Happenings! :-)

So as of late I am really wishing that I could post a ton of sweet smiling pictures of Susannah, but I'm afraid that our computer is being completely wacky and refusing to let me upload any pictures at all. So perhaps I will just share with you the happenings in the Skelton household!

Okay so first off I did it... I cut my hair. It is now shoulder length! Do I like it? Yes, and no. Yes, because it is new to me, it's SO much easier for me (a new mom) to take care of, and because Richard likes it too! ;-) No, because well the simple reason that I simply adore long hair! :-) This is the first time (that I remember that is) that I've ever had hair this short. I'll have to post pictures one day (if the computer ever allows ;-) ) 

We are ill... :( We seam to be having a cold right now that is simply staying forever. Ugh. But enough about that!

I SIMPLY COULDN'T ADORE BEING A MOMMY MORE! Susannah is such a blessing! And so much fun to play with, talk to, watch, hold, snuggle... ect! ;-) I simply love how much she smiles! It's one of the best things in the world to wake up to her cooing, go over to her little bed, say good morning to her, and then to see her smile at me as tho saying "I love you so much, mommy! I'm glad that you are about to pick me up!"  OOOhh I just want to go and pick her up and squish her right now thinking about it!! I love those sweet morning smiles! So you may already know, but I am not a morning person. So to see a sweet smile in the morning just makes my day all the more! :-) The first time Susie laughed Richard was holding her and we were both talking to her and making 'baby faces' at her! It just made us both so happy to hear the first laugh together! :D

So I'm pretty sure that we are going to start cloth diapering! I just couldn't be more excited about it! I can't wait to get started! For some reason I really want to start trying the Thirsties duo wrap or duo diaper! Has anyone tried them and liked them? I think we are going to buy a few after the first of the year! I'll try and blog about our experiences! 

Anyway, for now I best go shower... I still have spit up on my shirt and it's almost time for sweet Susie to eat again. :-) You know your a mommy when you don't mind wearing spit up for awhile! ;-) ha ha

Cloth diapering?

When I was pregnant with Susannah I thought a lot about maybe trying cloth diapers and now that she's here I'm really interested in trying them! Tho there are so many different kinds out there that I'm sort of at a lost to where to begin. I'm thinking that I only want to try one or two of a brand/type before I go and buy a bunch of the ones that I 'think' will work. I've been looking around and finding information on all the different types and how to use them, but some things I find confusing. Probably because I've only seen the white cloth diapers that I use for burp rags! ;-) I've found a sight online that has been helpful: http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/ So far I think that the all in one cloth diapers would be easiest! But then ha what do I know... I've never tried them! Anyone tried them and liked them? Which are your favorites?

Birth Story!

It's hard to remember how things happened but I'll do my best! ;-)

On September 26th I woke up at about 9:00 am from what I thought was my water breaking... so I told Richard and we called our midwives, parents, and Doula (Amy). We had expected labor to start up at least within 24 hours. So we waited at home for a little over 24 hours and labor never started up. We tried to get it to kick in with several different things... I even took some Castor Oil. (Castor Oil had worked on my mom.) However nothing happened. The midwives were concerned about an infection so we then headed for the hospital. On the way I had an extremely bad tummy ache and I threw up all the Castor Oil. I was really nervous at this point. I didn't want to go to the hospital (partially because I didn't know what to expect when we got there and partially because I don't really like hospitals.) When we got there I got even more nervous and I asked Richard if we could wait to go in till someone we knew showed up. We sat outside the hospital and we prayed. Finally the midwife showed up and she took us in. We then met our nurse who took us to our room. When we got to our room, Amy was already there! My parents arrived shortly thereafter. The midwife then came in and started telling us we needed to get labor to start. Pitocin was the option. At the time Richard and I were pretty set on not wanting to use Pitocin. Finally we decided that was what we needed to do. That then made me even more nervous. Finally the nurse suggested that the Midwife check me and see if my waters had actually broken. And they hadn't. So we all went home... And at that time I was feeling pretty much embarrassed. Because of all the people who 'thought' my waters had broken and thought that the baby was on her way. However I am very thankful for that dry run! Because the second time around I wasn't nearly as nervous! :-)

Finally the next day (the due date) came and went with NO signs of labor. Then on September 29th at 4 in the morning I got up to go make my usually trip to the lou ;-)... and the moment I stood up there was no mistaking that my water had actually broken! :-) I then told Richard and he called into his work yet the second time and told them that my waters had broken again. ;-) When then called everyone and waited around a second time for 24 hours. This time tho we went to the midwives office to confirm that my waters had broken. Richard and I walk and walked and walked around the apartment complex... hoping and hoping that labor would start all on its own. This time however we decided not to take Castor Oil! ;-) (didn't like the results of that none whatsoever the first time!) Finally we headed off to the hospital for the second time after I had had breakfast.

On the way I was super excited! Much better then the first trip to the hospital! ;-) When we got there I wasn't at all as nervous either! I felt better and was sure that this was the real thing! We started talking to the midwife again and it was the same thing. Pitocin. By this time Richard and I both had kind of warmed up to the idea of using Pitocin... even tho we had planned for a all natural drug free birth sometimes plans don't go the way we hope they will.

They then started the Pitocin IV and I had some second breakfast while I waited for contractions. Shortly there after contractions started up slowly... I got a bit nervous at this time and I cried while I held Richard's hand and he reassured me that probably all the hormones going through me was making me nervous and emotional. I realized he was right and I calmed down a bit. My parents, and Amy then went and had some lunch. Richard ordered lunch and ate while I watched. When my parents and Amy got back labor was just starting to come in full force. It was still pretty light and I mostly just moved around in lots of different positions holding Richard's hand and trying to relax and get comfortable between contractions. I remember Amy, Richard, and I then went for a walk. Which I didn't like at all because it caused contractions to come in stronger (tho that might have been a good thing). When we got back I changed positions some more. Then I remember I got up and stood supporting myself with the wall while I held Richard's hand and while Amy massaged my back. I then started crying again... then is when it started getting hard. I remember I went into a sort of dazed state. I would say things like 'I'm so tired' and 'My back hurts'. I remember Richard would continuously tell me to relax and he kept telling me I was doing great and kept encouraging me! He was amazing! At one point I remember people talking about whether she would be a September baby or a October baby. When they were talking of that I felt a bit exhausted and tried not to think about whether she would come in September or October! I'm really thankful she was a September baby! ;-) It just made me to tired to think that it could last longer than 12 hours. So I kept my mind off of when she would come.

I got into the jacuzzi tub at one point... I remember that it was great when I wasn't having contractions but it didn't really feel so good when I was. I got out shortly. When I first got the urge to push I didn't think I was ready so I didn't push. Finally I couldn't hold back the push. And at that exact moment the midwife walked in and asked the nurse how I was. I let out a different pushing noise and I heard the nurse tell the midwife 'that's the first time I've heard that'. At this point I was sitting on the toilet. I remember I sat there for a little bit and pushed here and there. Then the midwife asked me 'Your going to let me know if you feel the baby coming out right?' I remember thinking to myself 'if this is the position that I'm in and she's coming I'm just so tired I'm going to go for it.' Amy then suggested that we move to the hands and knees position on the bed because I had liked that pretty well when I was having contractions. So we made our way there... when we got there it was only 4o min. of pushing and she came out! She came out with her hand above her head. When she came out the midwife told me to reach down and pick up my baby! It was so wonderful! I looked at Richard and seen him crying, which made me all emotional too! I then got to lay down in the bed! Right when I got laid down I started having another contraction... which at this point really annoyed me. I was so tired I just wanted it to be over so I could hold my baby! I think I might have even asked if they could just pull the placenta out. Ha ha! But soon enough I got the urge to push it out all on my own.

I remember at one point when the contractions were really strong I thought 'this is the only time this is happening' But then shortly after I thought that I realized that I would forget all the pain once I held the baby that I knew that there would be many more babies to come if the Lord so allows!

Overall I would describe my birth experience as amazing and beautiful! The whole time I felt at peace! The Lord was in that room that day! Even one of the nurses said that it was the best birth she had attended. I am also very thankful that we had a dry run only a few days before the actual thing! And also thankful that the dry run was SO close to the actual thing! I praise the Lord for a beautiful, healthy, smiley baby girl! The very next day she smiled at us! What a blessing! Overall I labored for 7 1/2 hours!

Susannah Jane Skelton! Born September 30th at 7:23 pm. She was 18 inches long and 8 lbs 2 3/4 oz! She is already such a joy and a wonderful blessing from the Lord!

Our little sweetie!

Being held by daddy!

Being held by mommy!

At home after a bath!

Susannah Jane~

On September 30th, 2010 at 7:23 pm Susannah Jane Skelton entered the world!! :-) She was 8 lbs 2 3/4 oz! 18 inches long!

Pictures and birth story to come soon! :-)

Two weeks away tomorrow!

Just wanted to say that tomorrow will be two weeks away from our due date... I can't belive that any day we can be meeting our little baby! I just really can't wait to meet her! :-) I can't help but wonder what day she will be born on, how much she will weigh, how many inches she will be, what time she will be born at... and all those other things that are exciting to think about! As you can probably all tell I just can't stop thinking about our baby!! ;-)

Preparing for baby! :-)

We have been busily preparing for our sweet little one lately! :-) Everything from grocery shopping to washing laundry has been about the baby! :-) I'm working on getting the cupboards full of food for when the baby gets here, been making sure all our laundry is done, making sure the baby's laundry is done, getting the baby's little bed all ready for her, getting our bags packed, getting baby equipment set up... and so on and so forth!

I am really looking forward to kissing our sweet baby's face and head! I know after the baby gets here I might hear it more than I want, but I really can't wait to hear her cry! I can't wait to see what color her eyes are! Sweet one we are waiting for you! :-)

Just yesterday we got the car seat! We had been hoping that baby would wait till it got here! And now here it is! Baby you can come anytime now!! :-)

I feel so blessed with all that the Lord has provided for us for this sweet baby! :-) I feel completely ready! Just a few little things that need to get done! I am still working on the birth plan and other preparations!

Does anyone know any good food suggestions for when the baby gets here and I don't feel like cooking much? I am in need of a few good ideas!

My Blog about giveaways~

So those of you who enjoyed looking in on all the giveaways that I enter I now have a blog were I only blog about giveaways! So feel free to follow it!

http://sarahsgiveawayslinkupblog.blogspot.com/

~Day 14~

A vacation you would like to take:

I wouldn't mind going to Fiji Island one day! :-)

It just looks so tropical! :D

How we found out we were pregnant!

I was writing out this story to put in the baby book and I thought that others might like to read it too! :-) I think it's a fun story! :-)

Mama had a feeling she was pregnant, but wasn't sure. So she decided to wait till Monday to take a test. Monday morning before daddy went to work, mama went downstairs to take the test. She waited while the test took its time to work. Soon the little plus sign (showing it was positive) flashed in the little box! Mama looked at it a few times to make sure she was reading it right. Then squealed quietly. She then rushed up the stairs and seen daddy standing in the bathroom combing his hair. All this time mama was squeaking "We're pregnant, We're Pregnant!" When she got to the top of the stairs mama jumped up making her knees come to the top of her head. Daddy, not knowing what mama was squeaking about, just chuckled and continued combing his hair. He just thought mama was happy to see him. Thinking that wasn't the response she was looking for, mama asked daddy if he had heard her. He chuckled "no". Mama then repeated "we're pregnant!"

~Day 13~

A guilty pleasure~

So probably one of my favorite things to do is sleep in! :-) I love to sleep in till 10:00 or so! :-) So that's one of my guilty pleasures! ;-) Also I'm just over all really not a morning person! I would much rather clean and do things late at night then first thing in the morning. Maybe I need to train myself to be a morning person, but for now I am very much so a night owl and I enjoy it! ;-)

Who out there is night owls with me? :-)

~Day 12~

A song that was played at your wedding: :-)

Pachelbel's Canon in D

I love this song!! :-)

Help?

So... I'm sure everyone that stops by my blog has noticed the 'hotbliggityblog' sign over my newest post... does anyone no how I can move it up or over or something so it's not an interference... I've noticed that most peoples blog has it in the corner... how can I get mine there?

~Day 11~/ and an update on the pregnancy!

A photo of you taken recently:

This is the most recent photo that's been taken of me! Certainly a big difference from the photo taken of me over ten years ago eh? ;-)

I thought I would update you all on the pregnancy since this is after all a photo of me pregnant! (Even tho this was taken a few weeks ago) We are now at 33 weeks!! And I am getting super excited to meet this little one! The first part of the pregnancy seamed to fly by... why is it that the last part is taking so long!? Don't get me wrong I am still throughly enjoying being pregnant! But to say the truth... well I am just a bit uncomfortable now. But I suppose that just means the baby is still growing healthily! And that is enough to make me super happy! :-) And I am without a doubt super happy! ;-) The baby gets lots of hick-ups now! Which is super cute! And rather fun to feel!

Well everyone thanks for reading! Leave a comment if you read this all! ;-) I so do love comments! :D Have a great night!

~Day 10~

A photo of you taken over ten years ago~

This photo was probably taken way over ten years ago, but oh well! I remember this photo was taken just before we went to pick berries! :-) I even liked picking berries then! Probably a good thing it was taken before! If it would have been taken afterwards I probably would have been a muddy mess! ;-) It was pretty hard to keep me clean at that age! ;-)

A giveaway!

I'm always really excited about giveaways (as you've probably all noticed)! SO you should check out this giveaway (or rather don't, because then I would have less chance at winning ;-) ) http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2010/07/artisan-bread-cookbook-giveaway.html

I LOVE to bake bread! So this book just has my name written all over it! ;-) Thanks Johanna for the great giveaway! :-) It makes me happy! ;-)

~Day 9~

A photo you took... Okay, so here is a little warning on this note... I'm really not a good one at taking pictures! I just point the camera and snap... I just figure if it turns out good well YAY! But if not... I try it again and again and again till I get a good picture... and if I don't succeed I come back later and try again... or else I give up all together... so that's my photography skills! ;-) just so you know! However I did take this picture! And tho it may not be very good... I like it! :-) Roses make me happy! :-)

~Day 8~

A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life.

I can't think of anyone who has changed my life more then my simply wonderful husband!!! I am looking forward to all the years, months, days, and moments that I get to spend with you! I fall in love with you more and more with each day that passes by! We are so perfect together! We truely have a marriage made at the very throne of God! Thank you for being the wonderful husband that you are! Your smile always brightens up my day!! I love you, Richard!

~Day 7~

Five things you couldn't possibly live without:

Okay so it's 'things'... so apart from My Lord, My Bible, and all the wonderful people in my life those things are probably:

Fresh fruit!! :-)

Bubbles!!!! I just really love bubbles! :-)

Flip flops!!! The best shoe ever!!! ;-)

Music!! Especially piano, flute, and harp music! Okay and violin, cello, and... ;-)

My sewing machine!! I LOVE having a sewing machine! Sewing is one of my favorite things to do! :-)

Okay so I probably could do without all those things, but yeah... ;-)

~Day 6~

A moment you wish you could relive:

The day we got engaged was pretty fantastic!!! ;-)

But this was an even more fantastic day!!! ;-) I don't know of any day more exciting or wonderful!

Mandy

Just thought I would post a few pictures and a video of my sweet little dog! :-)

She loved her squeaky toy so much she wore the squeak right out of it! Ha ha

Awww!!! :-)

She used to lay there squeaking it for hours... I think she's still trying to figure out what happened to the squeak... ;-)

My diaper bag

Alas here are pictures of my diaper bag!! :-)

I have already packed it with baby things! :-) I'm planning on taking this with us when we leave for the hospital! It has (I think) all the things the baby will need in it already! :-) Maybe even some things she won't need! ;-) heh heh

This is one of the fabrics I used!

And the other! :-)

A giveaway!

I find that one of my favorite things to do is look around for great giveaways! :-) Here's another one that is going on at Peice of Me blog... (http://www.makingmyamericandream.com/ ) Here is the link to the giveaway! Goodluck to you! ;-) http://www.makingmyamericandream.com/2010/07/sightseer-baby-carrier-by-petunia.html

Another giveaway! :-)

There is another great giveaway going on at: http://raisingolives.com/
They are giving away a hooded towel in the fabric of your choice! :-) http://shop.bebeaulait.com/hoodedtowels

So your should check it out at: http://raisingolives.com/2010/07/bebe-au-lait-giveaway-review/#comment-27261

~Day 5~

A favorite quote:

I love quotes! :-) So I'm not sure what my favorite one would be, but I really like this one:
"A wise old owl sat in a oak; the more he saw the less he spoke; the less he spoke the more he heard. Why can't we all be like that bird?" Edward H. Richards

This is another good one:
"Life is like a coin- You can spend it the way you want, but you can spend it only once." (I can't remember who it's by)

Then there is always a good one on not worrying! ;-)
"Worry is like a rocking chair- it keeps you busy but gets you nowhere"

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength." by Corrie Ten Boom

A giveaway! :-)

You could win a BabyPlanetUnity Stroller! Check it out at http://www.baby-planet.com/customer/contest.aspx

~Day 4~

A favorite television program....

Well let me think... okay I can't think of anything...

Sorry I'll just have to skip over this one! I just don't know of any that I'm very fond of that I've seen and I guess I just haven't seen many. I'm more of the movie watching type! :-)

~Day 3~

A favorite book

I used to not be much of a reader, but here recently I've come to enjoy reading immensely! It's probably one of my favorite things to do!! I like to read how to books, and books like these: (but I'm not much of a novel reader yet... but perhaps I will be one day! ;-) )

This is one of my favorite books! I've enjoyed reading it a lot! Debi has also written one for single young ladies! I haven't read it yet tho.

Then who couldn't love this book? I enjoy it every time I read it! It can make me laugh and cry! I love how she grows more and more into the godly woman God wants her to be!

~Day 2~

A favorite movie

Here are a few of my favorite movies!

Pride and Prejudice:

And Ever After!

~Day 1~

A favorite song

I love the lyrics to this song! :-)

For those tears I died
Words and Music by Marsha J. and Russ Stevens


You said you'd come and share all my sorrows
You said you'd be there for all my tomorrows
I came so close to sending you away
But just like you promised, you came here to stay
I just had to pray

Chorus
And Jesus said,
"Come to the water, stand by my side
I know you are thirsty, you won't be denied
I felt every tear drop, when in darkness you cried
And I strove to remind you,
It's for those tears I died"

Your goodness so great, I can't understand it
And dear Lord I know now that all this was planned
I know You're here now and always will be
Your love loosened my chains, and in You I'm free
But Jesus why me?

Chorus
And Jesus said,
"Come to the water, stand by my side
I know you are thirsty, you won't be denied
I felt every tear drop, when in darkness you cried
And I strove to remind you,
It's for those tears I died"

Jesus I give You, my heart and my soul
I know now without God, I'll never be whole
Savior, You opened all the right doors
And I thank You and praise You from earth's humble shores
Take me I'm Yours!

Chorus
And Jesus said,
"Come to the water, stand by my side
I know you are thirsty, you won't be denied
I felt every tear drop, when in darkness you cried
And I strove to remind you,
It's for those tears I died"

30 day blog challenge!

I found this on a friends blog... so I thought I would join in on the fun! :-)

Day 1: A favorite song.

Day 2: A favorite movie.

Day 3: A favorite book.

Day 4: A favorite television program.

Day 5: A favorite quote.

Day 6: A moment you wish you could relive.

Day 7: Five things you couldn't possibly live without.

Day 8: A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life.

Day 9: A photo you took.

Day 10: A photo of you taken over ten years ago.

Day 11: A photo of you taken recently.

Day 12: A song that you want played at your wedding(or was played).

Day 13: A guilty pleasure.

Day 14: A vacation you would like to take.

Day 15: A person you admire.

Day 16: A song that makes you cry.

Day 17: An art piece.

Day 18: A time when you felt passionate and alive.

Day 19: A talent of yours.

Day 20: A hobby of yours.

Day 21: Something you know you do differently than most people.

Day 22: A website.

Day 23: A way in which you want to be remembered.

Day 24: A movie no one would expect you to love.

Day 25: A recipe.

Day 26: A childhood memory.

Day 27: A physical feature you love.

Day 28: A scar you have and it's story.

Day 29: Hopes, dreams and plans you have for the next 365 days.

Day 30: A motto or philosophy.

30 weeks!

We are now 30 weeks along! Only 10 weeks to go!!! :D Woohoo!!! Wow I really can't believe how fast it's going right now! :-) Right now my thoughts have been on childbirth classes, names, diapers, baby clothes, baby toys, and many other things regarding the baby!

"And God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and rule over the fish f the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living think that moves on the earth."" Genesis 1:28

Gianna Jessen Abortion Survivor in Australia Part 2

This is part 2... I couldn't figure out how to get them both on the same blog post... lol

Gianna Jessen Abortion Survivor in Australia Part 1

This is Gianna Jessen... an abortion survivor!

Canning Jam!

Today I made some yummy, fresh strawberry jam! :-) It was the first time I have ever canned anything so it was quite a joy to hear the cans sealing! :-)

My lovely strawberries! :-) I used a little less then half of these actually... I think I might need to get more jars. ;-)

This is the pectin I used... I wanted jam that didn't have sugar! So I used this! :-)

Instead of sugar you are suppose to use 100% apple juice! I was quite pleased with how it turned out! :-) I always get tickled when I learn how to make something healthy! However it didn't turn out quite as sweet as I was hoping to I put a little honey in it! Now it is simply delicious!

Here my sweet little pretty jars are taking a bath! Aren't they cute! They are each only 4oz! Perfect sized for Richard and I! :-)

The lids had to take a bath too! ;-)

Here the stawberries are getting all cleaned up and cut!

Now it's Jam time! Isn't it just lovely!? Mmmm I can't wait to try it on toast! :-)

My beautiful little jars all filled and sealed!!! :-) WOOHOO!!!! :-)