Woody's Birth Story

Baby Woody turned two weeks old on Saturday so I decided to finally write his birth story. Those days are so special, and I don't want to forget them. It is going to be long, but these are precious memories for me. Feel free to just skip to the pictures.

Friday 7/13
- 1:00 pm I had my 39 week doctor's appointment. I wasn't dilated much, if even at all. We went ahead and made another doctor's appointment for the next Friday (7/20), and if I hadn't gone into labor by then, my midwife wanted to induce me on the following Monday (7/23.)
- 4:30 pm I went home and took a nap. Brooks called, and I told him that my manicure was coming off, so I was going to run across the street and get a new one at 5:00.
- 4:45 pm I felt something...strange. I jumped off the couch and my water broke... on top of my Jack Russell, Lucy (sorry pup.) It was the strangest feeling. I didn't think I was having contractions, but it was a lot. I thought your water broke and that was it. Wrong- when it broke, it didn't stop. I called Brooks and all I remember saying was, "Water definitely broke, come home now." I proceeded to call my mom (who almost didn't answer) and Brooks's mom. I didn't know what to do, so I just stayed in the upstairs bathroom, trying to pack those last minute, important things (i.e: curling iron.)
- 5:05 pm Brooks came home and was a NERVOUS WRECK! We had to have a (very quick) conversation about remaining calm and not stressing me out. He instead broke out the video camera to document the occasion. Cue an unhappy Lindsey.
- 5:15 pm We thought we were safe because we live three miles from the hospital. What we didn't count on was my water breaking on a Friday in rush hour traffic. Brooks decided to take some "shortcuts" (i.e.: driving over curbs) and rolling down the window to yell, "Please let me over! My wife is pregnant!" (I didn't have the heart to tell him that I had actually been pregnant for a while, now I was in labor.)

-5:45 pm We make it to the hospital! Hooray! I had already preregistered, but had to wait for a nurse to come get me. Did I mention that when your water breaks, it is not an instant and over thing? I (politely) asked for a towel as multiple families stared. Fantastic.
- I am unsure of the time, but I got in a room and was hooked up to the monitors. Turns out, I was having contractions! And they were two minutes apart! I couldn't help but think, "I am woman, hear me roar! These aren't bad at all!"
- Five minutes later... OMG! These things hurt, HEEEEEEEELP! My midwife kept telling me to practice relaxed breathing. Why did Husband and I skip that birthing class!?! She was amazing though, and we began to discuss pain relief options.
- I don't know what they gave me first, other than it was through an IV, and it was incredible. I still felt the contractions, but they weren't awful. I felt like I had been hit with a train, but in a great way. My contractions were still two minutes apart and getting stronger!!
- 8:00 pm (ish...I think) Epidural time!!! So excited. I knew I wanted to get an epidural drip from the moment I got pregnant. However, that is when things began to turn. I watched my contractions get further and further apart :( They decided to give my Pitocin to try to speed things up.
- I felt good, even though labor slowed down, both sets of grandparents show up, and I went to sleep.

Saturday 7/14
- 4:00 am- I wake up in the worst pain ever. I knew something wasn't right, because everyone talked about being able to do their hair, make-up, have conversations with an epidural. I, on the other hand, am trying to mimic any Lamaze breathing I had ever seen on television. Buzz the nurse right away... crying like a baby.  My midwife comes in, and I am 5 cm. However, I am feeling everything. They administer a local anesthetic.
- 4:05 am- I throw up everywhere.
- 4:50 am- Throw up some more... it lands in my hair. So much for those beautiful, after delivery pictures.
- 5:00 am- My midwife wants the anesthesiologist to re administer my epidural. He orders another local anesthetic. I continue to throw up, feel everything, and think I am dying. My midwife checks me again, and I am 6 cm.
- Little before 7:00 am- Hallelujah! I get another epidural! Works like a charm, and I am out like a light! Bad news, still 6 cm....hmmm....Oh, and it is a shift change, and I have to say goodbye to a very sweet and patient nurse.
- 9:00 am- I am woken up by another midwife...the same one I saw at my appointment on Friday! I am still 6 cm, and because my water had broken the day before, there was a risk of infection. I knew a c-section was the best option for Jammer.
- 10:15 am- They wheel me back to the OR. I am about to find out if Jammer is a boy or a girl. Oddly enough, I wasn't scared. My sister had a c-section and had explained what would happen. I was relieved when Brooks came in. He sat, held my hand, and told me how proud he was of me.
- 10:36 am- Heard the sweetest sound ever. Brooks tells me, "It's a boy!" I cry uncontrollably. It was the best feeling in the world. Woodfin James was here.

"What. Just. Happened?"

First Family Photo

Keeping his manly parts covered

Bath Time

Saturday was a bit of rough day. Little Woody was breathing too quickly, so he had to spend the day in the NICU. Brooks was able to stay with him, and I finally got to see him (briefly) Saturday night. It was such a scary day, but I am so grateful that it was just a temporary, small set-back. I cannot imagine what it must be like for parents who have to watch their babies in the NICU for days/weeks/months.

By Sunday, everything was fine! Woody was breathing better and spent the day with us. In fact, we spent the next three days together in RM 590. It was some of the happiest times I have ever experienced. Woody got the whole breast feeding thing down by Sunday night (mainly due to an amazing lactation specialist and "Nurse Donna") and has been gaining weight. In fact, by the time we left the hospital (on Wednesday, July 18th), Woody weighed 8lbs 1oz! (Proud mom has to brag.)

First family photo with clean hair

Woody with Aunt Emma and Cousin Jake

Our view- plus side of a C-section? They give you a bigger room with more windows due to your extended stay

I am so happy he is home. I have fallen deeply in love with him and cannot imagine life without my little man.

Introducing...

Woodfin "Woody" James

Born July 14 at 10:36 am

7 lbs 13 oz

21 in

Love him so much it is sick

Sorry for the one picture. Hubs/Dad uploaded all the pictures onto his computer (without telling me- who majorly freaked out when I saw an almost empty card.) I will (at sometime) upload more pictures with his story. However, right now, I have cheeks to kiss and a growing boy to feed.

Let's Plan a Nursery

My own child's nursery isn't even finished, and I am ready to start on another. I first saw this nursery in the spring, and I just can't get it out of my mind.

Where do I begin? The chicness of the black and white stripes? The Lucy Dog spotted rug? The mirrored dresser? Let me go on...

The dark Jenny Lind crib? The Missoni bedding?

The perfectly accessorized bookshelf? OMG are those gold loafers?

(All photos courtesy of Apartment Therapy)

Husband is pretty sold that we will never find out the gender of our future children. This nursery is obviously for a girl, but I feel could be adapted for a boy (at least for my boy.)

I couldn't believe that this room got some negative reviews? (Some crazies said it wasn't "baby" enough.) The baby stage is the one time when your kid isn't obsessed over Elmo, Barney, or some other tacky creature. (BTW- Kermit the Frog is not tacky...) 

Four.

Sometimes, it is hard to believe that it has been four years. (See Year Three here.)

Look at all we've done! We moved to a brand new city, co-signed our first apartment, started grown-up jobs, bought our first house, adopted two dogs, survived graduate school and job changes, explored new places, made the best of friends, and created a little miracle that we will be meeting soon.

This was on our honeymoon. We thought the boat was going to dock Friday morning. Then we got our itinerary, and realized we weren't docking until Saturday (give us a break, we were 24 and 21.) We got really excited that we had an extra day. We have never paid too close attention to details.

Christmas Eve in our first studio apartment. Want to get really close your first year? Live together in 600 sq ft

The night we bought our house (and where I cried because I hated it)

 Attempt at a family picture with our newest baby- look how awful she is was

And Fur Baby Number Dos

Our Greatest Accomplishment

(and the only belly shot I took)

And in between all of those major events, there were times that didn't require a camera, but were just as special. Times where we were learning more about each other, marriage, and the world. (I am glad we were learning together.)

I am so glad that freshman girl, stuck in Tuscaloosa for the summer, ventured over to "9th Street" to meet some new people. Because she met someone incredible.

Favorite Wedding Picture

Brooks, you are my best friend, confidant, and partner. Here's to the Fifth Year and all the excitement it will bring. I love you.

I Think I Love You

Yesterday I ventured out to do a little shopping. I received many "Whoa" looks and people inquiring about how many babies were actually in my stomach (for the record, just one.) I quickly tired out after my two laps around the mall, but the sale at Zara caught my eye. And if you are wondering what I wore around the store with my pregnant belly hanging out, it would be this lovely lady.

Guipure Lace Coat

Don't you love? 

Dining Room and Landscaping...How I Spent My 4th

The 4th of July ranks as one of my top three favorite holidays. Deep down (before Tuesday's doctor's appointment), I just knew Jammer was going to come on the fourth...but there was no birthday (except America's of course.)

Since I can't travel, I decided to make the best and get a patriotic pedicure. (Thanks Laura and Sus for our fun date! You can see the masterpiece on my Instagram pictures on the right of your screen.) On Wednesday, Hubs and I decided to enjoy our freedom to own property and make it as amazing as possible.

Part I- The Back Yard

So after the back door came in, we had a nice entry to...gravel. Just lots of gravel. Oh, and clay and a dirt hill. It needed help. We originally planned on getting the fence in before doing any landscaping. However, the fence will not be installed until mid-August, so we decided to tackle this job before Jammer comes. I wish SO bad I had before pictures, but this is what is looked like after a hard day's work.

So our back yard is definitely not going to be huge (the fence will go in where the mulch and grass meet), but that is just townhome living. It will be nice though for the pups to have a place to do their business. I cannot explain how much better this looks! Thanks Husband!!!

Speaking of pups. they have really taken their job as neighborhood watch to the next level with the new visibility out back.

Part II- The Dining Room

As Husband was working away, I had absolutely no intentions of helping him, but no trip to Home Depot is complete without me coming up with a project. Our dining room table had originally belonged to Husband's grandmother that had seen better days. The top was pretty damaged, but beggers can't be choosers, so we threw on a table cloth and dealt with it for three years.

Geez, this picture is old. But there is our dining room in the back. Very...brown. And no, that rug is not big enough for that room.

In June, I made a runner for the table to add some color (see here) and turned the table, but I still didn't like the room. The too small rug still existed and everything was still dark and...brown. Upon taking off the table cloth, I realized that top was worse than I remembered.

Ew. And yes, that is a gigantic crack where a leaf goes. The leaf is MIA. 

I sanded the top and got started painting. I used Behr's Paint and Primer (of course) Solar Fusion. I have the problem that I LOVE color, but then kinda freak out when I go to use it. I tend to play it safe with grays and blues.

Coat one. This is when I was saying, "Oh wow, its yellow."

I kept painting and after four coats (had to return for another sample jar of paint), I got exactly what I was wanting! My new dining room!

(My dogs are the biggest photo sneakers! That is Lucy on the top right in the kitchen and Winnie's tail is on the left.)

It makes the room so much brighter, especially since we rarely use the overhead light. I much prefer the soft shadows the Monkeys cast out. And yes, that is a very pregnant mama in that reflection...still in her nightgown.

I left the legs brown. I like the contrast. And because the legs are a whole other issue.

And you may have noticed the chairs (from Ikea) got an update too.

Before

After!

We took out the rug too. Probably a big faux pas not to have the rug in the dining room, but I would rather have naked floor than a too small rug.

One thing I won't be changing? The amroire where we keep our "fancy dishes." Even though it is...brown, I am obsessed with the detail :)

Ah, so 70s. My favorite.

Bebe Update

Went to the doctor way too early this morning. No change. Jammer is low, but that is it. In a way, I was encouraged. Last week, I was told, "Any day now!" Do you know what a pregnant woman thinks when she hears that?

"Wow! I am going to have the baby now....riiiiiiight now. Ok, now. Wait, wait, NOW!"

(Dear God, Please let me have this body when Jammer is 4. Love, Lindsey)

Hearing that Jammer's arrival will most likely be closer to the 18th, put my mind at ease. I plan on enjoying these next two weeks. I am excited to celebrate the 4th of July (even though I can't go anywhere...boo), our fourth anniversary (July 12th), a horror movie marathon (Friday the 13th), and Husband's birthday (July 16th.) I want to cram in as many late night dinners, girls' nights, and play time with my dogs before this little miracle moves in for the next 18 years.

I am not going to lie, there is a big part of this baby that scares me. Don't get me wrong, I am so excited to meet this one who has been chilling in me the past nine months, but I like my life...a lot. It slightly terrifies me that Husband and I are going to be responsible for another life (have you met our dogs?) How will our carefree, never have a plan lifestyle change?

The best advice I have been given came from Sister. She told me "You can completely change your life to accommodate the baby, or bring your baby into your life. Of course there will be changes, but you don't have to be hermits."

(Her advice is a little scary, considering she is Super Mom.)

I know it will be :)

(All photos courtesy of Bippity Boppity Boo...aka my happy place.)

New Kitchen Door

Last week, our kitchen door was finally installed! We are already very spoiled to it's convenience. Today, the "fence man" is coming to give us a quote on how much the last of our backyard is going to cost. I would love to have this complete before baby, but if not, I am just glad there is no longer a giant hole in the side of my house.

Check it out! Yes, it a very narrow door for a very pregnant lady.

They were supposed to build steps, but they gave us this strange dock. However, it was VERY useful when giving the dogs a bath this weekend. No mud or hot asphalt! 

Winnie gives the improvement two paws up. (Lucy chose not to get out of her bed for a photo.)