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:

ok, so my water broke...

...and now i have a baby boy! He is so sweet

over the last month + some time...

That is right! Baby Davis Ryan Cox is ALMOST here!

Have a cupcake and enjoy with us these last precious moments...

Punkin Head will lay right here.

and enjoy his little room

while i enjoy a pumpkin spice latte. YUUUUMMMM

You ask where i have been? Here. in the doc office. My second home these days!

and HERE is the 38 week belly!!!! Holy House! It's huge. only 2 more weeks till we meet our little guy!

yup...still there...

why can i only think of pumpkin flavored things?

Any way, more to come later. I only had a second with so many pictures to post. MORE LATER!

good hearty chuckle

I told my friend Megan in an email that Matt and I have a birthing class this weekend and this is the email that i got back:

I'm believing, hoping, and praying that your birthing class teacher will sound just like the lady in "Baby Mama".

Please God, do this I ask. You know I need this.

My mom always tells the story of her first birthing class when the gal [that was teaching it] was trying to teach them how to push. She laid on the ground, pulled her legs back and pushed...

what she did not know was that the biggest fart of her life would follow that push.
She goes, "Oh, I guess I pushed a bit harder than I should have".

Love that story.

Holy Schnikes!

Why helloooo there new friend.

{sorry. i havent had my coffee yet}

Welcome to the Quirkie Bird. I think we should be friends but there are a few things you should know about me first before you decide to take the plunge:

1) i am almost 8 pregnant and sassy (but that is without a baby in my belly). don't mess. or do. but at your own risk.

B) i looooove a crisp Dr. Pepper. throw a little fresh lemon in there and we are best friends.

III) i raise money, educate people about the needs in my local community and talk for a living. All of that to say, i can ramble. deal.

QUATRO) I want to be too artsy for my own good. but i am not sure i am.

5) i like reality television. and Friends.

F) i wish i had other cool things to tell you about myself so you could decide if we can be friends.

Last) i am ecstatic you are here.

To my other birdies who come to see me:

dont get crazy outta control and nervous at all that is happening. it's ok. i am being featured today on a site called The Sits Girls. Littlebita Blog/Comment love going on.

Other things to look at today while you are here:

i LOVE photography, but that doesn't mean i am any good at it.

I have crazy cool artistic friends: Joy Deeann, Tallyana, Hannah Elaine, Newberry. go see them!

My hubby is amazing and amazingly cute and he did this to me.

I like to bake and try new things , eat corndogs and take picture of silly things and sing to some old classics.

shew. that is a lot to learn about me. let me know how much you like me after learning more.

In other news: have a great day! Blessings to you.

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Addicition

kandk1 12 @ Yahoo! Video

I try not to post videos very much (unless they are amazing) mainly because they don't normally get much response. BUT, there is so much truth in this video/dance from So You Think You Can Dance last night that it is eerie. We become so addicted to something that it enraptures us and won't let us go. can you relate? Is there something in your life that you feel like has a hold on you?

Watch this video. Release the hold that sin has in your life. Then, and only then, can you walk in true freedom. And true freedom ONLY comes from the Source of Life: Jesus.

leave your thoughts and comments below.

Boy Inside

28 weeks pregnant 028, originally uploaded by jenna_cox.

I promised myself that i wouldn't have all of my posts be about pregnancy and baby and all, but honestly, i have nothing else going on in my life right now. Boring, aren't I? As soon as i do, i promise you will know.

go see my photos!

i did a photoshoot in Downtown Franklin recently for a dear friend of mine and I posted just a few of them over at Quirkie Bird Photography. Click the link (just scroll over Quirkie Bird Photography above), take a visit, give 'em a gander, leave a comment, become a follower!
And THEN (the fun has just begun!) stay tuned b/c more of these great shots of this great lady will be up soon!

sweet sweet anniversary

i adore my sweet punkin Matt and we had the BEST anniversary! Truly, every year with him gets better and better. You have no idea when you get married how it is possible to love your mate more than you do at that very moment. But it is true. The more time i spend with him, the more i get to know him and live life with him and love on him, the more i love him. He is awesome. so awesome.
Here are a few highlights from our special anniversary day:
I must say that first we woke up early to play golf (like 7:00am!), ate breakfast and then with intentions of getting dressed, we went back to sleep. Perfect morning. No work, just sleeping in, breakfast and more sleep. ahhhh, the good life.
ANNIVERSARY GOLF (i think i won and MAN it was FRIGGIN hot)

registering for BABY things and getting this special privilege:


getting Matt excited about being a daddy!

SCOOTER riding. (I love it! I want one! I NEED one!!!!)

CHEESECAKE factory and finding out that "It's a BOOOOOOY!"


ate some yummy to my tummy cheesecake.

oh...and our traditional ice cream cake...don't judge on the two desserts...

truly, it was a fantastic day and i am so blessed that i get to spend the rest of my life with THE most wonderful, awesome, sweet, loving & amazing man! I love him!!!

Baby Bedding for Davis

SET-ABC-BBF_lg, originally uploaded by jenna_cox.

How cute is this? This is the sweet bedding that little Davis will lay his head on. Dont you love it?

new blog site

Soooooo, i started a new photography blog (b/c i am having a few photos PUBLISHED in a magazine, WHAT WHAT?! ) site that i would LOVE for you to look at, show me some comment love, follow and refer to friends. it is still under construction, so be nice. there is VERY little up at this point, but BE PATIENT, i am getting there.

come visit me:
http://www.quirkiebirdphotography.blogspot.com

see you in the dark room!

we know! we know!

what a sweet anniversary and gift from my hubby. watch and see what we found out: must have quicktime to watch video


wasn't that just the cutest?! i cried a little...

video was done by my sweet friend Amy at http://zigzaggifts.blogspot.com/. let her do YOU a video!!!

It's a bbbbooo.....ggggiiiii....I DONT KNOW!

We STILL don’t know the sex of our precious little belly booger. The only way Matt would agree to finding out is if the ultrasound tech took a picture and wrote the sex on a notecard and sealed it. He said we would find out on our anniversary together: June 2nd. 11 more days!!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
has this been a long pregnancy for anyone else other than me?! sheesh!

But anyway, I scanned in the pictures that we do have (well, some...). They are mostly pictures of that sweet little head (so that it wasnt a dead giveaway i suppose) but the doc said that everything looks “perfect and right on track.” Couldn’t ask for a better reading or a better doc. It was CRAZY and SURREAL to see all the movement, the spine, the ribs, the legs, the hands, etc. He/She is an ACTIVE little booger in there and really likes MUSIC! (duh!) Anytime music is playing little one is GROOVING! I knew it.

TODAY is the day!!!!

Boy or Girl? EEEEK!

speak to the council

My mom always told me that I could try anything out that I wanted. She never forced me to stay in anything growing up, although she encouraged me to be a finisher always. She said that she just wanted me to find “MY THING” and sometimes that took trying out lots of different things. This carried throughout my whole life, thus far. I went from tee-ball, to dance and gymnastics, to basketball, track, fast-pitch softball and volleyball, to cheerleading, swim team, DIVING team and then dance team. I changed my major 6 times in college, did a study away program with internship, moved every single year of my college career, ran a ½ marathon, chaired events, ran for student government, learned music, worked at summer camp, lead music, golf, etc.

The list of my random acts of trying could probably go on, but what I found in each of those things were the uniqueness of people that I came across and how much I wanted to just “hear their story.” Why were they here, why this choice, what’s next, ultimate dreams and ambitions, road blocks they’ve encountered, etc. In search for my own likes, dislikes, ambitions and journey, I found that it’s in talking to and helping others reach that place that is my passion.

I was born in a small town in east Texas and had a fairly normal upbringing. My story really begins, in my opinion, when I was 10 and my dad passed away from brain cancer. In less than 9 months, this difficult disease took him both from our family and from an entire community. To this very day, it is the hardest thing I’ve gone through. I still miss him and feel as though I was robbed a little from really getting to know him. But in a heart-to-heart talk with my Mom after I graduated high school, she said that she didn’t think I would be who I am without going through that loss. In fact, she said she thought I might be a little snobby. How sweet.

But even as a young girl, I found the worth in every person and how great they were to reach out to us in our times of need that it just seemed right to reciprocate. Thus started my passion for giving back.


The question of “Why did you come to Nashville” was and always is a funny question to me. Most people assume that I wanted to make it in music or wanted to "be in the industry," and that I would find my lucky break here. Actually that is the farthest thing from what I wanted to do. When I graduated college and was trying to figure things out there were 3 things that I considered:

1) Move to Lake Tahoe with my friend Robyn and become a ski instructor. I still would like to do that.
2) move to Barcelona and become an ESL teacher. Sounded like a great idea and Barcelona was my favorite out of all the countries and locales I had been. And I'd still like to do that.
3) Move to Nashville, TN and see what transpires. (Keep in mind; I had only been here once in my life…) Somehow Nashville won out. Within a month of making that decision, I was here. Jobless, virtually friendless, and completely lost. Literally. I could NOT figure out which direction Old Hickory really went! When I was going North, I really thought I was heading East or South. I needed landmarks people! Luckily, I made it.


After a few different part time jobs and a position at Thomas Nelson Publishing I was offered my current position at United Way. While I didn’t know it a year ago when I started, I know now that this is a way as a young professional to truly make a difference. My job, my role, is to educate people about the needs in the community. In educating you, I have educated myself more and more about the stories in which we all come from. My passion. You see, no matter where you are, what you are doing, whether you love your job, you hate your job or you are looking for the next thing, where we are as young professionals is important; Important to us, our families and important to our community.


One thing I say in every single meeting that I walk into is that YOU are United Way. The way to live united is to reach out and help the person next to us or the person down the street not because we have to or because anyone is forcing us to, but because that is the right thing to do. If I were down, the last thing I would want you to do is come and drop kick me. And I have been down before: In college after failing a test and falling UP the stairs (yes it is possible!) in front of HUNDREDS of people, I later fell with my lunch in hand in front of a table full of fraternity boys. Lunch was no longer in HAND! (Talk about being drop kicked while I was down!) While they did snicker and I turned red (if not a random shade of purple) they offered me their hand to help me up.

You see our community and how it IS and how it operates is similar to a mutual fund. It is all of us coming together, despite our role and age and whether we are at the bottom or the top, coming together to do what we can to make a difference. The KEYWORD being DO WHAT WE CAN. The truth of the matter is that we ALL have a dollar, an hour, some clothes to give, a meal to give, SOMETHING that we can give back and that is where our mutual fund is. It is ONE connecting with another, and another, and another, and another.

I should add to the list of my “have-dones” that I “majored” (or focused) in high school (if you can really major or focus in anything in high school) in broadcast journalism. I. loved. it. I realized how much I loved being the center of attention;. WOOPS. I MEAN, telling a story to someone. And I wouldn’t do any reports unless I had participated in what I was talking about. If it was a report on powder puff football, then I played. If it was a story on skipping class, then I tried it out. I wouldn’t come here and talk to you or anyone without knowing what I was talking about or rather WHO I was talking about. When I first started my job at United Way, it was important to me to know the people, the agencies, and the programs that I was representing. While I could tell you story after story today about the lives that I saw affected positively here in our community, my time is limited and so I will only tell a couple:

There is a 33 acre farm heading towards Leaper’s Fork called The Center for Living and Learning. This residential and vocational program was started by Fran Clippard and her family when they saw her brother Donald go thru the beginning stages of schizophrenia. Seeing anyone that we love go thru anything difficult is always hard (we can all attest to that), but when they are more or less shunned from society, misunderstood and “professionals” say the only cure is really for them to be put away, I can imagine it’s even more difficult. This center was created for individuals who deal with progressive and consistent struggles such as schizophrenia and severe bi-polarism and have somewhat lost the ability to do things on their own. So in this residential and vocational program, they teach them the skills they need to hold a job, they teach them horticulture, how to be diligent workers, to live in community with each other, how to take care of themselves again, etc. As I was walking around with Fran seeing the grounds, the house, the green houses, the gardens, the job training building, the barns, the location for the new housing so that they can help more people, we were talking and Fran started to cry. She said, “Jenna, there is NO WAY. Absolutely NO WAY we would be able to do this if it weren’t for our community, United Way donors, who gives back. We would not exist. These people, MY BROTHER, would be who knows where with no one helping them, no one looking out for them or even treating them or giving them the life they deserves; that we all deserve.”

Second story: An apartment complex in Franklin called me last September and said “We want to do something. We have a small staff and can’t expend much time, but we want to be able to do something. Can you connect us?” Of course I can! So I connected their staff with Meals on Wheels. For those of you who don’t know, Meals on Wheels provides nutritious meals, even pet food and books, to homebound seniors and others to help them maintain dignity, restore and maintain good health and help them remain in their own home as long as possible. So Abby and her crew went to the Meals on Wheels kitchen, helped prepare all the meals and loaded up to deliver on the routes. She called me later that evening crying. She said “Jenna, I had no idea the needs that are right here in our back yard!” She said “We were in the middle of tons of beautiful homes and pulled up to a house that looked a little run down. We went to the front door, and saw a man living on essentially a dirt floor. He came to the door with nothing but a shirt on and we talked to him for a few and he said that the last meal he ate was when Meals on Wheels came the last time. 2 days ago.” Breaks your heart to know that there are people going hungry right here in our backyards. But people like you provide HOPE. Every single day.


I feel as though we have lost some of the passing down of being philanthropic. With every generation, we become more and more about ME. We don’t become givers to our community until we have kids that are running around or when our parents are considered elderly or when tragedy hits us or close to us. The "giving back" isn’t ingrained into our character. And character isn’t something that we are born with. You create your character just like you create your reputation. The truth is that an apple tree does not eat the apples that it produces. It produces the apples for someone or something else. Same goes for you. Your giftings, talents, abilities and even your passions really aren’t FOR you (while you might enjoy them.) You are to use them for someone else. Why not infuse what you have to give with improving our community every day? Why not take the things that we have to share and do just that: share. Character is the inward motivation to do what is right. As young professionals in our companies, our families and our communities, we have the ability to make a difference and to do what is right but so many times that opportunity passes us by. Don't let it pass you by.

I close with this: connect that thing that you are passionate about with the greater need that lies in our community. You have a voice. You have a say so. You can make a difference whether big or small and sometimes we need to be reminded of that. You matter. Each and every one of us, no matter where we are in life’s journey or what our economic level or role in our companies have hopes that tomorrow will bring something brighter for those we care about and for ourselves. I believe that hope comes from seeing opportunities that if accepted can lead to the realization of those hopes and dreams. We all win when children succeed in school, neighborhoods get turned around, families have good health and everyone has a solid job. Whatever it is that drives you, that excites you, that you desire to do and make a difference, you can do it. Connect that with wherever you are. Rally up with your neighbors and know that you have a story to share with someone. You just have to do it.
(you just read a speech i made for the Young Professionals Council on connecting your passion to the community.)

"I Dream of Weenie"

While walking around East Nashville on Saturday, we stumbled upon a Nashville original. I can honestly say, that this is the first time in my life i have EVER seen a "full service weenery" restaurant where you walk up and buy the most creative "weenies" (i.e. HOT DOGS) possible. I must say, i am a fan. It was fantastic.

Can i say that i was a little disappointed that there were no corndogs? One would think that a full service weenery would have a CORN WEENIE!

Sidenote story: I said [when we are looking for this place], "You know, i could search it on my phone, but i am really worried about what searches this would bring up, and how this could come back to haunt me when i get my phone bill." Seriously Jenna, what are you doing on your phone?! ha!