Confessions of a Mom

1. I don't know everything... I know, I know, hard to believe!!
2. I sometimes get frustrated with Collins when she can't tell me what she wants!
3. I try to be the best mom I can be, but I seem to fail a lot. I know this is just the beginning and that is a little scary.
4. Most days, I would rather spend my extra $ (what little I have) on Collins instead of me!
5. I looked at her newborn clothes today and almost cried because they were so little!
6. Sometimes, I will let Collins scream in her room when I know she doesn't really need anything!
7. I think my baby is the cutest baby EVER on the planet!
8. I have the best sleeping baby ever! Seriously she sleeps 8-9 hours! I prayed many many times for this as, selfishly, I wasn't ready to give up my sleep!
9. Some days, all I do is play with and watch Collins... Nothing productive!
10. I love showing her off! So if you haven't met her yet, please stop by!!

L.A. and the Following Weeks

Well, hello again!  Man oh man!  I know, I know.  I am a part-time stay at home mom and STILL can't manage to update nearly as much as I would like! I will strive to get better, but no promises!

Back when Collins was 6 weeks old (already 6 weeks ago), Damon and I braved it and took Collins on a flight to visit her Great Grandpa for his 90th Birthday! He had NO idea that we were coming and it was must precious when we showed up!  He just kept saying, "Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness! What a surprise!!"  Mind you, Papa is a sweet Spanish man and has a little bit of an accent-- so it is the BEST! :)  It was so special that Papa got to meet his great granddaughter!! Not too many people to get to experience that with a 90 year old!! :)  (And he looks GREAT, don't you think?!)

Damon's mom and sister also came, so she was able to meet her grandma Teri and Auntie Erin! It was so fun to see them meet Collins! I so long for a day when we can just pick up and go and visit-- and not think twice about the money that it will cost to get there.  Not sure that those days will ever come, but maybe we will be able to better save so that we can do it more often!

She was also able to meet the extended family-- aunts and uncles on both Damon's mom and dad's sides!  It was so great!!!

The plane rides went really well!  I mean, she just slept for the most part.  She was very happy and everyone LOVED her!


After that week, we were literally home for 1 full day and then Damon's dad and step mom and sisters came to Little Rock!  They were so excited to meet Collins for the first time! Needless to say, there was no lack of Collins being loved on!!  I don't think she was set down too often!  And I was so glad to have the additional help!! :)  We just wish that his whole family would move closer so that we could see them more often!  We are in constant prayer that someday those paths will cross again and we may live in the same state.

These couple weeks there were lots of firsts for Collins!

First Plane Ride

First In and Out Burger

First Chipotle experience

First Holds by Grandparents and Aunties

First Park Experience
(sorry, just a picture of dad and grandpa here)

 First Horse Races

And I am sure there are many, many more!  Ok, well, that is a large post... I just needed to tell you all about those events... I promise, I am going to get MUCH better at posting regularly... so you can see a little more into my life as a mom! :)

Laughs and Tears, but LOTS of fun!

While I sit here on the bed, with my baby sitting next to me (tooting, I might add... haha!), I can't help but be OVERWHELMED with how blessed we have been with this little girl for the last 5 weeks!  She is absolutely PRECIOUS!  I was talking to my mom and dad the other day and telling them how everyone tries to prepare you for what it is going to be like having a baby, but no one ever prepares you for how FULL your heart gets for this baby.  I mean, I feel like my heart is about to BURST through my chest!  And then I start thinking about how BIG God's love is for me... that He would send His ONLY son to die FOR ME!  What an incredible love that is!  I mean, I knew it was big before, but seriously, I have a TOTALLY new perspective!

I laugh again that Collins is tooting next to me because, I am pretty sure she does it all the time... and they aren't cute little petite toots... They are FARTS, like old man farts.  I just tell people she gets that from her daddy! ;)

We have had so many fun days since she has been here.  She seriously is such a joy and such an easy baby.  She has already slept for 6-8 hours through the night several times (mind you, she is only 5 weeks old!)!! AMAZING!!

She has attended her first Arkansas Razorbacks baseball game...

Had MANY shopping trips (to the mall, Promenade, Target, Hobby Lobby-- you name it and she has probably been there!) I know, SHOCKER to all who know me! :)

First Doctor Visit (which she was so good for!)

 First St. Patty's Day Party!

First bath-- which just happened a couple days ago because her belly button thing didn't want to come off!! Hehe!  She also LOVES her baths! Even got a couple smiles out of her!

 

And first visit from her new friends!! Nona and her are only 4 days apart! Nona was born on the 11th and Collins on the 15th! So fun!

 

For those of you who don't know... Trevor's mom (Nona's dad) and my mom have been best friends for years!  They think it is such a treat to be able to experience being grandparents together!

There have also been some not so "joyous" firsts-- though some of them causing some great laughter!

First diaper blow out!  Literally, Damon was changing her and she let it FLY! Changing pad had to be washed, dad had to be washed, and she DEFINITELY had to be washed!

First time to poop 4 times in 20 minutes... hahahahaha!  And of course, this was at like 11:00 at night so we were so ready to go to bed!  We were laughing so hard we were crying though!

First melt down.... Thank goodness Grandma Trish came over that night to save me!  I was ready for her to be held by someone else!!

And probably the funniest (now) thing to happen, happened about a week after we got home.  She was asleep and so we decided to go to bed... it was like 10:00pm.  However, as soon as I laid her down, she had other plans and started crying uncontrollably!  Well, the night before, we heard squirrels in the attic (any suggestions on how to get rid of these darn things... we can't find where they are getting in!!).  So Damon, because she was awake now says "Well, I think since we will be up for a little bit, I am going to run up in the attic and put down some "critter ridder" real quick."  I said okay because I have a baby who will wake me up in the middle of the night, so I don't need squirrels doing that too!! Well, I am downstairs holding Collins trying to get her to calm down, when all of the sudden, I hear a BIG thud!  I say, "Damon?!"... No response... So I said, "Damon, I have a newborn in my arms, I am not in a position to climb into the attic, please respond and tell me you are okay..".  He says, "I'm okay..."  I said, "What just happened?".  He came down the attic stairs with tears coming down his cheeks... and proceeds to show me a hole in Collins' ceiling where he accidentally stepped through.... Now, I am crying... So just picture it... All 3 of us... exhausted and bawling!  I composed myself enough to tell Damon that it was okay... That I was just glad that he didn't fall all the way through and that we weren't on the way to the hospital right now!  I reminded him that it could be fixed... But, oh man... that was quite the night!

So many firsts... and SOO many more, but I would take up entirely too much space!

Anyways, there is a little update for now! I hope that you guys that have kiddos are enjoying them as much was we enjoy Collins!  Let's remember to not take them for granted!!

Oh, and you should definitely check out some of her newborn pictures if you haven't yet! I am definitely partial, but I don't think there has ever been a cuter girl or cuter pictures EVER!! :)

http://www.kristinhollensworth.com/blog/collins-little-rock-arkansas-newborn-photographer/

She's Here!! (And already over a week old!)

Introducing Miss

Collins Reese Woodward

February 15, 2011

8lbs 4ozs

5:20am

 

Last picture of mom with a belly!! :) (Just about to induce!)

About ready to start pushing... I couldn't believe it at this point!!

5:20am and here she is!! :)

The best and proudest daddy and husband!! :)

Headed home... 

Sorry about the swollen face, but it is currently one of the only pictures of the 3 of us...

we will have to fix that!! :)

Here is the story...

I seriously can't believe that it has taken me this long to update my blog and let you all know that Collins Reese Woodward has made her arrival!! :)  She arrived on February 15 and weighed 8lbs 4ozs and was 20 inches long!  She didn't exactly arrive the way that we had planned on, but I can tell you that I felt peace on where God was leading me every step of the way!!!

I went in on Monday, Feb. 14th for my weekly check-ups.  I was put on the monitors and Collins was looking great! When he checked me, I was just about 1.5cm.  However, he said that I had protein in my urine, my blood pressure was a little elevated, and then asked my about my blood sugars.  When I told him they had been dropping low, he said that was a sign that my placenta was not working as well as it was-- because I was right around the corner from my due date.  So I said, "what's the plan from here?".  He said, "well, if you are okay with today, I would like to go ahead and induce you because your numbers are only going to get worse!"... I said, "GREAT!  Can I go get something to eat or do I need to go straight to the hospital?"  He told me to go get something to eat, get my stuff, and my hubby and make my way back.  So, we did just that!

We got to L & D at about 2:30pm.  However, we had to wait for the doc to come in and let us know how and when to proceed.  He came in at about 5:00pm and said that he wanted to wait to induce me until 8:00pm so that he was here and it was just him and I!  I appreciated that, but would have liked to have known that ahead of time instead of sitting around for 6 hours!! Oh well!  So, the doc came in at 8:00pm and started pitocin.  At this point, I was only 2cm dilated.  At 10:00pm, he came back in to break my water.  At about 1:30am, I was having a lot of contractions (about every 45 seconds), but I got to a place where I couldn't breathe!  And thinking that I was still 2cm, I thought there was no way that I could do this for another 7 hours which is what they told me to expect.... I really wanted to do it naturally, but I felt really felt God whispering to me to get an epidural-- I know that sounds ridiculous, but it is really true!!!!!  So, I did... thinking that I would be able to get some sleep.  They got the epidural in at about 2:00am.  I finally relaxed.  At about 2:20am or so, a nurse came in and I told her that I was still cramping some and feeling some pressure and asked her if that is normal and if my epidural just hadn't fully kicked in yet.  She said, that was probably the case, but went ahead and checked me... she said... "Oh my... you were just a 2 the last time they checked you?!  You are feeling pressure because you are about ready to push... you are a 9.5!"  Then she told me she was going to have to go get my nurse because she was helping with another delivery thinking that I was still a ways away!!  So at about 3:20am we started to push... I pushed for about an hour.... But she hadn't moved at all!!  So the doc came in and took a look and said that my bone was turned just enough that she couldn't get her head through and said that he recommended we have a c-section.  I said, "ok!"... Damon couldn't believe that I was just like ok... And this is where I was telling you I felt like God was guiding me the whole day... I just had an overwhelming sense that I was going to have a c-section from the beginning (though I didn't tell anyone that)... and I think that God whispered to me to get the epidural because I think I would have freaked out if I had been told all at once, after pushing for a hour, that I was going to have to get an epidural and have a c-section and not do it naturally!!  So, they got me all prepped and Collins was born into this world at 5:20am!  I was EXHAUSTED, but was so glad that she was here!

That whole day was kind of a blur-- I know that LOTS of people came to visit, but I honestly don't remember a whole lot as it was hard to keep my eyes open!!! Wednesday was much better, with fewer visitors and extra time to rest!  Thursday, we headed home!!!

The recovery has definitely been hard... I am still pretty sore and moving slow, but I am trying to stay on my feet and walk as much as possible to continue the healing process.  My staples were removed on Monday-- which definitely helped!

As I sit this morning with this little girl in my arms, I am just in awe of who God has already created her to be.  I am in awe of the support our family has felt.  And personally, I am in awe of the husband that God has so graciously given me to join me in this journey.  I am so blessed with the support that he offers EVERY day!  He gets up with me at 3:00am for feedings and just looks at her and I... and wants to keep the bassinet on his side of the room so that he can get her up every morning (and for every feeding)!  Seriously, I don't know how girls do this by themselves!!  Damon was there the ENTIRE time-- with laughs when they were needed, a hand to hold, and even some tears when those were required... Can I just brag a minute and say that I am pretty sure I have the BEST husband EVER!!!

So far, being a mom has been the best thing that has ever happened to me (next to marrying the most supportive man EVER!!)!! An INCREDIBLE experience... and I definitely see God's fingerprints all over her and see Christ's love for us in a totally new light... Man, I didn't think my heart could ever be this full.  I will continue to update with pictures and such as the weeks progress!!  Thanks for all the prayers and support that were offered on our behalf... We are sure spoiled to have friends like you guys!!  Love you all!!

Patience with Little Progress

If patience is a virtue, then I am having a really hard time being virtuous!  I am getting soo impatient for this little bundle of joy to come into my life!!!  I am so ready to eat without feeling like I am going to throw up from heartburn...so ready to not have cankles and wear whatever shoes I want to (I am down to about 2 pairs that I can fit into comfortably)... and so ready to just hold Collins in my arms!  I am just tired of waiting!

With that said, I know that God has the perfect time for her to arrive!  Down to the exact minute and I am learning to trust more and more in that timing! (Even though it doesn't exactly line up with mine!)  I think it is so funnny that I would have to stop contractions twice and have to stop them and then when I am ready for them, she decides that she is totally content to just sit on right side, high up there, and kick on my ribs for fun!  At least she has moved down some so I am not in as much pain as I was!!!!

I was at the doctor this last week-- and there has been no change... still 1cm and 50% effaced.  I will get checked again on Thursday (weather permitting) and hopefully there will be some more progress!! Please pray with me!

Damon is just convinced that with all this weather coming in (Little Rock is projected to get at least 6 inches of snow starting tomorrow morning) that I will go into labor when we can't get to the hospital and I will end up giving birth on the side of the road!  Now as funny as that is to think about... I REALLY don't like this idea at all!! So, I am not going to pray to not go into labor (that would be really silly), but pray that if I do, I can get to the hospital EASILY!! :) Hehe!

A couple of books that have been recommended and that I am hoping to start reading are: Grace Based Parenting and Baby Wise.  I think that we will be reading Baby Wise first-- as I would LOVE to have little Collins sleep through the night as soon as possible and I have heard that this book has some practical how to's on accomplishing that-- and MANY other things!

Oh, and Damon got me a new iPhone! Woohoo!! I have been waiting for Verizon to get one FOREVER!  So now I feel like I am truly ready and armed to have a baby... I mean, every good mom needs an iPhone, right?! :)

Progress

Well, I have been meaning to update you again for awhile now, but man, life just doesn't slow down, does it?!

We had our final (hopefully) high-risk ultrasound last week!! Collins is measuring a whopping 6lbs 14ozs! Add a month of weight to that and we are DEFINITELY looking at a 9lb baby! AH!  I am praying that we have her in the next couple of weeks so that we are closer to 8lbs instead!!  He also said, once again, that she has a ton of hair-- good for all her cute little (or big) bows! :)  Oh man... I just can't even contain my excitement to see this precious little life that has been growing inside of me for almost 9 months!

I now go and see by OBGYN two times a week-- they put me on a monitor and watch little Collins to make sure she is still doing well!  There is higher risk in the last month for diabetics, so they do this just for safety-- which is totally fine by me!  Today, she was a little sleepy to begin with, but they had me drink some water and she perked right up!  I also had SEVERAL contractions in the 30 minutes... they said they need to be a little closer for full-blown labor, but this is a good sign!  I am 1cm dilated and about 50% effaced! WOOHOO!! I know it could still be 3 weeks before we have her, but I am just glad that we are moving in the right direction!  If I keep contracting though, it could be any day!

I also had my last baby shower!! My friends did such an awesome job hosting it-- the decor and everything was so sweet and the food was FABULOUS!  Thanks to them for all their hard work!!!  It was so fun to celebrate with everyone!  And we have received most everything we needed!! Damon and I feel so blessed by all our friends and family who so graciously have given so much to us!  She is already one spoiled little girl and we are most definitely a spoiled couple!!! :)

Well, I will keep you posted as the big day approaches!!

Nesting

I guess you could say that I have entered the "nesting" phase.  We have 5 weeks MAX left before baby girl makes her appearance and I am starting to realize all the stuff that needs to be done around the house.  I wish this phase would have hit a little bit earlier-- as I can only do a little and then stop to rest and then do a little more... Oh well!!

This weekend, we have been exceptionally productive!  I know that I brag on my husband a lot, but I just can't help it!!  He laid flooring in the attic so that we could put storage up there!!  It was no easy task and yet, he did it willingly and without complaining!  And then after the flooring was done, he hauled a bunch of boxes up there-- as well as the Christmas garland! (He hung hooks up so that I don't have to put it together every year!!)  I got ALL of our laundry finished... I don't think it had been fully done since Christmas... DON'T JUDGE!  I also washed most of Collins's clothes so they are ready to be worn!

We were also able to completely finish Collins's room!  Below is a final picture!  I can't believe how much I LOVE it!

The room with lamp, swing, and rug.

Side table and lamp!

Today, we had a baby shower thrown for us by our Surf Shack team!  This is where we serve on Sunday mornings and we couldn't have felt more blessed!  I think one of my favorite parts was all the encouragement we received!  Everyone wrote us notes to go in a little jar with Bible verses, quotes, notes... and then we were prayed over-- such a sweet time!  Don't get me wrong, the gifts were great and we got a lot of stuff we needed, but there is nothing more valuable in becoming a new parent than hearing their encouraging words!  So thank you!

Next week, I start going to the doctor twice a week... I don't really like this idea.  I don't like the doctor so this whole visit doctors 3 of 4 weeks a month was hard enough-- much less, going two times in a week.  I know that this is not "normal", but it is for a diabetic.  Both appointments involve being hooked up to monitors for 20 minutes and watching Collins to make sure she is doing well!  Hopefully, we won't have to do this for 5 weeks... I would like to have her in the next 3 weeks... that would be GREAT!! :)

What does next week hold?  1) Going to the store and picking up the essentials needed for the hospital  2) Packing our bags  3) Hanging curtains downstairs  4) Clean the house and last, but not least my very last baby shower! I can't wait for Saturday to get to celebrate with friends!  WOO-HOO!! :)  And last, I will leave you a picture with me at 35 weeks!

P.S.- This picture was taken at like 10:00 at night... so it isn't the best of me, but you get the picture! :)

Office Surprise Party

A girl can't ask for a better company to work for than Fellowship Associates!  Yesterday, they surprised me with a baby shower and lunch!  It was so much fun!  I know that my co-workers went out of their way to make this day so special!  Their prayers and support for me, Damon, and Collins is so overwhelming!  I feel so loved and so appreciate-- and especially after coming from a place several years ago where I didn't feel that at all... WOW!  What a difference! God is so good!  Below are some pictures from the party!  We got several clothing items, diapers, and a gift card to put towards whatever big item we don't get!! :) YEAH!

SURPRISE! :)

Me with all the gifts!

Opening all the fun surprises! :)

Pink ruffle bootie pants-- a girl can't live without these!

One of the cutest onsies EVER!!

The best girls to work with!  Rebekah, Sandra, Ann, and Rachel

Reading all the sweet notes from the group! :)

The whole office!! (Minus Rachel because she got stuck taking the picture!)



I mean seriously, what betters bosses could a girl ask for?!  Thanks Fellowship Associates!! Love you all!

Hospital, Swollen Ankles, Sharp Rib Pain and No Sleep

Been awhile since I have updated... and since the last update, I think that I can definitely say that pregnancy is in full swing!  Collins is sitting so high in my belly that she is CONSTANTLY kicking my ribs!  And I get this really really sharp pain!  I told Damon that it feels like someone is stabbing me!  I did a little research because it wasn't just the normal "kick in the ribs" pain and found out that it is more than likely her kicking my liver which then hits some nerves! Ouch! Along with that pain, my ankles are seriously swollen about 5 minutes after getting out of bed! I literally have to put on boots that don't have zippers as soon as possible, or they are not getting put on! AH! I am trying to keep them up as much as possible and drinking lots of water, but not a whole lot is helping right now!!

We had another hospital visit about 2 days before the new year too... Collins once again decided to try and make her appearance early! Good grief! We were there almost all day and after 3 shots of Brethine (sp?), contractions finally stopped and I went home!  They did another test that says I wouldn't deliver for the next 2 weeks, so that is good!  They haven't put me on bedrest or anything yet!  THANK GOODNESS!

I talked to the doc about several things this last time I was there, just in getting ready for her (seeing as we think that she will be early).  I talked to him about her being so big already!  He said that we could start looking at inducing at 38 weeks if I hadn't gone into labor by then!  He said that if I start to have contractions again, that I should go ahead and go to L&D, but that if I wasn't dilated, they would probably just send me home and let me keep having them.  If I am dilating, they will check to make sure Collins is ready to be here... if she is, they will just let me go into labor and if she isn't, they will stop the contractions and probably send me home on bedrest.  I also talked to him about c-sections before diabetics have a higher percentage of having them and I just wanted to get his thoughts!  I was happy to hear that he doesn't want to do that unless necessary!  The only other reason I would have to have one is if she is over 9lbs 9ozs... There are increased risks for diabetics when babies are over that weight!  (I am praying she is about a pound under that! AH! PLEASE PRAY WITH ME!

Speaking of my diabetes, it is going really really well!! My HbA1C was 6.6 this last time-- which is PERFECT!  That means that Collins' size has very little to do with me being a diabetic-- she is just a big baby!!

My friend, Heidi, took some maternity pictures of me and below is one of my favorites!! :)  I am about 33 weeks there!

We worked today on putting the finishing touches on her nursery as well!  We got a side table and lamp!  We have one other lamp we need to pick up and then it is COMPLETELY done!!  We got the rug awhile back (you can see me sitting on it above) and I LOVE it!!

I also can't end this post without saying how blessed I am to have celebrated 5 years of marriage with my hubby yesterday!  He is seriously the best thing that has ever happened to me and more than I ever deserved!  God truly knew what He was doing when He brought the two of us together!  He completes me in every way and I can't imagine doing life without him!  I told him last night at dinner that one of the things that I love the most is that our kids don't ever have to worry about us getting divorced! I don't ever fear him leaving me and our family! (and I sure as heck am not going anywhere!!)  This day and age, that is a pretty incredible thing to be able to say!!  I know first hand what that means to a kid!  I NEVER had to worry about that with my parents and what an amazing example they have set for us!  They have been married 31 years and are just as in love today as they were 31 years ago!! I LOVE THEM!! :) And I LOVE my husband!