Yes, we are those people....

 ....who take their 6 week old to the Pumpkin Patch! :)

Lee decided to take a day off Friday so we could have a family day!

We decided to go the The Great Pumpkin Patch in Hayden, AL! 

Gage never even knew he went because he slept the entire time!haha

I could not wake him up for nothing, but he was still the cutest pumpkin in the patch!

 Trying to eat the hay...haha

"Seriously mom, I'm 6 weeks old!" (That's the most his eyes were open all day!:)

Which pumpkin do you choose?!

I want the cuddly one!

After the pumpkin patch, we headed to Culman, AL to get Lee some jeans...

Then we went ALL THE WAY to Hoover, AL to eat lunch at Zoe's, my new favorite lunch spot!

We ended out day at Oak Mountain State Park for a hike, but daddy left the carrier so we just strolled around the park! It was so beautiful!

Gage was perfect all day! We had a wonderful day... ended up driving over 200 miles!

Days I Never Want to Forget...

As most of you know, I am a 3rd grade teacher. I was able to take an eight week maternity leave and I now have thirteen days left of my leave. :(

The past 6 weeks have been filled with learning, excitement, exhaustion, and pure joy.
 I never want to forget these days. They have been some of the best days of my life....

Here is an outline of what we have been up to the past few weeks:

6-7 a.m._ My little man starts squirming and giving me his sweet warning calls telling me he's about ready to eat. Sometimes he will dose off and start again a few minutes later, but momma knows when it's time! I feed him for about 20 minutes and we snuggle for about 20 minutes. I love to just look at him while he sleeps and watch him smile and dream. 

8-8:30_ Gage is usually awake by now, so I rest him on his boppy beside me while I pump his next bottle. I talk to him and he will stare at me and try to mimic my silly faces. If I look away for a few minutes he will coo to get my attention.This is time I usually capture a sweet picture to send to daddy!

8:30-9_ We play some more. I like to get his little animals to show him, sing to him, show him silly faces, and sometimes we go upstairs so he can lay on his play mat. He loves the giraffe and even gave him one of his first sweet gummy grins!

9:00_ Bath time! He loves bath time now that he gets a "real bath." I set some bath farm toys on the side of the tub and he likes to look at them. Most of the time he looks at me while I sing "This is the way we wash our tummy, wash our tummy, wash our tummy"... (you get the idea;) When I set him up on his scale to dress him, he sometimes surprises mommy with a peepee rainbow! We put on some bedtime lotion and usually a sleeper and he is ready for the day!

9:30ish_ He gets his bottle I pumped. This is when he gets his little sleepy eyes. I will rock him & sing "Mommy Loves You," "Jesus Loves You," and "Jesus Loves the Little Children." He goes right to sleep and I lay him in his swing or boppy.

10-1_ My angel takes a nap and I get house chores done. Make the bed, wash dishes, throw in a load of clothes (which I often forget... oops), I try to pump again around 12, and eat lunch myself. Usually a pb&j sandwich! Sometimes I pay bills and check emails/blogs too!

12-1_ Monkey usually wakes and I feed him. We talk/play a while. I lay him on my chest, pat his bottom, and rock him, this is his favorite way to fall asleep. He drifts right off to sleep.

12-3_ He usually naps in his bassinet at this time so I can put him right beside the basement door while I go down to workout. I watch "The Talk" while I get my workout on. I finish up other house chores, laundry, etc. During this time, I get my shower. If monkey is awake, I put him beside the tub & take a bath so I can talk/play with him.

3-3:30_ Time to feed again & pump! (I pump after every feeding BTW;) I put him in his little rocker and rock him with my foot while I pump.

3:30-4:30_ Sometimes we go out on the covered deck to snuggle, I may put him in his bumbo so he can watch his baby Einstein video, then daddy calls at 4:30 to let us know he is on his way!

4:30-5_ Wait on daddy & sometimes turn on ELLEN!

5-6_ Daddy gets home and greets us with hugs & kisses. Gets his workout on. Then we eat dinner!

6-8_ Family time! This is when daddy is on duty (for the most part;). Sometimes mommy has to step in! I get everything together for bedtime, wash my face, etc. Most nights we watch TV in bed, usually HGTV, and sometimes Lee gets on the computer. We have a rule, if I'm on the computer, the TV is Lee's choice (Call of the Wildman) ; If Lee is on the computer, TV is my choice (RealHousewives!) ! But both of us usually agree HGTV:) Gage is usually between us resting on his boppy. This is snuggle time for daddy and Gage!

7:30-8_ Gage gets his diaper changed, swaddled by daddy (the pro-swaddler), and it's feeding time! He will lay between us and drift off to sleep or I sometimes rock him. After I finish pumping, I gently place him in his bassinet right beside me. 

8-9_ Lee & I relax, chit-chat, & watch TV!

2:30_ Gage wakes for his bottle (a 6 hour stretch usually! Of course, this started about a week ago). The bottle I pumped at 8 is waiting on him. I change his diaper, swaddle him, give him his bottle, and back in the bassinet he goes! He usually goes right back to sleep!

Then I go to the bathroom to pump his next bottle!

6:00_ I feed him and our day begins!

I know they sound so simple, but I will remember them forever! These special days of snuggling, playing, dirty diapers, baby cries, singing, feeding, coos, gummy grins, a orderly house, and spending the entire day with my baby boy are about to come to an end in 2 short weeks. 

My days will now be much more hectic & rushed, my new schedule will go as follows:

5:00-7_ Feed/snuggle with my baby boy (possibly cry), get ready for my day, feed the cat, grab bottles & take Gage to Lee's mom, grab my lunch, grab a granola bar, & off to school I go!

7:00-7:45_ (Getting to school at 7 is ideal, I would love to get things done before school... we wil see how long it last;)Prepare myself & my classroom for the day. Check emails & get last minute things ready for the day!

7:45_ Stand at my classroom door to meet my students.

8:00-8:40_ Intervention time (meet with my small groups) Other students will be in centers. 

8:40-9ish_ Attendance, lunch count, collect money/note, students will write in agendas etc.

9-10:10_ Reading Block

10:10-10:35_ PE (I will pump while my students are at PE)

10:35-10:45ish_ Pick up my kiddos and take them for a bathroom break

11-12:10_ Math Block

12:35_ Another bathroom break

12:40- 1:45_ Science/Social Studies/Writing

1:45-2_ Students will get ready to go home. Pack back pack etc.

2:05-2:45_ Most days my students are at resource during this time. I will pump again and get ready for the next day.

2:45_ Pick up my students and take them to our dismissal spot. 

3:15_ MOST days I will head home to see my baby boy@ this time! 

3:15-9_  This time will be filled with snuggling, feeding, singing, going for walks, HOPEFULLY mommy getting in a quick workout (with Gage by my side, of course)! Of course, house chores will be in there somewhere, but most importantly catching up with my hubby & baby boy!

I enjoy my job...most days. Teaching is a rewarding career, full of adventure, stress, joy, and each day brings you something different. Having me work is best for our family right now. Honestly, there have been days I  needed a break and some adult time. But those days were VERY few & far between. I have loved spending all of my time with my baby boy. A part-time job (2 or 3 days a week) would be ideal!;)
Seriously, I am so thankful to have my job.  I am blessed to have the hours/time- off I will have, MOST days I am home by 3:30. Teaching is perfect for a family, and thankfully I will relive these days in 7 months when I'm off for summer and my angel will be about 8 months old! But of course, I am having a hard time thinking about being away from my baby.

Working mommies, make this momma feel better!

Our Birth Story...

Warning: Long post ahead but an experience I never want to forget...


HERE WE GO!
Just a quick reminder... On Monday, August 20th, was the first day of school for students and I went to the doctor right after school. My blood pressure was elevated again and I had to go for monitoring... .AGAIN. It was fine after about an hour of monitoring so I was sent home. After discussion with my doctor and Lee, we decided it was best for me to not return to work. My doctor wanted to see me on Thursday, so I scheduled an appointment for 9:00.

Thursday morning, I picked up my sister and we headed to St. Vincents. It was my first time seeing MY doctor in a couple of weeks. We went in knowing we would have a plan when we left (I was 40 weeks and 3 days).

Our original plan was to go through the weekend and go in Monday evening to start the induction process. My sister, being an NICU nurse, was questioning this plan, due to weakening of the placenta and other sad situations she has seen due to "waiting." My awesome doctor wanted to do an ultrasound to see how he looked and also do some monitoring of his heart rate. The ultrasound tech estimated him weighing 8.14 and she said his placenta looked "mature" (my sis didn't like the sound of that)but overall everything looked great. We then went to get hooked up to the monitors. My doctor took a look at the stats and came back in and said "I want to monitor a little longer. Everything looks great, but I want it to look perfect." Again, we didn't like the sound of that. Our second plan was to admit me that night, Thursday, August 23rd, at 8:00. We discussed our options, my sister called ALL of her nursing friends, my precious doctor even called her husband to get his opinion (he was an OBGYN also). I told them, "I don't know what to do, I teach multiplication and division!!" So I basically I left it up to my poor sister to make the decision for me, bless her heart, she was sweating bullets. We decided to go with the second plan. I was getting admitted THAT NIGHT, talk about nervous! Going from waiting 4 days to THAT NIGHT was a big change of plans!

(After our stressful appointment...)

Lee left work to come home and help me prepare. Since I had been preparing for 5 months, there wasn't much to do! But we showered, packed last minute items, and even took a nap!

We were scheduled to be admitted at 8:00p.m. and I could eat up to 12:00 a.m. That is all momma was concerned about!haha We went to dinner and NEWKS before going to the hospital.

(Last belly pic... it's blurry due to the fabulous Alabama humidity!)

We arrived at the hospital early, of course, but signed a quick paper and went straight to our room. 

Our plan was to insert the cervidil overnight to soften my cervix (remember I am not dialated what-so-ever)!

They did that shortly after arriving, then we chilled nervously the rest of the evening. My parents came to visit as well. That was actually a difficult night. I did not sleep a wink! The monitors kept messing up and my adrenaline had kicked in!

Friday morning I got up about 5:00a.m., because I thought we were starting pitocin at 6. I freshened up and put on a little make-up.

The doctor came in to "check" me about 6:30, and GUESS WHAT?!... NO PROGRESS! My cervix did not soften at all... Next step, start the pitocin!

My next nurse came in at 7. I am a lucky girl because my nurse is my VERY BEST FRIEND, Erica!

My sister came in about 6:00, got to start those pictures!
My sis, Lee, and Erica were with me the entire day! It was a day filled with gossip, laughter, gossip, and more laughter!:)

We started the pitocin when Erica got there at 7. Contractions got stronger, but momma wasn't feeling them.... NOT A GOOD SIGN!

Erica was bumping the pitocin up pretty quickly. The doctor came in about 10ish to "check" me again. She said I was a half of a centimeter and that was being generous. She couldn't even break my water... BUMMER! We already had the pitocin on 30 and you can only go to 40. I was still laughing and having a good time, again, not a good sign!

Erica had talked to my doctor and she was surprising me and coming in! She was working at her other clinic and came in for me because she was pretty positive a C-section was in my near future! Love her!

Best doctor EVER:)

It was about 11:30 when Dr.Adams arrived. It was clear I was not making progress and she did not want my experience to be a bad one. After further discussion, we decided on a C-section. A C-section in like 30 minutes that is! The nerves started flowing... You could tell it was "go time," everyone was running here and there and Erica got into nurse mode quickly!

The gear had to go on!

Daddy VERY anxiously waited outside while they did my spinal tap.

Here I was probably the most nervous I was my whole experience. Waiting on the spinal tap scared me to death!

When Lee got in the room, I felt more at ease. I got nauseous with the spinal but they fixed it very quickly.

Right when Dr. Adams saw Gage she knew we made the right decision. She made a small incision, trying to take care of me;) He wasn't coming though! She said, "I have to make it larger!" I remember saying, "Just do it!" She had to cut a little more but he still wasn't coming! I remember looking at my sister and asking her if everything was ok, I could tell by her big eyes, she was scared...I was too. There was four people on top of me trying to push him out, but he was too cozy! They had to use the vacuum twice to get his chunky self out because he kept turning his head!

David Gage Pody entered this world at 12:18 p.m. at 9 pounds 7 ounces; 21 inches long!

Daddy looking at him for the first time...

But he came out screaming... this is when I heard his cry. Music to my ears!
I remember praying over and over for God to bring him out screaming & healthy... and He did:)

She brought him to see us for the first time before cleaning him up.

Then it was time to clean him up and get his stats!

Touching my little man for the first time...
I can remember feeling his soft, chubby cheeks...

Daddy holding him for the first time... he was so proud.

First family photo:)

Holding Aunt Lynie's hand....

Looking at my baby boy...

US w/ Dr. Adams

Heading back to our room! WE DID IT!!!

Lee delivering the good news...

I love this picture...

My heart...

Uncle Jacob holding Gage for the first time...

Thank you Aunt Lynie for being there for us through everything. I honestly couldn't have done it without you!

Aunt Erica getting some love. Thank you for everything. You are the best nurse ever! I love you so much!

My little family:)

These two are my world...

My sweet push cut present :)

After little man ate and got a bath it was time for visitors... Poppy was the first to enter!

Lee's parents...

My family:)

4 generations...

Already a pro!

We had so many sweet visitors including our pastor and his wonderful family...
Notice my sweet husband pulled his chair as close as he could beside my bed. He stayed there petty much the entire time.

The days following were full of adventure.
My husband helped me and did things for me he probably never dreamed he would have to do. He was amazing and I could never thank him enough. My mom and sister were also my wonderful helpers, I could not have done it without them either. 
Of course we all think we are going to have a "normal" delivery and I never thought much about having a C-section. Once I was not progressing, I knew I wanted a C-section, I did not want to labor for hours. The worst, most painful part I can  remember was getting out of bed for the first time. Erica made me get up 4 hours after surgery and I am so thankful she did. I thought I was going to faint at that moment but from then on I improved. Removing the bandage and taking a shower was an interesting adventure, but with the help of my mom, sister, & hubby, WE DID IT! One more thing I remember struggling with was sending him to the nursery at night. We ended up sending him because I just couldn't sit up and do the things he needed and I felt helpless. We were exhausted so looking back, I am glad we did.
We had so many visitors that made our experience special. As weird as this may sound, I  enjoyed this experience and I will never forget it.
After learning we had to return the next day for a bilirubin check and to view the results of his hip ultrasound, we were discharged around 11:00 a.m. on Monday.
The ride home was painful but we made it!

The next few days were honestly some of the best days of my life. With the help of my mom and other family, I was able to enjoy my baby, I had never been so in love. I remember holding him and telling momma I wanted 12 of them!haha

 I had the most amazing nurses and doctors, I could not have asked for a better experience.

Thank you to everyone for making this experience so special! I am so blessed with a wonderful family and the best friends anyone could ask for!

Most of all, THANK YOU JESUS!!

Needless to say, this mommy is BLESSED beyond measure:)