Quite Eventful

The past two weeks have been quite eventful around here. I have SO much I want to record before I forget it all in the blur and haziness of this season I've just entered. I'm not sure the documenting will happen though because I really am trying to rest when possible instead of write and blog and catch up on anything going on in the blogosphere, and that's not very often. I'm in SHOCK right now that both kids are asleep, Wes is out on a jog, and I'm on the couch in pajamas with my eyes open. The shocking part comes from the both kids asleep thing though. Whew! So instead of trying to write out a formal run down of the past two weeks, I'm going to bullet point tonight, and then if I have the energy and mental capacity, I'll go into more detail on specific events for myself and for anyone interested later.
*Wednesday, September 5th: Doctor's appointment. I tell Dr. Hargus that I think this baby is big, and she says I may be right. I don't like the idea of inducement, but when she says she's on call Monday the 10th, I say sign me up and get me on the schedule. (She later said she was very glad we had decided to induce. You will see why in a few more bullet points. Basically, my hunch was right.)
*Thursday, September 6th: Ultrasound. Baby is measuring 8 pounds 14 ounces...give or take 21 ounces. Hmmm.
*Sunday, September 9th: Mom and Dad come up, and reality begins to hit. I shower, dry, straighten my hair and finish packing my bags along with Reese's backpack for her first day of school.
*Monday, September 10th: 6am check in at the hospital. IV successful on first try unlike the 8 attempts it took during Reese's labor, Penicillin for GBS begins, and Pitocin begins at a very low dosage. Two rounds of antibiotics in by noon, and I'm feeling good. Still only at a 2. Mopsy and Leah have dropped Reese off at her first day of MDO, and I get a most adorable picture text of my sweet girl. 12:15--Hargus breaks my water. Contractions immediately pick up pace and intensity. I ask for the epidural because I want a different experience than with Reese. Her labor was AWFUL, and I just imagine a happy experience this time. Epidural in, but it only numbed my right leg from thigh to foot (they tried to pull it out some, but my scoliosis is probably what got in the way.) So basically, I am on board for another natural labor. Here we go. I tell myself not to freak out, I remember breathing techniques from two years ago, and Wes' skills come back automatically as well. He breathed aloud right next to me so I could mimic him. I drop my shoulders, moan if necessary, and try to relax as much as possible. I pray and I talk as often as I can. Nurse Gina tells me I'm making progress fairly quickly, and long story short, transition lasts 45 minutes instead of 4 1/2 hours. Or at least it was WAAAY shorter than Reese's. I can't remember if it was 45 minutes, an hour or what. It's all a blur now, but I just remember having my eyes closed for the majority of the second half of labor. At 5:30, I'm told I'm there and am ready to have this baby. I'm exhausted, but we go forward. At 5:59, Graham Cleveland Walker arrives. I get to hold him. He cries. They take him to weigh him, and I hear giggles. I can't see the scale for the nurses in front of it, but I hear someone say, "Who is going to tell her?" GCW weighs in at 9 pounds 8 ounces. I laugh. I'm more relieved that labor is over and Graham is here than anything in my entire life. I'm so glad that the 9 pounds and 8 ounces is in my arms and not in my belly. I nurse him for almost an hour. Family comes in a few at a time. I get moved to a postpartum room. More family. More friends. More sweet time holding my son. This is the picture I had prayed for, and I'm so thankful for a healthy baby. Apgar score 9.9.
*tuesday, September 11th: Mopsy and Popsy bring Reese to meet baby brother. Alison takes pictures and captures all of the sweet moments. Visitors throughout the day and evening. Naps here and there. We decide to stay until Wednesday morning and let the nursery keep Graham in between feedings that night so we can sleep. Super smart decision.
*Wednesday, September 12th: Home by noon. Greeted by Reese and Mopsy at the door. Welcome to our new normal.
*In the following few days, we get out a few times to Chick-fil-a and to Gap. I take Reese on a mommy-daughter date. I figure out how to change a boy diaper--Wes is the go-to diaper changer in the hospital.
*Sunday, September 16th: Church as a family of four. Mopsy leaves. Gran arrives for the week.
*Monday, September 17th: MDO Week 2. Reese is a wreck at drop-off, and let's face it, so is mom. We have to pick her up early. her world has been ROCKED, she's having a tough transition, and school is new. Could use some prayers in this department.
*Tuesday, September 18th: REESE TURNS TWO!!! Cousins and aunts come to celebrate with pizza and cupcakes. We jump, play, and eat outside all while Graham sleeps. Ahhh.
*Thursday, september 20th: Graham forgets how to sleep soundly.
*Friday, September 21st: Graham remembers, or at least God blesses us with a beautiful, glorious morning of naps and happy hearts. I clean, Wes gets off work at noon, I take Graham to the Rogers Homecoming Pep Rally, and we get out as a family to Pottery Barn.
*Here we are. I know I have left out a TON of sweet and hard details I will want to remember, but this will have to do. I'm definitely in the hormonal bubble and haze, and life is hard right now. To me. I question a lot. I overanalyze. I overthink. I get anxious about handling Reese and a newborn on my own. I wonder why Graham has gas issues and why he can't get to sleep easily at times or stay asleep. I wonder how I can help, or if this is all just normal newborn stuff. I remember that God has me here, and this is my role. I breathe, and I sleep when I can. I remember that my two children are the most incredible blessings and gifts. I cry at the drop of a hat. I cry at any worship song because it brings to surface the goodness and mercy of our Father. But again, I breathe and remember to thank God constantly. He really is too good to us.

On to the pictures that don't really even begin to document these past two weeks.

Off to have a baby!

Oh, things are looking so rosy here. Obviously this is still the morning hours. 

Leah popped by for a visit. I'm still feeling great. 

I get this text around 10 of Reese going into school. Can you get any sweeter?

Fast forward to 5:59 pm. He's here! Hallelujah, praise the Lord!

Our children are going to look alike. I will make sure to post some side-by-sides soon. Graham has more dark hair and, different ears, and smaller eyes, but that's all I can see at this point in terms of differences. I like that they will hopefully look like siblings.

Just a few of my incredible friends who came by to visit.

Night 1. I was so giddy that I got to have my baby in the room with me that I took a few middle of the night self portraits. 

Reese meeting Baby Brother Graham.

Mwah. Kisses for Graham.

Home Sweet Home.

Shopping with three of his favorite ladies. Momma, Sister, and Mopsy. (By the way, I totally missed getting pictures of Mopsy and Gran these past few weeks. They spoiled me rotten, cooked, cleaned, rocked, played hard with Reese, and much, much more. I couldn't ask for more. Seriously.)

"Hold it."

Painting with Mopsy.

When I get sappy and emotional, I look at a picture like this. INCREDIBLE blessings.

Happy Birthday, Reese!!!

Another outing for Brother.

After getting a birthday smoothie and filling up balloons, we celebrated with cupcakes!

Cabela's aquarium. BIG fish.

I love how we capture the sleepy times and not the crying ones. Thankfully, the sleepy time is still going strong right now. 

Quite possibly by new favorite picture. 

Celebrating Early

You see, my due date is next Sunday, and Reese turns two nine days later. I found out this past week that my doctor doesn't even begin to discuss induction until I'm over a week past my due date. Brother could have a later birthday than Sister, and I guess they could even share the 18th. I'm praying against that and that I'll have him this next week; however, with the craziness that I knew September would bring, we planned Reese's 2nd Birthday Party for this morning...and I'm so glad we did. It went off without a hitch, and the sun even came out so that kids could play outside for a bit. 

It was a very laid-back breakfast party, and I told everyone that I have claimed breakfast birthday parties for both of these kids from now on. It was super easy to plan, an easy prep, and great for those football Saturdays when lots of people head to tailgate a few hours later. It wore Reese out, and I even had to wake her up from her nap this afternoon. 

I hope to do a big 2 Year Old Update on Reese closer to her actual birthday, but it may be smart to go ahead and type that one out in the next few days. Until then, her birthday celebration began with a bang this morning, and we are so grateful for all of the family and friends who came to love on Reese. Along the way, you will get a few glimpses of our new home.

Our mostly decorated living room minus our rug that is coming in a few weeks. Ready to Par-Tay!

Hey, cute 6 month old Reese.

Rise and Shine! It's Reese's party Time!

Favors were plastic bowls and spoons with little cereal boxes. Easy and cute; or at least I think so.

Front study coming together. 

Juice and Water. 

Breakfast Party simplicity. Donuts, apple fritters, bran muffins, and fruit (not on the table at this point).

Hey, Birthday Party Girl.

You sure are darling.

The newly expanded Kyles Family. 

Aunt Jayme with Cat and buddy Harper.

Girl cousins.

Cousin Ty. 

Becca and sweet Blair.

Just doing her own thing during her party.

Yay for old friends. 

Thanks to the Penturfs for lending us the bouncy house. Huge hit.

Reese. As chill as always.

Thank you, Honey, for getting this picture. Ha. Let me give the background...This was an hour and a half into the party at least, and I had been all over the house and outside standing the entire time, and then I realized my blood sugar was a bit low. I needed to sit and eat something. So I did. Oh, this picture will be one we keep around for a while. 

Birthday Party Girl sending off some of her guests.

Family Picture. Only when looking at this picture did I realized I hadn't changed into my cute sandals for the party. Oh well. OLD Rainbow flip-flops did the job.

As good as we could get. I should have thought about getting family pictures done BEFORE the party. She was done at this point.

LOVE her with all of my heart.

LOVE my little ankle crosser and book reader.

Some pics from my mom's phone and camera...

This girl got so many great things today, and I'm so thankful she has some new toys and books going into what most likely will be a month of staying at home. I should probably hide some of them right now so I can bring them out at the needed moments.

Mopsy brought up a rocking chair for R's room, and she's now so happy to have a big chair. Her old (and much loved) rocker/glider is now Brother's.

this chair is Reese's great-great-grandmother's from Wadley, Alabama.

A tiny sneak peek of the nursery.

I LOVE the colors.

Reese's room. Waiting to do any more until she is in a big girl bed, but I LOVE it even now.

Multitude

I have had such a multitude of everything this week. Emotions, experiences, highs, and lows. And in the midst of it all, God has reminded me that He is not limited by time, and no circumstance I find myself in is a surprise to Him. He is sovereign, and He grants me new mercies each day. This is a collection of promises He has made, and each one spoke to me this week.

Let's start with the emotions. It's hitting me that I'm having another child, and I have just been eaten up with excitement. The moment I get to meet my son is coming soon; It's coming very soon. I get to find out if he looks like his big sister which means he will take after his mommy or if he will look like his daddy which would be so fun (and of course quite the blessing as his daddy ain't too hard on the eyes.). I get to look into his eyes and tell him about the moment I found out he was on his way. I fell to the floor in tears crying out to our Father in thanksgiving and praise. What a blessing I knew it was to get the chance to have a second child. I get to hold him and count his fingers and toes. I get to kiss him all over and swaddle him. I get to learn about him and what makes him tick. I get to introduce him to his big sister and all of his loving and doting family members and friends. These are all such incredible blessings that I am praying I get to experience in the next couple of weeks.

Another set of emotions I've been overcome with could be considered lows. I have woken up numerous times in the middle of the night wondering how the moment would go when labor begins. I think I'm realizing that I pretty much panicked when my water broke with Reese; simply put, her labor was traumatic. This time, I have a bit more to think about on top of that...I must get Reese taken care of and get to the hospital as soon as possible to get antibiotics started. I must get these things done while I'm in labor, and I had no easy moment of labor with Reese. I know very well that this time could be completely different. I may have contractions for a long time before my water even thinks about breaking, and I know that I have plenty of help being offered for the second labor begins. If I forget something at home, someone can bring it to me. If we have to take Reese with us for a little bit, we take Reese with us. If two full rounds of antibiotics aren't in before Baby arrives, they will watch him even more carefully. And again, as I stated in the beginning, God is with us. He loves my son more than I do; what more could I ask for? All that to say, I've had my fair share of anxious moments this week. However, I can tell you right now that the Lord really is answering prayers, and I'm being filled with way more joyful emotions than the opposite. Joy comes in the morning, and those middle of the night anxiety-filled awakenings are coming to a halt. I'm sleeping through the night, and I don't even have to wake up to empty my bladder. What?! Thank you, Lord.

Onto the experiences. I'm not sure that's the best word to use, but what I'm trying to say is that I've been busy. I've had a multitude of things happening this week. I have created a master to-do list, and it's awesome. It's divided into five categories. Reese's Birthday Party (next Saturday!), Baby Prep, 30 Day List (this is something we have to create for our builder/developer on our new home to come and fix any repairs we have found in our first 30 days), Grocery (of course), and Last Minute Items to Grab/Pack for Hospital. Some random things have made it onto the master sheet, but they don't fit a particular category. This weekend alone, more than half of the Baby Prep list was marked off, and what's left isn't essential. Well, except our newly cleaned car seat is now drenched with rain as we had set it out to dry before the fabulous monsoon occurred today. Oops. So, baby, please come until after it dries. Or sweet friend, please stop by the house and bring it to the hospital if we go tonight. I really think we are at least a week away from the big day, but my doctor's words this week made my eyes bug out a bit. "If you don't have the baby by next week, I'll see you on Thursday." Oh, okay. I could totally have a baby now.

This coming week will be more of the same, but I anticipate even more excitement and readiness. Reese has her 2 year check-up (I scheduled it a few weeks early!), Wes and I are going on a date, and I'm getting things ready for a party on Saturday and a baby sometime.
I'll be back soon with either pictures of a new baby, pictures of a 2nd birthday party, or the long awaited pictures of the new house that I LOVE. (BTW, It's coming along exactly the way I wanted. LOVE EVERY ROOM even though we still have lots of work left to do!) Until then...here are my new favorite pictures of Reese. I have stared at them for longer than I should admit.

37 Weeks

Remember when I took a picture of my belly each week?

That hasn't happened in two years. 

I am seriously sad that I haven't documented this pregnancy as much as Reese's, but I figure it's par for the course. I'm a bit busier, a bit more tired, and a bit more distracted. Oh, and I have something else way cuter to take pictures of than myself. Reese dances around, and I just point the camera at her. Don't get me wrong, little fella. You are PRECIOUS, but I'm hardly ever looking fancy enough to match your cuteness. This picture below? After a play date in the 95 degree heat and a crazy meltdown-infused trip to the Neighborhood Market with Big Sister, I sat down to eat my dessert when she went down for her nap, and I thought to myself I should take a picture. Wes' t-shirt and my old Gap yoga capris. Hair pulled up, no make-up. 37 weeks. 

But here's a little update to go along with the picture.

I'm really feeling good but not great like I did with Reese. I was 100% comfortable with her until my water broke the day after my due date. For real. This time around I find myself tossing and turning much more at night and waking up several times with sore hips. I finally just slept on my back last night for a long stretch, and that helped. Reese LOVES babies and wants to "hold it" any time she sees a real life one. Sorry, Charlie and Rooney. She wants to hold you all the time. I'm praying this love and fascination will continue with her own baby brother. I found out the other day that I am indeed Group B Strep positive. If you were around two years ago, you may remember that Reese was born with this infection and stayed in the NICU for 12 days. I had tested negative and didn't receive antibiotics during labor, and sweet Reese arrived and delivered me the most emotional 72 hours plus of my life. We are praying against this infection and praying that I'll labor long enough to get the four hours of antibiotics in before Baby Boy arrives. I'll be talking to my doctor next week about the results and if she has any specific thoughts or recommendations. 

I honestly am getting more excited about this baby boy every day. I have lots of thoughts and questions about what he will be like daily, and I trust that the Lord is keeping Him in the palm of His Hand. What a great promise.  

Well, here's to 37 weeks!