To brighten your day!

Adjusting!

Maybe she's not that bad! Parker is warming up to his little sister!

Why is it that I so easily forgot about the sleepless nights, baby crying for some completely undiscoverable reason, and countless poopy diapers? Yet, I also forgot about all those sweet moments where they fall asleep in your arms, they give you the sweetest smiles (who cares if they're from gas!), and you begin to see them grow and become their own little person! This past week has been full of all these reminders! And although there are frustrating moments, I wouldn't trade this time for anything; Paige is so sweet, innocent and pure. I love to just stare at her and wonder what kind of things are going through her mind. I'm sure we'd be amazed!

Paige at 1 week...is that not the cutest hat ever? Lena sent it to her!

Parker-megoo LOVES to shower!

Parley did this same thing when he was little!

mmmm...yummy...a jam mustache!

She's here!

Our beautiful little Paige Jones

Well, she decided to come! The timing could not have been better: I went and picked up my mom from the airport and called my doula on our way home to tell her I was in labor and asked her to meet me at my house! When she got there (about 10 minutes after my mom, Parker and I got home), she and I immediately headed to the hospital (contractions were about 3 minutes about).

All in all, from when I started feeling regular contractions to when she was born, it was about 9 hours. As for pushing...well just imagine a woman laughing, being told not to laugh, so laughing harder (trying not to), and pushing the baby's head out before the doctors are able to get in there! Yep, that's what happened! The nurse was going to help me push to the point where the doctor would want to come in. But on my first contraction that she had me push on, the baby was ready! So then she told me to stop, I was surprised and started laughing which made the baby come right on out! It was all very funny!

Now we are both doing well and feeling pretty good!

Here are a few details about Paige Jones:

*sorry--not going to give bday for security purposes!*

Weight: 7 lbs 4 oz

Height: 19.25 inches

Born at 2:57 am!

And now, some pics...

Getting ready to go home!

I hate post-baby pics...how do some people manage to look soooo beautiful? But this is the best pic we had w/ all three of us so far.

I'm still pregnant!

And I am losing my mind! Well, not really. I'm not that uncomfortable. I'm not sleeping that horribly. I'm healthy. What am I complaining about? It is just so nerve-wracking waiting for this little gal to decide to come out.

Most of you know how much I do not enjoy being pregnant. I think most people who say they enjoy it are crazy (some exceptions of course). But I was thinking the other night about some of the things I will miss when I'm no longer pregnant. Here they are:

1. The excuse for being emotional

2. The excuse for a bulging belly

3. The excuse for wide hips

4. The excuse for cravings...and giving in

5. My hairless legs (yup, I pretty much, never have to shave when I'm pregnant. I'm not sure why, but the leg hair just doesn't grow...I guess that is one thing I enjoy!)

6. The excuse for gaining weight

7. Feeling the baby move

8. People thinking I'm cute and just getting cuter the fatter I get! *it's great!*

9. The excuse for moodiness

10. How fast my nails grow

Did I forget anything?



Now for the list of things I won't miss:

1. Heartburn

2. Throwing up (it was much better this time around, but still...who likes to throw up just because they're hungry. Come on! That doesn't even make sense!)

3. My gigantic belly

4. My extra-wide hips

5. Crazy, karate-chopping baby moves!

6. Anxiety about when the baby will come

7. Loose ligaments that cause pain everytime you move after being stationary for 5 minutes

8. Sleepless nights due to #1,2,3,5,6, and 7 (not that they will improve after the baby's born)

9. Bright purple stretch marks (instead they will be these nice little silver lines...yahoo!)

10. Maternity clothes...they are so not comfey or cute. Can't they satisfy at least one of those requirements?! :)

Did I miss anything there?



Honestly, I feel like I have been so blessed this pregnancy and I am so grateful. I know that this baby will come when she's ready and supposed to. It will all work out and I will survive! *now you want to start singing that song, don' t you? "First I was afraid, I was petrified...." sing it!*

This boy cracks me up!

Today I have been able to catch Parker at his finest: being a cheese ball!

I don't know where he learned to smile like this!?! :)
Then I snuck up on him while he was reading to himself. It is the book There was an old lady who swallowed a fly. So I am not sure if he is singing/reading to himself since that's what I do for him, or if this is just his reading voice. But I thought it was pretty cute either way!

The bread recipe

Here's the recipe (courtesy of my mother) for the bread that I made. It is basically step-by-step for those of you who may be challenged in this area, as I am!
Combine:
2 T dry yeast
1/2 c warm water
(set this aside)

Combine and mix the following ingredients into your mixer
3 c hot water
2/3 c brown sugar
1 T salt
2 T oil

Add to the mixture
5 c whole wheat flour
mix thoroughly
Add the softened yeast
Then add 4-6 c white flour

You want this to be a moderately stiff dough (not too stiff, but not super sticky either).
Let the dough rise until it is doubled in size. Shape into loaves (this makes 2 regular loaves). Let the loaves rise until they are the size you want them. Bake at 375 for 35 minutes.
Remove immediately from the pans and let cool.

I am a Domestic Queen!

Still pregnant, but a domestic queen, nonetheless! I have been wanting to make a post about my newfound domesticity, so it is finally here. When I was visiting my family this fall I learned multiple domestic skills that my mother always told me I would want to know, but I swore I never would. *Why is it that parents always end up being right? Hopefully that trend continues as I am a parent!* To continue with the topic...she was right. So, while at home, I learned how to can peaches, pears, salsa, how to sew (kind of--still need to work on it, but the desire it just not there) and how to make scrumptious homemade bread! Delicious! When I returned back to my home, I was completely unsatisfied with the bread I used to buy, so I decided I would buy a mixer:

(mine looks just like this one, but also has a shredder attachment. snazzy, I know! what makes it even better is I got an amazing deal for it off of eBay. I won't tell you how much because that would just make you jealous and we don't want any hard feelings!)

So I bought a mixer in order to further refine my domestic skills. Since returning home, I think I could say I have perfected beautiful loaf making. :) Wouldn't you agree? (ignore the stained towel...I'm working on the laundry skill--the key is checking all pockets for pens before you throw them in the wash!)

And to make up for all my shameless bragging, I've posted two pics that I took today (39 weeks and still going strong). They are not very flattering. But is it even possible to get a flattering picture when you are this pregnant? Yes, it is; I've seen them. But I like to tell myself "It is completely impossible; no woman looks good pregnant" over and over. It makes me feel a little better!

(yes, I am very tired--bags and circles under the eyes. But not because I'm pregnant. It is because I am horrible about going to bed at a reasonable hour)

Wow! Look at that amazing figure!