Josie's 1st Birthday Bash!

The fastest year of my life has come and gone! My baby girl is now one, and I can't recall how an entire year rapidly passed. With each child the first year of life picks up speed and there seems to be no break, no slowing down. Knowing Josie could possibly be our last little Jones blessing, I made a vow to soak it all up and not wish away one moment, which I believe made time even more fleeting.

 

We celebrated her birthday at one of our favorite spots! A little park on the reservoir where we love to feed the ducks, kayak, ride bikes, and watch the sunset!

 

 

I provided a massive bucket of dog duck food, and the ducks were in hiding all day, I think for the first time ever......craziness!

 

Josie didn't seem to mind, more for her!

                                                      
                                                     She thought it was delish!!!

 

The parachute brought out the giggles.

 

 The wagon was a wild ride.

Beautiful bracelets were made at the creation station.

But the most favorite activity loved by all,

run, run, as fast as you can

you can't catch me

 I'm the duck food throwing man!

                                                           
                                                          They would run, get a handful of food, run back to the water, and chunk the food....still no ducks, but lots of fun!

 

Cake Time!

                                                     
        

She tore into her cake like no ones business.

 

Mawmaw & PawPaw

Nanny



Granny Bub & JoJo

 

                                                              Sweet Friends

 

 

 

 

On to the main event,

 

Josie Kathryn Jones.

 

                                            
                                                  She is a little ray of sunshine
                                                  Her favorite thing to do is smile & kiss

                                                
                                              She talks in a whisper,
                                              gives the best hugs,
                                              follows her brothers around and adores them,
                                              loves to tell everyone "hey",
                                              receives many compliments on her blue eyes,
                                              sleeps like an angel when curled up next to mommy,
                                              eats everything (yet to find a food she doesn't love),
                                              does a funny laugh when she wants to nurse,
                                              doesn't meet a stranger,
                                              runs with her arms reached high when Daddy walks
                                              through the door,
                                              loves balls,
                                              cuts a rug at the first sound of music,
                                              prefers outdoors all day,
                                              not a fan of naps
                                              ( two 30 minute catnaps on a good day),
                                              could swing for hours,
                                              and loves life!

                                           
                                          
                                             
                                                                  

          You can get a glance of her old soul through her piercing blue eyes, and then she will wrap her kind arms around your neck and leave you with a little slobber to remember her by!

                                         
                              
                                   
                                           

 

 

Enjoy The Journey!

                                                    

Carley's New Birth

I met up with sweet Carley to discuss natural birth and my role as her doula. She had had two previous medicated births and suffered from Post Partum Depression with both, and she felt in her heart that a natural birth could possibly be the key to avoiding PPD. Carley ended up moving and used another doula, but we stayed in touch and I am blessed to call her friend. I am so proud of her determinaton and excited she gave me permission to share her inspiring birth story.




I have to say, I had a dream birth experience. Had I know labor would be like that, I would't have hesitated to deliver my other two naturally. Oh, the things we discover when looking in the rear view mirror....
I'll give you background first. We closed on a house at 37 weeks. It took forever, and I was convinced we were going to be in between houses when I delivered, but we made it. We moved in on Monday and that Tuesday night my in laws brought my kiddos to stay. I put them in the bathtub and got them in bed. About an hour later, Austin walked down the hall and freaked. The tub had flooded under the floor into the hall. By morning the carpets were flooded in all 4 bedrooms and the hall and living room hardwood squished water. So... Out we went. We lived between a hotel and my in laws house for a week. Again, I just KNEW I was going to go into labor while the tub and floors were being ripped out of my new house. But, I made it to 38 weeks and still no baby. I was having consistent Braxton hicks through all of this - daily. They would get intense at night but after I would walk/eat/drink/ shower, they would phase out. I was in a constant state of panic because 1- my plan was to labor at home in the tub, but we had no tub and only sub floor/concrete in the hall bathroom/hall/living room and 2- my doula was leaving town for her sisters wedding Tuesday sept 25-Sunday Sept 30 (my due date). I assumed I would not get past 37 weeks since my other two came so early, so we weren't worried.... Until we got to Thursday, sept 20 and Anna Massey was holding her ground in utero. I went in for a check up and saw the NP (my dr was at the hospital) I had not been allowing checks, but was starting to panic so I caved and she checked me. According to her, I was 5 cm and 90%. She sent me in a wheelchair to the hospital claiming I was "in active labor". I assured her I was not and thankfully my dr came in and said "umm, you are NOT in labor." He checked me and said I was a generous 4 and 80% and to go home and walk. I did. She still held her ground. Friday my mom took Addison and my mother in law took Dossett so we could unpack/paint/etc. The tub was being installed Saturday morning and sheetrock that afternoon, and I didn't want the kids breathing it all in. Saturday morning my doula messaged me and said "ok, time to walk, have sex, and get a massage". So... I walked a mile, made a reflexology appointment for 11:00, a prenatal massage for 2:30, sex sometime that afternoon (tmi, sorry) and walked again that evening a mile. I went to my doula's house and took a warm bath (since mine wouldn't be useable until the next morning), but by 10:00 I was in tears. I was angry that God had allowed all terrible things to happen. I was angry that he hadn't allowed me to go into labor kowing how uncomfortable I was and how much I depended on my doulas support. I was angry because I felt like I was finally giving birth the way HE intended .... And He was just sitting back letting me worry and be miserable. I told him all of these things and I literally felt his arms around me and heard him say "trust me." You trust my plan, my design for you. Trust me to bring this baby in MY time, because my timing is perfect." For the first time in weeks, I felt at peace and I said out loud, ok God, I trust you to bring her here in your time and as a beautiful healthy baby girl. (I had been told the previous week she was "too big for my body to deliver" so I was worried about that).
I went to sleep about midnight and slept great. I woke up at 5:30 and jumped out of bed thinking I was tee-teeing on myself. I ran to the bathroom and sat there unsure of whether my water broke or I had an accident. I convinced myself there wasn't enough fluid for it to be my water and I wasn't having contractions so I laid back down, but to be safe I put on a pad. I was a bundle of nerves because I just had this "feeling". I roused Austin and said "I think my water broke...." He said "Wake me up when you are sure". A few minutes later I said, " babe I really think this is it but I'm not having contractions." He said "Carley, you've been sure this is it for 3 weeks. It is 6:00 in the morning. Lay down and wake me up when you are 100% sure." So I laid there and just couldn't rest. I got up and got dressed and said "ok, I know you don't want to do this but we need to go walk." He (very dramatically) threw off the covers and said "fine, but if I'm walking at 6 am it better be to Starbucks.... I need coffee." So off we went to Starbucks. I had my first real live contraction at 7:00 in the parking lot of Starbucks. I called my parents and told them to get Addison up and get packed and make their way to Hattiesburg. I was having contractions 7-10 minutes apart and I assumed I had lots of time. We walked back home and I took a long shower. By 7:30, Austin called Elizabeth our doula and she was there by 8:00. I was having hard contractions every 3-4 minutes and some were double peaking. By 8:30 I was in a lot of pain and could no longer talk through contractions. I spent a lot of time laboring on the toilet and then wanted the bathtub like nobody's business. Austin literally rigged the tub (it was a basin with sheetrocked walls and piping but no faucet/knobs) with a wrench to run water. I soaked until a little after 9:00 and said "ok it's time to go." We got to the hospital at 9:20. I got out and while Austin got the bags, I began feeling the urge to push. Elizabeth said "drop the bags... She's pushing!" I swear I would have delivered her in the parking lot had they not MADE me walk inside. I walked inside and didn't even stop at triage desk. I helped myself to the nearest room... The nurses followed me in fussing behind me the whole way... I. Did. Not. Care.
I got checked and was between a 7-8. I went and sat on the potty again to labor... They came in and checked baby girl with the EFM and gave me a hep lock in the bathroom. At about 10:00 I was really hurting and feeling the urge to push so I got on the bed. They lowered the bottom and raised the top and I leaned against the headboard and was on my knees. The nurse checked me- I was at 10!! Austin and Elizabeth convinced me to squat and face the end of the bed. It worked.... 8 pushes later, my beautiful baby girl made her grand entrance. The nurse caught her as the doctor walked in. I was in love. She was perfect, so pink, so fat and READY TO NURSE! She latched within 5 minutes. They weighed her and she was 9lbs even. God's timing was perfect. He promised to be faithful if I would trust Him... And he delivered as He always does. He allowed my body to defy all the doctors and deliver a 9 lb baby girl in less than 4 hours and 8 pushes with no tearing. I could not be happier about the choice to deliver naturally. I can tell a difference in Anna Massey and a HUGE difference in me. No PPD!!! I'm still on a "high" from the birth and want to shout to the world that it IS possible. I was told I'd never be able to deliver a baby bigger than Dossett or Addison unless I had a section. Addison was 7.6 and Dossett was 7.8.... I pushed for over an hour with Addison, directed by my OB and close to that with Dossett. I pushed on my own when my body "told me" and it only took 15 minutes and she was over a pound and a half bigger than my other two. I had a major episiotomy with Addison and I tore with Dossett. I say all that to say... Natural birth is really as good as it is cracked up to be. I wasn't sold. I was going out on a limb to avoid PPD. I didn't buy into all the hype... Until I witnessed it, experienced it personally.

Brice Media Photography

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy The Journey!

Practice Makes Better

Six months ago Colby noticed his little friend could ride her bike much faster without training wheels, and he admired how her bike would fall over when they reached their destination, so he began to get off and literally push his bike over.

 

I assumed he was ready! We purchased a new bike, helmet, knee pads, gloves, everything but a body suit. He did great until he hit the pavement, and then there was no reasoning with my persistent squirt....he was done!

 

I gave him space and time, but this weekend he resembled Donkey Kong in the circus trying to maneuver that tiny bike with his knees all up in his elbows, and I knew it was time to move on.

 

We loaded up Ole Blue and headed to the park to conquer his bike riding fear.

 

I gave my best, little pep talk:

 

Baby, I know you can do this. I believe in you. You are so brave. I can't promise you will not crash and I can't promise you won't get hurt, but I promise every person that has ever learned to ride a bike has crashed at least once, it's okay.

 

PRACTICE MAKES BETTER, BUT FEAR STRANGLES HOPE!

 

You can do it!

 

 

 

He proudly pulled himself up on Ole Blue, and

                                                    with a push from dad, he was off!

  I don't know what it is about seeing your baby ride off on his bike for the first time, but as I shouted, "yeah....look at you" I literally had to fight back the tears.

                 He was proud and confident! Daddy suggested taking it to the pavement for easier riding.

Colby was a little hesitant but he wasn't going to let fear hold him back. Little speedster was on the move and Top Gun shouted, "turn around!"

Oh dear....we didn't teach him how to turn around.

He picked up speed as he traveled down that hill and was headed straight for the reservoir. My heart stopped and Top Gun froze as we waited for him to take a plunge, but the picnic table intervened...it wasn't pretty, AT ALL!

 

I thought, oh geeze, here we go again, it will be another six months before Ole Blue gets to take a spin around the block.

 

I'm not saying he wasn't spitting mad, especially since he heard a lady belly laugh at his crash, but after the initial shock of barely escaping a nose dive in the rez and slamming into stone at a rapid speed, he announced,

 

"I guess I'm not giving up, practice makes better!"

 

Ahhhhh....music to my ears.

 

Who could give up with a cheerleader this cute?

                               Every time I cheered, she clapped and squealed....we were quite the pep-squad!

 

Enjoy The Journey!