The many faces of Jaclyn!

 This kid cracks me up!!!  Her facial expressions absolutely kill me!!  I cannot wait until she can talk and she can make me laugh even harder, because if she is as funny (and sweet) as her facial expressions, I'm in for one awesome treat!!!  Enjoy some of the funny/cute pictures of my little girl so far!! :)

The sweet and innocent:

The "oh Lordy, SHE is going to raise me!" look:

 "Look at me, Look at me" look:

The "Now, here's what I think" look:

"What IS this brown furry thing??" look:

The "OH YEAH!" look:

The "just hanging around" look:

The "just chillin'" look:

The "whatever face you just made to try to make me smile, scared me!" look:

The "Shooooot, this baby doll has nothing on me" look:

The "I'm out" look:

The "not sure, thinking about it" look:

The "look that steals mommy's heart" look:

The " I'm trying so hard to keep my head up straight for this picture that I can't smile also" look:

The "mommy, I just filled my pants satisfaction" look:

The "perfect goodmorning, I love you" look:

This funny little girl goes for her 2 month appointment tomorrow.  Check back for her 2 month update and stats-SOON!! :)  Probably Tuesday- I'm sure tomorrow night is going to insist of alot of Tylenol and cuddles!! ;)

I wish I didn't enjoy/NEED sleep so much!

I had a cup (actually 2) of coffee with french vanilla creamer today for the first time in over 10 months!!  It's amazing what I feel like with a little caffeine in me.  It's amazing how much more energy I have.  It's amazing how much better I feel- with just those 2 small cups loaded with fuel!!  I had forgotten what that felt like.  I was a caffeine-aholic before I got pregnant with Jaclyn.  I drank half a pot of coffee a day, and then went on to diet coke and went through the day ready for war.  Then pregnancy came- I cut out the coffee, cut back on the diet cokes, and I've been a walking zombie ever since.  Add that to the mommy of a newborn comatose state- and that pretty much sums of a picture of me!!  BUT today, I feel great.  Today, is a day that I HAD to have.  Today was a caffeine MUST!!  And what does caffeine do to me- it allows me to blog during nap time, instead of running to the couch with a baby on my chest as soon as I shut the door to Jaycee's room for her nap. 

I've been wanting to blog SO MUCH lately.  I have so many things I want to remember, so many things that I want to share- yet as soon as I get 10 minutes- my first thought is, "can I fall asleep and get a cat nap in this much time??"  I WISH I DIDN'T ENJOY SLEEP SO MUCH.  I wish I didn't NEED sleep so much!!  You know those friends you have that can stay up all night long, and then go through the day like it's nothing- I'm SO envious of those friends of mine.  The ones that stay up to clean after their newborn goes to sleep for the night.  The ones that stay up doing crafts until 2 am, and are still able to function fine when their day starts at 6am.  I'm so jealous.  ME?  I'm panicking if I can't get Jaclyn to sleep by 11pm, b/c I know besides the middle of the night feedings, Jaycee is up rearing to go at 6am!  7 HOURS, minus 30 minutes here and there for a feeding, and another 15 to get her good and back asleep to lay down- oh my gosh, I'm going to die!!!  That's the thoughts that go through my head at 11pm.  Complete panic counting down how much time I HOPEFULLY have before I wake up to do it all over again! 

If I was selfish, I would have given up breastfeeding a long time ago to have that "morning joe" every morning.  To have the energy everyday that I do today.  It's tempting, it's VERY tempting, but then I look at my little girl with HORRIBLE acid reflux, and knowing how easy breastmilk (without caffeine) is on her little belly, and not knowing what formula would do to her little belly- i.just.can't------YET!  (But the day is coming!)

I look back on these past 7 weeks (YES, SHE'S 7 WEEKS OLD NOW!!  AHHH!!), and I feel exhausted just reminiscing them.  It's surreal how much time has gone, and how little of sleep one can function off of.  DON'T GET ME WRONG, she's a wonderful baby.  She usually wakes to eat 1 or 2 times in the night, and then goes instantly back to sleep.  I cannot complain about HER sleep.  But I'm not just on her sleep schedule.  I've got another sleep schedule to work with!!  That's why I've wanted to blog so much, because I feel like in the hustle and bustle, and the exhaustion, and the busy'ness of what our everyday life is now, I'm going to forget the little things.  Forget some of the funny comments, or what we are going through at this exact time.  I'm hoping now to get caught up. 

As I sat in my bed nursing last night, I went back through some pictures I've been taking on my phone, b/c as of lately, I don't even grab the nice camera, life happens too fast right now, for me to say "hold on" while I go and get it!!  But as I was looking at the pictures, I was reminded of what I would be missing if I wasn't so sleep deprived right now. 

I wouldn't have this BEAUTIFUL BABY....

I wouldn't have this beautiful, healthy, energetic toddler....

I wouldn't be able to enoy those "proud mommy/wife" moments watching Josh be such a good daddy...

I WOULD be using this a lot more, instead of it looking like this....

I wouldn't be making Friday night movie night memories with Jaycee...

I wouldn't get a date night with my husband...



I wouldn't have any fun, happy pictures with my girlies....

And if I was sleeping, I wouldn't be able to enjoy EVERY SECOND of watching them sleep on me...

Because as tired as I have been, these are the moments that I DON'T want to forget.  These are the moments WORTH staying up for!! 

So CHEERS to the no makeup, the messy house, the sleepy eyes, the dirty laundry, the 2am and 4 am feedings, the days in a row in pjs, and my INABILITY to function on little sleep!! Cheers with a caffeine- free diet coke, that is!! Because they're only this dependent on me for such a small time, and I'm not wasting it- sleeping!!

Jaclyn's arrival!!

As most of you know if you're arriving on my blog, Jaclyn Brooke Springer is here!! 
I was induced on Tuesday June 12th, 2012 at 6am, and she arrived at 11:39 a.m. weighing in at 7lbs 10 oz and was 20 3/4 inches long!  She is complete perfection in our eyes! :)  She came out with a head full of jet black hair, long fingers and toes, and a face that looked just like her daddy's! :)  LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!

 This delivery was NOTHING like my delivery with Jaycee.  And for that, I thank God still to this day!!  She came out in an easy 4 pushes.  Dr. Howell came in after 2 practice pushes, and then once he got suited up and gave me the go ahead- during my first push with him, I asked as I was exhaling if I was even pushing hard enough, and he said, "the head is already out!"  hahahaha- who knew!!  NOT ME! :)  One more push to finish it all up, and she was here!!  I laughed and looked up at Josh and said, "I could do that all day long!"  hahaha.  If only, they were all that easy.  I for one, know first hand, that they're not, so I speak this merely out of gratefulness to the good Lord above!!

Once everything was good to go, Josh went out into the waiting room to tell everyone, and we brought Jaycee back all by herself.  We wanted her to meet Jaclyn without the chaos from the rest of the family.  Jaycee was so excited, so loving, but also very unsure of what was going on!!  The picture above was our first picture as a family of 4.  Jaclyn was only minutes old! :)

The picture above is my mom, and my dad.  My sister had gone back to the house to grab, GET THIS- Jaclyn's stuff that I came to the hospital WITHOUT!!  I could have died.  It hit me the minute she was born. 

This picture above is Josh's mom, and his grandfather.

This was the first time that Jaycee got to hold Jaclyn.  She was SO GOOD with her.  She actually just rubbed her forehead nonstop for about 10 minutes.  I sat in the bed and cried in tears.  It was the sweetest thing ever!

She was so proud to be holding her by herself!! :)

The first picture of just me and my girls!!  I couldn't be happier in this picture!! :)  I told Josh over and and over that now I feel our family is complete! :)

Daddy and Jaclyn on her first full morning at home!!! 

Her first bath. 

BALLOONS GALORE!!  I do believe that Jaycee would be ok with more babies coming into this household as long as balloons were apart of that package!!!  hahaha.

Trying to take as many pictures of my big girl as I do the baby.  So glad she loves to show off and act goofy in front of the camera! :)

Jaclyn was only 4 days old in this picture.  I had to get this picture because I always wanted to remember her when her legs barely went past the boppy.  They grow up so fast!!

Jaclyn was a little over a week old in this picture, and it was the first day that she would stay awake longer than to eat, so I thought we would get out the playmat.  Jaycee LOVED showing her how it worked, and I loved seeing them in the floor together!

This beautiful, healthy baby girl that has already filled our lives with so much happiness, that we literally do not know what we did without her!!!  She's so laid back, and so sweet- we just can't get enough of her!! 

Stay tuned for posts about how this mommy is handling this transition to 2 kids, and what daily life is like with a toddler and a newborn.  You're sure to laugh, but hey- what doesn't kill ya...... ;)

38 weeks and doctor update!!

Yay!!!  38 weeks and counting.  38 weeks and 2 days to be exact.  1 week and 5 days until my due date!! :) I think in my last post, I posted 10,000 different emotions I was having.  Well today, the ONLY emotion I am having is EXCITEMENT!! 
I went to the doctor today, which included an ultrasound! :)  So instead of posting those horrendous pictures of me and my ginormous belly, I thought these pictures below would be a little easier to look at, and MUCH cuter! :)

Look at that adorable, smiling face!! :)  I almost couldn't contain myself!!

And then this picture, I thought looked EXACTLY like Jaycee.  If you go back in my blog to my last post of 2009, I have Jaycee's 38 week ultrasound picture up, and I think they look just the same!!  She had her arm across her face the whole time, but at one point, we actually stopped, and watched her sucking on her arm! :)  It was priceless.  I cried the ENTIRE ultrasound b/c of being overwhelmed with gratitude, and gratefulness, and excitement that I couldn't hold it together.  I looked at the lady doing my ultrasound and said, "Someone needs to get her out!!!!!" 

So here's all the stats between my ultrasound and appointment and well, just me being 38 weeks:

*Ultrasound detected a weight of 6 lbs 12 oz at this time.  (Almost a whole pound less than Jaycee at 38 weeks!)

*She is measuring right on track by the US measurements

* I have lost 2 pounds since last week!!!  Can you believe that?!?!  NOT ME!!  After memorial day get togethers, and the fact that I ate a whole thing of puppy chow by my lonesome- who would have thought?!? hahaha. I'll take it.  So now, I'm at a total weight gain of 27 lbs.

*I AM 1-2 CM DILATED AND 50% THINNED!!!  I type this in caps b/c if you remember, last week and the week before that- nothing, nada, frown face.  So progress is progress.  She has also moved about as down into my pelvis as she is going to before I go into actual labor!

*I figured she had moved down when over the weekend I felt like I needed surgery on my pelvis and hip.  My poor butt has never had so much pain!  I also feel like all of a sudden, I have to walk with that DEFINITE waddle, and I can't cross my legs much at all anymore! 

* My contractions are definitely strong, but not regular.  Some of them will stop me in my steps and take my breath away, but then not be regular.  Frustrating, but I guess since I'm progressing, they're doing their job! :)  I had one yesterday at Kohls and a lady stopped to ask if I was ok.  It's hard to hide a good strong contraction no matter if you're in public or not!

* Cravings: at this moment: Grape Nuts (the cereal), and Kool-Aid.  How random, right?!?!  I haven't had grape nuts in years, and I was in the car yesterday and couldn't get to Walmart fast enough.  And then I made Josh go to  Walmart tonight for red koolaid! hahaha.   

At my appointment today we discussed my "birthing plan" when it's in regards to induction/going on my own, etc.  I told him how I loved the thought of going on my own, but I wasn't a fan of going past my due date, AND he knows I have a fear of her getting too big and me not being able to push her out, since I had trouble with Jaycee.  THEREFORE, since he is on vacation next week, and my bp and everything has been great the whole pregnancy, I will not see him next week, but instead on the Monday he gets back which is 6/11.  He said if I even make it to that appointment, then he would get her out the next day or so.  I LOVED how he said, "if you even make it to that appointment"...... :) :) :) :) :)

So let's hope I don't make it to that appointment!!  Pray with me, will ya?!?! :)

36 weeks!!!

It still does not register to me sometimes, that in less than a month, (hopefully alot less than a month), another human being will be living in our house!!  It doesn't click with me yet.  It's so surreal.  It's so exciting that part of me thinks that it's just not true!  I am SO excited to meet her.  I am so excited to see if she looks like me, Josh, or Jaycee.  I am so excited to see what Jaycee will act like (once the transition stage is over).  I am so nervous about how our days are going to go down with a newborn and a toddler.  I am so scared that I won't be able to handle the pressure of two kids needing me at once.  I have SO many emotions.  But every free second that Jaycee isn't asking a question (which isn't often) or I'm not doing something for my family, I just try to remember to praise God for this blessing growing inside of me.  I look at Jaycee and it's hard to imagine loving something as equally as much, but I know I will.  I've been told the heart grows! I already love this little girl, and I already can't pray enough over her, and her health, and her future- It's. Just. Surreal.  That's the only way I know to put it.  It's getting so close and the anticipation of her coming is killing me!! :) 

So anyways, on to week 36!!

I am one, in charge momma!!  I just don't know if I can keep posting these pictures if I get any larger!!!  hahahaha.  I know I'm big, but when I see a picture of me, I always just.about.die!  But I'm big because a wonderfully made beautiful little girl is growing like a weed inside of me- right?!?!  :)  I always have to tell myself that! :)  I know it's a blessing, don't get me wrong! :)

So I went for my 36 week appointment yesterday. 

Weight: up another pound and a half.  So almost at the 28 lb mark total.  (Do I really care this far into it anymore- not really!! :) )

Cravings: It just depends on the day.  Sometimes something sweet, sometimes something salty, and other days- just fluids.  I always have to have a drink beside me!  I'm getting to where I snack more, and meal less.  I just don't have enough room anymore to sit for a meal.  I just wish I could snack as healthy as I try to make my meals for my family. 

*Not dilating or thinning yet. :(  I know I'm only 36 weeks and she technically does need to cook a little longer, so I guess I'm ok with that for right now. 

*The contractions are being noticed less, but the cramping is becoming stronger.  I guess that's why I was hoping that the cramping was b/c there was work in progress being made on the ol' cervix, but Dr. Howell said, cramping is a good sign at this point- regardless if it's worked it's magic yet or not!  So maybe next week!! (fingers crossed!)

*Dr. Howell has another US scheduled for me in 2 weeks to get an estimated fetal weight.  We did that with Jaycee, and b/c of her weight, I needed to be induced b/c she was showing 8 lbs.  It was a good thing I was induced.  They still had to use the vaccum to get her out.  So I'm hoping this one is a little smaller, or at least her head a little smaller.  I am hoping to already have this kid in two weeks, so we'll see!  I would just LOVE the chance to not have to be induced, but her not be too large to come on her own.  Since this is our last baby, I would love to have that chance of being here at home, and being like, "it's time to go!!'  Just the fantasy world inside of me I would love to experience. 

*I found out the full week that I'm 39 weeks, Dr. Howell is on vacation!!!  I said, "I have to get this kid out before then!"  So starting this morning, I've been hitting the concrete!  Knowing that God already has her birthdate set, it's pointless, but psychologically this baby's head is moving lower with every fast pace around the block!

*My tailbone/coccyx area and my pelvis/outer hip area can surely no longer be attached to each other.  I told Josh I'm more excited about the epidural taking that butt/hip pain away more than the contractions!  Sleeping is almost a chore.  I'm thinking about sleeping in the glider!  Laying down is so painful!

* Bags are packed, car seat is now in my car.

36 weeks and counting!!!!!!!

WE ARE READY WHENEVER YOU ARE MISS JACLYN BROOKE!!  But only when you can make a healthy entrance! :) 

35 weeks and peek at nursery! :)

 So here is a sneak peek of the nursery.  It's not a huge theme or anything.  I just wanted to make it cute and cozy, which I am very pleased with!  Here's the view from the doorway.  Still lovin' the tree! :)

The ever popular Hobby Lobby letters that I just took some small flowers from Michaels and hot glued on and added some ribbon.

Her dresser, and the tu tu on it, is what we are taking to the hospital for her hospital picture. It has a matching headband and flower.  My friend got it for me off of etsy, and it's absolutely adorable!! :)

Her bow holder!!  I always did not know what to do with Jaycee's headbands, so for now, I just added another nail hole in the wall to hang them.

This is actually the nightstand that goes with Jaycee's bedroom set, but we don't have room in her room for it, and I thought it went perfectly here.  The mirror also goes with Jaycee's bedroom suite too, but no where to put it.  Worked perfectly in this small space.  Once the diaper bouquet goes down, I have a pink and white polka dot lamp that is going in it's place.  (Ignore the bottle of wine in the floor- hahahaha- I just noticed it as I was typing this..)  It was a part of a sprinkle gift and I guess I hadn't taken it out of the room yet. :) So classy of me, right?!? ;)

This saying is one of Jaycee and I's favorite songs to sing, and so I know that Jaclyn will know it all to well too.  I couldn't resist buying it, especially since the colors coordinated.

I'm now 35 weeks pregnant! :)  I went to the doctor last week for my 34 week appointment. 

*At that time, I had only gained one more pound.  Now up to 26lbs total.

*I informed Dr. Howell of my many many contractions.  He wanted to increase my Procardia for the next couple of weeks and I REALLY didn't want to do that b/c of how poopy I am all over again by taking the small dose that I do everyday, so he checked me.  I am still sealed shut, so no increase in the meds!  Whoo hoo! :)  I was glad to hear I hadn't dilated, but then of course that made me feel like a wimp.  I told him to just call me a "weeny!" 

* I can't stay awake past 830 anymore.  And it's not even a question on if I nap when Jaycee naps.  I put her down and run to my bed as fast as possible.  People have learned not to call me between 12-2, b/c this girl isn't answering!! :) 

* Cravings: Cold Stuff.  I want anything that is cold when it hits my tongue.  A cold drink, ice cream, jello, cold fruit- anything- just as long as it's chilled.

*I feel like a human heater!  I am drenched in sweat 24/7!!  I do NOT remember having this symptom with Jaycee.  I am so hot, that I usually sleep without any covers on, and my husband is bundled up, and Jaycee has been known in the past 2 weeks to wake up saying, "brrrr, it's cold mommy!"  The only thing I knew to do, was put her back in her fleece pajamas, b/c there was no way the AC was/is getting turned down.

*I am in the process of making my lists on what to pack for Miss Jaclyn and me to take to the hospital.  It's making it very real for me to do that.  And it makes me nervous at the same time!!  I just told Josh tonight we needed to get the car seat in the car.  It's getting so very close!!! :)

I think that's it.  I go back to the doctor next Tuesday for my 36 week appointment, and from there I go weekly! :)  I'll update then! Happy Hump Day! 34 more days until her due date! :)