The Day That Changed Everything

One year ago today I found out I was pregnant. 

 I remember that moment just like it was yesterday.  We had gotten back from Chicago and my period was late.  We were getting ready to give IVF another shot and I was waiting to start birth control pills.  I thought I would do a test just to know my period was on its way.  I had taken HUNDREDS of tests before and each time I was always so nervous.  I would say a prayer and my hands would be shaking.  I would wait the 5 minutes it said to wait, but it seemed like hours.  Each time only one line showed up.  I would take the test into the sunlight just to see if there was a hint of a second line.  Maybe if I took the test apart I would see a second line.  Maybe I drank too much water and my urine wasn't concentrated enough.  Maybe I tested too early.  But always, there was only one line.  

We weren't actively trying because I couldn't get pregnant on my own (or so we thought) and we were going to do IVF again.  I had one test left over from a box and I just very casually did it.  I didn't say a prayer, I wasn't nervous, I had no thoughts about it at all....just that it would definitely be negative and that means my period will be here soon.  It was no big deal to me AT ALL.  Well, as soon as I did the test, I started to put it on the counter when I saw the test line come up....just like it always did......BUT, something else started to happen.  A second line began to show almost at the same time as the test line.  For a split second I thought this can't be real.  I stared at the test for a few seconds more not believing my eyes.  I started to sweat.  My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest.  I just started screaming "There are two lines!  There are two lines!"  I couldn't run to our bedroom fast enough to show Chris.  He was laying down after our flight home. He was totally confused.  I showed him the test and I yelled at him that I had never gotten two lines before.  He told me to calm down and do another one.  I went to the store, got some more, and did another test....TWO FREAKING LINES!!!!  I have never been so happy and so scared in my life.  I wanted so badly to have this be for real and for us to have a baby at the end of this.  I was scared because this wasn't the plan.  My body couldn't get pregnant right? I had shitty eggs, I have Crohn's Disease, we had tried for years.  We needed medical help to get pregnant.  I was supposed to get pregnant with IVF.  The doctors were supposed to control everything....how could this happen on its own?  Could I trust my body to grow our baby????

And week after week, my belly got bigger and my baby grew.  I was so scared of something going wrong and not being able to have our baby.  I cried to my mom one night and told her my fears.  I told her after everything we had gone through, how is it possible that we will finally get to have our baby?  I told her that I just could not imagine actually holding him in my arms.  That I was so scared we won't get to keep him.  She held me and told me to just trust that God will take care of me and my baby boy.  Chris asked me when I will finally believe that we were going to have a baby.  I told him I will believe it when I am actually holding him.

My arms felt so empty during those years.  But now, they are FULL!  Each day is such a blessing with him.  I will never forget the pain I felt while trying to have a baby.  I wish I had put more faith in God.  I wish I would have trusted the people around me telling me it was all going to work out.  It would have made the journey so much easier.  If I had known I was going to get THIS baby, I would have quit worrying!

See? My arms are full now!!  

These pics were taken at my school for Caraway Baby Day.  More on that later.

And just for fun.  I took these pics when we got home because I thought he looked so cute in his outfit :)

I finally have the family I have always dreamed about.  I have the best husband (who was way more patient than he should have been with me), two sweet dogs, and one PERFECT baby boy!  Who knows what my life will look like a year from now.  What I do know is that at this moment, life is good and I'm so thankful!!

Monkeying Around

My friend, Sarah Hall Datt and her family sent Pearce this cute monkey.  Sarah and I went to high school together, so it was really neat to receive a gift from her!  I decided to do a little photo shoot with Pearce and the monkey....this is how it went:

"Oh what a cute monkey, I like him."

"I do really like him, but I'm kinda hungry."

"Does he have my bottle?"

"Nope, it's not there."

"It's not here either."

"Mr. Monkey, you give me my bottle!"

"Mommy, he doesn't have it."

"I can't help it if I just ate 2 hours ago....my tummy is growling!"

"Mommy, why are you just standing there?  I want my bottle!"

"I'm gonna bite your head off Mr. Monkey because I'm mad and I'm hungry and nobody seems to care!"

 ***30 minutes later after a nice bottle***

"Well, hello there Mommy...have you met my friend, Mr. Monkey?"

"Mommy, he's so cute!"

"I love him."

"Oh my goodness...I am so cute!"

"UH OH...."

"I smell something and it's not Mr. Monkey....Mommy, I think we need to change your diaper."

Look what I got in the mail...

My letter from the district telling me they have accepted my resignation (I put a sticker over my address). 

It says, "Dear Mrs. Parnell:  This letter is to notify you that Round Rock ISD has accepted your resignation and to acknowledge your separation from RRISD effective May 29, 2012."   Why, thank you very much!  Chris said I should frame it...ha!  Chris also said that I get more sleep with a new baby than I did when I was teaching...wow, that's crazy!!!!  I love not setting my alarm for 5:30.  I do LOVE that my alarm is now a 15 pound, drooling, almost 4 month old....who slept until 9 this morning!

He is definitely feeling better today...still has a slight cough and congestion, but so much better!

Just for fun, this is a pic of how I get things done around the house now.  

We were supposed to be cleaning the bathroom, but he was having so much fun looking at us in the mirror!  Those fat legs are as yummy as they look!   

Poor, Pitiful, Pearce

So, Pearce has his first cold and he is so pitiful :(  He had a little bit of a cough yesterday and was kind of fussy, but I thought it was the beginnings of teething since he has been drooling so much.  The drooling can cause babies to cough a little.  Well, this morning he woke up so congested with the worse sounding cough.  He was coughing up lots of mucus, too.  Then he started sneezing.  I called the doctor and got the last appointment available at 2:15.  His eyes started getting watery and the coughing and sneezing did not stop.  He just wanted me to hold him.  He has slept most of the day.  We went to the doctor, and she said it was just a normal cold...there was nothing in his chest and he wasn't wheezing, so not much we could do about it.  I did get him a humidifier to ease the congestion.  I know he feels so yucky, but I'm kinda loving it because he just wants me to hold him.  My poor baby!

This is what we did most of the morning, waiting to go to the doctor.

After the doctor's appointment.  Soooo sad!

You can see his watery eyes here.  

We had to go to Wal Mart to get the humidifier...this is how he looked the entire time we were at Wal Mart.  Poor little guy!!!!

My first Mother's Day

This time last year, I was feeling pretty down.  My heart literally ached for a baby and I just didn't know when that would happen.  It had already been almost 3 years since we started trying.  Little did I know that 10 days later, my prayers would be answered!   Three and a half months ago, I became a mommy.  This is something I had dreamed about since I was a little girl....and I'm not kidding.  I played with baby dolls until I was way too old to play with babies.  I just always knew that I wanted to be a mommy...a stay-at-home-mommy.  When it was apparent that becoming a mother was not going to be easy for me, I was so scared.  In my heart I thought surely we will be able to have a baby, but I always had that fear that it might not happen.  I just never in a million years, thought something I wanted so badly would be so hard to get.  But let me tell you, he was well worth the wait!    

Our little miracle.

Pearce at 3 1/2 months old.

It was my first Mother's Day and I am so thankful!  We just took it easy Sunday.  I got to go to Starbucks, go to the gym, and run a few errands while Chris took care of Pearce.  That night, Chris cooked me an amazing dinner and I got a very special present, too!

As soon as I got home from the gym, Chris said he wanted to give me my gift.  I started tearing up immediately when I saw the James Avery gift bag....hanging off of Pearce's arm!!!

LOVE this necklace!  It has Pearce's birth stone in the middle.

Here's a close up of the garnet.  Chris really surprised me with this!!!

These are pictures Chris took before he gave me my gift.  So funny!!

 Then it was time for dinner!  After working out, I was STARVING and was looking forward to the calories!

My appetizer of different cheeses, olives, and salami.

Next course was lobster ravioli in the best sauce I have ever tasted!!!

Finally, time for a filet, with a merlot reduction sauce, and brussel sprouts.  I was not sure about the brussel sprouts, but I loved them!!!

Chris, thank you for making my first Mother's Day so special!  I loved everything you did!  

Charlotte's 2nd Birthday

Pearce and I went to Dallas last Monday for Charlotte's 2nd birthday party on Wednesday.  When we got to Dallas, we stopped at Grandma's for a visit.  Pearce was mesmerized by Grandma!  She was just talking and Pearce was just smiling and kicking away!  It was the cutest thing ever!

Then we headed over to Mama and Papa's house.  Papa was so happy to see Pearce!  We played, went on a golf cart ride, fed the fish, and ate a yummy chicken finger dinner!

Charlotte practicing blowing out the candle.

Charlotte and Nathan love feeding the fish!

Next, we headed back to Auntie Ashy's.  We started to get everything together for Charlotte's birthday party.  Nathan and Charlotte just LOVE Pearce.  It is so fun to see them with Pearce.  At one point Nathan even said, "Mommy, you said you were going to share Pearce."  He wasn't happy that Ashley wanted to hold him!

Check out the blur in the background!  That would be Captain America jumping on the bed....naked :)

Buddies

It's party day!!!  Charlotte's theme for the party was puppies.  She loves babies, Elmo, and puppies!  Doesn't she look so cute?!  Ashley used dog bowls to serve the food in, she made "Puppy Chow" mix, and the kids got to make dog tag necklaces and puppy ears to wear.  It was so cute!!  Mama made her dress.  She was a little shy when the party started, but warmed up and had so much fun with her little friends!

Mama and two of her babies.

Charlotte is so attached to Mama.  She didn't leave Mama's side for the first part of the party, but then got into it!

All of the kids had puppy ears.  What a cute idea!!!

Some of the puppies.

I painted doggy noses on the kids.  Charlotte, you are so cute!

Just love this sweet face!

Time for cake!!  Charlotte shared her party with another little girl that has the exact same birthday.  They both looked so cute blowing out their candles.

Good girl!!!

She is so beautiful.....even with chocolate all over her face!

Me, Papa, and Pearce

These next pictures are so funny!  Nathan had a blast at the party.  He was running around, having so much fun!  After the kids left and it was just our family, we went outside to swing.  I was looking through some of my pictures while Nathan was swinging and then I saw that he had fallen asleep!

Totally out!

Nathan finally woke up for dinner :)

Fatty had fun at the party too!