1 week

Well.... he's been with us for a whole week. It is funny how my WHOLE world has changed in 7 short days. Can't imagine loving anyone as much as I love that little boy. Adjusting to life as a mom has been rough especially since I can't DO anything because I had a c-section. Taking it easy is the hardest part. I sleep just enough to make it work. My family and the friends we have are such a blessing! I have not worried about food or laundry since we got home. How blessed we are. Hayes is just precious and I'm smitten.

We are home as of yesterday... which pretty much runs into every day before that because I have NO concept of time or day anymore. Coming off the holiday break already had me messed up and not going back to school at all has totally messed up my calendar system.

I had some serious contractions early New Years day (Friday) and I just felt weird. Walked and walked all day long.... inside and outside. Put the carseat in the car... did laundry.... etc. Busy day.

Saturday I woke up with the same issue and I rested some in the morning... walked some... went to the high school to watch wrestling (of course) and walked some at the school with Daryk. I was convinced that I was having Braxton Hicks since I was only 36 weeks (almost 37). Walking didn't help... sitting didn't help... they just kept coming. Sitting on the bleachers while people bounced up and down walking up and down is what did it. I'm convinced. :)

Sunday I woke up at 6:30 and I was pretty sure my water broke but I haven't ever done this before now so I called the dr and made my plans to head over to Northside. I made it a point to shave my legs before we left the house. How ridiculous. We had to stop for gas and I wanted to go to Walmart too. So we stopped for gas... hit the walmart where I went inside to potty and get some snacks. Daryk was very scared I was going to go into labor in the walmart. He kept saying "Do not have this baby in walmart. We are NOT having a walmart baby like that movie." The drive to the hospital is about an hour long. Daryk picked the bumpiest lanes on 285 to get there and I thought I was going to die. Finally made it to the hospital and got into a room around 9:30 am. Dr and midwife came into check to see if my water broke. I passed the 'floor test' which meant my water indeed was broken! YAY--baby.

Not dilated at all so we started a drip of fluid and pitocin to speed things up. Apparently Hayes was on Daryk's driving speed which is SLOW for those of you who don't know. He was taking his own sweet time which was fine by me. Around lunch time I was tired and ready for that kid to come already--tried to nap but that was not good. Dr wasn't happy that I hadn't dilated any and he was REALLY upset that no one had talked to me about the possibility of this being a BIG baby for 36 weeks. I knew he was going to be big or at least I assumed but nobody had addressed that with me medically....

About 5 we decided for a c section. Started the process of getting stuff rolling and the good drugs to come along soon. Epidural about 6 ish... baby at 6:30. After sitting in recovery forever I finally got to go up and see my kid. I had to wait for him to be moved from nursery one to nursery two and then finally to my room. Mind you that EVERYONE else (my entire family of 16 who was here at the time and Uncle Sean) has seen him. Everyone BUT me. I remember a glance while I was sedated... and I heard him cry... remember that part too. Finally got to see him and hold him about 10:30 Sunday night. Longest day of my life. Hospital was awesome. Staff there was great and we had a super pleasant experience. So glad to finally be home in my bed with my stuff too. I'm so glad he's out of my belly and at home with me. I could just sit and watch him for hours. Literally.

Christmas Overload

No--I didn't have too much turkey or ham. And NO family--I didn't eat the whole entire bread section--but I could have! 35 weeks and counting at this point! I'm ready for him to get here already. I have the room all ready and I'm packing my bag for the hospital. I have mailed my 'pre admission' paperwork to the hospital. I don't think there is much else to do.

I have cleaned and un-cleaned and re-cleaned the entire house. I have organized and reorganized the nursery about 10 times. I can't WAIT for him to be here. I'm ready to meet him and hold him.

Christmas has come and gone. Time with all the family was great and exhausting. Laura Ann and Caroline both were quite excited to meet the belly and see it in person. Caroline has watched the nativity story this past week and she informed me that 'having a baby hurts'. Apparently the channel didn't get changed in time and she heard that tidbit of information. She was in love with the belly and spent more time rubbing it and touching it than she did running around and yelling. Laura Ann was in love with the oreo balls and Daniel was dressed in Speed Racer wear last night. He told us that he was not going to be Laura Ann's prince. Those kids are priceless and I loved spending time with them.

Almost ready for Hayes

Well the mural is 95 % done. I'm just waiting for Daryk to paint the water. I'm going to give him another week or two and then I'm doing it myself. Hayes will be here before that thing is done and then he'll wonder why the fish swim on the wall. We still have to put the finishing touches on the animals and their eye balls. Right now they look kinda creepy. I'm so proud of my mural! I painted most of it--yes ME! I've decided I'll tackle our room next and paint something fun on our wall too. I think maybe I see a business opportunity for us... perhaps we'll start painting murals. Much love to everyone and Merry Christmas!

THE Infamous Cheese Biscuits

We spent our Thanksgiving holiday on the legendary farm. I say that because until this Thanksgiving I didn't really even think it was a REAL place because I'd only heard stories and seen pictures. One could easily make up stories and find pictures in a magazine. :) Alas, it is a REAL live place--and I believe properly titled 'Memory Lane'. Or maybe that was just a temporary road sign that Jay stole... either way... it fit. I was able to see LOTS of our family in Vidalia and we were even blessed to have a baby shower! The Thanksgiving dinner/lunch was amazing. Never have I ever seen a WHOLE cooked pig on a table for your own carving. Bethany and I both had a hard time figuring out how to identify the body of the pig once it was cooked. I had some of the most amazing brownies and I would happily call them 'death by chocolate'. Got to see all the cousins I have come to love so much and spent time with them around the food and fire!
At our baby shower Saturday morning we got LOTS of books! We both love books and soon Hayes will have his very own shelves full of them. Daryk got a gas mask for the stinky diaper changes--thanks Brandy and Chris for that! I'll appreciate it. I promise to take a picture once he puts it on. Our little man also got some more diapers and lots of clothes. The girls even made him TWO blankets! I can't wait for him to get here so he can see all this cool stuff he got. Baby shower for the CHEESE baby allowed me to sample the CHEESE biscuits. Now--I've known this family for almost 5 years now and EVERYONE says these things are legendary. I love bread anyway so it wasn't difficult for anyone to convince me to try them. Of course they are marvelous! And everyone explained that I should eat as many as I could QUICKLY because they might disappear faster than they come out of the oven. No joke. Needless to say the last to arrive at the shower got NONE... her child was the culprit who ate the last of them! One day I'm going to figure out how to make those. So delicious!

Crunchy Pancakes

I love crunchy pancakes at the cracker barrel. I seriously think they are my favorite food group in the whole world. I am so lucky that my husband doesn't mind going with me several times a month to get my crunchy pancake fix! Since I've grown larger in the last 2 months I get some good stares at the crack house when I go in to eat. You know you are on display anytime you get seated there because EVERYONE looks at you. This Sunday we ate there on our way home from Vidalia and I had to giggle at this little girl who was pointing and asking her mommy about my belly. :) So funny. I love the questions people ask and the funny things that people say. Yes--I'm pregnant. I'm due January 25th. Nope... not twins. Just one--I hope! Its a boy and yes he's BIG. I'm praying he comes earlier than his due date--but not TOO early! Here are the latest belly pics so you can get some idea of what this belly looks like! 32 weeks and counting down to the due date.

His Room

We have been slowly but surely working in that room I call a nursery. Why do we call it that anyway!? It is my baby's room.
We--well... really I had decided long ago that Noah's Ark would be my baby room decor. I am so blessed to have married an art teacher who has this kind of stuff down to a science. We started with a drawing and added the paint today! I am so proud of the 'work in progress.' I had some help from Daryk drawing it and from McKenzie who helped me paint today. I was insistent on the animals being REAL colors and not silly colors. I spent time researching each animal to get an idea of their coloring and markings so we could paint them and make them look like (well TRY to look like) they do in real life. We have a gazelle, an antelope, a panda bear, giraffes, a lion, an elephant and hippo, a monkey, some fish, and a few birds. All of them are as real as possible.











His furniture is from my collection of antiques (minus the crib--it is new).... a wash stand by the window. Chest of drawers that's full of clothing already! The dresser will double as my 'changing table' and I'm really excited about the rocking chair/glider. Love it! I hope to spend hours in that chair rocking and reading to my little man. He has quite a supply of books already thanks to BeBe and Aunt Patsy.