How to make a bottle of formula: Creating the least amount of air bubbles

As a mom of now two formula fed babies (despite my best efforts to breastfeed) I'm stunned by the lack of education on how to best make a bottle of formula. Maybe it's because formula is discouraged or people feel it's pretty straightforward, but I truly feel that for those who need to use formula there aren't a lot of sources on how to best make formula.

So, it seems pretty simple right? Follow the directions on the back of the formula container: one scoop per two ounces of water in a bottle, vigorously shake to make sure there aren't clumps, then feed.

Except the air bubbles, oh the air bubbles that are produced when you use this method no matter the formula type or brand; they are a ginormous pain. Well, I'm here to tell you, there's a better way to make a bottle and create as few air bubbles as possible. Because let's be honest, burping a baby is really not an enjoyable experience and neither is a gassy baby.

Of course one of the most important things to reduce air intake by baby is the kind of bottle you are using. I'm a huge proponent of Dr. Brown's bottles. They really do help reduce the amount of air  swallowed and makes for a less gassy baby; especially if baby suffers from colic or acid reflux. But, regardless of the bottle you are using, you can reduce the amount of air bubbles introduced into the formula by how you make the bottle. Below is my own technique that significantly reduces the amount of air bubbles my own babes swallow, and I think will work for your baby as well.

For this example I'm making a bottle of four ounces using Kirkland infant formula and Dr. Brown's natural flow bottles.

1. Prepare sterilized bottle with 4 oz. of warm water (approx. 120 mL)
2. Shake or stir formula container to uncompact the formula granules
3. Scoop first unpacked scoop of formula into the bottle
4. Swirl the bottle holding from the neck of the bottle
5. Scoop second unpacked scoop of formula into the bottle
6. Swirl again
7. Fasten lid and nipple
8. Check for clumps by tilting bottle to the side
9. Feed

 

 

The key is to make sure the formula is unpacked, and to swirl the bottle after each individual scoop is introduced. These tricks help to immediately let the formula start integrating with the water, and ensuring it's unpacked reduces the amount of clumps you would experience normally because you are introducing easily separated formula instead of compacted formula. I usually stir or gently shake the package or can of formula to make sure it's not compacted (make sure the lid is secured!) before every bottle I make and then scoop out what I need. It's critical to shake or stir the container at the halfway point as the bottom half will be much more compacted compared the top half.

Packed vs.

Unpacked

Worst case scenario if there are still clumps:

1. If possible wait 5 or so minutes and then re-swirl. Oftentimes the formula just needs more time to integrate with the water.
2. If it's not possible to wait, try as gently as possible to shake the bottle side to side, NEVER shake up and down/vertically so that the formula is going up into the nipple of the bottle. If there are still clumps: begin feeding baby and then after a couple minutes remove the bottle and re-swirl, and then shake side to side again if you must.

Do this ↑

 

Not this ↓

Below is what happens when you swirl vs. shake bottles to get rid of clumps. Hugh difference!

Not shaken               vs.                  Shaken

I'm sure you'll have success with this and the great thing is it's incredibly easy to do. I rarely ever have to actually shake a bottle anymore to get rid of clumps, and as you can see in the photo above you can make less air bubbles depending on how you make the bottle. Best of luck and power to the mamas, you are superwomen!

Your baby will thank you!

*All the opinions expressed in this post are my own, and I have not been paid or endorsed to say them by either Dr. Brown or Costco

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/31032684913087770/

Content

I haven't posted in quite a while, mainly because I feel like we don't really do anything incredibly interesting that's out of the normal for our family. But I definitely want to keep posting so I can document my families life, and so I feel like even if I post about the hum drum things I want to at least do that for hubs and my little man even if everyone else might think it's slightly boring. I promise to get on here a bit more and maybe even post some up to date pictures :)

...

Content. Is this what heaven feels like? I'm so happy and comfortable in life currently. Not that days aren't without there challenges and it's like I don't have things to work on personally. Because I definitely have days where I know I could have done better. But I'm happy. I love and appreciate my job, and I feel that is reciprocated. I love our neighborhood and where we live. No I do not love all my neighbors, and yes there are projects around my house that are on the if-we-had-a-million-dollars to-do list, but still I love our house and area in which we live and the freedom being homeowners gives us. I have a new car that I don't worry is going to break down on the freeway or loose a tire as I'm driving home (that really happened) and is a wonderful mom car. Most important of all I have the greatest husband who just graduated from Utah Valley University with his bachelor's and is such an amazing provider for our family, and the most precious curious happy little boy to fill my days with wonder and opportunities to be the best mom I can be.

But the only way I can appreciate these things and people is because I have experiences to compare to when I didn't have them in my life and struggled without them. The first three years of our marriage we lived in four different apartments each one worse than the last. We dealt with obnoxious neighbors, ridiculous rent charges with utilities on top, and ultimately lack of control over our own living space. We recently got rid of our Subaru, which was nothing but trouble from the beginning (and a terrible purchase but don't tell Jared I said that) and made me worried driving Hilton around because I didn't feel it was reliable. I dealt with a terrible time dating, I never had a good or healthy romantic relationship until I met Jared and I truly was meant to meet him as he has made these past five years wonderful. And I feel I can still appreciate Hilton even on his terrible no-good very bad fussy days as I know what it was like to cry wanting a baby for so long. There is no way without these hard experiences that I could appreciate all the many blessings that my life currently holds. My challenges that Heavenly Father blessed me with have helped prepare me to appreciate what he wanted to give me, and I'm so grateful for those experiences. I know I have been so incredibly blessed with these people and things in my life, and I'm constantly worried that I will blink and it will be gone. My husband and Hilton are the reason I get up each day and try to be the best person I can be.

All of these things make me the luckiest woman ever, and I don't want to ever forget it.

What's in a name?

Have you heard about the 2014 popular baby names? There's a listing of the top 100 boy and girl names that Baby Center published this week and I have always loved watching the trends with baby names. Mainly because it is a good indication of names I won't use for my kids. I always felt bad for the kids I grew up with if there were multiple of their name in our class. Like I think I knew six Kaitlyn's (various spelling), Elizabeth's (or Liz), or Jennie/Jenny's apiece in my class alone. I always appreciated having a unique name but also a name that was easy to pronounce and spell easily. There was only one other Melissa in my graduating class which I appreciated a lot.

When we picked Hilton we knew it would be an incredibly unique name but one that everyone could say phonetically and spell properly because of the Hilton Hotel chain and my least favorite name sharing celebrity Paris Hilton. Now that I see the top 100 boy name list I feel very confident that he will be the only Hilton in his class (fingers crossed).

It's crazy to me how people choose their children's names, something that is lasting (as long as the child doesn't change it). Of course this is a very touchy subject. I even refused to announce our baby name choice because I didn't want to have any input from family. We had already decided on our boy name before we even knew we were having a boy. But it's crazy to me that so many people decide to name their child after the latest hot movie (really, Katniss?) or TV show they watch (Arizona or Callie from Grey's Anatomy), or worse yet from a reality TV celebrity (Kris, Kim, Khloe or Kourtney).

There were some research papers I wrote for a psychology class back in college covering this subject and an article the New Yorker published called The Power of Names highlighted some of the concepts behind name psychology (which is totally a real thing!). Basically it comes down to your name truly being the first image people see of you. If your name comes across as complicated or simplistic, masculine or feminine, people gauge you as such. This was a huge issue I found when doing research that linked very directly to job interviews and how people reacted to resumes. If your name was unique or well suited for whatever the job was they would be more likely to contact the applicant. It's an unfortunate way the world works. Likewise teacher's who see names that are difficult or overwhelming for children make assumptions about the child and parents of that child. I don't know if that is necessarily true, but I do think it's so basic that people don't truly realize they do automatically judge individuals off their names.

Think about it, how many people who you talk to in a day do you make instant assumptions about based off their name before you interact with them? If your name is James they are going to regard you as mature and professional. If your name is Iggy'Z they may not take you seriously (Yes, a real name). All of this research I did made it so even moreso that I never wanted to try and make a unique name by spelling it uniquely. If you have a name that is not phonetically spelled, it will make everyday a battle. In phone calls, people pronouncing your name, people trying to spell or write your name. Works interactions, doctors offices, banks, insurance companies. Anybody that has to say their name could and most likely will make a mistake in saying it. So think twice before you name your child Mcqenzy (Mckenzie), Rachuel (pronounced Rachel), Austyn (Austen), or Kaero (Cairo). Trust me as someone who deals with unique names on a daily basis at a doctor's office, there's a better way to give your child a unique name.

For me I personally prefer to use this fun Baby Name diagram that gives you an idea of if you're baby name choice is in the top 100 meaning you're child will be more likely to have classmates with the same name and also shows the trend of that baby name. Click here to test your own baby name.

Good luck and have fun!

p.s. am I the only one who is obsessed with names? I definitely have a couple names picked out for our next babies in the future that I will definitely check and make sure they are not in the top 100 names before we officially decide on names.

p.p.s. I love the name James but I will never name a child James because of this.

10 most popular boy names of 2014

1. Jackson
2. Aiden
3. Liam
4. Lucas
5. Noah
6. Mason
7. Ethan
8. Caden
9. Jacob
10. Logan

10 most popular girl names of 2014

1. Sophia
2. Emma
3. Olivia
4. Ava
5. Isabella
6. Mia
7. Zoe
8. Lily
9. Emily
10. Madelyn

Link to list here.

Your Fourth Month

My sweet precious boy, it's so amazing to see you start to truly explore and be curious about the world around you. You have started to recognize difference textures of fabrics (fluffy vs. rough), you love looking at Grandma's beautiful artwork, and you are definitely an outdoors little man. You could spend hours outside underneath the trees looking at the sky or watching the dogs play in the backyard. We take walks almost daily now and you love to see new places and things; and wiggle your cute little arms and legs as fast as they will go when you see something that catches your attention.

You are officially in 6 month clothing now, and still in size two diapers. However the blowouts seem to be a daily occurrence now which I honestly can't complain about. I'd rather only change one poopy diaper a day even if it's bad then six a day like when you were only weeks old. Your bath's post blow outs have continued and because of their frequency I think you've started to really like being in the water. We're taking you swimming for the first time when we go down to Las Vegas to visit Alex, Ryan and Kayli so I'm excited to see if you like it!

You ate your first solid food this past week! We tried rice cereal but you HATED it. You spit it out right away and gave mom the dirtiest look. So we tried some applesauce right after and you gobbled down the whole bowl! Mom and dad were so impressed. You've had applesauce a couple times since but it seems like you have to be in the mood. Your teething seems to be getting worse. Mom even went and bought some orajel to get us through the rough days which definitely seems to be helping. Yay for medicine! You also rolled over for the first time all by yourself from front to back. You looked really shocked the first time and have only tried it a couple times since. You prefer standing to tummy time so I can't help but think you might be a early walker.

You continue to be such a sweet smiley baby. But you have also started to show us your stubborn side as well. You are like mommy, if you don't get enough sleep you are GRUMPY! You can be impatient (also like mom) but you also now how to be such a cheeser especially to the ladies who sit behind us at church. You smile and coo and do your best to woo these sweet old grannies. And they eat it up! Overall though you are a very calm tempered baby but absolutely love to be part of the action and so you keep us going all day long until it's time for bed when we all (are starting to) sleep through the night. On average we only have two wake-up's a night which is enough that mom can cope.

Daddy is loving your sweet man bum. It's so cute and dimpled we just love it!

Mommy is loving your cheeser moments when you give the biggest grins to people-particularly women are your favorite. I think we have a heart-breaker on our hands!

The puppies love sniffing your hands and licking them after a yummy bowl of applesauce. You sometimes get more on your hands then in your mouth but that's ok.

I love you my precious handsome man. It is crazy but it still is sinking in that I am a mom, and that you are mine forever. I love you and your sweet heart stealing ways. Here's to lots more smiles!

Birth: 7lbs. 15 oz.
1 month: 11 lbs. 14 oz.
2 months: 13 lbs. 8 oz.
3 months: 14 lbs. 5 oz.
4 months: 16 lbs. 1 oz.

Your Third Month

Oh my goodness how time is flying! I know I say that each time I put an update here, but it just seems to keep speeding up much too fast. You are my little angel and I just love you so much I can't help it.

You are still in three month clothing, which I'm grateful for so we can get more use out of them. But not for long I don't think. We just moved you into size two diapers but that hasn't seemed to help your blowouts. You've already had two this week, both times when poor grandma has been watching you! You've gotten baths those days as well it was so bad. You no longer scrunch up your face and act like you're going to scream when I put you in the bath, but you still seem unsure.

You love to gnaw on your hands and you love sucking on the corners of your blankets so I know that soon we'll have a favorite blanket that must go everywhere with us. You basically still dislike binkies except for when mommy can convince you to take one (but that's really hard and rare). You love talking and gabbing with mommy when she gets home from work before bed, and you have found yourself in the mirror on your playmat and are curious about who that person is and if you can talk to them. You still haven't rolled over, but I think it may happen soon. You've begun to actually like tummy time, and are getting super close to propping yourself up on your elbows and try to scoot yourself a couple inches. You hate to be held like a baby unless you're being fed. Only sitting up assisted or standing assisted for this boy! You want to be aware of what is happening around you and are very curious about the puppies and intrigued by the world around you.

 Your sweet little personality is still so strong and prevelant. However you've started to get frustrated more quickly if we don't know what you want right away so I feel like you are definitely wanting to communicate and trying to figure out what you need. I love and hate when you wake up for the morning because you often start cooing when you wake up because you're wanting to know whats going on, but I also wish you'd sleep longer for mom's sake. You only wake up around seven but on mom's days off it would be nice to sleep a bit longer. It's clear you love your grandma's and grandpa's, they can always get you to smile and you love being sung to by them. I really hope they have a strong influence in your life.

Daddy loves that you love watching Man vs. Wild with you. You love the sound of Bear Grylls voice and literally calm down almost instantly when you hear it. I think you'll be an outdoorsmen like daddy.

Mommy loves your sweet smile and squeaks when she makes faces with you and carries on a gabbing conversation. You love to be tickled and have raspberries blown on your belly. Anything to get you to smile your sweet smile mommy loves.

Hilton loves his food. Eating still only 3.5 oz or so. If you get over hungry you get so worked up that it takes a lot to get you to take the bottle even though you're mad because you're hungry.

The puppies love that the days have been getting warmer so mommy takes a blanket outside and lays underneath it with Hilton and throws the chuck-it for the puppies to run after. We're all so glad spring is here!

I love you so much little Hilton, and I whisper how much I love you each night when I put you to bed and every morning before I leave for work. I hope you remember the sweet things I've told you as you get older. We love you so much and would do anything for you!

Our blessed 2013 year

Looking back on this year it was just such an amazing ride. So many goals were completed and life achievements occurred. But most importantly I feel that my close relationships have gotten stronger. I feel that Jared and I's marriage got to be more unified, closer, and adaptable. I've grown closer to my own mother and father as they helped us buy our first house, and especially since the arrival of my sweet Hilton. My mother has shown me so many things about how to be a good mother, and it wasn't until my baby made his appearance that I grew to truly appreciate the work and life of a mother.

 
But most importantly I feel that I myself have changed significantly. I've become incredibly fiscally responsible. I'm the bill payer in our house and am in charge of making sure we save enough for the car payments, mortgage, and general bills. I got to watch and experience my body doing an amazing feat of creating another human being and being able to give birth to that most precious creation. I have seen myself become more determined by finally pushing to the end of my degree and taking the large step of graduating from college. I am officially a college graduate with a bachelors degree! Five years of tears, sweat, and blood went into that and I will (hopefully) never take the experience for granted.

 

The largest change I have seen in myself was becoming more patient. More patient with Jared, with life, and mostly with myself. I have grown to know myself a little deeper than I did at the beginning of 2013, and I hope that I can learn and grow even more in the year 2014. It's funny how so many things were unplanned at the beginning of this year, and how they just feel into place. We wanted to buy a house, but had no real plans too. We wanted to have a baby but had no control over the timing. I wanted to be done with school but wasn't ready to make the last sacrifices to make it happen. It's so true that the Lord has a plan for us and that we cannot understand or control the timing; but we can have faith that he knows what is best for us and what we need from our time here on earth.

I'm so grateful for my life, for my husband, my health, my baby, my dogs, my house and car, my job, but greatest of all I'm grateful for the belief that each day is a new day and that I can always do better today than I did yesterday. It's inspiring and that's what I'm hoping for this 2014 year. To live each day inspired and to take each day as a blessing. To the comforts, joys, and challenges that lie ahead, here's to 2014!

A (little) Man's Best Friend

One thing I was really worried about during this pregnancy for the transition to life once he was here was how Adi and Aspen would react to his arrival into their lives. I often times thought, 'They have a rude awakening coming once he's here' mainly because I knew they wouldn't be as spoiled with undivided attention. But also because I knew the family dynamic would change so much. Obviously my priority is baby which meant that they wouldn't be getting as much attention from me, which made me feel awful. I love our pups, and I can't imagine life without them or being unable to give them the same amount of attention as pre-baby.

A couple people asked us if we planned on getting rid of them once the baby arrived. To us that was absolutely not even a question or thought. Yes they are big dogs, and yes they have lots of energy. But they are also extremely obedient for me and Jared (not so much strangers). To us they are family members-we're now a family of five not three and we wouldn't dream of getting rid of them.

Quite a couple of people also asked if we were worried about them being too rough with him, newborns are of course fragile. I had never seen either of them around a newborn or baby before, but I knew Adi loves to interact with kids. She adores them actually, whenever kids come around she wants to play and its really sweet to watch. She's really a gentle giant, but I can see how people would be concerned about her around a newborn. Aspen isn't afraid of children, but she doesn't really want to 'play' with them. The only thing she really ever wants to 'play' with is her tennis ball.

So when some close friends of our had a baby three or so months ago I asked when they came over the next time if we could see how Adi and Aspen would react. They have a dog as well and so were willing to bring their baby over so our dogs could experience their first newborn. Honestly they were just curious, of the smells, sounds, and size of this little being. Adi was a little to much in the face as she often is with any stranger but once we got her to understand that she had to keep a bit of a distance she did really well. Aspen sniffed, but seemed disinterested quickly and only wanted to play with her tennis ball. Because of that experience I was rather worried about how Aspen would react and if she would feel neglected once baby arrived.

Now that baby is here one question everyone asks is how the dogs are reacting to him. And it's not at all like I was worried about. I was worried they would feel severely neglected, or would get jealous. But it's been just the opposite, both have been very conscientious of where he is and coming to check on him if they're with Jared. If I leave the house with Hilton for a time, when I get back they always have to give him a thorough sniff check when he gets through the door.

The first day we were home from the hospital I was doing a diaper change and Hilton was screaming because he hates the cold, and because Aspen is terrified of loud noises she went running for her hiding spot under the bed. As she's gotten accustomed to him though she stays each night with me on the bed and often comes over when he wakes up to eat or be changed to make sure he's alright. Last night was the sweetest because I had just laid him down and Aspen came and laid down to snuggle him.

Adi on the other hand has assumed the role of protector. Some people from the ward brought over dinner and Adi was very cautious about letting them too close and will actually act as a barrier between me and them. This is good because it shows she has already accepted him into the family and will protect him, but is bad because it means she growls at our neighbors who aren't dangerous people. But we're slowly training her. She goes ballistic each time the door rings or comes running if she hears the front or garage door opening to patrol what is going on.

 

As for the worry of them eating any baby things left unattended they have been so good, they haven't touched anything. We had heard all these horror stories of baby toys being treated as dog toys, baby socks being devoured (or buried in the backyard), and pacifiers being stolen from babies mouths. However Adi and Aspen are really good about leaving things alone when we tell them no, but he's only been here for a week so we'll see how they are down the road.

 

Overall things with baby and dog transition are going great, I still feel like they need more attention and each day I've improved as I have healed and Hilton goes longer between his feedings. I've been able to let them out to play for longer periods, and am able to spend time cuddling them while Hilton is sleeping. I hope they know I love them even though I can't always give them both my hands. Somehow I think they understand. They still love me and are excited to see me when I get home so I know they don't feel abandoned.

Hilton's birth story

So for those that don't know my original due date came and went (December 7th) and my wonderful OB at my 40 week appointment said that it was time to set a date for induction. From the beginning of this pregnancy I had a couple things I didn't want to happen, I didn't want to be induced and I really didn't want a c-section. But when I discussed with my OB early on about the possibility of an induction he made it very clear for the health of the baby going over 41 weeks was not something he would do because the placenta actually starts to disintegrate at that time. So I knew this whole pregnancy that it was something that may need to happen.

Well by the time I was 40 weeks I was actually begging him to induce me the next day because I was so uncomfortable. But I had to wait until I was a full 41 weeks, which was officially December 13th. However Friday's are my OB's normal surgery day and he had four big surgeries planned for the day already so he wanted me to wait until the following Monday. To him it's just his next work day; to me it meant three more days of agonizing constant discomfort and another weekend where I would have had to sit and do nothing but think of how badly I wanted to have this baby. It was still up to us and we decided to go ahead for Friday. We took a risk by being induced on his surgery day because if I was ready to deliver while he was in the middle of surgery I might have to wait and fight the urge to push to give him time to get done with surgery. But since I was only dilated to a two I felt that it wouldn't be an issue because it would take me a while to dilate to a ten (I was contemplating like ten or so hours) and then the couple of hours it normally takes to push.

We arrived at the hospital at 7:20 ish Friday morning and were very eager to check in and get going. The OB came in and broke my water once we were settled, which did nothing surprise surprise, so they automatically started me on pitocin around 8:30. Jared had already settled in for a nice nap after his graveyard shift the night before which I was fine with because I thought I could entertain myself and ride the contractions alone no problem.

They started me off easy at 4mL/hr but because my contractions weren't painful just consistent they raised it to 8mL/hr around 9:45, which is when they started to actually hurt. I was able to bear through them and kept moving, using the birthing ball, and trying to just count as I breathed through the contractions. My pitocin continually got moved up, first to 10mL/hr and then to 12mL/hr to keep the contractions consistent and keep them getting stronger. Well the problem was that as they got stronger they did as contractions do and got closer together as well. So my ability to compose myself after each contraction was severely decreased and I started having problems breathing during the contractions and they got so painful I didn't want to move. I started hyperventilating and honestly felt like I was going to pass out just sitting in bed.

Again for those that don't know my goal was to go unmedicated during this labor. I didn't want to be cathetered and I was genuinely concerned about having lasting back pain from an epidural. I had heard horror stories from other ladies at work who had sciatic pain from their epidurals and even people saying that they got the epidural and then it stopped working just before birth. I just wanted to avoid the whole scary aspects I had associated with getting an epidural.

Around this point probably 1:30 p.m. the nurse came in to check on my progress (five hours into actual labor already) and I had dilated...to a three. I could have cried. She said she would come back in a half hour to check me again (she said I had also fully effaced at this point so I was hoping that this meant I would start dilating faster).

That half hour felt like an eternity. By the end of it the contractions had gotten so bad I was writhing in pain, and in the midst of one I looked over at my seemingly unbothered sleeping husband and lost it. I can't remember exactly what I yelled at him but I started to cry and he could tell I was seriously in pain and he was up in a flash. As soon as that half hour had passed I was on the call light asking for my nurse to come back. She came and checked me and I hadn't changed a bit. Another contraction hit and I just couldn't even get myself to breath through it, it was like I was flailing all my limbs hoping for relief and gasping for air. 

My ability to see the end goal of having a baby was blemished by the fact I was living by the minute, waiting for each contraction to hit two minutes later. My stamina was killed by the fact that I had been in active labor for five hours-really painful labor for about three and had only dilated one whole centimeter. I still had seven more cm's to go and after calculating my track record so far of one every three hours that meant 21 more hours of labor. I'm sure it wouldn't have taken that long in reality but it's the only timing I had to go on. By the end of that contraction I started to weep because I had come to the conclusion I couldn't do it, and Jared kissed me on the forehead while holding my hand and said he thought I should get the epidural. I started to consider it and then the next contraction hit and I could barely gasp for breath. As soon as it was over I said in tears to my nurse who was standing by the bed watching this whole ordeal to 'please get the anesthesiologist', and that I wanted the epidural.

She called him and thank his blessed soul he was there within one or two more contractions, set up and administered after just one, and the wonderful thing kicked in within another two. When I felt relief I could just feel my whole body relax, my pacing heart calmed down, and my anxiety just lifted. I felt like a failure and started to cry because I'd given in, but my body was enjoying the needed rest. The epidural was placed around 2:30, and it honestly in my mind is now one of the greatest inventions ever because of what occurred next. 

Well my biggest fear after having the epidural placed is that my labor would then slow down. I had heard that from multiple sources saying that epidurals relax your body so that your contractions slow down and baby can be put into distress making the need for a C-section much higher. Maybe that's true with women who are in natural active labor I don't know, but I had the pitocin still running and so my contractions-which I couldn't feel at all-continued strong and consistent and baby was handling it all like a champ partially I think because my body had stopped fighting the labor.

My nurse came back to check on me around 4p.m. and I was definitely expecting it not be more dilated because it was only an hour after I had finally dilated to a three. She checked me and surprisingly said I was already to a 4+. I couldn't believe it. I dilate one cm in an excruciating five hour period, and another in a one hour period AFTER I'd gotten the epidural? No way. I was happy but skeptical the progress would continue at that pace, it was just a fluke. By this time Jared was starving-he hadn't eaten all day because he'd been sleeping-so he went to get food and I hung out in bed, not that I had much choice. I couldn't feel from my waist down after all.

He came back and we started watching Man vs. Wild one of Jared's favorite shows, and got through maybe one episode by 5 p.m. when my nurse came back to check my progress. And by the hugest surprise of all I was already to a 9+! How was that possible?! My nurses's very surprised reply was that my body was probably just so tired from trying to labor for that five hours it had been more counter productive than anything and that once my body was really able to relax from the epidural he could actually descend into the birth canal which caused my quick dilation. She went and called the nursery, respiratory, and someone to prep the delivery room all of whom came and got set up because, 'baby would be here in less than two hours' depending on my ability to push.

By 5:45 they had me all ready to push and I did only maybe ten good pushes before she told me to stop that I was to effective of a pusher. She said he had already descended into the birthing canal, his head was visible and he was too close to coming before Dr. Larsen could get to the hospital if I kept pushing. She called him and then probably four contractions later Dr. Larsen was there and only three more pushes and I felt a huge release of pressure and my sweet boy was born! They cleaned him up a bit and put him right on my chest just beautiful fresh and new to the world. Jared was in tears and so was I!

Hilton wasn't crying at all really, he only whimpered but was just so awake and alert it was wonderful. We just sat there and held him, in awe of this little person that was now ours. It wasn't until we got to the maternity room that it really started to sink in. As we've gotten to know this precious little soul it is very clear that he is so well tempered and he looks exactly like his daddy who is thoroughly smitten and in love with him. It's so sweet to watch them together and to see Jared's face light up when he sees him or when he picks him up.

Jared can often get him to sleep no problem when I cannot, he's a baby whisperer

It's been quite the unforgettable experience the last day or so but I wouldn't change it for the world even though I'm completely exhausted, stink, and now have a belly that's like jello rather than the abdominal muscles I know are in there somewhere. I can't wait to be able to nurture this precious little soul and make sure he stays healthy and strong. It's amazing to me how much love you can feel after only knowing him for such a short amount of time. I am completely enamored with him and would just die if anything were to happen to him. I love my precious little family and I can't wait to see how he changes as he grows. I'm so grateful for the experience of getting him here, now that he's arrived I would do it all again in a heartbeat-every bit of discomfort, every contraction, every stretch mark for this little man that I get to call mine.

My miracle:

Hilton David Smith

born December 13th, 2013 at 6:08 p.m.

7 lbs. 15 oz. and 21.5 inches long

Nursery Transformation Part II

The last serious project prior to decorating was refinishing a piece of furniture for the nursery. It is a chest of drawers that Jared's great grandma passed on that he used growing up and we thought it would be appropriate to use it for our little guy. However, it needed A LOT of work. Sanding, restaining, and new hardware to say the least. But after many hours of labor it is looking almost new.

BEFORE:

Some serious water damage from over the years

AFTER:

 

The stain wonderfully covered the water damage-you can't even tell it's there!

Lastly was the theme of the nursery. I had seen some really fun cool ideas from Pinterest that involved triangles, and since a geometric shape is pretty darn gender neutral but could still be something fun to play around I convinced Jared to go along with my crazy/fun ideas. I wanted one focal wall but Jared called nix on that idea since we had just spent two weeks painting the nursery, so I had to improvise. I instead decided to go get paint color papers from Lowe's and make some wall art instead. Nothing permanent or damaging.

Then I made our little mister's baby quilt out of triangles which I specifically made twin sized so he can use it as he grows up. I also will be making the bed skirt but so far incredibly happy with how his bedding turned out.

 From beginning laying out...

Sewn together front...

 All finished!

Here's the basically finished nursery. We have some small things still to get like a crib mobile, extra sheets, and a bouncer but he's basically set!

 

Crib+bookshelf. I want to have that bookshelf full of great books for him!

The laundry area+where all his clothes will be stored

At this point we're pretty much ready with the big stuff all we need is a little baby to come fill it-but not for another four weeks at least! It's definitely beginning to become more real and I'm getting more and more excited!

31 Weeks

Week:31

Weeks Left: 9

Stretch Marks: nada, which I'm very grateful for

Sleep: getting harder and harder. I wake up each time I turn over because it takes so much effort, I wake up if I'm laying on my back, and I wake up to go pee at least once during the night. But so far that's been my only real negative in this pregnancy and I'm grateful for it!

Heartburn: has definitely started to get worse, but can be controlled with a glass of milk in the AM and one in the PM, which is why I'm going through a gallon of milk a week-by myself. The funny thing is that spicy things don't irritate it as much as things that are cheesy and high in carbs. Like pizza. 

Cravings: my cravings have gotten incredibly unhealthy. Only fast food sounds good (Artic Circle in particular) which is really irregular because I normally HATE fast food places. Corn dogs, chicken fingers, pizza, and good thick fries along with fry sauce are incredibly tempting to me, which isn't what I want because I only want to gain so much weight during this pregnancy. So I'm trying to find alternative options that are more healthy.

Weight Gain: I'm up 20 lbs. which I'm sure my OB will be happy for but I'm not particularly. Another reason why I've starting watching what I'm eating more carefully because I don't want to gain more than 30lbs. total.

Clothing: I am beginning to be unable to fit into ANY of my pants or jeans (little man is laying really low). My every single day pants are leggings which I'm sorry, I know they're not technically pants but they comfy and dang it I'll wear what I want. I only have two pair and so I am currently washing them every week and definitely need to get a couple more pair.

Daddy: is probably more emotionally ready for this than mommy. But that's also because daddy works graveyards and won't be getting up with baby except on weekends. Mommy likes her sleep and is worried about loosing so much of it. However we are both very excited to welcome little one when he's ready! Only six more weeks until he's free to come anytime!!!

Love our little family!

Nursery Transformation Part I

The largest project, or highest priority project for me after the gardening at our new house was definitely the nursery. It needed to be de-wallpapered, painted, and re-carpeted. And that didn't even include the actual setting up of the nursery itself. Thank goodness I had tons of help from Jared and my Dad.

Dad came over one day when I had rented a wallpaper steamer and helped me de-wallpaper. It was a mess! But thank goodness we didn't mess with any of the other cheaper 'methods' that involve things like scoring the wallpaper and a solvent or even laundry softener because it turned out the wallpaper was part vinyl which put up quick a fight even against the steamer. But a couple hours later we got it all down just in time for the carpet to be replaced (by the way, whoever invented wallpaper should be taken out back and shot-seriously that is the biggest pain I've ever had to deal with).

 

 The 'before' anything had been done in the Nursery

 

The horrid wallpaper. Seriously, how was this ever thought to be good looking?

In the process of de-wallpapering

De-wallpapered

The following Saturday Jared and I got the walls sanded down to get the remainder of the glue off, and then painted. We chose a gender neutral color because we don't want to have to repaint if we have a girl down the road and we personally really don't like having multiple rooms different colors. Boring yes, I know but I'd rather change the color scheme in decorations on a neutral background than have a ton of back breaking work to change the color scheme if I want to.

Painting was a huge undertaking and honestly lasted a week in total because we had to paint the ceiling (it was the awful yellow color that was on the top half of the walls), wait for it to dry, tape and then prime because of the two tone walls, wait for it to dry, paint the floor boards and trim because they had been painted BLUE, wait for that to dry, and then finally paint the actual color we wanted the room.

Prepping to paint the ceiling

After we had primed and painted the trim and floor boards throughout the room

Finally all painted! Now just to decorating which I will dish about in Part II