Birth Story

I'm pregnant and hormonal, so this story might not be that great. But, it literally brought tears to my eyes. If you read Joanna's story and hear a truly touching experience, let me know what you think.

Also, this dad has a fabulous and real birth story from a father's point of view. It's sweet, touching and a bit eye opening. (I always wonder what the guy is thinking during, you know, the WHOLE experience I mean, seeing a whoo-whoo open up and pop a baby out, is truly an experience!)

I can't wait to experience Petal's birth and all the pain, joy and excitement it will bring!

Baby Mobile

I finally got the baby mobile made! Here are the different parts I used to make the mobile.

Step 1. Buy mini fabric flowers from Michaels (on sale for $.49 ea!)

Step 2. Remove flowers and leaves.Step 3. Hang flowers from hanging picture mobile and glue leaves

randomly on the mobile (bought from Target.com)

Finished product! It's hard to see in the light, maybe I'll try a picture in the daylight tomorrow...

Jeremy said to me (when it was complete). “That looks awesome, but it’s going to look really stupid if we have a boy.” Thanks Love.

Flips and Fluttering Feet

For the past few weeks I’ve felt little flutters and possible kicks… but I haven’t been quite sure. Kinda, is that my stomach or gas or what-have-you… Until last week. Week 17. I officially felt baby move and that was no little flutter. That was a full fledged flip! I could tell by how the baby moved that he flipped himself over. Of course, I put my hand on my stomach and could feel the movement inside as well as the baby pushing against my stomach. What an amazing feeling… to feel how alive he is inside of me. He’s a mover! That’s for sure.

Friday night Jeremy and I went to the drive-in with several friends. Halfway through the first movie ‘lil mister started moving quite a bit. So, Jeremy put his hand on my stomach and waited. Within a minute, he felt the baby moving! I wish I could have captured his expression. Pure joy and pride. Jeremy was absolutely excited. He immediately started talking to the baby. He told me later that it makes it feel real. It was a fabulous moment to share together. Now, at least, Jeremy knows my morning sickness wasn’t all fake.

Memories

Jeremy and I chose not to jump into parenthood right off the bat even with TONS of pressure because we wanted time together. We were able to experience so much together before we had kids.

Last week I started thinking about some of my favorite moments with him.

-dancing in the rain, after Carrie Underwood on my Birthday, Nashville 2008

-San Francisco trip, Sept 2008

-MANY cabin trips – 4^th of July 2011 swimming, cabin with the Menz 2011, teaching Sasha to swim May 2008

-Visiting Idyllwild – riding in the convertible, CA where Jeremy grew up, Sept 2008

-breaking down on our scooters, Bahamas, Honeymoon trip, May 2009

-horseback riding with the Hollis family, Halloween weekend 2009

-riding in the convertible through the country roads, Nashville trip, Halloween weekend 2009

-many, many snowboarding days at Afton Alps, Winter 2009, 2010, 2011

-Duluth trip with the Pastricks – Black Water Lounge/Spirit Mountain, March 2011

-4th of Julys with the Hilgers - 2010 and 2011

-NYE with the Moedings to Duluth, MN – 2009, 2010, 2011

-A.G. Tomson House with the Jesters, Moedings and Menzs shortly after our engagement

-Avaleen Spring Bed & Breakfast – scariest and most memorable B&B we’ve stayed at

-phone call from Jamaica, the night Obama was elected – Nov 2008

-Jeremy’s first baby sitting experience with Jackson and Emilie – Spring 2009

-teaching Jeremy about Black Friday shopping, Nov 2008

-Horseback riding for Jeremy’s Birthday – Sept 2009

-A to Z Produce – farm fresh pizza, Wisconsin, Summer 2010

-long motorcycle rides – Alphabet Roads, Wisconsin

-Date nights with Chipotle and the Hopkins $ theatre

-Jeremy’s surprise Birthday party, Sept 2009

-Mall of America day with Jackson and Emily, April 2011

-Impromptu stops for dinner or drinks throughout our entire relationship

-Brave New Workshop with the Pastrics, Dec 2010

-Blizzard weekends with the Giffords, Dec 2010

-Couch Sundays with the Giffords

-Halloween Party – Oct 2010

-Christmas Tree cutting and decorating – Dec 2009 and 2019

-Krmarczuk’s for traditional Ukrainian food – July 2010

-Waterloo IA trips to see Blake – April 2009, Aug 2010

-Surprise trip to London from Jeremy – July 2010

-tattoos on our Honeymoon – May 2009

All of the wonderful things we’ve done together I will cherish forever. I’m so very excited to see all the amazing memories we will make together, and with our children in the future.

Awkward

I had to share this one, because it made/makes me laugh.

When we told a couple close to us that we were pregnant, the husband immediately turned to Jeremy and said, “Let me tell you… pregnancy boobs, they’re the best!”

Jeremy said, “I know man!”

Oh. My. Goodness. Finding joy in the little things, right?

My face was bright red. (If only my boobs stayed this way.)

Tantrums

Tantrums.

They start early. Very early. Like, before the baby is even born.

When Jeremy and I found out we were pregnant we decided to keep the news to ourselves for a bit... a bit being a month. Okay, fine. A month and a half. I officially told Jeremy I was pregnant on May 9th. Our anniversary. We decided to tell our immediate families on Father’s Day – June 19^th. We found it to be fitting. Plus, we really wanted to enjoy being pregnant as something just the two of us could share for a bit. It is the best secret a couple can share together. To truly revel in the fact that you’ve created life. That your love will bring a new person into the world. It’s amazing.

Well, Father’s Day announcement wasn’t in the works. The announcement jumped right up to Memorial Day weekend. Jeremy’s sister Jessica planned a last minute trip to MN for a visit (she’s pregnant too!). Since she was in town we decided it would be better to tell his whole family together. And, of course, I couldn’t allow his family to have the special news and not mine, so it became the big announcement weekend. His parents. My parents. His siblings. My sisters.

After we told our immediate families, we were going to wait until I was out of the first trimester to tell anyone else. Sadly, because I had felt so sick we saw very little of our friends during the month of June. But each time we saw our friends or left church on Sunday morning, a tantrum conversation ensued in the car when we left. “Why can’t we just tell them?” “Why do we have to wait.” “This is so hard.” Even though he said all this, Jeremy was really behind our decision to guard our pregnancy until the best time to share with those around us. He even supported me through a couple moments I wanted to tell some girlfriends yet knew it was premature to what we had in mind. Pregnancy. "It's like a drug you want to share."

Fortunately, Jeremy’s dad Ken humored me Jeremy. Ken asked J to spill the beans over and over again. Each time, Ken reacted with the same great enthusiasm and joy.

Grandparents really are the best.

Maybe this is God’s way of preparing a mother for tantrums that could come later on?