Thursday, September 17, 2009

A Year Ago This Month

As my son's first birthday draws near, I will be taking the time to write a few posts of reflection. Recaping what has happened to my life since my son was brought into it. Many of you didn't read my blog back then. I started blogging when I found out I was pregnant. I wanted to use this as a way to stay connected with my friends and family. It wasn't until my son was born that I began to explore the world of BlogLand and make new friends here. I have met wonderful people and I have enjoyed reading about all your children, marriages, faith, hardships and joys. I have prayed and cried for many of you. I "fell" into an enormous, gracious christian based community here and I am very thankful to have all of you.

A year ago this month, I was ready to go! (Ok, not ready for the actual labor, but definitely ready to meet my little man!) Being me and my Type A personality, I had my lifestyle set for baby number one by the time my 1st trimester was complete. I had the nursery painted a light spring green (adaptable to a boy or girl) and had the crib set up. I was collecting hand me down clothes and pondering over baby names.

Last September, I was wrapping up my career as a hair stylist in an upscale men's salon. I loved my job. I had met so many great people. I grew alot there. My focus wasn't on God at this point, but I certainly came out of my shell. I learned how to approach people that I didn't know. I learned how to start up conversations with the introverted types and learned how to listen and give advice when asked. I was able to make people feel good about themselves. Giving a new clean haircut was always rewarding for me.

Photo taken 33 weeks pregnant

When I had one month to go in my pregnancy, I stopped working. At this time, Paul and I had already moved to Appleton so I was making a long commute. It was only safe to stay near my hospital in those last few weeks. It was these few weeks that drove me CRAZY. I was at home with nothing to do. Sure, I went to the Y each morning for a good 25 mins of elliptical jogging and stretching. But you can only lay outside in the sun for so long before your pregnant body screams at you to get in the air conditioned house!

I was thankful to never have gotten swollen ankles/legs (despite my 8 hours a day on my feet at work) and I was feeling good. Sitting for too long would hurt my rib cage because they would dig into my enormous uterus. I always wondered where in the world my stomach and intenstines went when my baby got SO big. LOL No wonder heartburn can get so bad!

My mom knew in my last week before Jax arrived that I was in need of some company. She had taken the day off on Tuesday, Oct 21st, the day of my 39 week appt. Her and I spent the day walking at the mall and talking all things baby. She came with me to the OB for my check up and ate dinner with us that night. It this point, I was already contracting and we were on our way back to the hospital within 3 hours from leaving the check up. I had asked my mother if she wanted to be in the delivery room with me. I know this isn't everybody's cup of tea, but this is the way I looked at it... when I found out I was having a boy - I had to take a few moments to "move on" from my thoughts that I was having a girl. I was sad that I wasn't having a girl, but I was NOT unhappy that I was having a boy. (Many of you who have these simliar feelings know exactly what I mean. I have been working on a post about ir for months and haven't published it yet.) Anyways, I knew how much my mother wanted to be there to see the birth of her grandchild, to see her daughter (the child that she created), complete a circle of life by bringing her own baby into in the world. I know I would feel that way if I had a little girl. It's different with a son (more on that in my future said post). I know it meant a lot to her that she was there, I was happy she was there.

This is the beginning of my reflections over that past year. I will not relive Jackson's birth story here, as many of you have read it before :) If you are interested, you can click on the labels off to the right hand side that indicate "Jackson's Birth Story".



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26 comments:

Unknown said...

So sweet! My Mom was in the delivery room with me and my hubby when I gave birth to Molly. You looked great pregnant!!

Unknown said...

Surprise! Getting to know you today ! It's been fun getting to know you and I know others will enjoy meeting you too.

Love ya.
Lynnette

Caroline said...

Great post & thanx so much for sharing. Glad your Mom could be there with you. You did look great pregnant.
Caroline

Sherrie said...

Hi, I enjoyed reading your blog post and getting to know you. I am visitng from Lynette's Blog. Thanks for sharing.

Holly said...

Hey April, I'm 'visiting' from Lynnette's blog. hahaha

Hard to believe he'll soon be 1, huh!? How's the party planning coming? It was just Anthony and I in the room for Kyndra (besides dr and all that, you know) and for Carleigh it was Anthony and I plus my friend Ashely who took photos and my bff Lindsey who took videos. My sister had me and my mom in the room. She's due in Nov and she already said she wanted me in with her again so that's neat!

Unknown said...

Beautiful memories!

I'm visiting from Lynnette's blog!

So nice to meet you!

Have a blessed day,
Jill
PS You were beautiful pregnant!!!

trennia said...

Hi visiting from Lynnette's getting to know you to say Hi!

Lilyofthevalley - Tanya said...

Hello! I'm stopping over from Lynnette's blog this morning. Congrats for being the featured blogger today.

Lovely post and thanks for sharing. I'm due next month with baby #6, so it was fun to read your post this morning.

Danielle Holsapple said...

I found you from Lynette....
What an awesome story! you are/were a beautiful pregnant mommy! And I can tell you really love your lil guy and were so excited to meet him!

Ms. Sarah said...

So sweet. I had my mom in with me too. I was really glad to have her there. I will be back :)visiting from lynettes blog

Myra @ My Blessed Life said...

April, I can't get over how much I can relate to this post! I was convinced that I was having a girl too and I was SAD that I wasn't, but I was happy that I was having a boy. Weird, right??

Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog about Ridley. I think he's doing some better today. I've always tried to keep water out of his ears too...not sure where the infection came from.

Oh and happy Getting to Know You! :)

Myra @ Happy Housewife Living Life

Kelly said...

Hey girl! Congrats on Getting to Know You! It's so fun to meet new people.
I love that you're going back through your memories of pregnancy and Jackson's birth. I didn't read your blog then, so it's neat to hear about it!

Hope you have a wonderful day!
Kelly

midRae said...

What a wodnerful blog and I know Jax will appreciate looking back when he is older. Found you through Lynnette's blog and I have jumped in every once in a while. Congratulations on being the featured blog.

Carla said...

I love big baby belly pictures! That was my favorite part of being pregnant , being big and curvy..the only time in my life I have curves! :) Congrats on being featured on Lynnettes blog today. Enjoy the love :) You have an adorable family. nice to meet you.

Mrs. McFadden said...

stopped by from Lynette's blog. you looked amazing when you were pregnant. :0) I had my mom in the delivery room with me too. I don't think I could birth a baby without her.

Tina said...

Stopping over from Lynette's blog to say hello & nice to meet you.

Christina

Unknown said...

Hi!!!
I am visiting from Lynette's! So good to meet you! This is fun! :)
I love sharing memories like this!
You looked amazing pregnant!!! I am really envying you! lol
Gina

Kelci said...

You look so amazing! I only wish I looked half that good. Oh, the birth stories, HA! I'll have to remember to go back and write about those as well. The things you say or do in labor? ;)
Great Getting To Know You today!
Kelci @ My Journey.....

Angela said...

Hi! Just stopping by to Get To Know You! Isn't it fun reliving the events surrounding childbirth?! Have a blessed day.

Angela

Amy said...

Hi,
I'm visiting from Lynnette's blog. It's nice to meet you. You're post is so sweet. Time flies, doesn't it?

Amy

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

So glad that I found your blog...Had a free night to blog hop and enjoyed yours. Hope you will stop by new Christmas blog ...There is a great giveaway that I will draw for on Oct 1st and all you need to do to enter is comment. Hope you have a great weekend.
http://grammyababychangeseverything.blogspot.com
http://teresa-grammygirlfriend.blogspot.com/

Kristin said...

Hi! I'm visiting from Lynnette's blog. Congrats on being featured! You were a beautiful pregnant Mommy! I understand about your Mom being with you....mine was too for my firstborn and it was very special! Okay, I have to go check out your boutique. I just love Mommy-owned boutiques!!!

the Spocks said...

Visiting from Lynnette's blog.

My hubs was the only one with me when our daughter was born. I unfortunately had to have a c-section.

Kari said...

LOVE those pictures. I'm fascinated with belly shots and wish I would have had some professionally done when I was pregnant!
I was thinking that I hadn't seen you do a post in a while, so I got on my updates to scroll through to see if I missed them, since that can happen when there is a lot of updates -and it is showing none for you. I'm following, so I don't know what the deal is. I'm not sure how far back updates go, but even with your most recent one - it doesn't show on my update list. So, sorry I've been missing them. I feel bad. Now I need to catch up. Yours is the second I found it doing that with. Ugh!

Kari said...

ps...my mom, mom in law and sister were in the room when Bella was born. me and the hubby did it alone the second time around. good thing since it was sort of - dramatic you could say!

Kelly @ Sufficient Grace Ministries said...

A way late congratulations to you on being featured on Lynnette's Getting to Know You!

Beautiful pics...beautiful post...

Love to you...