Our Baby Story :)

Soo I came across this blog the other day about someone who had just had a baby and she had her baby's story into this world which gave me the idea to do our story, because I think its the most incredible, amazing thing Ive ever been a part of!

So here we go!

1.11.11 This is me in my Pretty Pusher I got from a girlfriend! I show up at the hospital dilated at 5 cm and the nurse tells me to quickly get my gown on and she goes to hand me a gown, and I respond "Oh I actually have my own" If you could have seen her face ;) "Oh, welllll Okay then..."

Soo Anyway 1.10.11 I had my 39 week appointment at the doctors office only to find out that I was ONE cm!! ONE! I left the doctors office and started to cry, hubs assured me it was alright, as he was gettin pretttty amazing at dealing with my random bawl baby hormonal spurts :) We went to moms for dinner, like we always did when we came to town for our baby appointments and I went to my weekly aquatics class. That is from 7-8. I came back to get the hubs and he was tired and quite honestly I as too, so we decided to stay at moms (We live about an hour away) We went to sleep around 10 or 11 and I woke up around midnight or so with a few contractions. Now, through my entire pregnancy I had Braxton hicks one day, thats it and it was like nothing little cramping, no biggie! So when I woke up with contractions I was like nooo way! After my 1 cm breakdown here I was possibly in labor!? So I went back to sleep :) Haha...I was in and out of sleep for a couple hours then I got in the shower & got in the bath too at one point. I woke the hubs up told him I was having some contractions but no big deal "these things take a while" I told him. HA! I also woke up my mom and told her she said to just try and get some sleep. I laid in bed for a little while, got my hubby's phone for the contraction counter and laid in bed in and out of sleep while counting my contractions on his phone (There's an app for that! ;)) Then finally I decided this was it, it was definitely going to be the day. By now mom was getting up for work, it was 430-5 She told me to wake up Josh but I didn't want to make him panic and I told her that maybe he could go to work and i could just let him know when things start to progress. When I finally woke him up we decided maybe that wasn't the best idea! He did have to go up to the house and take care of the dogs though soo around 630-7 or so he headed to our house. I was left with my 15 year old brother who was probably pretty freaked out haha. He doesn't go to school until 830 so he helped me count contractions with his Ipad...He was pretty funny I would start to feel a contraction come on and hed be like okay now!??? Then it would slowly start to come back down...'Stop now??!" He took his job very seriously ;) Then he left for school, so I plugged in the hot rollers, and started to put my face on. By now the contractions were coming pretty good so I figured id give the doc a call. I told them Ive been having contractions since midnight, but they were never consistent some would be 2 minutes apart and some would be 10 but they were getting stronger. They told me to come in whenever Josh got home..That was around 9. Josh was on his way back by now I told him to stop and grab something to eat for himself in case we were in there a while before I gave birth and I told him to grab me an oatmeal. When he was about 20 minutes away the contractions were rollin pretty good so I text him and told him "Hurry" He got back to Moms he ate and I ate some of my oatmeal o my birthing ball...Packed up and headed to our doctors!

We got to the doctors office right around 10am then my contractions were pretty strong, and the last thing I wanted to do was sit still in the doctors office...it was a full office and I kept getting up and walking out of the waiting room and walking the hallways during contractions while Josh waited for them to call me! FINALLY like over an hour later they called me back!  The nurse asked my husband how close they were together because I kept contracting and couldn't really carry on a conversation. He told her now they were about 2 minutes apart she hurried off and got the midwife and they went to check me and see how dilated I was and I was contracting right there on the table...Finally she checked and said I was about 5-6 cm that I needed to go to the hospital like  NOW. This was all happening so fast I got so overwhelmed I started crying, but luckily I have the greatest husband and birthing partner around and he reminded me that everything was happening just how I wanted & that I was doing so great...he couldn't believe I was 5-6cm already! He reminded me everything was happening just how I wanted...I labored mostly at my moms, I was feeling pretty good and thus far I was going through this naturally! I calmed down and we were off to the hospital, which luckily is only about half a mile from our doctors! I called my mom and she could tell I was a little panicky I think so she said she was coming. Josh called everyone else and with me only being 5-6 cm everyone was in no rush to get there thinking I would be a while yet!

11:45-12ish Josh offered to drop me off out front so I didn't have to walk but I didn't want to leave him so we parked and my contractions were strong now so we walked about 10 feet and I ended up squatting in the parking lot haha Luckily a security car swung by and picked us up. He escorted us to admissions (which btw, I had happened to pre-register just the night before thankfully!!) Then another officer escorted us to Labor & Delivery! How nice was that? guess I looked like I needed it! He asked if I wanted a wheelchair but the last thing I wanted to do was sit when my contractions were so bad so I said No..He reminded me halfway there when i was squatting again haha (And when we got discharged "Hey, there's miss no Wheelchair!") My office hadn't called yet and apparently it was a busy day for the Delivery unit we went to our room and a nurse came in and asked why we were there. My husband said "We just came from the doctors office shes about 5 or 6 cm" The nurse kind of laughed turned to the desk in the hallway and said "Shes 5 cm just walked right in here.." Haha They hooked me up quick to check on Charley Bear and she was doing great then took everything off so I was free to labor :) They got me a birthing ball since I didn't bring mine and that thing is AMAZIIINNG! Mom and my grandma showed up thinking I was going to be laboring a while and when they got there things got crazy. My contractions were maybe a minute apart and I was fading fast. Mom got grandma out because apparently I had a few choice words to say when my contractions were coming on strong. This is a bit blurry I was on my ball on the side of the bed (see pic up top lol) I remember just calling for my hubby and he came over and was holding my hand, someone came in and took my blood and I can really barely remember that (normally I am TERRIFIED of needles) I do remember just moaning and moaning and I thought that was funny because whenever I watched birth stories on TV or anything the women would just moan and moan and I always thought that was weird...but when my midwife came in she said that's how she knew I was ready to push. About 2 minutes before my midwife came in I was yelling "get me something!! I need something!!" (Ie. drugs) I also read that when your screaming for drugs its too late and your ready to push but obviously I wasn't thinking about these facts at the time. ;)

It was a little after 12 and my midwife came in to check me and she said okay your going to push. People came rolling in all these nurses and she said okay whenever your ready...Push. Its quite possible the entire hospital heard me first 2 pushes. I was Screaming. I'm not going to lie that pain was pretty severe, but you forget don't worry :)Once my hubs and Midwife reminded me screaming would do nothing and to focus that energy into pushing everything went pretty smooth. It was very relaxed, no one was counting my pushing I was free to push when I felt the need. My mom ended up being in there too, which wasn't planned but everything went by so fast and she didn't want to leave me. Poor mom was so worked up she was crying and saying that she wished it was her not me. Aww momma! She kept walking away from the bed, at one point my midwife asked if she was alright. It was great to have her there though she was very helpful.

My hubby was phenomenal! He was so calm and kept telling me what a great job I was doing and was telling me to breath. I could not have asked for a better crew in there with me!! I promised I would never say "Just get her out!" but I did as everyone does I think! I think its because you are giving it your all and trying so hard to push your bay out and every push you think  This is the one...annnnd its not...but eventually it IS! ;)

12:43pm Miss Charlotte Mae arrives!! Every cliche anyone ever tells you about the love & devotion you immediately feel towards your child is so true! And you can never explain it to someone who doesn't have a child, because I never understood it up until 12:43 on 1.11.11 :) Your emotions are just so overwhelming, the first few days sometimes I would just cry because the love you feel is just unreal. (Okay some of it is probably hormones too!) You just want to wrap them up in a little bubble and never let anything or anyone hurt them. EVER.By giving birth naturally I felt SO empowered! I was on such a natural high after Charlotte came out, not only because our baby was HERE and HEALTHY but because I did it!!!

 So thats our story! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful pregnancy, labor, delivery and most of all a healthy baby!! I actually cant wait to go through it again! :)

<3 7lbs 10.5 oz 21 inches long 12:43 1.11.11 <3

A Quickie!

Hey all!

Wow Its been a busy week! Or two?? Has it been that long? Man the time flies! Where to start!?

Wellll I'm back to work now! And for the first time in YEARS I have ONE job! Go me! I always have this horrible fear of being fired so I have like 2-3 jobs. But the most important job I have right now is being a mommy&wife so one other job will do just fine! Isn't it funny how long you can be gone from a place and nothing changes? The casino still has all the same people that were there when I left...which by the way were very sweet when they saw me! Some of my regulars, and some I dealt to every day and rarely spoke to me were asking Hows the Baby!? What did you have!? I got a few hugs even! I have to say the first day was rough, I cried! Haha It is good to be back and making money, being around other adults though. I do miss Charlotte every day, but she is the reason I work now! I cant complain though, Ive only worked 3 days in the past two weeks..but I am going to start working about 2-3 days a week there, mostly weekends so Charley bear can be with her Daddy :)

We went somewhere everyday last week! It was such a busy week! Charley got her shots ( :( )and had her 2 month appointment! 11 lbs 11 0z 25 1/8 inches long! She did so good for her shots, such a brave girl! I Cant believe how big our baby girl is getting, Daddy will be chasing boys away before we know it! She is such an angel, I hope all our babies are as good as she is! I Love being pregnant, loved labor & delivery and above all Love being a Mom! I'm going to miss these years for sure, but will never forget them :)

A friend of ours got married this weekend. I loveeee weddings! They are so great..and Im going to be soo sad when everyone is already married we know! What will we do then?? We have 6 weddings this year. SIX! Between the 2 of us we're in 4! It so wild to watch everyone around you getting older. I know WE'RE getting older, but its easier to look around at other people and think Man, were growing up! haha I think about some of the times we've had and it just makes me laugh! Now were married, own homes, have babies, careers...and the idea of a good night is a movie at home and bed by 9! The good news is that life continues to amaze me and get better everyday :)

For your viweing pleasure here are a few pics of Charlotte in her Easter Dress! :)

Life really is a Gift <3

Ramen

Whoooop! Its Thursday! Do you know what that means kids!? Hubs is off tomorrow! We get to reap in the benefit of his 4 days 10 hours schedule! We haven't got to do that yet since he was in Florida last weekend for a Drag Race :) Charley and I were suppose to get our grocery shop on today but its a little monsoon-like outside annnd I do have enough to make dinner tonight so I decided to skip out on the groceries for today. Therefore I am eating Ramen noodles...hellllo sodium! bleck. Oh well, normally I would just wait until dinner but since I have to keep up the Cals for breastfeeding Ramen noodles it is! I really am not much into eating things that have no purpose. Its not all that tasty and its not even good for me, but it is not short on Calories and if I eat nothing then I produce no booby milk! TMI? Probably! Maybe Ill go do a little Steamfresh to even it out?

Charley Bear's swing is sounding a hot mess over there! Gotta replace those batteries...Mental Note tell Daddy to replace batteries when he gets home! She doesn't seem to mind seeing as where shes sleeping! Must be like her mama, I swear I could sleep on a concrete floor haha. Im definitely not one of those people that needs something when they sleep. I have to admit though, since Ive been with the hubs and he needs his fan at night I have been a little partial to that.

Man these noodles are horrible, maybe I should have drained the water first. Why did I not go grocery shopping? Steamfresh here I come...

Have you ever watched 48 Hours on ID? Why is it all like in the projects? Do they not ever have crimes that are not like gang/drugs/robbery related? I wanna see some CSI sheet on here! Like Someones husbands mistress kills the wife only to find out its her long lost sister? I mean jus sayin!? Its all someone who gets shot, every. episode. I mean dont get me wrong its super sad and I have cried watching it but its always the same deal. My husband has NO idea why I watch this stuff. I always watch all of it! CSI (not all the CSI spin offs just CSI), SVU, 48 hours, Dateline hey I even throw in a little Prison Wives now and again. Don't ask me why..I do watch Days of Our Lives, Dr Phil & Oprah too...Holy Moses! its 1:27 and im watching this dumb episode of 48 Hours while Days is on! The good thing is I could miss 27 minutes or 27 weeks of Days and still know exactly whats going on!

Okay Im going to go try and work on our drawers...Clean out all those clothes we don't wear or don't fit into for that matter! So I can fit all the ones in that do. Laundry sucks, ya know? Its not that washing or drying its the folding and putting away! you know why? because you have to find space for everything and when you shove more clothes on top of other clothes you can never find anything...well you get the picture!

Alright. Charley Mae is waking up I better get the Moby Wrap out so I can get something accomplished today! Steamfresh and Drawers! Go, Go Go! :)

Can I just throw this in..when I spell checked I didnt capitalize OPRAH and it knew to fix it...You know youve made it whennnnnnn... :) Hehe Okay thats all!

Work it Out!

Happy Wednesday all! This means only two more days until I am back to work...juss sayin! Arg.

Little mama is taking her nap, I hope shes not getting sick shes a little out of sorts and had a gooey eye this morning :( Could be nothing, fingers crossed! I have Bloggers block today..is that even possible for someone whos only been blogging three days? hmm?

oooh I think I can write about how I super need to work out! I really wanna get Insanity it looks...well Insane haha. Anndd I love mee some cardio! We do have P90X maybe well start on that soon. I cant wait to start running again but with the hubs new schedule working 4 10s its still too dark when he gets home..Cmonnnn Daylight savings! Running on the treadmill is just not the same as getting OUT and running! Loveeee it! I could talk to Josh tonight about starting P90 again..Monday!? That would be good I think! I guess I really gotta start working on the transition from being with Charley all day and being prettttty lazy during the day to getting into a new routine. One that incorporates our pre-baby schedule AND our new baby schedule! Its so easy to get caught up in being a bum and hanging out with your perfect baby all day and basically taking on their schedule. I am guillllty! I guess me starting work is a good start to our "new" schedule. Time to start incorporating!!

Gonna get some vacuuming in before lil Miss wakes up!

Oh annnnnnnnnd PdotS got a coupon for a FREE Baby book from Shutterfly! Sweeet! Very excited about THAT!

K.Bye!

Silver Lining

Wow, go me its 10:00 (that's PM!) & I'm awake! I'm blogging from bed from my Blackberry..haha Ohh technology! I am listening to Charlotte cooing while she sleeps...its quite funny & incredibly adorable every time she breaths out she let's out a cooo cooo :) Beats the heck out of her Daddys snoring! ;) JK Honey you don't snore...that much! Speaking of Daddy he is out right now! He was never a good sleeper and always said how jealous he was of me that I could fall asleep in a matter of seconds (no joke) and now he generally beats me to shut eye! Now who's jealous?! Meee Meeee!

So today was an "interesting" day..I have to say my weeks are usually pretty spectacular. Not for any particular reason, I just am pretty happy & grateful for the things we have. Tragically, today was NOT one of those days. Do you ever have one of those days you wake up and in a matter of a few minutes something goes wrong and you think ohhh here we go. After much anticipation of waiting on our taxes to arrive they are still not here & thanks to my handy dandy BBerry I didn't even get out of bed before I knew today was going to annoy me. Were not talking some piddly amount of money here and especially for someone on maternity leave with no pay a timely return would have been appreciated! More than anything though I get highly annoyed by poor customer service & incompetence. Probably because I have been in customer service so long. Customer. Service. All in all today I was probably on hold a half hour and you knowww how that just annoys the crap out of anyone..Yes? And when you call and they say "Press one for English..." Don't even get me started on that! I did manage to get hung up on today, rightfully so- Guess next time I rant it should be profanity free because according to my mom they can just hang up on you. Who knew? Nevertheless, Our taxes will be another 6-8 weeks..Man good thing that we didn't like not have a second income coming in for the last two months or something..Oh wait...Sooo I will now take this time to thank Mr President for waiting until December to work on our tax forms for 2010. (Which I might add the little girl on the other line this afternoon reminded me, that some of the delay was indeed his fault not theirs..) Maybe you should have can
cancelled the magazine photo shoot with the fam and worked on the hard-working American peoples taxes instead? Ding ding dinnnng Winnnaaa! And shout out to the IRS for making me wait another 6-8 weeks for their mistake. Fab.U.Lous. When I have a day like this its always good to remind myself of all the good & wonderful things in my life. Because they are plentiful! It always seems to take the edge off a bit. There is always, always, always something to be thankful for. :)

Now that I've got that out! I am feeling muchhh better! I actually quite hate bitching and moaning,(especially publicly, and MORE especially via FB, that's to you all you Debbie FB downers!) I am just not that girl. So I hope you enjoyed my rant because they do not happen often. I am happy to report after spending the day with mom, dinner with her & hubs, & finally getting to try a Skinny Girl Margarita my day is much improved! :) I'm much happier when I'm happier ya knowww? Hehe :) Tminus 3 days until my first day back to work ahhhhhh...Its not the working part I'm worried about its leaving Charlotte. I'm telling you that GiiRL is my world :)

Well it is for sure past my bedtime & I am getting more jealous by the minute of my sound asleep hubby & daughter!

Night bloggers & blogetts!

Welcome, Me!

Okayyy this is my first blog post. I guess I can give the run down of my life for all my readers :) My names Alexandra, everybody calls me Lexi. I am married to theeeeee most amazing man and father, hes the kind of guy that just doesn't exist anymore and Im lucky enough to call him Miine :)
We just had our first child, Charlotte Mae and just like her Mommy she has a nickname- Charley! I never, ever knew what it was to love someone so deeply..it is so incredible being a mommy! All my "mommy" friends said "You just never understand until they're here" boy they are so right...You cant explain to someone that doesn't have a child the immediate love and devotion for them from the second they are in your arms. We are so blessed and in my moms (GiGi) words "You are soo lucky you have the BEST baby!" Haha She rarely cries, wakes up only once a night normally, and is just all around pleasant all day!

I had a natural birth (Yes Im one of those people) For all the women who are pregnant..You can do it! It was so incredible, something my husband and I will certainly never forget- And best of all it seems now you tell someone your trying to give birth naturally they look at you like you have three heads..No, No girl get the epidural...haha But your body knows what to do and when everything is said and done you will feel more accomplished then youve ever felt in your life! Im here to tell you..ITS NOT THAT BAD! ;)

We have 3 dogs Mack, Montana & Mater...Mack is a Mastiff hes about 200 pounds. Montana is a Newfie shes about 120 and lastly Mater...who mayyy not be with us much longer! He will be heading to a friends farm for all that energy hes got, we kind of inherited him last spring and hes a mad man, much better suited to run rampant! (ie. farm!)

We definitely have our hands full with our "other" kids! But Mack & Montana are here to stay they are our "first born" so to speak!



We live way up in the mountains of DubV (insert WV jokes here)
We love it, except when there is ice or snow..last year we didn't get out for 4 days!! Were currently kicking around the idea of moving to be closer to family..but well cross that bridge when we come to it! Its so nice to get away from town and be up here, tehres not much around and thats how we like it :)

Were very family oriented. My mom is my BEST friend, besides my husband of course. We get together with Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews on a regular basis and Im so happy to have Charlotte coming into such a wonderful family :) My entire family is incredible!

Hubby works full time and I work Part Time..actually I start back to work Saturday...Yiiiiiiiikes! I am excited I just need to adjust back to work life adn not being with our pumpkin all the time. Im nervous because i know her so well and always knows what she wants and we have our own thing going on but I am working Saturdays and Sundays so that she will be with none other than her Daddy! So thats the good news :) I work as a dealer at a casino, its a pretty great living :) I am also a mail carrier one day a week and those days Grandma will be watching Charley Bear! I know I want to go back to work but I am going to be so nervous about leaving her!! I guess I just need to get to work and start it and I will start to feel better about it! Were hoping that when she is 5-6 months old we will start looking for someone to watch her so that we can have our weekends back together, especially in the summer time! We have a boat and a pretty busy social life so weekends are not something thats going to work all the time.

I guess Im officially rambling. I think that's pretty much a rundown of our life right now! Until next tiiiiime....