2 Months Old??!!!  You have got to be kidding me!!!

I cannot believe my little man is already 2 months old!  What a blessing he is in our lives!  He is seriously one of the best babies I have ever seen!  Here are a few highlights of weeks 5-9.

- Eli is definitely already a boy...I find myself constantly cleaning out from under his fingernails! 

- I thought I could avoid the whole "boys pee EVERYWHERE" thing...guess again!  I have scrubbed

   pee off of many areas of our home- changing table, walls, floor, couch!  I could go on and on :)

- I love the sweet sounds Eli makes while sucking his paci or his bottle!  You would think we were

  starving him!

- July 21st- Eli started smiling purposefully!  We were in Target shopping and he gave us the biggest

  toothless grin!  It melted my heart!

- Eli is becoming more and more vocal!  I love hearing his "coos"!

 Eli made another trip to Bama for 3 weeks with me...unfortunately, it was for my grandmother's funeral.  We enjoyed our time with my family.  Eli is quite the little traveler these days!  This was his second time flying. 

 I feel truly blessed to be this little boys mom!  I cherish every moment I get to spend with him.  I am so thankful that I will only be going back to work a couple of days a week so that I can spend more time with him!  "Time is love" :)

My sweet Nanny.  This was just 3 weeks before her wreck.  I know she would love to watch Eli grow.  We miss her so much and cannot wait to be reunited with her one day! 



"Daddyisms"

First let me start by saying that my husband is a wonderful Daddy.  He is so calm with Eli and jumped right in to taking care of him just after his birth.  Until our niece was born 2 and a half years ago, I had never seen Josh hold an infant.  I had tried to get him to but he would not have it!  I was so surprised and shocked at how well he caught on with Eli!  That being said, check out these hilarious conversations I had with Josh before running out for errands our first week home from the hospital!

- While giving instructions on thawing milk and making a bottle while I was gone, I asked Josh if he 
   knew what to do if Eli was choking.  His response?  With the most serious and not kidding voice,
   he replies, "Yes, Brynn.  Raise his arms up above his head".  Oh my goodness!  You should have
   seen the look on my face!  Needless to say, we had a crash course on how to relieve choking in an
   infant before I walked out the door!

- I was telling Josh that he needed to make sure and change any poop diapers as soon as he noticed
  since Eli's circumcision was still healing.  You see, with a circumcision, you have to apply vaseline
  and gauze around the surgical site and it's very important to keep him as clean as possible at all
  times.  I told him to recap changing a dirty diaper.  His exact words were, "Use the gauze to wipe
  the poop"...Ummm, no honey, use the gauze for the circumcision.  Again, another crash course in
  diaper changing :)

- Eli was laying on Josh's chest sleeping.  Josh was rubbing his little back.  In a very worried voice,
  Josh calls me over.  He wanted me to check this hard protruding area on his back.  Yep, it was only
  his shoulder blade :) Josh thought something was really wrong with his back!  Bless his heart!

- Eli was laying down on the couch one evening.  Josh calls me over to check on him.  His concern-
  "Eli is not responsive".  In almost a panic, I go over to see Eli sleeping soundly.  No honey, he is
  not responding to you, he is asleep! 

This is all for fun!  Being first time parents is hard and very scary at times!  I find myself worrying about silly things all the time.  I just hope my husband hasn't been documenting all my crazy concerns! 

And just for fun, a few more pics of my adorable angel!

IMPERFECT...Aren't We All?

A couple of my friends did a post similar to this one and it inspired me.  Nobody has the perfect life.  If they claim to, it's a LIE!  Here are some REAL facts about me at this point in my life:

 1.)  I love keeping a clean house but you should see the disasters I make trying to create a clean environment!

 2.)  I am NOT a morning person...that is unless I'm going somewhere fun or about to do something fun!

 3.)  I don't cook.  Like, it's a very rare occasion that I do.  My poor husband.  I find myself making the same things over and over, so I just stopped all together!

 4.)  I LOVE buying things to "get my fitness on".  You know, DVD's, exercise balls, bicycles, exercise bands, p90x, pilates dvd's...I could go on and on.  The problem is, I have great intentions, I just never get around to actually using the products.  OR, I will use them a few times and I'm done.  I hate this about me, especially now that I have a 5 week old and I really need to get myself back into shape!

 5.)  I am VERY forgetful!  I have to keep a VERY detailed budget binder so that I don't forget to pay our bills!

 6.)  I drink WAY too many diet sodas.  I'm talking LOTS!  I really want to cut back...maybe I will when I "get my fitness on"!  Haha!

 7.)  I have anxiety...and it's pretty bad.  I freak out about things that I probably shouldn't even worry about.  I tend to be uptight at times.  I'm really working on this.

 8.)  I can have a really smart mouth.  This usually only comes out after I have had it up to my ears!  Then there is no telling what I might say! Again, my poor husband :) Another thing I'm working on! :)

 9.)  I do not have an eye for decorating.  I know what I like, I just can't ever seem to pull a room together. 

10.)  I haven't had a haircut since I came home in April for my baby shower.  The last one before that was in December. 

11.)  Now that I have a newborn, I find myself not getting a shower until at least 3 pm.  I prance around in my PJ's all day.  I don't like it, but what can you do??

12.)  I like to spend money like it's going out of style.  I usually end up buying stuff just because it's a good deal!

This just scrapes the surface of my imperfections.  I'm trying to work on myself...how about you?

One Month Old Already?!

It's like they always say..."time flies when you are having fun!"  I cannot believe this sweet angel is already a month old!  He is the absolute joy of our lives!  I ask Josh all the time what we did before we had Eli!  We must have had a pretty boring life before he came along ;)

I am so amazed watching him grow and develop a little personality.  He loves sitting up in his boppy pillow and  looking around at everything, especially the ceiling fan!  I love watching his eyes light up and his mouth take the shape of "Oh my goodness, what is all of this??"!  Eli absolutely loves laying on his daddy's chest!  He could sleep like that for hours!  They say that infants cannot be spoiled...I beg to differ!  This little man is already very spoiled!  I just keep thinking that he won't be this small for long.  We are trying to soak up every little thing!

I love his little sounds that he is making.  I love that when he is hungry, he goes from zero to one hundred.  Completely silent and sleeping to screaming at the top of his lungs!  I love the fact that he sleeps with both arms above his head most of the time.  I also love the fact that he sleeps with his mouth open, just like his mommy!  When he stretches in the morning, he looks just like me!  It's so funny how he has days where he looks just like daddy and other days he looks just like me!  He is a perfect combination of us both! 

In his first month of life, Eli has been out to eat at Red Lobster at 4 days old, Texas Road House at one week old, AND he has been on a 2 day road trip to Alabama (670 miles) for his first camping trip!  Busy little man already!

I cannot wait to watch him continue to grow and learn new things!  This has been the best month of my life.  Cannot imagine life without this handsome little man! 

Now for lots of pictures of the first month of Eli's life!

First bath at home!

GaGa loves her little man!

Pediatrician at 4 days old.  Eli weighed in at 7 pounds 2 ounces!

Out to eat at Red Lobster after pediatrician appointment

Father's Day 2012  Eli was 9 days old!

Mom and I snuck and did a "photo shoot" with Eli to get these adorable pics for Josh's office!

Meeting PaPaw for the first time at the lake!

Eli's first 4th of July on Lake Martin!  Isn't he a doll??!

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Elijah Bentley's Birthday!

Elijah Bentley's Birthday

Our sweet angel, Elijah Bentley, was born June 8, 2012 at 10:38am.  He weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.  Here is the story of my labor and delivery experience.

We arrived at the hospital around 8pm on Thursday June 7th.  I had a doctor's appointment the day before and my Blood Pressure was still elevated and I had protein in my urine (this means that my kidneys were not tolerating the high blood pressure).  I was very nervous about an induction.  I was VERY unfavorable for an induction- my cervix was still very high and thick.  We ultimately had to make the decision based on what was best for Eli and myself.  We decided to go through with the induction and very high risk of a c-section.  My doctor was awesome and very supportive.  He gave me hope that I could have a normal vaginal delivery. 

Our families were beyond thrilled to head west for Eli's birthday!  They arrived on Thursday and stayed in a hotel not far from the hospital.  We made a quick visit with them before going to the hospital. 

Looking at these pictures today, I cannot believe my belly was that big!  It's amazing what your body can go through and the changes you don't really even notice until you see pictures of yourself!

Josh and I went to the hospital Thursday night by ourselves.  Our families were exhausted from the long drive and they stayed at the hotel and got rested up for the big day!  We stopped by McDonald's on the way to the hospital for my "last meal" of chicken nuggets...YUM!  We were so excited and nervous!  I have worked in labor and delivery in the past and let me tell you that when it is YOU coming in for the induction, all that you know goes out the window :) well... almost! 

Nervous daddy :)

We got settled into our labor room and all the fun started around 8:30.  I endured 2 IV sticks and one lab stick- I forgot that they like to use the biggest angiocath possible- in my case an 18 gauge.  Pretty much felt like a water hose being inserted into my vein (okay, I'm stretching it a little :) but needless to say, it was NOT comfortable!  I received my first dose of Cytotec (medication to help ripen the cervix) at 9:30pm.  I was nervous about the upcoming contractions.  Well guess what??  NOTHING happened!!  The nurse said my cervix was still VERY high. I tried to rest after the first dose of medication but found myself staring at the computer monitor watching Eli's heartrate and my lack of contractions.  (Sometimes it's a bad thing to have knowledge on a subject).  My nurse came back in at 1:30am on Friday for my second dose of Cytotec.  Again, she said my cervix was still very high and I had not had one contraction during the night.  I was starting to get worried.  I was SO unfavorable to have a normal vaginal delivery.  I prayed and prayed and prayed.

At 4am, I got up and got in the shower.  I knew that they would begin IV Pitocin around 5 so I wanted to have my shower for the day.  I started feeling very crampy in the shower but nothing too bad.  I got dressed in my adorable posh pusher gown and I was ready for Eli's Birthday!  At 4:30am  I started having horrible contractions.  Now, I have asked people what contractions feel like.  Most people said "the worst diarrhea cramps EVER".  I remember always thinking "I'm sure I could handle that".  OMG!!!  Worst pain EVER.  Bless the people who desire the "natural birth experience".  I can honestly say that I am not woman enough for that!  At 6am, I was still hurting and the contractions were getting closer together.  My nurse checked me and I was 2cm and 90% thin.  I was so glad to have finally made a change! 

My contractions are at the bottom of the screen.  PAIN!  That's all I can say!

Here is a timeline of my delivery day:

4:30 am- started contracting every 3 minutes.  Cervix is closed and high.

6:50 am- Dilated to 2cm.  Eli was still very high.

7:15 am- Dilated to 3cm. 

7:30 am- Dilated 5-6cm- got my epidural (thank you Jesus!)

8:30 am- Dilated 8-9cm.

9:00 am- Dilated 9-10cm. 

So, I could have stated pushing at this time...BUT my family had not arrived yet!  They were supposed to be there at around 7:30am.  Since it was my first baby, and everyone knows that it's usually an all day affair, they decided to linger at the hotel and take advantage of the breakfast buffet!  Josh called them and told them they needed to get there ASAP!!! 

I started pushing at 9:30 am.  Our sweet angel was born at 10:38 am!  I cannot begin to explain the joy that filled our souls when we finally laid eyes on our "miracle baby"!  We had waited so long for this!  I had such a wonderful experience!  I delivered at the hospital that I work at- St. Francis in Tulsa.  Love my doctor and love the nurses that took care of us!  

I always knew that I loved Josh.  Seeing him with Eli makes me love him even more than I ever imagined I could.  I  am so totally in love with two guys :)  Eli has made our life complete.  Can't wait for him to grow and learn new things! 

It's Almost Time!

It's Almost Time!

 

As I am typing this, I am sitting on a very large exercise ball.  That's right, an exercise ball.  I am trying (almost) everything under the sun (well, everything I've found on Google) to get this child to move down!  I never thought I would be over being pregnant...well, there is a first time for everything!  It's not that I'm tired of being pregnant, I'm just tired...period!  I have had some problems with elevated blood pressure over the last couple of weeks and along with that comes swelling in the hands, face and ankles.  To say I have "cankles" at the end of the day is an understatement!  I spent most of the day on May 29th in Labor and Delivery making sure I don't have pre-eclampsia.  I am not spilling protein in my urine, so I am still in the clear!  Although I am very tired and swollen, it is ALL SO WORTH IT!  I would do it all over again and would go another 2 months if I had to!  (But I really don't want to do that ;)

We have been trying to enjoy the last few weeks as a family of two.  However, this weekend, we have been bored out of our minds!  I am trying to take it easy since my blood pressure has been elevated, so we haven't been on the go as much this weekend.  We are so anxious to meet Eli and that is all we can think about! 

Everyone please pray for the health of Eli as well as myself.  I just want my blood pressure to stay under control for a safe delivery!  I go back to the doctor Wednesday and I pray for good news!  So far, he has been unable to reach my cervix because Eli is still so high!  I hope he has moved down...I've walked enough to have made it back to Alabama by now (ok, that's a stretch, but you get the point)!

37 weeks!  We went to downtown Tulsa for Mayfest.  Lots of booths with local vendors, food and live entertainment.

A little blurry, but this is the night before I turned 38 weeks!  We went to a wedding of one of my sweet co-workers!  We danced until after 10 that night.  I don't think it helped to move Eli at all!

38 weeks!  We drove to Oklahoma City to the outlet malls.  My sweet husband bought me a new purse and some new clothes.  He is so good to me :)

39 weeks!  We drove around in the Jeep and enjoyed the sunshine!  I walked about 2 and a half miles this morning...does he look lower to you?! 

 

All we can say is "COME ON ELI"!  I know he will come in his own time and I have pretty much given up thinking he will be here before his due date in 6 days!  I'll just keep working to try and keep my mind off of wanting him here!  Pray for a good check-up on Wednesday.  We are so ready to meet our little man!