Life as we know it...

On the mend...FINALLY.

2017-01-13T08:35:00.000-08:00

It's been a looooonnnng couple of weeks. On December 31st, I came down with what I later learned was a sinus infection. I took me out of commission for several days, then my medicine finally kicked into gear. Then, the boys came down with it. Nolan ended up having a double ear infection (his first), and Zack had the same sinus infection I had. Blah. Needless to say, it's been a long week!

Thankfully, everyone has started to get back to their old selves, and we are ready to kick off the new year...13 days later!

So, HAPPY 2017! Here's to a wonderful year full of adventure, laughs, and lots of love!

Zachary's Birth Story

2016-12-12T10:15:00.000-08:00

*This was written in January of 2016, right after Zack was born. When I discovered it saved to my log, I knew I had to save it to post on his actual birthday. So, here's Zachary's birth story....

I've wanted to sit down, and write this post since we brought Zack home from the hospital. But, life has prevailed, and truth be told I'm neglecting loading my dishwasher (for the third time today) to sit down get get this story written while it still fresh.

Let's start at the beginning. On Friday, December 11, 2015 I was having a very run of the mill day. Jake had left for work, and Nolan and I were just finishing up lunch, when I grabbed the broom to sweep up remains of PB&J. Half way through the task, I felt a huge gush of water. My immediate thought was, "Oh man, I hope that's not blood" (a particular paranoia I had since my bleeding problem during my pregnancy with Nolan). I quickly realized it was my water breaking, and that it would soon be showtime. I put the broom down long enough to call Jake at work, then the cascade of family that I needed to notify. Somehow, I did manage to sweep up the sandwich before everyone rushed in.

We got to the hospital about an hour later. They confirmed that my water had broken, and we were sort of in-limbo waiting to see when my contractions would begin. Our doctor came to see us (the 1 doctor that I prayed wouldn't be on call the day I went into labor (read: Nickname C-section King), was the exact person on call...figures) and told us that we would give it until the next morning for my labor to begin, then if nothing happened, they would start me on pitocin. It's no secret that I loved the L&D experience I had with Nolan. It was a beautiful, natural delivery that went exactly like I had imagined it. I was prepared mentally for another natural birth for Zack, but the old adage, "No two births are the same," is horribly accurate. That night I walked the halls like I was in some sort of race trying to get contractions started. I was practically running back and forth for hours, dragging my IV pole along for the ride. When I wasn't walking, I was sitting on a labor ball, rocking back and forth.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing happened. I attempted to sleep, knowing that the next day we would meet Zachary, and begin our life as a family of 4, but trying to sleep on a labor and delivery bed is sort of like trying to sleep on a bed of plywood. No matter what it will never be comfortable.

The next morning I was up at 0400. I decided to take a hot bath, thinking that if I could relax maybe it would be a last ditch effort to get labor going. Still nothing. So, around 0600 they started the pitcoin. Let me just preface the next few sentences by saying, that I have an incredibly high pain tolerance. I had no problem breathing through contractions, and visualizing the end goal while in labor with Nolan. But pitcoin is a devil. A very mean devil. It comes on strong, and doesn't let up. I literally went from having zero contractions to having contractions every 2 minutes. After about an hour, I was hardly able to breathe through each one, and told Jake that I would definitely need an epidural. It was either that, or poor Jake would probably lose a hand. I held off as long as I possibly could, then prayed I could make it through the epidural process before the medicine kicked in. (Think sitting indian style on a bed, with a huge pregnant belly, while trying to bend over and keep your entire body relaxed and still.)

The first contraction I had after the medicine kicked it, I was able to talk through. I was giddy that I could no longer feel the pain of the contractions. I kept saying, "It's so weird, I can't feel my legs." And I literally couldn't feel my legs at all. You could of amputated it with me watching, and I wouldn't of felt it. It was about an hour later (around 9 am), that I was fully dilated, and ready to start pushing. The last thing my best friend said to me before I left for the hospital was, "Push like you are pooping." (Blunt and kind of gross, but true.) So, what do you do when you're numb from the waist down, and they tell you to push? You guessed it. I must pause to say, that a few weeks later Jake told me that I actually did poop. More than once, and that basically traumatized me. Real life moment right there...YUCK. (I'm so sorry Nancy! <my L&D nurse) I pushed for about an hour when I started to feel different. The only way I can describe it, was a loopy kind of dizzy feeling. Jake said that my lips turned blue, but my amazing nurse Nancy was quick to respond when she realized my blood pressure had tanked. (75/45) I've always been insanely sensitive to medicine, and I guess the epidural was a little to much for my body to handle. I only mention this because of this lovely picture.....Thanks, hubby.

After my epidural was turned down, we came to the realization that even after an hour of pushing, Zack still hadn't moved. They contorted my bed into a weird chair like configuration, in an attempt for gravity to help him move down, but after 2 hours of sitting like that Zack still hadn't budged. It was then realized that he was "face up," and no matter what I did, I wasn't able to push him past my pelvic bone.We knew that a C-section was inevitable, seeing as I had already been in labor for several hours, and we were starting to risk putting Zack (and me) under stress.

I can honestly say that before L&D, a C-section was my worst fear. I absolutely didn't want one. But when the time came, I was so at peace knowing that this was how Zack needed to enter the world, and that God would take care of me. Jake and I prayed together before I went back to OR, and we were ready to meet our sweet baby. The OR staff was very friendly, and my doctor explained that it would only take 20 minutes or so, and that I would be in recovery snuggling with Zack.

True to his estimate, Zack was born not long after Jake came into the OR. They told him he could stand up, and watch Zack enter the world, and I have to admit that I was a bit horrified that my husband could see my organs laying outside my body. But it didn't matter when I heard that sweet little cry. Oh man, my heart grew instantly, and my arms ached to hold my little man. It was then that we realized in the rush of prepping for OR that we forgot our camera, our video recorder, and even our cell phones. (We are so with it, let me tell you.) Thankfully, the anesthesiologist was kind enough to take pictures with his phone, and text them to me. (THANK YOU, doctor!) Not long after these pictures were taken, Jake left the OR with Zack, and I was to "be right behind them."

That's when the proverbial crap hit the fan. After a few minutes of listening to my doctor repeatedly "sigh," he told me that he was having to use some different stitching techniques to stitch up my uterus, and that was what was taking so long. I laid there counting ceiling tiles, praying that this would end quickly, so that I could be with my husband and baby. Nancy again was such a comfort, popping around the curtain to tell me that they would be finished soon. (That meant more than you know, Nancy!) That's when it hit me like a ton of bricks...a rush of nausea washed over me so quickly, that I could hardly utter the words, "I think I'm going to throw up," before I put the words into action. To throw up, while laying on your back, numb from the waist down is an experience. To paint a picture, I threw up all over the surgical curtain, all over the anesthesiologist, all over the floor, all over myself. Thankfully, I hadn't eaten but it was still ugly. The rest of the story, I didn't learn until the next day when the doctor came to check on me.

My violent throwing up, caused all the fresh stitches to rip out, and in doing this, it also caused me to start bleeding from other places as well. We were right back to square one, and he had to stitch me up all over again. I was still clueless at this point about what was really going on, but when I heard the doctor tell the nurse to "put 3 units on standby," I knew that I was majorly bleeding, and all I could do was lay there and pray. I don't remember a whole lot after this time, and I later learned that I had been given some versed, and only remember waking up "snoring," and being mortified that I was sleeping through my C-section.

The next thing I remember was being wheeled out of the OR and into recovery. Seeing Jake, and then holding my sweet baby was priceless. I had lots of questions about what had happened, but at that moment the only thing that mattered was holding my baby.

I found out later that because I had been in labor for so long prior to my C-section, it caused my uterus to be "boggy." Which in medical terms means soft, and uncooperative. That caused my doctor to struggle with stitching it up initially. Then like I said before, throwing up caused everything to be ripped out, and the bleeding to start up again. I found out the next day that another doctor was called in to assist, it took 19 suture packs to finish the surgery, and I was "in the top 5 worst C-sections" in my doctor's 20 year career. Not really a list I wanted to end up on. I walked away with 22 staples across my belly, and had the pleasure of having a JP drain coming out of my stomach for 24 hours to drain off excess blood. (That's really fun to deal with when nursing.) The 20 minute surgery ended up taking a little over 2 hours, and the recovery was one of the most difficult things I've ever experienced. Jake had to lift me into bed, help me get dressed, and even help me shower. We joked that the "for worse" part of our marriage vows had come a little early, but I've never been more thankful for his love and support.

Despite all of this, I feel like I can't complain. We were blessed with a beautiful, healthy son. Ultimately, that's all that mattered. I moved slowly for several weeks, but my body healed, and now I have a scar to show what we have been through. Kind of like a battle wound of sorts. Zack's birth was unlike anything I had dreamed about during pregnancy, and it will be quite a story to tell Zack when he's older. But our faith brought us through, and God was with me the entire time. I'm exceedingly grateful for my doctor, nurse Nancy, and all the other medical staff that took care of me. It made the process bearable knowing that we had people helping us that truly cared. And our family. How can I even express how grateful I am for them? I've heard the adage, "it takes a village," but when you walk through something difficult, you realize just how amazing that village of family truly is.

Happy 1st Birthday, Zachary. You'll never know how much you are loved.

Here we go...again...

2016-08-11T19:24:00.002-07:00

Hello, internet.

I've been away. Adjusting to life as a family of 4, and like other things (working out, cooking from scratch, reading) this blog has fallen to the back burner. It makes me sad. I enjoy writing about our life, even if it is mundane at times. So, after some thought I have decided to start writing again. It has always been a stress reliever for me, so I thought "Why not?"

So, here we go. Again.

A few things I'd like to keep doing from before are "Thankful Friday's." Because starting your weekend out being thankful is always good. And something new, I'd like to bake/cook (from scratch, of course) something new once or twice a month. We'll start slow, and then adjust as I see how it works into our schedule.

I'm looking forward to using this outlet more to record our family story. To share, to learn, and to hopefully have some fun.

Please join me!

Kristen

{Random Thoughts}

2015-01-09T06:34:00.001-08:00

Have you ever stopped in the middle of a busy day looked up at the sky, and just took a deep breath? That the realization of today's "worries," will be forgotten tomorrow? So many times I have ignored the very basic beauty of life, because current demands make it too stressful to focus on anything but my to-do list.

Well, in 2015 I want to stop, take a deep breath, and focus on the bigger things in life. Worrying less about things I can't control, and enjoying moments of peace more often. Even if those moments are only a few seconds. Being present in the moment really is the only way to live.

Here's to turning over a new leaf in 2015.

{Life at the moment}

2015-01-07T23:34:00.001-08:00

It's 2:30 in the morning. I'm sitting in my dark bedroom, pumping, and snuggling a worn out, and very congested baby. Sometimes you just have to stop, and say a prayer of gratitude. Hopefully we can get some sleep.

{Nolan - 5 Month Update}

2014-12-18T21:24:00.001-08:00

Dear Nolan,

Oh you are growing so quickly! Yesterday you turned 5 months old, and left Mama wondering where time has gone? You are really starting to develop a sweet, little personality. Your laugh is contagious, and your constant baby babble melts my heart. A few of your likes....

Your comfort blanket is an absolute must to sleep through the night. It's a cute little football, and you love to chew on it....

You have loved your moose toy for awhile....

When I lay you down on your changing table, you immediately start kicking your legs like crazy! It's comical, because you don't stop the entire time I'm changing you. Which has made for some interesting diaper changes. Haha.

We got to see your cousin Kaden last weekend, and you still aren't too sure about him yet....

I'm certain both of you, (and the new baby cousin), will have many fun adventures in the future.

You met Santa, but you were zonked out from milk....

You love to be nestled into our Boba wrap. Especially if we are someplace new...(Can't wait to try our new Beco carrier...Santa is bringing it...)

I don't have a picture of it, but you love music. We listen to countless hours of "Lindsey Sterling" pandora channel (she's a violinist), and we like the Disney pandora channel during bathtime.

You also LOVE to watch Baby Einstein. Anytime, anywhere. For example, we had to wait in a long line at the post office the other day, and when you started to fuss, I played it on my phone, and you were pleased as punch.

Of course there are things you don't like....you absolutely hate 'tummy time.' I can distract you with a toy for a few seconds, then you take matters into your own hands, and roll over onto your back. Sometimes in your sleep, you will roll from your back to your belly, and that's the only time you will wake up crying.

A recent development is throwing yourself into hysterics if your bottle isn't ready in time. During these frantic moments is the only time I wish we had a normal breastfeeding relationship. But we rock the pump. This usually happens when you are also really tired. It makes Mama and Papa a nervous wreck! Thankfully, it doesn't happen too often.

I can't believe we are already 5 months into this parenting thing. I honestly can't imagine life without my sweet boy. Since having you I've slept less, worried about even the smallest nuisances, learned how to make coffee with one hand, and basically stopped wearing makeup. But I've grown so much as a person. I have more patience, am more observant, and truly cherish quiet time with Jake (and with myself). There isn't a day I don't thank Heavenly Father for making me your Mama. Can't wait to see what new thing you'll do next!

All my love forever,

Mama

{Daily Snippet -December 4, 2014}

2014-12-04T10:07:00.001-08:00

Dear Jake, Four years ago today, we started dating. We went to volleyball, and dinner at Ruby Tuesday's on our first date. I was totally smitten. (And still am). Let's have brownies and peppermint ice cream tonight to celebrate! Love you to the moon. Dear Little, Your smile lights up your entire face, and melts my heart completely. I'm so in love with the little man you are becoming. Dear Rain, This is December. You are supposed to switch over to snow. Please make the necessary corrections, and bring me loads of the 'white stuff.' Dear Wild, I'm beyond excited about seeing you, but you aren't being released in any theater's around me. What gives? Dear Erin Condren, I'm ready to order my 2015 planner. Do I want a cute print, or lots of pictures? Decisions, decisions.

After a short sabbatical, we are back! Or I am back...whatever. Happy Wednesday!

{Daily Letter - October 12, 2014}

2014-10-12T17:07:00.001-07:00

Dear Husband, Thank you for knowing when I need a nap more than anything else. You always take care of me. Dear Nolan, Your adorable. The end. Dear Eyeballs, Thank you for not bursting out in tears when we had to order another pizza after slipping and spilling the first one in my passenger seat. Dear Pizza Hut London, Thank for giving me a free pizza after the above happened. This Mama is appreciative. Dear "Mom's Day Out," I could really use a laugh. Please be funny.

Are we sure this isn't Monday? Sure does feel like it here. Happy Sunday night, folks!

{Thankful Friday}

2014-10-10T16:33:00.001-07:00

Today I'm thankful for....
- Husbands who feed me dinner, so I can pump and feed the babe.
- Heating pads that make a clogged duct feel better. (Sorry TMI)
- Fleece Halloween jammers that keep my little warm. (And look super cute)
- Plans for Porter cousins to meet this weekend at the Pumpkin Patch
- Celery with almond butter
- Sleeping in
- Taking a hot bath

- The smell of wet leaves

- Apples, apples, apples.

- Scones made by my Mama.

Sorry I'm late posting! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

{Daily mail - October 6, 2014}

2014-10-06T15:46:00.001-07:00

Dear Hubster, You looked so hunky playing video games with my bro last night. I might have a crush on you. Come home from work so we can eat chili, and snuggle. Dear Nolie, You look super sweet in your Halloween jammers. I can't wait to see you in your costume. Dear Littlest Brother (but also the tallest), THANK YOU for visiting us. We love having you around. Please come back soon! Dear Patagonia, I took advantage of your 50% off sale. Ship my package ASAP!

It's a cold, rainy Monday. What's everyone making for dinner?

{Daily Mail - October 4, 2014}

2014-10-04T17:43:00.001-07:00

Dear David Jacob, I think our date of pizza, snuggling the offspring, while watching Once Upon a Time was the perfect way to end the day. I love you more than crisp fall nights, and Ale 8. Dear Sleepy Babe, Watching you sleep snuggled on my chest is one of the greatest things ever. Dear Mama, Remember that time three generations of women went to the Smokies, and snuck onto the Appalachain Trail, even though the park was "closed" because of the government shutdown? I loved creating a little civil disobedience with you and Gram. Dear Crookshanks Piper, Please stop walking directly under my feet. This is for your safety, as well as mine.

It's the weekend! Yippee!

{Thankful Friday - October 3, 2014}

2014-10-03T15:42:00.001-07:00

- Babies who roll over

- Being able to see clearly again with my new glasses

- Finished laundry

- Freshly ground coffee

- Harry Potter stamps

- Rain

- Plans to see family next week at the Pumpkin Patch. And creating a new tradition.

Happy Friday, people! What are you thankful for?

{Fresh BiB!}

2014-10-02T13:21:00.001-07:00

A week ago, one of my favorite blogs (@todaysletters) hosted a give away for an adorable bib. Naturally, I thought I would enter because what Mama doesn't need a good bib? Bonus points cause it's cute. (Why is it so hard to find cute bibs for boys?)

Anyway, with a stroke of luck, I actually won!

I was definitely surprised, and really, really excited to have won Nolan one of these suckers. :)

Here are a few pictures of the adorable package I received via "The Pony Express."

Who wouldn't be excited when the package looks like this? I can totally appreciate it when a company takes the time to make their packaging look stellar.

And just when I couldn't get anymore excited to open that little box, I discovered this..........

Can I say, YES! It even has a party horn?! You know you're on to something grand when there's a party horn in the package!

This was the bib we received. Part of the fun is being surprised by which bib is in your box. Elephants and geometric prints? Perfect for Nolan.

And last but certainly not least, here's my little man rocking his....

We are so thrilled with our bib! It looks adorable on Nolan, and it's so functional. Bonus points for collecting tons of drool, etc saving me from having to change his outfit a zillion times a day!

If you're expecting, or know somebody who is expecting, this would be an excellent shower gift. :) You can find them at freshbib.com.

Happy Shopping!

{Daily Mail - October 2, 2014}

2014-10-02T09:29:00.001-07:00

Dear Hubby, 5 points for packing my lunch last night, minus 2 points for leaving the turkey on the counter. So excited for date night! Dear Cherub Cheeks, I'll trade you a huge bottle of warm milk, for you to stop crying every night at 9 when you get sleepy. Dear Maddie, I miss you every. single. day. I think about you each time I take Nolan for a walk. P.S. That pesky neighbor dog is still trying to follow us, and Molly from down the road says she misses you also. Hope you're burying pizza crusts all over heaven. Dear New Shower Curtain, The few extra inches you give us make us feel like we are showering in a palace. Dear Scrub Jacket Pockets, You enable me to carry a crapton of extra stuff around. It's definitely a love/hate deal.

It's almost the weekend! Yippee!

{Daily Letter - October 1, 2014}

2014-10-01T15:57:00.001-07:00

Dear Mr Mosley, You have brought the 90's back with nightly episodes of Power Rangers. 3 points for reminding me of watching it with my brother as a kid. Dearest Nolan, You're growing so quickly. And I love watching you take in your new world. Ceiling fans really rock your socks off at the moment. Dear October, I have been waiting all year for you! Welcome! Dear Freshly Mopped Floors, I adore the way you look and feel. Please stay clean. Dear Starbucks, Your oatmeal makes me happy, but your coffee is lackluster now that I'm grinding my own beans. Dear Kale Chips, I'm crushing you...you're a great afternoon snack. Thanks for being on sale at Kroger this week.

Happy October! So excited for fall!

{The Honest Company Diaper Review}

2014-09-29T11:56:00.001-07:00

While I was pregnant, I did a ton of research on diapers. And while I cloth diaper a lot, there are times when you just need a good disposable. So, while building my diaper stash I discovered The Honest Company. They manufacture a ton of products, and most are organic or have environmentally friendly ingredients.

Their diapers are my favorite out of all the diapers we've tried. They are super absorbent and durable. Nolan has only "blown out" of 1 of their diapers, and trust me he's great at testing them. We started out in their newborn diapers, and have since progressed to Size 1's. Both sizes have fit him so well, and his little bum looks adorable in them. One of the fun things about Honest diapers, is all the patterns them come in! Holy cuteness overload, batman! So far, we've had giraffes, plaid, camo, and jungle animal diapers. It's true that nobody really sees his diapers, so a pattern isn't really "necessary," but I'm always looking for a way to add a little pizazz to my everyday life. What could be better?!

Recently, we decided to try their bundle package. For a monthly fee they send you a month's worth of diapers and wipes. You can log in, and choose which patterns and sizes you want, and then they ship it all to you easy peasy. Yes, they are a tad more expensive than normal diapers, but for me the comfort of knowing Nolan isn't sitting in a diaper with tons of chemicals makes me feel better about him wearing a disposable.

So if you are looking for a quality, plant based, toxin free diaper, I can't recommend Honest diapers enough. Here in Kentucky, you can find them at Buy Buy Baby, or Target. Or you can order them online at https://www.honest.com.

Oh, and this post wasn't sponsored. It's just my thoughts and opinions I thought some of you might find helpful. :)

Nolan says, "Two thumbs up!"

Happy changing!

{Thankful Friday}

2014-09-26T10:36:00.001-07:00

I've been a bad blogger this week. What can I say, the parenthood roller coaster still exhausts me. Some days it takes all my effort to survive, and possibly make it an hour without getting baby spit up, or baby crap on me, plus trying to avoid being sprayed with urine. (Nothing makes me jump higher than the surprise of warm baby pee on my leg.) But without further ado.....

Today I'm thankful for.....

- Red leaves littering my yard and driveway from our sugar maples.

- My hydroflask, and cold h2o.

- Matilda (or Tillie for short) - AKA my Medela pump

- Surprise letters from a friend via snail mail. (Getting mail is seriously a thrill!)

- New glasses!

- Sweet baby feet

- FaceTime, so my son and nephew can finally meet, and I can chat with my brother.

- The crisp fall air. Mornings are simply delish!

- Apples and peanut butter

Happy Friday, loved ones! What are you thankful for today?

{Thankful Friday}

2014-09-19T11:03:00.001-07:00

Today I'm thankful for...

- Temps in the 70's, and lots of sunshine

- My Boba Wrap, and snuggling my little.

- Excitement about seeing friends this weekend.

- Campfires!

- My new Chacos waiting to be picked up.

- A box full of cute diapers on my porch. (Review coming soon).

- Inside jokes with Mr. Mosley

- My rocking chair

- And a cup of warm tea, with a smidgen of local honey.

Happy Friday, sweet friends! What are you thankful for?

Daily Letter - September 16, 2014

2014-09-16T14:46:00.001-07:00

Dear Jake, Looking forward to introducing our son to the wonderful world of reenacting this weekend with you. Pictures will be taken. Prepare yourself. Dear Pumpkin, I love kissing your cheeks. And hearing your velociraptor noises when I have you on my shoulder when your hungry. Dear Endless Dishes, Someday I will look back on the above picture and laugh. (Or at least I hope so.) This is my everyday life for as long as I breastfeed. Totally worth it. Dear Fall Like Weather, I love you. I've waited all summer for your cooler temps, and the way you make everything feel more cozy.

Happy Tuesday, peeps.

Thankful Friday

2014-09-12T12:53:00.001-07:00

I'm thankful for...

- The rain

- Fall like weather

- Creative ideas floating around in my noggin'

- My favorite coffee/tea cup (Lapis Fiestaware)

- Cozy sweaters

- Pumpkins

- Freshly made homemade grape jelly

- Sweet baby snuggles

- Candles

- Holding hands with Mr. Mosley

I would like to start a new tradition called "Thankful Friday." I always find myself being thankful for so many things, and I think this would be a fun way to remember them. :) Please leave things you're thankful for in the comments! I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts! #thankfulfriday

Daily Letter - September 11, 2014

2014-09-12T07:05:00.001-07:00

Dear Beefcake, We pulled the late shift last night, and both paid the price today at work. But coming home to Chinese take away, and Monday night football made it better. Dear Offspring, My heart bursts with pride, love, and a million other emotions when I watch you sleep in your bassinet. I didn't know I could have so many emotions at once, but it's the most awesome thing ever. Dear United States, Remembering 9/11 brings back memories of my college days at Morehead State. I will forever be grateful for all the emergency responders, and heros who sacrificed so much to save others. I'm so thankful for the protection, and safety I take for granted everyday. Dear Rainfall, Watching you fall from the 4th floor window during work, made pumping more interesting. Oh how I love a good rain.

It's Friday! Yippee!!

Daily Letter - September 10, 2014

2014-09-10T20:22:00.001-07:00

Dear Husband, Thank you for being my emotional support today. Going to Lexington solo with the little was terrifying. He was a champ, but I almost cried driving away from London. Motherhood has made me a weakling! Dear Sweet Babe, You charmed every lady that saw you today! So many people commented on how cute you were. And you slept like an angel while Mama had a little fun in Target. Dear Mimi and Gigi, I love watching you snuggle Nolan. It definitely made me breath easier knowing you both were around for our first big trip to Lexington. Dear Dad, I could faintly smell your cologe on Nolan's hair when we got home. So glad he got to snuggle his Pappy during the entire dinner. Dear Ryan, Happy Birthday (in a few days). I'm so glad Nolan and I got to come celebrate with you tonight. Mmm, Rafferty's.

Looking forward to the weekend! Only two more days! :)

Baby growth spurts are no joke!

2014-09-09T11:02:00.001-07:00

To sum up the last 24 hours, it's 1:00 pm and I was just standing in front of the refrigerator door, still in my jammers, drinking apple juice from the container. Yes. I'm certain you can picture it in your mind.

Nolan is going through a growth spurt, which equates to my normally mind-tempered baby converting to the behavior of a ravenous shark in fish infested water. He wants to feast what seems like 7 billion times a day. Nothing keeps his bottomless pit of a stomach full. So far today he's eaten 30 ounces of breastmilk, a steak, baked potato with butter and sour cream, green beans, a piece of chocolate cake, a little more breastmilk to wash all that down, and a few Sour Patch Kids. Needless to say, my kitchen is trashed from all the cooking he's been doing.

Crap. Now he wants waffles.

Yesterday was my "official" due date. All afternoon I thought about the post I wanted to write about becoming a Mama early. Nolan and I went for a walk, hung pictures in the living room, did laundry, and took an evening drive through the park. It was such a productive day, and I had actually showered and didn't have baby puke on my shirt. SUCCESS!

But then someone decided he was at an AYCE (All You Can Eat) buffet, and the chaos began. If he wasn't eating, he was filling a diaper, and if he wasn't doing that, he was whining to be held, or sleeping (For only an hour or so at a time). Then he would scream for food like I haven't fed him since his birth. As soon as he started eating, he would calm down to my "normal" baby, then go to sleep for an hour or so only for the process to begin again later.

Eat, sleep, eat, sleep, eat, sleep...You get the picture.

At 4 am, while I was pumping, and feeding him a bottle (more on that later), I came up with two universal truths about being a new parent....

1. At the newborn stage, that baby is your BOSS. He or she decides when you sleep, when you eat, and how many loads of laundry you do that day. It's not like you can reason with a 7 week old. We are on a very consistent schedule, but growth spurts = insanity.

2. Breastfeeding is HARD WORK. I really thought it would come naturally to me, but because Nolan got used to a bottle while in the NICU, he just doesn't nurse very well. So, I pump...and I pump...and I pump some more. I'm hoping as he get's older, he'll improve his nursing skills. But in the meantime, my Medella pump, and a sink full of unwashed pumping parts is my reality. I'm fully aware that the decision to breastfeed is mine, and mine alone. Jake would be totally supportive if I waved the white flag of surrender. But I'm not ready to give up. Even though it's a challenge, for me it's worth it. But I wanted to document how hard it is. Mama's who breastfeed for any length of time should be given an award. Preferably one covered in chocolate.

Being a Mama is such a fun adventure. Today is just one of those days! :D

My baby is currently asleep, so I'm going to go eat a spoonful of Nutella, and take a power nap!

Daily Letter - September 7, 2014

2014-09-07T13:14:00.001-07:00

I skipped the daily letter yesterday, because a certain baby decided he was going to be needy last night. :)

Dear Mr Mcstudmuffins, Thank you for pulling the late shift with me last night to take care of our offspring who needed to eat 7 billion times. Dear Bottomless Pit, I'm going to start feeding you cheeseburgers instead of breast milk. Hope you enjoy it. Dear football, I'm so thankful your season has begun. Praying I can keep up with my 3 fantasy teams. Dear Pittsburgh Steelers, Thank you for winning. My little is your newest fan, and he really wanted you to win.

Enjoy your Sunday everyone.

Daily Letter - September 5, 2014

2014-09-05T19:40:00.001-07:00

Dear Husband, I'm so happy we got to go on a date tonight. Thank you for taking me shopping for "granola shoes." Dear Nolie Cannoli, You are so much more alert, and checking out this new world. I love watching you take it all in. Dear Directv, After 2 years without tv, I'm beyond excited to watch football, HGTV, and the Duggers. Dear Weekend, I'm so happy you're here! Love spending weekend days with my little family.

Happy Friday, everyone!