7 Weeks

How big is baby:  The size of a blueberry! 
Weight gain/loss: 0ish.  I say ish because it goes up and down every day.
Stretch marks: Not unless you count the ones still there from the last 2 babies…
Maternity clothes: Not yet, but I'm totally in my fat jeans.
Sleep: ALL. THE. TIME.  Okay, I don't actually get to sleep all the time, but I want to.  I'm so sleepy - regardless of how much sleep I've had.  I always look napping opportunities!
Food cravings or aversions: Aversion to chili.  We made chili the other night and I didn't eat much of mine.  When it came time to store the leftovers, I had Judd throw them all away.  The smell of chili was making me nauseated.  Yuck.  It's going to make me gag just writing about it.   
Gender: Not sure yet, but everyone is calling boy.  They have a 50/50 shot of being right!
Movement: I wish!  Not yet, though.
Belly button: Positively innie.
Exercise/Diet: What's a diet?  What on earth is exercise?
What I'm loving: Seeing the baby's heartbeat on Monday!  It was just fluttering away!  I loved it!
What I miss: Not feeling queasy all the time.
What's different this time:  The tiredness is very different this time.  It blows my mind how sleepy I am after just sleeping 10 straight hours.  It's so different.  With the last two, I was definitely tired, but I was nothing like this.  This is pure exhaustion. 
I'll start doing pictures when I look less bloated and it's actually baby and not disgustingness.

Baby #3!

Well, we made it “official” by announcing it on Facebook, so I figure for those of you that I’m not friends with on FB but still read my blog – WE’RE PREGNANT! 

We also had an ultrasound today and got to see baby’s heartbeat!!  Seeing the heartbeat made me more excited and definitely made it feel real, finally.  The little heart was just beating away and we even got to hear it!  Best sound in the world, I tell ya.  Love it. 
The whole thing really came about in a funny way.  Judd and I decided we’d not try, but not prevent for a few months then start trying in Feb or March.  Well, that one month of not preventing did the trick! 
Two days before I got my positive test (I was pretty sure I was pregnant, but didn’t have the stick to prove it at that point.)  my sister and I were chatting on the phone like usual.  We hung up and said goodnight.  A few minutes later I get a text that says, “Call me for a second.”  When I called, all in one breath she said, “I have something to tell you…I’m pregnant.”  My mouth hit the floor like a rock.  I couldn’t believe she was pregnant!  She had just taken a test that night!  Obviously my first question was the personal one of “Were you trying?!” and she said, “No!” She blew my mind!  That was Friday night.
(Less than) Two days later, on Sunday morning, I got up early that morning to get ready for church and took a test.  I stared at it for a while but couldn’t see anything and as I went to throw it away I saw something.  There it was.  A faint, faint 2nd line.  I ran into the bedroom and woke Judd up and told him the news!  We were really excited!  I called Audra that afternoon and as we talked about Hannah trying to climb the stairs, I said, “Audra, I’m pregnant.”  to which she replied, “Shut up.  No you’re not.”  to which I said, “No, I really am.  I’m serious.”  Audra said, “Whatever Kacie.”  Finally she caught the seriousness in my voice when I said, “No, I really am pregnant! I took a test this morning!”  She laughed hysterically!  She thought I was making fun of her for blurting it out two nights ago!  Neither of us had any idea that the other was pregnant or entertaining the idea of getting pregnant!  It really is quite funny!
My due date is August 22, 2012.  I’m 6 weeks 5 days today.  We’re still really early, so PLEASE pray for a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby with continued growth!  I’ve felt pretty good so far.  I’m SO, so, so, so, so sleepy.  By 5pm, I have a headache because I’m so tired.  I’ve had some nausea, but it could definitely be worse.  So far everything is really tolerable.  I just hope I get some energy soon!
It boggles my mind that God has blessed us with another sweet baby!  Being a mom is one of the best things that has ever happened to me and I’m so blessed to be able to stay home with them.  I love them all…all three of them!  Let’s not even mention my wonderful husband!  HOW am I this blessed?!

Amelia's Birth Story - 1 Year Late!

 WARNING:  This is long!  If you aren't family, you probably won't care about the majority of any of this.  Even if you are family, you still may not care to read any of this...but in case you do - here it is!  This TOTALLY doesn't seem  like a year ago!  It was a CRAZY day that *could* have ended in a very different way.  :)  Enjoy...or don't...

It really all started on Monday, December 13, 2010.  I had been having some fairly mild contractions but I was a little worried because they occasionally felt like “real” ones.  Monday marked 35 weeks and I really wanted to hold her in just a little longer!  My first appointment to have my cervix checked was on Wednesday the 15^th but Judd and I were planning on going to visit family out of town.  I called my doctor to see if he could squeeze me in (just to make sure we could travel safely) that afternoon and he said that was fine.  I need to point out here that I have the most awesome doctor, ever.  He’s a close family friend and I couldn’t be comfortable in his care.

 So off to town we went to go to the doctor and then run some errands.  I checked in and got in my little big gown and waited.  My sweet nurse first said, “Ya know you technically don’t have to get checked this time.  You can wait until next time if you want.” And I told her, “I just want to make sure we can travel safely so I’m okay with being checked.”  When the doctor came in I told him that I just wanted to make sure that everything was okay before I left since my labor and delivery with Caroline was rather quick and at 35 weeks with her, I was already 3cm, 50%.  I was being checked when I saw him glance at the nurse with “something’s up” eyes.  Then he asked me, “Have you been having a lot of pains?”  I wasn’t really sure how to answer because I had had some contractions, but nothing regular or unbearable or anything.  “I’m not sure…I’ve had some, but not a lot. Why?” to which he replied, “No reason…” which was clearly to keep me from panicking. Ha!

  When it was over, he had this look on his face like he was trying to decide whether or not I could go out of town.  I got a little nervous waiting to hear what he was going to say.  He’s the most laid back doctor ever, and if he said I couldn’t go…that definitely meant something was up.  He was writing in my chart and not saying anything to me yet (this lasted about 5 seconds but felt like 5 years) so I said, “What am I?  3cm? 4cm? 2cm?”  And his reply was, “Oh you’re definitely 3cm. (He said this with a voice almost indicating that I might be more than 3cm..)  I don’t normally tell people that they can’t go out of town if they feel up to it, but you REALLY don’t need to go on this trip.”  So after talking a few minutes he assured me everything was fine but since my labor with Caroline lasted 5 hours from start to finish, it wouldn’t be wise to make a 2 hour trip away from home.  I was 3cm, 50%, -2 station.  I knew it felt like she was low...sometimes it felt like she was pushing on my pelvic bones! 

I went out and told Judd the news.  He was so shocked.  We both just knew that I would end up going to 41 weeks this time….just because I was spoiled with delivering Caroline at 37 weeks.  That was still possible!  Women walk around dilated for weeks before they have their babies!  But for some reason, I could tell my doctor didn’t think that was going to be the case with me.

We went to Walmart and bought groceries and let me just tell you…don’t go grocery shopping after getting checked when you’re fairly dilated and effaced.  Seriously.  I was cramping and totally uncomfortable.  I finally couldn’t stand it anymore so Judd finished checking out and I took Caroline and myself to the car.  When we got home I took a warm bath trying to get the cramps to stop.  Well, these cramps/contractions basically went on for 2 days.  All day Tuesday I stayed in the bed and the bathtub, hurting.  I kept telling myself that when it got unbearable or the contractions got regular or closer together, I’d call the doctor.  That never happened.  I think I took 5 baths that day because they made the pain feel better.  Thankfully, Judd took care of Caroline for me.  That night, I wanted to put her to bed.  I had an itching feeling that that might be my last night to have her as my only child.  She put her head on my shoulder and I stood there for longer than usual trying to soak it all in.  (As a sidenote, when I came out, I told Judd that I wanted him to throw his clothes in a bag just in case this was it.  Did he do that?  Of course not.  Such a man.)  

I had contractions all night long, but nothing was ever regular.  I timed them over and over and they were all over the place.  I’d have 8min, 5min, 10min, 6min, 12min, and so on.  They were definitely hurting, but nothing I couldn’t tolerate or made me cry out in pain.  I got up around 3:30am and got in the bathtub and ended up falling asleep in there for almost 45 minutes.  I woke up with more pains, and more uncomfortable.  Well Judd was planning on going duck hunting with my doctor (I told you he’s a family friend!) that morning at 5:45am.  I told Judd that after their duck hunt, maybe my doctor could run by and check me.  Judd said that was fine and he would tell him for me.  Around 4:45am my contractions started hurting a little more and I was feeling some contractions in my back.  A few minutes later after another painful contraction, I started grabbing my back (back labor!) and had tears in my eyes.  Judd said, “Are you sure you don’t want him to come by first?”  and I said, “Maybe so.  Yeah, let’s get him to come now.” (In hindsight, I’m SO glad that I changed my mind!) So Judd called him and asked him to stop by and he said that was fine. 

When he got there, Judd was getting ready to go hunting and my doctor was decked out in his camo.  When he came in, I told him – “If this isn’t it, y’all are going to have to sedate me for the next 2 weeks because I’m exhausted and can’t take any more.”  I had been contracting for 3 days and hadn’t slept a total of 7 hours.  I was SO TIRED.  That was an exhaustion I had never known.  He checked me, then the words I’ll never forget came out of his mouth.  “Yeah, you’re about 8cm…”  to which I said, “That’s not funny.”  I thought he was joking and was going to say, “Just kidding – you’re the same…just tough it out.”  But no…he said, “I’m not joking – you’re 8cm! Get up and get dressed and let’s go to the hospital! You’re having a baby today!”  I started crying out of sheer fear that Amelia wouldn’t be able to breathe on her own (she was only 35wks).  He assured me everything was going to be fine…but that I REALLY needed to get up and come on!  Judd was in the hallway when my doctor walked out and I heard my doc say, “We gotta go to the hospital!” and Judd’s surprised expression when he said, “REALLY?”  So of course he comes in the room throwing stuff in a bag and I’m putting my last minute things in my bag.  I stopped by the edge of the bed with a contraction and my doctor was standing in the doorway watching me like a hawk.  He said, “You okay?” and I said, “I hope so.”   We got my mother in law to come stay with Caroline (thank goodness she only lives a mile away!) and we got in the car.  Best part – Judd looked at my doctor and said, “Sooo…are you gonna go hunting or come straight to the hospital?”  We still laugh about that one!  “Yeah Judd, I’m gonna go see if I can get my limit in, then I’ll be up there!”  Ha!

On the way to the hospital, Judd looked over at me and said, “Happy Anniversary!” with a huge smile on his face.  Then it hit me that it was our 3 year anniversary and was soon to be our daughter’s birthday!  That was a special moment!  If we’re being honest, I was terrified I was going to have her in the car.  I just knew Judd needed to be putting on flashers and running red lights – however, he felt like he needed to wait for each light to turn green.  I may or may not have yelled at him.

When we got to the hospital, they were waiting on me at the front door.  My nurse said, “Girl you were trying to wait it out weren’t you?” and I said, “I really wasn’t!  I honestly didn’t know I was in labor!” And in all honesty, I would’ve gone in a lot sooner and gotten that epidural had I known!

 Judd parked the car while I went up and got situated in the room.  I was waiting on my epidural.  I can handle the contractions, obviously, but never do I want to feel the baby come out.  EVER.  So I filled out my paperwork and waited on the anesthesiologist to come in.  I was so happy to see him because I was in a good bit of pain.  I hugged Judd and they told me to “be still” which was almost laughable.  I felt the stick and propped back up in bed.  After the epidural, we just kind of sat around for a couple of minutes soaking in what was happening.  We had called family, but obviously none of them would make it in time!  A few minutes later the nurse said, “I’m going to check you and see where you are.”  So she came over and sat down and barely did anything.  Then she got up and just walked out without saying a word.  I looked at Judd and said, “Did she check me?”  “Yeah” he said.  I said, “No she didn’t.  I didn’t feel anything….hmm…I feel like I might need to push.”  Judd got up to tell someone and they met him at the door.  A crew of people were already coming in!  Judd looked down and said, “Whoa…her head is right there!”  Apparently there was no need to check me, she was crowning! (Thank you, epidural!) So we got set up and and my nurse said, “Okay on this next contraction we can push” and my doctor said, “You can push whenever you want, she’s coming out regardless!”  Three intense pushes later, Amelia was born at 8:11am.  We didn’t get to the hospital until 6:30am!  I couldn’t believe she was here!  Judd cut the cord, and she let out a big cry!  When she cried, I cried!  I was never so happy to hear a newborn scream her head off.  Her lungs were working perfectly and she was as healthy as possible!  She weighed 6lb 8.4oz, that’s just one ounce shy of Caroline’s birth weight at 37 weeks!  She made it just in time for Christmas!  The Lord has blessed our family with more than we deserve! 

Amelia Harper Davis

December 15, 2010

8:11am

6lbs 8.4oz

Minutes after arriving - and MINUTES before delivering!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

From my family to yours – Happy Thanksgiving!  Remember that this day is about being thankful for what is most important in your life.  Take a few minutes to sit down and pray!  Be specific when you thank God for all He has done for you! 

Have a wonderful day! 

Stupid People Exhaust Me.

How do ya like that title?  It’s a good one, huh? So for several days I planned on posting this story and alas, life got in the way.  Or I got lazy.  But whatever.
Crazy story. 
The other day I’m leaving Walmart.  It was just like any other day.  I hate Walmart and I was already mad that there were only 3 lanes open and I had to stand in the checkout for 20 minutes with a basket full of groceries.  Of course, when I got there the cashier and the previous customer continued their conversation.  I wouldn’t have cared about that in the slightest except the previous customer wouldn’t move from in front of the register.  I like to see my prices as things are scanned in case something scans incorrectly.  At the end of scanning my groceries the total button was pushed and she kept talking.  Something about the judge taking her baby from her and how she was fighting it.  Whatever.  I inched my cart forward and it didn’t phase her.  I said “excuse me” with no luck…twice.  Finally, I “accidently” bumped her with my cart.  She got the hint. Oops.
Derailed from my original tangent.  Back to the story.  Sorry. 
Okay, so I’m on my way home – already unhappy with my experience from before.  Here we go down the highway.  Stoplights every few feet, right?  Busy highway in the middle of the afternoon. Get what I’m sayin’?
The car in front of me is swerving all. over. the. place.  I was honestly thinking, “Who is THAT drunk at 3pm?!” So naturally, I decide to go around and pass them.  As I’m coming up on the side of them, I see why there is so much swerving goin’ on. 
Y’all.
There was a woman and man in the front two seats.  They looked….rough, to put it nicely.  They were cat fighting.  Really, truly, cat fighting.  It looked like two pre-teen girls slapping at each other with their hands, pulling hair and whatnot. Except one was a man. And both of them were full grown and definitely not pre-teens.  I was stunned. 
So here I come to get around them before they hit my car acting like idiots.  Due my previous experience at Walmart, I was already not willing to put up with any extra stupidity.  As I come up beside them, they come ridiculously close to hitting my vehicle.  So I did the natural thing.  I honked.  Loudly.  For a long time. 
What I’m about to tell you is somewhat funny, and will definitely enlighten you on the type of people I was dealing with.
So I honked.  Instantly, both of them stopped slapping at each other like lunatics, both of them turned my direction, and both of them flipped me the bird at the exact same moment. 
Y’all. 
I nearly died. 
If I did nothing else productive that day, I caused unity in one couple.  They banded together and found common ground in their hatred for me at that very moment. 
I’m sure they went back to fighting moments after I sped past them.  At first I was mad that they flipped me off and I was fighting back my anger.  But the more I thought about it, the funnier it became.  So I decided to share it with you all. 
I guess I’m lucky they didn’t both have guns instead of fingers. 

Well Hello, Blog!

I’ve been really absent in the blogging world lately.  I’m still reading blogs, but I don’t have anything to say myself.  So in case you’ve been wondering what we’ve been doing – I’ll give you the gist.

• I’ve been busy with Squiggle Stitch – really busy actually. 
• I’ve also been cooking 168,546,516 new recipes from Pinterest – thank heavens for Pinterest because our weekly routined meals were getting pathetic.
• I’ve also been stalking Pinterest for the day that we win the lottery (even though we don’t even buy lottery tickets…we’ll just be that lucky.) and we build a house.  I have 100’s of organizational ideas that will probably never come to fruition because I’ll forget about them when it’s actually time to put them in place. Not to mention it would probably stay organized for about 0.12 seconds before it went back to mass disarray.
• We have an incredibly destructive dog who chews everything in sight.  When I say everything, let me explain…she has so far chewed:  Judd’s truck’s headlight wires, Judd’s truck’s back wires (I have no idea what they go to, let’s be honest.), My brand spankin’ new car’s back wires, my brand spankin’ new car’s power running board wires, random pipes from the yard beside us, OUR HOUSE (she is literally chewing the side of our house..), Caroline & Amelia’s playset, attempting to chew my wrought iron patio furniture (to no avail, thankfully.), our friend’s vehicles (luckily no damage done), the spray bottle full of bug spray, the spray paint can, the trashcan lid, and any and every thing that you leave outside accidently.  Anyone need a new family pet?  Y’all.  She is incredibly destructive. 
• 
• Don’t let her face fool you.

I’m considering moving my kids into a room together.  That way the playroom/Squiggle Stitch Room can become JUST the Squiggle Stitch Room and mine and the girl’s things will be separate.  This business takes up a lot of space.
Judd is about to have an entire month off work.  I’m so excited that I can hardly stand it.  He’s been getting off work at 5ish and that is just heavenly.  I’m so thankful for him!
Black Friday is around the corner, and I’m royally hacked off.  People, Black Friday cannot start at midnight.  But it does.  It’s ridiculous.  Midnight?!  When do you SLEEP?!  That makes for a miserable day, I would think.  It was all I could do a few years ago to make it to the Kohl’s parking lot by 3:30am.  But 12am?  That’s just too early.  Boo.
It’s hard to get in the Christmas spirit when the temperature is 84 degrees outside.
Regardless, we’re putting up Christmas decorations tonight.  Don’t judge me.  I put my Fall stuff out early so they all get their fair share of time.
I’ve lost some weight and I’m really, really proud.  I was actually able to pull my dress pants off without unbuttoning them the other day.  I also saw a number on the scale that I haven’t seen since before Judd and I got married.  Whoop whoop!  (I’ve decided though, no matter how much weight you lose after babies, you just still don’t the same.)
I think it finally “clicked” (pun intended) with me on how to use my camera in manual mode.  I’m really excited about it and I’m REALLY wanting the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G AF-S Lens.  It has fantastic bokeh.  I actually already have a 50mm lens that I got a long time ago, but stupid me didn’t know what I was ordering and didn’t an autofocus lens.  It’s manual focus only.  Let’s just say that shooting small toddlers on a swingset is difficult in manual focus.

See how the background is blurry and she’s in focus?  See how the lighting is bright and not darkish?  I’m proud.
I’m also DESPERATELY, REALLY BADLY wanting my backyard somewhat fenced in.  Two reasons.  To fence in the children so they can play without me next summer, and to fence in that destructive dog we have.  Donations can be made by mailing us a blank check. 
My BABY will be a YEAR OLD next month.  I may cry.  How on EARTH was that a year ago?!  Since I never posted her birth story, I’m going to post it the day before her 1 year post for fun.  It was a whirlwind and somewhat crazy! 
Well, that’s more tidbits (and most of it was more like a novel than a tidbit, sorry) than I planned for.  Seems I had more on my mind than I thought.  Have a great week!

Happy 10…er, 10 1/2 months, Amelia!

You’ve changed SO much in the last few weeks that I wanted to write it down before I forgot – thus, a 10 1/2 month post.    It wouldn’t be in true Davis Family fashion if I wasn’t 1/2 a month late. 

You had lots of first in the past month!  You can clap, wave bye bye, crawl on all fours instead of your super fast army crawl, pull up on EVERYTHING, eat several different textures of table food, eat a bottle without rice cereal in it (yay!), feed yourself really well, reach for people that you want to hold you, drink from a sippy cup (although it’s still not your favorite), and take steps if someone holds your hands! 

That’s a lot that happened to you in a month!  On top of all that, you have 2 teeth FINALLY coming in on the bottom, and possibly 2 more up top.  You’re pretty cranky with teething, but you could be worse! 

Girl, you are so fun at this age.  You smile all the time!  You prefer your mommy hold you at all times, but you’re getting better at letting other people try!  You’re DEFINITELY a mama’s girl.    How on EARTH are you so close to a year old?!  It totally blows my mind.  Seriously, it seems like yesterday we were flying to the hospital in a frenzy to welcome you!  Now here you are way too close to being a year old.  My, my.  Time does fly.

You love:  Caroline playing with you, your pink polka dot blankie, your bottle, standing up, trying to take steps, Puffs, the tv remote control, anything to chew on, seeing yourself in the mirror, eating, being outstide, taking baths, splashing, and mommy holding you.

You dislike:  cold drinks, getting dressed, Caroline taking your toys, having to get in your carseat, being taken away from mommy by anyone other than Ms. Lois or Daddy, to be confined (crib!), having your bottle taken out of your mouth (usually it’s someone trying to wipe your mouth – and you scream bloody murder…it’s best to just wait until you’re done eating, then wipe.), and being told you can’t play with something and having it taken away.

You are unsure about:  Duke & Sassy.  Sometimes you purposely hold your hands out for them to lick you.  Other times, if they get too close, you lose your mind.  You just can’t decide about them!

You weigh 20lbs even, and it’s ALL in your thighs and cheeks!  Adorable!

 

We love you so much, little girl.  I’d be lost without you in my world! 

Love,

Mommy

Your first Halloween!  You were Toto, and Caroline was Dorothy!