Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Monday equals success.

Our Monday was crazy busy - but was a total success.

We spent the morning at the district cross country meet. The boys won, and are moving on to regionals.  The girls had two in the top ten so they each get to move on to regionals! Success!

Rylee got a big dose of cross country and did great. She also got to sport her converse high tops that she finally fits into. Success! 

We got Rylee's costume made & took her to the schools fall festival...Played some games, entered some raffles, ate some great food! Success!  

Cutest piggy on the block! Homemade costume constructed by Jeremy. Success! 

The ultimate prize from the schools fall festival raffle! Rylee is technically the winner of the sweet motor scooter...but I plan on putting it to use until she can reach the seat. I see flames, and a matching banana colored helmet in the future! Total success!!

After the schools fall festival we had some of the kids over to watch Monday night football - the Cowboys were playing. The Cowboys lost, but the boys ate all of our food - so I say that equals success!

Mondays aren't so bad after all.

until next time,
Brit

Friday, October 22, 2010

paving awareness

This is perhaps the coolest cement truck ever. Those big round machines pretty much catch your eye anyways...but what better way to make the world aware of the fight for a cure than with a big pink cement truck?!

(found here)


until next time,
Brit

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Costumes!

I am getting so excited to dress Rylee up for Halloween! We had a baby flower costume that was given to us, but she is too big for it. So we are trying to be as creative as possible and figure out what costume we are going to stick her into!

I have found all sorts of different things on google images...






I think my favorite though is from babygap...the wild things collection:


Can you guess which one is our favorite?

until next time,
Brit

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

morning walk

The weather has been making for perfect conditions on our family walks around "town"






I love my family.
until next time,
Brit

belated birth story

I decided I needed to get this done before I forget any more of the special details...so here it is.

Early Sunday morning on July 11th, which was Rylee's actual predicted due date I woke up around 2:30 for my normal middle of the night trip to the bathroom...but this time immediately after I went pee, I started to get cramps.  I had experienced a few minor cramps here and there so I though nothing of it.  When I went back to bed instead of falling back to sleep I was overcome with a burst of energy and the cramps continued. I stayed in bed and tried to sleep through them, but not being able to sleep I just stayed in bed sitting up - this woke Jeremy up and he was right away concerned with how I was feeling. I kept assuring him that I was fine and not to worry.

Still not being able to sleep I decided to get up and get something to eat. By this time it was around 5:30. I was standing in the kitchen browsing all of our items in the refrigerator when Jeremy came out in the most pleasant mood asking what I was doing and how I was feeling - I explained to him how my cramps were feeling and "that" look came back to his face, before ever saying it with words he asked me "Is this it?" Though in my mind I kept asking myself the exact same question I told him "no, no no..." This couldn't be it. The Dr. had said it would probably not happen until well into the week and we would most likely have to induce anyways...

It was about 6:30.  Jeremy had stayed up with me while I browsed the Internet and ate chips with 7 layer bean dip (YUM!) He continued to ask how I was feeling. By this point there was a definite cramp, then a point of relaxing followed by another cramp (aka contractions). Jeremy had been secretly timing these and they were about 6-7 minutes apart. He went in and woke up his mom.  Jer's mom had come out the week before anticipating this to happen at any moment and not wanting to miss a minute of it.  In the week prior she saved my life, took care of the dogs, took care of the laundry, took care of me, and fed me constantly. I am so glad she was there. Jer went in and informed her that I was having these cramps consistently and they became like a team of watch dogs.  They took turns timing my "Cramps" which we were all starting to admit were actual contractions, as they became closer and closer together.

It was around 7:00 and my contractions were now consistently between 4 and 5 minutes apart.  Jeremy was ready to go. Me not so much. I did not want to jump the gun. I hated the idea of going to the hospital in high anticipation and then being sent home. Jeremy and his mom finally convinced me that at the consistency and rate the contractions were becoming closer together that we should go. So we grabbed our bags, I grabbed banangrams and we were off.

I was still in very high spirits. I felt great aside from what felt like menstrual cramps, but heck I'd had worse than that. We made it to the hospital, and since my water had not yet broke they decided to monitor me for an hour. I was 1 centimeter dilated. I was crushed. The nurse (so sweet) seemed completely convinced that I was just experiencing braxton hicks and that I would most definitley be back on Thursday to be induced. We thought otherwise, I think intuitively you just know, theres no way to explain it or describe how but you just know. So we sat there for an hour and played a very distracted game of bannagrams and then were sent back home, nothing had changed.

The entire day is kind of a blur. My contractions kept coming and kept coming stronger. By noon they were 4 minutes apart, entirely predictable, and become more and more painful.  I did all sorts of different things throughout the day to help alleviate the pain and take my mind off of it. Taking a warm bath and eating ice cream seemed to be the most comforting aside from Jeremy helping me through them.  He was so supportive the entire time, he would help me through each contraction, remind me to breath and keep focused on what I was doing. He kept telling me how strong I was even though he was the one being strong and getting us through them.

By about 4pm I was exhausted, the contractions were getting stronger and longer and Jeremy was itching to get back to the hospital.  Me, again, I was dragging my feet.  I was in a lot of pain but I thought I'd rather be in pain at home than there and there was no way I was making a trip there to get sent back home again. I tried to rest but other than a minute or two in between each contraction it was impossible to sleep through.

It was 6pm and Jeremy had convinced me that we should get back to the hospital.  I gave in. Jeremy and his mom started to rush around and grab the bags and prepare to get out the door.  Just as I was making it through another contraction I stood up to head for the car and I thought I had peed my pants. Completely embarrassed and a little confused I realized that my water had just broke. (HA! Braxton Hicks?!) So this was real and we were on our way!

We made it to the hospital and waddled up to the labor & delivery floor.  That made for an awkward elevator ride with me leaking and in pain alongside the obviously proud new grandparents riding with us. Jeremy intercepted all of the small talk as I clinched my teeth through the pain. Finally we made and it and were admitted around 7pm and informed that I was at 1 centimeter. Crushed again.

I had every arrogant intention of going through this without any sort of drugs. Arrogant is exactly what it was...I'm physically and mentally pretty strong, I have the ability to push through pain and discomfort, and that's what I kept reminding myself. Once we made it to our delivery suite they said that I'd have to get an iv and stay laying in bed because my water had broke...this was my breaking point. I could work through the pain if I was able to stand, and kneel, but laying on my back for any amount of time was impossible. So impossible that a different nurse had to come in to put in my iv because I could not lay in the bed.

Jeremy knew my desire to get through this the natural way, but the minute I confided in him that I was scared and didn't know how I was going to get through this he told me that it was OK, and encouraged me when I decided to get an epidural. I don't regret it one bit. I kind of wish I would have not been so stubborn, and that I would have decided to do it sooner. I was almost immediately relieved and fell asleep almost right away. which by this point at around 9pm I hadn't done for almost 19 hours.

The nurses on staff were the best, so supportive and encouraging. Periodically they would come to check on me and see how we were all doing, which after a little bit of rest and some relief from the pain was a drastic change in the mood of our room. Before I knew it several hours had passed and I was dilated to a 6 or 7. Around 1am I started to feel a strong pressure and told the nurse, she checked and said it was time to go...

The Dr wasn't there but I didn't care I would have been excited to have our nurse do the entire thing. Jeremy and his mom were both very involved with helping me push - which was something I thought I didn't want. Initially I wanted them nowhere but up by my head, but once the time came that all changed.  They were my support and coached me through the whole thing while each holding one of my legs. Pushing really was a breeze, thanks I'm sure to the epidural, but I am glad for it because it allowed me to put all of my focus and energy into pushing. 

After 30 minutes or so, the nurses had me stop pushing and just breathe through each contraction for about 10 minutes. We were waiting on the Doctor. Geesh. Our Doctor finally made it in (Looking and sounding like she had just gotten out of bed) then just 2 pushes later Rylee made it here.  It was 1:28 AM on July 12th. She was huge! Not huge in comparison to all babies, but huge in comparison to my pregnant belly and the predictions of her length and weight: 7lbs 12 oz and 21.5 inches long - she even shocked our Dr. whose first response was, "Whoah how did you fit in there?!"

Jeremy cut the Cord, they wiped her down and handed her straight to me. The feeling is impossible to put into words. You don't understand just how true that is until it actually happens. I was so overwhelmed with joy, and relief, and extcitement all at the same time while staring down at this little human that was so real and so perfect. We made a person and she was here, and she was ours, and she was loved more than any other person had ever been loved in the whole entire world.

We were all taken back to our room where we would be staying and we spent the early hours of the morning staring at our new baby and thanking God for each and every one of her 10 fingers and ten toes...which I miscounted the first time, thinking she had only 9, I worriedly started to tell Jer who said "No, I did the same thing, they're all there" He's a rock...and better at counting than I am.


Nothing could have been more perfect. The three of us, our little family, sharing a bed and all loving each other. Incredible. I had such a strong support system through my entire pregnancy and my entire labor (which seemed as long as the pregnancy, nearly 24 hours.)

I thought at that moment in the hospital that I could never love anything any more, but I was wrong. Everyday through the last 3 months I have fallen more and more deeply in love with our little daughter....I have a daughter! Still unbelievable, and still amazing. I thought I understood love, again I was wrong. I have learned more than ever what it is to love and to be loved. When I think about how deeply in love I am with Rylee I am reminded of how much more I am loved by God. Words are just simply not enough. God is so good.

until next time,
Brit

Monday, October 18, 2010

rylee talks

Talking and looking in the mirror are two of Rylee's favorite things.
When the two are combined she is elated.

Hands down, we have the cutest baby ever.

until next time,
Brit

Saturday, October 16, 2010

picnic

This last week Jeremy had to be in Lubbock.  He is working on his masters degree and though most of it is online, he has one intensive week during each semester when he has to go to Lubbock for class from 9-5.  Me and Rylee stayed home through Wednesday and on Thursday we went out to be with Jer.

Jer was busy with studying and working on papers mostly when not in class but we had fun. On Friday the weather was perfect so me and Rylee went to the park and had a picnic.

 I endulged in a chopped brisket sandwhich and fried okra from Dickeys BBQ.

Rylee stretched out and stared up into the tree tops. 

A swarm of friendly ducks invaded our picnic area. 

We went on a walk and sported our stripy sunglasses.

It was a perfect picnic. and a fun trip over all. so nice to take time to get away.

until next time,
Brit

finally fall!

I love love love fall.  Its definitely in my top 4 favorites of the seasons.  Even though we are well into October, fall is just starting to sink in for me...the evenings are a bit cooler and I have reached into the sweater drawer a few times.  Here are some of my favorite things about fall:
  1. cross country
  2. mosquitos are going into hiding
  3. soup for dinner
  4. scarves & sweaters
  5. the warm color tones hanging from the trees
  6. turning the AC off
  7. fun sized candy is everywhere
  8. Celestial Seasonings Tea with every meal, and then some
  9. TX football
  10. winter is on its way (one of my top 4 favorite seasons!)

Hope your fall is fabulous.

until next time,
Brit

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

i bring awareness

Do you ever google yourself? or google image yourself? hehe. I do. Well I image searched myself and up popped this picture of me, and so I followed the link to the Lubbock Avalanche Journal.  I had forgotten about this article that the AJ did a couple years ago about me and running and my mom and breast cancer.  To kick off breast cancer awareness month every 1st of October they print the whole paper in pink & throughout the month they focus on stories relating to breast cancer. 

Never thought I'd make it to the front page of the sports section! Here's the article if you want to read it.

until next time,
Brit

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

3 months!

Rylee is 3 months old today!!! So hard to  believe!

Here is a run through on a few of her milestones:
  1. Lifts her head high when on her belly
  2. Talks constantly
  3. Stands when holding onto someone
  4. Can grasp all sorts of things - her favorite is my hair
  5. Big smiles
  6. Rolls to her side
2 weeks



12 weeks

Some of her favorite things lately include:
  1. Singing and rocking with dad
  2. Taking baths
  3. Hanging out in the buff
  4. Looking in the mirror
  5. Going on mid-morning walks
  6. Distracting everyone during church with all of her cuteness
  7. Chomping on her fists & our fingers
Happy birthday Ry!!!!!!!!!

until next time,
Brit

Monday, October 11, 2010

haha

saw this post on a cup of jo!

Durring my sr year of college the semester before we have our student teaching assignment we are in our methodology courses - and it is quite a grueling experience...anyways, our proffessors were the best in encouraging us through their kind words, prayer, pajama partys & laughter! One of my professors actually took us through this laughter exercise & it was such a euphoric experience!



Nothing like a good laugh! Really try it!

until next time,
Brit

daddy's girl




He is head over heels for that little girl.

until next time,
Brit

awareness is yummy

Here are a few tasty ways people are spreading awareness...

(found here)


(found here)


(found here)

(found here)

Yumm!

until next time,
Brit

Saturday, October 9, 2010

reality

"I do nothing all day, but still I can't seem to find the time to get anything done"

That is exactly how I would describe my life right now.  Over at Jenloveskev they just welcomed into the world little baby Rowan and the quote above is how another mom explained her feelings of parenthood to Jen. Though I could never put it into words - that has been the constant disturbing feeling that has lingered over me since becoming mom.

I knew since before pregnancy that I wanted to be a full time - stay at home mom, that would be my job - I just pictured it a little bit differently... I had this idea that I would always keep the house clean, the bed would be made everyday, dinner and maybe lunch too would be cooked daily, the laundry would never pile out of control...and maybe I could even iron something before I decided to wear it, I could walk the dogs, possibly get in a good refreshing run, read a book, comment on parenting blogs, always have stamps to mail out the bills, bake cookies on a regular basis, have fun experimenting with my decorating ideas and of course take a nice shower and wear my hair in any way but a messy bun all while caring deeply, compassionately, more lovingly, and educationally too for little Rylee...

I guess I was completely delusional because in reality I usually only get one of those things done in the day and that's lovin' on Rylee, and maybe two if putting a frozen pizza in the oven counts as cooking dinner.

I have learned in this process that even though I was completely wrong on my perception of being a stay at home mom I was right about one thing, I love it. I am so thankful that we have the means to make it possible for me to have a job taking care of Rylee. Because at the end of the day if loving on her is all I got done, then the day was all worth it.

until next time,
Brit

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Breast cancer awareness month

This month is breast cancer awareness month. I am most often quite aware of breast cancer and the impact it has had on so many people directly and not to mention all of those people who are indirectly impacted by it, through family members and loved ones. Just mention it in a room full of people and you will find in some way each person has been affected by the frightening disease.

This month more than most other months I am aware of just how many people are affected by this disease, and not in just a negative way. It shows more now than ever just how many people out there are stepping forward to try and help support and spread awareness.


This month ill be trying to post the ways I notice people are spreading awareness. Be aware!

until next time,
Brit

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Friday, October 1, 2010

making the switch

Rylee will be 3 months old  in just over a week, and amazingly we have yet to go out and purchase any diapers! We were gifted the perfect amount of diapers in the perfect sizes that have moved along with her rapid growth.
I always had cloth in the back of my mind but wasn't too rushed or concerned about it because of the massive amount of diapers we had stocked up in Rylee's closet...anyways after much research and online shopping we are going to attempt the gdiaper


I ordered some for Rylee to give a trial run before our diaper stash has depleted...and I think we are sold.

Have you seen a cuter hiney? To see more precious baby bottoms take a peek at gdiapers website and all of the great things they are up to!

until next time,
Brit