Tummy Time!

A day of firsts...

Clint had a day of firsts last Thursday! Since I was getting cabin fever, mom and I decided to take a trip down to the mall, then to spend the night in Dougasville, so dad, Andy, and Mamaw could spend some time with Clint! First we hit up the Cracker Barrell, then Town Center Mall, then to mom and dad's house. Auntie Elizabeth and Sarah came to see Clint; it was the first time Sarah had seen him; she mostly giggled the whole time while she was holding him!! (don't think I mentioned it before, but my best friend Elizabeth is 8 weeks pregnant!!! yippee!!) Mamaw and Andy came over and ate pizza with us! It was wonderful to be able to spend time with my family! On Friday we went to Costco and shopped, then my dad met us at Red Lobster for lunch/dinner, then we headed back home to Ellijay! It was a great couple of days, and we plan to do it again next week, since I go back to work at the end of the month and won't get to go down there as much.

Finally caught it on camera with his sucking his thumb!

Hey mom!!

Just haning out!

Here he is kicking away, building his muscles!!

Ready or Not...

Ready or Not? Well that's a matter of opinion! It was Tuesday Jan 5, 2010, I went to work that morning and had my 38 week Dr appointment that day at 11:30am. (And was planning on returning to work after the appointment) I had been cramping in my back for about 5 days, but didn't really know what it was; just thought that it was an end of the pregnancy kind of thing. I had slept on the couch for the past few nights with a heating pad, because that seemed to be the only place I could get comfortable. (I was having contractions and didn't know it) I actually felt better Tuesday morning than I did at work on Monday. It was a long day; not only had I cramped all day.. I was exhausted. While at the doctors office, Dr. Falany was going to check and see if I had dilated any (this was the first time I had been checked), and to our (and her surprise) I was three centimeters dilated. (Guess all the cramping was actually doing something)

Dr. Falany said that if I didn't have the baby on my own by the end of the week they were going to induce me the next Tuesday. Then she turned around looked at my chart and said "umm no, you are going to have this baby TODAY". The reason was because my blood pressure was so high. I just started to cry. I was not ready to hear that. I mean, throughout the pregnancy you know that this day is going to come, but... I still had two more weeks to prepare! Not today...! She explained to me that it was really for the better. She said that his lungs were already developed, and she could just send me home and put me on bed rest for the next week, but all that would do is waste time. Before we left the Dr office, Jonathan and I called our parents and told them what was going on. So, we came home, got our bags, feed the critters, ate lunch, and then headed for the hospital. It seemed like all we were really doing was running around in circles.




It takes us about 45 minutes to get to the hospital. (my mom is waiting at the entrance...and had been for about 30 minutes. She wouldn't even let me finish on the telephone to tell her that we were going home first.. she was just so excited and shocked that she hung up on me! ha ha) They put me in room 305, and start getting me worked up with the iv, fetal monitors, etc. Then around 5 or 6pm they start the pitocin. Contractions were coming on, but nothing too painful. We had lots of visitors that night: mom, mamaw, dad, Neal, Debbie, Shane, Callie, Elizabeth, and Jessie. Unfortunately, or so I thought, the nurse came in the room around 9:30pm, and said that since I hadn't dilated much more that Dr. Falany said to stop my pitocin, and that way I could get a good nights rest and then they would start in back up at 5 the next morning. I was kind of upset at first, but quickly realized how tired I was, and was thankful to get the rest.




The next morning the nurse came in my room right on schedule at 4:45 to get me hooked back up to the monitors, and to start my pitocin...again. Here we go, today is going to be the day. WOW! Around 7:30 am I told Jonathan that I needed to get up and go to the bathroom. He was trying to unhook me from the monitors, but he just wasn't doing it fast enough... I HAD TO GO!!! I was already up and out of the bed pulling the cords with me, as Jonathan is trying to get things undone.... and I barely made it to the bathroom and my water broke (didn't know that was what was going to happen... I just had to pee!) Things progressed from there.. By 8am I was in so much pain, I was ready for that epidural!! My co-worker, James, came in to give me the epidural, and I was so thankful for him, and to have pain relief!! Let me just say.. epidurals are great!!! By around 3:30 pm I was dilated to 10, and the nurse told me that I was in a race with the girl next door who was delivering her 4th child, and she was dilated to a 6 or 7, but they expected her to go VERY quickly. About ten minutes later the girl next door still had not delivered, and my nurse was staying in the room with me, and I told her I really feel like I need to push, she got Dr. Falany .. and here we go! (Clint was going to win his first race! ha ha!) Jonathan, mom, Debbie, and mamaw were all there beside themselves with excitement! I only pushed for about 10-15 min, and here he was, at 3:51 pm, weighing in at 6lbs 9.8 oz and 20 inches long, and a head FULL of blonde hair! HE WAS BEAUTIFUL!!! The room was filled with joy, tears, smiles, and laughter! OH my goodness, is that really my baby? He's mine? I couldn't believe it! After Jonathan cut the umbilical cord (which in my mind took forever! ha ha), she laid him on my abdomen. I held him and cried! It was love at first sight. One of my facebook friends told me that the minute you hear your baby cry for the first time, everything that you had went through up until then didn't matter.. and she was so right! I will NEVER forget that feeling!!!




We had lots of visitors that night, everyone wanting to see our new little bundle of joy!! We stayed in the hospital until noon on Friday. There had been a big snow on Thursday so we were extra cautious on the way home!! (It took us about an hour and a half to get home from canton) Jonathan's mom, Debbie (Mimi), was right.. He was our little Snow Baby! When we got home, there was a glider rocker sitting in our living room that Jonathan's mom and dad had bought for us! It was so nice, and Jonathan and I were so glad to have it!! Debbie had cooked us supper and brought it over, and her Neal, and Shane ate with us!! Jonathan and I are so blessed to have such a wonderful family!! Jessie, Aunt Teri, Jonathan's aunt Karen, and Deb (or neighbor) all had cooked us dinners and brought them to us!! And let me just say.. that is one of the best things someone can do for new parents at home with a brand new baby!!





The first couple of days at home was really rough, between doctor's appointments, and taking him to the hospital everyday for 3 days to have his bilirubin levels checked. His jaundice levels has spiked really high at day 3, he had lost over a pound and a half, so we had to get him a bili-bed to lay on (kinda like a tanning bed) to help get the bilirubin out of his system. They told me not only to breastfeed, but to supplement him with formula every 2 hrs. While he was laying on the lights, the only time we could get him off was to feed or diaper him. That was so sad.. we wanted to hold him and love him..we just had to do it sitting beside him. He had to lay on the bed for two days and finally the jaundice was gone!




Here we are, Clint is 2 months old, where does the time go? I only have one more month of maternity leave. (which I am not happy about!) I dread going back to work and leaving my baby, but I know that he will be in GREAT hands...his Grammy's hands!! (my mom) She is going to keep him at our house, which will be absolutely wonderful!! Jonathan and I truly love being parents! There is no greater feeling than holding your baby, rocking him to sleep, or having him smile at you for the first time! I get a warm fuzzy feeling every time I lay eyes on that child!! I tell Jonathan all the time that I think Clint is the cutest baby I have EVER seen!!! I love my baby Clint!!! Have I said that yet??? The Bible says that children are a gift from God, and let me tell you.. there is no greater gift!! I can't imagine my life without him!!

This first picture is Clint in the lab at the hospital fixing to have his blood drawn, (which he didn't wake up for!)



















This picture is of Clint going to church for the first time!!

I love to watch Jonathan burp Clint! It is the funniest thing I have ever seen!! He sits him on his knee, and his arms and legs just hang there like a ragdoll!!! Too cute!!

Just hanging out after church!!

The beginning is just in sight...

WOW! Where has the time gone? Seems just like yesterday that we found out we were pregnant, and now here we are at the 37 week mark. The pregnancy has gone perfect so far except for a few little hiccups this last month. We have been so busy in the month of December at work (people wanting to have surgery before they have to meet their deductible again), so I haven't got much rest. I had a very bad cold for about 2 weeks, then the coughing set in, and I cracked a rib in my chest. And of course there is nothing you can do about a cracked rib, so I just have to press on the side of my chest or holler when I have to cough/laugh nowadays. I don't see it getting any better until I have the little man, the doctor said that it was because my ribs are having to expand to make room for the baby, and that is why it seems much easier to pull a muscle or crack a rib during pregnancy. Well, enough about MY aches and pains...

I had a doctors appointment on Dec.30 and he checked Clint's heartbeat (which was perfect) and then he pressed on my tummy to feel how is was lying. He told us that he thought Clint was between 6 and 6 1/2 lbs then, and he guessed that he would weight between 7 and 7 1/2 lbs when he is born, so we will see! I am supposed to go back to the doctor on Monday, and then I will be checked for the first time to see if I have dilated any. As of today, I still have not had any contractions or pressure. (except for the pressure on my bladder to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes) It seems that he gets the hiccups about 3 times a day now; I always heard that means he is growing, so bring em' on! He doesn't seem to be kicking as much nowadays as he is just moving and rolling his little bottom around. It just melts my heart every time I feel him in there because I know that he is okay, healthy and strong. I just can't wait to meet him, to see him for the first time, to make eye contact with this beautiful baby that we created with God's help. I know that I will be SO emotional to finally be able to wrap my arms around him and to kiss and hug this baby that I have loved and nurtured for 9 months. I thank God everyday for the miracle growing inside of me. I know that God is going to take care of us, from the remainder of the pregnancy to the delivery; I have turned it all over to him, so I don't have to worry anymore.. and that is such a relief. It is wonderful to know that we serve a Living God and that he is always there for us, to comfort and protect us, so we don't have to worry. I can't wait for Clint to find out was an amazing Savior we serve! And I know that with God's help, Jonathan and I will be wonderful parents.

We have pretty much finished the nursery except for just a few odds and ends. It looks so cute!! I just hope Clint likes cowboy stuff when he gets older, because boy does he have the stuff!!! Thanks to all of our WONDERFUL and LOVING friends and family for EVERYTHING!!! It is wonderful to know that we are surrounded with people who love and care for us, and want to help us as we begin this new journey in our lives. You all are truly a blessing and we can't thank you enough!

A year ago...

A year ago this past week (Sept. 2008), Jonathan and I were vacationing in Panama City Beach, Florida. It was the day before our 3rd Wedding Anniversary that Jonathan and I were floating in the ocean (well.. Jonathan standing and me semi-floating and hanging onto him in fear of jelly-fish and swimming crabs that like the bite toes...) talking about different things in our lives.. IE. plans we had for the house, finishing the basement, buying furniture, building a barn for the camper, landscaping, and family. We talked for a long time about where we would like to see ourselves in the next year. Jonathan has always been the one who would have been ready anytime to start a family, but it was me with the reservations. I babysat a lot in my teenage years, and I know what kind of commitment that it takes to have and raise a child. But, as we were there floating in the ocean we began to talking SERIOUSLY about having a child, and we both decided right there that we were ready! So, it was that day we stopped our contraceptives and began our path down a new road. I didn't realize that it would take as long as it did. It seemed that everyone in my family got pregnant while they were on the pill, and here I am month after month will no pill and no pregnancy. But what we had to keep telling ourselves was, that God would bless us with a baby in his time, not ours. So, fast-forward 9 months later... I was about 2 1/2 weeks late, but still hadn't taken a test yet. We were camping at Lake Chatuge and going to see Josh Turner with Jonathan's parents, Neal and Debbie, his brother, Shane, his girlfriend, Callie, and her family. We had a great time that weekend, Jonathan's dad brought his boat, so we all took our trips around the lake. It was when Jonathan and I took the boat out that Saturday afternoon, that something in me changed. I was SCARED. It seemed like we were hitting the waves so hard and bouncing up and down in the seats, so I grabbed my stomach in fear. I have never felt like that before, especially around Jonathan; he is the one I feel MOST safe with. I know that Jonathan saw the fear and panic in my eyes and he slowed it down and brought me back to the campground. I guess now, I realize that it was the motherly instinct in me taking over and trying to protect my baby. The next morning it seemed like I couldn't hardly eat breakfast when I woke up, so it was then that I was really suspicious that I was pregnant. So, when we got home, and got everything unloaded and put up Jonathan and I got a pregnancy test out from under the cabinet and took a deep breath. Jonathan went and sat on the bed, and I went into the bathroom. I wasn't trying to look as I was taking it, so I wouldn't know either way, but it turned so fast I couldn't help but notice. I set it on the back of the toilet and told Jonathan "I think I saw it say positive"... So we both sat on the bed and stared at the clock for 3 1/2 mins (like two little nerds!) and I told Jonathan to go in there and look.. so he did. He came out holding it and smiling! I knew then it was true! We hugged one another and cried.. happy tears. Wow! We are actually going to be parents! I told Jonathan to start praying right then for our baby.. that he/she would be healthy, strong, 10 fingers, 10 toes..etc. I prayed too. And we hugged some more.. and I cried more...! I know that I am one of the lucky ones, I was never sick. And believe me, I count my blessings everyday!
On September 8, 2009 (a year after we decided to start our family) we went for Baby Clint's 21 week anatomy scan. There we got to see the 4 chambers of his heart beating away at 146 beats per min, we saw his stomach, bladder, full spine, kidneys, upper and lower extremity bones, umbilical cord with all the vessels, his boy parts, and him in 4D. They said that everything looked great and normal! (Just what we had been praying for, and still praying for) The 4D photos were awesome, Jonathan and I were in awe as we were watching and looking at our baby Clint's face for the first time. WOW! How can you love something so much that you have never met or even seen? I guess that is how God's love works. All I know is that I love this little one with ALL my heart already and he isn't even here yet; not sure how I can love more... but I am sure it will happen as soon as I hold him in my arms and kiss his little face for the first time and know that he is My baby, OUR BABY.
It's amazing all the changes one can have in a year!! Here are a few pics of our last ultrasound...


This is my absolute favorite picture in the whole world right now!! This is baby Clint's first smile, and I can't help but smile and fall in love all over again each time I look at him!

Clint has no problem showing that he is a little boy!! Isn't it amazing how much you can see on the ultrasounds nowadays?

Like I said in the previous blog.. I am still learning!!! I was trying to get the photos in with that post, but I couldn't get it to work.. anyway.. The first photo is Clint at 17 weeks, and in that photo it shows his heart beating at 153 bpm. In the second photo (13weeks), I like to call that his " it's a hard life picture" because he is resting his arm on his forehead! And in the third photo (13weeks) Mr. Clint Lee Carver is showing his manhood to the whole world!!!

It's a Boy!

Hello everyone! Thanks to my best friend Elizabeth, I now have my very own blog! I am still learning, so I may get things a little backwards for the first couple of posts!
I am sure that everyone is curious about the baby! As of tomorrow, August 23, 2009 I am 18 weeks pregnant (4 1/2 months), and our due date is Jan 22, 2010! We are going to have a little "snow baby" as Jonathans mom, Debbie, says! Jonathan and I found out at our 13 week visit to the doctor that we are having a little Boy. We were a little skeptical at first because it was so early to be able to tell the sex of the baby. But, this past week at our 17 week visit, we are definitely sure that it is a boy! Names were no problem for us... If it was going to be a girl we were going to name her Lillian (Lily) Aline Carver. I have ALWAYs loved the name Lily, it is just do dainty and cute; and Aline after my precious grandmother! And for a Boy.. Jonathan always said that he wanted to name him HANK... haha.. I told him that when he said that name it sounded like he was trying to clear his throat... so one day Jonathan came home and said "What about naming him Clint Lee?" and I totally fell in love with that name! Clint after the old western cowboy actor "Clint Walker" and Lee after his great grandfather (his moms side)! So, here we are with little Clint Lee Carver!!!! As of August 18, 2009 he weighs 7oz and has a heart beat of 153 bpm! We go for our full anatomy scan on Sept 8, there they will look at his heart (and all the chambers), kidneys, spine, etc. We are super excited!
Last Saturday Aug 15 I was laying on the couch watching Tv and I had this weird feeling in my stomach.. I thought that it might be the baby, but I just wasn't sure. It felt like little tiny butterlies. Then Sunday night, Jonathan and I were sitting on the couch studying for his plumbing exam, and there he was again.. but this time it was much stronger. This time it felt like heavy butterflies, and I definelty knew that was my little baby in there moving! It is so amazing to be that I have another little life growing inside of me; I have 2 heart beats in me; God's miracles are so wonderful! It is still hard for me to believe that Jonathan and I are going to be parents; I am nervous and excited all at the same time, but I know that we are going to have plenty of help and little Clint will feel love from every direction! We are SO BLESSED!
I will try to keep everyone posted as to what is going on with us, meanwhile please keep us in your prayers! Love you all!