He's here!

My little man is here and I couldn't be more in love! Yesterday started super early. We checked in to the hospital at 5:30 for my 7:30 c-section. My c-section was surprisingly easy. My spinal took and everything happened so quickly.

*This is our last picture as a family of 3

*C-section in progress

*Hudson Bennett Haynes

7 lbs. 14 oz

21 inches long

7:46 am

*I am absolutely in love with this sweetheart.

*My sleepy angel

*My 2 boys!

Jackson is so in love with his brother. He has become quite the baby hog! He always wants to hold Hudson and is not a fan of sharing. Jackson has needed a little more attention lately-but I was expecting that. All in all, he has been a wonderful big brother-very loving and gentle. I could not have asked for a better, sweeter birthday for my sweet Hudson.

Last Weekend as a Family of 3

Bittersweet! That is how I am feeling right now. Don't get me wrong, I am SO excited to meet my new little guy. I am just so used to my simple life with 3 of us. Well, this weekend we decided to have some fun and celebrate our last weekend with 3 of us.

Saturday, We got up and Jackson and I read the newspaper while Jason ran an errand. When he got home, my mom and I went to Mullins Crafts fair. It is one of my favorite things to do with my mom...We both have a love of crafts fairs.

After we left the crafts fair, we went to Muddy's to get a cupcake. I came home and devoured mine!!!

Sunday, we skipped church and went to the zoo. We really wanted to see the new exhibit, Teton Trek, and we figured this may be one of the last times that we would be able to see it for a while.The weather was beautiful, so we got there early and I waddled for a few hours of family fun.

*Jackson thought that the wolves were myparent's German Shepherd. He kept saying "Hi Jake."..so cute!

*Daddy and Jackson taking a little break in the rocking chairs.

*Looking at the polar bears.Don't be fooled by the smile on his face, he is terrified by them!

Last weekend as a family of 3 was a success! I am sad to leave this part of my life but so excited about what the Lord has in store for us in the next chapter.

Work Shower

Yesterday, the sweet girls at my work threw me the greatest baby shower. I am so blessed to have wonderful friends...I am so thankful for all you ladies!

Isn't that cake so cute? And it was so yummy too!

Just a few of the presents. They were so generous. We got gift cards to Babies R' Us and Target, so many clothes (Hudson is going to be so stylish!), a few teether toys, a blankie, burp clothes, bibs, and diapers. Thanks again girls. It was way more than I could have ever expected.

On another note, I just wanted to document 2 funnies that Jackson said today:
1. On the way to see my mom today, he kept saying "Ow, my eyes." I asked him "Jackson, is the sun in your eyes?". He said "No, it's just my contacts."

2. Today, I was telling him that he was going to go see my mom. He said "Mommy, Mimi's not here, she is in my heart."  I have told him before about Jesus living in our heart, but he must have so much love for his Mimi that she is there. It melted me!

Thanksgiving Traditions-Brown Bag Turkey

(*I got this picture off of Google. I am not that good.)

One of my favorite bloggers, Kelly is asking people to post their favorite Thanksgiving traditions. Well, since I will have a 1 week old this year, I won't get to cook what I usually do...however I can blog about it. Two years ago, I took it upon myself to cook Thanksgiving dinner for my family. I have always been intimidated of turkey. Not sure what it was about it, but I just thought I couldn't handle it. Well, I found a super easy recipe on the internet and decided to give it a whirl....Brown bag turkey. Try it, you will LOVE it!

1.Preheat oven to 350. Remove the "bag of stuff" from the cavity of the bird. Rinse the turkey off (inside and out) and pat dry. Put whatever veggies you would like to inside the turkey-I used an onion, celery, and carrot. On the outside, I sprinkled poultry seasoning and salt and pepper all over and rubbed him down with vegetable oil.

2. Take a supermarket brown bag. Rub vegetable oil all over the bag-You want to saturate it. This is super messy, you may want someone to assist you because you will be up to your elbows (literally) in oil.

3. Take your prepared turkey and put him into the greased bag. Roll him up, staple it shut and place the turkey in your roasting pan.

4. Place roasting pan in oven making sure that the bag is not touching the heating element. Cook turkey 11 to 14 minutes per pound. (internal temp of 180 degrees in the thigh) Take out of the oven and allow to rest in the bag at least 15 minutes. Carve and enjoy!!!

It is such a foolproof recipe and absolutely delicious. I also make my macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes. My mom makes the BEST sweet potato casserole (with pecans instead of marshmellows). Oh man...Now I am ready for Turkey day. Gobble, gobble!

38 Weeks

I am 38 weeks...I can't believe it!!! I am so close, and SO READY. We have scheduled my c-section so I have officially started counting down. I feel like I am ready to pop and look like it too...

Right? I love the look of pity on people's faces when they look at my belly. It's like "Oh you poor girl. You must be miserable". My belly feels much tighter than it did with Jackson. I have still only gained 2 pounds total, so that may have something to do with it.

This morning, we got such a blessing. Our sweet Sunday school class had a little baby shower for us. We ate breakfast together and then they prayed over us. It was such a sweet time-they prayed some of the same prayers for Hudson that we have been praying for both our boys (that they would come to know the Lord at an early age and have an incredible relationship with him). Then they showered us with diapers and wipes...What more could a second time mom ask for? We are truly blessed to have such a great Sunday school class. Thanks guys!

On a seperate note, I want to thank all my sweet friends that have e-mailed, commented, and prayed for us since my last post. You have really lifted my spirits. We have had a great weekend with Jackson. He has been so well behaved. You have all given me great advice! I have several books now that I will be reading during maternity leave and some other great ideas that I will blog about soon. Satan was really working on me, putting the lie in my head that I was a terrible Mommy. Leave me alone Satan!!!

Devastated!

I NEED ADVICE!!!!

Jackson has gotten kicked out of his second MDO. (As I type this with tears streaming down my face, I feel so embarrassed, helpless, distraught...) He has always been what I like to call "impulsive and strong willed" and lately his behavior seemed to be improving. Two weeks ago, that all seemed to go downhill and fast. He bit a little boy at school (which was his second offense) and I was told that if he acted up again, he would be released from the program. Well, today he scratched a child's face and we were called and had to pick him up. They said that parents were questioning why he was still in the program. (Let me also say that he has been exceptionally good at home and nursery at church so we have no way of really knowing what is provoking him) What kills me, is that I feel like people have written him off already at the small age of 2.
I am so upset. I feel like a failure as a Mommy. I have prayed for wisdom and that the Lord would show me exactally the kind of Mommy/discipline that Jackson needs. What do I do? I am desperate!

(I am so mortified that I just wrote this post...but I am in need of something. Help me friends!)

2 New Giveaways!

Ok blog mommies...I have 2 exciting new giveaways.

1. The first is from Frugal Coupon Living. She is giving away a new Britax carseat. Now, I know soon I will be in need of this, but I wanted to let all my blog friends know about this little gem of a giveaway!!! There are 9 ways to enter.

2. The second is from one of my new favorite blogs The Diaper Diaries. She has a friend that has started a greeting card business. She is offering the winner a $100 gift card for Holiday photo cards. Can I tell you, they are some of the cutest cards that I have ever seen. Head over and enter to win!

Happy Halloween 2009

Cowboy Jax and his horse Tex, 2009

After being stuck in the house for a week, we finally busted out tonight to Trick-or-Treat. (We have been fever free for 3 days, so it was time for Mommy to go somewhere other than the Dr.'s office.) Ok, so we didn't do any heavy duty Trick-or-Treating...but we got in costume and hit up 2 houses. That counts, right?

First we went to our friend's Betsy and Jimmy's house. Betsy is my mom and grandmother's best friend and Jackson absolutely adores her. The whole way to her house, we practiced saying "Trick-or-Treat" and he had it down pat. As soon as we got to her house, he became SO shy. I guess not seeing anyone but me in a week made him forget how to act in public.

After we left their house, we made the trek out to Fayette County to see my parents. As soon as we got on the interstate, Jackson kept asking if we were going to Mimi and Buddy's. He was super excited to go to their house.

 He was SO excited to see his Mimi and Buddy!

This is a good view of the whole costume. It made me laugh all night.

Jackson was checking out his Halloween basket from his Mimi and Buddy. He went straight for his favorite candy...Sour Patch Kids. (He is definately my child!!!)

So tired but so happy to have left the house.

A Great Giveaway

Because I am on quarentine with a sick little one, I have been spending a little more time catching up on my favorite blogs. I found a great giveaway and wanted to let all my friends know about it.....but don't enter, I want to win so go ahead and enter. Check it out over at Diaper Diaries.

I've Got the H1N1 Blues

My worst nightmare has happened. Jackson has swine flu! After 2 days with 103 degree temps, we have finally gotten it to come down. I am praying he gets better and Jason and I don't get it!

Meet Pup Pup and Mr. Bear

What a fun Saturday we had. I was in desperate need of some glasses, so we ventured to the mall. We decided that while we were waiting for my glasses to get ready, we would go to Build-A-Bear. We thought it would be something fun that Jackson could do to get ready for Hudson and that he could give him on his birthday. Jackson had a blast. I hope the next time we are at the mall, we can go past that store and not have to go in!

He choose a puppy to make for himself and a sweet bear to make for Hudson.

He helped the lady put the stuffing in....

...and kissed the heart to "warm it and put in some love".

Next it was off to the bathtub to get these animals clean...

...and then make their birth certificates.

We are proud to introduce the newest members of the Haynes family...Pup Pup (Jackson's) and Mr. Bear (Hudson's)

Can you tell by that smile that he had fun?

The Last 48 Hours

What a difference a day makes. This time yesterday, I was worried sick about Hudson and today, I woke up refreshed because I actually got some sleep instead of running through the "what ifs" all night long.

Monday, I went in for my re-check ultrasound to measure my amniotic fluid again. Well, what do you know, it went up another 1.5 cms. So in a week and a half, it went from 13 cm to 19.5 cm (not considered "too high" but a little alarming because it made such a big jump in such a short time). Dr. M really wanted me to see a specialist, so she made an appointment with Dr. BK (a fetal monotoring Dr.). I had heard wonderful things about him, so I knew I was in good hands...but this was not the way it was supposed to happen. Right? I was supposed to have an uneventful, "boring" pregnancy.

What was the first thing I did when I got home? I googled excessive amniotic fluid. (probably not something I should have done!) I saw scary words like heart failure, kidney failure, inability to swallow, and amniocentisis. That officially freaked me out.

We got to Dr. BK's office at 12:30. They took us back around 1:15 and did an ultrasound. It was one of the neatest things that I have ever seen. We were able to see EVERYTHING. They measured everything twice and then we saw a 4D view of it. We even got to see his sweet face.

To me he looks like Jackson. (Can you see his face? It's his eyes-which were open, nose and hand in front of his mouth)

Yawn, I am so bored in here. (Eyes, nose and mouth open)

Feeling a little shy (eyes closed, nose, and hand covering his mouth)

We then waited in a conference room for Dr. BK to come in and talk to us. He told us that everything looked great. My fluid was not too high and that Hudson measured out perfectly! He said that he did not want to ever see me again and I told him that I never wanted to see him again either...no offense. =) A scary day ended up being one of the greatest days. Getting to see my sweet boys face was the highlight of this pregnancy!