Has it really been a whole year?

What a difference a year can make.

You are so big and so independent. You can say 10 words- some on command- some you just repeat for an hour or so. You have some cute blonde curls just on the side of your head- but you also have some Smeagol hair that tends to just stray out.

You have the prettiest blue eyes and the whitest porcelain skin that is so soft. Eight teeth and a tiny scar on your right eye from one of your many falls. Those dreamy lashes come from Daddy. 

You are a momma's boy through and through- there is no denying it. Piggy back rides and wagon rides are your favorites with mom. You love to watch the door for daddy and like when he plays with you on the floor. 

You have no favorite food because you eat everything- except pickles. Not a fan of those. You have no favorite book because you aren't in to sitting down for more than 10 seconds. 

Your dance skills are great and make me laugh. You love to stand on things- especially things with wheels. You are a dare devil baby- but you get that honest from your daddy.  

If you can touch it- you will taste it. You love to open and close any door and drawer. You love to look out of a window for birds. 

There are only a few things in this life that will make you stop crying. Your mama and Milk Milk from mama. Separation anxiety is a real thing- but you have been making some progress in the nursery. We have one full day on the record, that counts buddy!

The things you desperately want in life are the dog's pen, the dog's water, the dogs, and the working remote. We can't pull a fast one on you and give you the one with no batteries. 

You are such a loving baby. When you lay your head on mine or daddy's shoulder, I just want you to know we melt. Your daddy especially. He turns in to a big sap when you are sweet to him, because he doesn't get that from you all the time. 

But - Dada is your go to word- you never say mama anymore! You are quite the chatterbox. Sometimes I feel like Whitney Houston is reincarnated in you because you hit those high notes like crazy. 

You love to explore and are learning so much right now. It is crazy how much you mimic what you see. I truly underestimated how smart you could be. You can take the lid off of anything- figure out how things work- and copy so much.

I love seeing your face when we do new things. You watch so intently (for a few seconds) and it is so cool to see awe beam in your eyes. 

You are a pure delight to all you meet. Sometimes you are very shy- or just don't move at all- but within 10 minutes they see that big ball of energy. Sometimes I think God must have placed energizer bunny genes in you- because you keep going and going and going. 

Which brings me to my next highlight- you are quite possibly the biggest hater of sleep on this side of the Mississippi. You certainly did not get that from me or your dad. I promise it is one of the best gifts we have been given-start cashing it in son. 

Vacuums scare you and make you hide. You can be the most serious baby one minute and an all out banshee the next. Thankfully, if we are out shopping, you do fine in the carrier. That is your safe place on mama. THE BEST investment we made was spending that money on a nice carrier- so mama can get things done.  Loved it so much I made your dad go buy me a new one when I forgot our at home (thankfully another new mom bought it), but still- that carrier has been my lifesaver-especially when I vacuum. 

You love anything that goes- tractors, cars, boats..you have loved riding them all. I see many of these in our future- real and toy ones.

It has been a challenging- eye opening- scary- rewarding- amazing- humbling- and blessed year because of you. Maybe one day I can stop looking like Hagrid from my lack of sleep and lack of makeup, but you are all worth it. Maybe I will learn how to be on time at some point. I might even change out of my day clothes and sleep in pajamas every now and again. I'm still learning how one washes their hair, but we will make it. 

I never knew how much a baby could change you and you have shown me parts of me that I did not know existed. I thank God every day for you. Happy Birthday to you Kaleb Henry! You are mama's Bubba and my sweet monkey. Daddy's Boo-boo, Granna's Shuga, Granny's Boobsie, Papa's Buddy, and Paw's lil man. We love you so much!

Round 2

So here is the baby story: (condensed)

8 Weeks to 40 Weeks

December 2, 2015. Checkup on that day -dilated 4.5 cm- Dr asked what we were doing the next day and said be here at 6:30 am. So- off to Best Buy and Carrabba's we went. We had a great last night as a family of two- and woke up at 4:45 to get ready to put on my makeup, ate my breakfast- then got on our way to Macon.

Got checked in before shift change and got settled in to one of the nice big labor/delivery/recovery rooms. Dr. came by around 8 and said we were 5 cm . He broke my water and it was really uncomfortable. No gushing or Niagara falls. I really didn't feel anything. Kevin said it was a trickle.

Started the fluid for my epidural at this time. The whole thing just kind of felt like I was having some kind of surgery that day. We were just hanging out and talking.

The pitocin seemed to start my contractions very well- but I didn't feel anything. We were off the charts and the nurse was like- you don't feel that? I didn't feel anything so they upped my dosage 2 times. I started feeling a flutter-tension like, but I still was fine. After upping the dose again- I can remember Kevin's parents had just left the room and I went to the bathroom again. Here is when I decided "Oh my gosh- Kevin- tell them I'm ready for the epidural!"

The pain is hard to describe- but I felt like everything in my lower body was tightening up with a burning sensation following suit. We got the anesthesiology team in and I remember being SCARED for my life. This was my biggest hangup about delivery- the epidural. I felt better about it from the class- but now I was having a small panic attack.

They came in- suited up- and put me high off the floor hanging off the edge of the bed. Kevin was in front of me, but I couldn't really see anything but his stomach area.

The Nurse Anesthetist tried to talk me though what was happening, but also while telling/teaching someone who was a student how to do an epidural. I took my deep breath and did what she said with my back- then WHAM! Every ounce of blood, every fiber of my being, every cell in my body felt the numbing scrape of that needle hit my spine. I screamed- I don't remember much of this- but I was suddenly nauseous, screaming and crying- begging for them to stop. I had Kevin's shirt in my hand pulling it and crying. He asked them to stop and said I couldn't do this right now- and she said she couldn't stop because it was threaded in. She hit 2 more spots before the 10 minute ordeal was up. By far- the worst pain I have ever felt in my entire life.  It was truly awful, frightening, and miserable.

They hadn't put enough numbing stuff in it initially and that girl didn't know what she was doing.

It took on my right side- not my left so what I thought were bad contractions now turned into what felt like burning hot gears churning my left leg at the hip. It was awful. They saw my contractions were making me nauseous, and said I was going to have to get another epidural or labor through this..which was only going to get worse.

I remember looking at Kevin with my teeth clenched biting a pillow and said I'm done. No more kids ever.

45 minutes later- I said screw it and get the DOCTOR. He was there really quick- put me on the bed (keep in mind my right leg was numb) and had the new epidural put in in less than 90 seconds. No pain. No nothing. Seriously girl- what the heck was your problem!!!

After this one- I jumped to 8cm and we just waited about an hour and a half. Dr. came in and said "ok- it's time to push". I looked and Kevin and I think we both freaked out a little. What? Now? Are we ready? Are you sure? That was quick.

They got their baby box filled with lots of clean up goodies set up- and we pushed. My epidural was awesome and I didn't feel anything this time. I didn't even know when to push. I didn't know I was pushing- I just did what they said. I was cracking jokes and asking if we could play "Push it" while I was in there. I was even asking if they had seen The Campaign and said you know the part where he is at the door and says "Push it. Push it real good?" The dr and nurse were cracking up. 35 minutes later...

Kevin helped deliver Kaleb and brought him into this world. It was so surreal and beautiful. We heard him screaming when they lifted him up and it was so beautiful.

Total labor- 7 hours from the time we started my ivs til he was born. It was great.

Now- on to the rest of the things I wish someone would have told me:

10. Going to the bathroom after giving birth is not only scarier than birth- but more painful and intense. Start popping that Colace now ladies. It took a good 4 days postpartum and 45 minutes to know that my body was never going to be the same ever again.

9. None of my friends felt the need to tell me about these 2 new friends you get from pushing- but they are evil twins not friends. Their names are Hem and Roid. Seriously- why wasn't that mentioned in the class?! These new friends made me miserable for 2 plus months after birth!

8. The thing activity that got you that bundle of joy needs to never be mentioned again. I know that all guys have the 6 week countdown on- but trust me- your calendar will be about a month behind theirs. Maybe 2. I asked my Dr. to lie and say it wasn't time yet. He laughed. I didn't.

7. You aren't a bad parent if you send your kid to the nursery to get some sleep. We finally had reached our breaking point and I called the nurse to come get him for a little while. He was gone an hour- but it was great to sleep a little and not be constantly watching to see if he was breathing.

6. Birth plans are just a trendy thing right now. I asked my dr about them and if I needed one and what was it- and he laughed. He said I wish people would just let me do my job. I said- oh I am all for that- you are the expert- I just didn't know if those were real things or not. We learned in our class if you are adamant about no epidural- then push comes to shove- and you takes some pain meds to help the pain- you can't consent to get an epidural later on no mater how hard you beg/cry/complain- because you aren't in a sober/drug free mind. So- just sign the consent form just in case you need it. That whole music-on-with-the-lights down-no c-section- birth is not really a reality. The person delivering you  knows what they are doing- and that if you should need extra care- your mindset is "healthy baby- healthy momma"; get baby here as safe as possible and as easy for mom as can be.

5. While you are trying to bond- there are going to be a million different hospital people coming in and out to check you or the baby. I got so mad at this sweet lil Asian lady for asking me how many times I had been to the bathroom since she had last been there. I wanted to say- I have no clue- I honestly couldn't remember if I had been since she left or not! I just said 2 to get her out of my hair.

4. The sitz bath is a must. For real. Holy Moly. I waited til day 2 and I should've done this when the feeling in my legs came back. You should totally take it home to- they told me I could and I didn't think I would need it. Oh man- I needed it!

3. Pack extra clothes for the baby. I packed 3 cute outfits and dern if he didn't pee and spit up on 2 of them and 1 was too big and hot. We had to send my MIL to the house and get some clothes. Some onesies are fine. Something with easy access! Snaps are awful. Zippers are your best friend.

2. That whole circumcision cleaning vaseline thing. No one told us about this til we got home! We didn't know we were supposed to be pushing anything back! Talk about feeling like you failed your kid right off the bat!

1. The #1 thing not one soul mentioned to me- no class- no nursing friends- no current or past mommas- no book- nothing...




was to pack my own TOILET PAPER. Good grief. That whole birth process is really a feat in itself- but going to the bathroom afterwards was so bad because of the TP. Sticky- gooey- no help- John Wayne slick rolls. It hurt. So- that is the one tip I will give anyone going to deliver- help momma- visit- or whatever- pack some SOFT toilet paper!


That's it in a nut shell. I tried to make it as real as possible. Don't hate the messenger. Maybe you can learn from some of my mistakes and be a little better prepared!
 I found this video today in a group and I had to share. Might be TMI- but it is spot on.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/abagg/this-hilarious-ad-perfectly-captures-how-awkward-it-is-for-m?bffbvid&utm_term=4ldqpj5#.oyJb0R265