squealie mcgee

it seems that every time i put a camera or video camera on Davis, he stops what he was doing. i came in with a sneak attack this time.

slow down already

Sweet Punkin face on the road back to Tennessee from meeting some Texas Family. This is our second 7 hour road trip with him and both times he has been great! As much of travelers Matt and I are, it doesn't surprise me that he falls right into too.
I cannot believe how fast the last 4 months has gone. He is now cooing, squealing, laughing, rolling around, grabbing toes, reaching for things, reaching for Mommy (and saying, "Mommy, i love you!), and fighting nap time. duh. And might I add that he has slept thru the night since 5 weeks old! I always and hoped and prayed that he would inherit Mommy and Daddy's inapt ability to sleep through anything. So far, so good! OH! And I'm pretty sure he said "hi" this morning too. He is so advanced. ;)

I always knew i would love being a Mom, but i never knew i would love it like this. He is such a blessing, and no matter the stage, i count it as a blessing to parent him, love on him, and speak over him and just want to learn all i can. I get so frustrated when people say "Oh just wait till he is ONE and running around..." or "you have it easy now...just wait." Every stage is new and difficult because you have never been there before, and there is always a learning curve. We aren't supposed to have it all figured out. That is where the Grace of God comes in! Being a parent will never be "easy" but i chose to speak blessing over him, over us as parents, and others. Why would we speak a curse?

I just love every stage. I look forward to the next. I could have 10 more just like him.

Go ahead...tell me how cute he is. I KNOW! ;)

sweet potato fries

i LOVE sweet potatoes.
really love.
Maybe not as much as pumpkin (we all know i have a problem), but they are close cousins, so it makes sense.
I'm so predictable aren't I?

about a month ago i tried my hand at Sweet Potato french (baked) fries and they were FANTASTIC but i felt like they were missing something, so i tried again with some different spices, less oil, broiling to make them crispy, but something seemed to be missing and off.
THEN i found the secret from Annie Eats:

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients:
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. kosher salt, plus extra for sprinkling
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil greased with cooking spray.

Halve the sweet potatoes lengthwise and cut each half into long spears. (Soak in cold water for 20-30 minutes before continuing for crispy texture outside. Drain well and pat dry.) Place the potato spears on the sheet pan and toss with olive oil. Spread them in a single layer. Combine the brown sugar, salt, and pepper and sprinkle on the potatoes. Bake for 15 minutes, then turn with a spatula or tongs. Bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Sprinkle lightly with kosher salt and serve hot.

SOAK THE FRIES!!!! of course! (who am i kidding? i never would have thought of that!)
Crispy yumminess!
One other thing that i added that you might like is just a DASH of was Red Pepper. YUM!

give it a shot! great alternative for kiddos too!

funniest thing ever

VID00032, originally uploaded by jenna_cox.

laundry/blogging metaphor

You know how when you leave something for later, like the DOING the laundry or PUTTING UP the laundry, and you keep saying..."I'll do it tomorrow", and it piles up, and it gets bigger and taller and creeps all over the bedroom floor, whether clean or dirty, and instead of just doing it, you start to avoid it because it's so overwhelming that just the thought of carrying it to the laundry room is enough for you to put it off another day? "I'll do it this weekend when i really have time at home to do that and clean house and organize" you tell yourself, but then the weekend hits and you would rather slam your head in the wall than TRULY accomplishing it, AND then you realize that you are talking to yourself. (wait, is this metaphor for blogging or actually doing laundry? not sure anymore...)
Whew.
Well, that was me with the blog. SO much has happened and as the days went by, the thought of sitting down to catch you up to speed seemed like such a big task, that I kept saving it for another day. I still feel like that actually...AND i have laundry to do...LOTS of it, but you know how it goes. I really will get to laundry later since i am home now on an ice/snow day. uh, huh...thats what i always say...
So here is my pledge to you: i promise to be better. IN FACT, i have quite a few things to put up today so stay tuned: recipes, baby pictures, family, teething, snow, NKOTB, windows, etc.

did i resolute?

Looking back at 2009 and the things i said i wanted to do, here is a list of things i ACTUALLY did:

1. had a baby

Yup, thats about it...but it is the greatest...

Happy 2010!

poopiness

I have heard that breastfed babies can go up to 6 days without a poop and that is normal and nothing wrong with that. (How can that be normal?! ew.)

Well, we have had two-three situations of 6 days without one and it required the following:

1. separate bags to dispose of (immediatly taken outside)
2. soaking clothes
3. baths for everyone
4. change of the changing table pads
5. SO MANY WIPES it is ridiculous
6. minor throw up in my mouth…

Now Lil Man goes every 2-3 days. My baby is growing up...

STILL requires most of those things.

Oh Davis, how i will miss these times. (No.)

giggles at high speed

you get the idea

granted this is from a phone video camera, so obviously the quality isnt top notch, but please tell me this little laugh isnt the cutest thing you have ever heard:

when he does this, we stop everything we are doing and watch him. it is so fun to see what he is checking out and laughing at, or if he is just laughing cause he is bored. (not even possible with parents like us)

And then secondly, just go ahead, fall in love with this smile:

back to life, back to reality

coming back to work after having such a wonderful time being a stay at home mommy was very difficult and frankly a cruel joke ("here, have a baby, fall in love with him, have a great time, then leave him..."). It is one of those times you remind yourself WHY you are doing what you are doing. Anyway, here is how the first week back has gone:

Monday was like a special outing! I had so much to catch up on (9 weeks worth) that the day flew by. Plus when you are just "makin' memories" pumping on the bathroom floor of your office, that takes away a good 20 minutes a session. It was like I was playing "work" (although who in their right mind would play work?! crazy people...and who pretends to pump at work. dear Lord, i hope no one.)

Tuesday- 8:15 i get to work, 9:00am i get a text from my WONDERFUL HUSBAND who has so graciously dedicated his Tuesdays to working from home to watch our little one. This is what it said:

then i cried more

and i cried some more.

then i finally gathered myself with box of tissues in hand....and then cried some more.

called my mom at lunch and cried some more.

i get a call from my friend Vanessa and then cried some more. Sheesh.

ROOKIE MISTAKE Matt. (but i love you so so so so so so so much...)

Wednesday i only cried once. Thursday got misty eyed but held it together. today i have a sniffly and runny nose little boy so i really wanted to stay there with my little guy, (especially when i layed him back down after feeding him and he sniffled and smiled at me) but no tears as of yet and my work day is almost over.

So overall, i would say it has been a success. (???really? i would say that? Who am i?)

But lets be honest: WHO would want to leave a sweet punkin face like this:

a Marvin Gaye song

What's Going On:

• cooing
• giggling
• cuddling
• sweetness
• pooping
• back to life, back to reality
• work
• new levels of exhaustion
• coffee
• LOTS of coffee
• crying (me)
• hungry
• pumping in the bathroom floor at work
• pumpkin bread
• making memories
• Christmas music
• Kenny & Dolly
• iPhone pictures
• pumpkin pie
• praying
• believing
• Pumpkin Spice anything
• hoping
• back to blogging
• my MOST FAVORITE punkin

Why is it easier to blog now that i am back to work then when i was on maternity leave?

oh stop it already

My.Good.Ness.
You are sooooo sweet.

You have gone from this:

to this in just 2 (too quick) quick months:

stop growing you because that means i have to go back to work...Kidding...Sort of.

Can we cuddle some more?

this is truly amazing

I would never want to forget this place:


"for all of your gold teeth needs, come on in to beauty world; where beauty is just a grill away..."
thank you Hometown for this gem...

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.