Monday, February 25, 2008

...a whole year...

This is where it all began! Where we met. Where my life totally changed for the better! Bergan Mercy Hospital...1:42 P.M. on March 7th, 2007....the best feeling I will ever have...the moment I wish I could replay over and over!!! ......How has it already been a year? Ok Ok...I am getting a bit ahead of myself...I still have almost 12 days until it's official and my baby is a TODDLER.
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BOY was it all worth it. The incredible swelling, retaining more water than I ever thought humanly possible, the heartburn, the stretch marks, the zits, the emotional break downs (I had several), the constant trips to the bathroom at all hours of the night....you get the picture. Let's just say I was one " big girl" by the end of this 10 month journey. Actually, Jaxson John decided to join us a little bit earlier than expected. Sorry for all of those who don't wish to hear every detail...these thoughts and feelings I'm having tonight definitely have to make the "blog book/my journal"....
...I remember going to the doctor on March 6th and hearing Dr. Jimmy tell me that I was dilated to a 3-4 but I was still over 3 weeks away from my due date! The time was nearing and I was so anxious and honestly quite scared that I would be the first woman since like 1902 to die giving birth because I wasn't tough enough! Anyhow, I was to come back in a week and had strict orders to remain on BED REST because of insanely high blood pressure. ( He failed to realize that the blood pressure was totally unrelated to my pregnancy...but rather a particular student who I wanted to strangle). After being put on Bed Rest...I did what else...Hit Wendy's drive through for some Chicken Nuggets (sick!) and went back to work.
I had Dental Materials to teach...and ain't nothing going to stop me from teaching how to manipulate impression materials:) I was so anul about my job (still am)....and was oddly afraid to let go. I worked until 11:00 p.m. that night! Yep...that's right. My entire pregnancy I worked the Split Shift. I would work from 7 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. then leave and come back EVERY NIGHT from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.!!!! Totally insane, huh???? But I loved it! I loved the girls...and I love what I do.....
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I was in a strange way RELIEVED from my earlier doctors appointment. Content with being Huge and Uncomfortable if it meant still having some time to prepare. Ya know...certain things needed to happen. For example, I hadn't dusted on top of the fridge or scrubbed the bathroom since Saturday and there was NO WAY ON EARTH I could bring my baby home to a cluttered, dusty disaster. Ha!
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I remember praying that night that I would somehow calm down and that I could enjoy these last few weeks with Jarom. I took a long bath and talked to my Mom for an hour. The entire conversation consisted of me panicking that I wasn't ready to quit my job...and crying that I wasn't ready to have it never be just "me and Jarom" again. I know...totally selfish and lame. I blame it on my totally irrational and unpredictable emotional state caused by some pretty intense contractions (which I thought was gas:) the entire day!
I got out of the tub and by this time Jarom was already asleep. It was just then that Jaxson gave ME a pretty good size kick to the ribs...and POP! I knew it was going to be a long night.....full of some pretty intense pain. My water had broke...and I ran into the bathroom and stood in the tub. When I called for Jarom (mostly feeling kind of sad at this point that I had just worked 12 hours that day....and would not even get one minute of sleep before I tried to give birth to a child!!!) and my sweet husband came running.... and, of course, FREAKED! I'm sure we all have husband's with similar reactions on the "first" child.
Jarom MUST have tuned me out those nights I forced him to listen to me read aloud Chapter 3 from the pregnant women's bible, "THE GIRLFRIENDS GUIDE TO PREGNANCY". He honestly thought that after your water breaks you have only minutes until the child was laying in your arms. I have never seen him so crazy. Luckily...I am an organization freak...and was packed a month early...although my doctor said I wouldn't have this baby boy until well into my 40th week! I guess I knew little jaxson better than he did. We headed for the hospital...and the rest is History!
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I just love looking back at the pictures and Yes...I am bawling like a 4 year old right now! I can't decide if it's because I'm sad that my baby is growing up...or if it's the fact that I have to probably do the entire thing again pretty soon:) or within the next few years....
I posted this picture for one reason...and one reason only. For you to look at the profile of my nose....that happened to take over my face because it was SOOOOO swollen and full of water. I looked like a balloon. I would show you more...but I'm not yet completley over the trauma of it all.

... me scoping him out...and us sharing our first few kisses....only a few hours old.....
The one and only week this child took a binky!

This picture is ugly...but made me laugh because of 1- How teeny tiny our baby is and 2- How nervous we were to hurt him, ruin him, or permanently damage him in any way! It took us both and sometimes my mom too.....to get him hooked up to his Jaundice lights!
ta dah...HE SURVIVED!
...so precious...
Even more precious! Jarom prayed and prayed that I would have Jaxson over Spring Break...so that he would have even one minute away from Law School to spend time with him! Well...Jaxson made that wish come true...and was born on Spring Break....Which meant LOTS of quality time with daddy.
...love this picture...don't really remember it at all though. Crazy what 2 percocet every few hourse will do to a person:) I saved a few:) :)
ARE YOU SERIOUS???? Look how small he is!
Approximately 1 minute old!
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Which brings me to my latest pictures! I quickly took a few pictures of Jaxson on Saturday evening to document his BIG ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY!!! He, of course, didn't want to smile too much....and really wanted to explore instead. My goal is to get really Great at photography this next year of his life....but I think they turned out really darling!

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I love his little giggle....
I love his little smirks....
I love his silly sense of humor....
I love his (and his dad's) obsession with baseballs....
I love when he learns new things...like how to clap....
I LOVE LOVE LOVE his eyes.....
I love his little sweet spirit....
Happy Birthday Baby....I Love you!
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We are so excited to throw him a baseball themed b-day bash on Saturday with all of our/his friends! I will surely have TONS of fun pictures to share! Then we got lucky...because we will be flying to Utah to celebrate again with a B-day party at my parent's house on the actual day....MARCH 7th!

14 comments:

The Wells Family said...

HA HA! I loved the part about Jarom wanting Jax to come during spring break. Rob was the SAME way! He even persuated the doctor to start me a few days earlier than normal (Thursday of spring break)...Well the good boy that Bobby was, he came Monday night. It was PERFECT! Rob got to spend our first week together HOME...more or less keeping his wife sane who was bawling and freaking out about EVERYTHING! And the swelling thing? You should see me!! I look so swollen AND I learned to NEVER go to sleep with wet hair when you are close to giving birth. I looked like a freak!! LOVED the recap...and yes, Bobby LOVES looking at Jax, STILL!

tOyn fAmiLy said...

That is so crazy! I think i know somewhat of how you are feeling. it is so hard to watch your most precious child go from a baby to a toddler. I think matt got sick of me saying "shes not a baby anymore" i hated it she was walking and talking and having such attitude! They are so fun through all stages though! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAX!!

The Johnsons said...

What cute pictures and a fun post! He is such a darling little boy! My water broke early with my firt two. Kael three weeks early and Aidan 7 weeks early. It always makes for a little more excitement! Hope he has a good birthday, and even though it's hard for them to not be babies anymore, toddlers are fun too!

Simkins said...

Fun pictures! Isn't it amazing to look back and realize how fast time flies! Jaxon sure has grown fast and is a darling little boy!

Erin said...

I'm so glad you posted your labor story. I love hearing girls labor stories because they are all so different. I am totally terrified of my water breaking before I go into labor. I would keep having dreams that my water break at church or something and everyone would be throwing up around me. That's lame but I did dream about that. Luckily I had my water broke for me both times after I got to the hospital. Thanks for sharing your story and your 1 year pictures of jaxson are way cute. You are getting good with your camera.

Marshall and Dana said...

I love it! Not that I want to get prego right this moment, but it totally takes me back to both births. His 1 yr pics are awesome.

Suzanne said...

Are you serious! you had me almost bawling like a 4 year old! the reaction of jarom totally reminds me of jon's reaction when he learned that i was to have a c-section. he left the room and i was like "where are you going?" my friend nikki later tells me she was out in the hallway comforting him saying "oh buddy, she's gonna be okay!" he was crying more than me that day! Can you believe how fast it goes? im sure you've heard people say that the time is gonna fly by, but you never realize how fast it really does go until they hit the big 1 and you just have to sit there in awe and be like "what the *$#@!? What happened?!?!"

Chelsea said...

your pictures look great! This probably sounds nuts, but it seems like he turned one SO SO fast!!! I guess its because I've only seen him 3 times. It's crazy! He looks SO much like your family to me lately!

Ginger said...

Kristin- You have to shut your blog down. Everytime I look at it I want a baby! Tyler doesn't appreciate your blog because of this... Of course I am teasing (well tyler really doesn't like me looking at babies all day)but I must admit your baby is a cutie. And I think you really are naturally pretty. No makeup works well for you- truly!

Wendy said...

You are right those pics you took of Jaxson are absolutlely adorable...he is starting to look like a toddler. Where does the time go. Your new camera is awsome, you definately should take some of Jonah for me! I would love it.

Jessica Kettle said...

great job girl! The pics look great! I can't wait to see his party! Btw, the orange is not a wall, it's a little homemade backdrop! However, I am seriously considering painting Max's room orange. Either that or teal.

Pam said...

Kristin! This is my 3rd attempt to comment on this post. For some odd reason it hasn't worked. Anyhow, Love the pics. Can't believe it's been a whole year. It still seems like you were just pregnant. Have fun giving him a birthday party..so fun!

Brittany said...

I loved looking at all those pictures again- from a year ago!! I honestly can't believe it's been that long!! I am so happy that I have been able to see him grow into his own little cute person this last year!! Thanks for letting me get to know him and babysit him while we live in the same state!!:) I am excited for the party on Saturday!! Let me know if there is anything I can do.

The Bee Family said...

Hey you don't know me I stumbled into your blog from Annie's. And just wanted to say I think your pictures are adorable! You did awsome and your little boy is just darling! I have also wanted to start working on my photography skills and have no Idea where to start. If you have any suggestions let me know. eliandkate.blogspot.com