Due Date

Today is his official due date. He wasn't supposed to arrive until today... and he was almost 4 weeks early! I'm so thankful he came when he did. Hayes has been such a blessing to all of us. Right now he's nursing a little bit of a snotty nose and he sounds terrible. I feel so bad that I can't fix it! The weather and our dry house do not make for easy breathing for my little guy. We go back to the doctor this week for his 'well visit' and we'll see how much he weighs and how long he is!

It is funny how your whole world changes with a baby. I can't even remember what I did before him except complain about my big belly! Hayes is so much fun to watch and learn from.

Lucy (the dog) has become quite the protector and she stands guard if you make him cry. Daddy is adjusting to baby life with less sleep. Being a mommy is the most exhausting job EVER! I love every minute of it. Just watching him sleep is fun. Thankfully my husband caught a picture of me and Hayes catching a nap together. We'll pretend I look like a super model okay? It is so hard to believe he's almost a whole month old. 4 weeks of mommy leave from school FLIES by! What an adventure.

Going out...

Going out and about with the little person requires some serious planning. Coordinating diapers and feedings and making sure we have enough back up clothing, diapers, food, etc... can be a bit exhausting. I find myself running around the house before we leave just to make sure we have everything. We have gone to see Hayes's dr and yesterday we went to see my dr. I got cleared from light duty and I get to DRIVE! Not that we are planning a road trip or anything... but it is nice to be able to leave the house if I want to! Running to the store for milk and going to get my oil changed should be on the top of my to do list.

My little man has rocked my world to say the VERY least. I do believe his days and nights are mixed up just a bit--but we're working on that part. I just love him! I can't believe how much he has changed in two weeks. He doesn't even look like the same baby I brought home from the hospital! I know he's gotten bigger and he's heavier than he was when we brought him home too!

Lucy the dog has become quite the protector and she spends most of her time at my feet or at his bed. She wasn't much of a protector before baby. This is a huge change for her! She loves having the addition around and has been great since we came home with him. We were a little concerned about how she would act... and her behavior has been perfect!

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!