4 days and counting......

I'm going to start blogging more regularly again and just pretend that there wasn't a time when i went for weeks without writing. :)

4 days till we leave for the beach!! It will be our first vacation as a family of 3!!! I know Josh won't be doing much on the beach this year but I can't wait to put his little feet in the sand for the first time. When we went for Courtney's wedding we never took him out of the carrier during the wedding. I'm taking a blow-up bathtub that we borrowed from Emelie to use as a pool while we're there. He won't be doing much in it but since he's into taking baths now, maybe he'll tolerate splashing around a bit. I'm also excited to spend the whole week with lots of family. My Daddy, Mama, Granddaddy, Grandmom, Uncle Doug, Aunt Bonnie, Robert, Kate, Matt and Megan, David, Josh and myself will all be there for the week. We'll miss Tiffy, Chris and Beth!! I'll have to find someone to walk to the pier with me since Tiff's not coming. ;) We've rented 2 houses this year since all the Hand kids are married and require our own rooms. No more double bunk beds. :( The bigger house is right on the ocean!! And the other is directly behind it. Can't wait to have breakfast on the deck and watch the waves roll in. The houses are across the road from Kitty Hawk Kites and I think we already have plans to go get ice cream from over there. Lauren is coming next Friday to take some photos of the family. Mom has been wanting a portrait of all the "kids" since the boys got married last summer. We're all so busy and are on the go so much we still haven't gotten it done. If Lauren thought the photo shoot with the 3 of us was a trip, she's got a wild ride in store. I'm sure she'll have a few good stories to tell when she's done with the Hand Clan. :) Pray for her!! haha

I've made a list of everything I need to take to the beach. Geez...who knew one tiny person could require so much stuff?! :) I've already started packing the car up. I have most of it ready to go. I've even packed Josh's bag!

Josh had his first non-family babysitter Monday. Lauren (who was in our youth group @ Macedonia and lives 2 apartments down from us) came by to keep him. He slept the whole time! She was bummed but stayed around after I got home to play. He smiled and laughed for her. Such a sweet boy. Everyone has said just to hang tough until he is 3 months old and it will get better. They were so right. He's like a totally different baby! Not nearly as fussy, does much better in his car seat for longer periods of time (although I'm sure he thinks we're heading for NY again every time we put him in that thing!). He's been sleeping all night without being swaddled. It's been almost a week since I swaddled and bounced him to calm him down. He's taking baths like a normal baby, instead of insisting on a shower; and he's content just to hang out and splash around for a while. Tonight he stayed in so long he got all pruney! :) He's doing better with tummy time and prefers that David carry him around football style. I can't believe he'll be 3 months old Thursday. He's doing great. He's small for his age, but he's healthy and growing normally. His height and weight are about the same as far as percentages go so I've been told not to worry that he's getting enough to eat, or that he's behind. He sleeps through the night, he's happy and active. If he wasn't getting enough he wouldn't do any of that.


*steps onto soapbox*
I've had several people....women, in fact, ask me why I wasn't giving him formula because he is smaller than most babies his age. I'm sick of it. I decided before I was even pregnant that I wanted to breastfeed if I could. I know that some women can't. I totally understand their frustration. I've gone through a lot in just trying to keep breastfeeding for 3 months. But I feel that it's worth it and so I'm determined. I'm not anti-formula, really, I'm not. I realized that some mamas can't nurse, and some babies can't; for whatever reasons. That's why formula was made and it's wonderful that it's an option for those who need/want it. I don't want it or need it so leave me alone! :) Being asked over and over has made me question myself as a mother. Am I giving him enough to eat, should I at least supplement with formula, etc. Whatever a Mama's decision, she should be encouraged in that decision. I have friends who chose not to breastfeed and I never once asked them why or told them they were foolish or selfish. It's wrong for women to treat each other that way. *steps off soapbox* ;)

Lauren, who babysat Monday, had her apartment broken into. She didn't stay there Sunday night, and I'm glad she didn't. She didn't go by there before she came here yesterday either so she isn't sure when it happened. Between 10:45am Sunday and 12 pm Monday. We didn't hear or see anything and neither did the neighbors. They came in through the window in her guest bedroom. Just before Joshua was born, we had locks put on our windows. Before that, there weren't any. I've had to break in because I locked myself out before and if I can do it, anyone could. It's scary! Had it been our apartment, they would have come right in Joshua's room. It makes me sick just to think of it. I'm looking into some type of security system. Even if it's alarms on the windows and doors. I'd also like to get one of those arm things for the sliding door in our room. We should have done all this before now.

Josh has had lots of new friends born recently! He had a play date with Landon last week. He hasn't met Mia yet, but will soon. He met Savannah the day she was born and told me he thinks she's pretty....and she is. ;) He and his best buddy Ayden checked each other out last Sunday. It's so funny to watch two babies stare at each other.


I recently got a letter from my best friend in college, Mia. She's been married for a few years and I hadn't heard from her since before I got pregnant. Oddly enough, she had a baby girl March 11th!! We were both pregnant at the same time and didn't even know it! :) Baby Harley is just beautiful.

Josh is sleeping now so I'm off to bed too. I hate that we'll miss the meteor shower tonight. It's a tradition to watch it. Growing up we were always at the beach when it happened and Mama and Aunt Bonnie would fuss for us to go to bed, only to have Daddy and Uncle Doug wake us up at 1:00 am to go outside and see the meteors. :) It's storming here now so we'll miss it this year. It just wouldn't be the same without my brothers and cousins here anyway. Robert's in Raleigh, Matt's in Emporia, Chris is in Tennessee and Tiff's in Haiti. When did we all grow up and move away?! Sigh.....

Good night!

Birth Story

Ok, so it's been a month since Joshua was born and I've been a bit busy so no blogging for me. :)
I wanted to write his birth story out before I forgot most of it (need to update the baby book too!) and while I'm sure most of you already know how it all went down, here are the details anyway.

After being pregnant for 9 months, I was a bit antsy to have this baby come OUT and was trying to think of ways to make it happen. I was tired of waiting for Josh to make his debut on his own. On Tuesday, May 12th, Lauren and Pepper came over for a walk. We walked a pretty good distance (not sure just how far) and I was very tired and sore afterward. We had TNT that night and I had no time for a nap. David came home from work and we headed out to the Loft. Everything was normal that evening. No pains, no contractions (not even Braxton Hicks!). TNT was great (as usual) and we got back home around 9:30 or so. David had to go back to his office to finish up some work and I went to bed. He got back home at 10:30 or so and I was still awake. I couldn't get comfy and was having a hard time falling asleep. He hooked up his laptop and worked/watched tv in bed for a while. I started having a crampy feeling and David noticed that I was in pain. He asked how far apart the pains were and after timing them at about 5 minutes apart, we began to wonder if this was it! I got up to potty around 11:30 and my water broke! I couldn't believe it! We both freaked a little and then calmed down enough to call the midwife and get our things together for the hospital. We called our parents on the way to the hospital (Daddy thought I was joking). My parents got up, dressed and hit the road! David's mom had been vacationing at the OBX that week and planned to come later that morning. We thought Joshua would wait for her to get here!

By the time we arrived at the hospital the contractions were getting intense. I was so excited! We finally got checked in (that pre-registration stuff is a joke!) and they hooked me up to an iv, fetal heart monitor, contraction monitor and blood pressure monitor. They drew some blood and sent it off for testing. They told me that when it came back, I could get an epidural, which I was planning to do. They got me set up in a room (wonderful room!!) and my parents arrived shortly after. My brother, Robert & his wife, Kate also came from Raleigh. She had said from the beginning that I needed to go into labor during the night so she could call in "sick" from work to be there. ;)

By now, the contractions were coming 3 at a time and VERY close together. The first wouldn't even stop before the next one would come. Everyone kept watching the monitor to tell me when it was going back down. They were all great. We talked (which helped disctract me) and laughed (ask about the farting chair we had) and encouraged me to breathe through it and NOT make any noise (unlike the lady next door!). By about 4 am I was asking where that epidural was and told mom I felt like it would help to push. She said "no, you haven't been here long enough....." and I ordered David to find a nurse because I was going to start pushing. :) Dad and Robert had escaped to the waiting room by this time and Mom and Kate also went while the nurse finally brought in the epidural pump. She checked me and told me she thought I was ready to go! She went and got the midwife, Diette, and she checked me and said "Yep, we're ready! We'll have a baby in about 10 minutes!" Just then the anesthesiologist came in and Diette asked if I was going to be able to sit still on the bed for him to give me the epidural. I told her no, that I needed to push now!

So, I started pushing. David was great! He was encouraging and supportive. The nurse, Amy, was great and Diette was awesome. I had great "coaching" from all of them and couldn't have done it as quickly as I did without them. Meanwhile in the waiting room.......Mom and Kate were getting antsy. :) They had been out there for about 20 minutes and were expecting David to come and get them to let them know that I had gotten the epidural and they could come back to the room. They decided to give us 10 more minutes and then they would come back with or without permission. After 5 (b/c they were very impatient!) they headed back down the hall to our room. The door was shut and a nurse came out just as they got to it. They heard Joshua crying and mom asked the nurse who's baby that was. The nurse said "She had that baby!"

So, after about 5 hours of labor and 10 minutes of pushing (and NO pain meds!), Joshua was born at 4:33 am on Wed, May 13th. He weighed 7 lb 3 oz and was 20 in long. :)


The staff at PCMH was awesome. After David cut the cord, they put a hat on Josh and I just held him. It was a long time before they gave him his bath and we got him dressed. I think we all held him before all that.



Matt and Megan came later that day to meet Josh. So did David's mom and Gram. We had lots of visitors and were very proud to show him off. :) We have the most wonderful friends. We're so blessed.

It's amazing that I remember some details and others are just a blur. I only remember bits and pieces of what happened while I was pushing. I know they couldn't keep track of Josh's heart beat and Diette told me that we had a little baby and his heart rate was going down so we needed a really good push to get him out. I remember David telling me he could see Josh's hair and I asked if his head was beautiful. :) It is.


It will be 4 weeks Wednesday since he was born and it feels like we've had him forever. He's already changed so much and the time really does fly! He lost a lot of weight after he was born and it took him 3 weeks to get back up to his birth weight. But, we've gotten the eating thing down now so he's packing on those pounds......er, ounces! :) I've been so lucky to have my Aunt Bonnie, who is a Lactation Consultant, just a phone call away to ask questions and get opinions and advice. I've also made a contact with the La Leche League here in Greenville, Mimi. She's WONDERFUL!!! She came by on a Saturday (when I was ready to quit breastfeeding) and spent 2 hours with me and Josh working on everything. Breastfeeding isn't easy, isn't the wonderful mom-baby-bonding time I anticipated and I've had a few setbacks, but I'm determined. She's been checking in on us, without being annoying about it, and I'm comfy calling her to ask questions. And best of all, it's all FREE!!


Doesn't he look like a little man sitting there?! So cute!


And this one's my (current) favorite.

Ok, that's all for now, and yes, I really am writing all this at 3:30 in the morning. He's been asleep since 10:30!!! I'm so glad that 3 week growth spurt is over! I'll need 3 weeks to recover before his 6 week growth spurt. :) I'm going to head back to bed, as I'm sure he'll be up to eat again soon.

37 week check-up

We had a good visit at the OBGYN this morning. All my cultures from last week were negative so that means no antibiotics when it's time to have the baby. :) I know if it had been positive it wouldn't be a big deal, but I'm glad that's one less thing we'll have to worry about when the time comes. We'll also be able to leave the hospital earlier than if it had been positive.

Everything else is good. BP was good, urine was negative. The only pains I've been having is a feeling like my pelvis is coming apart (which rarely happens...but could). It hurts to even stand up. Carolyn (one of the midwives) said that she had the same pains when she was pregnant and it was normal. I wasn't worried about it....it just hurts! :) I did measure a week behind (36 weeks again this week) and Carolyn said it could be because Joshua has dropped a little. His feet (and boney little butt!!) aren't quite in my ribs like they had been.

I didn't do any crazy cleaning yesterday....but I'm loving my clean kitchen I worked on Saturday night. I also got a few things done in the nursery. Here's a picture of the letters Lauren made for us hanging over the crib. I love them!!

And just for fun, here's an updated picture of the baby birds out in the front yard.

Babies Everywhere!

Spring has sprung in our front yard!

Aren't these baby robins so cute?? :) I'm sure their mother thinks they are. They just hatched a day or two ago and are still very quiet. I'm sure as they get older we'll be able to hear them holler for food!

Still Here......

It's been a month or so since I last blogged. I just haven't felt like it. :) Soooo, I'll try to play catch-up and fill everybody in on the goings-on in the White House since the last post.

The nursery is pretty much complete. The crib and changing table are ready to go, we got a chest of drawers and have it filled with clothes already! We rearranged the room a little to make room for the chest and hopefully a rocker/glider/whatever. My sweet husband used his saturday morning to clean out the closet in the nursery. (I think it went pretty quickly once I was out of his way!) ;) I didn't take an updated picture because we haven't hung pictures or anything else and still have 2 showers to go. I'm sure we'll be doing more rearranging even after Joshua's home.

Speaking of pictures.....Lauren took some wonderful pregnancy photos of me and David a few weekends ago. (You can check them out on my facebook) We were really excited about having them done and will finally have something to hang in the baby's room. Lauren's very creative and an awesome photographer (PLEEEEAASE check out her website).

We made an impromptu trip up to Yorktown to visit with David's mom, gram and sister a few weeks back. We had a good time (as always!) and enjoyed getting to spend some time with them. On the way back home, we stopped at 7-11 and got a hot dog for dinner. David and I used to do that a lot when we lived in Elizabeth City and thought it was a treat since we don't have any 7-11s here. It wasn't such a treat this time. :( David apparently got a little case of Salmonella. It got pretty ugly pretty fast. It's been 2 weeks and he's just about back to normal again. I'm glad he's feeling better. He never gets sick!! Not even a cold!! I'm sorry he was sick, but I'm glad it wasn't me!

I went to Gasburg for the weekend and spent some time with dad, mom, Robert & Kate. I went there to attend Courtney's wedding shower. She and Zach are getting married May 16th at Nags Head and I want to go SOOOO badly!! (Yes, that is 2 days before our due date) I'm hoping we'll get to go, but since our time is now scheduled by Joshua, we have to do whatever he wants. :) Anyway.....it was a nice party and we all had a good time. Lots of laughing (which is good anytime!) Isn't she gorgeous?

In other baby news: We had our 36 week check-up today. (Not fun...but not as bad as I thought) I am 1 cm dialated and 5% effaced. I'm not getting too excited about it....he hasn't dropped and I could be 1 cm right up until my due date! She said she thought we were right on schedule. My BP was good, pulse a little low and everything else was good. They did the strep B test and other tests that we'll get the results of next Monday when we go back. I can't believe we're having weekly visits already!!! These loooong months have flown by!! She did determine that Joshua is head down (they haven't been 100% sure until today!) so we didn't get an ultrasound. :( I want to see him so badly!!! I guess I'll have to wait until he actually gets here; which would be better than an ultrasound anyway! Freida (the midwife I saw today) drew a picture on my belly of how Joshua is sitting. Isn't that funny?! David missed the drawing and so I showed him after we left the office....he laughed really hard. :)

And just for good measure, here's an updated belly pic for the grandmas (and everybody else).