tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55511999818872445242024-02-21T09:46:00.994-06:00Delightfully SweetAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-42734825954022969252013-01-05T13:47:00.004-06:002013-01-05T13:47:45.060-06:00I MOVED!!!!!!Check out my new blog home and all the exciting changes to come over at:<br />
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<a href="http://shopdelightfullysweet.com/">http://shopdelightfullysweet.com/</a></div>
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Thank you for your reader-ship!!!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-63328088038798991652012-12-11T19:28:00.002-06:002012-12-11T19:28:37.115-06:00making changesPlease pardon me while I'm re-constructing my blog.<br />
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<img height="554" id="il_fi" src="http://www.dialie-transportation.com/img/Under-Construction.gif" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="554" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-77879138885552021882012-11-25T23:59:00.000-06:002012-11-25T23:59:14.483-06:00New Mom, New Life Lessons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH440SVLsoUmtsuo7D6ATERPoFp4FAGz02EvCZlBOsgo009RZw6raHzDsHTpCBetRaegCqHJZrGB-cuHpXirgmxPPUBPmwEbszAPWwuoToIIXaWZn9GM9_D6pmLG9gMu16sPJMRhKXLkc/s1600/DSC00625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH440SVLsoUmtsuo7D6ATERPoFp4FAGz02EvCZlBOsgo009RZw6raHzDsHTpCBetRaegCqHJZrGB-cuHpXirgmxPPUBPmwEbszAPWwuoToIIXaWZn9GM9_D6pmLG9gMu16sPJMRhKXLkc/s400/DSC00625.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Hubs took an "artsy" shot of us Friday night.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone tells expecting parents their "lives are about to change forever," "a baby changes everything," "you'll never be the same again," "you'll have to find a new normal."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone is right. I didn't expect anything else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What Elijah has taught me so far:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How to take showers so much faster</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Getting myself ready in at least half the time</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How to sleep much deeper in a shorter amount of time than ever</span><span style="font-size: large;"> before</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Patience</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Love, a crazy, deep, emotional, almost desparate kind of love that doesn't go away when he's screaming, has crazy steaming diaper-fulls, or his latest - big, projectile spit-ups.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's a brand new life. Praise God, I wouldn't want to have any other :-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">****Please forgive the slight mishap with the blog pix. In an effort to create more space I deleted a few picaso albums, who knew that would remove pix from the blog as well :-(</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-80511840086013898472012-11-20T07:19:00.000-06:002012-11-20T07:27:02.501-06:006 Weeks! My son is 6 weeks old! Time for a picture and life update:<br />
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Thursday Baby and I got out to see some work friends. What we wore:</div>
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Baby - gifted plaid button down, long-sleeve onesie, brown cords, and argyle socks</div>
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Mom (i had to re-read the word "mom" and thought 'wait, when was my mom here?' oh...)</div>
/kohls, leggings/ don't remember, brown distressed boots/DSW<br />
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Thursday was bittersweet. I enjoyed showing my son off to women who had watched me grow for the majority of my pregnancy, and who had meant so much to me; but it was crazy-hard letting them know that I wouldn't be back. I'll miss the afternoon chats when the ladies needed to de-stress, and I may miss working. I've never been jobless before... not that being a mom and managing the home isn't work... it's just different.</div>
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Friday I happily discovered I can BUTTON my PANTS!!!! Until now I have continued to use a borrowed bella band. This was a nice confidence boost right before I headed out to put my beginner couponing and deal hunting skills to the test.</div>
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First run - 37% saved on grocery bill. Enough to encourage me to keep trying!</div>
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I just LOVE the way baby looks all fresh and clean, bundled in a hooded towel, fresh out of the bath!!! Saturday night we decided it would be a good day to bring Elijah's baby-sweet skin to a glow from a warm bath before his first Sunday at church!<br />
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We were so happy to finally worship our Lord as a family at our local church.</div>
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Elijah stole the hearts of many in his sharp suit. I love his baby-man look!</div>
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Baby Stats:</div>
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Focusing on our faces more</div>
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Discovering the toys dangling above his head in his bouncer and bassinet</div>
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hand and arm strength is growing</div>
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Ability to support head getting better</div>
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Acid reflux improving</div>
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Enjoys - Playing with Papa, snuggling with Mama, mouthing his pacifier in between feedings, rolling back and forth while parents try to change his diaper</div>
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Mama Stats:</div>
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Can button pants!</div>
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Getting out of the house more</div>
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Getting more done around the house</div>
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Beginning exercise</div>
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How Life has Changed:</div>
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These days our excitement comes from a new delivery of diapers (seriously, when diapers arrived yesterday, I felt more excited than when I used to get a new dress, bag or shoes); fresh load of diapers out of the washer, or anything fresh out of the wash; a good feeding; 3-4 hours of sleep; and coffee in the morning.</div>
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Have a happy Tuesday!!!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-54479117024076106682012-11-15T09:25:00.000-06:002012-11-15T09:25:59.461-06:00Strange Encounters - Thursdays at the grocery storeI began taking my son with me on small errands when he was 3.5 weeks old. Our first day out just the two of us, we go to the local grocery store. I know putting your baby in a sling attracts some attention, but this was ridiculous. As I'm getting Elijah out of the carseat, there suddenly appears an old lady at my shoulder peering into my car at my son. I'm not one for close proximity to strangers, and this was REALLY CLOSE. As I tried to maneuver my son into the carrier, the lady stays right with me, asking the typical, "how old?" Saying the usual, "So cute," "Aww". Then she moves around me to the front passanger side and is looking all over my car, then back at me, very strange. I'm feeling uncomfortable but not sure how to handle the situation. Then she says, "Well, is there anything I can do to help you? Do you need anything?" I thought "sweet, but still a little odd." I thanked her and said no, we were fine. She made her way inside and I took my time trailing behind her. We continued to run into each other throughout the store, one time she called me out because there was a bag of doritos in the cart and she said "I'm going to have to report you, new mom should not be eating that." Then she laughed at her own joke. I felt obligated to explain they were for my husband and we had a free coupon. What an encounter.<br />
The next Thursday I'm shopping at the same store, getting Elijah out of the car same as usual, putting him in the baby carrier, when a couple is coming up behind me and the man says authoritatively, "You need to cover that baby's head!" I thought he meant support the baby's head, and I was about to get Elijah settled in appropriately so his head would be supported, so I smiled and nodded. The woman says "How old?" I respond "One month." She nods and smiles and pulls her man along. In the entryway to the store they're still there, the man turns, puts his hands on his hips, bobs his head with much attitude then makes a clicking sound with his mouth and says, "I told you to cover that baby's head! It's cold out here!" (he was wearing shorts and a tee shirt, I wasn't even wearing a jacket.) I explain in an attempt to sound jovial, "You don't understand, I have a really sweaty baby!" (I really do, and he has a ton of hair!) The man shakes his head again, the woman says "Don't pay him any attention, you have a beautiful baby." And she drags him into the store. I hang back and shake my head, determining not to come back to that store on a Thursday ever again.<br />
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Instead, today I am beginning my second leg of clipping coupons and hunting deals. I'm going to try and do better by the family budget by being a more careful shopper. It's been a tough week with the baby, I haven't gotten as far as I wanted to be by today, but I'm doing what I can.<br />
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Wish me luck ya'll!!<br />
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<img height="268" src="http://cdn.moneycrashers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/coupons-pile.jpg" width="400" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-40040410768714041762012-11-09T10:04:00.002-06:002012-11-09T10:59:06.874-06:00Flashback Friday!! just kiddingI used to see "Flashback Friday" posts all the time, now I can't find anyone with whom to link.<br />
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If I would have linked up today, I would have used this picture:<br />
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And I would have said:<br />
This is a recent flashback to when Elijah was almost two weeks old, in fact, he was 11 days old in this picture. My Aunt happened to have a client in a nearby city and she managed to work us into her schedule! She spent 4 days getting to know my baby, her great nephew (though I think she's too young to be a great aunt... but some people don't seem to age ;-) ), feeding us yummy meals, and spoiling all three of us in general.<br />
We had a blast, and from what I hear through the family grapevine, she did too!<br />
We had a little drama while she was here. I managed to develop mastitis and we decided on going to Urgent Care one night, where the incompetent Doc. refused to even check my breast for the proper diagnosis, sent us to the hospital ER for apendicitis... wrong "itis" doc. The four of us trecked across the way to spend the rest of the night and part of the early morning getting further incorrect diagnosis. We were glad there was a 3rd person to help hold baby, and then the next day spoil us with more good cooking.<br />
Finally, her 2nd to last day we got to go out and have some real fun trecking around a<a href="http://sweet-delightfullysweet.blogspot.com/2012/10/life-with-baby-first-2-weeks.html" target="_blank"> local park</a>.<br />
For the record, my aunt reads this blog, so SHOUT OUT to her, and a BIG THANKS!!!! :-)<br />
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But since, this isn't a real flashback Friday, I'm actually doing this survey-thing I got tagged with by <a href="http://www.dayswithdylanandkc.com/" target="_blank">Carrie.</a><br />
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Liebster Award:<br />
Thanks <a href="http://www.dayswithdylanandkc.com/2012/11/liebster-award.html" target="_blank">Carrie</a> for the award :-) These things usually intimidate me, sometimes I overthink my answers. But for you, I'll just try and enjoy the questions! I have to ask though, what is so magical about the number "11"? These things often have 11 questions...<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Here are the rules for the
Liebster Award:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Each person must
post 11 things about themselves</b></span>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Answer the 11
questions the person giving the award has set for you</b></span>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Create 11 questions
for the people you will be giving the award to.</b></span>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Choose 11 people to
award and send them a link to post. Go to their page and tell them.</b></span>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>No tag
backs.</b></span> </li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><u>11 Things about
me!</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">1. I really hated pregnancy and childbirth. So much that I'm seriously considering being mother to my one and only, only.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">2. Sometimes I regret not earning a degree in a specialized field.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">3. I blame boys for my bad grades second semester, freshman year. But I learned my lesson and got serious about studies and less interested in boys sophomore year, much to their disappointment and inability to understand. The more boys complained the more serious I became!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">4. I've changed more since being married (i think in a positive way) ,more than I expected or would have thought I needed too... I mean seriously, wasn't I perfect before? ;-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">5. Poopy diapers don't gross me out like I thought they would... maybe I haven't seen one bad enough yet? I seriously hated diaper changes when I was a babysitter and nanny. There really is something different about wiping your own child's butt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">6. I went through a crazy ghetto phase... Only because rap music makes me laugh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">7. I don't like shopping. For anything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">8. I love coffee dates.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">9. Hanging out at a pretty park is my favorite past time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">10. It's hard to come up with so much stuff about me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">11. I love crocheting, I wish I could read a pattern so I could make more stuff.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">These are the 11 questions <a href="http://www.dayswithdylanandkc.com/2012/11/liebster-award.html" target="_blank">Carrie</a> sent me:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">1. If you could pick
anywhere in the world to live, where would it be? <strong>Portland, Oregon</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">2. If you won the
lottery what would you buy first? <strong>My way out of student debt.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">3. What is your
favorite season?<strong> Fall</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">4. Movies in a
theater or your living room? <strong>Originally, it would have been in the living room at a slumber party, then not at all, then back to in the living room during college, now it would have to be in a movie theater because mama has to get out of the house!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">5. What is your
biggest fear? <strong>Something awful happening to my son or husband.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">6. Do you go out on
Black Friday or camp out at home? <strong>Definitely do not go out if I can avoid it, see #11 in things about me.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">7. Favorite holiday
tradition (any holiday for anyone!) <strong>I don't have any traditions right now, but when I was really little we would always go to this place called "tiny town" and there were kid-sized doll houses decorated for Christmas for neighborhood kids to play in. My parents would take us and then go to this other place that would always have super-ornate decorations. Some years the whole family would get together and go to theme park that would have a special Christmas theme.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">8. What is your most
prized possession? <strong>Total honesty, my engagement ring... am I a bad Christian because I didn't say "Bible?" I don't really think of the Bible as a possession, it's God's word, it's important to me, but it's in my heart, the earthly material book doesn't matter as much as the word inside. Although, I do really love the one hubby gave me for my first bday with him, it has my married name engraved on the cover and it's purple :-).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">9. What is your ideal
date night? <strong>How about having a date to start with ;-) Seriously though, browsing quaint shops downtown, stopping at a local coffee shop, and leisurely enjoying a pretty park nearby.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">10. Most difficult DIY
project? <strong>I suppose I haven't had it yet? Probably starting up and Etsy shop... that's why I haven't done it yet ;-)</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">11. What is something
about you that would surprise people? <strong>Possibly that I was a professional bra fitter the Summer between my freshman and sophomore year of college... I got so good at my job I could size women (and sometimes men) at a glance and began to do it automatically, even when I wasn't working. Yea, a little weird. It became a game for my friends, sometimes they didn't like the result.</strong></span></div>
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<div>
Awarding these following bloggers:<br />
<br />
1.<a href="http://iamstricklyspeaking.blogspot.com/">http://iamstricklyspeaking.blogspot.com/</a><br />
2.<a href="http://supermommyornot.blogspot.com/">http://supermommyornot.blogspot.com/</a><br />
3.<a href="http://samanthahatcher.blogspot.com/">http://samanthahatcher.blogspot.com/</a><br />
4.<a href="http://aprilskitchentalk.blogspot.com/">http://aprilskitchentalk.blogspot.com/</a><br />
5.<a href="http://lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com/">http://lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com/</a><br />
sorry... I don't know 6 other bloggers with less than 200 followers :-(<br />
</div>
</span>Here are your 11 questions:<br />
1. Do you believe in soul mates, you know, one right person for everyone?<br />
2. What is your ideal place to vacation (you can pick a place you've never gone)?<br />
3. Where would you like to be in your life next year?<br />
4. How did you and your partner get together?<br />
5. What is your favorite childhood memory?<br />
6. What is your dream career, if you wanted a career?<br />
7. What is your top pet peeve?<br />
8. How do you feel about the outcome of the election?<br />
9. Do you enjoy these surveys?<br />
10. What is the nicest, unexpected thing ever done for you?<br />
11. What is the most appalling social situation you've ever witnessed?<br />
<br />
<em>Remember this award should go to blogs with under 200 followers and feel free to link back to this blog as well!!</em> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-17288504040997519052012-11-07T09:39:00.000-06:002012-11-07T10:07:05.890-06:00Wordless Wednesday - Baby Monkeys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7xJpxv50kPg/UJqAA3D1fJI/AAAAAAAACOc/WrfxZZ32DXk/s1600/DSC00462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7xJpxv50kPg/UJqAA3D1fJI/AAAAAAAACOc/WrfxZZ32DXk/s400/DSC00462.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Monkey bouncer, monkey pj's, monkey receiving blanket....</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LXnxk08soXU/UJqANDT8cvI/AAAAAAAACOk/8gShEhRfVXY/s1600/DSC00463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LXnxk08soXU/UJqANDT8cvI/AAAAAAAACOk/8gShEhRfVXY/s400/DSC00463.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Most of baby's toys resemble monkeys in some way...</div>
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Are we over-doing the monkey-theme?? ;-)<br />
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<br />
Linking With:<br />
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<br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=" http:="http:" lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com="lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com">http://lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com</a>" target="_blank"><img ainblogbutton3142012.png="ainblogbutton3142012.png" albums="albums" alt="Life as we know it by Paula" and="and" anners="anners" apercrushcrafts="apercrushcrafts" h387="h387" http:="http:" i1107.photobucket.com="i1107.photobucket.com" quot="quot" src="<a href=" uttons="uttons" vatars="vatars" /></center>
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http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h387/Papercrushcrafts/Banners%20Buttons%20and%20Avatars/MainBlogButton3142012.png"/>><a href="http://www.5minutesformom.com/67062/wordless-wednesday-halloween-iphonography/">http://www.5minutesformom.com/67062/wordless-wednesday-halloween-iphonography/</a><br />
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<a href="http://sarahhalstead.com/category/wordless-wednesday/" target="_blank" title=""><img alt="" src="http://sarahhalstead.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/wordlesswednesday-copy.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
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<br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-40366184714070202052012-11-06T15:01:00.000-06:002012-11-06T15:01:39.043-06:001 MONTH today!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OEmaMSxtAFQ/UJl2zwF5Z-I/AAAAAAAACMo/-mZT1z9Q50A/s1600/DSC00445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OEmaMSxtAFQ/UJl2zwF5Z-I/AAAAAAAACMo/-mZT1z9Q50A/s400/DSC00445.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Elijah seems to grow and change every time I look at him. All of a sudden we are here, one month after his birth-day.<br />
<br />
Accomplishments:<br />
Holding his head up for a few seconds spontaneously<br />
"Stepping out" (term referring to putting his legs out strait and balancing his weight on his feet)<br />
Eyes focusing briefly on objects, and especially our eyes<br />
Sleeping 3-4 hrs. at night in between feedings<br />
<br />
Today I had to put away his newborn clothes :..-( He is in 0-3 and 3 month clothes. My baby is BIG!<br />
The good part here, my silver lining, we made sure to have more clothes in these sizes when we were registering and shopping, so he has WAY CUTE outfit options right now.<br />
<br />
Me:<br />
Getting more done around the house when Papa is home to watch baby<br />
Feeling more and more like myself, only like "bonus me" because now I have a baby<br />
Switched out my wardrobe because it is getting WAY cold... inspired by rearranging my sons wardrobe ;-)<br />
Sleeping better now with my random spurts of opportunity than I did the whole time I was prego<br />
Still have 20 lbs to go til pre-prego weight reached<br />
Keep hearing I don't look like I had a baby, I'm ok with that ;-)<br />
<br />
Lately:<br />
Hubby's 31st birthday was celebrated successfully and enjoyably from last Thursday-Sunday (took him to his favorite doughnut shop Thursday night while a friend kept an eye on baby has he took his after dinner nap! We listened to Frank Sinatra in the car while we ate our doughnuts at the park. Friday he got to have powdered doughnuts for breakfast (he really likes doughnuts). Saturday night I made him homemade pancakes with sausage and eggs for dinner. Sunday was the grand finally, see below)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jGe_VC_oRq0/UJl3VGUAsaI/AAAAAAAACMw/4Bt4ZimRBWs/s1600/DSC00449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jGe_VC_oRq0/UJl3VGUAsaI/AAAAAAAACMw/4Bt4ZimRBWs/s320/DSC00449.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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He's such a happy Papa!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-afQtQaCJLRA/UJl3jf26IrI/AAAAAAAACM4/OzCbRJW_Yns/s1600/DSC00451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-afQtQaCJLRA/UJl3jf26IrI/AAAAAAAACM4/OzCbRJW_Yns/s320/DSC00451.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I dressed Baby Bear and I up to surprise Papa Bear when he came home from church. "We" videoed him walking in the door while "we" sang "Happy Birthday" to Papa!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PGRXpLtYqCU/UJl3vTVH8BI/AAAAAAAACNA/7xaoW4uSnDM/s1600/DSC00453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PGRXpLtYqCU/UJl3vTVH8BI/AAAAAAAACNA/7xaoW4uSnDM/s320/DSC00453.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ordered Papa Bear a steak dinner and bloomin' onion from Outback</div>
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My first homemade layer cake! He liked it :-)</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GWZ5Qwn3DRQ/UJl4LrURmwI/AAAAAAAACNQ/RCJrUkHBshs/s1600/DSC00457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GWZ5Qwn3DRQ/UJl4LrURmwI/AAAAAAAACNQ/RCJrUkHBshs/s320/DSC00457.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sCKxaMq6XTs/UJl4Wi5ZG3I/AAAAAAAACNY/S7dQHeOT09w/s1600/DSC00459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sCKxaMq6XTs/UJl4Wi5ZG3I/AAAAAAAACNY/S7dQHeOT09w/s320/DSC00459.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We took it out!</div>
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Enjoyed a nice day out at the park as a family Saturday... Well Papa and Mama thought it was nice ;-)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mv-v5ObasVM/UJl50amZD3I/AAAAAAAACNg/YJ3y6g1Z1sA/s1600/DSC00441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mv-v5ObasVM/UJl50amZD3I/AAAAAAAACNg/YJ3y6g1Z1sA/s320/DSC00441.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />
About to tackle a new way of life in the way of couponing and deal shopping... actually went to a money saving class saturday to get myself started :-)<br />
Looking forward to getting more involved in my local MOMS group<br />
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Life is good! Loving having my baby at home. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-48020421677695381122012-10-31T13:41:00.000-05:002012-10-31T14:20:05.562-05:00Wordless Wednesday - Halloween Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NFi4rxXAep4/UJFwf5uzQmI/AAAAAAAACLs/B-ov6bf_UmM/s1600/DSC00401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NFi4rxXAep4/UJFwf5uzQmI/AAAAAAAACLs/B-ov6bf_UmM/s640/DSC00401.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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3.5 Weeks old and rockin' his first Halloween!<br />
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linking with: <a href="http://lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com/2012/10/wordless-wednesday-blog-party-with-linky_30.html">http://lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com/2012/10/wordless-wednesday-blog-party-with-linky_30.html</a><br />
<a href="http://www.5minutesformom.com/66554/wordless-wednesday-pumpkin-patch/">http://www.5minutesformom.com/66554/wordless-wednesday-pumpkin-patch/</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-31831868957861550512012-10-30T15:26:00.000-05:002012-10-30T15:26:40.948-05:003 Weeks!My baby is growing so fast. Everyone says that about their kids... wow... I'm someone with a kid.... but really, he is growing fast! He doesn't even look like the baby I brought home.<br />
<br />
To celebrate, Saturday night we watched the birth and coming home videos. It has taken this long for me to feel brave enough to watch what little footage we got in the delivery room. It was intense, David laughed at the expressions on my face as I watched myself push. I said, "Hey man, that was really painful!" <br />
<br />
So here is what Elijah looked like at exactly 3 weeks old:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jq-mILiQavk/UJA1lPgm31I/AAAAAAAACKQ/SVIP7PtPN84/s1600/DSC00368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jq-mILiQavk/UJA1lPgm31I/AAAAAAAACKQ/SVIP7PtPN84/s320/DSC00368.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2u6q7LO_96w/UJA1wtHbYdI/AAAAAAAACKY/XH2RlNxOyDw/s1600/DSC00377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2u6q7LO_96w/UJA1wtHbYdI/AAAAAAAACKY/XH2RlNxOyDw/s320/DSC00377.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Holding Mommy's finger</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XX_LKbyK68U/UJA17Q3bSiI/AAAAAAAACKg/uZq26EG2fHo/s1600/DSC00379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XX_LKbyK68U/UJA17Q3bSiI/AAAAAAAACKg/uZq26EG2fHo/s320/DSC00379.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Admired by Daddy</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6J_4rgfv7LY/UJA2VUH3YwI/AAAAAAAACKw/T6DagzOLh5U/s1600/SHIPLEY-GONZALESMIRANDA20120531110704855+(640x569).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6J_4rgfv7LY/UJA2VUH3YwI/AAAAAAAACKw/T6DagzOLh5U/s320/SHIPLEY-GONZALESMIRANDA20120531110704855+(640x569).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Elijah's sweet feet at 21 weeks gestation</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YQAQpkm0fQk/UJA2Fb6If4I/AAAAAAAACKo/ppotu3__iEI/s1600/DSC00374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YQAQpkm0fQk/UJA2Fb6If4I/AAAAAAAACKo/ppotu3__iEI/s320/DSC00374.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Elijah's beautiful foot at 3 weeks of life on the outside</div>
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Activities:<br />
Sleeping almost 1-2 hours every 3 hours after a good feeding<br />
Nursing consistently every 2-3 hours, 4 at night when he's feeling generous ;-)<br />
Filling up his diapers like his career depends on it<br />
Staring at nothingness as intense as can be when he's awake<br />
Accidentally smiling at us while we stare at him in awe<br />
Bouncing in his bouncer and swinging in his swing interchangeably depending on his mood, or which parent is watching him ;-) (I prefer the swing, David the bouncer)<br />
Tolerating tummy time about 3 minutes a day<br />
<br />
Mommy update:<br />
20 lbs. to go to reach pre-prego weight<br />
Substantially less issues with engorgement (hallelujah)<br />
Stretch marks significantly fading<br />
No tummy flab<br />
Wearing largest jeans with bella band - still<br />
Overall, happy with life, trying to be grateful for moments of boredom<br />
Excited to have gone to church Sunday past!<br />
Looking forward to attending worship as a family!<br />
Planning hubby's birthday surprise on the flyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-52920544764595114682012-10-27T17:13:00.000-05:002012-10-27T17:13:17.266-05:00Baby Gear!!We're so excited about some of the pieces we have for Baby Bear! David of course, always goes to work right away whenever a new item comes in the mail. We cannot wait to use this AWESOME stroller!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xh6XnKrhZes/UGiwtrzwUqI/AAAAAAAABd0/QR4y4O-r5O0/s1600/DSC00018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xh6XnKrhZes/UGiwtrzwUqI/AAAAAAAABd0/QR4y4O-r5O0/s320/DSC00018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We chose the Baby Jogger City Micro. Jogging strollers seemed more versatile, better for activity, and this particular line is light-weight, has forever-air tires, one hand collapse, and one hand steering! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xrlJvkLhzKE/UIxJhRMjoFI/AAAAAAAACJM/6duZvI6hxkM/s1600/DSC00256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xrlJvkLhzKE/UIxJhRMjoFI/AAAAAAAACJM/6duZvI6hxkM/s320/DSC00256.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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So far it seems to be a success! I can easily collapse it, and throw it in the back of the trunk while on the phone or holding large bags, unassisted. Oh, and Elijah likes it too ;-)</div>
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I really want to be a baby-wearer! Originally we had a sling from 7 slings. I followed all the care instructions, and still the thing shrunk down to the size of a baby doll sling! I was mortified. Then I went to babble.com for sling recommendations and found the Baby K'Tan. I'm stoked with the possibilities! you can find it on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Ktan-Carrier-Black-Small/dp/B000UYFULU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351371283&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+k%27tan" target="_blank">amazon.com</a>, and <a href="http://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=baby+k%27tan&category=0%7CAll%7Cmatchallpartial%7Call+categories" target="_blank">target.com</a>, and read the babble review <a href="http://www.babble.com/products/baby-products-all/babble-best-baby-carriers/" target="_blank">here</a>!</div>
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Obviously cloth diapers get a bad wrap for many reasons: alot of care, less convenient, just gross. My husband was super-hard to convince when it came to giving the cloth diaper route a try. I really want to save money wherever I can, and just thinking about how much diapers cost and how long baby would wear diapers, just floored me. We heard about Sunbaby diapers from a friend, and saw that these diapers could grow with baby. Hubby let me buy a small order, and now we're both hooked! Definitely durable, comfortable material, and really not a lot of up-keep. Once the diaper is soiled, we just put it in the laundry room until there are enough for a load, throw them in the washer, inserts out, set to stain wash, and they come out good as new! Plus they come in WAY CUTE patterns!!! <a href="http://sunbabydiapers.com/" target="_blank">Check'em out!</a></div>
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<img height="238" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXVL91w5eGyrpjdjuXy5M-Dyq415az-Iudm6K5l6wAEY8ZDGeJrwGSKSPzISsS3mWBaVI19rHhiEiLt-iLqeuR_Vf07s2ZEjLpbxwdd0xMwfL4EG0ftE7LHaEujzd7BlTs4676m35Bob7/s320/028.JPG" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></div>
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The other items we could not do without:</div>
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<a href="http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4102339&fromRegistryNumber=48485890&product_skn=477943" target="_blank">Swing</a></div>
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Whenever Elijah falls asleep after eating and I need to do dishes or just pee, I can slip baby into this swing and he's content almost until the next feeding, unless he has a dirty diaper!</div>
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<a href="http://www.albeebaby.com/graco-pack-n-play-playard-with-cuddle-cove-rocking-seat-winslet.html?utm_source=Shopzilla&utm_medium=cse&utm_content=1812885&utm_campaign=Shopzilla&gdftrk=gdfV21377_a_7c623_a_7c8044_a_7c1812885" target="_blank">Pac n Play with attachments</a></div>
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We love this whole set, but the rocking seat has been such a blessing lately! He prefers sleeping in that right now, the vibrating motion seems to really keep him calm through the night so I can try for some zzz's in between feedings :-)</div>
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Hope this gear guide helps!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-10538698085438421972012-10-24T11:51:00.000-05:002012-10-24T12:58:59.030-05:00Elijah's Birth StoryYesterday was awesome! After our early afternoon feeding, I decided Elijah and I needed to get out of the house, a little further than the loop around our apartment. We went to the park where 3 weeks ago, hubs and I were trying to <a href="http://sweet-delightfullysweet.blogspot.com/2012/09/pumpkin-patch-kids.html" target="_blank">"walk our baby out."</a> I have longed to do this since before we conceived Elijah. I had a moment of feeling that I've come full circle - Desiring a baby, being pregnant, dreaming of what motherhood would be like, and finally beginning my journey as mother. Like I said, yesterday was awesome :-) And now...<br />
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Perhaps long-awaited by some, here is the story of our son's birth (brace yourself for the long version).<br />
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Some may remember when I listed the <a href="http://sweet-delightfullysweet.blogspot.com/2012/09/progress.html" target="_blank">pre-first stage labor signs</a> I had leading up to the actual event. Thankfully everything that I felt happening inside really was making progress. Friday, October 5 when we went for our prenatal appointment, our midwife (one of our top favs) offered to examine me. I'm very grateful I didn't have to have exams throughout the pregnancy, and this was an option for me. She discovered I was at 3cm and 50-60% effaced. I was happy, but also knew I could hang out from 3-5 cms and be fully effaced for days before ever going into the first stage of labor. Still feeling those irritating tuggings and some uterine tightenings, hubby and I decided to walk at the mall to see if anything more would happen. Since we live over an hour away from the clinic and hospital, we hated the thought of getting home, labor starting, and having to come all the way back.<br />
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We walked the perimeter of the mall, stopping every once in awhile for a slightly stronger tightening, then decided to see "Transylvania", but before the movie, hubs bought me some chocolate at the chocolate shop! After the movie we walked some more. We spent almost 6 hours at the mall. Things got exciting around 5pm, then everything stopped around 6pm. I was exhausted from not sleeping the night before (heartburn, peeing constantly... general restlessness) and just wanted to go home and chill. When we got home David lit candles for me and I enjoyed a long shower and then bubble bath. We then set up the laptop in the bedroom, candles on my dresser, and cuddled in bed while streaming "Clueless" on Netflix. I couldn't handle the stupidity in the movie and finally thought I could sleep, it was 9:45.<br />
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*I'm really, really thankful we got to make so many special memories together in the hours leading up to delivering our son! A nice way to go into labor :-)<br />
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I barely dozed off and was up around 10:15 to use the rest room. Gave up on sleeping at 10:45 as I was very uncomfortable. Went downstairs to watch netflix on the tv, and at about midnight woke hubby up to help me time contractions. We sat in the baby room in the dark, me in the rocking recliner, him on the cot, me calling out when contractions would stop and start. After 1 hour the contractions had consistently been coming every 2-4 minutes and lasting 1.5-2 minutes. They were pretty strong. We finally decided to check in with the midwife. One of our other favorites was on call. She wanted me to try to eat and drink something and see how things were going in another 45 minutes to an hour.<br />
Hubby and I went downstairs, flipped on netflix, I had a banana, trail mix, v8 fusion, and waited. We decided to watch "The Office" the niagra and baby episodes. When contractions would become strong I had to pause the show and focus. This went on until about 3:15am. I decided to call the midwife back and tell her things had slowed down. She recommend I go to bed and try to sleep. I told David he needed to rest. As soon as I tried to lay down I would get a huge contraction. I gave up trying to sleep and just rocked in the chair. I would get super hot, then really cold. It was really frustrating. All the while I'm wondering if this will be go-time or am I once again going through alot of discomfort/pain for nothing.<br />
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At 4am I realized contractions seemed regular again. I started timing on my own. After 2 hours I called the midwife again. She said it was best just to come in and get checked out. She said try and eat something first. I was having really bad heartburn (this would continue for the rest of my birthing process), I didn't know how I would eat. I woke David up around 6am and told him the latest. We got ourselves together, a couple outfit changes for me, I didn't expect it to be cold outside. We went first to get gas, then grabbed some breakfast to go at Burger King because there was no line, we did however have to wait by the door because they didn't have anything fixed ahead of time. All the while I'm breathing through contractions. My pain level was manageable, but I really had to focus. I couldn't eat through contractions.<br />
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As contractions intensified, I decided to call my best friend (it was 7:30am), she is the one person I could count on being up early on a Saturday and who I thought I could handle talking to in this situation. I asked her to read one of my birth passages, Psalm 33. I feel certain this is when I got to 7cm. I became pretty weepy and had to set the phone aside to try and focus. When she was done reading I said I had to go so I could keep focusing. As we got closer to the hospital, it was getting pretty intense. The roads were getting bumpy and we were hitting every red light!!!<br />
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We couldn't remember how to get to valet parking. We drove crazily through the parking garage and finally saw signs to valet. Valet ended up being closed because it was Saturday. David found an employee who said we could park wherever we wanted. We got a spot near the door. We made our way to triage. Triage was STUPID!!!! As always. I had one simple page to feel out, but the whole time I'm trying to breathe through my contractions, she's asking me more questions that I can hardly bring myself to answer, AND she can't find me in the system. They can NEVER find me in the system. Of all the names I have that she could spell wrong, she was misspelling "Miranda." Really?<br />
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FINALLY! In a triage room. Getting in a gown. Then, SURPRISE! The midwife-in-training we had met the day before at our appointment is on call with our fav midwife who had also seen us the day before. Midwife had the student check me. SHE.WAS.AWFUL! Roughly fumbling around in my business, squinting and twisting her face trying to figure out where I was. I'm telling you, she had a alot of room in there and I felt every plunge of her rough little fingers. She's mumbling out, "mm, well, uhh, I'm thinking a ssixxx?? Maybe six and a half?" The midwife says, "Would you like me to come in behind you and make sure?" "Yea, I think I want you to come in behind me." Midwife is in and out and says, "She's more like a 7, I'm going to say 7 1/2." I was relieved, all that work for a reason! David was beaming, of course. Midwife says, "Good news, you're going to have this baby today! We just have to make sure we can get you a room. There are a lot of babies being born today."<br />
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Let me interject here to say in this moment I had another realization of how differently David and I approach situations. For me, I saw this as a time to work. We had a mission. Its time to get the baby out. David only saw the end result, our baby coming, finally, and that's all he could think about and he was over the moon. I desperately just needed his focus to help me breathe.<br />
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In a little while, a nurse came in and prepared us to move to a delivery room. We got a room with somewhat of a view, which was nice later in the afternoon. By 9am I was getting my antibiotics for strep b. That was annoying. I had to sit in the bed with IV fluids and antibiotics and getting monitored. This, I felt, was getting in the way of my progress.<br />
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note snack bag and yoga mat in the background.</div>
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I didn't have a single snack and the yoga mat was a fail!</div>
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Admittedly, I did not have the patience I should have with the nurses. I didn't verbally express annoyance, but I didn't respond to their friendly chatter either. Internally I was responding with snarky comments. For me, this was not a time for light-hearted, random chatter. This was serious business! Finally the antibiotic finished and the bag of fluids. They left the port in my hand, but at least I could move about freely again.</div>
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I was able to keep VE's (vaginal exams) at bay for most of the day. The midwife and student came in every so often to observe, but mostly stayed out of the way. They loved how David and I were working together and didn't want to get in the way of something that was working. The main nurse of the day kept monitoring me, but finally the midwife convinced her to just use the doppler instead of trying to strap me in every 30 minutes.</div>
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My temp kept fluctuating, I'd have the gown on, half on, completely off by times. Sometimes bundling up in a sheet while my teeth chattered so hard I thought they would fall out!</div>
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This is the majority of how we spent our labor. Me sitting and trying to relax when I got a break, and then once a contraction would come on I would leap up and wrap my arms around David's neck and beg him to count my breathing so I could work through the pain. Seriously, the midwife was really impressed with this.</div>
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With all the <a href="http://naturalbirthandbabycare.net/childbirth-dvd.html" target="_blank">Birthing Better Pink Kit Skills</a> we had practiced, I mainly found sitting in a way that allowed my pelvis to feel open, and just breathing through the pain to be most useful. I tried using my yoga mat for some pelvic opening poses, but I really couldn't handle it, in the moment it didn't feel as helpful as when we had practiced at home.</div>
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Around 3pm the midwife and student came in to talk with me and find out how I had been feeling and to observe a few contractions. They could tell they were coming on more intense. Midwife offered to check me to get an idea where we were. I asked if there was any way I could get checked without lying down in the bed. The idea of lying back on my back sent my mind reeling. She said no, but that we could wait till I was ready. I made sure to ask that she be the only one to check me. While I was getting examined the nurse had to monitor. Midwife found me to be at 9cm. She offered to break my bag of waters if I wanted to move things along. I declined. I then labored on the toilet for a while. They all, midwife, student, nurses wanted me to labor in the shower. The shower was DISGUSTO!!!! Big yellow stains on the tiny stall floor, calcified shower head with little flow, and no stool to rest on. At every one's behest, I gave it a shot. It was awful. The water didn't get to my back or anywhere helpful. The toilet worked for me. I was impressed and grateful that the midwife came in there and sat with us for a while, just crossed-legged on the floor like any regular person. She talked with me about my options - breaking waters, it wasn't too late for epidural, vaginal sweep. I resisted. I still wanted to give baby and I shot at natural birth. We had been working on it this long, why not keep going?</div>
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I had a couple intense contractions and midwife said try pushing with them a couple times to see how it felt. OUCH!!!! I backed off pushing as soon as I started. She said, "it doesn't feel good? Like a relieving feeling?" All I could do was shake my head no. She said ok, don't worry about it for now. Shortly after they wanted me off the toilet and to sit on the edge of the bed and try laboring that way. They had brought in a birth stool earlier that I had tried for a while, it was now serving as a foot stool for me. Then I got one HUGE contraction. I lept off the bed and grabbed for David, as I did there was a flood of water pooling in my flip flops. I was shocked, shocked out of even feeling the contraction. Everyone in the room got really excited. This was 4pm. (there was a clock in the room, I was always staring at it, so I know the exact times of everything). Shortly thereafter midwife wanted to check again. I hadn't dilated any further, but she said my cervix was really nice and soft. She said a small corner of the bag remained and she could get it for me if I wanted and then I should open all the way. I let her do it, then another huge contraction came on!</div>
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She said I could try to push when ready and things should move along quickly now. I tried a couple pushes, it felt awful and I stopped (probably out of fear). I really didn't want to push in the bed. I had a huge stigma against birthing in bed. I wanted to be like the African tribal women who wonder how people ever birth in bed on their back. Still, we tried in the bed for a while. We got serious about pushing at 5pm. Around 6 (maybe later?) they urgently told me to stop pushing, got oxygen and monitors strapped on. The baby's heart rate had dropped. Midwife began saying that if they couldn't get the heart rate back up they would bring in a doctor for his opinion and we might have to go the forceps route. I couldn't get my control back for a long time at this point. I found it difficult to even inhale the oxygen. Finally I made eye contact with David and he helped me count breaths again. After a little bit they let me try the squatting bar. This actually felt good. My head could comprehend pushing in this position and I was actually getting the baby down, so I thought. I was doing well enough at this point that they took the monitors off. I was so eager I started helping them unstrap me, which made everyone laugh.</div>
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Midwife discovered that he was just not as far down as she first thought, she was a little surprised. As I continued to push using the squatting bar, midwife noticed I began swelling. She made me lie back immediately. She told the nurses and student who were there to grab my legs. She kept thinking "this was it" and getting ready to catch, and then the head would go back in. She was encouraged at the softness of the cervix and she said the slowness at which I was pushing would prevent me from tearing.</div>
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*Side note. This whole time I really did not feel as in control as I imagined myself to be once I got to this situation. I felt weak, scared, and like a wild animal... I couldn't push without screaming. I'm sure I was the loudest person in the hospital. I kept waiting for my uterus to do the work like I had read and heard about from so many. The urge never happened for me. I had to wait for strong contractions and push with those.</div>
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Midwife really wanted me to have the baby on her shift. She had been with us for several appointments and with us the whole day, she wanted the honors. She made the comment "C'mon Miranda! Time to get him out, I really don't want (name of other midwife) to catch this baby!" Believe me, I wanted her to catch the baby too. I kept looking at the clock and trying to get him out before 7.</div>
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At 6:30, the next shift came in. The room filled up with people. I had two people at each leg, David was one of the people holding my right leg. I had another person pushing my back forward with pillows. It had been all women, but with shift change, in comes this strange looking man with horn-rimmed glasses, white ponytail, and he goes to my back to hold me up. I ended up being grateful for him because he was a lot stronger than the nurse. David and I had definitely exchanged a look though, we had not expected a man.</div>
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*Side note, remember the nurse who kept monitoring me? She was now at the top of my left leg, occasionally dropping her hold to ANSWER or SEND a TEXT!!!! Seriously! She would show people around her and say "Oh this is my kid!" and random stuff like that. Every time she did that I would totally lose focus in irritation and bewilderment. HOW COULD SOMEONE TEXT IN THIS SITUATION???? OF all the places where it's inappropriate to text, the delivery room during 2nd stage labor when people are counting on you to help, should be one of those places! I could not believe it!</div>
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Finally at 6:40 I got really into pushing, I hit my groove or something. I was staring at that clock and praying with everything I had, screaming in my head to the Lord. "OH MIGHTY GOD! PLEASE HELP ME! I HAVE NOTHING LEFT (something I would also say outwardly)! PLEASE LORD, YOU ARE MIGHTIER AND STRONGER THAN ME. PLEASE PUSH THROUGH ME BECAUSE I CANT!" I had begged for the midwife just to pull my baby out, get forceps, anything! She was patient and encouraging, kept telling me I could do it, that we would have this baby naturally. She never stopped believing. All the people in the room, and believe me, there were a TON! I had no idea so many people would be in there, this was also distracting, they just kept cheering. They could see the head and they would say, "There he is! You're doing good Miranda," "you're doing so great!" "Keep going!" All I could do was keep praying over and over again. The new midwife was sitting in the catching position (She happened to be the one I talked with on the phone in the early morning, and our other fav). The first midwife was in the room watching from afar. I pulled myself up, bore down, and with every last ounce of strength I had just pushed, pushed, and kept pushing. I could feel the excitement in the room, I saw the light shining from David's eyes as I felt the head come through. In that moment, I was far enough up that I could look down and I saw his face between my legs, eyes close, face scrunched up and gray, covered with fluids, and I was a little horrified. It was just crazy looking! Monsterish, even. (that ring of fire? not the good feeling I've heard some women describe. I thought it would kill me), the new midwife smiled encouragingly and nodded saying not to give up, keep going he's almost here! Then, FINALLY I felt his feet slip through, it kind of gave me a sickening feeling. Then, his slimy, wriggling, crazy strong and weak body, was on top my belly. It was 6:59pm, 10/6/12.</div>
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(we couldn't have video. David started to video the birth and the nurses threw up their arms saying "No! No video in here! No crotch shots". Bummer. Weirdos! My Body, our birth, our choice! Guess not.)</div>
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It took me what seemed like several minutes to even realize it was over and that my baby was with me. Finally I started to discover him. Then I began to fall in love with him. For David, it was much more instantaneous. I didn't pay attention in the moment, but I love looking back and remembering that swell of love and amazement he felt. He was in love with his son right away, and fell deeper in love with me.</div>
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Once Elijah was out, they told me to take my bra off so the baby could better bond with me. I didn't even think about it, it just flew off. I now remember that the old, male tech was sitting in the rocking chair towards the foot of the bed. I start chatting it up with different people in the room, learning about them and their families, while I'm learning to nurse my newborn son. Crazy right? I hadn't slept for two days, had nothing to eat for 12 hours, and I'm full of energy and being social, all the while I'm completely naked... not that everyone in the room hadn't just seen everything that was once a mystery.</div>
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So weird what childbirth does to a woman :-)</div>
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So that's our story. Here's his first bath and other fun stuff:</div>
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She styled his hair!!!</div>
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Loved his who-do! Or baby faux hawk ;-)</div>
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The bath and everything took about 1 hr. I really missed my baby and hubs!</div>
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Just before we leave the hospital, new family all together!</div>
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Taking him inside his home for the first time.</div>
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Showing him his room!</div>
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Hope you enjoyed, folks!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-11865821139077989352012-10-22T13:05:00.001-05:002012-10-22T13:20:41.591-05:00Life with Baby First 2 WeeksMy Son turned 2 weeks old Saturday. It's crazy for us! He has changed so much since his birth day. Eyes wide open, face is fuller, he seems longer, I know he's heavier, many funny faces and new sounds every day!<br />
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Highlights from the first two weeks with Elijah!<br />
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3 Days Post-pardom, first stroller walk!</div>
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Waiting for his parents to get ready. Love his little knee propped up and his hands folded!</div>
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9 Days Post-pardom - first errand day! Nursing bra shopping and walmart, WHEW!</div>
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*What we wore: Papa Bear- Plain black tee, urban pipeline jeans, osiris tennies, browning cap</div>
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Mama Bear- target cardi, old navy tee, target nursing tank, old navy skirt and flops, carters diaper bag which is awesome because its styled after a hobo tote!</div>
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Baby Bear - carters onesie and pants</div>
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12 days old - Getting ready for another day out. I mostly sat in the car, but still, it was getting out of the house.</div>
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*What we wore: Papa Bear - plain black tee, khaki cargo shorts, browning ball cap</div>
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Mama Bear - AE tunic, shadeclothing.com tank, (still) maternity leggings</div>
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Baby Bear: Carters jacket and pants set with onesie</div>
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Papa Bear chilling with Baby Bear after day out</div>
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2 weeks old!!! Papa Bear and I dance in celebration</div>
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Local touristy spot featured a scarecrow walk. This one had a great message</div>
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The little family - Rocking the Baby K'Tan</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw6fFWZqQWCaKMXSOajoi2RVzt6GloPyeOyMJuqzj7axDFaB-yKxHSsoCShZjpAXHQjrnnjjd2nBrCxHIv_kjxfiNYZ9u8ojrAZR8na6eLh7OJCerxo3B8fphOoV4H6zYJRFzlKin8hQ/s1600/DSCF0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw6fFWZqQWCaKMXSOajoi2RVzt6GloPyeOyMJuqzj7axDFaB-yKxHSsoCShZjpAXHQjrnnjjd2nBrCxHIv_kjxfiNYZ9u8ojrAZR8na6eLh7OJCerxo3B8fphOoV4H6zYJRFzlKin8hQ/s320/DSCF0245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After a long day, baby enjoyed chillaxing in his swing :-)</div>
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Hope ya'll are doing great!</div>
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(I'll get time to do a birth story one day... pix were just easier!)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-62307923706186051592012-10-13T17:57:00.000-05:002012-10-13T17:57:57.729-05:00Elijah at 1 week!I got the idea to do this one week post-pardom shot from <a href="http://africanbabybump.blogspot.com/2012/09/42-weeks-1-week.html" target="_blank">her</a>. I'm just glad I had a one week before delivery shot!<br />
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One week from our <a href="http://sweet-delightfullysweet.blogspot.com/2012/09/pumpkin-patch-kids.html" target="_blank">pumpkin patch</a> experience, I got my little pumpkin!<br />
Definitely better out than in! Love this little guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div>
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Us so far</div>
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Me: 20 lbs lighter from last pre-natal appointment (the day labor started)</div>
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Sleeping - in between feedings as able</div>
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Strength - building every day</div>
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Recovery - better than I imagined</div>
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Elijah: Nursing better every day</div>
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More adorable every day</div>
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discovering new sounds he can make every day</div>
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discovering use of limbs</div>
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beginning to see us a little better</div>
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getting brown eyes</div>
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pretty sure he's gaining weight!</div>
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trying cloth diapers for the first time today</div>
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David: being super-dad everyday!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-77421615169901608882012-10-11T16:37:00.001-05:002012-10-11T16:37:29.548-05:00Elijah Daniel!!!!Most people who read this blog already know this, but... HE'S HERE!!!<br />
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Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 6:59PM Elijah Daniel made his grand entrance! :-) 20 hours of labor which includes latent, first stage, and 2 hours of pushing, and I got to meet this 7lb 15 oz, 20 inch long stud:<br />
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Full birth story to come! (word of caution, those who become disturbed easily, hate detailed stories, need not read!)</div>
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So thankful for my son!</div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Blessings,</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">M~</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-72564935954211170962012-10-04T11:45:00.000-05:002012-10-04T11:45:15.343-05:00Guest at tinybluelines!<br />
Hey All! One of newest favorite reads is tinybluelines.com. I'm so flattered that Chaunie, accomplished speaker, writer, blogger, and mother of 3 invited me to her blog for an interview about my pregnancy story. I'm so excited to share this link with you. <br />
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<a href="http://www.tinybluelines.com/your-lines-delightfully-sweet-with-miranda-gonzales/" target="_blank">http://www.tinybluelines.com/your-lines-delightfully-sweet-with-miranda-gonzales/</a></div>
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Have a blast visiting her blog today and check out my interview!</div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Best,</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">~M</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-91337601145355730142012-10-03T10:09:00.000-05:002012-10-03T10:09:02.636-05:00Message to my BabyI haven't really written a letter to my baby here like some blogging moms have done. Last night when I was finishing a letter to baby in my diary, I thought maybe I would like to share it here.<br />
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First, some verses I read last night really encouraged me:<br />
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Psalm 33:13-15" <em>The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds</em>."<br />
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I love this because you have this picture of God on His throne, He is in power, He made us, and He is watching over us and our children!<br />
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Psalm 34:9, 10b "<em>Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! ...those who seek the Lord lack no good thing</em>."<br />
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These verses lead into what I wanted to tell my son:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear Son,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are already so many things I want to tell you! I'll start with two tonight:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. We may never have much in the way of earthly wealth as far as money and possessions go; but we will be rich in love, memories, and blessings from our Savior. What do you think would be most pleasant to remember at the end of life? Your bank accounts and fancy cars and boats? Or all the love and memories made with families and true friends?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. I think yelling is awful! Yelling doesn't solve anything. When I was growing up I heard alot of yelling, saw alot of anger and impatience. Your father and I disagree on some things from time to time, but we don't have to resort to yelling to solve our differences. Yelling doesn't solve anything. Yelling only causes hurt and prolongs the problem. The Bible encourages people to work out their problems with the best interest of the other person at heart; and to control oneself through their anger.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm telling you all of this Baby Bear, because I hope I remember this when I'm with you and instructing you. I don't believe yelling has anything to do with adequately training a child. Yelling just leaves painful, hurtful memories.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I believe I can teach you, guide you, be in authority with patience, love, gentleness, and strictness without raising my voice in an ugly way. Hopefully, through this approach I'll win your respect, love, and obedience. I want you to have a happy, love-filled childhood and grow into an adjusted, competent, and confident adult. I have a part in making those things happen. May God guide us both!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your father and I have been walking, cleaning, doing everything we can to have things ready for your arrival. I hope you'll be happy here with us! We're happy here with each other and are ready to share our nest with you! Love you Son!!</span><br />
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-<em><span style="font-size: large;">Mama Bear</span></em></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-65162467425374018762012-10-01T21:59:00.001-05:002012-10-01T21:59:54.687-05:00Thank God for Husbands!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From our first Christmas as Husband and Wife</div>
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Today at work I had my mental to do list running double time. I had unusual energy and wanted to make use of the time. Thinking about bringing our son home one day inspired me to want to vacuum his room yet again, vacuum our room and bathroom, and make sure clothes were put away; vacuum stairs, dust ceiling fans and tv center; vacuum living room, kitchen and downstairs bathroom. Without David, I doubt I would have been as successful at accomplishing my list plus some extras.</div>
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Hubby was up when I got home, playing his game per usual. We talked about my afternoon at work and then I explained my intentions for the evening. He wasn't sure he wanted me vacuuming the stairs on my own. He sweetly carried up the vacuum for me so I could start on the floors. I carried the already folded laundry up behind him. While I vacuumed the rooms and landing upstairs he finished up his game. When it was time to do the stairs he held the vacuum while I swept. Yay teamwork!</div>
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While doing the stairs his sister showed up with our last present from his family, a baby quilt from our registry. She leaves, I finish the stairs and I notice him starting a new game. I asked the obvious, "Are you starting a new game?" Thinly veiled disbelief in my voice. He cautiously said "no," as he turned off the PlayStation and tv. I told him it was fine though I wasn't fine with it, and began my next task.</div>
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Without saying anything he began unloading the dishwasher I had finished filling and running this morning. My heart melted. I was about to begin dusting but he thought it might be a bad idea for me to climb on chairs to clean the ceiling fans, so he stopped what he was doing, said I could finish the dishwasher while he dusted. By the time I finished unloading dishes, he was back and took over again. I got to dust the tv center and begin sweeping the living room.</div>
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When I moved into the kitchen he was already taking out trash. I thought it an appropriate moment to tell him what a good job he had done on the kitchen and give him a longer hug and kiss so he knew I was in the moment and appreciating him (when I first came home I breezed past him into the kitchen on a mission and he followed me asking why I hadn't given him his kiss when he stood up to greet me. I hadn't even noticed :-( ).</div>
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Long story, I know. I just really appreciate the help. We got everything cleaned up and I was able to start dinner by 6:30pm. We were able to watch Bones together before he went back to nap before work. I took a shower and then busied about tidying up the kitchen, getting another load out of the dryer to add to my load already waiting to be folded, and got another load in the washer.</div>
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In this moment I am at peace and full of thanks. I love seeing clean floors, dusted surfaces, a basket full of clean folded clothes, and knowing everything is in it's place and ready for the baby because hubby helped me make it so.</div>
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I'm married to a very good man. He told me as I tucked him in for his nap "I love you dude." (we say dude, man, buddy and stuff like that ;-) ) I like to ask "why" for fun. He said "because you're my life partner, you're my wife, you're good to me." Well he is good to me too. When I thanked him again for all his help he said "I could tell you didn't want me to play game anymore." I felt a moment's guilt and said "I did feel sad when you were going to play more when I had a lot to get done. But I don't want to be the wife who demands and doesn't let you relax." He said he knew that and I handled the situation well and he was happy to help. *sigh* ahhh... I love him! :-)</div>
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Ok, maybe too much mush for readers, I just had to let it out. This is a good moment!</div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Best,</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">M~</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-22029560501627142562012-09-30T22:06:00.000-05:002012-09-30T22:06:15.337-05:00Pumpkin Patch KidsThis Saturday we just had a day for fun and pictures! David is loving using our new camera and we are capturing the last few weeks of our baby as a bump in Mama's belly :-)<br />
*Side note, today a little girl at the church potluck was sitting on a friend's lap beside me. She poked my belly and asked in a sweet little voice "is there a baby in there?" So cute!<br />
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We're somewhere between 38 and 39 weeks. I happened to see my midwife's chart on Friday and saw they are going with a different date then they gave me over the phone, a later date. That's cool. More opportunity for baby to come on his own before the pressure of inducing starts. So, as fate smiled upon us this weekend, it was the kick off of Pumpkin Fest! Just when Baby Bear hits pumpkin-size!<br />
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*What I wore: cardi/old navy; cami/shadeclothing.com; maternity jeans/indigo blue from Motherhood; flats/Walmart<br />
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Pumpkin artist </div>
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Hubby found a friend in the apple barn! :-)</div>
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Attempting to slide the baby out ;-) </div>
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Ineffective, obviously! </div>
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Next idea, curb-walking. Suggestion given by 4 people. Apparently you can't make a baby come when he's not ready. </div>
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Sliding and walking makes a mama tired. Time for a rest!</div>
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My turn with the camera! I LOVE that fall is coming :-) Also loving the close-up feature on our camera!</div>
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Hope everyone else had an awesome weekend!</div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Best,</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">M~</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-92118874502113226892012-09-26T20:31:00.000-05:002012-09-26T20:31:35.357-05:00Progress??This week I have inundated myself with birth literature (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Our-Bodies-Ourselves-Pregnancy-Birth/dp/0743274865/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1348708269&sr=1-3&keywords=our+bodies+ourselves" target="_blank">Our bodies</a>... pregnancy and birth book), our <a href="http://naturalbirthandbabycare.net/childbirth-dvd.html" target="_blank">Pink Kit</a>, birth documentaries (More business of being born... the 4 part series follow up to the original documentary. YOU MUST WATCH THEM BOTH!) And have learned/re-affirmed that everything I'm going through is normal. Slowly its helping me come around to acceptance of how long it can really take to eject a large object from a tiny space. Since 33 weeks I've had reoccurring contractions, sometimes <strike>more painful</strike> stronger than other times, but none that turn into the real deal (obviously). I began hoping/believing those who thought I would go early, and for good reason, I did have preterm labor... Now I have to accept that baby likes his home and I can trust God and the child to pick the birthday.<br />
Any way, what I've learned: before you ever get to the first stage of labor, you can go through this sort of inactive phase of labor for days and weeks. So, all these tuggings, pelvis pain, back pain, and other dis-comfortable experiences my body is having isn't necessarily unproductive. My uterus is trying to pull up on my cervix and get it effaced. Will it be successful? We have yet to see, but we can hope!<br />
Hope and acceptance is my main mantra right now.<br />
Last night I had the undeniable urge to walk. Hubby was very sweet and we spent two hours walking a track at a park. Frequently I would have to stop and squat or get into some other pelvic-relaxing pose to work through some contractions. I appreciate the practice we're getting, but it is a let down when we still haven't met our baby. It's also tiring. I'm hearing good things about <a href="http://iamstricklyspeaking.blogspot.com/2012/09/blaises-birth-story-part-one.html" target="_blank">chili and pineapple</a> though, so we'll see! Next week the due date comes. Will baby?<br />
Friday we see the midwife, maybe she'll have something useful to tell us!<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Blessings,</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">M~</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-24662084311072364342012-09-24T09:54:00.000-05:002012-09-24T09:55:23.686-05:00Pregnancy Tips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Couch Consultation with Miranda</div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">What has worked, what I would do differently 1-9.5 months, and funny tips you don't need to think about until it happens to you</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">(not in any certain order)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">1. Pre-natal yoga. Do it! As soon as you feel up to moving around either find practices online, check netflix, borrow from the library or friend, whatever you have to do to get your hands on a practice or class, do it!</span><br />
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2. Start raspberry leaf tea in your second trimester! Uterine muscles will be nice and toned and it's supposed to help with contractions! (2 cups a day brewed for 10-15 minutes in 2nd trimester, 3 cups a day in 3rd trimester. I've used the Traditional Medicine brand.) I plan on drinking this tea post-pardom as well to help with my menstrual cycle. It can also help with breast milk. On the note of tea, once my milk supply is in, I may drink Mother's Milk tea also by Traditional Medicine to keep supply going.<br />
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3. As your belly grows outward, suddenly objects become strangely closer to you... watch how close you stand to the stove, belly burns aren't cool. (am i the only one who had to figure this out through experience?)<br />
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4. You don't need maternity underwear, maternity underwear is stupid. I love hanes hipsters, one size bigger than pre-pregnancy size.<br />
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5. When boobies start blossoming, do yourself a favor, get a sleep bra. Even if its a cheapy bralett.<br />
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6. Cocoa butter, or any stretch mark cream of choice, get it and start using it as early as 8 weeks. Palmers concentrate formula worked wonderfully for me. I just got my first stretch marks at 37 weeks, not as dramatic as what I've heard they can be, and I think they would get better quicker if I hadn't switched to the milkier massage lotion.<br />
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7. Definitely pay attention to what you're eating! I have had an interest in the foods I put in my body for years, but my knowledge about nutrition increased the more pregnancy literature I obtained. You can have fulfilling, delicious foods that are perfect for building a healthy baby and keeping you from over-gaining. Unfortunately, around 28 weeks, maybe? I started taking it easy on myself and over-indulged. Once you start, it's hard to get back on track. Now close to the end, the bulk of my weight gain is happening all at once. Make good choices, develop good habits!<br />
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8. Find ways to keep wearing clothes you already have. Towards the end I'm certainly finding fewer options, but all the way through there were definitely non-maternity options that stuck it out with me. Before getting married I decided I would buy some pieces that seemed would go the distance at least in early pregnancy (just in case we started a family). Full skirts, Tops that were longer and full, dresses with empire waist with tucks/gathers through the skirt... also, tank tops have the amazing power to stretch! Dots and Old Navy ribbed tanks have really stood by me. If you have time to plan your pregnancy, I would recommend picking up some similar pieces for your wardrobe. I would encourage anyone to get maternity leggings, however. Very helpful when skirts and dresses get a little shorter. When regular sizes get snug, go up a size and look for flattering tops, dresses, and skirts at consignment stores, or places like Old Navy that have great prices on items you can wear pregnancy-post-pardom.<br />
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9. Heartburn is going to happen. The scientific reason: Uterus pushes stomach up, way up, just like it pushes the heart to the side and moves your lungs out of the way. With your stomach getting higher up, the acids are closer to your esophagus. Also, the pregnant body is full of relaxin which helps the joints, pelvis, and back loosen up to prepare for the baby to descend. Relaxin slows down the process of digestion so food doesn't break down as quickly, which is why at night (and any other time throughout the day) it can be an extremely painful time for mamma's to be. Just like we've all been told all the time, several small meals throughout the day can make a difference. It will be easier on your system to digest than one or so big binge session. Also, sleeping with your head slightly elevated, two pillows under your head, and on your left side, can make it difficult for the acids to come after you, acid doesn't want to travel uphill. Sometimes all the preventive actions still don't totally eradicate the problem, chug the milk! Be careful of taking too many tums, you can have a build up of calcium which will block absorption of iron. I'm not a doctor, but I bet it's easier for our bodies to break down natural milk.<br />
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10. Whatever you do, and I'm not perfect at it, try and enjoy the experience. At the very least, appreciate/respect the amazing abilities of your body and the blessing of growing a whole new life.<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Best,</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">M~</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-87377302939154485372012-09-20T22:36:00.002-05:002012-09-20T22:36:41.315-05:00BUMP PHOTOS!!!It's been quite a while since we did a weekly bump photo! Now that we have a camera again, let's see where I'm at currently and then do a quick recap on how much we've grown in 9.5 months!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH191aeMaSxdy9tvIo2z4X9wcrYv2A0LxVvNlaNhryUgN36bivqXMo-boQXGRe3wMC89XCx-5JYCirRC1u3yx-jAYPg-mHcOGxLgu_vXR_E9zMDlKNWDSL1wMSKZD4QHAFvF8ogDXxazw/s1600/DSC00009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH191aeMaSxdy9tvIo2z4X9wcrYv2A0LxVvNlaNhryUgN36bivqXMo-boQXGRe3wMC89XCx-5JYCirRC1u3yx-jAYPg-mHcOGxLgu_vXR_E9zMDlKNWDSL1wMSKZD4QHAFvF8ogDXxazw/s320/DSC00009.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUG0_oE_sp3m5hD3Fl61Ye4PB3w0JPGFkiZJurPX_jEJIoXJxYmtfBxAZYhACBEZ9sEuylbGC_-VIFlqbJXOeiXC634_Hdu_IcK_6q-tDcRuWZu71SoRpz6JQV_4m7cB3ZUtGDfYuqkYM/s1600/DSC00007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUG0_oE_sp3m5hD3Fl61Ye4PB3w0JPGFkiZJurPX_jEJIoXJxYmtfBxAZYhACBEZ9sEuylbGC_-VIFlqbJXOeiXC634_Hdu_IcK_6q-tDcRuWZu71SoRpz6JQV_4m7cB3ZUtGDfYuqkYM/s320/DSC00007.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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SO here we are at all but 38 weeks! Look how we've grown! Baby is a low-rida these days. He is still very active, but movements have changed into bigger, slower, longer movements versus the short, fast bursts of earlier weeks. We're so ready to meet this active little boy! And with all of his clothes washed, folded, and sorted by month, I'm ready to play dress up with my little baby! Papa is ready to love, snuggle, amuse, and see his little boy swinging and bouncing in the cool kid furniture/toys we've been given!</div>
*What I wore... dress/shadeclothing.com; belt/kohls; leggings/motherhood; shoes/walmart<br />
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<strong>Past Bump Updates</strong><br />
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn11lu86vs-YFxZxINApv42JVp-w9U9F1uooraPB8JqsQ2bOsroG2u9i2Ypu_PBw5dN6Ltj24sTax06f1peTIbQtLIP0H7cnPn2vM2crIWIiUG-mGDxPwFIdB55_vJHIwKsTf-B35IZuA/s320/DSCF9469.JPG" width="240" /> </div>
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Look familiar?? Love how this dress has been with me from skinny, single days through 9 months of pregnancy!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkBBcVtiBPt8SyqH-K0qVLZfDqSJOxLFmsxqMnKz7A0yvKwBY5x83vZyTVepnQ5NLDV879nvWDtmp2i38dm1HFg55iL7c2S3RsbFI77KWv9GHgwVkYQPNtYTN9PbCuGK0okEVKi38pWw/s1600/DSCF9389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkBBcVtiBPt8SyqH-K0qVLZfDqSJOxLFmsxqMnKz7A0yvKwBY5x83vZyTVepnQ5NLDV879nvWDtmp2i38dm1HFg55iL7c2S3RsbFI77KWv9GHgwVkYQPNtYTN9PbCuGK0okEVKi38pWw/s320/DSCF9389.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgab_jA86WDWT1-dtWQ5BewVeTbVdI9JuspDhtziNmXclBH6qqhK6S2vJlAg0bRJ_YUbutsxUClxyyNGWjbXbzhBgpwR6fy5NTS8VBhrYqsRkXl4w0JEczTMnlypM4VpOWR9l6r94_H30c/s1600/DSCF9413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgab_jA86WDWT1-dtWQ5BewVeTbVdI9JuspDhtziNmXclBH6qqhK6S2vJlAg0bRJ_YUbutsxUClxyyNGWjbXbzhBgpwR6fy5NTS8VBhrYqsRkXl4w0JEczTMnlypM4VpOWR9l6r94_H30c/s320/DSCF9413.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SgGSnYdrQeu2UIhLpJtV6d78Rleap8swGgYEC3_C798avT4_kVoUTPlJMQZIy0zlyEUQ5psZye-th0O4uJ1L9rAFBX7UdIga6oo9tVS6YmsEKMLLjyAFwl5X8iE6dY89Gw2otBjc8Jw/s1600/DSCF9320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SgGSnYdrQeu2UIhLpJtV6d78Rleap8swGgYEC3_C798avT4_kVoUTPlJMQZIy0zlyEUQ5psZye-th0O4uJ1L9rAFBX7UdIga6oo9tVS6YmsEKMLLjyAFwl5X8iE6dY89Gw2otBjc8Jw/s320/DSCF9320.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SgGSnYdrQeu2UIhLpJtV6d78Rleap8swGgYEC3_C798avT4_kVoUTPlJMQZIy0zlyEUQ5psZye-th0O4uJ1L9rAFBX7UdIga6oo9tVS6YmsEKMLLjyAFwl5X8iE6dY89Gw2otBjc8Jw/s1600/DSCF9320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SgGSnYdrQeu2UIhLpJtV6d78Rleap8swGgYEC3_C798avT4_kVoUTPlJMQZIy0zlyEUQ5psZye-th0O4uJ1L9rAFBX7UdIga6oo9tVS6YmsEKMLLjyAFwl5X8iE6dY89Gw2otBjc8Jw/s1600/DSCF9320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE2NV_Zabyf6ZuVyARgrXoJ9OdNii0-zfSt7vqygGYfVk8GXkO4hMOTxh_lACqEVH-6BLgOLih_DsNFO2GqVFDTZa2qL06uygLziuZUKjBTx0NfNBxzIdSK6UWJuOwKmR88i9WbTpfLM/s320/DSCF9180.JPG" width="320" /> Where my bump first made an appearance! I thought I was getting "huge"!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHtMTIgxBsUJtscVJTjsw9dMXOACV2t6v17XBxwYzT-vF_ryZDkq97Hgi8A4yJw-b3-c1F-JbOedBLhVdMHMLZ31fqN-zqj5fU2rXFxGc-71IKHaCWv_zFeQJml6CRIFr-4MsJ-AFoao/s1600/DSCF9085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHtMTIgxBsUJtscVJTjsw9dMXOACV2t6v17XBxwYzT-vF_ryZDkq97Hgi8A4yJw-b3-c1F-JbOedBLhVdMHMLZ31fqN-zqj5fU2rXFxGc-71IKHaCWv_zFeQJml6CRIFr-4MsJ-AFoao/s320/DSCF9085.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhGbHVy8fHC2gZ5EAyAIpYy7CzesEfUaNETbEyHApBhHWWC4f4omyghW3yF9aIgblikE1Z-ZDsW0ITyEY0fv2S33qd7VacfuFUCiPNGpENnE4csnA1ITgt0ZMVox79KdaYi5fgDnGuM4/s1600/DSCF9088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhGbHVy8fHC2gZ5EAyAIpYy7CzesEfUaNETbEyHApBhHWWC4f4omyghW3yF9aIgblikE1Z-ZDsW0ITyEY0fv2S33qd7VacfuFUCiPNGpENnE4csnA1ITgt0ZMVox79KdaYi5fgDnGuM4/s320/DSCF9088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Aww!!!! Shortly after conception, my little sesame seed :-)<br />
Look how skinny! Such long hair! I kind of miss doing the side braids... ok, and being 135lbs with a flexible torso!<br />
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It will all be worth it though... Praise God for babies. Can't wait til I really know what all that means!!<br />
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14 days til "D-Day"! Will I make it? will he make me wait til 10.5 months? If he's going to make me wait, I think he should come 10/11/12. Anyone have any guess dates for me??<br />
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We just enjoyed a lovely cup of homemade hot cocoa! I've been so wanting chocolate alllll day! (that's most days though, pregnancy or not). Baby seemed to enjoy it! Jumping around like a crazy little jumping bean!<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Blessings,</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">M~</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-50338249621780416852012-09-18T19:12:00.000-05:002012-09-18T19:12:28.561-05:00Self TalkBefore getting into the topic at hand, baby update: 37wk prenatal checkup today. Guess weight for babes is 6.8, he is in good position for delivery, heartbeat seems fine, mama and papa have tdap and mama has the flu vaccine (for the first time in her life.)<br />
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In a sermon a few weeks ago we learned about self talk and how that can be detrimental to one's overall outlook on life. Apparently we can hold a conversation in our minds at the rate of 1500 words per minute. Especially when we're upset. I can totally testify to this possibility. I have held on to incidents, comments from various people, and situations for years, and every once in awhile when I'm doing dishes, laundry, showering, getting ready for bed, pretty much anytime that it's quiet and my thoughts have a chance to catch up to me, I launch into a huge conversation with myself, which is pretty much delayed retaliation/replies to things that have upset me in the past.<br />
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The following is in an effort to clean out my mind. This is a dump of a few things I would say to those who have frustrated me in the past, recent and distant.<br />
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From Sister-in-law 1 upon announcing our engagement, "This is so irresponsible! How well do you know her?" </div>
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That cut deeply. She had talked her bro up for over a year, introduced us, had been my friend, supposedly best friend for two years, and now I'm some stranger that is a mistake to marry? We did get engaged 1 month after dating, but we had talked as friends for about a month before our first date, during our dates, phone conversations and visits we didn't waste time with small talk or shallow banter. We got down to the nitty gritty, we were sharing our real selves. He's told me many times from the start he tells me more about himself than family and more than even his best friend knows. I was equally open with him. Before "jumping" into the engagement, we knew we were getting serious and decided to seek guidance from an elder at church and his wife. We wanted to be sure we had thought about the hard stuff, we gave them a 3 day heads-up and had them think up questions amongst themselves to ask us. They respected our approach, did not give us a break on anything, and thankfully a few things they brought up we had previously considered on our own. His family was not willing to give us any benefit of doubt that we used our heads when planning for our future, or that we would even try to make a plan. How about instead of just accusing us of being immature and irresponsible, you respectfully ask a specific question regarding a specific issue on which you would like more ifnormation? That's their downfall, they don't have rational conversations. They just explode with a bunch of irrational, ignorant accusations and then say we're the ones who "never tell them anything, never communicate." Got to tell you, exploding at people may be a form of "communicating" but it is certainly not EFFECTIVE communication.</div>
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I love what the couple said to us after the "inquisition" "Some people can date for 7 years and be ready to divorce after 5 months of marriage. Some people married for 30 years don't know anything about their partner any more. What you need to decide is no matter what life hands you, if you're in some horrendous accident that deforms you and prevents you from performing all your spousal duties, will you still be able to look into each other's eyes and say 'this is my spouse, I am bound to them, will take care of them, be faithful, and love them." It was a very serious moment, a question we each considered carefully and decided though it would be unimaginably hard, we would do just that. The other point they made, "It's not all about how long you've been together and how well you may know each other, it's about turning to each other and promising to each other you're committed to each other, to the marriage, and no matter what, you will work together." I've seen us do that on the regular. We're in this for the long haul.</div>
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From sister-in-law 2, Offended that she wasn't consulted before David proposed, declaring she didn't even know me. This has ALWAYS BURNED ME UP!!!! I went to church WITH HER for at least 2 YEARS, had tried specifically to talk to her just because she was my friend's sister. I had TAUGHT HER SON'S BIBLE CLASS and had tried to talk to her when she picked her son up from class just because it seemed polite to know your students parents. I had ALWAYS been snubbed by them. She had a chance to know me on several occasions before David ever came on scene, if she didn't know me, it's not by any fault of ours. We were coerced into attending a Halloween party shortly after we were engaged, we thought it would be a good chance to make up for our "infractions" even though such a gathering wasn't really our thing. We hardly knew anyone who was going. We were there for half an hour before the sisters showed up. They walked right past us to a table. We went to the table to say hi, sister-in-law 2 NEVER turned around! She kept her back to us and when David in a jovial way said, "This is Miranda!" She barely turned her head and in an ugly way said "Well it's a little late for that now!" Well! I guess so, after all she didn't want to talk to me when she had the chance for years before, why bother now?</div>
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Same sister-in-law: mad at David for not being a bigger part of her children's lives when I came into the picture. 1. Her kids have a loving devoted father. He coaches their soccer teams! He's more nurturing than she is. He cooks for the family. If she didn't have a father for the kids I could totally seeing wanting your brother, their uncle to be a bigger male role model in their lives. 2. Being upset that when David was in their home town (we always had a long distance relationship) he only hung out with me (we could only see each other one, sometimes 2 days a week, only for the weekend) and he never came to the kids games. Well, she never tried to talk to David, even at church, even after we married, she continued to snub him. How is he supposed to go to a game he isn't invited to or told about to begin with? How can he ask for this info when she ignores his attempts at conversation?</div>
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Same sister-in-law: I at first took it upon myself to mend bridges I thought I had the power to mend. I tried to set up a little dinner for one of the weekends I would be in town. I had heard she was questioning my competence as a woman and as a marriage potential due to how "young" I was... a question came up "Does she even know what marriage is about?" OOOOHHHH NO! She did NOT! I had always been vastly interested by anything and everything beyond my years. Already pursuing political issues at 12, making a binder full of marriage, family, budgeting, and healthy lifestyle information and advice from the time I was 16, always hanging out with those well beyond my junior because from the Bible it talks about how the wise seek out council from their elders. You bet I didn't want to be a fool! I had already lived on my own at this point for 6 years. I paid for my own schooling and all my living expenses, I had to work hard to be independent, but independence is what I wanted, and not in the rebellious teen way that stomps her foot and demands to be treated like an adult. I sought independence by finding areas where I could take on responsibility.</div>
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I just could never get over such inconsiderate, truly ignorant suppositions about someone they were never willing to try to get to know. SO, I wanted to give them another chance. I wanted to put myself out there and let them see who I am and what I'm made of. I was turned down flatly through another sister, sister-in-law 2 couldn't even contact me directly. Sister-in-law 1 (who revels in, and is always in the middle of everything) let it be known that it was just "too soon, and there is no way sister-in-law 2 would be up for something like that."</div>
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Well, it wasn't a week later, sister-in-law 2 contacted David and told him she had "some things she wanted to discuss with [me], and could [I] come over at such-and-such a time." I told David flat out, "no." It wasn't right to be approached that way. I offered to have a visit with them, I would not be ordered into an interview and dressing down by his sister. I'm THE GIRL!!!! I get PROPOSED to! My family gets to question THE GUY!!!! I decided I did not have to prove my worthiness to THEM! Finally David understood the oddness (to say the least) of the situation, and he respected my not going.</div>
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I just have one more thing to add here, his family has THE MOST difficult time with understanding, accepting perfectly traditional, perfectly right forms of etiquette in so many situations! Just like demanding they should be consulted on who David wants to marry, getting their permission to propose; the order of weddings; invitations to dessert (YES! People can invite people over for <em>just</em> dessert!); so much more! I could probably write a book.</div>
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Sister-in-law 3... oh could i go on here! Her inconsiderate comments during wedding plans, her personal feelings about so many things, over-advising in wedding plans when David and I were doing a completely different type of wedding. The worst offenses from her though come with the baby. When we let her know we were expecting her response "You guys are kind of rushing things aren't you? Miranda is still pretty young." WHAT?!?!?! This is prime baby-making time y'all! And hello... our family, our choice. We WANTED this!!!! I do not go for waiting til I'm 30. I'm married, I don't have to wait, I will have my eggs fertilized now please. Ever heard of keeping your opinions to yourself and just congratulating people for their happy moment???</div>
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THEN the baby shower debacle. We were blessed to have a friend who wanted to throw a shower for us. She encouraged giving her addresses of anyone and everyone we could think of. We most definitely included the sisters who live in our area. Apparently even though all invitations get mailed out on the same day, not all invitations will arrive at the same time. Our dear friend assured us all invitations went out. Well sisters 1 and 2, instead of addressing David directly, per their usual, they involve sister 3 with their complaints and she takes it upon herself to dress David down in text (they only know how to communicate through heated text messaging it seems... also very annoying). It went from one innocent, late invitation to another sister (to a party date she had already made other plans for any way) to David cutting his whole family out of his life. EXCUSE ME?!?! We send everybody birthday cards, kids, mom, and grands get presents, for sister 1 I took it upon myself to plan birthday celebrations 2 years in a row, only for my own to be forgotten by everyone. We don't get thanked most of the time for our card or gift efforts. Aside from yearly obligations, I had begun sending semi-regular email updates, we sent a Christmas letter last year, do we get any response from anyone? NOPE! I decided not to waste my efforts. They NEVER volunteer info about their families, they don't contact us expect for instances like this when they feel like we've committed some huge grievance. Guess what, I have a lot of things I have to keep up with in our own lives (UHM can we say pregnant for the last 9 months and still growing a child???), I don't need to waste efforts on a garden that refuses to grow. Thank you very much. Their rules don't apply to them. I don't want to live by their check list and be forced into checking in with them like a student on a roster in class. They live their lives uninterrupted, why can't they let us live in kind?</div>
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There will have to be a part II. I need a break. People are crazy. Time to fold laundry!!! Yay, lovin' clean underpants ;-)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-19570266346909796792012-09-17T11:35:00.000-05:002012-09-17T11:35:07.887-05:00Baby Showers!First, let me just tell you how excited I am to be 9 months (37 weeks) pregnant! Baby can come anytime and he'll be just fine :-) according to the bump.com he is the size of a watermelon, still gaining an 1/2 ounce everyday, practicing his swallowing, breathing, and sucking his thumb, and making his first little poo (meconium)! It's hard to believe I've been pregnant this long. Let me tell you, these last few weeks are not getting any easier. So BIG, so awkward to maneuver my body, laying on either side just makes my belly hurt, like the skin and muscles rub over the baby creating some kind of bruise or something. Still getting plenty of contractions and braxton hicks, but nothing turning into the real thing yet. We're definitely excited to meet the little guy and we're so thankful everything is ready for him, thanks to so many wonderful people!!<br />
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Friday night after work, I went home and picked up David then we went back to work to meet the co-workers for pizza and cupcakes! They were all so sweet! Little baby clothes, baby accessories, lots of great gifts to welcome baby! I wish I had pix from the event, but my camera has been MIA :-(<br />
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Sunday afternoon the church ladies had my fourth and final shower! I cannot believe I've had so many showers, so much baby stuff from so many extremely generous people! Our breast pump, stroller, swing, high chair, and sling have all been provided by friends! Not to mention TONS of baby clothes, board books, touch and feel books, pacifiers, diapers, dishes and spoons, just everything. It's overwhelming to have so many people providing for our baby. At the beginning of this pregnancy David and I had figured there wouldn't really be anyone around to help us out, we were fine with that, we're used to providing for ourselves. We made plans to try and get what we needed a little bit at a time. Now, right towards the end, we're bombarded with more than we need! God is good :-)<br />
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Cell phone pix compliments of the lady who made the AWESOME strawberry shortcake for my "church" shower. My fav dessert!</div>
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All the lovely hostesses!</div>
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I got to bring that super cute monkey with balloons home! He's so soft!</div>
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I just have to say, there are so many people going through so much in their own lives, they have plenty of things they need to provide for themselves and their families, yet they have made a point to shower us with so much for our little one! I'm just extremely humbled by the generosity and at a loss as to how to show my gratitude. And how awesome is this for a problem? Ready to stop getting gifts because you're tired of putting things away? ;-)</div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Praise the Lord ya'll, He is good!</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Blessings,</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">M~</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551199981887244524.post-25523108878583419622012-09-13T09:33:00.001-05:002012-09-13T09:33:59.834-05:00Baby Trial RunSo far so exciting this morning. A dear friend from church has helped us alot so far getting ready for our baby. She did everything from lend us her spare bobby and bumbo, to buying us a second hand breast pump! So when I heard she was having trouble finding childcare for this week, I was excited to have the opportunity to help out along with another friend. This morning David and I are watching 9 month old baby boy, who has a very difficult time being separated from mama. First time watching babies since I've been super-prego, we're looking at it as a good taste of what we'll be living with soon.<br />
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Poor little baby just screamed his lungs out for the first hour of being here. He didn't like his toys, books, or walker. Thankfully, his mama left her stroller here, for a blissful two turns around the neighborhood little boy calmed down and even started to enjoy the toy. As soon as we got him in the living room again he totally freaked out! I think it's because he remembered that's where his mama said goodbye.<br />
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It was soon time for his nap and thankfully he is good at falling asleep, I think being in his pack n play, and being covered with his blanket is the only thing that has made him feel secure all morning. We're getting to try out our baby monitor while he sleeps, so all is well now!<br />
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Baby cries like that just break my heart, he is just a little young to understand everything will be ok and his mommy will be back for him. *Crossing my fingers* for my friend who is taking the afternoon shift with the little guy!<br />
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<img src="http://www.dreamstime.com/very-upset-and-crying-baby-boy-thumb15023073.jpg" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03252994680924887990noreply@blogger.com1