10 things i have learned in 5 weeks...

So, I'm new at this. Obviously... Being a Mom is an awesome, crazy, new, difficult journey and worth every second of it. i just love my little guy so much and before they come you have NO IDEA how in love with them you will be. You have a glimpse, a thought, of how much you will love them but it is so different when they are here. You are WILLING to get thrown up on, peed on, pooped on, cried on, loved on, hurting back, migraines, hugged on, sucked on, hurting arms, little sleep, for their well-bring. As a Mom, you would do anything. It is CRAZY. While the last 5 weeks has been a blur at times and gone at lightning speed (slow down! I have to go back to work on November 30!) at others, there are a few things i remember and a few things i have learned in the process...

1. Keep everyone, including your husband, on a schedule. It just helps...and works. But just remember, you have about 2 hours to get things done in between feedings. And it goes FAST...sooooo...

2. Pee-pee tee-pees are not big enough to guard or soak up the amount of pee that comes out of these little ones. Use a wash cloth. And still take cover. (If only i had kept track of how many times in the last 5 weeks Matt and i have been peed on, or the amount of times we have allowed Davis to pee on HIMSELF. All over our hands, his clothes, his face, in his ear, everywhere...OOPS.)

3. It is amazing what a trip to Target will do for a girl...or just ANY trip out of the house

4. I am THAT MOM that takes at least 50 pictures a day (sometimes a 100...) of my sweet little guy and post them all over Facebook and Twitter (and soon to be all over this blog...sorry...) assuming that other people want to gawk at him like i do...

5. Seek the wisdom and help of other Moms. It will help keep you sane & showered.

6. Modesty has left the building...

7. I can actually run on less sleep than previously thought. AND even though i am a hard sleeper, i cannot in fact sleep thru baby cries.

8. Start early. You have no idea how much longer things actually take. (I had to call my pediatricians office the day of the 2 week check up because i was running late. I called AT THE TIME the appointment was to start and i was just getting in the car. This is what i said:
"Yes i am calling to let you know that i am running late for my son's appointment with Dr. Moss, but i am on my way. I should be there in the next 10 minutes."
"What time was your appointment ma'am?"
"Oh it was about 2 minutes ago...I'm new at this...I have no idea how long things take..."
She laughed at me and said it was ok, and that i would figure it out. Thanks. I sure hope so...

9. Infant Gas Drops. Bouncy vibrating chairs. wipe warmers. boppy. built in bra tops. One word sentences.

10. Pray. Pray over your baby. Pray for your baby. Pray for you. Pray for your husband. Pray for feedings and sleeping. Pray strength for your struggles. Pray over your fears. Pray to release your anxiety. Pray scripture. Pray to release any strongholds. Pray for wisdom. Pray for other people. Pray. And know that the list of things you need to pray about being a parent will always continue to grow and you will need the strength that comes from God and God alone.

so this is how it went (finally finished)

IMG_6602_2, originally uploaded by jenna_cox.

it was 12:45am and i woke up from a good sleep. i decided to go to bed about 10:30 that night and i woke up, of course, having to go to the bathroom. At 39 weeks pregnant, this was nothing new. So like any normal step in the process, I awkwardly rise myself from bed and stand up. As soon as i stand up, it felt like i had peed on myself. Instantly, my hands go between my legs. Had i let myself go in the last week of my pregnancy or had my water broken?

Nervously and quickly i make my way to the bathroom. I sit down and remember the words that my friend Heather has spoken to me just two days prior. "When my water broke" she said, "it wasn't a big gush like people make you believe it would be like. Mine was a steady trickle." I pee, stand up and instantly have to sit back down to pee again. This happens three times when i say, "Matt! Uh, i think my water just broke..."

"No way...Are you sure? How do you know? We are still a week from the due date." he said. Yea, babies have a way of deciding things on their own.

"Well, i have either continually peed on myself or my water broke. It wont stop." I said.

"Call the hospital and see what they say" he says, still somewhat asleep. (How can he sleep thru this?)

"Uh, yea, hi...how are you? Good? That's Great... Ummm, i think my water broke, but i don't know. You see, I've never had my water broken before...mainly because this is my first baby but uh, how do i know?...Yes, there is water...no it doesn't smell...yes it wont stop...no it isn't pee...Yes it does feel like i have wet myself. OK, thanks. You've been a big help." (?!?!)

The nurse on the phone said if this continues to happen for the next 15-20 minutes, go ahead and come on in. We will deliver within 24 hours...

"Matt, you need to pack a bag"

Remember how he wasn't so much awake before? He jumped out of bed at this moment. "Really? Ohmigosh...What do i pack? Are we going to make it? Do you need anything? Ohmigosh...Really? Are you sure?

Clearly i am not sure. Haven't we been over the fact that i have never had a broken water before? No one listens to me... ;)

So we pack the car, turn around because we forgot our camera (of course we would), get on the road and head to downtown Nashville to Baptist Hospital. The drive there was surprisingly calm.

Once we got to the hospital, we had to check in. (What is the point of pre-registering if it takes an hour to get checked in anyway?!) After that process, they took me to a room to make sure my water did in fact break. I prayed the whole time "PLEASE DON'T be PEE! Don't send me home!!" And YAY! She said the words i had longed to hear: 'You were right! It's time to get that baby out!' Praise the Lord! Do i hear a hallelujah chorus in the background?

So, abbreviated version of the next 12 hours: hooked up to monitors, check me and I'm only at 1cm and fall asleep for 2 hours. wake up, they give me pitocin, crazy intense contractions for 2 hours. Check me again and I'm only at 2cm! EEK! Wait a little longer, get epidural (which was AMAZING by the way and getting it wasn't bad either), hour and a half later, I'm at 5cm, I'm hanging out, texting, emailing, keeping everyone in the know, hour and half later, I'm at 9cm, 30 minutes later, I'm at 10cm. They said "If you feel pressure like you are about to poop, you need to let us know right away. That means he is coming whether your doctor is here or not." Got it. About 10 minutes later, the nurses have me do two practise pushes, i say "So about that pressure you told me to tell you about..." and then they say "I guess we should get your Doctor here! That little guy is just about to crown!" I'm really good at pushing...i guess...Uh, I'm sorry what did you say? Where is my doc? ONE HOUR LATER, my doctor gets there, i do two pushes and out comes baby Davis. Shew...What a day.

Matt's very first words when he saw him was "Check out that wingspan!" How sweet...

He's amazing...truly. Why didn't you mothers tell me it would be this awesome? ;)

just call me mom

He is here!!!! My sweet baby boy, Davis Cox

He came on September 23rd, arriving at 6 lbs 9 oz and 20 inches long. Needless to say, having a new baby has made me somewhat out of pocket but enjoy gawking at my beautiful boy and i promise to update more since i am finally getting adjusted to life as a mommy: