Olivia's birth story part 1

Today I am sharing the first part of Olivia's birth story.  This post tells about the few appointments and the day before Olivia's birth.  This post is mainly for my memory so it may be long winded.  Hope you enjoy if you decide to read!



My 2 monkeys love to leave me surprise pictures on my phone. lol I don't mind it when they turn out cute like this!

On November 28, I had a normal routine weekly check-up.  I was not effaced at all but I was 2 cm dialated, and my cervix was soft.  During my appointment, my dr asked if I wanted to be induced or wait until my due date to see if I would go into labor.  Since Olivia had a 2 vessel umbilical cord, my dr wasn't going to let me go past my due date.  I was so ready to get this pregnancy over with so I told her I was fine with scheduling an induction.  I left the apt really hoping my body would naturally go into labor since I wasn't looking forward to being induced.  I had been given the inducing medicene with Jonah to speed up my delivery since my body wasn't moving fast enough and I remember that pain.  I do not do well with pain so I wasn't looking forward to being induced at all but was ready to meet our sweet girl. Plus I had some friends tell me they had awful experiences with their inductions so I had mixed feelings about the whole thing.

 

3 days before my induction.  Jonah wanted a belly like mine.  I look awful since I'm still in my pjs...and not even cute ones.....but I am so thankful for this memory. :)

My hopes of my body going into labor on its own didn't happen.  Olivia wouldn't make her entrance into this world for almost 2 more weeks.  I went about my normal schedule but tried to walk more which wasn't a problem since I was nesting and trying to make sure I had everything ready plus I have 2 very active little boys.  I got our hospital bag packed and made sure the carseat and carseat base were all together ready to go.   My parents were both coming up to stay with the boys which was very exciting since my Dad hadn't been able to come up when Jonah and Tucker were born. We were all just on pins and needle waiting! I was super ready to meet my little Olivia which didn't help the time pass any quicker. 

This was the night before I was induced.  We were all waiting patiently for Grandma & Pop to get here.  Tucker tried his hardest to hold on but passed out. 

At my next weekly apt, DecemberI was between 2-3 cm and 40% effaced which was some improvement but not what I wanted to hear since I had been having contractions on and off a few days.  Dr. Kieth went ahead and checked her schedule for the next week since I was having an induction.  We set up the induction for the following Tuesday. I also set up my last pregnancy apt for the following Monday where they would do one last ultrasound to check baby girl again.   I was told to rest when really sore but try to walk and keep active to speed up the process.  I was still hoping my water would break like it did with Tucker but alas it didn't. 

This was the Saturday before my indcuction the following Tuesday.  We got season passes for the Greenville Zoo for Christmas (Thank you Mom and Dad!) so we took the boys since it was beautiful day.  It was our last family fun day of 4! We all had a blast and I was secretly hoping all the walking would bring Olivia but it didn't!

My last appointment, December 10, I went in very hopeful since I knew I would be having Olivia the next day.  We went to the ultrasound room and started checking Olivia.  The ultrasound tech checked everything but seemed to really be focusing on Olivia's chest.  She told me she wasn't seeing Olivia practice breathing like she should.  I had to adjust to lay on my side and she checked again.  Still didn't see it.  I adjusted to the other side.....still didn't see it.  I was given a small cup of water to drink but still nothing.  By this time I was getting very nervous but I knew God had Olivia in his hands so I was resting in that fact.  I hadn't eaten in a few hours so they told me to run and get some lunch and come right back.
 My Dr came in and told me if they didn't see her practice breath I would have to be admitted to the hospital for observation and then they would start the induction in the morning like planned as long as nothing changed.  I prayed as I walked out and left all my anxieties in God's hands since I knew he was in control anyways.  I was trying not to think about who would watch our boys since my parents wouldn't be here until late that evening.  My mother in law was watching them while I was at my appointment but I didn't know what she had planned the rest of the day.  I grabbed a burger then raced back to get another ultrasound.  Thankfully Olivia did right what she was supposed to do and everything else looked great. 

Boys and I enjoyed lots of time playing soaking up our last days without Olivia.  We tried our best to really just rest and enjoy each others company.

The rest of the day was spent cleaning and making sure things were ready for the next few days.  We were all SOOOOO EXCITED  to meet out new little addition.  I prayed a great deal that day for the induction and delivery coming the next day.  I knew God was in control and I tried to push aside my anxious feelings.  We enjoyed playing simple things at home since I was so huge and tired most of the time.  I was super ready to meet Olivia but was also very nervous as to how I was going to handle 3 littles 5 years and under. 

My parents got here around 10 pm that night.  The boys both tried theirbest to stay awake to see them but only Jonah succeeded.  We all got to bed around midnight. I slept pretty well considering I was so huge.  I had instructions to call the labor and delivery ward at the hospital at 5:45 a.m. so they could tell me when to come in. 

Part 2 coming soon..................

 

Painting cookies

I now feel like I am finally coming out of the new baby phase.......baby girl will be 4 months the 11th and is now sleeping between 8-12 hours....HALLELUAH!!!! Now if I could just get her brother's to cooperate this Momma would be completely refreshed but alas I doubt that will happen for awhile.  During these past few months, I have done a few small crafts mostly for Olivia's room (blogpost coming soon on her room) but have no desire to do anything else. 



My sweet Olivia.  Love those smiles!

Since I am feeling more normal, I have been dying to get back to crafting.  My oldest son, Jonah, would draw, paint, or do anything crafty all day long if i let him.  My youngest son, Tucker, will do it for a few minutes and he's done.  It may be because he is only 2 1/2 but he would rather tear the paper off of crayons than draw with them. Jonah also loves to help me bake/cook in the kitchen so I try to think of fun stuff we can make together.  I honestly don't let him help me as much as i should in the kitchen because I already have so much to clean but I need to.  I want my boys to have a love for cooking like my husband.  I love that husband loves to cook for us and he is amazing at it. 



Jonah and Tucker.  They drew mustaches on themselves with markers.  Ugh at last it was just on their faces!!!

I had this craving for a frosted sugar cookie last week and went ahead and baked some.  I wanted to do something Easter themed as well so I dyed the frosting with the only colors I had...yellow, blue, and green.  I used the Firecracker cookie recipe from the Martha Stewart Living magazine.  I found the recipe here: http://redcouchrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/06/furecracker-cookies.html and used this recipe for the royal icing:  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Glossy-Royal-Icing/Detail.aspx.  I only made half of each but wish I would have made more! While I was baking the cookies, I was trying to figure out how the boys could decorate them without too much of a huge mess.  They have a little frosting decorating kit with a few piping bags and tips but I really wasn't sure where it was so I thought what about using paint brushes and painting them.  It worked great!!

All you need is a few never used or really clean paint brushes, frosting....divided into your colors if desired, and your cookies.  I would also suggest some coverings on your table like a paper towel, wax paper, or a plate.  I sat the boys down beside each other and gave them each a cookie on their paper towel.  The paints were right in between them.  I also had a cup of water to rinse the brushes from each brush in between painting.  It's basically just like painting a picture just using food! 

**I apologize for the blurry pictures: I didn't plan on blogging about this and only had my phone available for pictures.**

Jonah with a few of his painted cookies.  He painted all except for one.  He painted each cookie for a different family member. I didn't have the heart to tell him we wouldn't be seeing any of them before the cookies were gone.  He was so proud of his work!

All the finished cookies.   A few of them looked like the earth with the blue and green. I loved how Jonah did them.  We had more to paint but Tucker kept eating them. :)

I love watching Tucker concentrate on his work.  He gets so focused he doesn't have a clue what's going on around him.  But since he's 2 it doesn't last long.  The cookie in this picture was the only cookie he actually painted.  He ate a few but that was enough painting for him.

 

After the cookies were painted, I just let them dry then we enjoyed them.  This was such a simple and not too messy edible craft/activity that we will definitely be doing it again.  I didn't get a chance to paint any but want to try it the next time we do it! 

 

Let me know if you try it and like it! It really is fun and easy. Have a blessed night!

 

I am linking up to: 

 

I'm back and a little introduction of Miss Priss....

I'm back!!!! After 5 months, finally starting to feel normal and halfway on top of things.  I tried to prepare myself for the craziness of having 3 kids 5 yrs and under, 2 of them being boys. but as you can all imagine, I failed miserably! lol There is no way to prepare yourself fully for children let alone more than one.  But I can honestly say through all the crazy times, I am happy! I may not love all the cleaning and noise and drama of my children but I am SO BLESSED to be their Momma! I do not take this job lightly and I strive to make myself the best I can be even though somedays thats just being in my pjs all day and feeding them peanut butter sandwiches and cereal. 

 

So now that I am done rambling about my life, I would like to introduce the newest addition to our little Pressley family:

 

 

 

Meet Olivia Michelle Pressley! She is truly the sweetest little thing and the easiest baby ever.  She joined our family on December 11 and it has been so great watching her grow and watching our family love on her.  She is truly the perfect addition to our family.

 

Here are a few pictures and facts from the past few months:

1 day old.  Slept pretty much the entire time we were at the hospital.  I just love her sweet little, long wrinkly feet.  Her little toes almost bend all the way over to the bottom of her foot.

2 days old.  Headed to the dr to check her birth weight.

 

Born December 11, 2012

7lbs 7 oz, 21 inches long

Dark brown hair and dark blue eyes.  She was a good sleeper from the start! Didn't eat much while we were in the hospital but once we got home started eating every 3 hours on the dot.  She has loved being on a schedule from the start.   

 

Olivia on her first Christmas! She was a little shy of 2 weeks old.  We had a nice quiet Christmas at our house this year....first one where we hadn't gone to Summerville with my family since we were married.  We celebrated with Jeremy's Mom and Step-dad's family on Christmas eve with lots of family.  Olivia was passed around like crazy but handled it like a pro. 

 

Olivia's first little photo shoot with me.  lol She did great and slept almost the whole shoot which worked out good.

A week old.  Love those newborn stretches!



A little over a week old.  I just sit and stare at her when I can.  Seriously, who wouldn't????

 

These two are such friends already.  Jonah takes his role as big brother and protector very seriously toward Olivia.  He can make her stop crying when I can't.  He has been the best big brother.  I can just feel the love when he looks at her.  Melts my Momma heart. :)  Tucker on the other hand completely ignores her.  lol Bless his heart.

 

 

One month old.  10.2 lbs and 22 inches long.  Growing great.  She is still such an easy baby.  As long as she is fed and changed, she is usually quiet.  She does spit up a bit but nothing major.  Still very scheduled but we like it that way. :)  Drinks 4 ounces every 3-4 hours. 

 

Sweet, sweet smiles at Grandma

My 3 monkeys

2nd photo shoot.  This is the onesie I made her a few months ago.

Mommy had to sneak in :)

2 months old.  13.15 lbs, 23 inches long.  Started seeing some sweet, sweet smiles! Discovered she has a dimple on her right cheek.  Still an amazing baby.  We got her room set up and she LOVES her crib.  Likes to put herself to sleep if she lasts past drinking her bottle.  Starting sleeping a few 5 hour stretches.

 

1st Easter! We went to church on Friday night and it was awesome.  We celebrated on Sunday at our house with Jeremy's brother's family and his Dad.  Enjoyed a wonderful smoked ham and an egg hunt with our cousins. 

Me and my girl.  Love all the big headbands and bows she gets to wear!

Sweetest little sister.  Love her little arm rolls....she has leg rolls too.  :)

Blurry but caught a smile. Playing at Nona and Poppa's.

March 11: 3 months old.  I am guessing she weights about 15 lbs.  Still an amazing easy baby.  Usually happy as long as she's fed and clean.  I started using cloth diapers on her an she's doing great with them.  Also she is sleeping between 8-12 hours a night depending on what's going on that day.  She is still very strict to her schedule and likes to be in bed between 7-8 pm.  She has been drinking almost 6 ounces about every 4-5 hours now.  Such a happy girl! Blows bubbles with her lips now.....so cute.  She also loves to be talked to and craves attention.

 

Well that's all for now! Hopefully I can get back to posting on a semi-regular basis at least once a month.  I will be posting her birth story soon so look for that. 

 

Hope you are all having a blessed day!!!

 

 

Recent Projects 2

So I started this post over a month ago.  Being 34 weeks pregnant with  my third baby, trying to keep up with 2 very active little boys, cooking, cleaning, crafting, making Christmas gifts, getting ready for baby girls arrival in a few weeks, trying to be a great wife, and somedays just trying to survive have been taking up my days.  Top all that off with not feeling the greatest all the time and you have one exhausted Momma.  I do not mean for this to come off as complaining.  I am super thankful for all God has blessed me with for I know it can all be taken away in an instant but responsibility comes with work.  Not all bad work but work none the less.

 

Anyways, I wanted to share some projects I have been working on.  Hopefully one day I will have time to sit down and actually do some tutorial posts for some things but for now pictures of my completed projects will have to do.  I have a list of things I want to get done before Olivia arives and I am almost done.  Here's a photo of my list with things marked out that are completed:

This picture was taken a month ago.  I have since completed the diaper bag and crib comforter.  A few things got marked off since I found them in thrift stores or I had them given to us from friends. 

 

Here's the completed items for Olivia:

 

 

Portable changing mat.  Top picture is folded.  Bottom is unfolded.  One side is a terry cloth towel and the other is decorative cotton fabric.  I saw one like this online, can't remember where, and like the towel backing for easy cleanup. The strap has velcro for easy closing to store in the diaper bag.

Terry cloth towel:  $1 from the Dollar Tree

Decorative fabric: 1/8 of a queen sized bed sheet about $0.75

Velcro: Already in my stash

Total: roughly $1.75

Stretchy monogrammed blanket.  It is just 2 yards of fabric cut in half and sewed together.  The fabric is a jersey cotton knit that is stretchy but since I did it in two layers it is not that stretchy.  I found the fabric on the clearance rack at my local Wal-mart.  I used a loose zigzag stitch to sew around the letters.  I love how it turned out.

Leopard jersey fabric: $3 for 2 yards

Pink material for letters: Already in my stash

Total:  $3

Little tanktop dress.  This is a size 3-6 month so I will need to put a long sleeve onesie and tights under it.  It turned out really cute and I can't wait to see her in it!

3-6 month tank top:  out of 3 pack of tanks I bought and made for a gift. About $0.83.

Purple skirt material, O material, Purple ribbon: Out of my stash

Total: Roughly $0.83

Hair clips.  I whipped these up in less than 10 minutes using materials I already had.  I bought a white stretchy headband and little pink bow from a local crafter over the weekend and was inspired to make more clips for the headband.  I love how all of these turned out and can't wait to make more!

Total: FREE

Winter carseat cover.  Outside is the same material used in the portable changing mat.  Inside is a soft white fleece to keep Olivia warm when walking to and from the car or on trips outside.  It can also be used as a plain blanket.

Fleece material and velcro on straps: out of my stash

Decorative material: 1/4 of a queen sized bedsheet, about $1.00

Total: Roughly $1.00

 

Going home outfit.  I saw something like this in an Etsy shop but didn't want to pay $35 for it plus I knew I could make it with a onesie I already had.  I am planing on making her a hairclip to go with it.  I may add a pink ribbon around the waist but not sure yet.

Onesie: already in my stash

Decorative skirt material:  Material remnant from Hobby Lobby, $1.50

Total: $1.50

 

Little sister onesie.  I am loving how this turned out!  This was another onesie I already had.  Also used the queen sized bedsheet for this one. I like to use every piece of fabric I buy. :)  I sewed the polka dotted material on but used permant Heat Bond for the letters and little flowers.  The letters came out smaller than I anticipated so I was too nervous to sew around it.  I need to figure out what to pair with this to make an outfit. 

Onesie and all materials were in my stash: FREE!

 

Two different taggie blankets....O shaped and a square shaped patchwork one.  These didn't turn out perfect but I know she won't care and I will know I made them with love.  I love the patchwork one the best.  Can you tell I'm enjoying using pink material?!

All materials were in my stash:  FREE!

 

Cloth diapers.  Top are regular sized.  In the bottom picture, are newborn diapers.  I tried a new newborn pattern and didn't like it so I went back to my old pattern.  I used recieving blankets from the thrift store and a pillowcase to make the diapers in the top picture.  The diapers in the bottom picture were made out of 4 tshirts. 

2 tie-dyed tshirts: $2, Goodwill

2 striped shirts: FREE from my MIL

9 recieving blankets & a pillowcase: about $6,  Miracle Hill thrift store

Elastic for leg parts: already in my stash

Total for 17 diapers: about $8

 

This is a quick baby sling I made.  This was really simple to make.  I didn't read the instructions well before I bought the material so I was able to make 2.  I am not sure if I will like this kind of sling but a friend of mine is letting me use her Moby wrap.  This material was also on the discounted racks at Walmart.

Total:  $3 for 2 slings

 2 pretty bibs.  The backs have terry cloth for easy clean-ups.  I love how these turned out and used all materials I had on hand.

Total: FREE

 

Olivia's diaper bag.  I have used the same diaper bag with both my boys and loved the way its made.  It is a Vera Wang that I got from a consignment sale really cheap and it has served its purpose well.  As much as I love it, it is very stained now and it is green and blue.  I saw some cute ones on Pinterest but nothing I truly thought I would love so I had this thought of trying to make one just like the one I used with the boys.  I am super impressed with myself on how it turned out especially since the whole thing was made completely from scratch using just my brain. :) It has 3 outside pockets on one side and one big pocket on the inside.  This was my first time sewing with batting and sewing on a zipper but they turned out great.  The material was another discount find at Wal-mart....2 yards for $4.  I didn't use the whole two yards.  The zipper was from my stash. 

Total cost: about $3.50

Front of Olivia's crib comforter/quilt.  I LOVE how this turned out.  I wanted her room to be very colorful and girly but not just all baby pinks.  Below is a picture if how it looks against the crib bumper that a friend passed down to us...which I love too!

 

 

The bumper has small purple, pink, and light green flowers on it.  I was going to make her bumper but when my friend showed me this one that she was getting rid of I absolutely loved it.  I wasn't sure about what to do for her blanket and crib sheet.  I was browsing some of my favorite blogs and came across a quilt that one of the ladies made for her new baby that will be here any day now.  Once I saw that I knew that is what I wanted.  So I raided my stash and went at it.  I did have to buy batting but used a coupon at Hobby Lobby so it wasn't bad at all.

Total cost:  $3 for batting

 

 

I had a few pieces of the rectangles I cut for the quilt left and wanted to do something with them.  I had seen this idea for embroidery hoop art using fabric and really like the idea so I decided to do that. 

Total cost: $4.56

 

 

--I haven't forgotten my boys in all this fun baby girl stuff. :)  Here's a few things I have made for them:

 

Big brother shirts for both boys.  I wanted the embroidery on these to be kinda rough and I really like how these turned out.  The number part I added at the last minute but I just think its too cute. 

Total cost: Free.  Used all materials that were in my stash.

 

Tucker's new bag for church.  I am hoping to have him potty trained in the next few weeks but I don't know if that is gonna happen with the way I have been feeling.  We'll see.  It would be nice to not have two kids in diapers at one time.  Anyways, I wanted to make him a new bag for his church class since the diaper bag I use is pretty big.  I made it just big enough for a few diapers, wipes case, and a sippy cup.  He loves it and can't wait to go to church even more now!

Total cost: FREE using materials already on hand.

 

Jonah's birthday shirt.  I whipped this together the morning of his party! We were out of town that week visiting my parents until the day before and I honestly forgot to make it before we left.  Once we got back I wasn't going to worry about it but I found this plain shirt in his dresser and made this in less than 5 minutes.

Total cost: FREE

 

--I also made a few things as gifts for some friends.  Here they are in no certain order:

 

2 bibs, a paci clip, and portable diaper changing pad.  I made this for a friend's new baby girl who is due to arrive a week before Olivia.

Total cost: FREE

 

Another portable diaper changing pad, baby blanket, and taggie blanket.  I made this for a good friend and bandmate of my husband whose family just had  little boy. 

Total cost: FREE

 

Little girls art smock.  I made this for a friend's little girl's 2nd birthday.

Total cost: Free

 

 

 

 

 

Reversible apron, fabric basket, pretty washcloths, and fabric coasters.  I made this for a friend and her husband's house warming party.  I wrapped it all up and labeled each one with pretty little gift tags and placed it all in the fabric basket. 

Total cost:  FREE

 

Apron. This was a requested item made for a friend of mine.  She saw one I made for the house warming gift above and really liked it.  I'm not going to include the cost in this one since she paid me for it.

 

Well that is all I have to share for today! I do still have a few projects to finish but nothing major left.  I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend!