Olivia Grace: 1 year old!

So, the day has come and gone.  The day I have dreaded for so long.  The day my baby girl turned 1!  The day that now means she is no longer a baby, but a toddler that is walking and talking and growing up way too fast every day!  However, after the day came, I realized I was totally wrong about this day, and boy am I glad!

I decided on September 9, 2011, the day before Olivia's birthday, that I was going to embrace the day as best I could.  Someone pointed out to me that if we aren't having birthdays, we're dead.  Soooo, I decided I was very blessed to have a happy healthy girl and was going to embrace this as best I could!  We took Olivia to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and she ate blueberry pancakes, and a few bites of everything Aaron and I had on our plates.  She had a great time!

After breakfast we came back home, and while she napped we started setting up for her party.  We had it outdoors and we decided to make our back yard a pink princess fairytale!  All of the trees were wrapped in pink tulle and the pergola was draped with pink tool and had pink decorative lanterns hanging from the center.  We had hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon, baked beans, chips, and pink lemonade!  We also had a wedding birthday cake that was absolutely beautiful and made by my fabulous mom!  It was truly a cake fit for a princess!

A photographer friend of ours came and took Olivia's 12 month pictures at 3, and then we started the party at 4.  Olivia had an adorable tu-tu outfit, made by yours truly, that I think she totally loved :)  We had about 32-35 people here including family, friends, and neighbors and couldn't be more thankful for all of the people that came out to help us celebrate her 1st birthday!  My sweet little princess is truly loved by so many and is blessed more than she knows! 

Now that the party is over I have realized that this day really didn't change anything.  Although technically she may be considered a toddler now, she is still our little baby, and always will be, whether she is 1 or 30!  I love her so much and can't wait to see what a beautiful little girl she will grow into! 

Now, on with our family update:  Olivia walks ALL over the place.  She has been for a about 6-8 weeks now.  We took her to the beach a few weeks ago, and although she DID NOT like the sand, she loved swimming in the ocean, floating in her float and riding the waves, and spending lots of time with us, her grandparents, her Uncle Matt, and her Auntie Em! 

She ha a vocabulary of about 10-12 words.  She is in love with Mickey Mouse and loves to carry him with her anywhere we go.  She also has a Bitty Baby that her Mimi gave her for her birthday that she LOVES and feeds her a bottle and burps her, which is super cute!  Aaron is still working in the ER, and I am now working at TN Retina again (have been back since July).  I am enjoying being back and working with patients again, but I sure do miss working in Lebanon.  There were definitely pros and cons to both jobs, but ultimately with Aaron's work schedule it just made since for me to go part time, and I am LOVING all of my time with Olivia! 

I am considering going to LPN school in the near future and am scheduled to take the entrance test on Friday!  I am a little nervous about it, but I have taken a few practice tests and think I should do okay.  I really would like the flexibility of a nursing degree and with our growing little family I think if I can stomach nursing school, it would be the best decision I could make.  Once I get an LPN license I can do a program to bridge me from an LPN to an RN, and then I would hopefully like to eventually get my masters.  However, I'm young and have plenty of time so I am no hurry!  Plus, I hope our family can eventually grow a little more in the next couple of years :)

God is truly blessing our family and continues to provide for us and be faithful to us every day.  If I were to go to school I will have to greatly cut back on my hours of work, but I really feel that this is the direction God is leading me and I'm trying my hardest to give him full control of my life and trust that he will continue to provide for us and open doors as needed.  I can't wait to see what the next few years have in store for us, school or no school.

5 years!

Today is my and Aaron's 5 year anniversary!  It's so hard to believe that 5 years ago today at this very moment I had just gotten my hair done, and was heading to The Mill to meet up with my bridesmaids, get in a limo, and head to the church!  Five years ago today my life forever changed when I walked down the aisle and said "I do" to not only the man that I love more than anything, but my best friennd.

Aaron was 21 and I was 19 when we got married.  Looking back on it now, I now understand why my parents were so concerned.  We had NO IDEA what we were doing!  If Olivia came to me at 19 and said she was getting married, I think I would have a total panic attack!  And my mother may have, but she also knew I was hard headed and wasn't going to listen to anyone; therefore she planned me a beautiful wedding and reception- one that I will remember for the rest of my life!

There have been many statistics out about marriage in the past decade, and one that has really stuck with me and Aaron was that couples that last 5 years have a 50% less chance of getting a divorce.  And since statistically 50% of marriages end in divorce, if my math skills are correct that means that we now only have a 25% chance of a divorce!  (My math skills aren't that great so that may not be what that actually means, but it makes me happy to think that! lol! )

The past 5 years have had their ups and downs, but Aaron has stuck with me through them all.  I definitely don't deserve him and I am so grateful that he continues to love me for who I am no matter what!  My mom told him before we got married that emotionally I could really be a roller coaster some times because she wanted him to understand what he was getting into.  And who am I to make a liar out of my mother?  :)  So, I have proved her right time and time again and Aaron has learned exactly how to handle me!

This year's anniversary is extra special because we have Olivia to help us celebrate it!  We have decided to eat dinner early, maybe do a little sight seeing in Nashville, then come home early so that she can sleep in her own bed.  She has never spent the night away from  us and I just don't think either of us are ready for that just yet!  :)  I don't know how people leave their babies for days at a time.  I about have a complete panic attack if I am away from her for more than 8 hours!  I'm sure this will get better as she gets older, but until then I'm fine with it!

So, tonight we will head out to P.F. Chang's.  This is one of our FAVORITE restaurants!  We had thought about trying out something new, but decide not to risk it on such a special night.  I can't wait for good food with the best company I could ask for!

Here's to a wonderful 5 years, and to many many more to come!  I can't wait to see what the next 5 years have in store for us!  I love you James Aaron Edwards!!

A little more catch up!

So I'm sure since this show is in it's 2nd season most people are probably familiar with "Teen Mom" on MTV.  However, since I don't watch MTV hardly at all, I was just introduced to this show a few weeks ago.  On Saturdays when I'm home with just Livi if I see it on I have been trying to watch it a little bit because a few friends of mine are OBSESSED with this show so I wanted to see what it's all about.  So last Saturday, while watching the show, I watched this very young new mother of  twins be told that one of her twins may not only have spine problems, but  possible brain problems as well.  I saw her question herself and wonder "was it something I did to cause this?!?!"  My heart broke for her!

This particular episode made me realize how grateful, thankful, and blessed Aaron and I are to have such a healthy, happy baby girl!  Although Olivia's health is EXTREMELY important to us, its something that we take for granted.  When she gets an excellent check up at the doctor every few months, we should be rejoicing and praising God for his many blessings, because although we don't think much about it, it really is a huge deal!

Olivia is going on 7 months and to this day has only had 2 runny noses, and an 8 hour stomach bug that she smiled and slept right though!  No ear infections, no RSV, no colic, etc!  I like to think that my 3 months of struggling to produce enough milk for her are partly to thank, but really, I think we have just been very fortunate!

Olivia is now saying "mama" and "dada" very proficiently and will actually repeat them back to you at times!  She Can get up on her hands and knees and attempt to crawl, but usually drops her arms down and scoots arms style wherever she would like to go!  She is now eating stage 2 foods such as chicken and apples (her favorite!) as well as turkey, chicken noodle, mac and cheese, and some others!  She LOVES the YoBaby yogurt and usually eats this for lunch!  She is learning to use the sippy cup, but gets so exciting she ends up whacking herself in the head with it at times!  She is completely capable of holding her own bottle to feed herself; however, she tends to be on the lazy side and requests that we continue to hold it for her :)... which we happily do!  She does not have a single tooth!  We have said for 3 months now that we think she is teething, but still nothing!  And honestly, other than chewing on stuff (as most babies do) and the occasional drool, she really has no other signs of teething just yet.  Maybe she will get them in time for her to start kindergarten so I won't have to send a food processor with her in her back pack!

In other news, I'm in my 4th week at my new job and am still totally loving it!  I have had a hard time adjusting to waking up later and leaving later for work.... however.... this is definitely an adjustment I am HAPPY to make!  I can actually leave my house at 750 and still be at work by 8!  It's amazing!!!

Saturday Aaron and I are going to the Mennonite sale in Scottsville, KY and are really looking forward to it!  Aaron and his family have been before, but this will be a 1st for Livi and I.  I wasn't too sure it was something I wanted to do, but once Aaron started telling me about all of the food that was going to be there, I was sold!!  I have super cute little bonnet that I might dress Livi in so that she will fit in :)

Anywho, I'm ending with this final thought:  Aaron and I are trying to plan our 1st family vacation with Livi.  This summer is also our 5th wedding anniversary so we kinda want to do something big, but not too expensive.  I know Olivia won't remember whatever we decide to do, but I still want to do something that she will enjoy and we can watch her face light up with excitement about!  Several people have suggested Charleston, SC... others have said the beach.  Aaron really wants to go to D.C.  Any thoughts?

Thanks and have a great week!!

HAPPY 1/2 BIRTHYDAY OLIVIA!

Today is Olivia's 6th month birthday!!!!!  I can hardly believe 6 months has already come and gone!  It really feels like just yesterday she was rolling around in my belly!  She makes me the happiest Mama in the world and I can't wait to see what else she has in store for me!

I started off the day today going to work for a few hours.  I learned to do some new things today because the doctor I work for is out of town on a Mission's trip, so we didn't have any patients.  I felt like it was a pretty productive morning.  After I got off, I cam home, ate lunch with Aaron, and waited for Olivia to finish taking her nap.  Once she woke up, we played in the floor for a little while, then took her shopping, as any little girl would like to do for her (1/2)birthday!!  I bought her the most adorable little outfit from Carters with matching shoes that she is going to wear tomorrow for her 6 month pictures!

After we left the outlet mall, we stopped by the grocery store, then came home and cooked fajitas for dinner and ice cream cake for dessert!  Aaron's parents came over to eat and help us celebrate with Olivia!  I made Livi a super cute bow to match her outfit for tomorrow, and then we put her to bed.  She has had a runny nose here lately and got her 6 month shots yesterday so she has been a little under the weather :(

Yesterday at her doctor's appointment the doctor told Aaron that Olivia is in the 99 percentile in EVERY category!  She weighs 18lbs 13oz!  She's such a little chunky monkey!  The doctor also told Aaron that it's time she starts eating stage 2 foods (meat, pasta, etc.) and starts getting introduced to the sippy cup!  For lunch yesterday Aaron and his mom (along with Olivia, of course) met me and my co workers at Los Compadres for lunch after her doctor's appointment.  Aaron's mom told me that it was time she start learning how to use a sippy cup and I just about had a meltdown right there in the middle of the restaurant!  She's a baby!!!  And MY baby, to be exact!  I'm not handling her growing up very well at all :(

Tomorrow we are going to have family pictures taken by Whitney Hall and I'm absolutely ecstatic about it! She did my maternity pictures and did an absolutely wonderful job!  I can't wait to see how they turn out tomorrow!

A little bit about me!

Here are some little tidbits about me I'd like to share:

#1:  I love to dance!  Any kind of dance!  Ballet and Tap are probably my faves, but really I can dance to just about anything!  Since I have become a mommy, I like to dance around the house while holding Olivia singing and dancing to whatever pops in my head!  She thinks it's pretty fun!  And it's a way I can always make her smile!

#2:  I'm obsessed with crafts!  I have learned to make bows for Olivia, am currently working on 2 scrap books, learned to cover travel diaper wipes cases and decorate them, am learning to sew a little, and am constantly looking for fabrics, ribbon, beads, buttons, etc. that can jazz up anything I know how to make!  I'm hoping to learn to embroider later on!

#3:  I hate to cook!!!!  My husband does most of the cooking in our house.  If I'm cooking you can guess we are probably having spaghetti or some sort of casserole!  Or a "bag meal!"  Every now and then I get in the mood to cook something new, but its usually some sort of dessert!  My brother-in-law taught me how to make oreo balls around the holidays, so  I made them about 1-2 times a week!

#4:  I am obsessed with flip flops!  I really think they are the only shoe to wear in warm weather!  I wear them will anything and plan my outfits around which pair of flip flops I would like to wear!  I usually only wear the Old Navy flip flops, but last summer I found myself buying them from target as well!  I needed some "dressier" flip flops because my feet were too swollen (I was very pregnant!) to fit into any other shoes!  And while I'm on the shoe topic, I used to love to wear heels!  However, since pregnancy, I can't stand them!  They are uncomfortable and I'm already 6' tall!  Therefore, no heels for me!  At least, not very often!

#5:  I'm obsessed with my phone!  It's really a flaw I have.  It drives my husband crazy that I have my phone constantly in my hand and feel the need to check it every few minutes.  However, I'm an excellent multi-tasker so I used to not see the issue with texting and carrying on a conversation with him at the same time.  However, once he started doing it to me, I realized it was kind of annoying so I have tried to be better!  Aaron actually got me my current phone as my "push present" when i had Olivia.  The best part was, I didn't have to PUSH to get it!  :)

#6:  I'm OCD about the number 2.  I do everything in 2's!  Every night I make Aaron give me 2 hugs and 2 kisses goodnight.  I check to make sure the doors are locked twice, I only leave the volume on even numbers, and I have even found myself kissing Olivia in even numbers.  However, I'm going to try to not let her realize I have this obsession as she gets older because I really don't want it to rub off on her.

So, that's it for now!  Maybe I'll share some more later!

New diet, new job, new SEIZURES???

So, this past Sunday, as some of you have read on Facebook, I am pretty certain I had a seizure.  It was about 4pm (around about) and as I was getting off of the couch to get Olivia up from her nap, I only made it to just outside of her door when the incident happened.  It scared me to death!  However, luckily it didn't last long, and once my mother-in-law came over and checked me out, I started feeling better shortly.  Although I was ok, I have still been very worried that this type of thing might happen again when I was holding Olivia or even possibly driving.  And since I had never had one before, I decided I should probably call my neurologist.

So, after having the same horrible headache and feeling like the same thing was going to happen again on Monday while I was at work, I decided to leave work once all of our patients were there and go to the doctor.  My neurologist was out of the country so I was sent for a CT by my PCP, and then followed up with a different neuro. the next day.  CT checked out perfect, but after evaluating me, she decided I needed to have an EEG and an MRI of my brain.  She also witnessed that I have absolutely NO short term memory and deemed that I am WAY too stressed out.  She actually got very close to me, looked me in the eyes, and told me that I was way too young to have memory issues and that she really felt like I must be stressed.  My parents, who had came with me to the doctor, proceeded to tell her that I was leaving my current job, starting new job, and that I had recently become a semi-vegetarian.  She proceeded to tell me I needed to take the rest of the week off, and be careful as to what I was eating. 

So, after a little negotiation, she okay-ed me to finish my last 2 days at my current job, work the half a day I had committed to working at my new job, and then proceed with all of the testing, and in the meantime, NO DRIVING!  And that brings me to where I am now.  I was scheduled to have the EEG today at 2, and in order for them to perform this test I had to be sleep deprived.  So last night I only slept a few hours, then got up this morning and went in for my 1st day at my new job.  The scenario was set up as though my 1st day may be a disaster seeing as I was sleep deprived and stressed about all of this testing.  However, I couldn't have asked for a better day!  Everyone there was so nice and so welcoming and extremely helpful!  I had such a wonderful time and I really feel like at this point in my life I am exactly where I need to be!

Aaron picked me up at 12, brought Olivia inside to meet everyone, and then took me to my appointment.  I had probes stuck all over my head, lights flashed in my eyes, instructed to try make myself hyperventilate (more or less) and then told to take a nap, which I did!  When I woke up, I threw my goo-filled hair into a pony tail, hopped in the car with Aaron and Livi, went to Hermitage to buy some new scrubs, and went to dinner with some good friends.  And at dinner, I had BEEF enchiladas.  Yes, beef.

I had actually ordered chicken enchiladas, but with the poor service we had, I knew I would never be able to get them to switch them out.  So, I am now eating meat 1-2 times a week.  The neurologist felt like my diet could have a small affect on what all has been going on recently and encouraged me to make sure I was getting everything I need.  So, in an effort to try to eliminate anything that could possibly contribute to the episode I had on Sunday, I decided to end my diet a few days early.  Meat definitely doesn't taste the way I remember it.  I don't enjoy it the way I used to.  But hopefully I will be able to keep the amount I consume to a minimum.

Tomorrow I will work at my new job for a few hours in the morning, and then tomorrow afternoon I go for the MRI of my brain.  I really feel as if all of the tests I'm having are going to prove that there is absolutely nothing wrong with me, but there is still that tiny little bit of me that is a little nervous.  Through all of this, my husband and family have showed me once again just how wonderful they truly are as they drive me around anywhere I need to go, take wonderful care of Livi, and don't complain one bit. 

Playing Catch up!

I feel like all of my readers have missed out on so much since I just recently found my love of blogging!  So, my next few posts may be playing a little catch up.  I'd like to share some of our experiences of being new parents!

32 wks. by Whitney Hall

Leaving for the hospital

To start with, pregnancy was not easy!  I had looked forward to being pregnant for quite some time!  I would say, "I can't wait to be fat and be able to set a cup on my belly!!"  Yes, I actually said that.  A LOT!  However, from the very beginning I was very sick!  I lost 9lbs my first month (when I didn't even know I was pregnant yet!) and only gained about 6lbs as of my 5th month!  It was looking as if I wouldn't gain very much weight at all, and then all of a sudden, month 7 came along!  I craved Krispy Kreme Donuts, and conveniently (or inconveniently as it turned out) I passed by it every morning on my way to work!  I started off stopping and getting one chocolate donut and bottle of whole milk.  Then, after about a week, I started getting 2 chocolate donuts, 1 glazed donut (because they were hot!) and a glass of whole milk!  And yes, I ate all of this at one setting, 4 days a week!  So consequently, when I went to the doctor for my check up, he scolded me for gaining 11lbs that month!  Then told me since I hadn't gained much weight to date, that it wasn't that bad, but that I didn't need to let this happen again.  So I didn't have another 11lb month.  I proceeded to have a 12lb month!  Then the following month I went every weeks and gained about 6-7lbs at both of those visits.  Over all, I ended up gaining 46lbs!  The day before I delivered Olivia I weighed 194lbs!  

Olivia Grace 9lbs 4oz

Olivia was due on 9-7-10; And because of how big she measured on the ultrasounds I had had, my doctor wasn't to keen on the idea of me going much past my due date, which I was very thankful for!  However, a c-section was NOT in my birth plan!  I wanted to go into labor on my own, at home, let my water break, at HOME, and then go to the hospital, get my epidural, and push push push!  I had seen my sister give birth to my 2 nephews and I knew she survived so it really couldn't be THAT bad!  However, as we got closer and closer to my due date, I didn't dilate, ephase, nothin'!  Not even the slightest bit!  On 9-6-10 (Labor Day!) I started having contractions!  They were a little sporadic at first, but then started getting a little more closer together and lasting a little longer.  So, in my hopeful state, we went to the doctor on the 7th (my due date) in hopes that I had progressed!  Turns out, I still hadn't done anything and they sent me home.  At this point I was willing to let them induce me if I was "inducible" as my doctor called it, but without progressing at all, it wasn't looking like it was an option.  I continued to have contractions every 10-15 minutes for the next 3 days!  Yes, 3!  And when I went back to the doctor on the 9th, I still had not progressed at all!  Still no dilation, no thinning, nada!  So, we did an ultrasound and Olivia was measuring 9lbs 12oz!  So my doctor started talking c-section.  This was the ONE thing that I absolutely did not want!  He was worried about shoulder distosia (having to break her clavical to get her out) if he tried to induce me and told me that in my present state, an induction could leave me with at least 24 hours of labor.  The long labor part was scary, but I was willing to go through with it.  However, the idea of having to hurt my sweet little girl because of my selfishness of not wanting a c-section didn't sit well with me at all.  He proceeded to tell me if I was his daughter, a c-section would be the only option!  So, we scheduled the c-section for the following morning and the crying began!  I started crying there in the office, cried the whole time I was getting pre admitted, and continued to cry even after Olivia was born!

Although at that point they were happy tears!  The c-section was not at all as bad as I had expected, even though I did have a few complications.  And the end result was the same!  The worst part was not being able to get out of the bed to change her diapers and dress her, but it gave Aaron lots of practice!

Olivia has been the best baby in the world!  And I honestly believe that!  She immediately slept through the night, and by 5 weeks old was sleeping a solid 8 hours every night in her crib!  By about 9 weeks she was sleeping 10 hours in her crib, and since she was 12 weeks she has slept 12 hours every night!  It's amazing!  She never cries, unless she is hungry or if she has been held too much.  Every now and then she has a fussy day, but it's very rare.  My mother likes to joke that I don't deserve such a good baby!  I nursed her for 3 months, until I went back to work.  I tried to pump while at work, but just wasn't able to get enough milk.  Nursing was very easy for me, it was just very tiring.  It takes a lot out of you creating enough milk for a 10-12lb baby!  So we started supplementing one bottle a day when she was 6 weeks old and by 14 weeks she was solely on formula.  I feel like I gave her a very good start and coincidentally she has only been sick once!  And it only lasted about 8 hours :) 

I really don't feel Aaron and I got the "parents of a newborn" experience that everyone talks about.  However, trust me, I'm not complaining!  She has been such a joy and is the absolute love of my life!  She laughs and giggles non-stop and smiles every time I look at her!  I can't wait to see what a beautiful little girl she is going to grow up to be!  And being as perfect as she has been, it really makes Aaron and I question having a second one!  Although, because she has been so much fun, I kinda would like a whole house full!  Currently I'm thinking 4 :)  Although Aaron is thinking I have lost my mind!  I did hate being pregnant!  And I was very fat, hormonal, and extremely uncomfortable!  But the end result makes it totally worth it!  So, maybe in the next year or two we will consider growing our little family!

God has truly blessed my life with a wonderful husband and beautiful daughter and I don't think I thank him enough for his many blessings!  I'm so anxious to see where he takes us in the future, but am thoroughly enjoying where we are at now!