Baby Announcement Poll

Hey Everyone!

Kiley and I are enjoying life more than ever with our little Joey, even though he has finally found his voice! We call him our little "cat": his little cry is just too cute.

I am finishing up my last week as an undergraduate student at the University of New Mexico, and I am looking forward to spending some time with my new son before I leave for COT (Commissioned Officer Training) and start Med School. I am going to three different graduation ceremonies and skipping out of the big one! It should be great. :)

Kiley and I just finished making drafts of three different Baby Announcement ideas that we thought were cute, and we want to know what you think! Please leave a comment telling us which you like the best. We are not yet sold on the photo or the exact layout, but we would love some feedback. Thanks!

Joseph's Birth Story

Life is pretty amazing right now.  One look at our little man and I melt.  He's so perfect and I couldn't imagine a better baby.  I feel super blessed: good pregnancy, fast labor, and a beautiful son (with lots of hair!)

I swear I was going to have a baby before my due date, but it came and passed.  For those who passed their due date know how discouraging that is.  I went walking walking walking all the time and even did things I didn't try to do all during the pregnancy (like jogging or Just Dance).  Thursday night on the 18th Sam and I didn't feel the baby wasn't going to come any time soon, so we stayed up until midnight watching a movie and playing a little Just Dance.  No contractions, nothing out of the ordinary.  Ironically Sam asked if I wanted my picture taken that night and I said we could wait until we know the baby's on his way (which didn't happen).  So my last picture was at 37 weeks:

That night around 3:30am I wake up and feel a little cramping.  I've had cramping before and these ones didn't seem to sync with the contractions I was feeling.  I told Sam that and he told me to get more rest.  But I couldn't sleep!  I got up and went to the computer to listen to Harry Potter on audiotape and play meaningless computer games to pass the time.  That's when I noticed that the cramping hurt worse when contractions came on.  I thought "This might be it..." and woke up Sam and texted my mom that I might be in labor.  She called back right away and asked what it felt like and I told her.  I was expecting it to last for a long time so I wasn't in any rush.  She told me to start timing the contractions.  Sam got out the timer and started timing how long they lasted as well as the time in between.  They came 2 1/2 to three minutes apart, but they only lasted 30-45 seconds.  The rule to go to the hospital was five minutes apart lasting for one minute for one hour.  Sam thought it could be false labor, but he set up a bath for me.  It helped the pain and the contractions slowed down a little bit, but they didn't stop.  My mom called back to check progress after a little bit and I told her about the contractions.  She told me I better get to the hospital.  The pain escalated at that point and I felt like throwing up, which I did!  My legs shook so bad and Sam kept telling me to relax, but I wasn't getting a lot of time in between the pain.  Our goal was to stay at home for as long as possible, since it was easier to relax there than the hospital, but we packed our bags and headed down around 5:50am.  I told Sam as we got into the car that I wanted an epidural right away.  The pain was so bad and I thought I had quite a bit more time before the baby would appear.

My mom beat us to the hospital and while Sam parked the car she helped me check into Triage.  I could barely hear what the nurse was trying to ask me as I just wanted to either lie down or sit on the toilet (that sort of helped).  My mom answered some of the questions (but forgot what year I was born) and then without warning I rushed to find the nearest bathroom to sit on the toilet.  The nurse gave me a gown, but it took me a long time in the bathroom just sitting there before I emerged.  He asked me to rate my pain.  Thinking I only really started laboring and the pain would get worse, I tried to make room for more pain.  I said a 6 at first, but quickly kept upping it because it really was painful.  Sam appeared and I told the nurse I wanted an epidural.  He told me he had to check me and see what he could do.  I was 7-8cm and getting an epidural was iffy at that point due to how far I was.  He left, maybe to check on other patients when a minute or two later my mom asked if I felt the need to push after a particularly terrible contraction and I nodded.  She ran to get the nurse, and he checked me again and told me I was complete!  I wasn't getting that epidural, but I realized I got through most of the laboring already and that this baby was coming and coming fast!

Some nurses came down, wheeled my bed out of the room and rushed me into a delivery room.  I was the last one entering Triage out of the patients but the first one out!  Everything was such a blur at that point.  All the nurses there are faceless to me, except the doctor.  She was incredibly nice and her name happened to be Kiley (and spelled that way, too).  They tried to stick an IV in me but it was a little too late.  Sam asked Dr. Kiley if he could deliver the baby and the doctor happily agreed and directed him through it.  I asked if I could push and she told me to go for it.  So with one nurse holding my leg and my mom holding the other, I grabbed my legs and bore down as hard as I could.  I quickly became tired, but I wasn't in too much pain.  After 20 minutes of pushing Sam caught Joseph Samuel at 6:58am.  He cried for a few seconds then promptly fell asleep on my chest.  I fell in love.

The labor and delivery couldn't have gone any better in my opinion (although I did tear a little bit).  And I went natural (not by choice, but still)!  My mom told me she was super surprised how well I handled it all, and out of all her daughters she couldn't see me doing it.  I know each labor is different with each child, but this one made me realize I could do it!  Sam and I were pro-epidural before attending birthing classes.  I mean, if you could be spared all that pain, why not?  I still wasn't planning on going natural, but I wanted to try some of the techniques shared in our class that I couldn't do once I got an epidural, so we wanted to wait as long as I could stand it.  We'll see how I handle the next one, but for now I'm going to enjoy this little miracle of mine.

Joseph Samuel Hobbs

Born April 19, 2013 at 6:58am

7lbs 4oz, 20.5 inches long, 13 inch head circumference

Maternity Photos

March Madness

(This post has nothing to do with basketball, but I thought the title was appropriate.)

March has been pretty busy and fun for us.  March 2nd was my birthday and it was pretty lovely.  I'm officially 21!  I have been treated quite nicely by all my family and have gotten a lot of amazing things, thanks! 

There was also Spring Break.  It was relaxing and low-key, but for the life of me I can't remember everything we did.  I do remember getting an Albuquerque BioPark pass, and Sam and I took my niece's senior pics.  I can't believe she is graduating!  She has gone through quite a bit during high school and proud that she not only made it through, but with flying colors!  She will be attending BYU.  My favorites are being shared at the end of this post.  I also remember one awesome game night with some friends and finally getting to play Quelf.  That is one crazy game!

My calling has been getting a little crazy.  The Primary President had a baby the beginning of this month, I'm due a month later, and our Second counselor is moving this week.  I feel a little bad for the person who will be called in her place, she'll have to jump right in instead of ease into it like I have.

We also have been attending a birthing class and it has actually been useful.  Hopefully I can remember those things when I'm actually in labor (I might have to have Sam remind me).  The last one is tonight and we finally get to tour the hospital.

Sam's aunt and uncle have been visiting this past week.  It has been fun getting to know Aunt Cathy and Uncle Howard and doing fun family things this week.  They got to see our new place, along with everyone else's.  We also got to play fun games and they even stayed for my baby shower!  They really didn't have to!

I had two baby showers back to back.  On Friday night my visiting teacher and another good friend from our ward threw me a baby shower and I am overwhelmed with people's generosity!  Then the next day my mother-in-law threw me one and it was pretty fantastic.  Jessica did the party games and I want to thank her for her patience when it was a little crazy!  My goodness, we are pretty prepared for this babe!  Some of the wonderful things I got include amazingly adorable clothes, a huge array of blankets, toys, diapers, baby toiletries, an amazing diaper bag, and even a baby bullet!  Like I said, so overwhelmed with people's generosity (especially the grandparents')!  If I get the pictures I will post them later, along with some of the other weekly maternity pics (full term tomorrow)!

We are also playing in an Easter Program that is this Friday.  Some of it is a little challenging, and just how we like it.  The most challenging part is sitting through all the rehearsals (baby in my ribs most of the time).  It's fun playing the cello when pregnant because I never had my belly touch the cello before and I'm sure the baby can tell how I sound better than I can!

I think that covers most of the March madness.  Now, my favorites from the photo session:

Love Day 2013

 Hey,

It's been over a month, and a few things have happened since the last update.  Sam received an Full-ride Air force scholarship to med school.  We're excited about it, however, it won't be easy for either of us.  It will definitely leave us debt free while he goes to school, and he'll receive amazing training in leadership roles and such, but he'll have to leave me and the babe for a month this summer and probably the next [insert sad face].  But we feel it's the right thing to do to not get in debt for his schooling and for me to stay home.

I forgot if I ever mentioned this, but Sam and I moved to the other side of the duplex.  We were apprehensive at first, but never looked back once we settled in.  The place is soo much more spacious and has laundry (big plus).  Add a backyard for gardening and playing and we are happy as clams.  I'll load pictures when I have the chance.

I entered my third trimester oh, say over a month ago.  Seven more weeks to go!  We are so excited, but still have to gather all the necessities.  Some things can wait, but diapers and such would be nice to have before he comes.  Still feeling fine other than not being able to bend very well and having Tums at hand every day.

Lastly, we had our third Valentine's day together.  Our first one we barely were engaged.  I definitely was the most creative then.  I had Sam go on a scavenger hunt around town and try and find me (which he did after going to the wrong place in the end).  I decided that as fun as that was, I'd rather spend the time with him and not use so much gas.  I really don't remember last year's other than making a card for him: "I'd give up Swedish fish [my favorite candy] to be with you...good thing you never asked."  This year I made another card that said "You are my 42...The answer to my life, my universe, and my everything."  (If you don't get that reference, then you never read Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy.)  Sam this year was SO sweet in showing up with a dozen red roses after a day of school, along with some Swedish Fish and Star bursts.

Here are the pics from the day:

                         

                                   Card from Sam's parents                      The flowers and makeshift vase

 I also wrote 14 things I love about Sam and hid them around the house.  He found them all within a couple of days.

A dozen of donuts from Donut Mart.  (Krispy Kremes is still better.)

What to do, what to do...

So...

I planned to go to school this semester from the get go when I found out I was preggo.  What would I do with my time otherwise?  And Sam and I totally could figure out a trading schedule.  I did find classes that would not coincide with Sam's for the semester, yet there were a few things holding me back.

Last semester I found that my major was not for me.  I think I always knew that, however I just wanted a degree and Family Studies was the fastest track to graduate. Last semester, though, I was in a class where others shared their passion for what they are studying and I could not say the same.  I knew it was important, but I wasn't that passionate about it to say the least.

Also, we looked at Sam's tentative medical school schedule and realized there could be no trading done whatsoever past his undergrad.  That would mean I would either have to put the babe in daycare/family care or well, not go to school after this semester.

Lastly, being due in the middle of the semester is something to think about.  I can stress stress stress out about school as it is but add a baby into the equation and honestly...can I do that?  Should I do that (to me and the baby and even Sam)?

So last minute, after signing up and everything, I dropped out of college for the time being.  Makes me really sad thinking about it, but there are more important things to think about with a baby on his way.

Without school or a job or a child yet, there is so much time on my hands it's not even funny.  There are things I am able to do that I haven't focused too much on before, like magnify my calling, cook, clean, craft, do my family history, go to the temple... (I've done these things since being married, but now I don't have to make time for it...that is my time!)  I also buckled down and got a pinterest account.  I think it's pretty cool and all, but the time flies way too fast when you are on pinterest (like facebook).  And I feel any tries at my pins will turn out like this:


Hopefully I use my time wisely with nothing to do, right?

If you're pinterested (ha.) my account is pinterest.com/kileyhobbs/