Long Time No Post :)

Well, my internet browser isn't working so unfortunately I'm too lazy to type out my usual quotes :) Ha ha, anyways as ya'll can tell I've been pretty busy with life in general to post a blog in a while. That and the fact that I'm not sure anyone is reading anyore, but, that's fine. This is kind of an online journal so, it will continue when I have the time. Well, Charlotte is 10 days from being 5months old! I can't believe it is already that far along! She is 20lbs and last time she was measured 25 1/2 inches long and that was two weeks ago! My baby girl is so big! Dallas is settling into the roll of Loving Daddy extremely well. He's also happy baby girl is allowing me to make dinner and lately get a little cleaning done. It all just depends on how well she naps and how often :) If she naps she will let me clean while she's asleep and the better she naps the more content she is to sit in her bouncy seat to allow me to clean things and cook. A no nap day (which is still extremely often) means a cranky ladybug and no breaks from holding and a terrible evening as she tries to go to sleep at 5:45p and I try to keep her up til at least 7pm. As much as this ight sound as complaining I promise I'm not, I would not trade my new life for anything! I absolutely adore my baby girl and wouldn't trade this life for anything in the world. It's such an amazing thing to be able to stay home with my Little and watch her grow and experience things for the first time again with her. Seeing the world through her eyes makes me want to try to be more focused on the now. When I do I find that I'm amazed by the little things all over again. Things like lightning bugs in the backyard at night, the stars in a clear sky, butterflies dancing in the yard are all things I see every single day but sometimes forget to marvel at the unique beauty that God gave us. It's so refreshing to watch Little enjoy things. Her face lights up and she smiles that big toothless open mouth smile and it's just an overwhelming experience. Now, on the me front, I've been trying to lose some of the baby weight. At 10wks PG I weighed 155lbs I weighed 205lbs at my last OB appt and now I weigh 173.7lbs. I've hit an exercise snag because I did something weird to my leg. I think I did too much too soon on my elliptical and had a weird under skin bleed in my calf that kept going on for about 3weeks so I'm giving it a rest from heavy exercise and just trying to stay busy in the house and getting out to walk around. So, I' happy to say I am down 32lbs on my own but I want to be about 140-145lbs. That's when I'm at my happiest weight. It's such an agonizing process because I'm so impatient. I can tell in my clothes that I'm losing because they are looser, so that's good but the OCD in me wants to see it on the scale too. It's also odd because everyone says your body chnges after child birth. I figured since I had a c-section my hips would shrink down quickly and life would go on. Boy was I w-r-o-n-g!Now, I've always been a "rear" carrier but this is just ridiculous! My German heritage has placed my extra weight (quite litteraly) squarley on by rump. I square off when I'm gainging weight and my rear looks long and square. Now since being PG I have what I call a "Fat Belt". It's my hips, the fat is in a V shape from my hips and it meets at a point in the usual tummy pouch. It's so weird because my hips are a good 2inches larger than my hips and waist right above the hips! It looks so odd! But, thank God for suckers! You know, the greatest invention for women kind ever invented -spanx :D Ha ha! I've been utilizing mine regularly for church and what not. While I love it I feel slightly guilty like I'm deceiving people. It's the same way I feel about plastic surgery, it's not impressive if I look good because I paid to look that way, it's not natural! But, I still succomb because I hate the way I look in certain clothes that show my "belt" :) Ugh, I just tell myself it will go away if I stay consitent with being active and eating better. Plus what better reason is there to ruin my body than my beautiful baby girl? I'd do it again 10x if I could afford them and live closer to my mom so I had more help ;D Well, I guess I'm done for now, and please for give any dropped letters on my words. I'm using internet explorer and they can't see to keep up with my typing speed which I assure you is not all that fast! Until then please keep me and the family in your prayers!

Love you guys!

Check out the Zulily 'Cutie' Photo contest!

Vote for Char please :)
Check out the Zulily 'Cutie' Photo contest!

A Mother Always Has To Think Twice

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.
Sophia Loren

Being a full time mom is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love.
Mildred B. Vermont

Hey guys, long time no write :) It's been twelve weeks since my little girl made her debut into the world. It started out kinda rough but we're slowly but surely learning how to make her happy. She is getting better about car rides, sleeping, eating, and just generally being happier girl. It's nice to see that she is a happy baby. She is getting settled into a nighttime schedule so I have a little alone time to spend with Dallas. It was definitely a rough transition for him to go from the only one getting my attention to having to share me, even if it is with a tiny little screamer :) Now that we've got time in the morning and time at night things feel a ton better. I knew we'd be preoccupied with the baby but it didn't hit me how little time we'd have together. So now we definitely are making a point to have a solo date night at least every other week. I'm so thankful for good people from church that are willing and actually dying to watch Charlotte for us so I'm not stressed out about her. It's so nice to get out just Dallas and I even if it only ends up being two or three hours. I love having that time to just be together and not have to do nything other than focus on him. Charlotte is so sweet and getting happier the bigger she gets. She smiles so much and tries to talk to us already. All she's really able to say right now is "Ahgoo" and "Ahhhhh" but when she gets really upset and she's crying she'll break out the "Maaaamaaaa!!!" and it just rips my heart out :) She's also learning to make a super poochy lip too, is it wrong that I find it incredibly cute? It's gotten a lot better being at home all the time too. It just took some adjusting to go from going all the time to being home all the time. SO now my priorities prayer wise are for things to keep going well and to get us down south again. We really love our little house and piece of land but it is just way too far from family. I' praying that Eglin opens up and we can get a position there or even Pensacola. I just am dying to get closer to my family. As frustrating as the situation is I am trying to stay patient so if this is the Lord trying to teach me to be patient I can get my passing grade and head home :) Otherwise we're here til He lets us go, until then I'll try and keep everyone updated :) Love you all keep us in your prayers :)

Motherhood changed me because it is so fundamental what you're doing for another person. And you are able to do even though it takes a lot.
Meg Ryan

4/18/2011

Pictures for Auntie Shauna :)

Small And Brand New

Ten fingers, Ten toes
She's laughter and teardrops
So small and brand new
And amazingly angelic
She's sent to bless you
She's one special Baby
The best of life's treasure
And will grant and bless you
Many hours of great pleasure.
Author Unknown

She's here! Baby Charlotte Jane came into the world on March 29, 2011. She made her entrance at 2:56pm weighing 8.2 lbs and 20 3/4 in long. I still don't know how she crammed up inside of 5'5'' me, but, she did and she is gorgeous :) It started monday the 28th after I'd gone for my regular check up. We got there early, 9:30am so as hopefully be seen on time since I was due to work at 11am. They weighed me and checked my BP on time and shorty escorted us to a room, where we waited for over 2 hours to be seen. When the doctor finally came in we saw her for all of 30 seconds and were basically told that they'd be seeing us next week and they'd discuss inductions. I was shocked and angry, 1. that she'd not updated me on my progress like effacement or dilation and 2. that we'd waited that long and she didn't even ask me if we had any questions. After we left I made it to work 30min late and was feeling extremely uncomfortable. At one point I had to leave the teller line because I was so uncomfortable and in pain. The girls at work were saying that I was going to go into labor in the next few days. I have had the 29th in my mind for the longest time, it was really funny like a premonition. Well, I worked and went home and took it easy I just felt bad, like pressure down there. Then after Dallas got home from class I decided to jump in the shower to help me feel better. I felt a little better and got in bed and we slept. I woke up at 2:30am and felt a stomach cramp. I thought maybe I needed to go to the bathroom, well, I got back in bed and I noticed that they were coming exactly 5min apart. I didn't want to wake Dallas up if there was nothing going on and when he rolled over at 4:15am I said "Are you awake?" "Yeah, why?" "I think I'm having contractions." "What!? Really?" So, we timed the and they were every five min and lasted about one min a piece. So we decided that I should call my mom and see what she had to say. She said we should definitely call to see if the hospital would get us in for a check to see what I was doing as far as labor progression. So we loaded up the car and headed out. We got to the hospital and they checked e and said I was definitely in labor and was 80% effaced and 3cm dilated. They got us settled in a room and there we waited. As the day went on I got sick twice, which was weird, I didn't know that happened and I got the epidural at 5cm. Once again we were waiting but with the contractions gone it was actually fine. Then about 2pm the doctor came in and said he thought I needed a c-section. I thought for sure he meant later on that day and then he says "So, let me know what you think so we can get things started." I said "You mean like now?" and then he just said that we could wait since the baby wasn't in distress but that it would just prove the point that I needed one to have her. So I said "You're the doctor" and they started prepping me for surgery. As they were rolling me back I was so scared and the tips of my fingers went numb and my head got very light. I prayed that God would help me to calm down because I was feeling like I was going to pass out and I wanted to be awake to hear her first cry and see if she had hair all the first things Mom's want to know when Babies make their debuts. So, long story short she was born at 2:56pm and Dallas did such a great job he was so supportive and even starved while I had to starve :) I kept begging him to get food but he didn't want to eat while I couldn't. He's been the biggest help and to see him with the baby, how much he loves her and me. It just melts my heart. I was also really happy because my mom got to come and stay the week with us. She cooked and cleaned and helped with Charlotte and basically was the best mom a girl could have asked for. I a very sad that she had to leave today, it really broke my heart and I've been crying off and on. I' trying to hold it in til Charlotte is asleep because this isn't anything to do with her so I don't want her to see me. I am also wishing that the weather would war up already. I am going to go stir crazy inside all day. I can't wait to get out into the sunshine. Since I had the c-section I can't drive for two weeks, and outside is really the only place I can go for another week by myself. I was able to be active right up til her delivery so this being still stuff is stinking! I feel like I'm locked in my living room. That's where it's easiest to rock her and nurse her and pump basically I live in the living room! I am very grateful that she at least seems to sleep pretty well at night. We had one night that she didn't sleep well and I didn't sleep at all except for maybe three under ten minute cat naps. So, Kara comes in Friday and it will be great to have company again. I just wish it was during the week when I'm here alone. It really really hit me how much I wish I was close to my family. I mean, we've been applying everywhere fro GA-NWFl and nothings been offered yet. I wish I was closer so all of the babies firsts could be shared and I wouldn't feel so overwhelmed. I just feel like as much as I know, I know nothing. It will also be nice when she's a little older and can keep me company. So anyways today is her One Week Birthday :) We love her so much and know it only gets better! Thanks for all your prayers and please please keep me in your prayers as I really need them right now.

A babe in the house is a well-spring of pleasure, a messenger of peace and love, a resting place for innocence on earth, a link between angels and men.
Martin Fraquhar Tupper

The Oil That Eases Friction

In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony.
Eva Burrows

The real question isn't whether or not you love your kids, but how well you are able to demonstrate your love and caring so that your children really feel loved.
Stephanie Marston

15 days! I cannot believe it's only 15 days til little miss Charlotte is said to be due to make her grand entrance into our world! I have the nursery set up and the swing, the high chair, the little bed in our room. Her clothes are all washed and folded and I'm planning my return to pre-pregnancy fashion :) I can't wait to be able to breathe again and get up from sitting a short time and not feeling like my back is made of porcelain. I will miss feeling her move in my tummy, that is quite an indescribable feeling. It's not even something I can explain when people ask how it feels. It's not butterflies, never has been, it feels like a person in there trying to get comfortable. I remind myself that no matter how uncomfortable I am she is infinitely more so than I can even imagine. I know she doesn't know any different than her current surroundings but it makes me less apt to whine ;) I am also excited because Mom and Kara are definitely coming to see Charlotte and I'm praying the Lord will open the appropriate financial doors that everyone can come see her. Then in November I'll get to celebrate my birthday and Kara's wedding all in one weekend! What a great time that will be! Not too much has been going on other than getting the final things ready for the baby. I'm still working and last doctors appointment I hadn't gained any weight :) I was sure glad to see that. I think what I had gained is sufficient ;) Ha ha, well keep us in your prayers please! She'll be here anytime now!


In truth a family is what you make it. It is made strong, not by number of heads counted at the dinner table, but by the rituals you help family members create, by the memories you share, by the commitment of time, caring, and love you show to one another, and by the hopes for the future you have as individuals and as a unit.
Marge Kennedy