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Happy One Week, Little!

January 17, 2015

Abigail Elizabeth: A birth story

January 15, 2015

It’s like a bedtime story except it leaves you wide awake and in horror. Just kidding. I have never worked so hard for anything in my life and ohmygosh was she worth it. Labor is one of those things that no one can possibly describe or prepare you for – something you really just have to experience for yourself to fully grasp. Ours started around 2:30am when I felt a suspicious trickle as I was lying in bed pretending the “contractions” I was timing were real. I whispered to Greg “I think my water might have broken” but because it was the middle of the night, we didn’t want to wake up our midwife just because somebody could apparently not hold her bladder anymore. So we waited and kept timing them. By 3:30 there was a gush and there was no doubt that this was it! We were so excited and kept looking at each other with crazy eyes and freaky smiles. We called our midwife and got excited to greet our little girl so very soon. HA. I’ve heard there are stages of labor: early… active… transition… and the wonderful pushing stage. Ya.. they all felt the same to me. Those sweet little contractions I was feeling the day prior were like soft, gentle kisses compared to these rompers. I think they really took me off guard and it was that mind game that was hardest to recover from. I’ve always considered myself to have a pretty decent pain tolerance so to feel something so all consuming and have them tell you that yes, ten hours later, you are still in early labor [which, in my mind means this is the easy part, you wimp] really shook me up. I don’t know how many times I told Greg I really can’t do this anymore and was just so disappointed with myself for clearly sucking so badly at this whole childbearing thing. Everyone told me “there will be a contraction and then a rest period” and I thought well ok, I can do that. There was no rest period, you liars. Maybe 30 seconds to a minute if you are being generous and considering still feeling barely bearable unpleasantries, rest. Plus with every contraction came a lovely spell of nausea so that was fun. You all know how I love feeling nauseous. But! nine months with barely any, so I can’t really complain ;) Greg’s favorite moments were when he tried so very hard to read helpful scriptures to me and I shushed him right up. Also telling me to go to my “safe place” which, in labor, I apparently hated going. It tainted my safe place, darn them contractions! But I found a new safe place and that was our 29″ x 18″ shower. That was probably a fun sight seeing a fully pregnant woman all crumpled up in there. Warm water is heaven during those suckers. And although the thoughts of this is the saddest day of my life! My child is going to be an only child because there is no way on earth I will ever do this again! and screw everyone! I KNOW no one is praying!!! may have entered my mind at multiple points throughout the day, we somehow, by the grace of God, got through it and are here to tell the tale ;) And yes, I got a little choked up when I found out just how many people WERE praying for us and yes, just two days later, coming home from the pediatrician, I may have whispered to Greg that I want to do it all over again. Funny how those things work. Tricky tricky mind, you are. Anyways, because I was GBS+, I wasn’t able to get any exams to check progress, until it was absolutely necessary, to avoid any infection. By the __th time I told Greg I couldn’t do it if we were seriously still in early labor, my midwife asked if I wanted to get checked but warned that if we still hadn’t progressed, the risk factor would have just gone way up. She asked what number would give me hope. I told her obviously 10. She laughed. Turns out I was a generous 5 which is better than 1 so on we went with the home birth plan. And then there was a blur of more of the same. Greg being awesome. My midwife being incredible. Me being moaning Myrtle. There was another shower. I must have used a whole months supply of water cause I really have no idea how long I was in there. Drought, what? Also, if you were planning to look cute during labor, don’t cut bangs. Unless yours dry perfectly in which case I hate you but seriously, shower, labor, bangs = oh you poor woman. Anyways, when I came out that time, I was a generous 8 (yippee!!). See I told you the shower had magical powers. Some more time passed and it was 3pm and all of a sudden my body said hey look I have new tricks and the pushing urge came on. Well now THAT’S a weird feeling. My midwife said if I wanted to start pushing, I could…. whaaaaat!? So we started and shall I say, I never knew I had those noises in me. Greg said he saw veins pop out of me that he didn’t even know existed. I think I heard the headboard crack. These are the things I remember. Although we were in the final stage, it still felt like it would never end but two, ugh yes, two hours later of pushing and stopping and pushing and then trying not to push but body said HA I’m taking over, we had a head. And a beautiful, long, conehead it was. Greg said he saw her and she was just looking around, chillin in that lovely little opening. The rest is kind of a blur but basically the short of it is, it took a while to get her out because, as my midwife would say, out of the over 1300 births she has attended, Miss Abigail here took the cake on most interesting positioning. She’s already winning prizes. She had her little arms wrapped up around her neck, pushing her little elbows out and apparently wouldn’t let go of my cervix ;) Consequently, I have THE most bruised tailbone but because of my midwife’s magical abilities, no tears. And the people rejoiced. She said considering how she came out, that in itself is a miracle. Oh my gosh that little girl has my heart. I can’t even put into words how much I love her. And I don’t even mind being flat on my back because I just get to cuddle all day and it is bliss. I didn’t however, expect husbands back to go out too the very next day, so we are a hobbling mess of grunts and moans. But she is perfection and we love her. So. freaking. much.

I had no idea what a workout that would be. Ohhhhh so THAT’S why you’re supposed to stay in shape through pregnancy….. Ohhhhhh. Ya, my arms hurt, my legs hurt, my throat of all things hurt, my voice was gone haha oh labor noises ;) and my dignity was out the window. And I didn’t care because I got the prize. And what a good prize she is.

Welcome Welcome, Little One!

January 13, 2015

by hillywoohoo

comments 10

Abigail Elizabeth / baby #1

Oh my goodness. I’m really not sure where to start! She’s here! She’s here! And we love her so.

Miss Abigail Elizabeth Nettles
Born January 10, 2015 at 5:20pm
7 lbs 11 oz // 20.5 in

I really have so much to say but I can’t type and stare at her face at the same time, so it shall have to wait :) She is beyond wonderful and has stolen every bit of our hearts.

Welcome to the world, sweet girl! You have changed us forever.

40 Weeks – Happy due date baby!

January 8, 2015

by hillywoohoo

comments 7

baby #1 / bump / pregnancy

Today is what we shall call her sentimental due date. It was the date I got when I first found out I was pregnant and had happily cemented it in my mind until our doctors appointment, many weeks later, that involved bursting my Jan 8th bubble and correcting it to Jan 9th. Stupid bubble bursting doctors. Alas, I will always be fond of January 8th. Plus, it’s her great grandmothers birthday so that would have been sweet. Come on, Abbie! You can still make this sweetness happen!

How far along? 40 weeks

Weight Gained: 32.5… ok 32.8 lbs

Symptoms: So very tired all the time. This fun fact makes my midwife think she’ll still be another week or so. << That fun fact makes me even more tired. Umm let’s see, back aches, cramps, pelvic pressure – she’s back to treating my downstairs as a gong, crampy legs, swollen digits leading to the tightest of rings (really should have taken those off when it was even remotely possible), the complete inability to bend over or lift legs more than 2 inches, leaking fluids galore, lots of “strong hugs” as we like to call these practice contractions ;) , and an endless desire to find cake and eat it.

Movement: She’s an active little gal. I told my midwife we should have named her Elle because L is the position she seems to have assumed and stuck with for the last nine months (you know, because everyone wants their fetal positioning to be the thing they are named after). She said she’s never seen a baby so persistent in sticking her little feet out. She must get claustrophobic like her momma when she has to keep her legs scrunched for long periods of time. There is a solution, little one! It involves my eyes looking into yours.

Food cravings: The aforementioned blessed cake. That and watery vegetables. Not together.

Food aversions: Really fatty things that aren’t desserts.

Sleep: Good and bad. Still sleeping more than 2 hours at a time so I think we are golden compared to our near and immediate future.

Stretch marks? No

Belly button in or out? In

Miss anything? Not feeling compelled to grunt all the time. Bending over/lifting my legs at all to put on any article of clothing elicits the most obnoxious sounds. I’m becoming unattractive to myself. Somebody help that poor woman out! Not to mention I frequently get told by husband that “you sounded like Darth Vader again last night.” Breathing normally and preferably not being able to hear myself whilst sitting quietly will be such a luxury.

Mood? Despite the ~~frequent~~ occasional meltdown, I’d say pretty good.

Maternity Clothes? Don’t even fit anymore and I refuse to buy anything else while this little girl makes up her mind to take the plunge into the world. I am so looking forward to a shopping trip for normal sized clothes someday in the next, say, five years. There was a time when I use to be fashion conscience. Where did that lady go? Please don’t let me become sweats mom, as this is the direction I appear to be heading.

New baby items: Hehe her Auntie Kristin got her several lovely white items that I love. That poor child will not even know the concept of color until she somehow escapes into the real world.

Exercise: Greg and I went on a 5 mile hike this weekend that left me utterly broken. Nothing like going into labor when you can’t move a single muscle! But look! We found a little inscription we left on the mossy pipe almost three years ago! I kinda can’t believe it’s still there :) PS it was natural vandalism so no pipes were hurt in the making of this declaration of love.

Best moment of the week: I delivered a successful commission this week so that was a relief! Yay me! // I got Greg and I matching toothbrushes which makes me oh so happy to, with this single purchase, have achieved obnoxiously cute married couple status …oh and also to just have a new one – I definitely wait till they get beyond gross before shelling out that $2.50 for a new one – but when I got home I noticed they were glittery. Sorry, husband. They still look cute in their pink and blue glory in that little cup. // I watched my dog take care of my sick sister which kinda melted my heart more than I knew possible. He hovered over her real quietly and good for a solid 5 minutes. And then I gave him some tissues to bring to her and he carried them very carefully in his mouth and handed them over to her, ever so gently. It was kinda the most adorable thing ever. I really can’t wait to see how he acts around Little. They are already best friends in my mind.

Looking forward to: Meeting our daughter!!!!!!!!

From that one time when I freaked out just a little bit

January 5, 2015

by hillywoohoo

comments 5

pregnancy / the daily life / why do i act like a child

“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” ~Helen Keller

Some days can be kinda crappy. This started out being one of those days. Mostly because I woke up grumpy and was determined to stay that way for the rest of my life – that is until I found myself in line at a French pastry shop and was handed a bag of morning bun goodness and a latte. That downward facing smile could not last any longer. Especially when I went to my thinking spot (aka anywhere near the ocean) to complain to God about each thing in my life and probably shed several tears in my bubble of a car. Last night certain words were spoken with my eyes that communicated “I’m all done being pregnant” and possibly “YOU did this to me.” Said eyes continued into morning where I told Greg with eyes and words this time, that I didn’t even want to be a mom anymore and blah blah blah eliciting the unexpected response of laughter followed by the sound logic that it was too late for that. Hence to the ocean I go. And I sat there in my car eating my delicacies and thinking, why am I sitting in my car when I could sit on that bench right in front of me? So then I ventured out to the bench and thought to myself, why am I sitting on this bench exposing my insanity as I mutter to myself about this and that, when I could go down to that little rock down there and mutter in private? And so I did. And that God of mine? He’s good. Because just then I realized of all the places I could have parked on the cliffs of Santa Cruz, I parked and walked down to the very spot Greg proposed to me, many moons ago, without even realizing it. And I was reminded that quite possibly the week (or maybe night) before we walked down the aisle, I may have mentioned to him that I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to get married and that I was pretty confident marriage wasn’t for me. This is apparently what I do. I’m a mess :) Considering marriage is probably one of the biggest blessings my life has ever experienced, I was reassured that parenthood will probably have one or two blessings as well ;) Sometimes you just have to have a freakout moment in there. I was thinking about that quote I love along with that verse that says, “look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” I watched the birds and pelicans and otters happily enjoying their habitat and was given so much peace about whatever He is doing in our life right now. Sometimes it’s so hard to follow along blindly (especially when you are a mega planner!) and push away the thoughts of will we ever live on our own again? How will we afford everything? What are we doing anyways? I hate transitions. I don’t like waiting without knowing what’s going to happen. I don’t like not knowing the exact day (and time!) Little is going to make her appearance. Not one bit. But I know that His timing is perfect and we can rest in that. And despite some blessings being a bit umm, disguised, He has never led us astray. He is really so, so good. So here is to the daring adventure we have embarked on! It’s going to be a good one :)

39 Weeks

January 1, 2015

by hillywoohoo

comments 4

baby #1 / bump / pregnancy

Hey guess what! This is the year my daughter is going to be born!

How far along? 39 weeks

Weight Gained: Sigh.. 32.5 lbs. And this is about the time I curl up in a ball and ask my husband to come console his giant wife.

Symptoms: Sciatica has come back with a revenge once more. I’m getting a taste of what I’ll look like when I’m an elderly woman. On top of the spasms that make me halt and let out involuntary grunts, whatever is going on down there makes me feel like she’s going to fall right out if it widens any more – either that or my legs are going to unhinge or something. Oh and lots of Braxton Hicks! I like those. They make me feel like something is happening even if we do go for three more weeks :) I’ve noticed I’ve succumbed to the waddle at several points throughout the day. I’m a sight.

Movement: Still kickin’ happily around! Taylor and I found out that if we treat my belly as a bongo, she really moves around… please don’t report me.

Food cravings: Please see total weight gain. I would say anything and everything.

Food aversions: Please see total weight gain. Obviously not.

Sleep: Some nights are still great and I don’t wake up at all! Others, mmm, not so much.

Stretch marks? No

Belly button in or out? In but the top has popped out a bit.

Miss anything? Not really

Mood? Pretty good… slightly more irritable but not nearly as bad as me on dun dun dun the pill ;)

Maternity Clothes? I’m a little blue that I didn’t get to welcome in the new year in a party dress. None of my maternity clothes dazzle :'(

New baby items: Her stroller finally came!!! And it’s AMAZING. It even turns into her first tricycle, bike AND car. Not really, but we like it. We also finally got her a baby book at the urging of her dad :) I think it’s adorable because he’s purely an internet man. Paper is a thing of cavemen, but he saw mine from when I was a babe and was determined to get her one. Kinda precious, I’d say. I’m a little intimidated by it because the first page starts with “When your parents met we…” and “Why having you felt important to us…” What do you say about such things? I don’t want to fill it out wrong!!!!

Exercise: We took Bentley on a walk to get him use to the stroller (he’s most definitely terrified of all things with wheels). Hence why this blew our mind sockets. Just lookit how good he is. Just lookit.

Best moment of the week: I loved our picnic up the coast. That was positively dreamy.

Looking forward to: Seeing Little’s face this week! Just kidding. Sometime soon though! Every day is a day closer and that’s exciting :D

Happy New Year!!!! It’s probably going to be the best one yet :):)

This is how we picnic

December 31, 2014

by hillywoohoo

comments 3

family days

Isn’t it glorious?! What is it about eating the simplest of meals outside amongst majestic, magnificent, marvelous nature and yes on china plates, that feels so wonderfully festive?? Picnics are one of my favorite things ever so I’m so glad we didn’t have to miss this one despite having some good ol Braxton Hicks all. night. long. the night before :) She’s just practicing and practicing in there. Do you see this basket? Greg’s sister got it for us for our wedding and it may have, hands down, been our favorite most unexpected present. We get it out and show it to everyone who wanders unknowingly into our little house. It’s so cool! It comes with everything possible to have a delightful picnic – plates and utensils and wine glasses and mugs and a thermos and napkins and tupperware and a tiny little cutting board and each thing! We are so proud. Anyways, it was such a wonderful, wintery day and so gorgeous to drive up the coast and find a little spot to munch and gaze. I love picnics and I love this family of mine. Happy New Year everyone! It’s probably gunna be a great one :)

That Dog

December 28, 2014

by hillywoohoo

comments 2

parenting / that dog Bentley

This is the look I get from him most often these days. This is the “ugh, you” look. I try to pretend he loves me but I think, I mean I know, I tend to smother animals (I really can’t help it! I’ve tried so very hard to contain myself but somehow my face always ends up buried in their wonderful, wonderful fur..) My poor boy is falling apart. He has the itchiest eyes – he’s always rubbing them on the ground or trying to claw them with his (yes, unclipped) nails. He’s already been to the vet twice which hasn’t helped with anything except provided a nice show of watching our money flutter away, away, away… He’s been going on my “walks” which are really just around the block and do absolutely nothing to impact his energy level so the other day we let him run run run up on the street, only to arrive back at the house with two torn pads and some very bloody paws. I just looked at his lip and it looks swollen like he bit it or something, and not to mention, he is always furiously biting at some part of himself to get some sort of relief. Sigh, I’m a horrible mother. I can’t even keep a dog well. You simply need to feed, walk, and groom animals and I’ve really only mastered one of those. Scratch that, food isn’t even mastered – yesterday he was projectile-ing from both ends, a lovely yellow substance. So, yes, although we are beyond excited to meet our little girl, I’m sort of in a constant state of please don’t remind me she’s coming so soon… I have so much to learn in a rapidly shortening time. Preferably, morph into an entirely new and responsible, stable and wise person. Currently, I think this sums us up pretty well:

Do you see how Greg remains constant in each picture and the lady next to him is a fidgety, spaz? This is our life/ selfie dilemma. And again, I salute my ever so patient husband. At least she has one stable parent on her side :D PS Bentley came and curled up right on top of his dad this morning (that’s 65 lbs of morning goodness, mind you) and licked his face ever so gently because he is the BEST dad :) They melt my messy little heart. And here’s to parenting aka trying not to hurt this precious little human being we’ve been entrusted with for some reason! Please pray for us ;)

38 Weeks

December 26, 2014

by hillywoohoo

Merry Christmas! Love, The Nettles

December 24, 2014

by hillywoohoo

comments 2

wedded bliss

Merry Christmas! This year we actually got a Christmas card out to family…. I’m kinda proud of us : ) We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and holiday season. It’s the most wonderful time of the year!!! We love you!