things on my list, and at first you said you didn't then about 15 sec. later you yelled out my 3 items. It's amazing to me how you put things together. A little less than a year ago we had a guy come and fix our refrigerator. The company was GE and that next day as we were driving you yelled out "Look, that's where the refrigerator guy works!" Dad and I looked at each other so confused, looked around and saw a GE building tucked back on the side of the rode! You were just barely 3 when this happened! I could go on all day with stories about dad and I looking at each other confused only to realize you pulled off another stunt we would have never expected someone of your age to do!
You are continually asking to watch the ipad and love a wide variety of shows. The two top shows you like right now are Barbie and the Dream House and Callies Wild West. Your vocabulary is of the charts and you use the funniest words at the most appropriate times. Occasionally you'll repeat a work back to dad or I and go (in a high pitched voice) ".... what's that mean?!?!"
You have been going through a sort of a crying/whining stage recently. When you don't get your way you often find your sleep sack, run to your room and shut your door. Or you just stand there and cry. It's actually quiet frustrating and we are not afraid to tell you to stop. You do a great job playing (and taking care of) Jacen, but you are also bossy and manipulative at times. You learned from the moment he started playing with toys that if you wanted something that he was playing with you should go get another toy and say "hey jacen, don't you want to play with this?" as soon as he would drop the toy to go for the one you have, you'd pick his toy up. He is two and you are almost 4, and this still happens on a daily basis!
We are STILLLLLLL working on getting you to stop sucking your thumb. Most days when we talk about it, you end the conversation by saying "Ok mom, tomorrow I will not suck my thumb!" haha Procrastination at it's finest! It never happens though. We try, you cry, we try some more and then I just give in because I don't have the patience to fight with you all day everyday trying to hide your sleep sack!
You are growing into quiet the beautiful grown up little girl! You are tall for your age, but not too tall! You have an extremely long torso so you have been wearing 5T shirts for about a year now. Even when you were littler I put you in a lot of tunic dresses and leggings because they seemed to fit you the best and not show off your crack ;) You're welcome! You are starting to get a little booty on you but it's pretty cute! You have pretty much the perfect athletic body, and I hope you use that to your advantage to play and get involved in at least one sport. (currently you are in gymnastic and swimming lessons.) You aren't super opinionated on clothes, which is pretty great, but you will fight me to wear your Minnie Mouse or your Frozen shirt A LOT! I don't mind though because most of the time you let me dress you without complaint. When I ask you to pick out something to wear you almost 100% of the time do a fantastic job at pairing clothes together and matching colors so maybe you'll be into fashion? I have no idea! Regardless of what you do, you will always be beautiful with you sandy brown hair, golden brown eyes and the prettiest smile I have ever seen! One of our waiters this weekend said "She is such a cute girl!" :) And that you are!
I enjoy you so much Jessalynn! (or Jessa as you always correct me!) You are so much fun to be around, have the kindest heart, and I love watching you learn! You are beautiful inside and out! Thank you for being YOU!
Love,
Mommy
Jacen! Sweet Jacen! You just turned two last month! We had a Paw Patrol themed birthday party with you with a TON of friends. It was a lot of fun! Paw Patrol is by far your favorite show, except you call it "Pup Pup Goose!" When we first started watching the show there was an episode called Pup Pup Goose and Jessa would ask for it a lot. You caught on and now that's what you call Paw Patrol. You, of course, know all the pups names. Your little sweet voice is so cute to listen to when you talk, but you are so stinkin stubborn it's hard to get you to say anything when you don't want to. Currently we are working hard to get you to say "TR"uck instead of "F"uck... especially before you start school in a week or so. At first it was really funny, but now that it has lasted over a month or more and you LOVE trucks....it's getting a little frustrating. You are also pronouncing "drink" with an F sound. We are trying our best at setting your little words straight! You, like Jessa, have a blanket it's gray with chevron stripes on it and currently it's got a huge hole in it. I really need to sew it up because I don't think it will be going anywhere for a long while. You still suck your thumb but really we only see it in your mouth when you are tired, thank God!
You are on of the most hard headed and stubborn little boys I have met. You act JUST LIKE ME, and I know this will cause it to butt heads in the future. Right now though you think it's sooooo funny! The looks you give me out of the corner of your eye as you are running away from me as I try to get your dressed, trying to brush your teeth.... trying to do anything productive are absolutely hilarious. One of my most funny moments with you is you were in the back of the van playing around before we were getting ready to leave. I asked you over and over to get in your seat but you weren't listening. I threw out a threat to you (it's usually "do you want a spankin?" and the only way to get you to do ANYTHING) and your reply was in the most drawn out annoyed voice "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY MOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM."
You are very carefree and often bundled up in your own little world... until Jessa comes along. You, normally, play very well with her but the two of your recently have started fighting... A LOT! Pushing, Kicking, Hitting.... it happens a lot! At the end of the day though, you two really do well together and I'm sure will be close friends always.
You are so very different from Jessa and what we thought we knew about parenting Jessa totally changes when it comes to parenting you. You are a lover and adore physical touch. I actually would tell people when you were just weeks old that I was praying already for your wife someday because you would only be content if you were holding on to me. Your wife will need to be able to meet your need to be touched at almost every second of the day, which will be very challenging. Just a few months ago you started playing when I would drop you off places like church, MOPS or babysitters instead of insisting on being held the whole time. When I pick you up you you turn your head away from mine on my shoulder and tuck your arms underneath your body in between us and last a few mins and then it's like you are recharged! Last night we stayed in a hotel and after you feel out of your bed I decided to sleep in the bed with you and your head kept finding it's way snuggling onto my belly. It was cute, but not very comfortable for me.
Speaking of sleep, you LOVE sleep! Which is pretty great! We just transitioned you to a big boy bed and you have done fantastic! In the mornings you still call for us (mom, dad or Jessa) but as soon as we open your door you get down from your bed. You have been potty trained now since a little over a month before you turned two! You would cry and cry if you didn't get to sit on the potty everytime Jessa would go and I got tired of taking off and putting new diapers on. SOO we decided just to try it out! You had a rough 2 day start then where awesome for about a week and then we had accident after accident for about 2 weeks. After that though you have been accident free for the most part. You are still struggling with telling us if you need to poop or pee, but you always know so I guess that's what matters. "I go potty" is your catch phrase for both. You're a rock star!
Anywhere we take you Jacen, someone if not multiple people make comments about your eyelashes. In fact just this weekend we had our waitress at a Thai Restaurant we took you to pet your eyelashes! Yes PET THEM! It was very uncomfortable for all of us, but you actually didn't seem to mind that much. And if I do say so myself I think you are rather handsome and those eyelashes are pretty killer! We just buzzed your head so they actually make them look longer, and those dark brown eyes you have... well you already know how to use them to your advantage and get pretty much anything you want! You have such a gorgeous skin tone color and tan super easily. You are such a cute little guy!
I can't wait to see how you grow in the next year or two. We are just starting to see your full personality coming out recently and while I think it will be a challenging one, I'm excited to see it fully and find out what an awesome little boy you will become! Thank you for your contact hugs, laughs and smiles!
Love,
Mommy
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Sunday, February 24, 2013
To My Kiddos
I've been lacking in writing and so much has happened recently.
*Jessa- You are almost potty trained! You went a full week with hardly any wet or dirty pulls ups, but in the past few days have refused to use the potty on your own. I ordered you fancy nancy panties in hopes that motivates you a bit to keep her dry :) We will see how that works!
*Jacen- YOU"RE CRAWLING! You are all over the house! You started crawling about 3 weeks ago, just about when you turned 7 months old (Beginning of February.) It's been crazy. You had been rocking on your hands and knees for months it seemed like and then one day it just clicked. You are getting faster by the day, and I hate to admit it, but the other day I chased you around with the vacuum cleaner and had myself one of the hardest laughs of my lives! You hate the vacuum cleaner and to watch you try and crawl away as fast as you could... which is still not very fast, it was hilarious ! One day I hope you'll understand just how funny it was to watch :)
Gosh, I love you both so much it's ridiculous! You are both going through huge growth spurts and it's fun to watch. I feel like all we do is eat all day. We get up in the morning, Jacen you nurse, Jessa drink almond milk and usually you ask for a snack which I try and make it dry cereal... but you usually push for applesauce. After about an hour of being awake come breakfast time where Jessa you eat Oatmeal and a banana, each day every day. Jacen you usually have some type of baby food with a grain mixed in. Typically we have a snack before lunch, pretzels or crackers for Jessa and Puffs for Jacen. Lunch time comes and PB&J is usually your request Jessa. I think you are burnt out on Tyson chicken nuggets, so if it's not PB&J, it's a hot dog! Jacen you are still eating a lot of baby food, and a lot of cheerios which seem to keep you occupied as I prepare meals. After lunch comes a nap, and after nap comes another snack. Daddy gets home around 6 which is when we eat dinner. Jessa you used to be the best eater I had ever seen... lately though you shake your head no and say "I like that." The word don't isn't in your vocab yet, which is pretty funny :) With all this eating though comes A LOT of prep and clean up... we spend a lot of time in the kitchen!!!
Jessa you are still in love with your baby and your sleep sack.. oh ya, and barney too! You have ventured out into other areas of t.v. land, like with the show "Fresh Beat Band." Sometimes you let us (Jacen and I) watch Thomas the train or Sesame Street, but ususally 5 mins into the show you whine "Baaaaarrrrrrrrrney, mommmy, Baaaarrrrrrrrney!" Most of the time it's not worth the fight. When barney's not on t.v you have no problem turning the t.v. off, as you seem to not like it on as background noise. I'm totally ok with that! :) Your personality is coming out more and more everyday. I'm loving what I see! You have the best manners of any kid I know (which it may help that everytime you ask for anything, you don't get it without a please and a thankyou) but it's cute baby, keep it up! You're vocabulary has been on another blow up! You are talking for the most party in sentences and just tonight you surprised daddy and I by sitting down to dinner and going "Oh YUM! Couscous!" hahaha We had no idea you knew or remembered that word. With this second vocab boom you are in, you are bringing home more and more songs from school. Your fav. right now is "Jesus Loves Me" and tonight you started signing "I'm so happy, so very happy" (... I have the love of Jesus in my heart.) It's super cute and makes me smile a lot! Writing the word "cute" reminds me today I told you to go to your room so I could get out your purple shoes that matched your outfit and put them on you. As I got them out of the closet you looked and me and said "I like those! They are so cute!" It totally cracked me up!
Daddy and I are having a hard time keeping a straight face with some of the things you have been doing lately. Just today Daddy and I were getting ready in our bedroom while you and Jacen where in the living room playing. We were listening for any signs of trouble and when we heard "'mere Jacen, I change diaper" We quickly ran out only to see Jacen undressed and you undoing his diaper. Of course we can't have you doing this, so we proceeded to tell you Jacen is not your baby doll and you could hurt him... but then we quickly left the situation and died laughing in our bedroom. You truly seem to amaze us everyday!
Currentlywe I'm trying to break you of your sucking your thumb during the day! It's been a challenge and I even bought you big pacifiers to try and entertain your mouth just to keep your hands out of there. We had to take you to a dermatologist for your eczema on your hands because it was so out of control it was bleeding! You've been on a special cream for about a week and 1/2 and it's making such an improvement! YAY! Now if we could only get you sucking your thumb at nap and night time... that'd be awesome!
You respond very well to bribes! We have to bribe you for everything! "Don't you want to go to school? You can't go to school if you don't get dressed!" or " I will let you watch barney only if you don't put your thumb in your mouth. If I see your thumb in your mouth, barney gets turned off." I'm constantly trying to outsmart you, and it's exhausting to say the least!
Jacen you are so much fun and such a huge flirt! Your smile is more than contagious and your little giggle makes my heart dance. I can't believe how quickly you are growing up, and how fast you are learning to crawl, pull yourself to standing, and just the other day you were standing by only holding on to my shirt sleeve!!!! GEESH! You are starting to cruse around the furniture but are still kind of weary when it's too far of a gap in between things. You don't handle falling very well, but daddy and I make sure to set you back up quickly so you can try again and hopefully succeed! You love anything and everything that has to do with food. You have been eating real people food for about a month and half now. And celery... yep celery! is your favorite thing to chew on these days. It's awesome, I hope you always love celery because I HATE IT! :) You are still putting anything you can get your tiny hands on in your mouth! You love paper, plastic bags, i phones and door stoppers. I'm pretty sure that's how you learned to crawl was trying to get to a door stopper to pull it back and make that springing sound. HA! You WILL NOT leave Jessa's potty chair a lone and it's super annoying. You're "in trouble name" is JACEN TAUBE (which Jessa repeats all day long) and it is said very often with the word "NO! Get off the potty, that's gross and Jessa's!" It's sick baby... find a new obsession, ok?
We have found you are starting to become attached to your sleep sack... just like someone else I know. I need to quickly make you a blanket so you don't have to carry a silly sleep sack around with you all the time. That thumb, your left thumb, just like your sisters is in your mouth 24/7. WHY?!?! I really think this whole sucking your thumb thing is totally genetic! It has to be! Anyway... you have just about skipped size 9 month clothes all together. It seems like the beginning of this month you were still in 6 month sleepers and then when I switched over to 9 month sleepers, suddenly they are too small! You are definitely growing that's for sure!! We have lowered your crib since I have caught you standing after your nap, and just like your sister you never cry when you wake... you just sit and enjoy the alone time. For a few minutes at least. That's about the only time you like being alone. You may look like your daddy, but you are definitely my child. You are my shadow and anywhere I go in the house you follow. You absolutely hate being left alone in a room, even for just a few mins. If i walk out of a room, I must take you along or else you start this really sad cry and start crawling quickly to come find me. I have heard you say "Mama" and "Dada" but only a few times each. You are much more interested in physical activities than you are talking or playing with any toys for that matter. You love to be held and cuddled, and you love standing and jumping. You do well adjusting to our different routines throughout the week, and for the most party seem pretty go with the flow, which is AWESOME! You enjoy going shopping with me while Jessa's at school... as long as you have something to chew on. And you would prefer facing the world, than facing mama in those darn shopping carts! When Jessa is with us and we go grocery shopping you both love sitting in the car carts. Unfortunately you haven't quite grasped the concept of personal space and loved pulling jessa's hair, chewing on her clothes, grabbing her steering wheel all while she is yelling "STOP IT SISTER!!!" (we are still working on the difference between sister and brother. HA!) It makes for a good scene I'm sure! I love dressing you up, and I think you look the best in orange. Every time I see a sale rack, I always look for orange clothes for you. Your tummy is really sensitive and anytime you have pants on that don't have a completely elastic waist you end up throwing up. YIKES! This will be fun for the future, I am sure! I recently gave you a good size amount of yogurt freeze dried snack thing, and you proceeded to throw up for 2 straight days. I'm just going to take a shot in the dark and say you have a milk allergy just like your sister! OH YAY!
Overall you are just super fun to be around and I can't wait to continue to watch you grow!
You both are amazing, and I"m so lucky and so thankful that you are mine! I LOVE YOU BOTH!
*Jessa- You are almost potty trained! You went a full week with hardly any wet or dirty pulls ups, but in the past few days have refused to use the potty on your own. I ordered you fancy nancy panties in hopes that motivates you a bit to keep her dry :) We will see how that works!
*Jacen- YOU"RE CRAWLING! You are all over the house! You started crawling about 3 weeks ago, just about when you turned 7 months old (Beginning of February.) It's been crazy. You had been rocking on your hands and knees for months it seemed like and then one day it just clicked. You are getting faster by the day, and I hate to admit it, but the other day I chased you around with the vacuum cleaner and had myself one of the hardest laughs of my lives! You hate the vacuum cleaner and to watch you try and crawl away as fast as you could... which is still not very fast, it was hilarious ! One day I hope you'll understand just how funny it was to watch :)
Gosh, I love you both so much it's ridiculous! You are both going through huge growth spurts and it's fun to watch. I feel like all we do is eat all day. We get up in the morning, Jacen you nurse, Jessa drink almond milk and usually you ask for a snack which I try and make it dry cereal... but you usually push for applesauce. After about an hour of being awake come breakfast time where Jessa you eat Oatmeal and a banana, each day every day. Jacen you usually have some type of baby food with a grain mixed in. Typically we have a snack before lunch, pretzels or crackers for Jessa and Puffs for Jacen. Lunch time comes and PB&J is usually your request Jessa. I think you are burnt out on Tyson chicken nuggets, so if it's not PB&J, it's a hot dog! Jacen you are still eating a lot of baby food, and a lot of cheerios which seem to keep you occupied as I prepare meals. After lunch comes a nap, and after nap comes another snack. Daddy gets home around 6 which is when we eat dinner. Jessa you used to be the best eater I had ever seen... lately though you shake your head no and say "I like that." The word don't isn't in your vocab yet, which is pretty funny :) With all this eating though comes A LOT of prep and clean up... we spend a lot of time in the kitchen!!!
Jessa you are still in love with your baby and your sleep sack.. oh ya, and barney too! You have ventured out into other areas of t.v. land, like with the show "Fresh Beat Band." Sometimes you let us (Jacen and I) watch Thomas the train or Sesame Street, but ususally 5 mins into the show you whine "Baaaaarrrrrrrrrney, mommmy, Baaaarrrrrrrrney!" Most of the time it's not worth the fight. When barney's not on t.v you have no problem turning the t.v. off, as you seem to not like it on as background noise. I'm totally ok with that! :) Your personality is coming out more and more everyday. I'm loving what I see! You have the best manners of any kid I know (which it may help that everytime you ask for anything, you don't get it without a please and a thankyou) but it's cute baby, keep it up! You're vocabulary has been on another blow up! You are talking for the most party in sentences and just tonight you surprised daddy and I by sitting down to dinner and going "Oh YUM! Couscous!" hahaha We had no idea you knew or remembered that word. With this second vocab boom you are in, you are bringing home more and more songs from school. Your fav. right now is "Jesus Loves Me" and tonight you started signing "I'm so happy, so very happy" (... I have the love of Jesus in my heart.) It's super cute and makes me smile a lot! Writing the word "cute" reminds me today I told you to go to your room so I could get out your purple shoes that matched your outfit and put them on you. As I got them out of the closet you looked and me and said "I like those! They are so cute!" It totally cracked me up!
Daddy and I are having a hard time keeping a straight face with some of the things you have been doing lately. Just today Daddy and I were getting ready in our bedroom while you and Jacen where in the living room playing. We were listening for any signs of trouble and when we heard "'mere Jacen, I change diaper" We quickly ran out only to see Jacen undressed and you undoing his diaper. Of course we can't have you doing this, so we proceeded to tell you Jacen is not your baby doll and you could hurt him... but then we quickly left the situation and died laughing in our bedroom. You truly seem to amaze us everyday!
Currently
You respond very well to bribes! We have to bribe you for everything! "Don't you want to go to school? You can't go to school if you don't get dressed!" or " I will let you watch barney only if you don't put your thumb in your mouth. If I see your thumb in your mouth, barney gets turned off." I'm constantly trying to outsmart you, and it's exhausting to say the least!
Jacen you are so much fun and such a huge flirt! Your smile is more than contagious and your little giggle makes my heart dance. I can't believe how quickly you are growing up, and how fast you are learning to crawl, pull yourself to standing, and just the other day you were standing by only holding on to my shirt sleeve!!!! GEESH! You are starting to cruse around the furniture but are still kind of weary when it's too far of a gap in between things. You don't handle falling very well, but daddy and I make sure to set you back up quickly so you can try again and hopefully succeed! You love anything and everything that has to do with food. You have been eating real people food for about a month and half now. And celery... yep celery! is your favorite thing to chew on these days. It's awesome, I hope you always love celery because I HATE IT! :) You are still putting anything you can get your tiny hands on in your mouth! You love paper, plastic bags, i phones and door stoppers. I'm pretty sure that's how you learned to crawl was trying to get to a door stopper to pull it back and make that springing sound. HA! You WILL NOT leave Jessa's potty chair a lone and it's super annoying. You're "in trouble name" is JACEN TAUBE (which Jessa repeats all day long) and it is said very often with the word "NO! Get off the potty, that's gross and Jessa's!" It's sick baby... find a new obsession, ok?
We have found you are starting to become attached to your sleep sack... just like someone else I know. I need to quickly make you a blanket so you don't have to carry a silly sleep sack around with you all the time. That thumb, your left thumb, just like your sisters is in your mouth 24/7. WHY?!?! I really think this whole sucking your thumb thing is totally genetic! It has to be! Anyway... you have just about skipped size 9 month clothes all together. It seems like the beginning of this month you were still in 6 month sleepers and then when I switched over to 9 month sleepers, suddenly they are too small! You are definitely growing that's for sure!! We have lowered your crib since I have caught you standing after your nap, and just like your sister you never cry when you wake... you just sit and enjoy the alone time. For a few minutes at least. That's about the only time you like being alone. You may look like your daddy, but you are definitely my child. You are my shadow and anywhere I go in the house you follow. You absolutely hate being left alone in a room, even for just a few mins. If i walk out of a room, I must take you along or else you start this really sad cry and start crawling quickly to come find me. I have heard you say "Mama" and "Dada" but only a few times each. You are much more interested in physical activities than you are talking or playing with any toys for that matter. You love to be held and cuddled, and you love standing and jumping. You do well adjusting to our different routines throughout the week, and for the most party seem pretty go with the flow, which is AWESOME! You enjoy going shopping with me while Jessa's at school... as long as you have something to chew on. And you would prefer facing the world, than facing mama in those darn shopping carts! When Jessa is with us and we go grocery shopping you both love sitting in the car carts. Unfortunately you haven't quite grasped the concept of personal space and loved pulling jessa's hair, chewing on her clothes, grabbing her steering wheel all while she is yelling "STOP IT SISTER!!!" (we are still working on the difference between sister and brother. HA!) It makes for a good scene I'm sure! I love dressing you up, and I think you look the best in orange. Every time I see a sale rack, I always look for orange clothes for you. Your tummy is really sensitive and anytime you have pants on that don't have a completely elastic waist you end up throwing up. YIKES! This will be fun for the future, I am sure! I recently gave you a good size amount of yogurt freeze dried snack thing, and you proceeded to throw up for 2 straight days. I'm just going to take a shot in the dark and say you have a milk allergy just like your sister! OH YAY!
Overall you are just super fun to be around and I can't wait to continue to watch you grow!
You both are amazing, and I"m so lucky and so thankful that you are mine! I LOVE YOU BOTH!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Hi!
Look here I am, alive after what seems like 6 years, but really it's only been 6 months. So much has happened, kids are growing, sweet moments are being shared... and I'm not documenting a thing. I loose!
I've been feeling like I owe Jacen a letter, here it goes!
Baby Boy,
Please forgive me as the lack of letters from your first year are not in the same number as your sisters. Being the second child has many hardships, lack of documentation on anything you do is one of them. Nevertheless, I love you so much!
I had many friends tell me that my love for a "boy" would be so much different than my love for a "girl" aka, your sister Jessa. I never believe them, and after the first three months of watching you cry out, quite possibly 24 hours a day, I wondered if this is what they meant... maybe I wasn't going to love you as much? HA! Little did I know we turned a corner and here you are at almost 7 months old and I just can't get enough of you! I love showing you off, I love dressing you up, I love making you smile, making you giggle, watching you coo, watching you roll, and sit up and stand and... yes start to crawl. I love kissing your head, your arms, your feet, your fingers and toes and sometimes even your lips too. (go ahead, "ewwww yuck!") I love every ounce of you! I love that God has made you such a boy that when I change your diaper you look at me with these goofy eyes and laugh this deep belly laugh as I clean you. I love watching you play, watching you sleep, watching you eat. You are notorious for grabbing a hold of my shirt, my hair, my necklace trying to get closer and closer to me. Jacen, we have developed this bond that I never want to rid of. I have this love for you that I"m not sure i'll ever be able to explain. I love you and Jessa both so much, but both very differently. I find my self gazing into your eyes wondering what your future will look like, what it will be like to walk you down the aisle as you meet your bride. Will I have done a good job raising you, teaching you, making sure you are the best man you can be. What will it be like watching you become a man, a father? I promise you, I will teach you everything I know about women that's important, and I will teach you how to love, respect and support a family of your own. You, someday, someday far far away, will be a man.
Currently at almost 7 months old:
*You have been sitting up unassisted for almost 2 whole months.
*You have been getting in the crawling position and rocking for a solid month now.
*You haven't mastered crawling by any means, but you do a darn good backwards scoot!
*I find you in a lot of places backed into a corner, it's super cute!
*Your favorite thing to do is jump... you love love love the doorway jumper.
*You get scared easily, and at first sight of a dog screamed your head off.
*Now dogs make you laugh
*You LOVE LOVE LOVE food!
* We started you on solids a little before your 5th month birthday. I knew I was in trouble the day I gave you two "MUM MUMs" and you screamed and screamed and screamed when you picked up the packaging realizing there was no more.
*You are in complete awe of your sister. You watch her every move. You like to do what she is doing, and if you can't you study her while she's doing it.
*You love the t.v, and yes, you even love Barney too!
*You have been sick a lot and left us believing you have a diary allergy too, but we still are not for sure of that.
*You smile A LOT! and are really fun to play dress up with!
*Blue really isn't your color, but you look pretty stunning in Orange. I"m on the search for all really cute boy outfits in Orange!
*I miss you when you are sleeping, and have been sleeping through the night consistently for about a month now. We had a little hiccup during the holidays with traveling and sickness and such... but we are back to a solid bedtime of 6 or 6:30 and a wake up time around 12 hours later. THANK YOU FOR THIS!
*You HATE to be alone, when I walk out of the room and leave you alone you cry... hard... with real tears! Don't you know I'm just around the corner?
*If I would let you, I think you would be content with just sitting in my lap for the whole day. How long will it be like this for? Will you love me for forever?
My world has completely changed since you entered it! It was a rough first few months. The adjustment to having two kids was less than thrilling, and you were so unhappy for the first few months too! But we made it through, and I can't picture my life with out you in it. I hope for you, that you and Jessa remain great friends and grow up to be extremely close. I do not regret our decision to have you two so close together at all. It's been such a blessing.
I'm so excited to see what the next few months bring us! And of course to get to snuggle you some more :)
I love you so so so much!
Love, Mommy!
Look here I am, alive after what seems like 6 years, but really it's only been 6 months. So much has happened, kids are growing, sweet moments are being shared... and I'm not documenting a thing. I loose!
I've been feeling like I owe Jacen a letter, here it goes!
Baby Boy,
Please forgive me as the lack of letters from your first year are not in the same number as your sisters. Being the second child has many hardships, lack of documentation on anything you do is one of them. Nevertheless, I love you so much!
I had many friends tell me that my love for a "boy" would be so much different than my love for a "girl" aka, your sister Jessa. I never believe them, and after the first three months of watching you cry out, quite possibly 24 hours a day, I wondered if this is what they meant... maybe I wasn't going to love you as much? HA! Little did I know we turned a corner and here you are at almost 7 months old and I just can't get enough of you! I love showing you off, I love dressing you up, I love making you smile, making you giggle, watching you coo, watching you roll, and sit up and stand and... yes start to crawl. I love kissing your head, your arms, your feet, your fingers and toes and sometimes even your lips too. (go ahead, "ewwww yuck!") I love every ounce of you! I love that God has made you such a boy that when I change your diaper you look at me with these goofy eyes and laugh this deep belly laugh as I clean you. I love watching you play, watching you sleep, watching you eat. You are notorious for grabbing a hold of my shirt, my hair, my necklace trying to get closer and closer to me. Jacen, we have developed this bond that I never want to rid of. I have this love for you that I"m not sure i'll ever be able to explain. I love you and Jessa both so much, but both very differently. I find my self gazing into your eyes wondering what your future will look like, what it will be like to walk you down the aisle as you meet your bride. Will I have done a good job raising you, teaching you, making sure you are the best man you can be. What will it be like watching you become a man, a father? I promise you, I will teach you everything I know about women that's important, and I will teach you how to love, respect and support a family of your own. You, someday, someday far far away, will be a man.
Currently at almost 7 months old:
*You have been sitting up unassisted for almost 2 whole months.
*You have been getting in the crawling position and rocking for a solid month now.
*You haven't mastered crawling by any means, but you do a darn good backwards scoot!
*I find you in a lot of places backed into a corner, it's super cute!
*Your favorite thing to do is jump... you love love love the doorway jumper.
*You get scared easily, and at first sight of a dog screamed your head off.
*Now dogs make you laugh
*You LOVE LOVE LOVE food!
* We started you on solids a little before your 5th month birthday. I knew I was in trouble the day I gave you two "MUM MUMs" and you screamed and screamed and screamed when you picked up the packaging realizing there was no more.
*You are in complete awe of your sister. You watch her every move. You like to do what she is doing, and if you can't you study her while she's doing it.
*You love the t.v, and yes, you even love Barney too!
*You have been sick a lot and left us believing you have a diary allergy too, but we still are not for sure of that.
*You smile A LOT! and are really fun to play dress up with!
*Blue really isn't your color, but you look pretty stunning in Orange. I"m on the search for all really cute boy outfits in Orange!
*I miss you when you are sleeping, and have been sleeping through the night consistently for about a month now. We had a little hiccup during the holidays with traveling and sickness and such... but we are back to a solid bedtime of 6 or 6:30 and a wake up time around 12 hours later. THANK YOU FOR THIS!
*You HATE to be alone, when I walk out of the room and leave you alone you cry... hard... with real tears! Don't you know I'm just around the corner?
*If I would let you, I think you would be content with just sitting in my lap for the whole day. How long will it be like this for? Will you love me for forever?
My world has completely changed since you entered it! It was a rough first few months. The adjustment to having two kids was less than thrilling, and you were so unhappy for the first few months too! But we made it through, and I can't picture my life with out you in it. I hope for you, that you and Jessa remain great friends and grow up to be extremely close. I do not regret our decision to have you two so close together at all. It's been such a blessing.
I'm so excited to see what the next few months bring us! And of course to get to snuggle you some more :)
I love you so so so much!
Love, Mommy!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
1 year, 2 years and everything in between.
One year ago today my baby was turning 1.
One year ago today we found out we were expecting #2.
It's been a crazy year.
Jessalynn Jean, where do I start with you.
*You are so independent these days.
*Reading books and playing with your baby dolls are your favorite activities
*You still watch Barney daily, although I do limit it to two barneys
*Your vocabulary is out of this world. Everyday I swear you pick up at least 5 new words.
*You are starting to put sentences together, which is extremely fun!
*You have an opinion about most things now, and "NO!" is now being said more than ever... you are definitely a two year old!
*You are still sleeping in a crib, even though most of your friends have moved to big girl beds... I like it this way. You have never attempted to escape, so I figure why move you?
*You don't sleep in a sleepsack anymore, you kept unzipping it and getting out of it in the middle of the night... You HATE to be covered with a blanket though.
*You are super in love with your brother. I see you two being best friends.
*We had a birthday party for you back in Indiana, it of course was Barney themed. But we did celebrate your real birthday today with birthday pancakes and a dinner out... which you refused to eat?!?!?
*You LOVE LOVE LOVE school and your friend Ali that you talk about ALL THE TIME!
*You are a pro at "twinkle twinkle little star" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider"
*You are so hard to get a picture of, always so busy and never wanting to show a smile
*If you do not grow up to be an engineer, I will be SHOCKED! You LOVE figuring out how things work... and you're two!
*You make me smile everyday!
Jacen Terry
*You are 4 months old! HOLY COW!
*You just started rolling over as of three days ago. You can roll both directions and are ALWAYS on your tummy.
*You smile all the time, and have turned out to be such a happy baby when your tummy is feeling good.
*You are still on your Zantac and Probiotics, when we miss a dose... we know!
*You are in awe of your sister watching her every move.
*We discovered today that you can sit up in the tripod position WOW
*You are bigger than some of your friends that are months older than you!
*You wear size 6 month clothes, and size 3 diapers
*You have been such a blessing to our family, hard work... but you're wonderful!
*You have the most pretty eyelashes around, and your eyes change color each day, just like daddy's!
*You laugh when I kiss you and you LOVE attention
*You are turning out to have a lot of my personality
*You had your first trip to the ER at the beginning of the month. You had some crazy virus which gave you some crazy rash, and a crazy fever... it was CRAZY! :)
*You are sleeping better and better, which makes mommy the happiest mommy EVER!
*We Love you Lots!
One year ago today we found out we were expecting #2.
It's been a crazy year.
Jessalynn Jean, where do I start with you.
*You are so independent these days.
*Reading books and playing with your baby dolls are your favorite activities
*You still watch Barney daily, although I do limit it to two barneys
*Your vocabulary is out of this world. Everyday I swear you pick up at least 5 new words.
*You are starting to put sentences together, which is extremely fun!
*You have an opinion about most things now, and "NO!" is now being said more than ever... you are definitely a two year old!
*You are still sleeping in a crib, even though most of your friends have moved to big girl beds... I like it this way. You have never attempted to escape, so I figure why move you?
*You don't sleep in a sleepsack anymore, you kept unzipping it and getting out of it in the middle of the night... You HATE to be covered with a blanket though.
*You are super in love with your brother. I see you two being best friends.
*We had a birthday party for you back in Indiana, it of course was Barney themed. But we did celebrate your real birthday today with birthday pancakes and a dinner out... which you refused to eat?!?!?
*You LOVE LOVE LOVE school and your friend Ali that you talk about ALL THE TIME!
*You are a pro at "twinkle twinkle little star" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider"
*You are so hard to get a picture of, always so busy and never wanting to show a smile
*If you do not grow up to be an engineer, I will be SHOCKED! You LOVE figuring out how things work... and you're two!
*You make me smile everyday!
Jacen Terry
*You are 4 months old! HOLY COW!
*You just started rolling over as of three days ago. You can roll both directions and are ALWAYS on your tummy.
*You smile all the time, and have turned out to be such a happy baby when your tummy is feeling good.
*You are still on your Zantac and Probiotics, when we miss a dose... we know!
*You are in awe of your sister watching her every move.
*We discovered today that you can sit up in the tripod position WOW
*You are bigger than some of your friends that are months older than you!
*You wear size 6 month clothes, and size 3 diapers
*You have been such a blessing to our family, hard work... but you're wonderful!
*You have the most pretty eyelashes around, and your eyes change color each day, just like daddy's!
*You laugh when I kiss you and you LOVE attention
*You are turning out to have a lot of my personality
*You had your first trip to the ER at the beginning of the month. You had some crazy virus which gave you some crazy rash, and a crazy fever... it was CRAZY! :)
*You are sleeping better and better, which makes mommy the happiest mommy EVER!
*We Love you Lots!
Monday, September 24, 2012
June 24th--The After Story.
I just went back and re-read an entry that I labeled June 24th. Basically, in a nut shell I wrote "Please God, give me a few more days with just my daughter. I"m scared and not ready to become a mom of 2 yet. I have fear I will suck at living life."
Here we are.. 3 months later, it's September 24th. I have survived! In fact, all 4 of us Taube's have all survived!!! God is good!
I remember on the night of June 30th, I spoke this sentence out loud... "I would so rather be up nursing a child right now than sitting here being pregnant and not being able to sleep."
Well, the next day my wish came true. I was so not ready up to that point. I feel like I had just really been keeping my legs crossed, hoping, wishing, praying for him not to come. I finally came to a point where I said, I have got to do this! It's time. I truly feel at that moment I was able to let my body relax, and God said "lets do this!"
I would be lying if I told you these 3 months haven't been challenging. In fact, go back a post or two and see for yourself! HA! Being a mother of two is so much harder than I ever could have imagined... and then you add the crying! Everyday I find it challenging to keep my cool, but after three months I'm finally feeling it get easier. I've done a lot of stuff just the 3 of us... I"m not scared anymore! Jacen has finally decided to enjoy life, and boy does he love it! The kid seriously smiles ALL THE TIME! The smiles, the calmness and the absences of the stress of the unknown makes it so much easier... but by no means is it easy.
The house is ALWAYS a mess, I am constantly changing diapers, someone is always eating or drinking, and if someone wants to do something with us... please call at least 3 hours ahead because that's how long it takes us to get out the door! It's not a glamorous lifestyle by any means, and I hardly even know who my husband is anymore... but we survived... we are still surviving! I'm not a terrible mom even though I have my moments of way too loud yelling. Jessa has adjusted to the lack of one on one attention just fine and happens to LOVE her mothers day out program she is in. We are making do day by day, and each day I kiss both of my kids heads, multiple times, and thank God for such precious babies. I am so blessed.
Here we are.. 3 months later, it's September 24th. I have survived! In fact, all 4 of us Taube's have all survived!!! God is good!
I remember on the night of June 30th, I spoke this sentence out loud... "I would so rather be up nursing a child right now than sitting here being pregnant and not being able to sleep."
Well, the next day my wish came true. I was so not ready up to that point. I feel like I had just really been keeping my legs crossed, hoping, wishing, praying for him not to come. I finally came to a point where I said, I have got to do this! It's time. I truly feel at that moment I was able to let my body relax, and God said "lets do this!"
I would be lying if I told you these 3 months haven't been challenging. In fact, go back a post or two and see for yourself! HA! Being a mother of two is so much harder than I ever could have imagined... and then you add the crying! Everyday I find it challenging to keep my cool, but after three months I'm finally feeling it get easier. I've done a lot of stuff just the 3 of us... I"m not scared anymore! Jacen has finally decided to enjoy life, and boy does he love it! The kid seriously smiles ALL THE TIME! The smiles, the calmness and the absences of the stress of the unknown makes it so much easier... but by no means is it easy.
The house is ALWAYS a mess, I am constantly changing diapers, someone is always eating or drinking, and if someone wants to do something with us... please call at least 3 hours ahead because that's how long it takes us to get out the door! It's not a glamorous lifestyle by any means, and I hardly even know who my husband is anymore... but we survived... we are still surviving! I'm not a terrible mom even though I have my moments of way too loud yelling. Jessa has adjusted to the lack of one on one attention just fine and happens to LOVE her mothers day out program she is in. We are making do day by day, and each day I kiss both of my kids heads, multiple times, and thank God for such precious babies. I am so blessed.
Jacen's Birth Story, as previously posted on Facebook
Where do I begin? (there is a short version for those non readers at the bottom)
12 days before Jacen’s Birthday I went to my 37 week apt. At that apt. I found out I was 3cm dilated and almost 80% effaced. The nurses laughed at me that I was making an appointment for a week later because they were for sure that I would deliver within the week. Well the week went by and I showed up for my 38 week apt. found out I was now at a 4 and almost fully effaced. This was great and all, but why wasn’t I in labor? The days kept passing by with a mild contraction or two throughout each day. Nothing was steady and I was quickly becoming extremely irritable about the whole ordeal. After each day of “waiting” wondering if today would be the day I decided enough was enough and I was just going to live normally and if my water broke while in public, than I would deal with that then.
Cue Sunday July 1st.
As I get up and start my normal routine of Sunday morning and trying to get out the door by 9, I realize that I’m feeling a bit off today. Of course in the back of my mind I’m curious if “Today is the day?” but have already learned by waiting 12 long days that we weren’t playing this game today. I determined to get to church and sit in those uncomfortable chairs for an hour, just to get out of the house. After timing a few contractions that morning that were 7 mins apart we decided it may be best to stay home. I continued to feel off, and contractions would come and go with no pattern and varying intensity I decided just to lay down and take a nap to see where it brings me. My contractions soon stop all together and at the end of my nap I started going pretty haywire on Nick telling him how sick I was of thinking this was it, and having contractions stop. I was so fed up I said, “I’m GOING TO TARGET TO WALK! Are you coming?” Ha! Nick and I made laps around Target buying things we really didn’t need but felt obligated to have in our cart as we rounded the aisles over and over again. When enough was enough and I clearly wasn’t starting my labor anytime soon, we headed for home. I discussed with Nick going to a movie night with the girls from our church and we decided we should go grab some dinner and then I could head over that way. All 4 of us (my SIL Sarah and Jessa included) got in the car and decided Arby’s was on the menu. Shortly after we started driving I started to feel really strange. We pulled into the parking lot and decided to just grab food and head home instead of eating inside which made Nick mention stopping at Culvers as well so he could get Chicken fingers… since we were taking dinner home. After practically yelling at him there was no way I was going to sit in that car to go through the Culver’s drive through and looking down realizing I had a white knuckle grip on the seat belt and the door handle I not so calmly stated “I think maybe we should head to the hospital when we get home.” At this point I was not at all getting my hopes up, but had decided these contractions seemed a bit different than all the others and in the back of my head I knew my labor was going to progress faster rather than slower, and a 45 min drive to the hospital didn’t seem fun if I was in pain.
After throwing our bags in the car, kissing Jessa goodbye and scarfing some food on the drive we arrived at the hospital and met our Doula Stephanie outside.(7:30pm)
Together the three of us decided instead of going straight in to get checked out, we would walk a few laps around the hospital pond and see where that brings us. As we walked the path I was holding full conversations, laughing, cracking jokes and basically scared this wasn’t the real thing and I was just going to stop contracting at any moment and have to go home. As I had a contraction I would simply turn away, breath through it and continue walking… no big deal. As the sun starts to set we head inside the hospital and continue to do a few more exercises to try and get labor to progress a bit further. At this point I’m getting pretty excited that maybe we are headed in the right direction of actually meeting our baby boy? Or maybe not?
8:55pm:
Call it “Mother’s Intuition” but I simply stated to Nick and Stephanie I was going to go into Triage now. I realized I would most likely be there for an hour and was just ready to get into my own room to continue labor. (I’m pretty sure Nick and Stephanie both sighed a deep breath at this point because they though the night could be really long, especially if I wanted to go to triage and start to be monitored by the hospital staff instead of continuing to labor rather freely)
9:10pm:
We are at the front desk checking in and getting pulled back into the triage room. At this point I’m answering questions and simply turning away when a contraction hits.
Triage: If you are familiar with the labor stages “transition” hits me. At this point I don’t realize I’m in transition but I believe I’m just in active labor, proceeding with my birth plan of no epidural, breathing, moaning and grunting through contractions all while in a room with 3 other “laboring” women laying quietly in their bed being assessed if they were going to be admitted into the hospital or not. When they check me and I’m a 6 they tell me I”ll be headed to my room shortly. (insert annoying nurse not being able to draw blood here and some more really intense contractions)
9:40ish:
Nurse asks me if I want a wheel chair to go to my room and since I’m in the middle of a contractions Nick responds for me “No, she can walk. Thanks.” (Thanks babe! On his defense, we were all still thinking I still had a good amount of labor to get through so the more walking the better)
As I head down the hallway to THE LAST ROOM!!!! I remember slamming my head up against the wall in the hallway and realizing I almost feel like pushing… uh oh.
This is where things get a little foggy.
9:50
I step into the room, Nick is in front of me and I remember letting out a loin like ROAR! At this point my water breaks like a freak scene out of a movie bursting in every direction possible, the nurses start yelling, Nick looks extremely confused, I collapse onto a nurse as she practically is screaming at me that I need to lay down so she can check me. I remember being pushed onto the bed, my feet being swung over as the nurse yells “crowing!” Before anyone could do anything precious Jacen lay in between my legs on the hospital bed, with what seemed like everyone in the room just in shock.
9:54was his official birth time, which was 4 mins after I walked into my room.
Who needs doctors to deliver babies? Apparently I don’t since neither of my kids could wait for them to show up.
I was the talk of the floor that night, which I found very amusing but annoying as well. Apparently I was supposed to know and inform the nurses that I was going to have a very quick labor? Isn’t that their job to assess each patient as they come in? Ha!
So there’s my story. I love every second of it, and I couldn’t have asked for a better one. God has planned everything so perfectly and was waiting on me to trust him that he would provide for me.
Here is my plug for my Doula Stephanie:
I knew I wanted to have an unmedicated birth since I had Jessa. I had a few complications with the epidural with Jessa and to me, it just wasn’t worth it. That made for the decision to hire a doula, basically to get me through labor without one. Even though my labor went fast and completely not how I expected it to go, knowing Stephanie was there for extra support was worth everything. I remember being in triage (which she was not allowed in) and counting the moments until I could be with her again so she could talk me through my contractions. I love my husband more than any other person, but to have female that not only has been in your shoes, but also has tons of knowledge in this specific area was basically just encouraging. The one on one attention of someone totally in tune with what is going on with you was my favorite part of having her there. At one point I remember yelling “I need water!” of course the nurses don’t care because I’m about to have a baby fall out of my body, and Nick is death griping my hand at this point, but I hear Stephanie calmly ask the nurse “can she have water or ice chips?” and what do you know a few moments later I was being fed ice chips at my request! That’s service! J My most favorite part of having Stephanie at my birth was the afterbirth.
Typical hospital scene: Mom gives birth, nurses and doctors are focused on mom’s lower half of body, dad is with baby not wanting to take off of it, and mom is left with extreme emotions running through her trying to take the last few mins in all at the same time of trying to understand what the nurses and doctors keep talking about in their medical mumble jumble.
I remember this phase with both of my children, but with this birth it was so different. Instead of feeling so lonely, so lost and so confused… “did I really just give birth to a baby?” Stephanie was there talking me through everything, congratulating and complimenting me on how well I did. We worked on breathing exercises to calm my body down after such a shocking moment so the doctor could do his work efficiently. In those moments she provided me with exactly the support I needed. I’m having trouble even being able to describe how wonderful it was to have her at my side.
With that said, if you are interested in her contact information or just hearing more about what a doula is and why you should have one. Let me know! She has a great reference from me and from one of my best friends. www.blissfulbeginningsdoulacare.com
THE SHORT VERSION!
+Wake up Sunday feeling contrations
+Contractions Stop
+Walk Target
+On way to get Dinner decide we need to go to the hopsital
+Walk laps at hospital before checking in
+Don't thinkI'm in active labor but check in anyway
+Think I'm going to have baby in the hallway
+Crazy movie sence water breakage during "lion like roar"
+Give birth to Mr. Jacen 4 mins after getting into my room
+and last but not least... HIRE A DOULA! :)
12 days before Jacen’s Birthday I went to my 37 week apt. At that apt. I found out I was 3cm dilated and almost 80% effaced. The nurses laughed at me that I was making an appointment for a week later because they were for sure that I would deliver within the week. Well the week went by and I showed up for my 38 week apt. found out I was now at a 4 and almost fully effaced. This was great and all, but why wasn’t I in labor? The days kept passing by with a mild contraction or two throughout each day. Nothing was steady and I was quickly becoming extremely irritable about the whole ordeal. After each day of “waiting” wondering if today would be the day I decided enough was enough and I was just going to live normally and if my water broke while in public, than I would deal with that then.
Cue Sunday July 1st.
As I get up and start my normal routine of Sunday morning and trying to get out the door by 9, I realize that I’m feeling a bit off today. Of course in the back of my mind I’m curious if “Today is the day?” but have already learned by waiting 12 long days that we weren’t playing this game today. I determined to get to church and sit in those uncomfortable chairs for an hour, just to get out of the house. After timing a few contractions that morning that were 7 mins apart we decided it may be best to stay home. I continued to feel off, and contractions would come and go with no pattern and varying intensity I decided just to lay down and take a nap to see where it brings me. My contractions soon stop all together and at the end of my nap I started going pretty haywire on Nick telling him how sick I was of thinking this was it, and having contractions stop. I was so fed up I said, “I’m GOING TO TARGET TO WALK! Are you coming?” Ha! Nick and I made laps around Target buying things we really didn’t need but felt obligated to have in our cart as we rounded the aisles over and over again. When enough was enough and I clearly wasn’t starting my labor anytime soon, we headed for home. I discussed with Nick going to a movie night with the girls from our church and we decided we should go grab some dinner and then I could head over that way. All 4 of us (my SIL Sarah and Jessa included) got in the car and decided Arby’s was on the menu. Shortly after we started driving I started to feel really strange. We pulled into the parking lot and decided to just grab food and head home instead of eating inside which made Nick mention stopping at Culvers as well so he could get Chicken fingers… since we were taking dinner home. After practically yelling at him there was no way I was going to sit in that car to go through the Culver’s drive through and looking down realizing I had a white knuckle grip on the seat belt and the door handle I not so calmly stated “I think maybe we should head to the hospital when we get home.” At this point I was not at all getting my hopes up, but had decided these contractions seemed a bit different than all the others and in the back of my head I knew my labor was going to progress faster rather than slower, and a 45 min drive to the hospital didn’t seem fun if I was in pain.
After throwing our bags in the car, kissing Jessa goodbye and scarfing some food on the drive we arrived at the hospital and met our Doula Stephanie outside.(7:30pm)
Together the three of us decided instead of going straight in to get checked out, we would walk a few laps around the hospital pond and see where that brings us. As we walked the path I was holding full conversations, laughing, cracking jokes and basically scared this wasn’t the real thing and I was just going to stop contracting at any moment and have to go home. As I had a contraction I would simply turn away, breath through it and continue walking… no big deal. As the sun starts to set we head inside the hospital and continue to do a few more exercises to try and get labor to progress a bit further. At this point I’m getting pretty excited that maybe we are headed in the right direction of actually meeting our baby boy? Or maybe not?
8:55pm:
Call it “Mother’s Intuition” but I simply stated to Nick and Stephanie I was going to go into Triage now. I realized I would most likely be there for an hour and was just ready to get into my own room to continue labor. (I’m pretty sure Nick and Stephanie both sighed a deep breath at this point because they though the night could be really long, especially if I wanted to go to triage and start to be monitored by the hospital staff instead of continuing to labor rather freely)
9:10pm:
We are at the front desk checking in and getting pulled back into the triage room. At this point I’m answering questions and simply turning away when a contraction hits.
Triage: If you are familiar with the labor stages “transition” hits me. At this point I don’t realize I’m in transition but I believe I’m just in active labor, proceeding with my birth plan of no epidural, breathing, moaning and grunting through contractions all while in a room with 3 other “laboring” women laying quietly in their bed being assessed if they were going to be admitted into the hospital or not. When they check me and I’m a 6 they tell me I”ll be headed to my room shortly. (insert annoying nurse not being able to draw blood here and some more really intense contractions)
9:40ish:
Nurse asks me if I want a wheel chair to go to my room and since I’m in the middle of a contractions Nick responds for me “No, she can walk. Thanks.” (Thanks babe! On his defense, we were all still thinking I still had a good amount of labor to get through so the more walking the better)
As I head down the hallway to THE LAST ROOM!!!! I remember slamming my head up against the wall in the hallway and realizing I almost feel like pushing… uh oh.
This is where things get a little foggy.
9:50
I step into the room, Nick is in front of me and I remember letting out a loin like ROAR! At this point my water breaks like a freak scene out of a movie bursting in every direction possible, the nurses start yelling, Nick looks extremely confused, I collapse onto a nurse as she practically is screaming at me that I need to lay down so she can check me. I remember being pushed onto the bed, my feet being swung over as the nurse yells “crowing!” Before anyone could do anything precious Jacen lay in between my legs on the hospital bed, with what seemed like everyone in the room just in shock.
9:54was his official birth time, which was 4 mins after I walked into my room.
Who needs doctors to deliver babies? Apparently I don’t since neither of my kids could wait for them to show up.
I was the talk of the floor that night, which I found very amusing but annoying as well. Apparently I was supposed to know and inform the nurses that I was going to have a very quick labor? Isn’t that their job to assess each patient as they come in? Ha!
So there’s my story. I love every second of it, and I couldn’t have asked for a better one. God has planned everything so perfectly and was waiting on me to trust him that he would provide for me.
Here is my plug for my Doula Stephanie:
I knew I wanted to have an unmedicated birth since I had Jessa. I had a few complications with the epidural with Jessa and to me, it just wasn’t worth it. That made for the decision to hire a doula, basically to get me through labor without one. Even though my labor went fast and completely not how I expected it to go, knowing Stephanie was there for extra support was worth everything. I remember being in triage (which she was not allowed in) and counting the moments until I could be with her again so she could talk me through my contractions. I love my husband more than any other person, but to have female that not only has been in your shoes, but also has tons of knowledge in this specific area was basically just encouraging. The one on one attention of someone totally in tune with what is going on with you was my favorite part of having her there. At one point I remember yelling “I need water!” of course the nurses don’t care because I’m about to have a baby fall out of my body, and Nick is death griping my hand at this point, but I hear Stephanie calmly ask the nurse “can she have water or ice chips?” and what do you know a few moments later I was being fed ice chips at my request! That’s service! J My most favorite part of having Stephanie at my birth was the afterbirth.
Typical hospital scene: Mom gives birth, nurses and doctors are focused on mom’s lower half of body, dad is with baby not wanting to take off of it, and mom is left with extreme emotions running through her trying to take the last few mins in all at the same time of trying to understand what the nurses and doctors keep talking about in their medical mumble jumble.
I remember this phase with both of my children, but with this birth it was so different. Instead of feeling so lonely, so lost and so confused… “did I really just give birth to a baby?” Stephanie was there talking me through everything, congratulating and complimenting me on how well I did. We worked on breathing exercises to calm my body down after such a shocking moment so the doctor could do his work efficiently. In those moments she provided me with exactly the support I needed. I’m having trouble even being able to describe how wonderful it was to have her at my side.
With that said, if you are interested in her contact information or just hearing more about what a doula is and why you should have one. Let me know! She has a great reference from me and from one of my best friends. www.blissfulbeginningsdoulacare.com
THE SHORT VERSION!
+Wake up Sunday feeling contrations
+Contractions Stop
+Walk Target
+On way to get Dinner decide we need to go to the hopsital
+Walk laps at hospital before checking in
+Don't thinkI'm in active labor but check in anyway
+Think I'm going to have baby in the hallway
+Crazy movie sence water breakage during "lion like roar"
+Give birth to Mr. Jacen 4 mins after getting into my room
+and last but not least... HIRE A DOULA! :)
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Just writing.
I have no story to tell or anything important to write, just felt the need to do a bit of "logging." Jacen is 11 weeks old and 2 days. Time is definitely going by differently than it did with Jessa. The stage Jacen is in... well it's quite boring. The stage that Jessa is in on the other hand, is super exciting and I"m loving every second of it. Ok, that's a complete lie! Jessa has recently come to terms with her emotions. When she is mad she yells, throws a fit, pulls my hair?!?!?! (Yes she got in trouble for that one today)when she is sad she cries, happy she dances and laughs and it's just funny. I love watching her though. I feel like she is truly learning SO MUCH right now. Tonight at dinner Nick asked her what he was eating her reply "Taco." Clear as day... and guess what? We were eating Tacos for dinner! She knows the correct word for hundreds of things. It's like everyday she is learning 5-10 works and remembers them. The other day I was thinking about how I should be writing down her sayings these days. She is learning to put words together to explain more. For example; every morning when I get Jessa up for the day we have to go through the whole list of people she knows. It starts with dad:
Dada... work! (Yes, Dada is at work)
Jacen... Seeping (Yes, Jacen is sleeping)
Jessa...Home (Yes, Jessa and mommy are home.)
Occasionally she will talk about Grandpa and Grandma since they were just here and fresh in her mind. Throughout the day through she ALWAYS is reminding me that Dada,Work! It's pretty cute ;)
One of my other favorite things she said is when she is looking for something. She most always is looking for either her baby or her sleep sack. It goes something like this "BABY!... ARE YOU?" She can also count to 6 "two, five, six!" (Are you seeing a pattern?) It's just so funny to see what she picks up and what common phrases we use she puts together.
Some more that I can think of:
"OH-MY! Pooped!" When she changes her baby's diaper
"Helper" she uses when she needs help with something
"Home" when I pick her up from Mothers day out... like she is more than ready to go home
Jessa started Mothers Day Out Tues/Thurs from 9:30-2:30. SHE LOVES IT! She is, what do you know, the teachers favorite. HA! I could have guessed that one! Who doesn't love an almost two you old that follows directions? (Ps. I'm finding it ok to brag about that, as long as I don't brag about how she is only that way because I made her that way. I find that bragging about her personality is just fine because hey, God made her that way!) Anyway, she has a hard time saying "school" so she usually asks to go to church. We pray at every meal now and say "Thank you Jesus for this food, Thank you Jesus for our family, Thank you Jesus for our Friends." Jessa's favorite part comes afterwards "AMEN!" as she throws her hands up in the air. Anyway, she is learning about the color red and the circle. Apparently she answers questions when called on and she was able to pick red objects out of a box when asked to do so. YAY SMARTY PANTS! Anyway, she's just pretty awesome.
Lets talk about Jacen!
He is huge! He didn't feel huge or look that huge (I don't think at least.) But he is almost in size 6 month clothes and we decided to start putting him in size 3 diapers. (Jessa is wearing a size 4!) He's just growing so big so fast. He is still getting up every night, still not napping during the day however he is the most smiley kid I know! I don't remember getting Jessa to smile until she was about 3.5 months old. Jacen on the other hand is all smiles all the time. Sure beats the crying! He's pretty cute, but it still really hard this whole newborn phase. Is he talking yet?!?!
That's enough for now. Bed time? Yes I think so!
Dada... work! (Yes, Dada is at work)
Jacen... Seeping (Yes, Jacen is sleeping)
Jessa...Home (Yes, Jessa and mommy are home.)
Occasionally she will talk about Grandpa and Grandma since they were just here and fresh in her mind. Throughout the day through she ALWAYS is reminding me that Dada,Work! It's pretty cute ;)
One of my other favorite things she said is when she is looking for something. She most always is looking for either her baby or her sleep sack. It goes something like this "BABY!... ARE YOU?" She can also count to 6 "two, five, six!" (Are you seeing a pattern?) It's just so funny to see what she picks up and what common phrases we use she puts together.
Some more that I can think of:
"OH-MY! Pooped!" When she changes her baby's diaper
"Helper" she uses when she needs help with something
"Home" when I pick her up from Mothers day out... like she is more than ready to go home
Jessa started Mothers Day Out Tues/Thurs from 9:30-2:30. SHE LOVES IT! She is, what do you know, the teachers favorite. HA! I could have guessed that one! Who doesn't love an almost two you old that follows directions? (Ps. I'm finding it ok to brag about that, as long as I don't brag about how she is only that way because I made her that way. I find that bragging about her personality is just fine because hey, God made her that way!) Anyway, she has a hard time saying "school" so she usually asks to go to church. We pray at every meal now and say "Thank you Jesus for this food, Thank you Jesus for our family, Thank you Jesus for our Friends." Jessa's favorite part comes afterwards "AMEN!" as she throws her hands up in the air. Anyway, she is learning about the color red and the circle. Apparently she answers questions when called on and she was able to pick red objects out of a box when asked to do so. YAY SMARTY PANTS! Anyway, she's just pretty awesome.
Lets talk about Jacen!
He is huge! He didn't feel huge or look that huge (I don't think at least.) But he is almost in size 6 month clothes and we decided to start putting him in size 3 diapers. (Jessa is wearing a size 4!) He's just growing so big so fast. He is still getting up every night, still not napping during the day however he is the most smiley kid I know! I don't remember getting Jessa to smile until she was about 3.5 months old. Jacen on the other hand is all smiles all the time. Sure beats the crying! He's pretty cute, but it still really hard this whole newborn phase. Is he talking yet?!?!
That's enough for now. Bed time? Yes I think so!
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