I'm in love!

I talked Chad into letting me order a Milkies Milk Saver! It came in the mail yesterday and I could not wait to use it. My friend Sara sent me the link to their site months ago and I could not get over how ingenious it is.

It collects your milk while you nurse on the other side. So no more wasted milk! It so disappointing to fill up disposable nursing pads when you could be storing that precious liquid!!

I am just so impressed with how easy it is. Who has time to plug yourself up to a pump? I've gotten about an ounce to 2 ounces when I use it. So I could get about a bottle a day potentially. And it's virtually no effort! If you want to know more about it, check out their site - www.mymilkies.com.

Had to share! When I have more time (haha!) I'll get my birth story up. But until then, it will probably just be short random thoughts and rants from all the craziness of moving etc.

HELLO BABY

It's been a while since I've posted. Most of you know that baby Devlin arrived the afternoon after my last post. Woo hoo! I was so excited to be going into labor! Labor was about 4 hours and I was very happy with my experience with the midwife. I was up laughing and talking not long after labor. The combination of hormones and all that weight gone probably had me doing more before my body was really ready.

The transition has been very smooth. It's like he came out a 2 month old! He latched on perfectly from the start and he has good head control to somewhat be able to do it himself. He is eating like a champ and we don't have any issues with jaundice. He's been such a great baby so far. He loves to sleep and eat and that's about it! God has really answered my prayers. I was concerned about how I could handle the transition with the impending move in a few weeks. Corben loves him already and wants to see everything I'm doing that involves the baby. I didn't sleep for the first few days but I think I've given up on that from now on-- if we have more kids. The adrenaline from natural birth is so strong, I can't sleep the first night.

He's still a little off on his days/nights but it's starting to work itself out and I'm getting 2 to 3 hours stints of sleep at a time. Well I'm going to take advantage of nap time and rest a little before it's time to feed baby again. I'm sure I'll post the official "birth story" soon.

Preggo update week 37

I just got back from my midwife appointment.

Everything looks great. Blood pressure, weight etc.
I am measuring 40 cm at 37 weeks though! I'm just hoping that the baby was in a weird position or something instead of being really big or having a complication. She scheduled another ultrasound for next week to make sure everything was still okay. I'm trying not to worry about it. Maybe it just means that the due date is off and I should be having the baby soon (crossing my fingers).

She didn't check me. She said that she usually doesn't until 38 - 39 weeks unless I just want her too. So I decided to just wait. It doesn't really mean anything anyway. I could be dilated the same for 3 weeks before I go into labor. So we'll just wait and see.

I've had about 3 or 4 contractions today. So my body is getting ready.

I'm doing my 2 cups of raspberry tea a day and trying to make sure I keep walking (even though I feel huge) to keep my stamina up and to help the baby get into position.

I just finished my new nursing cover and I love it. I tried a different pattern this time and added a little terry cloth pocket to the underside. I think I'm going to make some cloth teething rings now. It looks so easy I just have to try it. Here's the tutorial if you want to take a look.

Keep us in your prayers as we await the delivery of a healthy baby boy!

Celebrating Devlin

I just got back from my baby shower and I can't say enough. It was just perfect! Down to every little detail. I felt like all my favorite things and favorite people were all put together in one place.

The theme was a combination of things - Quotes, chocolate, and coffee with blue and brown as the colors. All some of my most favorite things!

They had beautiful quotes about babies placed around for decorations, a chocolate fountain, cheerwine, and coffee among other delicious treats of fruit, chocolate covered pretzels, cookies, brownies etc.

I think I'm going to have to lay off the sugar and caffeine for the rest of the day because baby had plenty of that today already!

Sometimes I feel like people don't really know me... like really, really. You know what I mean? It's partly my fault because it takes me a while to open up to people. But today I felt fully known and fully loved. For someone to take that much care and time to throw a party for me, just means the world to me.

And to have so many people come to celebrate our new little one and just spend time enjoying each others company. Was so so nice. I can't say much more about it than it was perfect. Just perfect.

Dr. Appt update

It's been so crazy around here. I have at least 5 posts I need to do!

Had another Dr. appointment Monday. Everything is going well. They did another ultrasound and he's supposedly already 6 lbs 14 oz! He doesn't need to get much bigger! The Tech even switched over to the 4-D to try to get a look at the face. I was so excited! But of course my little stinker didn't want to move his hand! So all I got to see was the eyes and nose. But it was beautiful!

I'm really excited to see him soon. My baby shower is this weekend and I am so excited to have some time to relax and enjoy my friend's company!

It seems like all my days are running together already! More Dr.'s appointments, trying to make playdates before the baby comes, organizing everything Corben and I will need once I go in the hospital, and getting the house in order. The list just keeps going! I feel like it's taking forever to get here but yet coming so fast at the same time!

Spilling the beans. Are you ready?

All right, I'm going to share our name pick...

I've had plenty of time since all the baby naming drama, so I'm ready to spill the beans.

Here it is ... drum roll please...

Devland (or Devlend) Cruz Gammon

I like Devlen better but Chad is insisting on having the "d" on the end. So I'm warming to it. It means "fierce courage" and is very Irish, which is one of the reasons why I love it. We really like it and feel like it is sophisticated and different but not crazy different.

It fits us :)

Dirty Hippie Is BACK!

I hung out with a long time friend today and it got my wheels turning about a lot of different subjects. I've been having some writer's block lately but I got some fuel to my fire today and am going to jump into some really interesting conversations.

The first one I love, because it validates my skepticism and who doesn't like to be validated? :) As I've talked about many times before... the more I learn, the more skeptical I am about my food, what I put in and on my body etc.

Which brings me to my next point... Jet fuel in my baby's formula. Don't know if any of you have heard about this but, to be honest, it didn't surprise me a ton. Here is the link to an article about it http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/16363 and you might have seen it on the news etc.

The rocket fuel component, perchlorate, has been found in baby formulas. The EPA knew it was there but didn't think it was at a level high enough that would harm infants. Well guess what? They forgot to think about the fact that formula... gets mixed with water which has also been found to have percholorate in it. So the combination can make it to toxic levels. OOPS! Oops and my infant aren't two words I want in the same sentence.

I have been repeatedly shown that natural, in most every area of life, is the way to go... You can't rely on other people to make sure that what you eat and use is of good quality and safe. It's been proven time and time again that the FDA isn't really doing much for us. It's time for society to be more RESPONSIBLE. I know that is a dirty word and most everyone just wants to do what's easy and convenient for them so that they don't have to use their brains. But we are reaping the consequences because of that line of thinking ... or not thinking :).

So call me a dirty hippie if you want... but it's not looking quite so dirty anymore.

Have you made someone's day lately?

It's amazing how someone can bless you so much within just a few short minutes of knowing them. Corben and I stopped by a yard sale on our way home this morning and while I was sorting through clothes Corben made friends with the woman having the yard sale's little boy. He was a little older than Corben but so sweet and couldn't wait to show Corben how things worked and what to play with next. I talked with the mom while sorting through clothes and she commented on how beautiful Corben is. What mom doesn't love that? Her daughter even held him in her lap and played with him a few minutes. He was having so much fun. I hated to have to leave.

I noticed on the way in that there was a box of A Beka curriculum for kindergarten that didn't have a price on it. So I asked her about it and she took me over and told me about it and asked if I wanted to homeschool and my response is that I want too :). Same response I gave to breastfeeding and having natural childbirth... I want to. I've never experienced it or tried it... but I want to. She told me I could have it! Really? I thanked her many times over and payed her for the baby clothes I picked up. Then I had to sadly pick Corben up and take him to the car. He was so heartbroken and cried the whole way to the car. He was enjoying himself so much and they were such a sweet family. It was only a few minutes of interaction but it made my day. I was blessed.

I did feel bad for Corben though. It just reiterates the fact that Corben does not get enough socialization. He loves being around other kids. He'll mostly just watch them, but he loves it. I feel so awful every time I think about it. It's hard for me to really play with him these days, now that I am getting bigger. Keeping a boy occupied requires a lot of roughhousing, flips and chasing :). And I just don't have it in me much. Poor guy. So later today I took him to a park with a special toddler playground to make it up to him. And of course I over did it. My back hurts from putting Corben on top of the slide over and over and I am exhausted... but Corben had a good time and got to watch other kids run and play and even go up and stare at a few toddler aged friends :). And I got to see some other moms too.


It was a good day... I'm going to go lie down now! :)

Drama & Smiles

Just when I think things are going smoothly somebody goes and acts like an idiot. Why? Why can't things just flow smoothly? Wouldn't that be interesting if God gave us some "no idiot" dust that we could sprinkle on people when they need a good turn around? Okay I know we couldn't do that all the time... but maybe just a few sprinkles that we could use at strategic times in our lifetime. Unfortunately we can't live peoples lives for them... even when we really, really, really want too.

One can dream I guess...

Life will never be perfect or stress free so we just have to focus on those little things that make us smile. That's why I love the verse Job 8:21 - God promises that he will give us something to smile about everyday. What an awesome promise. Some days I see those loud and clear and some days I feel like I need to remind God "Okay God you said you will give me something to smile about, I really need that right now." It never fails...

My something to smile about today was playing on the floor with Corben and he decided he wanted to lay beside mommy and rest too. He kicked his little feet in front of me and looked up at the TV. I couldn't help but smile at those little toes and feet... that used to be so tiny and now are growing strong and keeping mommy chasing after them everyday. I'm so blessed to be a mom... who couldn't smile at that?

Okay now I'm ready to have this baby!

Woohoo!

We have a name! It's a miracle!

I think we have finally figured out our process. So if we decide to have more kids we'll know what to do. Chad ended up sitting down with the baby name book for hours, yes hours, pouring over every name and making a list that he was comfortable with. It was nice to see him put so much effort into it. Since it's mostly been me pouring over websites and books every free second I get for months now. I think just spouting out names doesn't really let him get a real sense of the name so he just tends to say no to most of them.

Which of course makes me feel like he just shoots down everything I like. The funny thing is, some of the ones he chose were ones I had mentioned before. He just needed his own time to sit down and process them.

Men are so odd and I'm sure I'll spend the rest of my life trying to figure them out. But that's okay, I think we get each other once we really take the time to understand how the other person works.

I'm so glad this is over. It was really affecting how I felt about the new baby. All I was getting was negative responses from everyone - at least it felt that way. So it doesn't make you too happy especially when you are hormonal anyway.

So with that said, I am going to pray about whether or not I want to share the name we picked out. I'm really excited to share, but more than anything I want to be excited about my baby and not let anything get in the way of that.

I don't think most people quite understand how much naming means to me. I have loved names all of my life. Even when I was younger I had a baby name book (which freaked my parents out a little bit) but I was always fascinated by name meanings and origins. It was just fun. Names are so important, its one of the first gifts you will give your child and you want it to be perfect, from your heart and a reflection of both parents.

So for right now we are still telling people we are naming him Beauregard (ha ha).

I'm back! A quick synopsis.

I know I've been a little slack lately about posting... so here I am trying to get back on track.

I feel like I've been pulled in all directions lately but am hoping it will slow down soon. It should since I decided to finally let go of my usual gig at the Vineyard. I will still be taking on projects, just totally on my schedule which is what I need right now. My time is not my own with chasing Corben around and trying to take care of the baby in my tummy too.

God finally got me to a place where I was ready to go. It would have been even harder for me otherwise. But I'm ready. It is time.

So much has happened lately...
Corben is now settled into a big boy bunk bed which he transitioned to with such ease at 15 months! I was so surprised at how well he did. He's such a big boy now (insert sniffle here). When we transitioned Corben, we totally redid his room with IKEA kids stuff, I'll have to post some pics soon. It's so cute and so functional. We will be able to fit both boys in one room with no problem.

Pregnancy is going wonderful. I am just so tired all the time and with all the stress I have been under trying to tie up some projects and tell my boss that I'm leaving... I've felt it even more lately.

We still have yet to decide on a baby name... so if anyone has any suggestions, please throw them our way. Or I think we will just name him Bob or something. For those of you grueling over baby names like I am, I found this awesome website that really helps you narrow it down. It looks up names based on names that you input that you like. I don't know how many times I come up with a few names that are along the lines of what I want but not quite. So instead going through lists and lists of names, it narrows down the choices based on the types of names you already like. Check it out... I can't get enough of it www.nymbler.com.

That's all for now. I promise I'll be back soon.

The Cadillac of Strollers

I have had so many posts rolling around in my brain lately. I finally have a chance to sit down and write one! My parents went up to the IKEA Charlotte with us yesterday to pick up a bunk bed for Corben. We had a lot of fun and my mom was in heaven. She loves decorating/interior design.

We were all in the cafe, eating some scrumptious IKEA food when I saw a women put her small newborn in the lower portion of a jogging stroller. I was looking from the front so I couldn't see everything but my first instinct was alarm. You aren't supposed to put little babies in the bottom of that! When she wheeled by I couldn't help but inspect more.

There was a little napper area in the back of the stroller. Her 2 year old was strapped in front and her newborn was cozily snuggled in the napper in the back/bottom. I was immediately in awe of this stroller.

Later we passed by her and I asked her about the stroller. She said it was wonderful, especially if you have your kids close together (her two were 20 months apart). Corben will be about 21 months when our new little one is born. She said it was pretty expensive but her mother-in-law bought it for them and she couldn't be more grateful.

I knew as soon as I got home I would be looking up the specs on a Phil & Ted's stroller. I have been checking out lots of double strollers lately, especially ones that accommodate an infant and a toddler. Most of these stroller weigh anywhere from 35 to 50 pounds. Can you imagine lugging that thing in and out of your car! 50 pounds!!

This stroller is only 24 pounds and is about the footprint of a regular full size single stroller. I'm in love. I don't know if I could see myself spending between $500 and $700 dollars on a stroller. OUCH!

But with as much as I take Corben for walks and like to get out of the house. It may be worth it. I'll be daydreaming about this one for a while...

Drum Roll Please......

Alright everybody! I know you are dying to know the news...

Surprise! It's a B-O-Y!

I think he fooled almost everybody! Chad was a little disappointed we weren't having a girl, especially since he "knew" we were having a girl. Now we just have to figure out a name!

So the one person who voted that it would be a boy... you were so right!

I'll post some sonogram pics as soon as I can. Two boys, wow.

Come on out and vote!

Only a few hours left! Make sure you get out and vote... for my baby that is :) Don't forget to take the poll on the right to predict what we are having!

I'm really nervous actually.

We really don't know how many children we plan to have and are just kind of seeing when our family feels "complete." But who knows... this could be it. We may feel complete after two. What if this is the last time we find out what we are having? Just kind of crazy to think about!

Handmade Baby

photo provided by: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10872832

I've really been wanting to make some toys for the two little ones in my life. I think it's a great way to #1 know where the toys are coming from and what they are made of and #2 have a family heirloom that maybe they will save for their little ones someday.

I have all the tools and skills to do it. I just need to get on the ball! Here is a great website with tutorials and ideas that you can use to make your own toys/dolls. A lot of them are very simple and you don't have to be "super-crafty" to do it.

makebabystuff.com

If you look around you can find lots of cute things to make for baby like clothes and nursery decor.

I know not everyone feels this way but I think something handmade is a million times more special than getting something from a store. Especially in this day in age. Time is so finite and people are rushing about all the time. To know that someone stopped their busy schedule to make you something is just amazing! I love it!

Speaking of... go support handmade stuff! Find something cool on etsy.com for yourself or a friend.

Preggo update week 14

Hello All,
I just had my second appointment and the last of my first trimester. Everything is looking great. All the blood work they did came back fine but they did one more test today to check my thyroid since I had heart palpitations with the last pregnancy. I'm curious to see what will come back from that. Overall I am feeling much better and more motivated to get off the couch, which is a major improvement.

So the big ultrasound is my next visit April 7, so we'll see what happens. What do you guys think? Boy or Girl?

These are the tentative names we have so far. The boy name is majorly up for debate.

Genevieve Elise Gammon
Maximus Alan Gammon

I think I would be happy if the first name and middle name were switched with the boys name. I'll have to suggest that to Chad. Maximus just seems a little over the top for a first name. We would call him Max... but still.

I love baby names. One of my favorite blogs "How About Orange" featured this website today http://www.whatalovelyname.com I didn't find it extremely helpful but it was fun nonetheless.

Thoughts anyone?

Baby Walking

Well, I guess it's official Corben is walking!

He took his first steps about a week after turning one but it has been a process since then. He is a very careful child and likes to feel things out before he jumps into them. Case in point: His birthday cake. He touched the icing and tasted it ... then tasted a little more. I had to stick my finger in and show him the cake in hopes that that would get him going. But he was methodical... a little bit here and there until towards the end he was starting to get into it but he still didn't get really messy. He takes his time... he figures it out and eventually gets there.

So he has been "walking" for a while. Taking a step or two on his own and then walking along the couch then walking between two objects and now he is getting up and walking pretty regular. And he has figured out that he can carry things with him! He loves this! It's the best thing since sliced bread.

I guess I just expected him to do what everyone else said he would do. I would be asked if he was walking yet and I would say "Well he takes a few steps on his own" and they would reply "OH! just wait next week he'll be running around the house." Well that didn't happen. Walking was a few months in the making but that's just Corben. And I love that.

Preggo Update

I haven't really said much about the upcoming new arrival so I thought I would do a little "preggo update." So far its been mostly nausea setting in. I feel tired but don't have time to be tired because I'm chasing a one year old around. It's a whole new definition of tired! I'm craving stuff but I don't know if it's just because I'm hungry more often or what? Graham crackers are definitely my friend!

Oh the diaper changes! I just know I'm going to hurl this pregnancy... not because it's nausea I can't control necessarily. It's the nausea and changing a disgusting diaper at the same time. NOT FUN AT ALL! Oh and on top of that...Daddy made changing time play time so now everytime Corben is on the changing table he kicks his legs wildly and laughs... so it makes it very hard to change a diaper!!! Thanks daddy! But I love you anyway!

Ugh I don't like disciplining. I know what my parents meant when I would get a spanking and they would say they are doing it because they love me. It would be so easy to just let my kid do whatever the heck he wants - like jump wildly off the changing table or pull out all the dvd's and crawl all over them ... sigh. Parenting is a lot of work and discipline!! More for you than for them! It's hard to be consistent every single time. You find yourself saying things too many times "Corben... no touch" as he takes his hand away... looks at me and then goes in to touch again.... I just want to say "no touch" again but I know I need get up off the couch and discipline or "train". It's just so easy to say ... don't make me tell you again... you heard what I said... don't do it again... one more time and I'm gonna.... It's just laziness, PARENT!! You are a parent... be one!! Sorry...little tangent there. Aren't there just times you wish you could just stop people in there tracks and give them a good shake... or kick in the rear? :) Love... can't you tell I'm in a loving mood?!

Okay I'm done with all my rabbit trails. Pregnancy is going great. I'm going to call the midwife first thing next week and make my first appointment.

Good God, Good Doctor, Good All Around.

I had my first interview with a pediatrician. I never got around to doing interviews before Corben because ... let's see.. I was working full time, OBGYN visits, lamaze classes etc. So it just didn't happen. I'm kind of glad I did it now after I've been a mom for a year, I feel like I know more of what to ask, what my practical concerns are...

Of course the doctor started off with the normal spiel about how the office is run. What appointments will be like, how long, and that I can call him anytime etc. Then asked if I had any questions. I was very upfront about my main concern which was in general his medical philosophy on the big issues like breastfeeding, vaccines, when to start solid foods, and am I going to be asked to come in every time I have a question about something or does he promote trying to take care of issues at home.

I was very impressed with his answers and he seemed very down to earth and sensible. That's all I wanted! He admitted that vaccine concerns are valid and any type of intervention has possible side effects. He had a child die from Amoxicillin. It's very rare but it happens. Thank you! Finally someone that admits that there should be caution with anything we give our children. I'm not crazy! Okay maybe a little :) He said that usually the way he handles it when parents don't want any, is that he suggests some that he thinks are very necessary and then there are some that aren't as necessary. In hopes that they would at least try the more pressing ones. He said he's perfectly fine with a modified schedule and for the past seven years he decided to not give the MMR until after two because of all the concerns from parents about autism. He doesn't personally believe that there is a correlation but that's what he decided to do in his practice. He actually cares about what the parents are concerned about? Enough to change how he gives vaccines... against the suggested schedule??? I totally expected to be disappointed to tell you the truth. I searched for pediatricians in the area and many of them had strong opinions about it on their websites. So I knew I should not even try with those practices.

We discussed his experience and training with breastfeeding moms and babies and when to start solids etc. And I was upfront with my view on going to see doctors - of course I want your opinion but there are going to be those times when I feel like I should go with my motherly instincts. He said "a lot of mom's come in with lots of questions and I'll go through each one with them and make suggestions and give my medical opinion and if you want to try another way then I just note that on the chart and it's no big deal."

The biggest issue was for me to feel like I can have an open conversation with my son's doctor. If I can't then I know my son isn't going to get the best medical care. And I do feel like I can talk to this doctor. He was reasonable and approachable.

That's all I wanted and I got it with the first doctor I interviewed. God is so good. Now I don't have to worry about where Corben will get medical care and if I will have to fight my doctor every visit or feel like a crazy person just because I want to do something different.

Peace. God takes care of us every step of the way.

So we'll probably have our 18 month check up with the new doctor and then shortly after we'll have well baby checkups with the new addition.

I could not be happier and the best part is he is right around the corner. I could walk to the practice if I wanted to. How nice is that? If there is ever a major concern and I need to bring Corben in I won't have to go far.

.. Did I mention that God is good?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everybody!

Here is my unofficial Christmas Letter...

Well, it's been a wonderful, crazy, joyous year. We brought home our new baby boy last year right before Christmas and have been enjoying his sweet spirit and contagious laugh ever since. My family started a Home Inspection business in January and we are still plugging away at laying the foundation and getting our name out there. Since then we have been working hard to learn how to be good parents and to change our family tree (as Dave Ramsey would put it). Recently Chad got on a Peachmac and was promoted to Assistant Manager soon after. I have been continuing to work with the Vineyard and several other companies in the area while at home raising our son.

I love my job as a mom and graphic designer. But I think mom takes the cake hands down. Corben's smile is all it takes to make my day better. God is so good to have entrusted us with such a wonderful little person. It was a rough start with Corben's sensitive stomach and possible colic but we made it through and it was all worth it.

We moved into our new house just over a month ago and are in love with it. There is plenty of space for Corben to play and we don't feel like we are all on top of each other! Corben is wanting to walk but hasn't quite gotten the guts up to take those first independent steps yet. Which I'm okay with.... I want him to be a baby as long as possible. I know that might be a little selfish but he can take his time. No rush :)

Today was an abundance of emotions. I am so exhausted, elated, and anxious with anticipation for the new year. We had wonderful news this morning that I wrapped and put under the tree for Chad. A pregnancy test that was positive :) We are very excited. It's a little sooner than we had planned but we are both very happy. On this day especially we see what joy a baby can bring to a family and to the world. So merry Christmas everybody! Surprise!