Friday Faves - Austin's Birth Story

Well - it's been a HECK of a past 4 weeks. I mean. NOTHING could prepare me for the craziness that has gone down since my baby shower on March 13th. NOTHING.

The weekend of March 12/13 was on my schedule for a long time.

I knew that Friday I was going to clean my house all day and get ready for my cousins to come from PA. I was clearing things out and making room for my baby shower stuff since my shower was that Sunday. Things were pretty typical. Or so I thought.

Rewind to Thursday March 10th.

That night my back was killing me. So I had Ted rub it.

Then of course I "over did" things on Friday with all the cleaning and didn't quite feel right.

Thought nothing of it though.

Saturday - we had a 1st birthday for our friends' son.

I felt awful. Huge, uncomfortable and AWFUL.

Back hurt Saturday too....had Ted rub it again til I fell asleep.

Sunday - my shower.

It was BEAUTIFUL!

However, I felt terrible.

But - like a lady, I put on a happy face and hammered through it.

Everyone helped bring things back to our house.

The unfinished nursery and our guest room were FULL of bags and gifts and boxes etc.

So we go to bed around 11pm.

11:45pm - I get up to use the bathroom, I feel terrible still and my back is killing me.

12:35am I get woken up by my water breaking.

Exactly 4 weeks early.

36 weeks pregnant.

12 hours after my shower.

Nothing ready.

I was terrified. 

I thought it was too early.

I was scared the baby wouldn't be big enough.

I was nervous because my plan was a scheduled C-Section for April 5th

I didn't prepare for LABOR

Mentally. Physically. Everything. I was NOT ready.

But God had other plans....

So here we are in the middle of the night Calling the Dr.

Calling my mom.

Calling my best friend.

Scared.

Ted was in GO mode. He was so good. I'm so thankful for his calmness in my complete state of panic. It was bad. I might have been in shock.

After FINALLY getting word from a midwife from my doctors office, we were headed to the hospital. At this point, contractions were pretty close and strong.

Again, things that my naïve self was NOT prepared for.

 We got to the hospital around 1:30

I was 3cm dilated and 70% effaced.

In my mind - this wasn't good.

I was still high risk.

Baby boy was still breech and NOT moving out of that position.

I was checked by the midwife who told me my doctor was on his way.

Thank God my doctor was on call!

He walked in, looked at me and my chart and said Ok lets go.

I was off to surgery within minutes.

I was prepped and in the surgery room by 2:45

Ted joined me as soon as I was fully prepped.

He looked so cute in the scrubs.

I was shaking like crazy.

Nerves, medicine, being cold, I don't know but I couldn't stop.

Then before we knew it, at 4:06am

He was here.

7lbs 2oz 19" long

Austin Frank

Perfect.

All my concerns and issues - gone. 

He was here and he was HEALTHY. 

His weight was perfect. 

He didn't need oxygen. 

He didn't need a thing. 

I was so happy. 

Ted was so happy. 

We became mommy and daddy in that moment and we are forever changed. 

In the next week or so I promise to share my nursery reveal because it's FINALLY done after little stinker came in the middle of finishing it!

And I'll share my baby shower pictures too! But for now, some pictures from Austin's big welcome to the world...

At the hospital...ready to meet our boy!

He is here!!

Perfection 

Up for 24 hours but don't care!

The sweetest little nose!

Leaving the hospital! 

(I'll post again on what we grabbed because you know my bag wasn't packed lol) and what I needed and what I didn't need... I'm such a minimalist!

Best daddy ever 

Heading home!

We love you!

~Tiffany~

Life Lately

These last few weeks of being pregnant are flying. I almost wish I could slow it down but it the same sense I can't wait to meet our baby boy! So here's a look at life lately...

Amen to this pic... I love me some pickles 

This is what I'll be wearing to my shower. That's this weekend which I thought was kinda close to my due date, but we're good! I'll post pics of it on me next week!

I wore this Pink Blush dress again this past weekend to a baby shower. It's just so comfy and I love it. Different group of people so it was all good. Lol 

The favors were so cute at the shower. The theme was elephants so there was peanuts around and brittle for the favors. 

My brother came over to help my hubby put the crib together and he showed me all these pictures of my dad that he had. I had never seen this and it just makes me laugh. He had the best smile. This was in California when he went to help a friend get his car running. 

Part of our nursery. After the shower I'll get everything finalized and share more pictures. But for now I'm loving going in there and sitting in the chair thinking about his arrival. 

Basically how I feel most days...

I absolutely love this...how true. 

And can we talk about meatball parm pizza. Oh. My. Gosh. It was amazing. Absolutely amazing. 

We bought these little elephant dresser knobs for the sliding closet doors in the nursery and I put one on yesterday and just love it!

I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday with my girlfriend and got a few things. This frame is one of them and exactly what I was picturing for the A in the nursery. That will be on the wall this weekend too!

And for fun, I was looking through my albums on Facebook and just love this picture of us on our honeymoon in Aruba. This was a perfect day. 

I sent this picture to my hubby and said it would be a perfect first Mother's Day present. I don't think he agrees. Haha #mamacandream

This was one of the first "belly" pictures I took. It was in a Kohls dressing room. I remember sending it to my best friend in Texas saying it was a maternity shirt or was going to buy and I was excited that I had a little belly....

Fast forward to 2 nights ago... Yowza!

Being pregnant has been amazing. Despite my complications and high risk, all is well and me and baby are doing great. I'll talk more about that after his safe delivery. I'm looking forward to this weekend and can't wait to share with y'all ! 

~Tiffany~

Friday Favorites: Baby Things....Opinions Welcome!

Linking up with the girls to share some favorites about baby...

 

I thought I'd share the things I've gotten so far that I just love.

And some things that I want...

 

ONE

 

I've mentioned before about my glider & ottoman from Babies 'R Us that I adore..

 

We got such a great deal on this - AND I just absolutely LOVE it.

Anyone have any opinions on chairs like there vs. the traditional rockers?

 

TWO

 

This diaper bag!

 

 

Pottery Barn Kids of course...

It's just so cute and I love the navy and the personalization!

I added it to my registry AND told my hubby that this would be a great gift from him

**hint hint**

I've read several reviews and people seem to love this bag.

I had originally wanted a Barrington diaper bag, but I actually like this one more.

Shocking. Seriously. I love ALL things Barrington...

But then again, I love all things PBK too!

Anyone have one of these?

 

 

THREE

 

Hobby Lobby for all things decorating!

I got the cutest sign for above the changing table from there.

Since my "pop" of color in the gray and white nursery is navy, this goes well!

 

 

I also picked up the letter of his first name, painted it navy and will frame it....

Something I saw on Pinterest a while back and loved.

Also, it's something that Joanna Gaines does on Fixer Upper in every house...

Look for it next time you watch!

 

 

You will see my finished product when I do the nursery reveal!

 

 

 

FOUR

 

All.Things.Elephant.

 

Oh my gosh the cuteness.

It doesn't help that HomeGoods, Marshalls and TJMaxx all have all these adorable gray and white elephant nursery accessories.

 

 

 

I may or may not have bought some of them....and gotten yelled at by my mom to stop buying myself stuff before my shower!

Oh well....

 

I just can't resist!

#GIMMEALLTHEELEPHANTS

 

FIVE

 

Baby Wraps!!

Now, I've never used one before, but I sure want to!

I registered for one that a friends wife told me about...

 

The Moby Wrap

 

 

These are available at Babies 'R Us - and since I'm registered there, I added it to my registry.

 

Having been a reader of Heather's blog - Notes from The Nelsens - for a long time now, I saw her reviews of the wrap she uses and that is...

 

The Solly Wrap

 

If I don't get the one I registered for I will most likely go for this one....

Either way, I definitely want a wrap.

 

SIX

 

I got this comfy outfit for the hospital and of course when I'm home.

 

I'm going to be in the hospital for about 3 days since I have to schedule a C-Section (more on that at another time) so I want something cute to wear when I have visitors. The tank is for nursing and the robe is super comfy and perfect to cover up with.

 

What products/items do you have or have you used that you think I just NEED and can't live with out?? I'm curious to see what everyone's favorites are!

 

~

 

So that is all for now...

I'm hoping to get the nursery situated and finalized over the weekend.

I have a baby shower on Saturday and a Baptism on Sunday.... but I plan for us to be productive at home regardless....

AND as if this weren't enough - we are re-listing our house on April 1st.

So we have a few other home things to get done!!

 

Have a great weekend friends!

 

~Tiffany~

 

Bump-date !

I haven't done anything like this yet so here we go.... 

How Far Along: 23 weeks today!

Total weight gain: 9 or 10 pounds

Maternity clothes: Everything I wear! Except the occasional big hoodie or sweats.

Stretch Marks: No! I use cocoa butter but  really haven't gained weight rapidly so thankfully there are none of those!!

Belly button in or out: In but I think it's going to be out soon

 
Exercise: Not really. I've been walking a lot shopping if that counts! Haha I've been working all day then going home and doing the wife thing, so I haven't had much time to walk the neighborhood like I did in the beginning.

Best moment this week: My hubby being able to feel the baby moving on the outside. Seeing tears in his eyes when he felt our baby moving was priceless.

Miss Anything: Subs! I want an Italian sub SO bad... But all that lunch meat isn't good. I also miss pork roll!! Ugh, I ate pork roll like almost once a week... If you know pork roll, you know why!

Movement: Alllllllllll day he's moving around. I love it. And like I said, having my husband be able to feel the baby is so awesome.

Food cravings/aversions: My cravings are so weird!! I crave things from my childhood... like those nasty color drinks in the plastic container with the foil top...what the heck are they called...

I also have been craving the most random things at random times.

 

For example, last night while laying in bed I craved a sandwich from a place that closed last year. I also crave Hot Sam pretzels with Nacho Cheese - Hot Sam chain closed down about 10 years ago! And I also want burgers and all things meat.

Symptoms: Fortunately, I haven't had awful symptoms. I've gotten woken up in the middle of the night with a charley horse in my calf about 3 times now. My feet hurt if I'm on them a lot during the day. My lower back hurts here and there. And just general pregnancy stretching and pulling with is all new stuff to this first time mama.

Anything making you queasy or sick: CHICKEN!! Oh my goodness, I can't eat plain grilled chicken. Or a roasted chicken. I can eat all the wings and fried chicken you could imagine if I was allowed, but I can't do most chicken. Also I'm not a fan of the smell of coffee. And I like coffee :(


Labor Signs: No - thankfully


Wedding rings on or off? On =) 


Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy for the most part. If I had a crappy day I tend to let things get to me and I get moody. But I'm happy. And excited!


Looking forward to: My last day of work! I seriously can't wait to stop working. And I'm stopping early for several reasons.... but regardless of the reasons, I can't wait! I just want to be home and focus on the baby's room and nesting and just relaxing before he comes!
 

I'm definitely one of those women who LOVE pregnancy. I've been fortunate so far to have no issues and nothing but a pleasant experience...well...with raging heartburn!! Lol but otherwise it's been great!! 

Happy Monday... Last full week before Christmas. We can do it!! 

~Tiffany~