Welcome to the World Jace!

Our baby boy is finally here. He wanted to come on his own time, 5 days past due, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Even though my midwife was out of town and didn't make it to the birth, I still had my doula. And it happened on the weekend which was perfect for family.

It all started Friday night, the 21st. Lee came home from work and I wanted a date night, and he wanted to go out with friends. Then came all my hormones and emotions... I was afraid we might not get another date night for awhile. I had been feeling a little off that day, but wasn't sure what I was feeling. Now looking back I think I was in early labor all week. We went out to Fish City Grill because I was craving their jalapeno soup, and Lee is always in the mood for fish. Plus I knew there was a frozen yogurt place right next door.. yummm! During dinner my lower back pain starting growing in intensity. And I was having some Braxton Hicks contractions. If this was in fact early labor, my doula recommends trying to ignore, so we were now headed to the movies to see Monsters U. Unfortunately, the movie was sold out. So Lee decided we should just walk around the mall for a little while. After walking the entire mall, I was worn out and ready to go home. My back was starting to hurt extremely bad.

When we got home, I texted my doula to let her know how I was feeling. She told me to ignore and get a good nights rest. So I set up in the bedroom with the Ipad to watch none other than What to Expect When Your Expecting (new on Netflix) and a heating pad for my back. Lee set up to play some Zombies. Just as soon as he came to bed and got to sleep the first contraction hit. Ouch. But I'm going to ignore and sleep. Another one hits... wow that hurt! But I. WILL. SLEEP. Another one hits... ok this may be it. So I pull up my contraction app. They are coming every 2 minutes. They are hurting pretty bad that it wakes up Lee. His response... "What are you doing? Go back to bed." But I can't... the pain is too intense to sleep through. Its after midnight now. So I try the few things that my doula suggests like getting in a warm bath.. that doesn't help. I wanted to make sure what I was feeling was real before we texted my doula and woke her up. But the contractions were not going away and the pain was increasing. So my doula makes her way over the house, where we labor until about 4:30 when I started feeling a lot of pressure. We make our way to the hospital.... worse car ride ever! But I knew I'd have my baby soon!

So we make it to the hospital. They check me. I'm 9 cm dilated and baby is at 0 station. The nurses were freaking out, ha! They can't believe I'm that far along. I won't go into all the details, but as soon as I get to 10 cm they break my water and its time to push. I pushed for probably about an hour and then Jace arrived at 6:17am. No drugs, no IV's. The nurses were astounded... apparently at Irving Baylor they very rarely see natural birth.

My baby was finally here. There are so many emotions flowing through as you hold your baby for the first time. I just remember saying, "this is ours, this baby is ours, we have a baby!"

Lee did an awesome job along side my doula as my birth team. He didn't faint and even cut the cord, which he didn't think he wanted to do. We are so in love with Jace William Goggin. Still can't believe I am a mom. He is so perfect. I thank God we had a healthy baby boy. 10 fingers, 10 toes. So precious.

Born 6:17am  8lbs 2oz  20.5 in long

A Waiting Game...

Bag is packed... House is being cleaned today... Nursery is ready... now to sit and wait. Well... more like walking, eating spicy foods, eating pineapples, eating 6 dates a day... anymore suggestion on natural ways to start labor??

In case you didn't know... I'M GETTING ANXIOUS!! Ready to meet this baby boy!! As much fun as pregnancy has been, I'm ready to be able to sleep on my stomach and my back again. My hips are starting to kill me and I'm having lower back pain. I am seeing a chiropractor, which helps, but I'm still ready for bundle of joy to come out!

I'm 39 weeks today, so most likely I still have a week+. Although Lee and I have decided that if he could make his appearance on Thursday that would be perfect =) Thursday would be the 13th and would stay in line with the generation of birthdays. My great-grandfather - June 14th, Brother - June 15th, and Dad - June 16th. His due date is actually the 17th which would also work, but that being a Monday and one of Lee's busiest days at the gym would kind of be hard. So Thursday would be good and be easy for Lee to take off work and be home with us all weekend! =) So prayers appreciated =) Plus it landing on a semi-weekend would also be great for family. Especially since we have family coming in for Father's Day that weekend as well. I have had a dream he came on the 15th and then also a dream that I got induced on the 14th. Which I will not be getting induced, but I don't know what to make of those dreams. My mom has also had a dream that Jace came early as well. Here's to hoping and praying =)

Happy Mother's Day!

First Mother's Day as a mom-to-be! Only 5 more weeks until we meet our sweet baby boy! So weird to think in such a short time I will be called Mom!

Lee and my mom got me my first ever Mother's Day present! A Pandora Bracelet. I've been wanting one for awhile and Lee has always shunned the idea of one. Now he finally caved in! =)
I got a teddy bear with blue bow, Eiffel Tower, and heart that says Mom! I love it!

 Good news. When we went for our 32 week check-up ultrasound we found out that the woman who did our 30 week was in training so we think she might of misread the sonogram. Because this time they said Jace was just fine, average size and weighed about 4.5 lbs! So now we are thinking he is going to be an 8-9 lb baby... we'll see! But so thankful that everything is going great with our little guy, Praise the Lord, God is good!

Starting to feel pretty big at this point.  I'm told that I look tiny, but my midwife says I'm completely average. I'm starting to get so tired. My legs get extremely tired if I stand for too long and I get short of breath very easily now too. But other than that I can't complain too much, but I would say I'm ready to meet this little guy so anytime after 37 weeks I will welcome him here =)

T-Minus 2 Months!

I can't believe how fast time has flown! We will (God willing he is on time) be meeting our son in 2 months from today! I have been asked several times if I'm ready. The answer.. yes and no. I am actually excited to experience childbirth. I know that may sound weird to some, but I am so curious to how it will all happen. I am excited to experience the miracle of birth that God has so graciously allowed us woman to do. I know that as time gets closer my excitement may turn to a ball of nerves. But as for now, I'm ready for it! I am also ready to hold and meet my baby boy! I want to see him.. his face.. his tiny little hands and feet. I'm ready to hold him in my arms! What I don't believe I'm actually ready for... parenthood. It seems crazy that in 2 months I will be bringing home a little human being that Lee and I are responsible for completely! He will be dependent on us to live. Now, that part I'm not sure I'm totally ready for... How will I know what to do?! I'm freaking out a little bit. My brother made a comment about this May being my first Mother's Day. That was so weird to hear. I am going to be a Mom... Lee is going to be a Dad! Jace could quite possibly come on Father's Day, how cool would that be? And would also get to share a birthday with my dad. We shall see. My prediction is that he will be late though.

We got to see our little one last week! He is actually measuring a little small right now, so my midwife is predicting a 7lb baby which I would be thrilled with! Although Lee's prediction is that I will go 2 weeks past my due date for him to catch up and we will end up having a 9lb baby. My prayer is I will have an on time 7lb baby, but ultimately a healthy little boy is most important. Last week he was measuring 2lb 14oz. We will be getting another ultrasound next week, so we will see how much he is has grown within a 2 week span.
May be hard to see, but this is his sweet face looking at us and his hand up by his chin.

Unfortunately life has gotten busy with all the things we are trying to prepare and accomplish before Jace gets here, so I missed the 30 week mark and we will be skipping ahead to 31 weeks. 9 weeks to go!

 

Happy Easter (a day later)

Happy Easter!!

I've fallen behind a few weeks again. Its been a whirlwind of activities and events the past several weeks. The nursery is finally starting to come together! I'm working on getting more color in it, since all the furniture and bedding is white. We got our crib all set up! So we have all our furniture minus a glider, still searching for a good deal.

We put the crib together the day we received it... I just couldn't resist waiting. So Lee did the dad's rite of passage and put together the crib!

And now for my weekly pictures... I missed taking my 28 weeks... life just keeps getting so busy and won't be stopping anytime soon with baby Jace on the way! =) I can't believe how fast time is flying. Ready to meet my little man!

What's in a name?

I've missed a few weeks... so lots to catch up on.

1) We have finally decided on a name!! Yay! I'm so excited that we finally have a name for a little boy!

2) You can see movements from the outside! It seems so surreal to look down and see your stomach move around. It such a weird feeling, but so cool! It's amazing to see what God has made the woman body to do and create life.

3) Lee has finally felt the baby "kick!" It was such an amazing feeling to see the look on his face! I have been trying for weeks to get him to feel what I feel, but apparently he was unable to feel on the outside what I feel on the inside. But this past Sunday was the first time he actually felt it. At church of all places, the place where I felt the first "kick." I told him the baby was moving and so he reached over to feel. The look on his face was priceless! Followed by "Was that you?" Yes I'm kicking from the inside. ha! Then he felt it again! So cool! Finally! I feel like it seems more real to him now. ha!

Now for pictures and the name reveal....

 

Jace William Goggin

Halfway There!!

So overwhelmed with excitement! Still so excited to know that our baby is a boy! We have been mulling over names and Lee is having a hard time committing to a name... saying we have more time. Which I know we do, but I'm so ready to have a name for our baby boy! So hopefully we can agree soon!

I started the registering process this past week... talk about overwhelming! I'm glad I had my mom and friend Heather, who has been done this before, there with me. I had no clue where to start, but it was so fun to see and look at all the baby stuff. How could little bitty things not be adorable?!?

Anxious to meet my baby... 19 weeks to go!

It's A....

Boy!!!

The Gender Reveal was a blast and such a success! We were in complete shock. Lee and I both were 99% sure that we were having a GIRL. I just thought it was girl, thought I had that "mother's intuition" (apparently not). With my morning sickness and other "old wives tales", I thought for sure girl. Lee had been saying the majority of the pregnancy that it was a boy, until the sonogram. He thought he could tell from the sonogram that it was for sure a girl. He was so confident in his assessment. This then made me lean even more on the girl side.

So when the balloons popped out... I cried. Of course tears of joy... we were wanting a boy first. I'm still in shock. I was so confident that pink balloons were going to pop out, but blue came instead! So excited! We are so thrilled to start thinking of names and nursery ideas! I just don't have many words... I'm speechless. So excited!

Boy or Girl?!?!

Such an exciting week!

This past Sunday I felt the first "kick"! I was sitting in church and felt some movement and put my hand down on my belly at just the right moment! It was very surreal. I'm feeling more and more movements each day. So fun and yet so weird to think about another human life growing inside of you. Such a miracle! It's making this all seem so real.

Another exciting part of this week... we get to find out the gender!! I'm beyond excited! Somehow we are going to resist finding out at the doctors office and have them seal the results in an envelope. We will then reveal the results with our families! I am going to have to hand off of the envelope very quickly so that I am not tempted to rip it open and find out... this will be hard. Lee had decided he is just going to pay the doctor to find out. Hopefully that doesn't happen so that the surprise will be so special!

I can't believe we will find out boy or girl this week!! EEEK... We can finally start talking about names and nursery ideas and register.... oh the joy! I'm ready to meet this bundle of joy.

17 Weeks

Almost to the halfway point...

The doctor says I should start feeling some movements in the next couple of weeks. On Tuesday my stomach was twitching a lot, (like the feeling when your eye twitches) which some people say that is the baby moving around. It was happening an awful lot all day Tuesday, so I think it may have just been a coincidence.

Not much to report this week...

Here is our updated picture...

Here's to 2013

Goodbye 2012. You have been more than a blessing to us. We got to enjoy one of the best years yet. Mexico with the family in January, Disney World with the family in May, Paris/Venice/Florence/Rome in August, Branson for Thanksgiving with the family.... and the best part of 2012... finding out we are expecting! I couldn't have asked for a more blessed year. Thank you Lord for allowing us to enjoy your creation and blessings.

I can't wait for 2013! Ready to experience many firsts. The first time I feel my baby kick, finding out the gender of our little bundle of joy, seeing my baby's face, becoming a parent.... let the adventure begin!