I am Thankful

I am just so thankful for my amazing family! I have THE bestest husband in the whole world! I'm so happy to be HIS wife! Our daughter is simply the sweet little lady! She is such a joy! I love to hear her randomly giggle! Right now she is in a really fun stage where she loves to play with us and gabber! She is now saying 'Da Da', 'Ma Ma', and sometimes 'Hi'! She used to call me 'Ba Ba'... I think it was because the Mmm sound was hard for her to get so she replaced it with B! : ) Now if she's crying sometimes she'll say 'Mama ma ma Ba Ba ba ba'. It's kind of cute.

Lately I've been feeling like I've been hibernating... just waiting for Spring to come. I miss things like walks in the sun, gardening and many other great outdoor activities! I've been thinking of all the great outdoor things that I really hope to do one day! Like vegetable gardening, canning, herb gardening, raising our own fruit, raising bees, raising animals, and so much more! I want to be self-sufficient!

Speaking of self-sufficiency...

This is an amazing book! I've been making a lot of my own natural cleaners with this book! It's so much fun to clean with something that you made yourself! And that you feel good about breathing in the fumes! I'm really not a big one on breathing in something that could do some harm... a lot of cleaners tell you to be cautious breathing or not use at all while pregnant, so why would I want to breath them while not pregnant? Plus a lot of the cleaners are really unsafe to have around while there are small children in the house. Even tho you still don't want your children to play with or drink the homemade cleaners, it's not going to necessarily burn their insides if they accidently do.

Have you read this book? Or any other good self-sufficiency book? I would love to hear from you!

A picture story!

These pictures were all taken back to back! This is very common of Susie! :-)

'Oooh look a block!'

'But the block isn't as interesting as what's in my hand'

'I just love burp cloths'

'YUM'

'Right where it belongs'

That's my little sweetheart! She just loves putting things in her mouth, especially burp cloths!

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!

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!

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 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!

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! :-)

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

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

~Third Trimester~

We are now in the third trimester! We have about 3 more months to go! I can hardly believe that September is as close as it is! Lately, I have been feeling for the most part great! Pretty energized minus the fact that the extra weight makes me feel tired. I am very thankful that I have had a really easy pregnancy for the most part! I didn't have any morning sickness! The only things that wasn't as plesent (but that I don't mind) is I sometimes get cramps in my legs at night, I can't stand the smell or looks or taste of chicken, and I sometimes get shaky (probably from not eating or drinking enough). And all those things don't happen very often! I feel completely blessed and excited to meet this sweet little one! The things I've been enjoying a lot during this pregnancy are I simply LOVE LOVE LOVE to feel the baby kick!!!! :-) It makes me so happy to know that she is safe and that she is still doing well! I also really like the feeling of being pregnant! It makes me feel so womanly and feminine! :-) I love to talk to other ladies about babies and pregnancy! And I love the cravings! ;-) That might sound silly to like cravings, but I do like them! I guess it's just another thing that makes me feel pregnant! :-) Plus I've always liked food! ;-) So to conclude my blog post I'm just going to say that I love being pregnant! :-) Thanks for reading! By the way I just want to let you all know that you'll make my day if you leave a comment! ;-)

I just had to share this!

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did! Let me know what you think about it!

"JUST A MUM?
A woman, renewing her driver’s
licence was asked by the woman recorder
to state her occupation. She
hesitated, uncertain how to classify
herself. “What I mean is,” explained
the recorder, “do you have a job or
are you just a...?” “Of course I have
a job,” snapped the woman. “I’m a
Mum.” “We don’t list ‘Mum’ as an
occupation, ‘housewife’ covers it,”
said the recorder emphatically. I forgot
all about her story until one day I found
myself in the same situation. The clerk was
obviously a career woman, poised, efficient and possessed
of a high sounding title like “Official Interrogator” or “Town Registrar.” “What is
your occupation?” she probed. What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply
popped out. “I’m a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.”
The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had
not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then
I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official
questionnaire. “Might I ask,” said the clerk with new interest, “just what you do in your
field?” Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, “I have a
continuing program of research, (what mother doesn’t) in the laboratory and in the field,
(normally I would have said indoors and out). I’m working for my Masters, (first the Lord
and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job
is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often
work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-ofthe-
mill careers and the rewards are more of satisfaction rather than just money.” There was
an increasing note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up and
personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous
new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could
hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,
testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a win over bureaucracy! And I had gone
on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than
“just another Mum.” Motherhood! What a glorious career! Especially when there’s a title
on the door. Does this make grandmothers “Senior Research associates in the field of Child
Development and Human Relations” ? and great grandmothers “Executive Senior Research
Associates”? I think so!!!
I also think it makes Aunts “Associate Research Assistants”. Please send this to another
Mom, Grandmother, Aunt, and other friends you know. May your troubles be less, your
blessings be more and nothing but happiness come through your door!"

From the NGJ (No Greater Joy) Ministries magazine!
http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/fileadmin/template/PDFs/201004_July-August.pdf

~Wearing your baby~

I have been looking around at all the different ways to "wear" your baby! I would really like to wear my baby! :-) What fun ways there are too! :-)

There is the ERGO...The Sling...

And the Moby wrap! I really can't wait to try them all out if ever I get a chance to! :-)

Random post~

Okay so today I'm just going to write a VERY random post...

I have been busy learning to crochet lately! :-) My sisters and I taught ourselves! Now I'm practicing my crocheting on a dishrag that is turning out quite funny, but I think it'll make a nice dishrag none the less! ;-)

I have also been getting grossly behind on cleaning... :P Though yesterday I cleaned our master bedroom and the day before I cleaned the bathrooms! I'll just take it a room at a time I guess. I think today I'll end up cleaning the kitchen! It is in dire need of a good cleaning... there are dishes hanging out on every counter possible, simply because I ran out of dishwasher soap and I haven't caught up on the dishes since. Oh dear!

Tomorrow (Friday the 18th), we have a midwife appointment! I am really looking forward to hearing the baby's heartbeat again! *Happy sigh* That never gets old! :-) I also have been feeling the baby kick a great deal! That makes me VERY happy! I like to know that she is safe and sound in there! Every time I feel her kick I find myself letting out a sigh of relief! Oh the joys of having your tummy kicked! ;-) Heh heh!

I'm hoping to be able to get the stuff to make a diaper bag here pretty soon! Oh I so do love to sew! Especially for our baby! I'm thinking of making it brown with a pink ribbon! Or maybe lavender with a pink ribbon! I also thought about red with a pink ribbon! ;-) Anyway I'm pretty sure about the pink ribbon part! ;-)

Anyway, I better go get the dishes done now! Nice chatting with you all! :-)

A baby quilt!

My mom bought me some fabric so that I could make a cute little circle baby quilt! It was tons of fun to make and it turned out beautifully! :D

Here are the circles all cut out and ready to be sewn! Altogether there were 123 circles... whew!

Here all the circles are sewn together! Just waiting to be made into a quilt!!!



My finished baby quilt!!!! :-) Isn't it lovely!!? I was very excited when I finished it!!

Halfway there!!!

Today we are at 20 weeks!! Now halfway there! I can hardly believe it... it feels like we just found out we were pregnant yesterday... and now we are already halfway there to having our first little one! :D WOW!!! :D

Our baby girl! :-)

This is our little girl!! :-) Isn't she beautiful!!!?

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