Our first 'family' Christmas

It was wonderful. We started our celebration on Christmas Adam at Jeremiah's mom's home. It was nice to celebrate with them. Then celebrated Christmas Eve at the church service. It's always such a special service that brings the real reason we celebrate to the forefront of my mind. Then, we woke up to a white Christmas, beautiful! Emery Rose woke up in her "My Frist Christmas" jammies. So cute! We had all of our stockings ready, the Christmas music playing, all of the Christmas lights on. We opened presents, ate a yummy cinnamon roll breakfast, got cleaned up, and headed out the door.

We started off in Sparta for Christmas with Jeremiah's dad's side of the family. It was nice to see everyone. Then we went to my parents house for a big Christmas meal and presents. We always go to a movie on Christmas day, so we saw Gulliver's Travels. We decided to go back to my parents for left-overs, then made our way home before the roads got really bad since it was still snowing.

We were supposed to have church Sunday morning, but the roads were so bad, it was canceled. Jeremiah's mom and David ended up coming over to open their presents, then Natalie and Josh came over that evening to watch a Preds game and do presents with them.

All in all it was a great first family Christmas. Even though Emery is a baby, it's so much more fun with a kid! I'm looking forward to Christmases as she gets older.

My Sweet Baby Girl

I can't tell you how blessed I am to have Emery Rose in my life! She's pure sweetness and joy!

Oh how life has changed....

• Anytime I go anywhere with Emery it takes me anywhere from 1.5 hours to 3 hours to get ready to go....it used to take me 30 minutes. :)
• I have learned that I really don't need that much sleep. I can work and be happy with 3-5 hours now, but I'm very thankful, now that she's older, the little one will sleep through the night with me only waking to nurse, and go right back to sleep.
• When I used to say, "I'll never do that when I become a parent," I lied. Ha!
• I'm not grossed out by poopy diapers and spit-up. (When I cleaned spit-up off of Emery with my bare fingers, I knew I was a momma). :)
• I will not let my baby cry, if I can do anything about it.
  
• I appreciate my momma so much more.

I'm very thankful I became a mother at 25. I feel like I'm more mature and relaxed as a mom. I don't get stressed about the little things with Emery. I'm really enjoying every part of it. I'm also not comparing her to other babies, in the sense of, "Oh, no! She's behind!" I'm not pushing her to do this or that. In fact, I tell her to stay little everyday! She's so precious. This is already going by way too fast.

Emery Rose's Birth Story

We went to the doctor on Wednesday, November 3, for my 39 week check up. I was dilated 3-4cm..in labor, technically (but I had no clue! ha!)...so Dr. Prigg stripped my membranes (to help speed things along, naturally) and told us to go to Livingston Hospital on Thursday, November 4, so she could break my water (if it didn't break that night -- which she thought it probably would). I thought it was funny that I didn't know I was in labor and 4 cm, when most people get their epidurals at 4 cm...I was thanking God!!

So we arrive to the hospital on Thursday, November 4, at 6AM. We get checked in and put in room 203. I got the IV (OUCH!) and Dr. Prigg checked me again..still at 4cm. She broke my water around 7:30-8AM. Such a weird sensation...a gush of warm water (like I peed myself). From that point on we just watched the monitor to see the contractions and waited for Dr. Prigg to get back after small surgeries to check me for dilation. Apparently, I kept having contractions, but I never felt them. Time kept passing. After a few of hours and no progression, Dr. Prigg gave me pitocin (which I didn't want), but we needed to progress because after breaking your water, you can't wait that long before the baby comes. The pitocin worked a little. The contractions came sooner and sooner...I dilated a little more throughout the day. Contractions still painless -- praise God!

Mom, Amanda, David and Norma hung out with us until lunch. The rest of the afternoon was spent listening to my meditation cd and hanging out with Jeremiah, mom, and Amanda. Around 7 PM or so Dr. Prigg expressed some concern that Emery was not coming down, which was keep me from dilating as much as I needed to. (The concern was that Emery was too big or I was too little for her to move down) She kept up-ing the pitocin, which intensified the contractions, but they were still very manageable with breathing. I would stare at Jeremiah in the eyes during a contraction and rub his leg with my foot as he stood at the end of the bed. For some reason, that just worked for me. He was my focal point. Mom and Amanda would let me know when the contractions were going down. I had planned on getting an epidural, but it really wasn't necessary -- the pain was maybe a 3-4 out of 10. Again, I was thanking God!! All the nurses were in disbelief at how I was laughing and smiling during contractions. They couldn't believe that I really didn't feel pain. I just told them it was all God! We're no longer under the curse -- Jesus took the curse for us -- including painful child labor!

Emery still wasn't coming down, and Dr. Prigg said she might be too big for me and just to keep in the back of our mind that an emergency c-section might have to take place if she didn't come before time was up. We prayed against it. I did not want a c-section. I slowly kept dilating, but not at the wanted speed of 1 cm/hour...it was more like 1/2cm/2 hours.

Around 9 PM and at 8 1/2 - 9 cm the contractions were intense (but manageable with breathing) and the pitocin was very high. Dr. Prigg suggested I get the epidural (which I was going to go without, but we think Dr. Prigg was really anticipating the c-section, but was keeping it on the D.L. because she didn't want to make us nervous). So, I got the epidural, which couldn't have come at a better time; I got a chance to rest an hour or so before time to push. The epi was just what I needed to relax and let Emery come down. She came down within a couple of hours and it was TIME!

Around 12:30AM (November 5) the team set up the room for delivery. (They were also preparing me for a c-section -- which they kept kinda secret, still not wanting to freak me out.) Around 12:50AM Jeremiah held one leg, Nurse Gail held my other leg...I pushed about 4 sets of 4 when Dr. Prigg made Jeremiah move quickly and another nurse grab my leg to let Emery out at 1:07AM.

I really think that at this point, the Lord was protecting me -- I didn't really know what was going on. Some of this information is what my mom told me after-the-fact. Emery came out very traumatically - kinda purplish, not crying, and not moving. In a frenzy, Dr. Prigg had to cut the cord (which was supposed to be Jeremiah's job, but it was a stressful moment -- they were all moving quickly), and there was a lot of nervousness about her condition. After cutting the cord, Emery was immediately handed to the nurses to be checked on...the birth was very traumatic for her. Dr. Prigg's biggest fear was that Emery had Brachial Palsy (loss of the use of arms due to nerve damage at birth) or a broken clavicle. Amanda literally rebuked the negative words spoken about the Brachial Palsy as Dr. Prigg handed Emery to the nurse. Amanda and momma prayed over her and loved on her while Jeremiah stayed by my side and comforted me while waiting to see Emery. I wanted Emery's first experience in this world to be LOVE, and I thank my momma and Amanda for giving her tons of it! Again, at this point, I was still on a high from just having my baby girl and I really believe God was protecting me from all of this. God was good! I just thought she needed to cry or something before I got to hold her.

The nurses checked her and she started crying. They felt like she was ok (no paralysis!)...just had a very traumatic entrance.

After a few minutes, I got to hold her, love her, kiss her, cry over her, beam over her with her daddy right by my side. I nursed her immediately after I got her and she nursed perfectly on each side for about 20 mins...she was a hungry girl!

After some alone time with her, we passed her around, everyone loving on her. My dad was there. Natalie was there. Jeremiah's mom and David. His granny Miller and dad were there earlier but didn't get to stay for the birth. She is amazing. 8lbs 3oz...21 3/4in.

Within a couple of hours, everyone left and it was me and Jeremiah and the baby. Sweet moments. :) After 19 hours of labor, we needed some rest, so we sent her to the nursery. About 3 hours later she came back to nurse and the pediatrician on-call checked her. He told us her left clavicle was broken. We were devastated and very emotional that our sweet baby girl had a traumatic experience and a broken bone. We just cried and loved on her. We prayed over her as did our families, the Blaylocks, and Lyndsey. I knew she was ok.

Around 8 AM Rob Riddle was our first visitor of the morning :) He brought chocolate and deer jerky for us. It was a blessing to see him after such a rough morning.

I got to get cleaned up, FINALLY. My mom and sisters came, Wayne, Audrey and the boys and Lyndsey came. Natalie and Josh came. All the parents came :) Michael and Susan with the babies. Jeromy and Abbie came.

We stayed the night again, and Saturday morning a different doctor came in and said Emery had jaundice and had to stay another day under the lamps. We were upset about it, but wanted her to get better. They brought her to me for feeding, otherwise she stayed under the lamps in the nursery. We missed her!

Sunday morning they said we could finally leave the hospital. We were ready. It took us 3 hours to get ready to leave the hospital with nursing, cleaning, packing, etc. She slept the whole way home. Walking in the front door with her was wonderful. We showed her around the house :) and her room. We were so blessed to have her and have her home.

She really is such a good baby. :)

We got her clavicle checked on Friday, December 10. It was completely healed - ahead of schedule! The doctor didn't even want to do an x-ray -- he said there was no point! :) Thank God!!

Emery Rose will be joining us November 8, 2010 (or somewhere around there)! I haven't blogged in so long, but not because nothing has been going on. Jeremiah and I found out the first of March that we'd be having a little one. :) We are super excited! We found out in the middle of June we'd be having a little girl! Emery Rose is what we've decided to name her. Emery, after our good friend, Wayne Blaylock, and Rose, after my twin sister, Amanda Rose, and Mimi, Rosemary.

We've moved into our home, and are still getting settled. Once we found out Emery was on her way, we booked it at getting a family vehicle and a house. We were blessed to get both so easily. Right now, I'm in the process of picking out her room "theme." I really don't want a "theme," but more cohesiveness.

Here's her room:
And here's the main fabric I want to use:
I've been looking up tutorials on how to make crib bedding, so I decided to do that instead of buying it. My mom is going to help me, so hopefully, it'll turn out ok :)

I got my inspiration from this:
I plan on using most of the fabrics, but adding a couple and taking a couple away. I love the idea of this. Her bedding won't be the exact same style, but similar. I'm really looking forward to getting started! Since I'm 24 weeks along, I feel like time is going by so fast and I won't get it all done it time. I know I will. :)

We are blessed!

Cake - I had it, but couldn't eat it, too

I finally finished the Golden Light's Valentine Banquet Cake. I had the hardest time making it for some reason. My cakes were not baking right - - I think it was the oven. But after a failed attempt, a HOT Valentine date with the hubby, staying up till 1AM icing it, and strategically placing berries....It. Is. Finished.

Also, I forgot my camera, so I had to take the picture with my cell phone - oh well.

Happy Valentine Weekend!

Hallelujah!

My sweet husband is taking me on a surprise Valentine date tonight! I have no clue where we are going - - I was just told to dress up "nicer." lol :)

My day has been full of cake baking, facebook-ing, and pandora radio listening.

(I'm baking a cake for the Golden Light's Valentine Banquet. It's going to be two-tiered. Bottom tier is 12in. square, top tier is 8in round. Chocolate cake, chocolate icing, raspberry filling between the layers, and garnished with fresh berries. I'll take a picture when it's done and post it. :)

Now it's time to fill my day with laundry, dusting, vacuuming, etc., etc.

I'd rather spend my day doing the first list. But, I love it when my husband comes home to a clean/organized home. I seriously married a man that is as close to perfect as it gets. He does dishes, laundry, picking up, decluttering, cooks, gets me gifts!, and so much more. I'm a blessed woman. I feel like the least I can do is try to pitch in. :)

Have a happy Valentine weekend. Make it about the love and not the stuff :)

By the way, I'm so stuck on The Canadian Tenor's Hallelujah. It's just beautiful! Here's the clip from Oprah.

What's for dinner?

Today we had a snow day - - I love them! But, I am ready for warm weather. Thankfully, we'll be headed to FL in a couple of weeks! Wooohoo!!

Miah and I have been on this exercise/health journey together. He really is a lot better at it than I am. He's so motivated and disciplined. I have a lot to learn.

We have been cooking most of our dinner recipes out of the Biggest Loser Family Cookbook and the Cooking Light Complete Cookbook. I have been pleasantly surprised at how delicious the recipes are. We've mostly been trying to eat less calories, less fat, less sodium, and more fresh foods. Tonight I was in the mood for chili, and thought I'd try something completely different. My friend Susan's mom, Mary, had us over for dinner one night and made White Chicken Chili...OMGosh it was so yummy and comforting! :)









She told me she used Rachael Ray's recipe...I found it online:

Ingredients

• 1 32-ounce box chicken stock
• 3 cans white beans, left undrained
• 5 cups cooked chicken (rotisserie or boiled)
• 1 16-ounce jar salsa
• 1 8-ounce block pepper jack cheese, grated
• 2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Black or white pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup finely crushed corn chips (optional, if you like your chili thicker)
• Sour cream, for garnish

Yields: 6 servings

Preparation

Place all ingredients except the corn chips in a crockpot. Cook on high until the cheese is melted.

Chili may also be cooked on the stovetop over medium-high heat until cheese is melted.

When the chili is ready, add the crushed corn chips, if using, and simmer for 10 minutes to thicken. Garnish with more chips, cheese and/or sour cream and serve.

I tried going with healthier options to make it (low sodium, fat free, etc. etc). I have no clue how many calories this actually comes out to...I probably don't want to know ;).

For a side (a healthy side) we're having the cucumber/red onion/tomato/lite ranch thingy from The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook. It's so easy, and hardly any calories, plus you're getting all veggies. Basically, you cut the cucumber lengthwise, then cut each length in half so you have 4 fairly large pieces of cucumber. De-seed the cucumbers. Chop the onion and tomato into small pieces. Fill the cucumber boats with the onion and tomato. Then, drizzle lite ranch on top. It's pretty yummy (and easy), too.

If I didn't love food so much, this weight-loss thing may be a lot easier! ;)

I would love to do this!

A Giveaway from The Creative Mama Blog

Being a communications major and working everyday in communications with my job, I couldn't think of a better way to further my education. I love writing, but sometimes feel I struggle with using what I have - life experiences - to write about.

I hope I win!!!

Cinnaminny OooeyGooeyGoodness

Since church was canceled today (which hardly ever happens), and I've been in the baking mood, I decided to try out Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Buns from here. My sister, Amanda, actually gave me the PW's Cookbook as a Christmas present...so far I love it!!

Since it was my first time doing the recipe, it took a minute to get the hang of it.

Here's some of my photos...They aren't as pretty as PW's, but my guess is that it'll taste just as good. :)

Snow!

I love the snow! It always brings back such good childhood memories like playing with the neighbors, building snowmen and sledding. I also remember after playing in the snow coming inside to a warm fire, hot chocolate, and homemade bread that my momma baked. Those are such good memories!

Tonight a few friends/family went sledding. I loved it!

Stay safe and warm this weekend!

Sew, Sew, Sew

I've been in a sewing mood for sometime, but haven't been sewing much...until I saw this. It's a blog I follow that I found through it being mentioned on another person's blog I follow. I love it!

So I spent my snow days last week sewing little rice bag heating pads...giving some away - - keeping some.



Every night (as recommended by the blogger, Darby), either my husband or I heat them in the microwave and put them in our beds. It's SOOO nice jumping into a toasty, warm bed.

Our house is all hardwood floors (besides the kitchen and bathroom), and our house is old so it's drafty. Wearing my slippers and slipping into the warm bed at night has revolutionized our going-to-bed routine that use to go something like this:

Slip into bed, freezing
Shiver under the covers for a long time
Put my cold feet under my husbands warm legs
Hear the complaints of putting my cold feet on my husbands warm legs
Have to move my feet back over
Shiver to sleep

Now it goes something like this:

Take off my warm monkey slippers that have been warming my feet all evening
Slip into my warm bed
Fall fast asleep

See how this has simplified my life?! ;)

It's the little things in life...

I will give myself permission to...

walk on the newly washed bathroom rug. I never wanted to be "one of those people," but last night I realized I was. And, by "one of those people" I mean someone who doesn't enjoy their "stuff" because they don't want to mess it up.


By the way...I got these cute slippers at Target. I've never been a slipper wearing kind of gal, but love these and wear them all the time!

I think I'm better than I use to be, but last night I got a feeling of uneasiness after I cleaned the bathroom, washed the rug that goes in front of the shower, and was about to step on the rug. It's one of those rugs that's really fluffy and if it's stepped on you can see a big foot print. But I love that rug! It's so soft, matches my curtain, towels, and shower curtain.

I decided it's OK if the rug has footprints on it...it's a RUG for heaven's sake - - made to walk on!

In that same school of thought....I am pretty good about using my nice dishes because I just love them so much. For a wedding gift I got the most beautiful pitcher and a set of 6 goblet glasses from Kohls. It's the Home Studio Baja Confetti pattern. Well one of them broke, and I was devastated. So I called Kohls and found out they had 9 more (and a BUY ONE GET ONE FREE SALE! going on). I LOVE KOHLS! I went there that night, bought 4, got 4 for free. So now my set is at 13. I think if I get the opportunity I will buy more. I love having company and family over. The more glasses the better I feel!


I mean...doesn't that just go beautifully with my Fiesta ware!?!

My husband has me figured out...I don't buy clothes, jewelry, shoes, etc. I buy dishes. It's my weakness. Well, and things that would make my home look pretty (and smell pretty).

So far... So good

Well....my life has been uber busy the last couple of weeks. I work at a church and last week we had 2 church-related funerals. I don't think I've ever felt more stressed. One of the funerals was at the church. I went home that day and barely made it through supper without falling asleep. I never realized how stress can wear your body out so much. I think trying to make everything from the cleanliness of the church to the sound system perfect really took it's toll on me. We just wanted it to be perfect for the family. I imagine that if I felt the way I did they felt a 100 times worse :( .

Even though the year began with so many reminders of immortality, it really hasn't been too bad. Seeing death makes you think more of what you're thankful for.

I mentioned I wasn't going to make resolutions this year, but goals, wishes, hopes, etc. I have a few things I'd like to accomplish like get into a regular exercise routine, cook at home more (and healthy recipes), wake up earlier, organize the pantry. Really, there's probably not a big difference between resolutions and goals but the word difference means more to me than anything. A resolution just sounds so hard and impossible. A goal sounds attainable.

Well, my husband, Miah loves to cook. He purchased 2 new cookbooks - - one is the Biggest Loser Family Cookbook and the other is Cooking Light (I think it's from Southern Homes and Gardens?). We're going to start cooking out of them tonight. I picked Chicken Parmesan - - I'll let you know how it is!