Baby2 Birth Story Part 1

As I sit here in my bed at 5:30am, unable to sleep, I decided I should start writing about my experiences so far with this birth (which has yet to happen).
Let's start off by saying Paxton spoiled me rotten! Paxton being born 3 weeks early has made waiting until 40 weeks close to unbearable. Also, something different with Paxton was that my water broke, a sure sign that one is in labor. Not this time!
Two Fridays ago, around 9:30 pm, I started to get some stronger, unpainful, contractions. Normally I would ignore the hardness of my belly and pay no mind to these so called Braxton hicks. However, these contractions were still stronger than my normal Braxton hicks. After about a half hour, I began to time them. They were every 5 minutes and lasted about 30 seconds each. This went on for another hour and a half before I decided I should notify my grandma of what was happening per her request to let her know if there was ANY SIGN of labor. Grandma prepared for her 9 hour drive and drove through the night to try to get here in time. After another hour of consistent contractions, I decided I should get some rest before they got too painful, so I went to bed. EVERYTHING STOPPED! So disappointing. Especially since grandma had driven all this way, and still nothing was happening when she got here at 8:30am Saturday morning.
So that week I was determined to get this baby out! I bought two fresh pineapples, a bag of black licorice, I had some red raspberry leaf tea given to me by my midwife and the weather was so nice out that week. That I was walking two times a day for about an hour each time. Well, the food just gave me the runs and walking didn't seem to do much but make my pelvis and hips more sore, especially at night. Walking was still a breeze.
That next Monday I had another midwife appt. I told her what I had been up to and she actually told me to stop walking so much! I was in shock. She told me to cut it down to a half hour every day and to not over do. She pretty much told me to get out of this mentality that he is coming early like Paxton...that I really still had another week until the due date. Not what I wanted to hear! While I was there, I had her check me to see if there was ANY progress going on. And to my disappointment, I was 0% dilated, 0% effaced! and he was still at a -2 station....in other words, nowhere close to delivery. As I came out of the room after changing back into my clothes, my midwife saw the frustration on my face. She told me not to be upset. I looked at her and told her, "I am upset! I'm frustrated! With all the discomfort and pain I have been in, I hoped I'd have had SOMETHING to show for it by now." She reassured me and told me that at the next appointment, if I had progressed, that she could strip some membranes if I wanted her to. At that point I was thinking, "heck yes!"
Today is that day. At 9:45, everything could change.
I went on a walk a couple of days ago and could hardly make it a half an hour. My pelvic bones have been sore and this time I just made things feel even worse. Something had changed in my body. When I got back home, I ran to the store for some dinner for grandma, Paxton and I (yes, grandma is still here). As I entered the store, I definitely felt that "lightning" people always talk about. The baby definitely dropped. It was a weird feeling.
So today, as I imagine how this appt is going to go, I am starting to get a little chicken. One, I have heard how uncomfortable membrane stripping is,. Two, it's hard for me to not feel guilty to Paxton for bringing another child into our hearts and our home. I feel like I am taking away special time together. It won't be just us anymore. It's just been he and I, my little buddy. How can I share my love? It just seems so surreal! I have been told it will come naturally to me and it's nothing to fret about. But I am already missing the special days I have had when it's just been Paxton and I. I can't believe that part is almost over! It really tears at my heart to think about it.
So wish me luck today. I have a feeling it will be an emotional one!

Playing Catch-Up Again!

Going back to June! We had a CRAZY month! My birthday is the 15th, Tyler's the 18th and Paxton's the 20th! Tyler had some friends over for his birthday, and I invited some of my friends and Paxton's little friends over for a birthday party for him. We also did a birthday party for P over that weekend since we had family around. I got to see my best friends back home! It was so fun! My sister-in-law had her baby shower earlier that day too. It was a busy weekend. THEN the weekend after that we had a family reunion.

First time at the River

First Sawdust Search

 We got to see SO much of my family. It was so good to get to spend time with my family. Since my family is so far away, we are luck to get to see them once a year. I say my grandparents, all my brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, aunts, (no uncles this time), cousins...it was a blast. Tyler got to see what kind of traditions we have in our family too! There were a few people that couldn't make it that I really miss seeing such as my cousin Britnae, Uncle John and Uncle Duane. I was so glad to get to spend time with those that did make it though. Paxton got to experience the river for the first time. He was SO exhausted!

 

 

 

 

 

All tuckered out with Daddy

 Then the next week was 4th of July! This was actually P's second 4th of July! He had a lot of fun. We popped pop-its and watched the parade and went to IF for the fireworks! He was such a good boy! We got some really good pictures! He would have been awake for the fireworks, but they started an hour late because a person went missing in the river.

And then.....wait for it....I GRADUATED!!!!! FINALLY!!!!!!!! My mom, grandma and my mom came for support. I felt like a bit of a cheater because I earned my Associates, which I later found out meant that the guy should have given me a blue cap and gown-black represents a Bachelor's apparently! By the time I found that out, I was lined up at convocation! My family came a couple days before so we could spend some extra time together! It was so good to be able to spend some quality time with them. It never happens!

I DID IT! (We were all really tired)

Cuddling with Uncle Blake

Reading with Nana

Eating Breakfast with Grandma T

 So far summer has been great! Tyler got a raise and I am at home with my son! Now I  need to find some more things to do so occupy my time! :)

First Week of My LAST Semester!!

My first week of my last semester is coming to a close. It has been quite busy. This semester I am a Supervisor over one of the Preschool Labs here on campus. For those of you who don't know what that includes, let me give you an idea...

• Make sure child immunizations are up to date
• Make sure all paper work has been filled out
• Put children's files together for home visits (parking pass, magnet, snack schedule, sun screen consent...)
• Schedule and go on home visits (with a big amount of help from my team)
• Make child name tags, locker name tags, room labels...
• Team Training
• Making the check in/out list
• Emergency Contact List

I think you've got the idea. It's a lot of work and a lot of time.  Our first topic for the semester is on Gardening. I am SUPER excited since this is the only semester I will have here at Preschool in the Spring! We planned out 3 weeks worth of lesson topics and I see them being REALLY awesome learning experiences! 
I REALLY love my teacher in my Lit, Lang, and Learning class. Sister Gordan really shows that she cares about us and our learning, especially learning by the Holy Ghost (one of the amazing perks to going to this school). She is super positive and makes you feel important. Her class requires a lot of work, but she is so awesome that I am really just willing to do anything she asks me. Another one of my classes is super boring and I don't care much for the teacher. I just want to fall asleep in his class. It doesn't help that his class is smack dab in the middle of the day! I just have a bitter taste in my mouth toward him because I had another class with him while I was pregnant and he was the least understanding when I went into labor early. I haven't really gotten into my SPED 310 class yet, so we are yet to see how I like that one. 
Another thing that came up this week. Since I switched my major from a Bachelor's to and Associates, I got an e mail saying that am ineligible to receive financial aid because I earned too many credits for and Associates Degree. So now I have to petition to get my financial aid since I am supposed to graduate this semester! Ugh! I think the most irritating thing about that is that they sent me the e mail AFTER school already started. Lame. But overall I feel like it's been a really good week, just really busy.
The last thing that is a huge stressor right now is finding a baby sitter in the mornings. Most baby sitters around here are available in the evenings, not during the day. Makes it tough to find someone to watch Paxton when Tyler has to work in the morning. 
Anyway! Paxton is now 10 months. He can get everywhere. He knows how to walk holding on to one of my hands (walking independently is next!) Paxton has 5 teeth now, 3 on top and 2 on bottom. He has got the hugest personality and always makes my day brighter. He is also a huge reason why I am such a good procrastinator! haha! But so far I have stayed on top of things, even a little ahead. It is my goal this semester to not procrastinate. I DON'T want more stress than I need at the end of the semester than I need. :)
Tyler is still working at Massage Envy as the Business Administrator. He likes it and has been learning a lot there. He is also still working on getting a business put together. 
So that's the latest on us! Sorry there aren't any pictures. Life has been busy! :)

Preschool Trip in March

   
 I had the opportunity to go on a trip with the girls I teach with on campus. We went to Idaho Falls, and Utah! It was so much fun! It was a bit more stressful than I thought because I left Paxton with my mother-in-law and Tyler while he had just got RSV. But we got to tour different child care centers and preschools. We also got to stay at nice hotels and go to fancy dinners and go to Disney on Ice! It was a fun experience and I was really glad I was able to go. Here are some pictures to sum up the trip. BTW- I ate a chicken heart! Yuck!

Eating a chicken heart

Catch Up Time! Easter!

Easter was a lot fun this year. Tyler and I always do each others Easter baskets, but this year we also got to do one for Paxton! Saturday was a busy day for P and I. Tyler had to work. We attempted to go to the city's Easter Egg Hunt and got there 5 minutes late...it had already come and gone! Everyone was redeeming their prizes and stuff already! I met up with some friends who have a little boy that is Paxton's age. Neither of them had been in a swing before, so we put them in the infant swings and they LOVED it! Paxton was giggling and smiling the whole time! Then we had a Relief Society Luncheon which was fun and them my friend came over for a bit to dye Easter eggs! Then Sunday Tyler and I hid each others Easter baskets and enjoyed a completely relaxed day!

Needig to Vent my Stress!

I am starting to feel very overwhelmed lately. I am wrapping up my last couple of lesson plans for the semester, and the topics I have turned out to be some tough themes to plan activities for! I have had to get really creative! I also have to make several more materials for my lessons i.e. a flip book story, an illustrated recipe, felt board story...and more! I also have to compile a video of like a bajillion little video clips to show certain examples of things in preschool. I then need to catch up on my policy book for my administrative issues class which is going to HOURS! I have so much homework to do and it is SO hard to do when Paxton starts banging on the keyboard or complaining because he want me to hold him. Since he has been sick he has become very clingy once I am home from school. Normally  I would just eat that up! I love getting to hold him and play with him and that is ALL I want to do! But the sooner I can finish school the sooner I can have that! I. JUST. NEED. TO. GET. MY. HOMEWORK DONE!!!  I don't know how I am going to do it. I have a feeling that I have a lot of late nights ahead of me. So that's my stress with school...My grandpa also passed away last Friday, which isn't super stressful, but it's still there in my mind, thinking about him and and wondering how my grandma is doing without him. I also just found out that my best friend is going to be moving back to Caldwell in the Spring (May) which really upsets me since I go to her to talk to her about pretty much anything and everything. I don't know how I am going to get through next semester without her! :( Paxton got over having RSV a week ago. Our car is also on it's last leg, so we are trying to find a good deal on a car that we can make payments on. My brother is helping us out on that one since he sells cars. Ugh! Can I just take a break from being a grown up? Can I just be a carefree child again! Can I just have someone make me my meals, buy me my clothes and help me with my homework again? Man! I sure took those years for granted! Psh! And I thought I wanted to grow up SO fast! Ok, ok...I really love getting to have my own rules and my own little family. It can just be so overwhelming at times! If you actually read through all of this, I am sorry. You really didn't have to, but it shows that you care and that really means something to me, especially right now. I guess I am feeling a little lonely these days since I leave in the morning for school and don't get to see Tyler until the evening when he gets home from work, and even then we don't get much time together because it gives me an opportunity to have him watch Paxton while I can give my homework my full attention. Ugh! Homework is ruining my life! (Ok, there is my juvenile teenager rant for you)...but seriously..I am SO ready for a break! Thanks again to those of you who cared to read especially with no pictures ;) I promise I will get something more uplifting up on the next post. I still need to post about my preschool trip! :)

Domestica

I have been trying really hard to be more..."domestic." You know, the dream wife. Well, I am far from that, but I have to pat myself on the back when I learn something new or I do something out of the ordinary. SO-Today's Sunday dinner special was Alaskan Salmon, and FRESH Asparagus with FRESH garlic which means YES I chopped up my own cloves of garlic! I usually just use garlic powder or something simple and quick. I also had no clue what I was doing with the asparagus, so I just kinda winged it. Started out with the asparagus and minced garlic in some oil...not much was happening, so I added some water and some butter and decided I could steam it. It worked! Tyler loved it! And the Salmon was delicious! After a little bit of salt and some pepper, it was perfect. I am pretty proud. Just don't look at my kitchen right now...I don't want to talk about it. :P It's probably the reason I don't cook big like this very often. Maybe when I have more kids and I can have them help me clean up. In other news...I go on a field trip for school next weekend to Salt Lake to tour some preschools! That will probably be my next post. Nervous about how Paxton and Tyler will do at night without me.