Gabe's Birth Story: Part 1

last belly photo (Thursday 15th)

Wednesday the 14th I had nonstop contractions all day. They were still far apart and manageable, so I didn't think I would need to go into the hospital that day, but I thought I was getting close and would be in by Friday. I wasn't happy that I felt it in my back, like with Caden, especially since this baby was in the right position and my water wasn't broken. Well, the next day they were gone, and I went to my appointment on Friday hoping it was my last one. It was.

Saturday was a normal day. We went grocery shopping, got chores done, and went to Rubio's for dinner. It was very windy outside, and made me think of my friend who gave birth during a bad dust storm. I swear the weather plays a role in when babies come!

That night contractions started again. I was able to get rest most of the night. By 4:30 in the morning they were getting stronger and longer, so I texted my doula, Crys, that she might need to come in a few hours. Justin went to work and I went back to sleep.

When morning came, I got Caden ready for church and asked his nursery teacher to take him. Shortly after he left, Justin and Crys arrived. We all napped. It was the last good nap I would have for a while. Crys made us some food while I got in the shower with Justin and the birthing ball. Things were going well. I felt like I could do this. I wanted to stay at home as long as possible and give birth naturally.

Caden came home from church; I wanted to see him. We had lunch and then we all rested again. I listened to Hypnobabies on the couch to work through contractions, which were getting more powerful. Then I started throwing up. When Caden woke up Justin took him back to his nursery teacher's house. Things got more intense from there. We tried watching Psych, but I spent most of the time throwing up so it didn't help. I didn't want to change positions. A second shower didn't help. I was getting frustrated with myself for not being able to relax. I felt I was losing control. Crys convinced me to walk up and down the stairs to help move Baby down. I didn't want to, but I did anyway. It felt good to walk around after sitting so much, but I felt the back pain more when standing during a contraction.

Caden got home around 9 and Justin put him to bed. The back pain continued to get worse and worse. It was time to go the hospital. I called up my sister-in-law, Kirsten, to come stay with Caden. I walked around the house with Justin while we waited, rocking and slow dancing in his arms, him supporting my weight, during contractions. He was amazing helping me through them and never stopped believing in me, such a difference than the first time around. (He later confessed he did have some fears, but didn't share what they were. I'm glad he never let me in on it.)

Once Kirsten and Adam arrived, we drove to the hospital, which thankfully is less than 5 minutes away. We checked in about 11:30 p.m. The first part of this birthing experience was over!

Read Part 2
Read Part 3

Welcome, Baby Gabe!

Baby Gabriel was born Monday afternoon, on his due date, via VBAC (birth story and more photos coming soon). He was 7 lbs. 5 oz. and 19.5 inches long. He has a lot of hair and looks like his brother did when he was born. We are all in love with him!

NEW WINNER!

The new winner of the "It's a Girl!" multiple prize giveaway is comment #69 by Cassandra Marquez. Thank you for leaving me contact info! Many people missed out on being the winner because they did not leave their email addresses. More giveaways coming soon!

Little Chef

One of Caden's favorite movies right now is Ratatouille. When it was time to make dinner last night, Caden got out his apron and chef's hat his grandma made for him last Christmas and asked me to help him put them on. Then he found his "mouse" stuffed animal (it's really an armadillo but he insists it's a mouse), which he had been calling "Little Chef" all day, and put it in his hat. It was the cutest thing ever!

And a photo of Caden sleeping for the last time in his toddler bed.

WINNER!

The winner of the "It's a Girl!" multiple prize giveaway is comment #127 by Crystal Rose. Congratulations and enjoy your prizes! More great baby giveaways coming after this baby comes!

New Furniture

Thursday we said goodbye to our old couches.

We got them secondhand for a steal of a deal when we first moved here, and they have served us well for the past 4 1/2 years. It was time for new ones, and we finally found some for another great deal at a local place called Pruitt's. Great customer service there! The couches came Friday afternoon. They are super comfy and fluffy.

We also got Caden's mattress at the same store. We had set up his new bed from IKEA a week ago, and Friday night Caden was finally able to sleep in his new big-boy bed with his new sheets he picked out from Target.

The last thing we need to do is put the crib back together and we are all set for Baby! I have a feeling he will be coming soon.

 

Belly sticker courtesy of Watch Me Grow Stickers

Featured Seller: Erin from This One's Mine Ceramic Design

This week's featured seller is Erin from This One's Mine Ceramic Design. Erin makes buttons, earrings, ID clips, ornaments, and other cute trinkets from ceramic. Her whole story is worth sharing. She is a pretty amazing woman!

I married a wonderful man. He was 6'6", incredibly strong, my best friend, a bit of a goofball, and one of the best men I've ever known. Nine years ago, he died of cancer, leaving me a single mom with 6 kids under the age of 13.

Up until that point, I'd been a stay-at-home mom and home-schooled our kids. We didn't have life insurance (my husband used to joke and call it dating money), so I went back to school and worked odd jobs to make ends meet. I even spent a couple of summers working seven days a week in a local cannery, graveyard, for minimum wage, to help put myself through school. I'm currently in my last semester of nursing school and looking forward to graduating in December. The kiddos went to public school for the first time as well. Needless to say, life changed drastically for us.

I've learned to do a lot in the last few years. I can now change a garbage disposal, switch out circuit breakers, replace a ceiling fan, tile and grout, roof a house, program the air conditioner (hey, it was a real accomplishment), and other exciting feats. The hardest lesson has been to learn how to ask for help when I really need it. Guess you could say I'm pretty stubborn.

I started making ceramic buttons a couple of years ago, and have developed my product through trial and error. I've always loved sewing, and buttons are fascinating to me. If you've ever stuck your hand in your grandma's button jar and just felt them, then you know what I mean. And they're the part that can make or break a project, in my opinion. They're the icing on the cake. And they just plain old make me happy. It's a good combination.

My shop name came about when I was in a store one day. I picked up a crazy birthday card and thought, "This one's mine!" As I stood there with a big grin on my face, it struck me that I wanted others to have that same smile. I wanted to make something fun and bright and happy that resonated with my customers. I wanted them to see something in my shop and think, "Yeah, this one's mine."

My buttons, badge reels, and beads are all made of ceramic clay and use lead free underglazes and glazes. Everything is hand painted; I never use silk screening or decals. I love working with vibrant colors. I research popular fabrics, looking for color and subject trends for the season. Then I draw up my designs, make special cutters, cut and dry the clay, smooth rough edges, paint it, fire it, glaze it, and fire it a final time to about 2000 degrees. The whole process takes a minimum of 5 days from start to finish to make a single button.

I went through a pretty rough time when I lost my husband, and when I came out of it, it was with the realization that life can be good again despite the challenges. I think the colors I use and the designs I make are a result of my decision to be happy, to live life, and to look for the fun in each day.

Check out This One's Mine Ceramic Design for more wonderful items in fun themes!