MOM LIFE

Lemme tell ya about the mom life thus far....

     First off.. I'm gonna give myself some credit and say that I'm pretty good at this. I guess being the oldest of three girls, I've always had this motherly instinct. Harper is not only my "mini me" with her head full of hair, but she is super alert and active. I love her little button nose and open mouth slobber kisses. SO MUCH.. Like I could eat her! (weird, I know.. but I seriously love her that much)

     Post delivery I felt great. I was back on my feet quicker than I thought I'd be. Of course the jumbo pads and leaky breasts are just a tad annoying, but all part of it. During delivery I tore a little bit and needed 3 small stitches which was fine, but no one warned me about the "pregnancy down there after care". 

     To any new/soon to be moms I recommend you prepare your bathroom with these items: Super absorbency pads (WITH wings), Dermoplast (pain relieving spray) for the burning sensation down there after you pee (that was THE worst). If you are breast feeding, Lanolin cream for chapped nipples, the gel pads from target ( I swear by these!! Heat for 30 sec and put over breasts 5 min before feeding/pumping), nursing pads for leaky nipples, and an easy access nursing bra. Last but not least, lavender oil to relax and soothe you at night before bed.

     My breast feeding experience wasn't what I hoped it would be. I went into this thinking "Ok, I can do this, it cant be that hard"! I feel like the moms of the world today feel SUPER pressured into breast feeding and obviously doing what best for the baby. Harper didn't have a good latch onto my nipple and it was horrible! You guys, I'm not kidding. AWFUL. She felt like a piranha and had such a hard suck. I was ok in the hospital the first two days after she was born, but when I got home it was a whole different story.

 My milk came in and my breast were GI-NORM... I would cry crocodile tears every time it was time to feed. I had to tell myself to push thru the pain and remember that this was the best thing I could do for my baby girl. She fed every 3 hours or so, I would switch from left to right breast and I even had this super great app on my phone that would alert you when it was time to feed. After the first whole week of breast feeding I was still unhappy with the process and I started feeling down on myself.. I pulled myself outta this slump and realized it wasn't worth postpartum feelings because of the pain and frustration. So I sent my mother in law to the store for formula and Waaa-laaahhh happy baby. After her first bottle she slept for a solid 3 hours and was way more content than she had been the last couple days. 

And so it begins...

HOME SWEET HOME

FIRST BATH 

FIRST SMILE

 BLESSED WITH SO MUCH LOVE

Harper's Birth Story

     Oh hayyyyy... Welcome Welcome... I know I am SUPER behind and SO much LIFE has happened since my last post, but this whole "mom thing" doesn't allow for much downtime to sit and write my life story. I'm no Carrie Bradshaw, but I really do enjoy this and I promise to not let so much time pass between posts. (scouts honor) So without further procrastination.... My delivery story 6 weeks too late:

What had happened was...

     My "40 week" appointment was Thursday August 7th .. and I just knew Dr. Ramos was going to say "Well, Ash..Hope you brought your bags, you are ready to go.. lets admit you"!! Instead, he gave me the whole "you look great, lets just wait and let it happen naturally" speech. Tyler was totally on board with waiting and me.. well, I threw a fit and cried when he left the exam room.

     Later that day my group text was blowing up with the "Well, what did he say? Is it go time?" Once I told them the news they all jokingly advised me to eat a greasy pizza or to have sex... Ummm yea.. I was only in the mood for ONE of these.. you guessed it.. bring on the PIZZA!

     Fast forward to 4am Friday morning.. the feeling I had been waiting on for 9 months.. I remember asking everyone, "..But what do contractions feel like"? .. and each response, "When you know you KNOW" .. let's just say I KNEW! I woke up with lower back pain and felt the need to poop standing up.. (I didn't, of course) But laying in bed, on my back was the last thing I wanted to do. 

I got up and did some laps in my bathroom, pacing back and forth taking deep breaths.. I began to feel normal again. Maybe I just needed some water. I went downstairs and both sisters were asleep on the couch (sister slumber party) as soon as they heard me, they popped up and said "WHATS WRONG"?! They could tell I was trying to keep my cool. I did a couple more laps in the kitchen and the contractions started again. I had to sit and felt the need to push.. Ty came downstairs with my bags and said "Ok babe, I called the hospital and I think we should go". I was SO nervous!! 

We made it to Texas Women's Hospital in like 15 min since it was 4:30am and no one was on the road (that was another fear of mine.. being in rush hour traffic while in labor) We parked, they wheeled me up and I had pre-registered so I went straight to a room. All the while the contractions made me just wanna scream and cuss.They lasted about 3 min each and were coming more often. 

This next part, I'm told I am really LUCKY to have experienced without a drop of sweat. 

     I was cozy in my bed, hooked up to the IV. My mom, sisters and mother in law had all got there and were taking turns coming in my room since they only allow 3 people in at a time. Tyler was feeding me ice chips and rubbing my head. The nurse checked my dilation  (when I got to the hospital it was 2cm) and it was at 6cm. The look on her face was surprised as she told me "Ok, you are dilating pretty quickly so don't mind me as I run around frantically to prepare this room for your delivery". She called the anesthesiologist to come for my epidural (which was AWESOME). Within 10 minutes of getting the epidural I was at 10cm. and feelin like a champ! She had me roll over from my side and set up in the stirrups. We did about 3 practice pushes before she said "Lets stop pushing now cause I can see her hair coming out!! (you can imagine the look on my face!!) I'm going to have them notify Dr. Ramos and as soon as he gets here we will have this baby"! Dr. Ramos walked in 5 minuted later and it was showtime.

     I had said from the beginning that I didn't want Tyler "down there watching" He was instructed (by me)  to stay above my knees helping me push probably while I yelled obscene things at him (like they do in the movies, right?!) However, he was so in the moment he said "Babe, this is such a beautiful thing, I cant help but watch" and 5 pushes later our sweet baby girl was out. 

Seriously SO easy! 

Thoughts from my Heart...

     I am absolutely obsessed with blogs and peoples' opinions on things and how they view life.. This specific one touched my heart this morning. I am a lil' emotional as I sit at my work desk for the last time before I start maternity leave next week. I realize that my life is about to change and I will just have to take things day by day. I have been in a place of "In Between" both emotionally and physically. My old self, My new self.. My old Life.. My new life.. trying to balance with one foot in each world. It's exhausting.... Not knowing what the future holds. I know it's going to be beautiful, but geezzzeee I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared outta my mind. I am so thankful and blessed to have a supportive group of friends and family literally waiting on standby for the "event of the year"! (Harper's arrival) Please take the time to read this blog (just click the link) and take it all in.. As women we feel the need to not only have it all together but KEEP it all together! This reminds us that
"It's going to be ok"...

http://www.scissortailsilk.com/2014/07/21/what-you-probably-need-to-hear-the-most-right-now/

37 Weeks

37 Weeks Today: Friday July 24th

"Well, she is running outta room in there! Looks like you are about 3cm dilated and Harper has a strong heartbeat..  Have you noticed or felt anything different? As of now we still just wait until she is ready. Could be any day... Again, make sure you have the car seat properly installed and your bags in the car, ready to go "

-Dr. Ramos

Weighing in at 127 lbs.. and normal blood pressure I still feel energized. My feet are swelling more so at the end of my day and my ring doesn't fit anymore! : (  Ty has been helping me out alot around the house and cooking dinner for me. There is still a ton I wanna do to her nursery, but I have convinced myself not to stress over it because she won't be in there for a while anyways! Hospital bags are packed and ready.. All my cute pjs are washed and ready for when I get home. All her clothes are washed and hung up.. and here we are.. just waiting.
To be continued.....

Maternity Picture Disaster

     Sooo.. I have officially had my first Pregnancy Pity Party and it came at the worst time! Maternity Picture Day! The day, as a photographer, I have been looking forward too! On this day, of course it's pouring rain in my neighborhood and when it finally decides to stop it's 1200 degrees outside and mosquitos are swarming everywhere! So we make a run for it when the sun comes out.

      I had both my outfits planned out, Tyler's pants ironed, Coopers bandanna ready and we were set! 

My very dear high school friend Stephanie was shooting for us (she did our initial pics when I first found out I was pregnant and made our announcement).. She is amazing. She knows my style and understands how I like the lighting and details of the pics. She met us at the location and we were chasing the sun for the perfect rays! 

     15 minutes into it... I felt it.. and it hit me like a ton of bricks.. not to mention the humidity, mosquitos, swollen ankles and boob sweat... I went back to the car, alone.. to change to the next outfit and caught a glimpse of my reflection in the window.. talk about DUNZO... I lost it.. the ugly cry was in full force and there was no stopping it. Which then lead to swollen nose, messed up lashes, puffy cheeks and overall gross face. I just didn't feel pretty or radiant like I wanted to feel. I lost all confidence in myself, therefore it was going to show in the pictures. Steph and Tyler were a ways away and I had to signal to them to "come here" cause I was so choked up.. I couldn't get anything out.. you guys.. I WAS A MESS! Talk about drama queen! Of course Ty runs to me thinking something is "Really Wrong".. I felt so embarrassed, but at the same time my emotions and hormones just got the best of me. 

As always, Steph pulled through and produced some awesome pics I will forever be grateful for. Even though we didn't get the chance for my outfit change, Tyler and I are so happy with how these turned out. As a mom of three Steph knew exactly how I was feeling at the moment and assured me I was beautiful and that she was really happy with the shots she had already taken. We called it quits early and Ty took me and my crybaby pitiful face to Sonic for an ice cream and then home to relax in a bubble bath. 

Cooper LOVE!

With all the baby excitement in the house we have to remember who the first child was... This Kid!

Brownley "COOPER" Clay Holmes 

(Yes, like Bradly Cooper)

He has been our #1! I may be a lil bias, but he IS the smartest, most loving lab in the whole world! Cooper, our English Chocolate Lab,(that's why his head is square) is about 16 months and is so ready to be a big brother. It's funny how dogs can sense a change in routine. Coop always sleeps in HIS bed in OUR room. Lately, when I wake up to find his bed empty he has gone over to Harper's room... 

He normally hasn't been allowed in there while I've been decorating and getting things ready, but when I saw his sweet face looking at me from across the hall the other morning my heart melted! HE KNOWS! He doesn't chew or mess anything up. He simply just wants to be in there. He knows the love and energy that room is about to have!

I wanted to do something special for him so he still gets attention when Harper arrives so I signed him up for Bark Box! It's amazing! It's a monthly box (I'm obsessed with them) that comes in his name and has goodies for him. Simply go to the link www.barkbox.com , select your size dog and how often you'd like to receive the boxes! His first one arrived this week and it was perfect! Even Tyler was impressed! It came with a long jerky chew toy, some organic biscuits, a frozen treat and his favorite a new pool toy to fetch!

We are so in love with him and can't wait to see how he reacts to having Harper around.