From Bed Rest to No Rest

McLaurin Colter Davis has arrived!!!! October 24, 2011, which was about 3 weeks early, but he'shere and beautiful! He weighed 6 lbs 13 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. Here is Big Sister Maddie Gray, Aunt Amber & Bubbie loving on sweet Mac. He waited as long as he could! I told Josh Sunday night we were going to have a baby in the next 24-48 hours, and we sure did. Monday morning

He's really been a good baby, he just likes to party all night long, so Mommy ends up looking old and tired! When we brought him home from the hospital he weighed 6 lbs 8 oz and then dropped down to 6 lbs. We had some feeding issues, but worked those out quickly, and now 3 weeks later, he's weighing in at 7 lbs 5 oz. Our sweet pediatrician is really pleased with his weight gain. We also have reflux, so we started on Zantac. Maybe it's just me, but I have all ready noticed that he's doing much better, and he's only had 2 doses. I've been a lot cleaner and spit up free since we started! I was so surprised to find out, he was a he! I was truly torn between boy or girl. Honestly, in the end I thought he would be a she because of all the drama with contractions early on and going into labor at 36 weeks, and then being on bed rest! Who would have thought the Davis family would have one of each? Please don't ask if we're done, because I really cannot answer that truthfully right now, since we're just 3 weeks post delivery. Ask me again in a few months when I'm not sleeping on the couch, and we have a found a new normal!

Newborn pictures of Mac. These were taken when he was a week and a half old. Amy Halstead is such an awesome photographer! We love her dearly... or at least I do!

Amy does such a great job capturing my sweet family. I even think Josh didn't mind doing this!

I am still trying to finish his room, because I kinda thought I would have more time! I will try and post pictures of it soon.

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

"Big Football Game"

We finally took Maddie Gray to see her first Mississippi State Football game! It was the perfect time, because she really enjoys watching some of the game, and REALLY enjoys ringing her pink cowbell! She kept asking about going to the Big Football Game, and when we pulled into Starkville, she was ready to go! We tailgated with some friends of ours from college and visited with others that we haven't seen in a while! She also saw her best friend from school and a real cheerleader! After we got home, she wouldn't let me take her cheerleader outfit off (which I somehow did) and she wanted to sleep with her pink cowbell (which she didn't get to do either)! She had the best time at this game! The next morning she woke up, but on her boots, got her pompoms, and went outside to do a few cheers for the neighbors to hear on a Sunday morning! With a house divided between Ole Miss & LSU, I'm sure they LOVED hearing "Go Bulldawgs" at 8 in the morning!

My sweet girl has never been at a loss for words in whole life, but when she met this cheerleader, she could say nothing! Thankfully I had the camera handy, so we took a picture with her for her room! She's asking to go back, but I think if she goes back, it will be with Josh only. That was super hard for me to do, especially since she won't let anybody else take her to the potty! I am also too pregnant to chase her around the tailgate! She may just have to ring her pink cowbell from the comfort of her couch!

Maddie Gray, Mommy, & Michelle. She was kicking me a little so my eyes are huge!

Enjoying the "Big Football Game" & of course a little snack!

This is Maddie Gray's best friend from school Addison! These 2 girls are double trouble when they are together! I love them both, but the one of the left is my favorite!

This made her short 3 year old life! She could say nothing, but loved having her picture made with a real cheerleader!

Officially O-U-T

September 10, I retook the ACT. I was a junior in high school the last time I took that test. I wasn't sure if the test got harder or if I got dumber, but I can say I was SUPER glad when it was over. I had parents dropping their kids off for the test and pointing at me saying something about my being pregnant, like I was some kind of lesson to be taught quickly in the car! It probably didn't help that I had no make up and I have been a bit too swollen to wear any of my rings, so they probably thought, that poor girl is so young to pregnant, but good for her for trying to make something of herself! Little do they know that I have a 3 year old at home, have been married for 7 years, and am about to turn the big 3-0!

Any way, I sat for the test and came home not wanting to talk about it for fear that I might jinx things. I really only needed to boost my math subscore by 3 points to be considered for the nursing program at Hinds. Sounds pretty easy to boost my score 3 points right? WRONG! I got online last night to check things out thinking I'd made like a 12 and ACT was still laughing at my score... wrong again. I made a 23! Something to be proud of since I haven't been in high school in 11 years, and I haven't taken that test in 12, so I scroll down to the math section and I had a 17 subscore. Today I was told by Hinds that that score wasn't good enough, and I would need to wait the 60 days & retake it to boost my score! I felt like someone had knocked the wind out of me. Needless to say, tonight, and maybe part of tomorrow, I am going to get down in it and have a little pity party. After that, I'm going to apply to study my brains out for the ACT (again), apply to Holmes, Hinds, and UMC & pursue my goal. Fingers crossed I will succeed!

L & D

For the last few days I have been having a lot of contractions, and I really just thought because this baby is sitting so low, every time he/she moves it just aches a little. The pain got progressively worse last night & Thursday morning, so I called the doctor. My regular doctor was out sick yesterday (Thursday), so I saw one of his partners. I had seen this guy before, because he was the one who told us that we had miscarried our baby back in December. He did a few tests, checked to make sure I hadn't dilated and then sent me over to Labor & Delivery! Thankfully, after being hooked up to the monitors for 2 hours yesterday, the baby is fine, I have not dilated, and my fetal fibronectin test came back negative. I was, however, having contractions. I had 4 in a little more than an hour. I was told if I have 6 or more in an hour or have any bleeding then I need to call the office back.

I slept well last night, though I could also make a few more deposits in the sleep bank, and my contractions have continued, but still not having enough to be worried. I can only pray this baby makes it past Oct. 15, so I can stand (or sit) beside my sister on her wedding day! I have a little cleaning to do today before Amber's shower tomorrow afternoon, and I have to take the ACT in the morning, but after that, I am home free for a little bit!

Baby Custard's Room

Today, I got the itch to start trimming out the baby's room so that Josh could paint it hopefully this weekend. I got everything out, making sure put drop clothes on everything. I open up the paint, stir until my arm hurts, and then put some paint on the wall... it was not the color I had chosen. Pregnant woman meltdown ensues! I email a picture of the two colors, the one I had chosen and tested on the wall, and the one that mixed & was painted on the wall to my friend Michelle. She assured me that the room would be completed before this baby arrived and advised me to go with the lighter color.

It got me to thinking and looking back on pictures of when I was pregnant with Maddie Gray. I was 39 weeks pregnant when I went into labor with her. I will be 30 weeks tomorrow! That potentially gives me 9 weeks to finish this room. Now I realize I'm still probably in pregnant meltdown mode, but 9 weeks is nothing. It's a term in school. It will go by in a blink, plus we are so busy with doctor's appointments for me, Maddie Gray for her hearing, my sister's wedding stuff, and I'm retaking the ACT that I feel like there's hardly any time for anything else! I get tired just thinking about everything that has to get done. My precious baby girl will be turing 3 my old, as she says, on Friday as well. We are taking cupcakes to school (with pink frosting of course!) and then I will pick her up before nap. After we come home and nap here, Josh and I will take her to her favorite place for dinner, Chicken away and then to Millie D's for some ice cream! Time goes by so quickly, it's hard to imagine that in just a blink she will starting kindergarden, and I will be entering in the terrible 3's with Baby Custard! I will post pictures of her birthday party on Monday I hope!

Babys R Us

Today, I allowed myself to go inside Babys R Us! I forgot how overwhelming it was in there. Everything has changed so much, even in 3 year years! I was a wild woman and bought a new crib sheet and a new changing pad cover! If it's a girl, we have lots of stuff, but if it's a boy, we've got nothing! I just felt like Baby Custard needed a little something new. I also felt like by getting something new for this nursery I was allowing myself to get attached to this baby, which I truly don't think I've done. I've been so nervous about this pregnancy, because I don't want anything to happen to this baby. I know it's all in God's hands, but as a human, I can't help but want to TRY and have a little bit of control over things.

My goal is have the room painted before my sister's shower here on Sept. 10 which is only 2 weeks away! I want everything in this house to look finished, instead of like we moved in, started unpacking, and then gave up! At least Maddie Gray's room is pretty much finished except deciding where to hang pictures and Baby Custard's room has all the furniture in it except the chair! I guess being at home for the first time in a long time and not having to study has made me go a little nuts! I think Josh is looking forward to my taking a sewing class soon, just so I'll have a hobby! I am going to start studying for the ACT (again) and painting this week, so keep your fingers crossed I get everything done!

Summer Fun & A Fall Wedding

This has been one crazy summer. I have been in summer school until a few weeks ago, and we've been visiting family & of course, the beach! Josh's family from Oklahoma came to visit over Memorial day weekend. Both his cousins brought their kids, making the kid total 5! 3 toddlers, a 1 year old, and an infant! Josh's mom had a big blow up water slide and a jumpy thing! Maddie Gray wasn't impressed by the water slide, but the "big kids" i.e. Daddy, Uncle Matt, and Christy loved it!

During the week leading up to 4th of July, we went to the beach with Josh's entire family! 6 adults, 3 bedrooms, 1 toddler, and an infant! I needed a vacation from our family vacation! Maddie Gray and I spent most of our time at the pool, because since she took swimming lessons, she's become a little fish! She did enjoy building sand castles and this year, she even enjoyed the water and the waves. I loved watching her run up to the water then run away really fast when the waves came up!

We took some pictures of her on the beach so I thought I'd post one of those as well! She's getting so big so fast. It's hard for me to believe that she will be 3 next week! Josh, Maddie Gray and I also went back to the beach for a long weekend that was surprisingly relaxing! When it got too hot for me on the beach, I went back to the house, cooled off a bit, and then went to the pool! That will be our final trip as a family of 3! Kinda sad we didn't get a picture taken, but I'll be having some maternity pictures made with the both of them really soon, so I'll post those!

My sister is also getting married! Ray, proposed to her while we were gone to the beach the first time, and they have decided to get married October 15! I will be 37 weeks pregnant, and huge but I'm really excited for them. Everything has been all planned out, so there's nothing to do but have another shower, a little girl time here at my house since traveling far, bars, and being pregnant just don't go together, and then wedding day!

I am also going to start painting the nursery this week, so hopefully it will be done by the weekend or the early part of next week! I have picked a grey color and we are using the furniture from Maddie Gray's nursery for Baby Davis #2. She has since upgraded to a bubble gum pink room, with a full size bed. The bed swallows her and the white polka dot sheets on her bed have a pink tint to them because of the pink on her walls! She's super excited, most days, about her big girl room. She's asked a couple of times to have her other black bed back, but I keep telling her that she's about to be a big sister and big sister's need big beds. Thus far it's working! I also let her pick out her comforter on her bed, meaning I picked something out that I liked, and then I steered her in that general direction. It's green with pink and white paisleys. That helps to mute the pink a little. I will post pictures of both room once they are completed!

Baby Update

I went to the doctor yesterday for my regular check-up. I am nearing the half way point at 19 weeks. I am starting to feel much better about this baby, especially after yesterday! This is a very active baby, just like Maddie Gray which is a good thing while he/she is still "in there," but I'm not so sure that I can handle two riding the garage door up! I also heard a very good heart beat which is encouraging.

Dr. Gebhart told me the baby was doing well and so was I. He suggested I drop Chemistry, and part of me agrees with him, but I am nearly done with the class, so I just wonder if it would be worth it to withdraw and try again at a later date. The bad thing is, school isn't going to get any easier especially once Baby Custard arrives. I kind of feel like it's now or never with this class. I'm not doing great having failed test #1 and then getting a D on test #2. I hate I have set the bar so high for these next 2 tests, and I have to do really well on the final. We get no extra credit not even that great of a do over really. I have to do really well on the cumulative final and it will replace my lowest test grade! I was hoping to keep my 4.0 GPA dreams alive, but at this point I'm just hoping for a C!

I go back to see Dr. Gebhart on July 13 when I will be 23 weeks. It seems so odd. When I was pregnant with Maddie Gray, I thought I would be pregnant forever! I never thought September would get here, and now I feel as though time is moving faster than I am ready! November will be here before Josh and I know, and we will be welcoming Baby Davis #2 into the world and celebrating our first Thanksgiving as a family of 4! Too crazy to even think about really!

Any way, I am hoping to get started on the nursery soon, and I will post pictures after there's something to show!

Baby Custard

I have a friend who I have known since college, but wasn't truly close to by any stretch of the imagination. I found out after Josh and I lost the baby in December, she too had experienced the same loss as myself. She is now expecting again as well, and is due just a few weeks after me! It's funny how God works. Anyway, I asked her how she was feeling, and she seemed to have read my mind. She said she was ignoring her pregnancy until her big ultrasound June 23. I feel the same way. It is getting a little harder for me to ignore my growing belly, but I am in fact ignoring "you." I have completely thrown myself into summer school, which by the way, I will not be a chemist EVER during my lifetime, and am really in no way interested in talking about this baby. I feel sad I feel this way. I am so grateful and blessed to even be pregnant again and as far as I know, the baby is doing very well, but there's still that part of me that is afraid to bond with Baby Custard because I don't want to lose this baby. Maybe if I feel a little less attached...

I go for my big ultrasound June 13 when I will be 19 weeks and nearly half way done with this pregnancy. I think I will also feel better after seeing a growing healthy baby and hearing a beautiful healthy heartbeat. Maybe after that, I will bond more with baby custard. After my appointment, I will start to move the moving boxes out of Baby Custard's room and start to make it Baby Custard's room as opposed to what it is at the moment, a catch all.

It might be after my next appointment before I can update things again since Chem I is KILLING me! I wish I would have taken this before Human A & P. That came so much more easily to me. This I just don't get, and it's so frustrating for me. Say a prayer that I don't have a pregnant meltdown in class and that things go well at my next appointment!

Because I said so...

I always hated it when my mother would say to me, "Because I said so that's why!" I never understood that, until now. My mother would say that to me because she didn't really have an answer for the question being posed to her. I now say the same thing to Maddie Gray when she asks me something I don't know the answer to, but just don't want her to do.

There are also many other momisms that I find myself saying, like... I don't want to have to ask you again, Don't you give me that look, When I ask you something I expect you to answer..." My mom always said there was no "mom book" of things to say or do in certain situations, but I highly disagree. I think everything we learn to say as mom's, or as parents, we learn from our parents. There is a "book" and it's called the mom who taught you everything you know about being a parent. All the songs I sing, all the things I say to her when I'm angry or frustrated, and sometimes even my pet names for her stem from something my family has called her. It's so funny to think back & listen to my younger, unmarried, childless self. I hear her saying, "when I grow up and have children I will NEVER do this or that." The funny thing is, I all most ALWAYS end up doing this or that.

I am blessed to have a mom who taught me everything I know about being a mom. As I got older, I even learned a few things on my own thanks to her guidance. Now as I watch my own sweet daughter I can open my "mom book" and know exactly what to say, "Because I said so, that's why!"

Davis Fishy #5

About a month ago, my mom, sister, and Ray (my sister's boyfriend) took Maddie Gray to the Swinging Bridge Festival in Byram where my parents and sister live. The swinging bridge used to be the only way to cross the Pearl River until around 1980 when an 18 wheeler tried to cross damaging the bridge. Obviously a new more sturdy bridge was constructed, but the swinging bridge is still a popular place to go and hang out. I have never been to the Swinging Bridge Festival, but there are rides and games and lots of fun kid stuff to do there! While there, Amber and Ray won Maddie Gray a goldfish! She was so excited to get it, and called Josh and I soon after "winning!" He did not survive the night! So rather than try to explain to her that her fish had died (we've tried to explain death to her for another reason, but she just is too little), so Josh went directly to The Fish Bowl to try and buy another goldfish. The people there informed Josh that he should wait until he had established a fish tank before buying another fish. We waited. I went 2 days later and bought her 2 fish! She didn't seem to truly notice that where there had once been only A fish, there was now 2! Those 2 fish didn't survive through the night. After work on Monday, Josh goes to PetSmart to buy her yet another fish. Sounds like it's getting expensive I know but these fish were only $.35 a piece so we weren't spending our paychecks on goldfish. Finally, Josh comes home with 2 more. The fourth fish bit the dust nearly right after putting him in the tank. Which by the way, isn't easy. You have to let them adjust to the new water temperature by letting the bag they came in float around in the tank for a while. Fish #5, which we will call Davis Fishy #5 survived! She fed him, asked how her fish was doing and would watch him swim. I was a happy Mommy!

I, however, am sad to announce that Davis Fishy didn't survive the tank cleaning and has also met his goldfish maker! We were sad, but I came up with a lie and I thought it up quick, and I told her that Dorothy (because that's what Elmo's fish is named) needed to go home and visit her family. So far that story is working! Josh and I also decided that we are not a fish family. He and I will stick to dogs and children, and maybe later when we are ready for the added responsibility, we will add to our family by getting out the fish tank out and trying it again!

And...

We are pregnant!!!! I have been dying to share this news with everybody for at least a week now, but after we had our miscarriage in December, Josh and I have been a little bit more gun shy in telling people. Today, however, I would like to put up a banner that says I AM PREGNANT!!!! We are officially 13 weeks and are due on November 8, but according to Dr. Gebhart, we could have this baby on Halloween!! What a 30th birthday present that would be for me! We aren't finding out the gender of this baby either, simply because surprises are much more fun, and as my mom says, "If God wanted you to know, He'd have made you with a window." Well put mom!

Josh and I have known since February 6 that we were expecting again, but wanted to be extra positive everything was going well before we shared the news with our family and friends. I took 3 tests, all of which came out negative, so I truly believed something was wrong with my cycle after having my D & C in December. Josh came home from Guard Drill that Sunday, and I told him I thought something was wrong. He encouraged me to take another one. This time it was positive! It kind of makes me sad I didn't tell him in some really thoughtful way, but after everything he and I had been through, I thought calling him into the bathroom to look at the positive test was thoughtful enough. I cried, he looked a little nervous.

Josh has been so thoughtful. He has been to my 3 doctor's appointments with me and each time has asked the sonographer to turn off the TV monitor until we heard a heartbeat and were sure everything was going well with the baby. Today, we heard a heartbeat of 169 and saw Baby Custard, as Maddie Gray has affectionately named him/her, was wiggling around in there and having a great time! It was the most beautiful thing I have seen since I saw Maddie Gray hanging out in there.

I would also like to add that I have a 4.0 this semester! I can't believe I have a 4.0 while have 6 hours a weeks of time without Maddie Gray or other distractions, while living with my in-laws, and being pregnant. Now if I can just keep this up during summer school for Chemistry and Microbiology I will be in awesome shape. This 4.0 is kind of addicting only because I want to keep it.

I will keep every one posted on the progression of our pregnancy and school, so stay tuned!

FINALLY We have a home!

The Davis family has been in our new home for 2 weeks tomorrow! It still feels weird waking up in our house as opposed to a house filled with other people, but I think we are adjusting well. Maddie Gray is enjoying her new house I think, and she LOVES Davis, the little boy next door. If I can't find her (which is really never) then I know to look next door. Those two have become fast friends with her inviting him over and asking him if he wants to share her yogurt. High complement coming from her, because she doesn't want to share that with anybody!

Josh and I finally started to hang some pictures last night! That has made it feel a little more like home rather than some place we are just borrowing, though I would love for someone to borrow our house payments for a while! Now if we could just get rid of some of these boxes I would be a truly happy Mommy. Josh been so busy with work, and I've been so busy with school that truthfully, we haven't thought much about anything else. Josh is thinking he might try to take a half day tomorrow, so maybe we can put some boxes in the attic and hang some more pictures in our room and Maddie Gray's room.

I am taking Chemistry and Microbiology this summer which stinks, but it's bringing me one step closer to Nursing School 2012. I think I will have to put a nursing school ticker on here once I have finished my application process! So, since I am taking summer school, morning out ends in May, and I couldn't find anybody that wanted to keep Maddie Gray during the month of June, she is going to start a new Pre-school. I am really excited for her, because I think being home with me has been both good and bad. She's extra needy for Mommy, but I have enjoyed my time with her more than I could have imagined. What a perfect way to begin and end a new chapter in our lives. My not working and going back to school, getting to spend extra time with my baby, and getting to be the wife I have always wanted to be. God has so richly blessed me. I am thankful for the opportunity to go back to school and have the fully support and love of my family behind me. Keep your fingers crossed and prayers going for me because I start the application process July 1! WOW! The sad thing is, I won't know if I'm in or not until January! What a long time to wait!

Also, in the wake of the tornadoes that ravaged the South yesterday, please be in prayer for all those who are hurting or homeless tonight. I pray that the Lord wrap those families and all those affected in his arms and give them peace and strength. Thank you Lord for keeping us safe through these storms.

Under Contract!!!

FINALLY after months of looking, the Davis Family has found a house, and if all goes well, we should be closing on April 15th! I am so excited I could probably carry all of our stuff from storage on my back to our house in Madison! The neighborhood has lots of kids which is a huge plus! We're going to try and let Maddie Gray pick the color of her room with a little help from Mommy of course! She says she wants to paint it pink & blue, so I think I'll just pick one color pink and one color blue and let her choose that way. It's even hard for me to pick colors, so I can't imagine being 2 1/2 and trying to choose. It's 4 bedrooms, so we'll still have a guest bedroom and hopefully someday, we'll put another Davis baby in the other. There's also a nice deck off the back porch which will be nice in the summer and early fall.

I think Josh is a little nervous about saying, "it's our house" because I guess right now it isn't, but I truly believe this is our house. I knew it from the minute we walked in it... Okay, I lied. I hated it when we first went in, but in my defense we had just started looking. Josh wanted to go back in it and after going back in the second time, I knew it was our house. It's perfect for us. There's even a 3 year old next door named Davis!! How perfect is that? At least I know I will never forget his name!

We are also leaving for Texas week after next to see Josh's youngest brother Matt graduate from Air Force basic training! I'm so proud of little Matt. I've known him since he was 8, and I have never been more proud of him. Josh has also gotten back into the Guard, which most people don't understand. I can honestly say I think it has been and will continue to be good for him. I am most proud of the man I married.

Lastly, in my blog update, I am happy to report that I have a 4.0 at mid-term. I may only be taking 6 hours, but there were some days that it felt like I was taking 30! I am so proud of myself, so I feel like this house is my "pearl!" What a gift! After we close, and we get semi moved in, I will post pictures of the inside of the house!!!!!

Maybe?

Our blog is looking a little sad since I haven't updated in a while. Now that I am near an internet connection, I thought I would give a little update on things. Josh and I have been living with his parents since Thanksgiving! We started looking for houses before Christmas, but then after we lost the baby, looking for another house just didn't seem to be as important. We gave ourselves time to grieve and heal from our loss, and we started looking again. We looked online, we looked with a realtor, and I think we may finally have a winner!!!!!! I hope things work out and we are in a house by spring, so I will do my best to keep every one posted.

Maddie Gray is doing really well. She is now telling me that she wants me to put another baby in my tummy, and she wants it to be a girl! No pressure!! Josh and I have also decided that maybe we're ready again. Fingers crossed it will happen soon. Pregnant seems to be in the water, so I just need to know where everyone is buying there's these days! Kidding! I know the Lord will bless us when the timing is right. Maddie Gray also got into a Mother's Morning Out at Pinelake Church. It's only on Monday and Wednesday, but she goes to gymnastics on Fridays, so her 2 year old schedule is pretty full. She loves to go, and asks every day if it's time for her to go to church. I'm so glad that she is happy there. We dearly missed her pre-school in Meridian, so for her to want to go and have her come home and talk about her friends, makes Mommy super happy!

I have also started going back to school! It's so much harder this time. I don't know if it's because I'm actually studying, or if it's because I'm paying for it, or if it's because I know have a husband and a child this go around. Maybe it's a combination of all of those, but it's different. I think if I were back in Tri Delta at Mississippi State, I would have close to a 4.0, and they would be sooo proud of me!!!! I'm so proud of me! I am applying to the nursing program at UMC and will hopefully start in the summer of 2012. It sounds so far away to say it out loud, but it will be here before I know. It's a 1 year program, so in the summer of 2013, I will have my Bachelor of Nursing. Fingers crossed!