Thursday, December 18, 2014

{Nolan - 5 Month Update}

Dear Nolan, 
Oh you are growing so quickly! Yesterday you turned 5 months old, and left Mama wondering where time has gone? You are really starting to develop a sweet, little personality. Your laugh is contagious, and your constant baby babble melts my heart. A few of your likes....

Your comfort blanket is an absolute must to sleep through the night. It's a cute little football, and you love to chew on it....

You have loved your moose toy for awhile....

When I lay you down on your changing table, you immediately start kicking your legs like crazy! It's comical, because you don't stop the entire time I'm changing you. Which has made for some interesting diaper changes. Haha. 

 We got to see your cousin Kaden last weekend, and you still aren't too sure about him yet....
I'm certain both of you, (and the new baby cousin), will have many fun adventures in the future. 

You met Santa, but you were zonked out from milk....

You love to be nestled into our Boba wrap. Especially if we are someplace new...(Can't wait to try our new Beco carrier...Santa is bringing it...)

I don't have a picture of it, but you love music. We listen to countless hours of "Lindsey Sterling" pandora channel (she's a violinist), and we like the Disney pandora channel during bathtime. 

You also LOVE to watch Baby Einstein. Anytime, anywhere. For example, we had to wait in a long line at the post office the other day, and when you started to fuss, I played it on my phone, and you were pleased as punch. 

Of course there are things you don't like....you absolutely hate 'tummy time.' I can distract you with a toy for a few seconds, then you take matters into your own hands, and roll over onto your back.  Sometimes in your sleep, you will roll from your back to your belly, and that's the only time you will wake up crying. 

A recent development is throwing yourself into hysterics if your bottle isn't ready in time. During these frantic moments is the only time I wish we had a normal breastfeeding relationship. But we rock the pump. This usually happens when you are also really tired. It makes Mama and Papa a nervous wreck! Thankfully, it doesn't happen too often. 

I can't believe we are already 5 months into this parenting thing. I honestly can't imagine life without my sweet boy. Since having you I've slept less, worried about even the smallest nuisances, learned how to make coffee with one hand, and basically stopped wearing makeup. But I've grown so much as a person. I have more patience, am more observant, and truly cherish quiet time with Jake (and with myself). There isn't a day I don't thank Heavenly Father for making me your Mama. Can't wait to see what new thing you'll do next! 

All my love forever, 
Mama


Thursday, December 4, 2014

{Daily Snippet -December 4, 2014}



Dear Jake, Four years ago today, we started dating. We went to volleyball, and dinner at Ruby Tuesday's on our first date. I was totally smitten. (And still am). Let's have brownies and peppermint ice cream tonight to celebrate!  Love you to the moon. Dear Little, Your smile lights up your entire face, and melts my heart completely. I'm so in love with the little man you are becoming. Dear Rain, This is December. You are supposed to switch over to snow. Please make the necessary corrections, and bring me loads of the 'white stuff.' Dear Wild, I'm beyond excited about seeing you, but you aren't being released in any theater's around me. What gives? Dear Erin Condren, I'm ready to order my 2015 planner. Do I want a cute print, or lots of pictures? Decisions, decisions. 

After a short sabbatical, we are back! Or I am back...whatever. Happy Wednesday! 

Sunday, October 12, 2014

{Daily Letter - October 12, 2014}



Dear Husband, Thank you for knowing when I need a nap more than anything else. You always take care of me. Dear Nolan, Your adorable. The end. Dear Eyeballs, Thank you for not bursting out in tears when we had to order another pizza after slipping and spilling the first one in my passenger seat. Dear Pizza Hut London, Thank for giving me a free pizza after the above happened. This Mama is appreciative. Dear "Mom's Day Out," I could really use a laugh. Please be funny. 

Are we sure this isn't Monday? Sure does feel like it here. Happy Sunday night, folks!

Friday, October 10, 2014

{Thankful Friday}

Today I'm thankful for....
- Husbands who feed me dinner, so I can pump and feed the babe.
- Heating pads that make a clogged duct feel better. (Sorry TMI)
- Fleece Halloween jammers that keep my little warm. (And look super cute)
- Plans for Porter cousins to meet this weekend at the Pumpkin Patch
- Celery with almond butter
- Sleeping in
- Taking a hot bath
- The smell of wet leaves
- Apples, apples, apples. 
- Scones made by my Mama. 

Sorry I'm late posting! Hope everyone has a great weekend!


Monday, October 6, 2014

{Daily mail - October 6, 2014}

Dear Hubster, You looked so hunky playing video games with my bro last night. I might have a crush on you. Come home from work so we can eat chili, and snuggle. Dear Nolie, You look super sweet in your Halloween jammers. I can't wait to see you in your costume. Dear Littlest Brother (but also the tallest), THANK YOU for visiting us. We love having you around. Please come back soon! Dear Patagonia, I took advantage of your 50% off sale. Ship my package ASAP!

It's a cold, rainy Monday. What's everyone making for dinner?  

Saturday, October 4, 2014

{Daily Mail - October 4, 2014}

Dear David Jacob, I think our date of pizza, snuggling the offspring, while watching Once Upon a Time was the perfect way to end the day. I love you more than crisp fall nights, and Ale 8. Dear Sleepy Babe, Watching you sleep snuggled on my chest is one of the greatest things ever. Dear Mama, Remember that time three generations of women went to the Smokies, and snuck onto the Appalachain Trail, even though the park was "closed" because of the government shutdown? I loved creating a little civil disobedience with you and Gram. Dear Crookshanks Piper, Please stop walking directly under my feet. This is for your safety, as well as mine. 

It's the weekend! Yippee! 

Friday, October 3, 2014

{Thankful Friday - October 3, 2014}


- Babies who roll over
- Being able to see clearly again with my new glasses
- Finished laundry
- Freshly ground coffee
- Harry Potter stamps 
- Rain
- Plans to see family next week at the Pumpkin Patch. And creating a new tradition. 

Happy Friday, people! What are you thankful for? 

Thursday, October 2, 2014

{Fresh BiB!}

A week ago, one of my favorite blogs (@todaysletters) hosted a give away for an adorable bib. Naturally, I thought I would enter because what Mama doesn't  need a good bib? Bonus points cause it's cute. (Why is it so hard to find cute bibs for boys?) 

Anyway, with a stroke of luck, I actually won! 
I was definitely surprised, and really, really excited to have won Nolan one of these suckers. :) 

Here are a few pictures of the adorable package I received via "The Pony Express."
Who wouldn't be excited when the package looks like this? I can totally appreciate it when a company takes the time to make their packaging look stellar. 
 
And just when I couldn't get anymore excited to open that little box, I discovered this..........
Can I say, YES! It even has a party horn?! You know you're on to something grand when there's a party horn in the package! 
This was the bib we received. Part of the fun is being surprised by which bib is in your box. Elephants and geometric prints? Perfect for Nolan. 

And last but certainly not least, here's my little man rocking his....
We are so thrilled with our bib! It looks adorable on Nolan, and it's so functional. Bonus points for collecting tons of drool, etc saving me from having to change his outfit a zillion times a day! 

If you're expecting, or know somebody who is expecting, this would be an excellent shower gift. :) You can find them at freshbib.com. 

Happy Shopping!  

{Daily Mail - October 2, 2014}

Dear Hubby, 5 points for packing my lunch last night, minus 2 points for leaving the turkey on the counter. So excited for date night! Dear Cherub Cheeks, I'll trade you a huge bottle of warm milk, for you to stop crying every night at 9 when you get sleepy. Dear Maddie, I miss you every. single. day. I think about you each time I take Nolan for a walk. P.S. That pesky neighbor dog is still trying to follow us, and Molly from down the road says she misses you also. Hope you're burying pizza crusts all over heaven. Dear New Shower Curtain, The few extra inches you give us make us feel like we are showering in a palace. Dear Scrub Jacket Pockets, You enable me to carry a crapton of extra stuff around. It's definitely a love/hate deal. 

It's almost the weekend! Yippee!

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

{Daily Letter - October 1, 2014}

Dear Mr Mosley, You have brought the 90's back with nightly episodes of Power Rangers. 3 points for reminding me of watching it with my brother as a kid. Dearest Nolan, You're growing so quickly. And I love watching you take in your new world. Ceiling fans really rock your socks off at the moment.  Dear October, I have been waiting all year for you! Welcome! Dear Freshly Mopped Floors, I adore the way you look and feel. Please stay clean. Dear Starbucks, Your oatmeal makes me happy, but your coffee is lackluster now that I'm grinding my own beans. Dear Kale Chips, I'm crushing you...you're a great afternoon snack. Thanks for being on sale at Kroger this week. 

Happy October! So excited for fall!

Monday, September 29, 2014

{The Honest Company Diaper Review}

While I was pregnant, I did a ton of research on diapers. And while I cloth diaper a lot, there are times when you just need a good disposable. So, while building my diaper stash I discovered The Honest Company. They manufacture a ton of products, and most are organic or have environmentally friendly ingredients. 

Their diapers are my favorite out of all the diapers we've tried. They are super absorbent and durable. Nolan has only "blown out" of 1 of their diapers, and trust me he's great at testing them. We started out in their newborn diapers, and have since progressed to Size 1's. Both sizes have fit him so well, and his little bum looks adorable in them. One of the fun things about Honest diapers, is all the patterns them come in! Holy cuteness overload, batman! So far, we've had giraffes, plaid, camo, and jungle animal diapers. It's true that nobody really sees his diapers, so a pattern isn't really "necessary," but I'm always looking for a way to add a little pizazz to my everyday life. What could be better?!


Recently, we decided to try their bundle package. For a monthly fee they send you a month's worth of diapers and wipes. You can log in, and choose which patterns and sizes you want, and then they ship it all to you easy peasy. Yes, they are a tad more expensive than normal diapers, but for me the comfort of knowing Nolan isn't sitting in a diaper with tons of chemicals makes me feel better about him wearing a disposable. 


So if you are looking for a quality, plant based, toxin free diaper, I can't recommend Honest diapers enough. Here in Kentucky, you can find them at Buy Buy Baby, or Target. Or you can order them online at https://www.honest.com. 

Oh, and this post wasn't sponsored. It's just my thoughts and opinions I thought some of you might find helpful. :) 

Nolan says, "Two thumbs up!" 

Happy changing! 

Friday, September 26, 2014

{Thankful Friday}

I've been a bad blogger this week. What can I say, the parenthood roller coaster  still exhausts me. Some days it takes all my effort to survive, and possibly make it an hour without getting baby spit up, or baby crap on me, plus trying to avoid  being sprayed with urine. (Nothing makes me jump higher than the surprise of warm baby pee on my leg.) But without further ado.....

Today I'm thankful for.....

- Red leaves littering my yard and driveway from our sugar maples.
- My hydroflask, and cold h2o.
- Matilda (or Tillie for short) - AKA my Medela pump
- Surprise letters from a friend via snail mail. (Getting mail is seriously a thrill!)
- New glasses! 
- Sweet baby feet
- FaceTime, so my son and nephew can finally meet, and I can chat with my brother. 
- The crisp fall air. Mornings are simply delish! 
- Apples and peanut butter

Happy Friday, loved ones! What are you thankful for today?

Friday, September 19, 2014

{Thankful Friday}


Today I'm thankful for...

- Temps in the 70's, and lots of sunshine
- My Boba Wrap, and snuggling my little.
- Excitement about seeing friends this weekend. 
- Campfires!
- My new Chacos waiting to be picked up.
- A box full of cute diapers on my porch. (Review coming soon).
- Inside jokes with Mr. Mosley 
- My rocking chair
- And a cup of warm tea, with a smidgen of local honey. 

Happy Friday, sweet friends! What are you thankful for? 

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Daily Letter - September 16, 2014


Dear Jake, Looking forward to introducing our son to the wonderful world of reenacting this weekend with you. Pictures will be taken. Prepare yourself. Dear Pumpkin, I love kissing your cheeks. And hearing your velociraptor noises when I have you on my shoulder when your hungry. Dear Endless Dishes, Someday I will look back on the above picture and laugh. (Or at least I hope so.) This is my everyday life for as long as I breastfeed. Totally worth it. Dear Fall Like Weather, I love you. I've waited all summer for your cooler temps, and the way you make everything feel more cozy. 

Happy Tuesday, peeps. 

Friday, September 12, 2014

Thankful Friday


I'm thankful for...

-  The rain
-  Fall like weather 
-  Creative ideas floating around in my noggin'
-  My favorite coffee/tea cup (Lapis Fiestaware)
-  Cozy sweaters
-  Pumpkins
-  Freshly made homemade grape jelly
-  Sweet baby snuggles
-  Candles
-  Holding hands with Mr. Mosley

I would like to start a new tradition called "Thankful Friday." I always find myself being thankful for so many things, and I think this would be a fun way to remember them. :) Please leave things you're thankful for in the comments! I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts! #thankfulfriday

Daily Letter - September 11, 2014

Dear Beefcake, We pulled the late shift last night, and both paid the price today at work. But coming home to Chinese take away, and Monday night football made it better. Dear Offspring, My heart bursts with pride, love, and a million other emotions when I watch you sleep in your bassinet. I didn't know I could have so many emotions at once, but it's the most awesome thing ever. Dear United States, Remembering 9/11 brings back memories of my college days at Morehead State. I will forever be grateful for all the emergency responders, and heros who sacrificed so much to save others. I'm so thankful for the protection, and safety I take for granted everyday. Dear Rainfall, Watching you fall from the 4th floor window during work, made pumping more interesting. Oh how I love a good rain. 

It's Friday! Yippee!!

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Daily Letter - September 10, 2014



Dear Husband, Thank you for being my emotional support today. Going to Lexington solo with the little was terrifying. He was a champ, but I almost cried driving away from London. Motherhood has made me a weakling! Dear Sweet Babe, You charmed every lady that saw you today! So many people commented on how cute you were. And you slept like an angel while Mama had a little fun in Target. Dear Mimi and Gigi, I love watching you snuggle Nolan. It definitely made me breath easier knowing you both were around for our first big trip to Lexington. Dear Dad, I could faintly smell your cologe on Nolan's hair when we got home. So glad he got to snuggle his Pappy during the entire dinner. Dear Ryan, Happy Birthday (in a few days).  I'm so glad Nolan and I got to come celebrate with you tonight. Mmm, Rafferty's. 

Looking forward to the weekend! Only two more days! :)

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Baby growth spurts are no joke!

To sum up the last 24 hours, it's 1:00 pm and I was just standing in front of the refrigerator door, still in my jammers, drinking apple juice from the container. Yes. I'm certain you can picture it in your mind.

Nolan is going through a growth spurt, which equates to my normally mind-tempered baby converting to the behavior of a ravenous shark in fish infested water. He wants to feast what seems like 7 billion times a day. Nothing keeps his bottomless pit of a stomach full. So far today he's eaten 30 ounces of breastmilk, a steak, baked potato with butter and sour cream, green beans, a piece of chocolate cake, a little more breastmilk to wash all that down, and a few Sour Patch Kids. Needless to say, my kitchen is trashed from all the cooking he's been doing.

Crap. Now he wants waffles.

Yesterday was my "official" due date. All afternoon I thought about the post I wanted to write about becoming a Mama early. Nolan and I went for a walk, hung  pictures in the living room, did laundry, and took an evening drive through the park. It was such a productive day, and I had actually showered and didn't have baby puke on my shirt. SUCCESS!

But then someone decided he was at an AYCE (All You Can Eat) buffet, and the chaos began. If he wasn't eating, he was filling a diaper, and if he wasn't doing that, he was whining to be held, or sleeping (For only an hour or so at a time). Then he would scream for food like I haven't fed him since his birth. As soon as he started eating, he would calm down to my "normal" baby, then go to sleep for an hour or so only for the process to begin again later.

Eat, sleep, eat, sleep, eat, sleep...You get the picture.

At 4 am, while I was pumping, and feeding him a bottle (more on that later), I came up with two universal truths about being a new parent....

1. At the newborn stage, that baby is your BOSS. He or she decides when you sleep, when you eat, and how many loads of laundry you do that day. It's not like you can reason with a 7 week old. We are on a very consistent schedule, but growth spurts = insanity.

2. Breastfeeding is HARD WORK. I really thought it would come naturally to me, but because Nolan got used to a bottle while in the NICU, he just doesn't nurse very well. So, I pump...and I pump...and I pump some more. I'm hoping as he get's older, he'll improve his nursing skills. But in the meantime, my Medella pump, and a sink full of unwashed pumping parts is my reality. I'm fully aware that the decision to breastfeed is mine, and mine alone. Jake would be totally supportive if I waved the white flag of surrender. But I'm not ready to give up. Even though it's a challenge, for me it's worth it. But I wanted to document how hard it is. Mama's who breastfeed for any length of time should be given an award. Preferably one covered in chocolate.

Being a Mama is such a fun adventure. Today is just one of those days! :D

My baby is currently asleep, so I'm going to go eat a spoonful of Nutella, and take a power nap!



Sunday, September 7, 2014

Daily Letter - September 7, 2014

I skipped the daily letter yesterday, because a certain baby decided he was going to be needy last night. :) 


Dear Mr Mcstudmuffins, Thank you for pulling the late shift with me last night to take care of our offspring who needed to eat 7 billion times. Dear Bottomless Pit, I'm going to start feeding you cheeseburgers instead of breast milk. Hope you enjoy it. Dear football, I'm so thankful your season has begun. Praying I can keep up with my 3 fantasy teams. Dear Pittsburgh Steelers, Thank you for winning. My little is your newest fan, and he really wanted you to win. 

Enjoy your Sunday everyone. 

Friday, September 5, 2014

Daily Letter - September 5, 2014

Dear Husband, I'm so happy we got to go on a date tonight. Thank you for taking me shopping for "granola shoes." Dear Nolie Cannoli, You are so much more alert, and checking out this new world. I love watching you take it all in. Dear Directv, After 2 years without tv, I'm beyond excited to watch football, HGTV, and the Duggers. Dear Weekend, I'm so happy you're here! Love spending weekend days with my little family. 

Happy Friday, everyone!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Daily Letter #1

Dear Mr Mosley, Thank you for changing the cat liter last night. It was gross, and you knocked it out. #sograteful. Dear Sweet Baby Cakes, Your ability to feast astounds me. Your little belly is a bottomless pit. Dear Crookshanks, Your cat antics crack me up. Today you went back and forth between the porch, and the house 6 zillion times. #makeupyourmind. Dear Nolan's binkies, Finding you "hidden" around the house is like a perpetual Easter egg hunt. The downside is you don't taste like chocolate. But my baby still loves you. 

Daily letters is a new thing on the blog. A fun way to remember tid bits of everyday life. 

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Nolan's Birth Story - Part 2

Before I get into the details of Nolan's birth, I thought a little prelude would be helpful to set the scene. 

For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to have a natural childbirth. It was one of those life experiences that I really wanted to check off my bucket list. I am in awe at the beautiful, and powerful way the human body knows exactly what to do when it comes to labor and delivery. In my opinion, modern medicine doesn't give the body enough credit. We are truly designed by God. I realized early on that things don't always work out the way you planned it, so during my pregnancy I prayed my heart out that I could have the birth experience I wanted. 

I thought it was important to prepare myself for natural delivery. I knew it would be the most physically demanding thing my body has ever done, and I didn't want to leave anything to chance. We had intended to take Bradley classes, but the classes were weekly in Lexington for 12 weeks, and that just wasn't practical with Jake's work schedule. So, I read everything I could get my hands on. My favorite was the book "Ina Mae's Guide to Childbirth." If you are expecting, I highly recommend it. It's chalk full of inspirational stories, and very informative in describing the way labor progresses. I digress, I had plenty of people tell me that I would change my mind, or that I would beg for medicine after I felt the first hard contraction, but I made up my mind that given the opportunity I would have him naturally. (By the way, don't be one of those negative people!)

So, back to our story...

After my water broke, my room went from dark and quiet, to bright and busy. Jake set to calling our parents, while I talked to the nurse, and waited for the resident physician to come in and "officially" check to make sure my water had broken. Jake and I kept repeating how excited we were to meet our son! 


My contractions started off around 6 or 7 minutes apart, and were moderate in pain level. In Ina Mae's book, she talks about how powerful visualization can be. So, as crazy and "granola" as it sounds, during each contraction I would visualize myself carrying the baby to the top of my favorite mountain. (Mt. Leconte in GSMNP). I thought about not sharing this part because it's so cheesy, but the truth is thinking about the journey to the top of the mountain really helped me get through the pain of contractions. As labor progressed, the journey became more difficult, and my focus shifted to the breathtaking peak and the vast, open landscape.  Another important aspect of this visualization, was focusing my breathing. I'm by no means an expert at meditation, but I had used deep breathing techniques for years to help control my stress levels. I'm really showing my "crunchy" side, but there is something to be said for meditation. It's a powerful tool.


The day progressed like it should for a woman in labor. Our families showed up before the sun rose, and settled in for a long day of waiting. Around 11 am, our favorite nurse, Mollee came into work, and Jake and I were thrilled that she would be our nurse on this important day. We had learned earlier in the week that Mollee had actually trained as a midwife while she lived in England. And she was super knowledgeable about natural childbirth. Talk about a huge blessing! It was a comfort to know that someone on the medical side of things understood my desire for a drug free delivery, and wouldn't pressure me into something I didn't want. It was her idea to not mention the "M" word (medicine) unless I brought it up. (It was really helpful to not focus or even think about medicine at all.)

My parents, and Jake's Dad stayed in the room for the majority of the morning. Offering words of encouragement, or a hand to squeeze during a painful contraction. The support of our families was indescribable.  I could literally feel all the prayer, and the love supporting me. In retrospect, for me childbirth was an extremely emotional, and spiritual experience. At one point, I swear I could even feel the love coming from my Gram and Pap Porter, and told my parents that I could feel them near.

One of the funniest things happened right before my labor changed from active to transitional. I was definitely not my normal self, and in between contractions, I would be aware of what was going on around me, but mostly stayed in my own little 'zoned out' world. I kept telling Jake that I was nauseated, but it hadn't progressed to anything but a feeling, until my friend Megan came in. I remember Mom telling me that she was there, and I wanted to see her, so I asked Mom to show her into the room. Megan was only a week and half behind me in our pregnancies, and we had gotten to experience everything at basically the same time. The second she walked over to my bedside, I looked up and said, "I have to throw up!" And without hesitation she grabbed a bucket, and held it while I took care of business. That was the only thing I was able to say to Megan that day, but talk about a good friend! We laughed about it later, but I was thankful she wasn't too grossed out by my greeting.

After I threw up, my contractions became almost unbearable, and with only a minute or two break in between. At this point, I did become a little unglued. I needed oxygen for a short while, but the mask on my face made me feel incredibly claustrophobic. The pain of the contractions, along with the intense claustrophobic feeling made me feel like I wasn't in control. It was at this point that I kicked everyone out of the room, except Jake. I actually don't remember kicking everyone out, but things were getting serious, and I needed to focus.

The doctor came into check my progress, and I was almost dilated to a 9. But before I could regain control of my breathing, I said the dreaded words...."pain medicine." Jake and Mollee talked me through each contraction, allowing me to squeeze hands, and Mollee showed Jake a place on my back to push that helped immensely. During the few contractions I had while waiting for an anesthesiologist, I was able to regain control of myself, and focus more on my breathing. So, when they tried explaining the epidural procedure, I said, "No thank you!" And we proceeded with the original plan. Once the transitional stage began things progressed so quickly. Before I knew it, I was feeling pressure and wanted to push.

The rest of the time went by so quickly for me. At this point, I was basically in my own world. Solely focused on the task ahead of me. My comfort was Jake and Mollee's persistence when I needed them the most. One of each side, talking me through each second of pain.  I asked Jake later, and he said that I pushed 4 or 5 times before he was born. Before the last push, he had already crowned, and the NICU staff, and the attending physician wasn't in the room yet. So, I had to pause for a few minutes until everyone was present. Then one push or so later, David Nolan Mosley made his grand entrance into the world. Completely perfect, screaming his head off, and by far the most beautiful thing I had ever laid eyes on. I remember opening my eyes, and seeing him for the first time in the physician's hands. I quickly snapped back into reality, and my first thought was "That's my son!" Jake was able to cut the umbilical cord before they took him to a side room to be examined by the NICU staff. Jake went with the baby, and they kept me posted for the few minutes they examined him. He had APGAR scores of 9 and 9. (APGAR is test to quickly assess the health of newborn children immediately after birth. Scores are taken at 1 and 5 minutes, with 10 being an unattainable perfect.) Talk about a huge relief! Our prayers had been answered, he had arrived early, but he was perfectly healthy! He was 4 pounds 9 ounces, and 17.5 inches long.


They brought him out to me all swaddled and beautiful. I got to hold him for a minute before they wisked him away to the NICU. It was a huge relief that he didn't need any interventions like oxygen, etc. 

David Nolan Mosley

I learned later that both of my parents decided to hang out behind the curtain in the room for the delivery. And my Dad was able to record Nolan's first cries. It brings tears to my eyes to hear his little cry, and to see all the staff in the room prepared for anything. 

First time holding my baby!

The great thing about natural childbirth, is in no time I was on my feet, dressed and ready to go visit my son in the NICU. Jake insisted that I ride up to the NICU in a wheelchair (much to my dismay), and we had a hilarious experience with the tire coming off the rim. Standing in the hall way trying to fix it, totally exhausted, and slap happy!  It was just one of those side stories that I will always remember. That night I got to finally hold my Nolan skin to skin. The pure joy of feeling my sweet baby laying on my chest was so immense, it's hard to put into words. It made everything worth it. It sounds cliche, but the pain didn't matter anymore. The only thing that mattered was the baby laying in my arms.





I was fortunate that the recovery process was incredibly easy. I didn't have all the pain some women talk about. I moved a little more slowly, but it felt great to be up and moving around. I can't say enough amazing things about the staff at UKMC. They took such excellent care of me. In a lot of ways, the birth process wasn't at all what I expected, but then again nobody plans on having a baby 8 weeks early. In other ways, it was better than I could have imagined. 

Having a natural childbirth was an incredible experience. But becoming a parent is one of the greatest blessings. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank Heavenly Father for this sweet little blessing. It's hard to believe my little baby is almost 7 weeks old! If you need me, I'll be snuggling my little peanut, and soaking up every second of baby bliss! Thanks for reading! 

Up next, the NICU experience...

Friday, August 29, 2014

Nolan's birth story - Part 1

It still surprises me that our sweet Nolan is already 6 weeks old, and technically I should still be pregnant! I thought for sure that I would have him close to his due date in September, but God had other plans!  Even though his arrival surprised us, my birth experience was so much better than I could have imagined.

On Tuesday, July 15, I woke up around 3:30 in the morning with some serious cramps. The day before had been a relatively normal day, with the exception that I had been to the vet with Maddie, and had to schedule her for surgery the next day. (She had pyrometra, an infection in her uterus.)  So, when I awoke at 3:30 am with cramps, I assumed that the culprit was stress, and that I needed to drink some water and relax. I took a long bath, and after an hour the bath turned into a shower, and yet the cramping continued. Around 5:30 am, I finally decided to call the OB ward at St Joseph-London. When I explained my symptoms, they told me I should come in and get checked. But the stubborn side of me still wasn't
convinced that the cramping was anything more than stress and dehydration. I didn't want to be one of those women who run to the hospital for every little pain.  So, I drank some more water and continued watching the 'Biggest Loser' on Hulu for another 30 or so minutes. Eventually, I went to the bathroom only to notice a tiny amount of blood, a undeniable ticket to the hospital. So, I woke Jake up and off we went. We still had not called our parents, because we "assumed" it was nothing.  After all, I was only 32 weeks, and all of the normal labor signs hadn't occurred. 

When we arrived at the hospital, we were quickly met by a sweet nurse named Emily. She started an IV, and got me somewhat settled into a bed. At the end of what seemed 200 questions, she checked me to see if I happened to be dilated. We were all shocked to discover that I was dilated to a 2, and 100% effaced! My doctor was out of town, so I saw one of the doctors on call who arrived within a few minutes of the nurses assessment.  She quickly confirmed what Emily had told us, and without hesitation said that they would be sending me to UKMC for preterm labor. To say that Jake and I were shocked is an understatement. I didn't have a bag packed, I didn't have all my freezer meals made, and all I could think was, "I have 20 pounds of peaches sitting on my counter to be canned today?!" I had never been in the hospital before, and now I was hooked up to an IV, had a catheter placed, and was being transported via an ambulance.  WHAT?

While they were prepping me to be transferred, Jake's Dad Moe, and I had to figure out how we were going to get Maddie to the vet, and back. It was imperative that she had the surgery that day, because we didn't want the infection to spread, or get worse. I was heartbroken that I couldn't be there for my little princess. I knew she would be scared, but my brother n law Caleb took excellent care of her. He made sure to give her lots of love, and she sailed through the procedure without complication.

Of course, the one day in my 31 years on this planet that I would need EMS transport, is also the day that I-75 was closed due to a hazardous chemical spill. So a drive that would normally take an hour, took over 2 hours traveling back roads at an alarmingly fast speed with lights, and sirens roaring the entire time. When we left the hospital, my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart, and varied in intensity. They had started me on a medication called Magnesium Sulfate to help stop the contractions, and the bolus of medicine instantly made me feel flush and hot. That combined with the pain from the contractions made for a miserable ride.  Emily, the nurse accompanied the all female EMS crew. They were so kind as we drove along, telling me stories about their own childbirth experiences, and trying to take my mind off what was actually happening. After a while, I inquired as to whether they always drive with lights, and sirens, and was told that they didn't want me to have a baby in the back of an ambulance...talk about putting things in perspective. Thankfully, the medicine started doing it's job, and by the time we arrived at UK my contractions has slowed down to one every 10 minutes or so.

A very tired, and somewhat medicated selfie
When we finally arrived at UK, it was so awkward being pushing through the hospital. I'm used to being on the employee side of healthcare, and this was a totally new experience. We finally arrived at the OB ward, and as soon as we turned the corner to the triage area, there stood my Mom asking if I had arrived. It was a relief to see her, and I had to laugh at the impeccable timing. Not long after we arrived, Jake and his Dad, my Dad, and Kally all arrived. Jake's Mom was on vacation in the Dominican Republic, and was beside herself to get home. I definitely felt loved having so many people there! At first they didn't have a labor and delivery room available. So, while we were waiting, they had us in the triage area that was the equivalent size of a broom closet. I was only allowed 1 visitor at a time, so it was a constant stream of family going in and out. What stands out the most, was Kally and I laughing uncontrollably about lots of random things. We kept joking that they were going to kick me out, because I was laughing to much to "be in labor."

Where all the medicine action happened
Finally, our amazing nurse Mollee came and took us back to our labor and delivery room. It felt like a palace compared to the broom closet we had been in. Then we settled in for the long haul. They told me early on, that I would be in the hospital until I had him, because my "bag of water" was bulging, and could be felt when they checked me. Our goal was for me to hold off going into labor for 48 hours, mostly so I could have two rounds of steroids to help Nolan's lungs develop. So, I spent the day in bed hooked up to an IV of constant medicine that made me feel increasingly "loopy," as the day progressed. That evening we were blessed with so many awesome visitors...Dave and Kayla, Jon and Joe, Dustin and Rebecca, and of course our family camped out for the long haul. 
The view from my L &D room.
The next day, was basically a repeat of the first, except they took me off the Magnesium sulfate. I was finally able to eat, but was still mostly confined to my bed. Throughout the day, I would have a random contraction here and there, but the medicine had done it's job, and my labor had stopped. I was hopeful that I might be able to make it a few days before my water broke, but oh man was I wrong.

At 2:00 am on July 17, I was asleep, and woke up just enough to roll over in bed and think, "Oh man, that was a strong contraction," then BAM my water broke. It was undeniable, and in abundance. Jake was asleep in the recliner next to my bed, and the room was dark and quiet. I laid there for a few minutes taking in the fact that I would have a baby that day. And said a huge prayer of protection for Nolan and I. Overall, I wasn't nervous at all, just preparing myself for what was to come. I woke Jake up, who immediately set to pacing the floor, and calling our parents. It was go time!

More tomorrow!

Sunday, August 17, 2014

The first month learning curve....

In honor of Nolan being a month old, I thought I'd write a list of all the new things I've learned, and a few I'm still learning...

1. How to do almost anything 1 handed....including, but not limited to, eating, changing out laundry, cooking, opening mail, you name it. I'm excited to start using our new Boba wrap to be more hands free! 

2. How to walk across our bedroom floor without causing the hardwood to creak. It's true that Nolan isn't bothered by most noise, but I think trying to tip-toe around a sleeping baby is innate. 

3. Pumping while...feeding the baby, rocking the baby, sleeping sitting up, blow drying my hair, putting makeup on, and surfing the internet (Ha!) 

4. How to quickly eat breakfast, brush my teeth, and pump before the baby wakes up. I call this a trifecta, and it makes me super happy. 

5. How to enjoy even an hour of quality, no interruption sleep. So rare, but so glorious. Thanks to my hubby Jake this usually happens for a few hours every night. He takes the first part of the night shift while I sleep. So appreciative!

Now, for fun...some things I have yet to master.....

1. How to keep my house somewhat organized. I swear the living room can go from clean, to having baby crap everywhere in no time. Dirty baby clothes (I swear he only spits up when I put clean clothes on him), blankets, bottles, binkies, and general clutter all over the place! Aahh! (So thankful for my Mama visiting and helping me get back on track!)

2. How to protect myself from being umm..."showered" during diaper changes. Just when I think it's safe....BAM, he gets me. Hilarious, and accurate everytime.

3. How to get back into a cooking routine. Pre-baby I always enjoyed cooking meals from scratch. Post baby, I'll happily settle for grilled chicken from Bojangles. We've eaten there an alarming number of times in the last two weeks. (Including tonight.)

4. How to keep myself hydrated. I swear I drink a gallon of water a day. Breastfeeding makes you thirsty! More thirsty than you've ever been every. single. day!  Thank goodness for my hydro flask! 

5. How to keep myself from pulling my hair back into a "crack Mom" pony tail every single day. I'm sure my hubby loves coming home to that! Hahaha. :P


This last month has been one of the best months of my life. Adjusting to our new normal has definitely been challanging at times, but it's also been the most rewarding experience of my life. Just seeing my little peanut look up at me, smile with that gummy grin, or grab my finger instantly makes everything worth while. I've said so many prayers of gratitude in the last month. Being a parent rocks my socks off! 

PS...I promise Nolan's birth story is coming next. Stay tuned! 

Saturday, June 7, 2014

National Trail day!

Hiking is one of our FAVORITE activities. Last summer we did quite a bit of hiking, and decided we liked it so much, that we wanted to give backpacking a try. Let just say we were instantly hooked!

All winter long I researched gear, and read books on the Appalachian Trail (AT) like it was my job! Some would say I became mildly obsessed with hiking the AT. I honestly think Jake got tired of hearing me talk about it endlessly for weeks on end. I tend to be one of those people who will start researching something, and end up diving in head first, and reading for hours on the same topic. OOPS! 
I read people's trail journals (trailjournals.com), joined White Blaze (whiteblaze.net) which is a network where you can discuss gear, section hikes, and just about anything concerning the AT, and even kept up with the daily weather report on top of my favorite mountain in GSMNP Mt Leconte. (http://www.highonleconte.com/daily-posts).

After some convincing, Jake and I decided that we would spend our summer vacation hiking the 80 miles of the AT that runs through the Smokies. We had just finished obtaining the majority of our gear when I found out I was pregnant. We knew we would have to postpone our big trip, because hiking 80 miles with 30 pounds of gear while your 6 months pregnant just wasn't an option. And unfortunately, complications early in my pregnancy has resulted in me sitting out from any hiking until after our sweet Nolan is born. But honestly, I can't think of a better reason to be sitting out a season! haha.

Anyway, the point to this lengthy post is simply to say,

GET OUT AND HIKE!

There is some absolutely amazing sites to be seen in the woods, or deep in the backcountry! It's healthy, stress relieving, and energizing!  You can hike in any state, or all over the world! It's such a fun hobby! I'll leave you with some pictures of us hiking!

HAPPY NATIONAL TRAILS DAY!