We love the beach!

As most of you know, Matt and I love the beach! When we get the chance to go, we take it! So when our friend, Jordan, asked us if we’d be interested to go today (Tuesday, May 20th) we said HECK YEAH! It’s been an adventure preparing for this day.  You wouldn’t believe how crazy I’ve made myself trying to find something that provided shade for my little one–I didn’t want to expose his delicate skin to the sun… at least not yet. So I have been searching and thought I found one thing that would work. But when I went to Sports Chalet, they didn’t have it. *sigh* I decided to settle for a beach umbrella. It will do for now.

This morning, amidst the semi-chaos, I got Jackson ready for his first adventure at the beach. Board shorts, rash guard–he was set to go!

Too cute for words!! We got out to Manhattan around 11:30am and the marine layer was still hanging around. But it let up around 12:30p when Jordan and Matt went to get subway for lunch. Mmmmm! Since the sun came out it was time to put up the umbrella to shade our little man.

Looks great, right? Yeah I thought so too, until Matt and Jordan went for a walk without their phones!! And wouldn’t you know it, the wind picked up, clouds came back and umbrella went flying!! So I had to chase it down, bring it back, fix it from being inverted–twice! And where were the boys this whole time? Walking… just relaxing on the beach. Oh and by this time our parking meter had expired it’s 3 hour limit. So needless to say, when the boys got back we packed up and headed home.

It was a nice relaxing time. I didn’t get sunburn. Matt has a few red spots where the we didn’t get sunscreen. And Jordan… well Jordan decided he wanted lobster legs, so he didn’t put any sunscreen on them when we got there. Silly Jordan

We love the beach and can’t wait to go back!

Update!!

Since Matt was supposed to finish the blog below and didn’t… I will!

After being sent to labor and delivery, we were told I would be monitored and most likely induced. And sure enough, I was given a cervix softener (OUCH!) and catheter (double OUCH!). The Dr said that the cervix softener would take about 10 hours to work from the time it was given, and then he would come back to check on me to issue the potcin to start contractions. So we waited… and waited… and called my parents and Matt’s parents and text messaged our friends to start praying… and waited some more.

Around 8:00pm the nurses came to check on my urine output and noticed that it hadn’t been very much in the later half of the day and started to decrease even more. By 9:00pm my urine production had decreased so much so that the Dr came in and said “I suggest a C-Section.” I’m sure he said more than that, but really, all I heard was “C-Section.” What came next was really a blur to me– I was prepped for surgery, my parents and mother-in-law showed up, Matt was running frantically around the hospital trying to direct my parents and mother-in-law, and Aunt and cousin and Brother to the labor and delivery ward… I barely got to kiss my family before i was wheeled into surgery. But that’s a different story, right Dad?

I remember some things from the C-Section, like getting my numbing medication and wondering where the heck is Matt?!? (He came like 3 minutes later, but it felt like a life time.) Then Matt was sitting to my left, holding my hand, praying when the nurses or Dr or someone said “There will be a little pressure and then the baby will be here…” And sure enough a few seconds later at 10:07pm I heard my son, JACKSON DAVID LLOYD, cry a newborns cry. FINALLY he was out and I couldn’t have been happier. He was 7 lbs and 7 oz, 20 inches long. (Lord have mercy had I gone another 2 1/2weeks)

After the C-Section the healing process took a while… I didn’t get up to walk until 2 days later, and boy was that fun. (Insert sarcasm.) But I did heal and am doing quite well now. I’ve lost a total of 35 lbs in water weight, which has got to tell you how swollen I was! i don’t wish preclampsia on any of my worst enemies. It sucks!

LIFE AFTER THE BIRTH

Jackson is 7 (almost weeks now and I am loving this whole mother thing! He’s gaining weight and growing and changing every day. He is very strong (Juice Plus, baby! no really… he’s a Juice Plus baby –that was for you, Mom.) Jackson is starting to smile on purpose now and coo just a little. He’s a lot more alert and looking so much like his dad. One of my favorite things is his little fish face—his eyes get real big and he’ll purse his lips together, SO precious. I can’t help but kiss them.

So I’ll finish this blog with the things I’ve learned in the past 7+weeks;

• I’ve been peed on, pooped on, spit-up on and sneezed on and yet it doesn’t change the enormous amount of love I have for my son
• I’ve experience late, late nights of crying, constipation and putting thermometers where they should never have to go, and yet I love my son even more
• Even in the middle of the night, when Matt and I are trying to sleep and Jackson won’t close his eyes, then lets out a little coo–he warms my heart and I don’t care if he’s asleep or not
• Being a Mother has given me a glimpse into the heart of God and his love for his children. And has made me fall in love with my husband all over again.
• Oh! and I’d much rather be a Mom than pregnant.