Baby's First Easter

Even though Holden can't really enjoy the Easter Bunny's hard work just yet... it is still fun to see what would be inside his basket!

Bunny and duck teethers
Jack The Rabbit in the box
Organic rabbit rattle
An Easter bib from Target
The Velveteen Rabbit - A Classic!
A new apporach to the basket - an egg shape chair backer backpack
and of course a cute bow tie!

Oh how I can't wait to make awesome memories with my son!

xox m.

Photo Capture: Swaddling 101

xox m.

Life With Holden

These are all photos from when he was only 1 week old! :)

Nursery photos coming soon....

Kinda A Birth Story

I started to write out Holden's birth story and after every 'section' I had to stop. I am still very emotional over the whole experience. I have a ton of happy and sad emotions. Obviously happy emotions because it was the day my son was born and it was such an amazing day, however sad emotions because of how it happened. How we were on a 'schedule'... the doctors schedule, and how the whole morning went accordingly so my doctor could get her morning run in. I also have some anger towards myself that I didn't trust my gut instinct on more than one occasion, and how I didn't voice my concerns and stand up to the doctor when I knew I should have. The good thing is everyone is healthy and happy and I have my little boy in my arms and not in my belly. :) But oh how I hope and pray that I can learn and listen to that gut intuition (which now is my mommy instinct) from here on out. So with that being said... I will give you a very short tid bit of how the day went, and maybe one day I can post the long birth story that I have typed out.

It was past Holden's due date and so I had to go into my last scheduled doctor’s appointment. I wasn't looking forward to this appointment because I had hoped I would have gone into labor on my own, and I wasn't thrilled at which doctor I had to see (*note to self I should have said I wanted a different doctor right then). So hubby and I went to our last appointment and it was determined that I would be induced on Tuesday Feb 21st if I didn't go into labor over the weekend.

Labor didn't happen over the weekend.

We headed to the hospital at our scheduled time at 3:00am and I was hooked up to Pitocin starting at 3:45am.

 Things moved along very quick and very hard. I learned to control my contractions with the different breathing methods. Then as they upped my Pitocin count they checked to see how far along I was - 4.5cm 100% effaced - and then my water broke on its own. My doctor had planned on coming in at 8-9am to break my water, so I was ahead of the game. Then everything started to progress a lot quicker than planned and the nurse had given me a drug to take the edge off; bad mistake. I got hit by a mad truck. I turned pale white, couldn't stop shaking, sweating, vomiting and I couldn't even keep my eyes open. At this point they took me off Pitocin. I was so ill, and not to mention tired, they came in with the epidural. I cried. I was already fully dilated and 100% effaced so after they gave me the epi my nurse said she was going to tell the doctor I was only 9 cm so I could take an hour to try and rest and sleep. An hour later at 9am my nurse and doctor came in because it was time to push. The moment was amazing. I could feel pain and pressure and I could see everything that was going on. Then my doctor said that she had to do an episiotomy because this baby wasn't coming out any other way. She cut me once and then had to cut again... then I tore on top of it all. Ouch! Then it was 10:00am as my baby was actually coming out into this world to meet us. Steve, my mother and mother in law were all with me encouraging me to keep pushing and experiencing every single moment with me. Our baby was coming into this world and it was truly indescribable. Best moment of my life ever. I actually got to see that my baby was a boy a second before the doctor said "It's a BOY!" because my peanut was facing my direction when I pushed him out. I will never forget that moment. Holden Joseph was born at 10:06 am. I had a 6 hour labor.

After Holden was born we got moved to the recovery room. Everything was going well! I was in severe pain but obviously it was worth it. My baby Holden was everything more than perfectand he was more than I had ever hoped and dreamed for. Steve and I could not have been more proud and more honored that God had given us this precious gift. That he has entrusted us with raising this little man. That moment started the mark of our new lives and we couldn't be more than excited to say the least.

We were at the hospital for another night of recovery, and then discharge was at 10am the following day. The morning we were being released, Holden had his last check up with the doctor and they heard a slight heart murmur so they ordered an echo graph (basically an ultrasound of his heart). They took him away from our room to do this. (LONGEST 45 minutes of my life!!) Then after our family of three was back comfortably in our room we watched the clock as time slowly went by as we waited for the nurses to come discharge us. Hours went by and the clock kept ticking. The results from Holden's heart finally came back and it turned out he has 3 holes in his heart and there was still a ton of pressure in his right chamber of his heart. Because of these issues they had made an appointment with a cardio specialist 2 weeks from when Holden was born. Of course I cried, but I knew that if it were that serious they wouldn't let us leave the hospital to go home.

We are home and we love it! Now what?

Enjoy every moment and nap when the baby naps! ;)



Holden turns two weeks old and we go in for his appointment because of his heart issues. The doctor tells us that the holes are not as big of a deal, but they will keep a watch on them, one in particular. The one in particular is a vent that is open in all babies until a day or two after they are born. This vent closes due to the usage of the lungs. Once the baby breathes on its own then this vent that goes from the heart to the lungs get closed. Holden's vent has yet to close. The doctors will watch this. The other two holes were not a big concern... doctors briefly went over the location and said they were not a big deal.... 20% of the world’s population has holes in their heart and they don't even know it. As of now Holden would be able to play all sports and live a completely normal and healthy life, but when he is older he could not have a career at NASA and the Navy Seals wouldn't take him either. So no going to the moon for Holden, but that's ok because I would prefer that he stays on Earth ;) Although the doc said if he really wanted to go to the moon or go deep under water he could get surgery to correct the holes. So back to the main issue of the pressure in the right chamber. We were told that when babies are born the right chamber is dominate and it transitions over to the left and stays that way for the rest of their life. So the pressure in Holden's right chamber should have decreased by 2 weeks to let the doctor know that transition is happening, just slower than normal. And it did decrease, but not enough. So we will go back when Holden is 9 months old to revist all the above issues. Doctor said he is good to go and just stay house bound for at least 2 months.... no stores, no other homes, no church, nothing. STAY HOME! And don't let people hold him without washing hands etc, and no sick folks coming around to say hello. If Holden gets sick it could be worse in his case. So this mommy and baby is house bound until after Easter. Fine by me! I'm soaking in every ounce of Holden that I can!! :)



xox m.

HE is Here!

Mr. Holden arrived at 10:06 am on February 21st. He weighed 7 lbs & 8 oz and was 20 inches long. He has a full head of beautiful beach blonde hair and we are so beyond in love with him!!

xox m.

Eggplant Fail

The eggplant parmesan and pressure points did NOT do the job. ;) Steve and I did have a nice dinner by ourselves just talking and laughing. Well worth the try!

On a high note, yesterday afternoon I started to have more noticiable contractions, but they just were not painful. I did have a few that felt like a little pinch but that only happened a few times. Humph! I never thought that I would be wishing for pain, but at this point we just really want to meet our little one in the worst way.

This baby just loves me so much already, ha-ha, he/she is just waiting till I finished all my to-do's to make a grand entrance (so sweet). I have a few more projects and some work to finish up so I'm thinking maybe once those are complete baby B will be ready to come out.  Time to get crack-a-lackin! Don't want to waste any more time!

Happy weekend! :)

xox m.

Goal: Induce Labor Before Tuesday

So I have been trying just a few things.... ok a ton of things, to try and persuade this little baby to want to come out. Have any more suggestions??

- I sit like this most of the day when I'm working either bouncing or swaying....

... loafers and all ;)

- I have tried eating pineapple.

YuM!

- Drank raspberry tea from natural leaves.

- Had a chocolate shake.

- Had McDonalds for dinner. (Prob my least favorite out of all of them....)

-Tried my stab at spicy food (which I can't handle in the first place).

-Walked Tovi and then picked up all his droppings in the backyard. LOL. The bending over was supposed to help? But man if that would have worked can you just hear the story?  "Oh... yea I was just picking up poop and it made me go into labor!" HAHa goodness!

- Cleaning house and running up and down the stairs

- Jumping Jacks

- Dancing

What is on tonight's list?? Trying out some more pressure points and having Eggplant Parmesan from an Italian restaurant (date night!!).... lets see if that works!! Wish us luck! :)

xox m.



*DING - DING*

The buzzer was supposed to *ding* on Monday the 13th, but it looks like this bun has a little more cooking to do.

So why not take the opportunity to make our own buzzer ring?! I have been sitting on an exercise ball bouncing and swaying for hours while I work, had some spicy foods, had a chocolate shake, walked Tovi and just kept on walking, did some jumping jaxs, and drank some natural raspberry tea, even had some fun with Steve in bed (sorry TMI but we heard it would work!). Also I'm going to break out some dance moves today and have Steve try some 'labor inducing' pressure points on me. Hoping something makes this buzzer ring!

We went to the doctor for my "40 week" appointment. Everything with the little peanut is perfectly healthy and normal - the babe is just a little too cozy. I got hooked up to a few monitors to do a NST because I was overdue. The Non Stress Test checks the babes heart rate and also shows any contractions if I was having any. Turns out I am contracting every few minutes - and they were surprised that I couldn't feel any of them. Finally thanking my body for giving me horrible menstrual cramps when I was younger, because I guess it built up a tolerance in me cause I don't feel a thing! Ha-ha I really hope that continues once I actually go into labor. A girl can wish right? Right! Well after the NST we had an ultrasound to make sure there was enough fluid around the baby and there was. So doc said she is going to let me hang out this weekend and then I'll have another appointment on Monday - when I hit 41 weeks. Then depending if my body has progressed or not they will want to induce me. Ugh. I don't have anything against being induced, I just know my body doesn't react well with drugs so I want to limit them out as much as possible. SO when being induced - they give you drugs. Yea... I don't want that. But if that is the only way my baby is going to make his/her way into the world then so be it. I am just so thrilled to know he/she is healthy, happy and really oh so cozy! :)

But since my oven has yet to ding.... I just needed to hear a ring...

Say hello to Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies :)

Found this recipe from the lovely Bakerella. They are super easy to make and they taste oh so yummy! Steve LOVES red velvet cake - and I thought these would be perfect to make for Valentine's Day!

All you need is:

Red Velvet Cookie

1 Box red velvet cake mix
1/2 Cup butter, softened to room temperature
2 Eggs 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix above ingredients until combined.
• Drop spoonfuls of cookie batter onto baking sheet about two inches apart.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes.
• Cool.

Cream Cheese Filling
1/2 Cup butter, softened to room temperature
1 8 oz. Package cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 1lb. Box of confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp Vanilla

• In a mixer, cream butter, cream cheese and vanilla.
• Gradually add sugar and mix until smooth.

As you can see... having a belly while baking makes things more interesting!

xox m.

Side Note: The poll is closed and the results are in - the majority of you think that baby Bach is a GIRL! I think it is clear to say that by next week we WILL find out the actual result! EAK! :)

39 1/2 weeks

...and still no baby!

However, I still have a lot of work to do and try to finish up so it's kind of a good thing.

I went to the doctor today. All my stats are still the same. Doc said not to worry because I guess I'm pretty far along (internally) for this only being my first pregnancy? But I've been this far along for 3 weeks now... lol. Doc said time to do some jumping jacks! ;)

If all goes as planned....ha.... Steve and I will try our hardest to have this baby come on Monday (baby's due date). So Sunday will be filled with spicy food, red raspberry tea, chocolate shakes, lots of walks with Tovi and everything else you can think of that promotes labor! Then Monday we will deliver and find out if this precious child of ours is a boy or girl. It's going to go as planned right? Right!
These last few weeks have been the LONGEST weeks ever just because of the anticipation, but in reality they have flown by because I can't believe in a few short days I'll be 40 weeks along. Whew!

Well this past weekend the ladies in our couples small group had a breakfast baby shower for me! They were all so incredibly sweet and generous to my little peanut. I feel so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful group of young married couples. The support and friendship we have come to know is amazing, and we love doing life with all of them! God is so good!

The diaper cake Val and Resa made for the table! So cute! :)

Such a great group of ladies!

Also weeks are going quickly because I am busy with work! Bumper Krop. is booming yet again :) and we are just trying to finish up some big websites we are working on before baby comes. We are hoping to double our goal from last year earnings and it looks like we are on the right track already!! Praise God yet again! :)

xox m.

38 1/2 weeks

Doctor stats below: read with caution. LOL

38 1/2 week check up this afternoon. Good news is I'm still right on track. But there was no sign of change this week. I am still 80% effaced and still just at the tip of the ice-berg of dilation. I totally thought going in today I would hear 100% and ready to go! HAha only my wish.... however the baby has dropped pretty much all the way. Doc said she was right there at the lowest point in my pelvis - so that's a good sign! The doc also now thinks I'm now going to have a good 8 pounder on my hands. (Please baby don't get up in the nines!) I had to get blood drawn again - low platelets and low blood pressure this time around. It is probably just a false alarm like all the other times. Praying so at least :)

Otherwise that is all folks.


Nursery is almost done. Steve has been working so hard at re-finishing the hutch and it's almost complete! He has done such an awesome job - I can't wait to get it into place, start filling it up and put the changing pad/station in position and ready to use! :)

I'm feeling great - I'm peeing way more now then I thought I ever would - and DUN DUN DUN.... we have NAMES picked out people!! I am so excited that we have 2 boy names and 2 girls names. I am so excited to have this nailed down. It was one of the hardest things to think about. So now I'm relaxed about it and now am just excited to find out if I'm cooking a boy or a little girl. Either way if we have a boy then the next go around - if number 2 is a girl, then we already have her name picked out (and visa versa)! So basically we can have 4 kids - 2 boys and 2 girls and we would be set on the name game! ;)

Days away... days away :)

xox m.

Just a Little Guy

Could be the prego hormones - but isn't this adorable?! He is just so little!



xox m.

Full - Term Baby B

WAhhoO!

Really? Has is already by 37 weeks? Why yes, yes it has!

 

Steve and I are eagerly awaiting this little baby's birth day. Items are still getting checked off our lists every day and we are just beaming with anticipation.

I'm visiting my doctor every week now. Stats are in and I have a healthy 7 lb baby growing right now. I actually lost weight the last time I went in, and the baby has dropped and is in position. I'm already starting to dilate (sorry TMI) however the doc said at this rate baby should be here on the due date if not a few days before. My smile could not get any bigger!! Time has come and I can't believe it is here!! To think and wonder what our child is going to look like... see the little nose, fingers and toes.... newborn baby smell.... someone who is half Steve and half me.....*sigh* Oh sweet baby you are loved dearly.

- Baby loves worship at church. Punches me every time - or is lifting his/her hands up praising God!! :)
- Had my first REAL craving - french fries!! (ABOUT TIME!) Bonus - Steve was on his way home from work and brought dinner home.... which including FRENCH FRIES! Ha-ha
- Crib is set up and ready!
- All laundry is washed and ready to go.
- Names have been narrowed down finally, well kinda... we have about 4 for each. So no, not really. We should step up our game with that since it is kind of really important.
- Thursday is our last baby education class. Steve has learned a lot ;) I have been reading since day one so we are set!


God has been so good to us....

I'll leave you with this....

Word of God Speak
Would you pour down like rain,
washing my eyes to see Your majesty.
To be still and know that You're in this place.
Please let me stay and rest in Your holiness....


xox m.

Dear 16 Year Old Me

I saw this video in July 2011. I knew I wanted to share it, and I knew the perfect time would be in January in remembrance of my Uncle Larry who we miss dearly.

"spend more time with family. they mean everything."
"sunscreen - yes, i agree it's a huge pain in the ass but it's so worth it."

"get to know your skin."
www.dcmf.ca

xox m.

Crazy Week!

Shall we go over this week??

Sunday -
Celebrated my 27th birthday with my parents. They took Steve, baby and myself out for a nice steak dinner. Then we went back to their home and I opened gifts, had cake AND ice-cream! They really made that night special for me. :)


Monday - MY BIRTHDAY!! 35 weeks prego!
Worked all day, had a few hours set for crafting, and Steve took me out to dinner that night. We talked and laughed, and both ate steak for 2 nights in a row ;)  Also a few days before Steve gave me a beautiful necklace that has the birthstone of our baby in a shape of a heart. It matched my outfit for the Christmas party so he wanted to give it to me a few days early and I agreed! He also said that they baby better not ruin this and be born in January! ha-ha

Here is a photo of my craft project for the day.... it actually failed, but that will be another post all together. ;)

Tuesday -
Tovi got groomed. He looks like a little chicken.


Wednesday - Small group. (I swear the devil has been on us every Wednesday night. For about 2 months now we have been trying to make it to our small group and never can get out of work on time to go. AH HA - we showed him this time and hopefully for every Wednesday on!!)


Thursday -
First snow of the season, and baby education class at night. Then when we came home I wanted to finish one more load of laundry before bed. So on my way down to the washer I swifter vacuumed the stairs and slipped and fell tumbled down the stairs. OUCH! I was crying for a few reasons.
1- I was scared for what COULD have happened *landing on my belly*. However I landed on my right side of my butt and my elbow.
2- I think I was just overdoing it and was really tired. So I emotionally just started to let some tears out.
3- it kinda really hurt! My elbow was bleeding after all.
4- I was really mad at myself that I'm still trying to do everything and I'm 8 1/2 months prego. goodness! I think no matter what Steve will be doing the house hold chores for the next 30 days.
And to think... after all that - I actually finished the last load of laundry, did a few dishes and made sure I felt the baby moving. CHECK CHECK & CHECK!

Friday -
Called my OB to tell them what happened. They sent me to the hospital for a baby stress test. After I hung up the phone I started to cry *thanks hormones* but God immediately settled my heart and mind and I KNEW everything was going to be ok. I prayed the whole way there. And baby passed with flying colors! He/she even took 3 naps during the test! Oh and also I learned how to get to the hospital. I thought you make a left turn onto rt 22, and really that's the WRONG way, you go right. However, now Steve and I will be good to go when I'm in labor. ;)

Now I hope that is all this week has in store for us. Steve just left for a snowmobile trip up north and I really don't want to put Saturday down on this list.  I would rather just take a nice bubble bath and relax all weekend long! :)

But all in all - it was a great week. Exciting, surprising, loving, caring, wonderful week!

xox m.

Homemade Nursery Closet - CHECK!

Thanks Dad for building it (and saving us money)!
Thanks Mom for putting everything in its place! :)
xox m.