week one of parenthood x 2

I really have to use the term 'parenthood' lightly because we've had an army of help--it's more like parent/grandparent-hood. I wouldn't have emerged from my cage of nursing yet if it weren't for the help we've had since arriving home from the hospital, a family of four.

We only stayed one night in the hospital, due to a complication free delivery {minus one snafu, I will later tell a delivery story} and outside of coming home to the most precious Big Brother I've ever known--I too, came home to this...Aunt Lu.

My best. She drove all the way from Dallas--for the day--JR had known the whole time, only to surprise me and of course to meet her newest niece. We got to chat/hug/cry for all of 30 mins before she had to get back on the road, but to share that moment with my friend is a never-forget kind of thing in life. Thank you, Lu for somehow always managing to find a way to share in literally, all, of the huge moments in our life. We love you, big.

I only know one way to be, blunt. My blog is my blunt-ness outlet--therefore, I must keep it real and say that JR and I had many a'conversation about how on earth we could love this new baby as much as we love our Hudson Bear. With your first, it is as if your heart will burst if you could even fathom loving them anymore than you do...I sincerely worried that I wouldn't have enough to go around for both of my babies. I felt shamed to even think the thoughts of such, but it was a true concern of mine. How very wrong I was. How very wrong, we both were.

You, Belle Monroe are perfect. You were Made for us. You were meant to be ours--Daddy's, Momma's, and Hudson's. From the minute I heard you cry, and Daddy put you in my arms it was as if my heart quadrupled in size within an instant and my Mommy heart instantly fell in love, like, obsession and adoration with both of my babies. Your Daddy gazes at you, and is already wrapped around that itty bitty skinny pinky of yours. I'm not sure I've seen him gaze much, maybe at your Momma some :) but sweet baby, he is yours. All yours.

You've got a Brother Bear, whom has yet to fully understand who you are/what you are--but we've caught him a few times sneaking you a kiss and peeking over your bassinet when he hears you cry. Little do you both know, you've now met the best friend of your life. My two babies, you will both love each other more than your tiny minds can even understand right now--and that is a thought that brings me to tears.

Momma. I'm your Momma. A momma to a baby girl. Growing up, I always imagined myself a mommy to three boys. Why? No clue. Never, never saw nor could see myself a mommy to a girl. After growing you, and now knowing you I cannot bear to think back to a life without you. My daughter, you are a gift to me and to our family--but have opened up a whole new side of my understanding of being a mother and an even greater appreciation of my own.

You are beautiful beyond words, and my second Sooner baby. This time, a Sooner babydoll--one I can put bows on for gameday :) a small dream of mine.

I'm able to nurse you, and that in and of itself has been a miraculous time spent with you. I know now how quickly my baby will grow and I look forward to those moments I spent attached to you. Even the 3am moments, believe it or not...I love knowing that it is me, that nourishes you.

A week, documented of your first week of life Miss Monroe. What a week, and what a joy it's been introducing you to the world. On to week two of loving you, baby girl.

{and a last funny, of how I found you in the car after your first dr's appt}

Our Daughter

Belle Monroe Pettijohn

Born September 20th, 2010

7 lbs 7 oz

20 3/4 in

2:26 pm

38 weeks - 5 days away!

I'm rotund, and am growing a more burgeoning Belle belly daily. She must be packing on those ounces, because my sleepless nights are here and my lungs feel like I've run a marathon daily {which we all know ain't so}.

{pay no mind to my sausage roll arms, gag - my collection of OU hats, my 6 inch pre-preg heels, or my leopard slippers, what?}

My updating was delayed because after a night of what I was dang sure were 'Braxtons', I found out at my doctor's appt last Wednesday that I'm strolling around town 2 1/2 cm dilated and 75 % effaced. Like, whoa. {JR thought that would cause her to just fall out - I reassured him this isn't so although sounds much more appealing than the hoop-la it takes to really birth a tiny human princess. He then recalled August 5th, 2009 and realized there's no falling out involved.} That sent us into a baby-prep tizzy because this momma didn't even have diapers for my Princess Belle - I know, I know. Hey, I've got a melt-your-heart-kinda-precious one year old that demands much of his momma. Diapers and wipes for a teeny tiny tush have been far from my mind. Hello, denial? procrastinator? ohmystars.

I can now say proudly that after MUCH help from my ma-in-law and now my ma, we are 88% ready for her arrival should she decide to close up shop before Monday which is our induction date. In fact, after watching the Today Show this morning I'm hoping we make it to Monday because they prepared a pork chop/onion/apple meal that I'm planning on 'whipping' up this wknd for our family. Dang yum.

If you recall we were Pittsburgher's for a short while last year, and my nearest dearest and greatest from P-town- Kyndal, sent me some make-ahead recipes and I spent one night this week fixing batches of food to feed my family as we enter the unforseen world of parenting two babes 13 months apart. So far I've got Mexican Spaghetti, Chicken Broccoli Stuffed Shells, and Egg Noodle Casserole - food for weeks. I high-fived myself upon finishing. It really is worth spending a few hours in the kitchen to know you've got meals saved up. I'm lazy like that.

I've caught you up on our happenings, and as we enter 5 days to go - I hope to keep you all posted via blog on the updates of the arrival of our BELLE MONROE!!! Until then, many hugs and a Boomer Sooner :)

diaper rash - a recommendation

This actually from our end is far more than a recommendation - rather a true life saver/sanity saver/sleep saver...

A few weeks back, we were battling some of the more atrocious diaper rash I've ever witnessed, I'm talking baby blood. It was gory, sad, and every diaper change made us both cry. I hurt for my Bear. After a trip to his pedi, and some calls to triage nobody could give me any solution to our problem. I knew some pedi's recommended some prescription type ointments, but mine {grr} wouldn't nor claimed to know of any product outside of the usual Desitin, etc... fail. Huge fail.

So, as most angry and desperate mommies do, I googled {which to be very honest, I've sometimes found more answers via google than the dang doctor - I'm kind of a self-diagnoser, and quite accurate I might add :)}. Lo and behold, I came across review after review after review of Triple Paste and immediately ordered a tube online crossing my fingers that maybe this would provide some relief for my baby.

I was at Walmart that very same day, and my eyes lit UP, when I saw it in the baby aisle!!!! I likely peed myself, and bought the LAST tube they had left. I now pick one up everytime I go.

It really and truly worked baby butt wonders, and after TWO days he was cured. He had been going on a week of every cream, ointment you can think of and this stuff was miraculous in it's healing powers after only two days :) Hudson has had a very rough go at teething, and at the first sight of any redness or irritation we lather on some Triple Paste at night before bedtime and prettystarsabove, the next morning it's gone!!!

I don't often do recommendations because I always fear that what works for me may not work for you - but I can guarantee that if you too have diaper rash episodes, this will save your life and that precious tush of your babe's. A few places you can find it at are:

Diapers.com

Walgreens.com

Amazon.com

meet the newest Pettijohn

Our happy story kinda, sorta starts with a sad one - before I introduce the newest member of our family I must first tell that we are down one kitty. Our Big.

JR and I adopted two brother kitties, 4 years ago, Beanie and Big. They've been our 'babies' long before babies were really a thought. Beanie is the slower of the two, and the one most drawn to me - while Big was JR's kitty, the feisty and more intelligent cat. Well, a couple of months ago they moved outside to be outdoor kitties after not taking to the new house well and leaving us 'gifts' - really disgusting, heinous gifts around the house. Nope. The transition didn't go too bad, until one morning Big was gone, and since then has not returned :(

Beanie is still meandering out there, but has been very lonely without his orange counterpart. He left us with a kitty void, and since Big was really the only kitty Beanie will tolerate we felt that maybe it was dog time at the Pettijohn House. Dog. With a baby on the way. Arewecrazyorwhat?

After long searching for the perfect dog to fit into our family - we think we've found the one. We were actually picky this time, with breeders and such, considering we have to have a dog that a) likes kids b) can live outside c) big but not enormous...we're lab lovers so that of course helped narrow our search. We saw a few different pups, and to say that the one we got was 'meant to be' is the dang truth. I'm talking, the one we picked up the week before had a SEIZURE two miles down the road after paying for him. A seizure. We were freaked out of our ever dang minds.

Nothing will replace Big, but we have found someone with a cute face that has helped Beanie come back to life a bit - and given us just one more 'baby' to raise :)

Meet Bradford.

He comes from a long line of hunting dogs {thus, he'll likely get thrown into some wintery animal hunts, eeeek, if my husband and pa-in-law have any say} and upon checking him out we knew he was the pup for us. We were so pleased with the breeders, and feel confident we made the right choice! Since the weather has been so nice, we've been getting Bradford used to Hudson and Hudson used to Bradford. They've butt heads a few times, but overall it's a lot of fun to spend our days outside now with our Bradford pup!! He is only crated at night, and not once has cried - much less whimpered at nighttime. We're feeding him three times a day, and he goes 'potty' in the grass, away from where we play. Score. So far, so GOOD!

The only problem is, when we are outside, we can't keep Hudson out of this:

He loves, loves Bradford's crate. In and out, in and out! It's hilarious when they both end up in there together.

We keep saying he's our 'Marley', and the only dog our babies will ever know. So as we approach meeting our Baby Belle, we are spending our days outside with Bradford getting ready for what's to come :) That does include Sooner Football ----------------that alone, will get it's own post{s}.

Before I get into football, I'll sparkle your day with what sparkles mine - this face.

p.s.

...since I started the draft of Hudson's birthday weeks ago, once published it has done so a few posts down - so, if interested it's down there somewhere :)

Happy Thursday'ing to you!

plain awesome

what I would look like if my cartoon self came to life. plain awesome.

assistant

I need a blogging assistant - much like a ghost writer...someone that could take my daily thoughts and then type them out via blogger along with pictures, etc.

As we approach meeting our Belle Monroe, in only 5 weeks time, I'm finding time to blog - scarce. Laundry, groceries, LIFE, you know...the usual.

There is an entire post dedicated to Hudson's first birthday party, yet I can't sit still long enough to finish it! {I had so much fun with his party, I already have in mind birthday party #2 - ohmystars} This frustrates me, thus my seeking of a blog ghost writer.

I'm 34 weeks all-kinds-of-pregnant today, and I'm sure I owe you a nice, fat belly picture but until I can muster up the energy/attention span to really finish a post in one sitting, I'll leave you with a family picture of the three of us. A rarity, as it's usually momma behind the camera. JR for once, doesn't look like a single dad :) Happy Tuesday, wherever you pretty self may be!

the ONE YEAR bash

Initially, when I began thinking of Hudson's first birthday celebration, finger foods came to mind. Just a small gathering, casual, nothing that would require a lot of prep - considering I'd be 8 months pregnant at the time.

That quickly faded as my inability to not spoil my firstborn consumed me and I immediately became swarmed with ideas of colors, custom cakes, balloons, patterns for tablecloths, etc...

I'm not a big 'theme' momma, and knowing that Hudson will one day come to me wanting a sports/movie/whoknowswhat kinda theme I put together a celebration centered completely around the colors of the invitations I ordered from Tiny Prints:

We started preparing about three days in advance, buying groceries and finalizing all of the decorations. The day of, was a whirlwind of no less than 3 people in the kitchen, JR outside working on the yard, and two of the biggest helpers {my bests, Ashley & Lauren} of the day helping put together my dream party for our one year old angel baby.

Our Boo Bear, didn't quite know what to think as his guests started arriving...but the balloons all over the house were a huge hit with my one year old wonder.

We had tons of food set out - dips, fruit, chips, empanadas, sandwiches, pigs-in-a-blanket...you name a party food and we served it! A very big thank you to our momma's too, who helped prepare and set-up the three food tables. This was about the extent of my time in the kitchen...

Between the mom's and Aunt Lu, they had the kitchen covered. Wam-Bam.

I was on party patrol, making sure every detail was just right for my Bear.

It took me about two months worth of prep time, and I truly enjoyed the whole thing from start to finish. I found the most amazing cake bakery in town, Amy Cakes of Norman, and had them design a cake too, around the invites. Some of the best cake I've ever indulged in - thank you to Amy and Co. for the yummy treats! I found most all of the decorations at Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby - found some fabric I liked at WM and had tablecloths made for the food tables, and some helium filled ballons! voila!

We had no idea how Bear would react to the gifts, but he sat and opened each and every gift - sans meltdown :) He was so enthralled with the activity and the audience he had.

Of course once gifts were opened, it was cake time! I had been waiting all day for cake time, surprise surprise.

On everyone's way out, they were gifted with some party treats to go! I found these cute containers at Wal-Mart that we had filled with caramel and cheddar popcorn! I still have bags of it...

After months of planning, the party came together even better than I could have imagined it! We had our dearest of family and friends there to help us celebrate our baby boy's first year of life - and what a joy it was to have those closest to us, there.