Our Son is Here!

Our son Jackson Ty joined us on Tuesday, February 7, and he's absolutely perfect.  The Lord has answered so many prayers over the last 16 days, and we have been overwhelmed with gratitude for the privilege of having this sweet baby.

Today was our actual due date, but I had progressed so far on my own in terms of dilation and effacement (without ever having felt a contraction) that we expected a fairly quick delivery which was problematic given that I was Group B Strep positive and required two doses of an antibiotic that needed to be administered at least 8 hours apart prior to delivery.  When we went to the doctor on Monday, February 6 I had dilated even further over the weekend (I was almost 5 cm), so the doctor suggested admission that night to begin the antibiotic and then breaking my water the next morning.  Since Group B Strep can be really dangerous for a newborn (and our 36 week ultrasound had shown that Jackson weighed around 7 lbs already) we liked this idea, so I went to work and tried to wrap things up in about 5 hours! My last day of work was suppose to be February 14, so needless to say, it was a whirlwind day at the office. 

I received my epidural the next morning and never felt any contractions until that afternoon  (and even then it was only pressure), and the only pain I felt was the last 30 minutes of pushing.  I threw up a good bit that day (any time I was on my back), but other than that it was an uneventful labor.  The resident said I had the easiest first time delivery he'd ever seen, and needless to say, I felt blessed by the (relatively) easy birth experience and even more blessed by Jackson's safe arrival and good health.  Jackson weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and has brown eyes and dark brown hair just like his daddy.  He has extremely long fingers and toes and loves to sleep.

Jackson had some respiratory issues that resolved within about 7 hours of birth (and later jaundice and weight loss that also resolved within a few days), and then we spent the next 7 days pretty much staring at him and thanking God constantly that he is ours.  And I've spent a lot of time thanking God for my husband too as he's been encouraging, supportive, and incredibly helpful.  Sharing this with him has been absolutely incredible.  The past 16 days, and really pregnancy too, have been the most powerful experience in my life of our Creator's perfection, plan, and goodness.

p.s. I'm thankful for our first non-medical outing with Jackson today (to Mellow Mushroom for lunch :)

Things You Shouldn't Say to a Pregnant Person

Pregnancy has been such an interesting experience for so many reasons--one of which is the change in how people treat me.  For the most part this has been a positive change.  For example, my coworkers and my mom frequently ask me how I feel and seem to genuinely care.  A few strangers have asked me when I'm due or congratulated me on expecting a child; I consider them brave as I'm always afraid of mistakenly assuming someone is pregnant which would be terrible for all involved!

And since my body has radically changed over the last 6 months it has received more attention from people than any other time in my life.  Fortunately most people are very kind and say the sort of things they probably think I would like to hear such as "You're all belly," "You're so tiny," etc.  The most negative comments I've received have been from two women who are overweight (and ironically carry their weight in their stomachs), and it's made me sort of dread being around one of them because I know that within five minutes of seeing me she's going to make some negative comment about my appearance.  It's a bit tempting to fire back with an equally ugly comment, particularly since these two individuals have been bigger than me for most of my pregnancy, and even when I'm not tempted to reply with snarkiness, I have no idea how to respond to such inappropriate, unkind comments--even though I may not necessarily disagree with them.  After all, just because something is true doesn't mean you should say it! In case you were wondering here are a few things you should NOT say to a pregnant woman (or any person for that matter):

"Gosh, you look like you've swollen up since I saw you last."

"I don't think you'll be able to wear that dress again."

"How much do you weigh now?" (if a close friend asked me this it's one thing but a casual friend in front of a large group = not very nice)

"You've gained weight all over." 

"That shirt sure is getting tight." 

"What are they feeding you?" (a man actually asked me this)

It's like good sense flies out the window because someone is with child! Thankfully these comments haven't really hurt my feelings so much as they have irked me a little, and regardless all of this is totally worth the immense privilege of having a son...this month! Only 21 more days until my due date and only 13 more days until my last day of work....what fun countdowns!

p.s. I'm thankful for lunch plans with friends.  Trying to do lots of socializing before Jackson arrives!

Best & Worst of Pregnancy

Five of the best things about being pregnant:

(1) Knowing that at the end of 10 months we'll have a child. SO. EXCITING. I just can't wait to meet and hold our son and see Blake be a daddy.  This is such a blessing that I wonder how it is that my mind too often focuses on the worst things about being pregnant.

(2) It gives me an immediate common ground with a lot of women, and it's been fun to see people I don't normally connect with feel excited for me and interested in sharing their pregnancy/parenting experiences. 

(3) It's been a reminder of how loved we are by friends and family as they want to celebrate our son and help us prepare for his arrival.  It's amazing how much stuff such a small person needs, and so many people have given us necessities and adorable baby things.

(4) Feeling Jackson move.  It's still a bit weird to me, but I love wondering what he's doing in there and knowing that he's active.  The other day I had a fluffernutter sandwich for lunch, and he went crazy....I think he may have a sweet tooth like me :)

(5) It means I'm quitting my job soon! Valentine's Day is my last day unless Jackson decides to bless us with his presence before then.

Five of the Worst Things about being Pregnant (that are blog appropriate):

(1) Skin problems.  My skin hasn't been this greasy...ever.  Even my hair is greasier.  And I've had acne on my chest, back, neck, and face....yes, it's lovely.

(2) Fat face...and thighs.  I really notice how chubby my face has gotten when I see photographs of myself.  Not attractive.  I guess I just can't gain 30+ pounds and not expect some of it to be in my face?  This blog post made me feel better and reminded me that I'm not alone.  Fat thighs are also a bummer.  I expected my belly to get bigger, but why are my pants tight in my thighs too?

(3) Backaches.  These started in November and usually begin around 1:00 p.m. on any day that I work or overdo it at home.  Nothing seems to help except leaning back in a fully supported position, which is obviously hard to do at work.

(4) Maternity clothes: Don't even get me started.  I'm sure if I were willing to spend lots of money and hours shopping (and driving to cities that have stores with maternity sections or trying to find regular clothes that cover my growing bump) I could look much more presentable, but since I'm not I'm looking really uncute these days.

(5) Feeling out of control.  I know this is my ugly vanity rearing its head again, but I'd be less than honest if I didn't admit that it's been challenging to adjust to sometimes rapid weight gain and out of control appetite.  There have been days and weeks when I feel like a bottomless pit and never feel satisfied, and then there have been weeks where I really watch what I eat and still gain 2-3 pounds.  It's made me feel out of control at times and has frustrated me, especially since I feel like I should be grateful and not begrudging these pregnancy symptoms.  After all this baby is an absolutely tremendous blessing.  I thought I would watch my weight gain and only gain 25 pounds since I normally manage my weight fairly easily, but I've already gained 35 pounds and don't feel like I've had a lot of control over it. 

Fortunately pregnancy is coming to an end soon.  My due date is February 22, and based on physical exams, my doctor thinks Jackson is likely to come 2-3 weeks early.  I'm so ready to meet him!

p.s. I'm grateful that the Lord has blessed us with this baby and that I've had such an uneventful and relatively easy pregnancy.

2011 Recap

What a year! I thought 2010 was eventful with our engagement, wedding, and first six months of marriage, but 2011 was every bit as exciting and full of memorable events.

January:   The year began with a really fun snow and sledding.  Then we bought a house and immediately began remodeling.  Blake, my step-father, and brother-in-law laid our new hardwood floors. We did lots of painting with help from friends.  While the house needed LOTS of work, it couldn't have been in a more perfect location and we liked the layout and potential...and the price.  So blessed to have found it before it even went on the market and without involving realtors.


February:  We did more remodeling and had beautiful crown molding and baseboards installed.  And then we moved into our home.  Unfortunately 8 days after we moved in a storm came through and blew a very large tree onto our house, causing substantial damage and requiring us to immediately move out.

March:  We lived in a hotel for almost two weeks, and then we moved into an apartment.  March was absolutely exhausting as we met with our first insurance adjuster for over five hours one afternoon, met with a joke of a structural engineer hired by our insurance company, and began meeting with contractors.  Highlights of the month were how well Blake and I worked together during such a stressful situation and how blessed we were by having flexible jobs that allowed us to deal with the constant meetings, phone calls, emails, etc. that were necessary.  We were also assigned a new adjuster as we had gotten nowhere with our first adjuster in the 5 or so weeks since the tree hit our home.

April: This month was another blur as we continued meeting with and emailing our insurance adjuster and contractor in an attempt to begin the repairs our home.  It felt like we were living in a cave as our time continued to be consumed by the insurance battle and the stress.

May: FINALLY construction began on our home (and we came to an agreement with our insurance company that exceeded the company's initial estimate by almost $50,000), and we could see an end in sight.  Such an answer to prayers! We headed to Pawley's Island at the end of the month for my law firm's second annual retreat there and enjoyed having a 3 bedroom condo all to ourselves.  My sister and her family joined us for a few days, and it was a nice get-away even if I did have to work several hours for several days.

June: The day before Father's Day I found out that I was pregnant, which was of course terribly exciting.  Such an absolute blessing, and we couldn't have been more thrilled.  It was wonderful to see Blake's reaction to the news, and we were able to tell his father on Father's Day and he kept exclaiming "You couldn't have given me a better gift."  Since I can't keep a secret we told our close friends and family, which was super fun.  We celebrated our first marriage anniversary, and Blake surprised me with an awesome trip to the Grove Park Inn.  To say I loved the spa would be an understatement.  I spent about 8 hours there and can't wait to go back.  We also saw lots of progress with our home remodeling.

July: We finally got power back to our home and a move-in date seemed imminent.  We ended up paying for a lot of additional renovations to our home like replacing the siding with Hardie board, updating the upstairs bathroom, rescreening the back porch, and adding railings.  Morning sickness also began, but thankfully it wasn't too terrible.  I had my first prenatal/OBGYN appointment, and we were able to see our baby.  That was a relief since the first 12 weeks were definitely a scary time.

August:  Our fantastic friends helped us move for the third time in 6 months, and we couldn't have been more delighted to be back in our home. Thatcher loved having a big yard again, and we liked being back in a house in a neighborhood and next door to our good friends.  We breathed a sigh of relief as the first trimester (and higher risk of miscarriage) came to an end too.

September:  At our 15 week appointment we learned that our baby is a boy! We already had our names chosen, so it was really fun to begin calling our son by his name--Jackson (my maiden name).   And my baby bump began showing.  We bought a lot of backporch furniture this month and began thoroughly enjoying our screened in porch.  We visited my mother's hometown for a family reunion, and Blake finally got to see my family's land (way out in the country) and enjoy the pond and 4-wheeling.  It was fun to see what a country dog Thatcher could be too.

October:  I felt Jackson move for the first time...so exciting! And sort of weird too.  We hosted our neighborhood's "Thirsty Thursday" this month and enjoyed having 20 plus neighbors over for appetizers, dessert, and drinks.  We had our first tricker-or-treaters, which we really enjoyed.

November:  Blake had surgery to correct his deviated septum and open up his sinuses to permit drainage.  He's had terrible problems with sinus infections, breathing, etc. over the last few years, and this painful surgery has really helped.  We're so thankful we could afford to have it done and to finally have some relief for him.  We also hosted our first (two) Thanksgiving meals...one traditional with Blake's family (with a lot of help from Fresh Market) and a low-country boil with my family.  And my sisters threw my first baby shower for baby Jackson, and we received absolutely precious clothes, blankets, bibs, and other things to help prepare for his arrival. 

December: We enjoyed our first Christmas in our home and hosted a Christmas party for our friends.  The joys of the third trimester of pregnancy began with backaches and difficulty putting on socks :)  And we realized that next year we're going to have slow down more around Chrstimas Day so we can celebrate Jessus more and not just give each other our "leftovers" after going from one family meal to another.  We ended 2011 with our closest friends in Chattanooga in a cabin--delicious food, wonderful fellowship, and a reminder of God's goodness. 

And as we enter 2012 we eagerly anticipate becoming parents to "baby Jack" as my niece Mallie calls him.  We're working on the nursery, trying to get our ducks in a row, and probably have no idea how much our hearts are going to expand with love and joy when we meet our son.  I can't wait to see Blake as a dad and couldn't be more thankful to begin this journey with him.

p.s. I'm thankful for a new year and hope your 2012 is your best year yet.

Spoiled Thatch, Spaghetti Squash, and Sweatpants

So this week Jackson is slightly longer than a spaghetti squash (these fruit/vegetable analogies crack me up), and I'm realizing more and more of what a challenge we're going to have with our dog Thatcher when Jackson arrives.  We let Thatcher get away with a lot because he's so adorable, but it seems like it's time to be more strict with him.  Unfortunately I think Blake and I have both been more lax with him lately because we feel badly about how dethroned he'll feel once our baby arrives.  We're not worried about him hurting Jackson as Thatcher has been around babies and young children with no issues other than licking them too much; rather we're concerned about Thatcher being jealous and barking--like when we're holding Jackson and there isn't room in our lap for Thatcher.  Short of carrying around a baby doll to get Thatcher used to something else having our attention, I'm not really sure what to do to prepare him prior to Jackson's arrival. Any ideas?

As for sweatpants, if you're looking for a slightly dressier alternative, you should try maternity pants. 

p.s. I'm thankful that I can feel Jackson kick now.  The night of my last post I felt him for the first time, and it was so strange. I'm getting used to it now and love knowing he's moving around.

10 Things

(1) We're halfway there! I'm 20 weeks pregnant today. 

(2) I've told my bosses that I'm not returning to work after Jackson's birth (because they asked)...and I'm thrilled to be able to stay at home.  Heck, I'd love to stay at home right now with Thatcher :) He needs love too.

(3) I still haven't felt Jack (at least to my knowledge), and last week I learned that I have an anterior placenta which means I'll feel his movement later than I would otherwise.

(4) I want to do some before and after posts to show the house progress, but I'm evidently too lazy to take and upload photos.  We're not doing a good job with the belly bump photos either....

(5) This weather is fantastic and makes me really grateful for the good job Blake did with our screened in backdoor porch and for the great deals we got on our outdoor furniture (yeah for Pottery Barn outlet having the same things as the regular Pottery Barn but for a fraction of the cost).

(6) I finally got to take Blake to my family's land in South Georgia for some 4-wheeling fun.  He and Thatcher loved it!  I couldn't believe what a little country dog Thatch became.

(7) There's definitely room in the maternity clothing market for a reasonably priced, well-made line of clothing, particularly for professionals.  Why is it that retailers think that now that I'm getting big that I want to wear teal and lavender (to the exclusion of colors like white and gray), loud prints, and cheaply made clothes? 

(8) It's depressing, but I really like The Civil Wars' "Poison and Wine."

(9) Over a year later and I'm still addicted to Words with Friends. Leave your username if you'd like to play.

(10) I think my blog was more interesting when I had dating stories, but I do not miss the drama and sometimes ridiculousness of dating. 

p.s. I'm grateful that I'm not working tomorrow and am heading to Nashville for fun with great friends.

We're Having a Boy!!

The day before Father's Day I found out that I was pregnant--just in time to give Blake an early Father's Day present. I wrapped up the positive pregnancy test and put it in a gift bag along with a card from Thatcher, and upon opening, Blake asked me "What does this mean?" I found his response hilarious as the test clearly identifies what two pink lines mean, and my husband has an engineering background and usually has no problem reading any test results. Needless to say he was ecstatic but cautiously so (he wasn't sure the test was reliable:). It became more real for him when we visited the doctor a few weeks later and were able to see our miracle on the ultrasound screen. Such a sweet relief to see the heartbeat.

Since then we've been able to see our baby two more times, and on our last visit we learned that our baby is a boy. We're naming him Jackson Ty. Jackson is my maiden name. We chose his middle name because I called my great uncle--"Uncle Ty"--as I couldn't pronounce Chester. I'm not sure how I came up with "Ty" (maybe because he often wore ties?), but it stuck and we all called him Uncle Ty. His wife helped raise my sister and me, and Uncle Ty often joined us for picnics, baton twirling, or harmonica playing.  He was a dear man and a blessing to our family.

The last 17 weeks have been so exciting and such a constant reminder of God's goodness and blessings. I love knowing our baby's name and being able to pray for him specifically. Plus it's great for me to mentally prepare for a boy since my sister has 3 girls; I'm 1 of 2 girls, and my mother is 1 of 3 girls.

The last 17 weeks have also felt like my body has a science project going on within it. It's really amazing how much everything is changing and how much I'm learning.

In other great news, we're back in our house and loving it. It's very comforting to finally be settling in.

p.s. I'm thankful for baby Jack and ultrasound technology that allows me to see him. I'm already looking forward to our next appointment.

The End is in Sight!

Thankfully it looks like we'll be moving back into our home at the end of next week. We're loving the way our house is looking and are so glad to have an end to all of this in sight. I imagine that by the end of August we'll be finished with all of this storm-related busyness, including the multiple phone calls to our mortgage company asking them to send the checks they were supposed to have already mailed, emails to our insurance adjuster to claim our depreciation money (so we can pay our contractor), and all of that hassle.

We finally got power back to our house (we've just had a temporary pole for construction purposes) a few weeks ago, so last weekend we finally installed the chandelier I bought last January for our dining room. I love it!

It's going to be nice to have more free time and for Blake not to be so stressed out and busy driving over to our house all the time. And maybe I'll find time to blog more; it's definitely fun to have a journal of some sort to reflect back on from time to time. Hope you're all well :)

p.s. I'm grateful for lazy Saturdays.

Progress

We're seeing lots of progress with our house each week, and it looks like we'll be able to move back in by the end of next month. Honestly I'm still holding on to some bitterness about this ordeal that I need to let go of; I need to quit complaining and just enjoy the good things that are coming from this experience.

I've included some photos showing our progress...and no, we are not going to have a mustard colored house with mismatched siding; this is just the color of primed Hardiplank and the shingle like siding happens to come in a different color. It will all be painted gray with white trim. We had planned to exchange our vinyl siding for Hardi in a few years, but since insurance was only going to pay to re-side half of our house (which obviously wouldn't match) we decided to add to the money insurance was willing to pay and go ahead with this improvement.

Here are some of our new windows. Fortunately insurance was willing to pay to replace all of our windows since so many were damaged in the storm, and they all need to match (as they did preloss). This was a huge blessing because this is something we really wanted to do in the next year or two.



While all of this construction was going on we decided to pay to add rails to our back porch so that it is more child and dog friendly; we're also rescreening it since there were numerous holes in the screen (and I'm afraid Thatch may jump to his death).

I am so eager to be back in our home!

p.s. I am grateful for my father. We celebrated Father's Day last night, and he finally got a gmail acccount!

Finally!

After almost three months of our house looking like this:

the repairs have started! We are so grateful. Finally seeing some actual physical progress gives me hope and is exciting. I'm so ready to be back in our home.

Long story short we ended up getting a new adjuster after our initial adjuster submitted an absolutely asinine estimate to us (and she only got around to that because I called her supervisor...can you tell I'm still a little bitter?). We then met with our new adjuster and our contractor (very helpful), and our contractor submitted an estimate. After weeks of waiting, we received word that our insurance company would pay all of our contractor's bid except a few hundred dollars. We were stunned and elated as this was about $47,000 more than the initial estimate.

Of course nothing works quickly when an insurance company is actually paying money out (but they sure do demand prompt payment from their insureds), so it took another few weeks to get a check, and then when we received it it was several thousand dollars short. It took another few weeks to resolve that, and in the meantime we worked with our mortgage company on getting disbursement of funds from them (since we had to forward the insurance checks to them) which is another ordeal. It's really been a very time-consuming few months-- and such a blessing that Blake and I both have such flexible jobs.

We're hoping to be back in our home in July by which time our house will be a different color! We're adding money to the insurance funds so that we can go ahead and put Hardie Board on our home, which we're going to paint a light/medium gray with white trim.

Happy summer!

p.s. I'm grateful for this progress and for the fun that Pinterest has been for me the last few weeks.