Update!

          Well I totally suck at blogging...lol.  I haven't updated in so long, so here we go.  
          Jace is 7 weeks old now.  I can't believe how fast these past 7 weeks have gone!  He was 12lbs 8oz at his one month appointment.  He's such a porker!  He's got to be close to 13lbs by now...maybe more.  He's outgrowing some of his 0-3 month clothes already.  He smiles more and he's even laughed a few times.  He also talks a little bit.  Jace has thrush at the moment and if it were gone 2 minutes from now, it wouldn't be soon enough.
          Kelsie and Ashlin are doing well.  They still fight all the time, but I guess that's a sibling thing.  They'll fight, but turn around and hug each other.  It's really sweet (or "weet" as Ashlin says) to see them playing nicely together and hugging each other.  Christmas was 3 days ago and the kids had a great time!  I loved seeing their faces when they first saw what was under the tree.  Kelsie saw the presents and then ran straight for the plate Santa's cookies were on to make sure he ate them.  I love how into the festivities Kelsie was this year.  Since she's four, she's old enough to understand so it was tons of fun.  We made a gingerbread house this year and also baked and decorated Santa cookies, made applesauce ornaments, went to the mall to ride the Christmas train, and we went to visit Santa, but he wasn't there, unfortunately.  The girls also had a Christmas program at church and it was so darn cute!!!  Kelsie even sung Joy to the World all by herself!!!  I was "that mom" with the video camera...lol.
            So, 2011 is just days away.  I seriously can't believe how fast 2010 went by!  It's that time of year when we talk new years resolutions.  I wasn't planning on having one this year since I always make them and never keep a single one.  I think I will, though.  I have a few things I really want to do, so why not call it a resolution.  First, we plan on moving when our lease is up here.  When we move, I want to keep my house organized.  We have like zero storage where we live now so nothing really has a home and it's driving me batty.  That HAS to change!  Second, I want to lose weight.  Yep, the good ol' losing weight resolution.  The one that millions of people make and no one keeps.  It's going to be really hard to get myself in a habit to go to the gym, especially having 3 kids, but it has to happen.  I have a lot to lose, so I just need to buckle down and do it.  My final one is to learn my camera more.  I need to find some "me" time to practice with my camera and get better at photography.  I have so much to learn, so there's no better time than now.
          Well that's all, folks.  See ya again in a month (sooner if I actually sit down and do it)...lol.

Hurry!

There's not much time left!  Paint the Moon photography has a huge...and I mean HUGE giveaway going on but it ends at midnight tonight.  Better go enter!!!


http://paintthemoon.net/blog/2010/11/the-be-inspired-giveaway-photoshop-actions-for-photographers-create-fresh-inspire/

Mr. McSnorty

That's right.  I called my son Mr. McSnorty.  Why?  Cause he snorts...a lot!  It seriously has to be the cutest sound ever!  If he's up on my shoulder, he'll start rooting on my cheek and snorting away.  I really have to get a video of that so I don't forget it years from now.  So Jace is 10 days old today.  He lost his umbilical cord stump 2 days ago (Nov 15th) so he got his first bath in the tub last night.  He definitely hated that...lol.  He doesn't like being cold one tiny bit so the second his clothes are off, he's mad.  We got through it, though, and he survived.  Kelsie loves him to pieces.  She likes holding him on her lap.  She can sit there and hold him for hours sometimes.  Ashlin likes him, too, but she's content to play by herself and then come say hi to him for a minute and go back and play.  That's really all there is to update on him for now.  He's so little that he doesn't do a whole lot other than eat, sleep, and poop...lol.  Here are a couple pictures of this little man.

He's here!

My due date was November 12th, but I was scheduled to come in Monday, November 8th to have the doctor (Dr. Traver) break my water.  I was 3cm dilated at my last pre-natal appointment but I wasn't thinned much.  Dr. Traver said there was a chance I could go into labor over the weekend, but that she thought I'd make it til Monday.  I went to bed Saturday night, but I couldn't fall asleep.  I was very uncomfortable and sore.  Not too long after I laid down, I got a contraction.  I'd gotten in the habit of timing contractions since they were becoming more frequent over the last couple of weeks.  I had another one 13 minutes after the first and then another at 9 minutes, 6 minutes, 6 minutes, 4 minutes, 4 minutes, 5 minutes, 5 minutes, 3 minutes, 3 minutes, 5 minutes.  After the first 4 or so, I got up to walk around and take a shower to see if they'd go away, but obviously they didn't.  After timing them for about an hour, I decided they were close enough to call Daniel at work and have him meet me at the hospital.  My mother-in-law came over to stay with the girls and a friend of mine drove me to the hospital.  We went to L&D and they monitored me in triage for a few hours.  I would have been sent home since the contractions weren't all that strong or regular, but since I have very fast labors and my last daughter was born in the car on the way to the hospital, they didn't want me leaving (even though I was only dilated to a loose 3cm).  They got me in a room and I got my IV (took two tries for that since the nurse hit a valve the first time and blew a vein...that hurt).  By the time all the paper work was finished it was 5am and I could finally sleep.  Except I couldn't fall asleep for an hour.  Of course.  A few hours before I'd told Daniel he could go back to work since he was 10 minutes away and we knew at that point that my contractions weren't going to get closer until the doctor could break my water.  The nurse came in at 7:30 Sunday morning to check me and, surprising, I was 5-6cm.  They called Dr. Traver and she finally arrived and broke my water at 9:36am.  My contractions got regular and stronger, but they were about 5 minutes apart and I knew I couldn't have a baby without them getting closer.  I wanted to get up and walk around, but they wouldn't let me for fear I would progress too fast and have the baby on the floor.  You have one baby in the car and you're branded for life...lol!  I agreed to have a low dose of pitocin to get the contractions closer together.  I had pitocin with Kelsie so I knew the stuff was horrible, but it was worse than I remember.  The contractions definitely got closer and stronger.  My nurse, Shelly, was awesome.  Daniel had to step out of the room to go get something from a friend outside of L&D (he stepped out right as she was starting the pitocin) and MAYBE 5 minutes after the pitocin was started, I was throwing up (seriously...pitocin is evil).  Shelly was right there holding my bangs back for me.  From that point on, she didn't leave the room.  She left everything up to me as far as when to check for dilation and completely trusted my judgment.  She checked me 3 times.  The first time, I was still 5-6, but he was getting much lower.  The next time I was 7-8cm and had a small urge to push with the previous contraction which is why I had her check me.  The 3rd, I was 100% effaced, but still 7-8cm.  I spent most of my time on my side cause it helped relieve the pain a bit, but after the 3rd time she checked me, I got a contraction before I could roll back over.  With that contraction I NEEDED to push.  I was afraid to since I was only 7-8cm and I was afraid I would tear, but I couldn't help it and pushed anyway.  Shelly called everyone to come running.  He was born just a couple of minutes later.  He was born 30 minutes after the pitocin was started and an hour and 58 minutes after the doctor broke my water.  Dr. Traver barely made it in the room on time and didn't even have time to break down the bed.  Before the pitocin, my labor was cake, so I lucked out and only had half an hour of hard labor...NICE!  So, without farther ado, introducing:

Jace David
9lbs 5.3oz
20 in. long
born at 11:34am
on November 7, 2010 (which happens to be my birthday)

Here's a link to my flickr album if you'd like to see the pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessie7813/sets/72157625343156332/ 

It's getting close

I'm 36 weeks and 5 days, which means I could have as little as 2 weeks left!  I had Ashlin at 38 weeks and 5 days, so we'll see when this little guy decides to make his appearance.  Hopefully he's not one of those babies who gets too comfy in his much too small temporary home.  He's making momma pretty uncomfortable lately, so I'd really appreciate it if he decided to come no later than November 12th (my due date).  He has no room in my belly anymore, but boy is he still a movin' and a shakin'!  I don't know how he does it!  I'm glad he is, though, and I know I'll miss that when he's born.  So according to my pregnancy ticker, this little porker gains more than 1/2 an ounce each day O.o!  I really hope he's not going to be a 13lb baby...  I'm really excited for this Saturday.  The wonderful ladies at my church are throwing me a baby shower and I can't wait.  It was supposed to be last Saturday, but it was postponed til this Saturday.  Another thing I have to look forward to is a friend of mine is going to take our fall family/maternity pictures in Cades Cove on Halloween morning.  Definitely can't wait for those and my mind is constantly thinking of poses and outfits...lol.  I have a problem, I know...

Now on to the family update.  Daniel was off work this past weekend (his weekends are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) and we had such a great time!  He was so sweet the whole time and I couldn't ask for more!  We went to the pumpkin patch for a hayride on Saturday and we had lots of fun.  Sunday was Daniel's company picnic and this year it was at the zoo.  The kids had a ton of fun and even though we were all exhausted when we left, it was still a great day.  Kelsie and Ashlin got their faces painted for the first time ever.  They loved it.  Kelsie picked out her picture all by herself (without looking at a picture or anything).  The las picture I posted is of a beaver.  He was seriously the funniest thing ever!  He swam to the rock and got out and then proceeded to try and bite the glass (or plexiglass or whatever it was).  He was just biting away and the girls would put their fingers up there and he'd keep biting.  Ashlin even put her foot on the glass at one point and he tried to bite that.  Don't worry, though.  I would never have let the girls do this if he wasn't behind glass ;o).


The first 5 pictures are from the Maple Lane Farms pumpkin patch/hayride and the last 3 are from the zoo.

35 weeks and 1 day and...

My baby is the size of a honeydew!  He's also 19 inches tall and all of his organs are developed and being finalized (all of this according to my baby tickers).  He's getting big in there, that's for sure.  He likes to lay his head on my bladder and stretch his feet into my ribs...lol.  I go to the doctor on Tuesday and I'll get my group b strep test, blood work, and she'll check for dilation.  My last appointment went well and the baby is measuring right on target and his heartbeat is good.  Kelsie got to help the nurse with the measuring and got to hold the doppler on my belly.  She loves to help!  I can't believe I only have 5 weeks left til my due date!  It's gone so fast.  Kelsie and Ashlin LOVE talking to my belly.  They talk into my belly button and give their brother kisses all the time.  Today Kelsie walked up to me and said, "God's gonna hold your baby when we're done here (her way of saying when we die and go to heaven) and He's gonna rock your baby in a rocking chair!".  Lol...she is seriously too cute for words!  I attempted to take my own maternity pictures and I got a couple of cute shots, but there's only so much I can do with a remote.  A friend of mine is an amateur photographer and agreed to take family/maternity pictures for us so I'm really excited about that.  We'll be going to Cades Cove on halloween morning so hopefully these few weeks will be enough time that the leaves really change.  Cades Cove is GORGEOUS in the fall!  My best friend, Kimie, and her husband came for a visit from NC last weekend.  Kimie threw me a baby shower and it was awesome!  It was tons of fun and everything was so cute!  It was really awesome of her to do this for me and I'll never forget it :o).

So little miss Ashlin recently had a birthday!  My little baby is two now...I can't believe it!  We just had a really small little party at Mamaw's house and she had lots of fun with her cupcake and opening her presents.  She has her 2 year check up on Monday and I'm excited to see how big she's gotten.  Unfortunately, though, she has to get her shots...poor baby :o(.

We have a busy week this week and I love it.  Generally I'd rather be busy than stuck at the house.  Ashlin has her appt on Monday and then Monday night we'll be having dinner with family friends.  My appt is Tuesday and then I have a baby shower on Saturday (the wonderful ladies from my church wanted to throw me one...I love them so much!).  Then to finish off the week (or kick off next week...depends on how you look at it), we are going to the zoo on Sunday for Daniel's company picnic.

It's been too long!

I know I said that I would update and post pictures about our vacation, but time just got away from me.  We were busy the whole time we were in Myrtle Beach so the saying "I'm going to need a vacation after my vacation" is totally true in my case...lol.  I hit a wall with my pregnancy fatigue when we got home and haven't fully recovered (and probably won't til this little boy is born).  It certainly didn't help that Kelsie got sick with strep throat not even 12 hours after we'd been home and Ashlin caught it a couple of days later.  Daniel and I managed to avoid it, but I got a cold a week and a half ago and I'm still trying to get rid of the last of it.

Anyway, on to vacation stuff!  We. had. a. BLAST!!!!  It was seriously so much fun!  Way better than I imagined it would be.  The girls had a couple of cranky moments, but not too bad and Daniel joined in every little thing (including waking up at 7:30am or earlier and going to bed early) which made it that much better.  Now for some pictures.  Some of these are just snap shots and some are supposed to look a bit nicer.  Don't judge too hard :o).


These are quick snaps of the girls on the way there.

This is the first time on the beach.  We got checked in and our bags in the room and came right to the beach.  The girls loved it!


It took a while to get them down to the water cause there was a lot of sand to explore.  We weren't even off the little boardwalk before they were in the sand!

 Ashlin and daddy going to explore the water.  Ashlin loved the water, but Kelsie preferred the sand.  She said when she was in the water that giant clams were snotting on her face...lol.

 One of the only letters Kelsie can write is an upper case "E", so minutes after we were in the wet sand, she made an E.  Naturally, I needed a picture of it!

 Ashlin showing me some of the "shells" her and daddy found :o).

 This is what Kelsie did every time the water started to come in...hehehe.

 Our first full day there.  I won't caption all of them.  They range from waking up, to playing at the "sun pool" (what Kelsie calls the water park for hotel guests only), to more beach fun.

 The next day:  We went to the beach first thing in the morning, looking at the war memorial,  and the aquarium later in the day.

Kelsie took this with my point and shoot

Our last day.  Daniel found a tiny tree frog while moving the car while we were getting ready to check out.  He brought it up to show us before we set it free again.  We also went to Planet Hollywood (Kelsie was dying to go in the big planet...lol), build a bear (but no pictures of it, silly mommy forgot), family picture on the pier (our only family picture of the trip), and a couple from The Pavilion at Nostalgia Park (a kind of permanent carnival).

So I know that this was a picture overload, but believe it or not, there are over 160 more pictures that I didn't post here.  If you'd like to see them, just click the link and it'll take you to my Myrtle Beach album on Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessie7813/sets/72157624793178634/with/5014630015/






On a whole other note, I'll give a quick update on the pregnancy.  I'm doing really well so far at 32 weeks and 5 days.  Our little womb-piggy keeps on growing and boy am I feeling it.  He's running out of room, so I've become way more uncomfortable lately and like I said earlier, I have no energy anymore, but only 8ish weeks left!  My baby shower is on October 2nd and I'm getting super excited for it.  My amazing best friend, Kimie, offered to host it and she's paid for everything and I love her so much for it (well other reasons, too, but right now this is on the top of the list of reasons why I love Kimie...lol).  The only problem is she's keeping most of it a surprise!  Well not a huge problem cause I love surprises, but still :o).  I have my next appointment in a week (I go every 2 weeks now).  I've gained 12 pounds so far, so not too bad if I do say so myself!  That's it for now...here's a picture of the belly at 32 weeks and 1 day: