Aleah Marie

 

October 12, 2012 at 11:11 am...Aleah made her grand entrance to the world and melted our hearts immediately. She was born 7 pounds 1 ounce and 21 inches long. Everything went well with the c-section, minus my blood pressure dropping very low. The doctor told us she was out (and peeing as she came out..haha) and then we heard some suction and her first cry....we looked at each other and just melted. They lifted her above the sheet and I got to see my baby girl for the first time. It was a moment that I will never forget. Jason was by her side immediately as they cleaned her up and took all her vitals and measurements. As soon as he could he brought her over to me. I was so glad that Jason got those first moments of bonding time with her...it was amazing to watch him talk to her and sooth her. He was a natural from the moment she was in his arms...it was amazing to watch as I lay there getting stitched up.

 

 

 

Once I was all put back together they moved us to recovery and I got to really get a good look at our baby girl. She was exactly what I had prayed for...beautiful and perfect in every way. We were able to bond skin to skin and have almost a full hour of family time just the three of us. Aleah must have already felt very comfortable because she pooped on me in recovery, and since I was numb I didn't even feel it till they lifted her off to move us to our room. Jason thought it was just hilarious!!! Ha!

 

We are so thankful for our healthy Baby girl! Everything went perfect and we couldn't be happier! We thank God daily for our little bundle of Joy.

 

 

 

 

 

COMING HOME...

 

The first week home was so amazing and such a wonderful bonding time for the three of us. Jason and I were in awe by Aleah and we would just sit and stare at her. Words cannot even explain the emotions we felt for her and each other. Jason has been so helpful since we have been home helping with laundry, cleaning, and making sure we both have everything we need.

 

I wish I could say that the last four weeks have been easy....but I would be lying. We have had a few bumps...first one being that Aleah continued to lose weight, so we found out she was not latching on good to me and now I am having to pump and bottle feed her. Thankfully I have increased my milk supply so I only had to supplement with formula for a week. She has never learned to latch on correctly so it looks like I will be pumping and bottle feeding from here on out. I am just happy that she is getting breast milk either way. The second week home, I caught a nasty cold..which I then gave to her :( Poor thing. I also got Mastitis. If anyone has ever had that, they know how miserable it is. I had a temperature of 101.6, terrible body aches, chills and a splitting headache. It was horrible. As a Mom, it never matters if we are sick...the show must go on. The first few weeks she was getting up every two hours, but we have gotten into a routine now and she is up to four hours at night. Which is HEAVEN to me! Gone are the days when I sleep in or get 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. (which is expected with a newborn)

 

 

 This picture was taken a week after she was born. Can you tell we are proud? Ha! I have recovered amazingly well. It was not at all as painful as I thought it would be and I have been able to get around really well!

 

Through all the sleepless nights...I have to say that when I am dead tired, my hormones are all messed up and trying to adjust to this new normal...this face makes it all worth it.

 

 

People have always said that having a baby can cause stress and strain on a marriage, but I have to say that the opposite is true for Jason and I. It truly has brought us closer together in a new way. We are such a good team and I couldn't ask for a better husband and father. He is so amazing with her. When I struggle to get her to sleep sometimes at night, he has the magic touch that knocks her out. He puts her on his chest and she snuggles up to him and she is lights out in minutes.She obviously knows how safe she is in Daddy's arms...and I can honestly say that Jason has become a new person.

Jason said to me recently how after a stressful day at work all he has to do is pick her up and look at her cute face...and the stress just melts away. I have to say...I don't have an ounce of jealousy for the new love in his life :) haha.It makes me love him even more and I didn't know that was possible.

 

 

Such a proud Daddy

 

 

As for me...being a Mom is one of the most amazing things that has ever happened to me. I can't tell Aleah enough how much I love her. I constantly stare at her in awe and wonder at the gift that God has blessed us with. It has put so many things into perspective. Things that I once thought were important no longer matter...and neither Jason and I can imagine what life was like without her in it. She is the perfect addition to us...and I could not be happier with the new love in our lives and the new love and appreciation that we now have for each other as well.

 

 

 

As I said in my last blog...I know that Aleah will teach us so much about life, each other, and what is important...and she hasn't even taken her first breath yet....

I can honestly say that her first breath changed us forever and she HAS taught us so much already in her four short weeks of life.

 

Aleah Marie Arnett...we are so proud of you and all the joy that you bring to us everyday.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made...a child of God...

A princess in his kingdom and ours...we love you!

 

 

 

 

Final Baby Bump Post - Almost 9 Months

Almost Nine Months....and it is all coming to an end, at least the being pregnant part. I am definitely stretched to the max, and I am glad that we are delivering a week early, although I am not excited about a c-section. Everything has been progressing normally except for her not dropping and turning, so I am very thankful for that. Jason and I still can't believe how fast time has gone by! Ready or not, she is going to be in our arms this week, and two will become three :)

We are scared and excited all at the same time. It is amazing how much one can worry about someone that you have never met or even seen. I told Jason that I would give one of my limbs for her to be perfect...not sure I have ever felt that way about anyone before. As it gets closer and closer it is amazing to me how helpful it is when Jason will just grab my hand or tummy and say a prayer. He has helped so much in the last few weeks to relieve my worry and stress. We pray constantly that she is healthy and know that no matter the outcome God has blessed us with an amazing gift of life that he created just for us. I was reminded of that today...while driving and one of my favorite songs by Casting Crowns came on the radio and I cranked it up. Aleah immediately began jumping around in my tummy...reminding me she is okay...and that she loves Casting Crowns haha! I am not surprised .It was one of the first concerts that I took her too :) I'm pretty sure that it was also God reminding me of who is in control and that he will never give us more than we can handle.

 

A good friend of ours Lindsay Brubaker (wife of Jason's best friend Ben) came over to capture some pictures of us in our last weeks of being pregnant. She is dabbling in photography and I think she is off to a really good start! These are some of my favorites...

 

 

As I look back on almost 40 weeks of pregnancy I thought I would make a list of things that I will miss about being pregnant and things that I will NOT miss. I asked Jason the same thing, so he had some input in this list as well

 

Things I will miss...

 

The excuse to eat WHATEVER I want :)

 

People letting me cut in line at the grocery store

 

People always offering me their seat or chair

 

The first time I felt her kick

 

The nice and big perky boobs (Jason)

 

Always a reason to go out to eat or do something because we won't be able to once she is born (Jason)

 

My fast growing and thicker hair

 

SLEEP...knowing she won't let me for a while :)

 

Watching my tummy move

 

 

 

 

Things I will NOT miss...

 

Not being able to eat WHATEVER I want (lunch meat, Blue Cheese, Sushi..etc)

 

Complete strangers telling me their graphic delivery story in the middle of the grocery store

 

The woman next to me while getting a pedicure asking me a million questions from what her name is...or if I am going to use disposable diapers...really?

 

Bigger boobs (sorry Jason)

 

Sleeping on my side (I'm a back sleeper)

 

The guy that rubbed my belly at a wedding... no clue who he was! Is it ever OK to touch a woman in the mid section that you don't know? NEVER!!!

 

Complete strangers telling me how my pregnancy will be!

 

Seeing or being able to reach my feet!

 

Walking into a room and everyone looks at your belly..weird but everyone does it! Haha

 

My neediness and mood swings...(Jason) I think I have been completely normal :)

 

The constant depleting wardrobe...I miss my skinny jeans!!!

 

Her hiccups (Sorry Aleah)

 

Heartburn

 

 

 

Although my WILL NOT miss list is longer...I have to say that being pregnant has been one of the most amazing and enjoyable experiences that I have had in my life. Although I know that my body has been changed forever and will take some work to get it back into shape, I cannot imagine that any of that will matter once I hold her in my arms for the first time. Jason and I know that life as we know it is about to change forever, but we know that the changes and sacrifices that we will make, will all be for the better. I know that Aleah will teach us so much about life, each other, and what is important...and she hasn't even taken her first breath yet.

We already thank God for her and the amazing plans he has for all three of us!

 

So...this Friday October 12, 2012 around 10:30am, we will welcome our baby girl Aleah Marie into the world.. she hase no idea how much she is already loved.

 

Jason and I will begin the next journey in this crazy life together...

as Mommy and Daddy...

 

Let the next chapter begin...

 

 

 

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

 

Psalm 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 Months!!!

 

8 months and it shows! This month has been VERY busy...pretty much like the rest. Have I really been pregnant 8 months? Where does time go? I am still feeling good, but definitely struggle to do things that used to be easy, like tie my shoes and pick things up off the floor. Getting dressed is sometimes a chore too!

 

Aleah is very active these days..kicking and turning inside of me. She has a strong heartbeat and is developing at a perfect rate. She has unfortunately taken after both of her parents and has become set in her ways and VERY stubborn. She is still breech! This past Monday my doctor decided to schedule a c-section, so Aleah will be arriving on October 12th at 10:30 am. Although I do not want to have a c-section, I just want her to get here in the safest way possible.

 

One good thing about her being breech is that I get to see her every week now till she is born. This is her latest picture! She is laying on her side. I can't wait to see her in person!!!

 

 

We were so blessed to have two showers this month! We got so many gifts for our baby girl! Here are a few pictures from each of them.

 

 

Jason and his Nephews even got in on the fun :)

 

 

 

Thank you to all of our family and friends for all you have done!

 

I will make one more post the day before she is born...can't believe that is only 16 days away!!!

I am so excited...nervous...scared...anxious...happy...pretty much every emotion you can possibly think of! Funny how that is how I felt when I saw a positive test, and now again at the end :)

 

 

 

 

Nursery Complete!!!

With only 7 weeks to go and a crazy busy schedule ahead of us...we finally finished the nursery! When we found out we were having a girl, I knew that I wanted a nursery that would grow with her and one that also didn't kill Jason when he walked into it...he is not a fan of pink :) Everything in the stores that I saw was VERY girly and mostly made of pastel pink. So I decided to find a fabric I loved and use it as a starting point to design the whole room around. I found this adorable vintage fabric at fabric.com and then I went to work with my sewing machine and searching pinterest for ideas. I love the little birds in the fabric, so you will see that become a theme...

 

First we had to get the "bones" of the room, so we purchased a crib, and I went off to a garage sale to find a changing table. I found this one for $20!!! I was thrilled!!

 

 

Of Course I couldn't leave it white...I had to paint it to match the crib. Thankfully the hubs has a connection with this amazing company called Sherwin Williams, and I got to painting with some of the BEST paint I have ever used.

 

The primer is AMAZING!!! NO SANDING!!!

 

Turned out great and pretty amazing for $20! I love that it is more of a dresser too! Makes it so much more functional!

 

 

With my cute fabric, I sewed a changing pad cover (as you see, I don't have the changing pad yet). I decided I wanted some artwork above the table. I rummaged through some things I had a had at home and decided to paint one of my favorite verses on this canvas. To add some texture I wrapped the canvas in burlap, stencilled and painted the letters and then made some fabric flowers with scraps I already had. Total cost $5.00 for canvas! Looks much brighter in person :)

 

 

I had this REALLY dirty and nasty antique ladder in the attic that the hubby has been wanting to throw away, so I decided to put it to use, before it "disappeared" one day. Using my AWESOME leftover Sherwin Williams paint, I gave it a fresh new look, and propped it up in the corner with blankets from my childhood that were made for me when I was a baby. Plus it was FREE!!!

 

 

Every Nursery needs a rocker...I inherited mine from my Grandma who passed away this summer. I love that I have a piece of her in our nursery. She would be so happy to know that I will be using it, and I am so sad that she will never meet my daughter. She was so excited that I was having a baby...sometimes I go in the room and just smell the fabric...it still smells like her house and wish I could bottle that scent up forever. On the shelf above (which I already had and of course painted) I re framed an ABC cross stitch that I had done when I was a girl, a piggy bank that Jason's Mom gave us from when she was a baby, and a bunny that my Mom had purchased.

 

 

I also sewed a pillow with her first initial on it with some scrap fabric I had...

 

 

I had an empty space on the wall by the closet (can't have that!!!) So I decided to once again rummage through some things I had to create some artwork. I got my inspiration from a blogger on Pinterest here. So with two 12 X 12 canvas's I had and some scrapbook paper, I created some simple but cute pictures. They are hung to the right of the curtains.

 

 

 

I sewed some curtains to add a pop of color. I would refer to a pattern, but I didn't use one...just eyeballed it.

 

Anyone who does NOT know her name yet...here is the BIG reveal!!!

ALEAH MARIE

 

 

For her name, I wrapped 8X10 frames with fabric, and painted wood letters from Hobby Lobby and hot glued them on. I added some fabric flowers too! I also sewed a crib sheet out of the fabric I found. The pattern I found is on pinterest HERE, and I will never purchase one again...it is sew easy!!!

 

My Mom and I made the mobile above her crib out of felt and a twig wreath. It turned out so cute!

 

 

I have seen many uses for old pallets that I loved on pinterest. One in particular for a kids rooms. This ONE is the link that I gave my father and he got to work building and painting them. He did a great job and they turned out great (and FREE)! I love how they are attached to the wall and leave the floor space open for toys of course!!! I then purchased cardboard letters from Hobby Lobby and painted them to remind our little scholar that she must READ :)

 

 

 

I went to town organizing her closet. Since our closets don't have lights, I purchased an LED battery powered light that attaches with command strips. I found it at Walmart. I also found the baskets and labels at Walmart. I thought I should label everything good so that the hubby could find everything he needed. As you see, we have a lot of clothes already! Thanks to some amazing friends and family!

 

 

Overall, I think that the room turned out really cute and I love that most of it was handmade by me and family. I know this room will grow with her and since everything was made on a budget the hubby even loves it and it isn't all pastel pink!! There are a few things I still need to add, but they are small....I think we are ready!!! ...well at least her room is :)