Sharing My Jennarocity

Once again, I apologize for the lack of pictures. I am able to upload pictures onto my Facebook page from my phone but not onto the blog. I promise I will do it! So, the last four weeks have gone by pretty fast. I can't believe that in three weeks, I have to go back to work and leave my beautiful daughter. I still don't know how I feel about that. I didn't think I could want to stay at home but after spending all of this great quality time with her, it's hard to think of not being able to see her 8 hours a day. I don't like to think about it, it makes me cry. I have lost 26 pounds so far, thank goodness for breastfeeding, right? I have done nothing to lose that weight. Today, for the first time, we took a long walk. I guess the 80 degree weather at Christmas can serve a good purpose! I hope to lose at least 25 more pounds, which would get back lower than where I started, so we will see! That involves me working out though! Let's see, so far, at 4 weeks, here are...

Well, my computer is acting up so it has been hard to post pictures. But I wanted to write my birth story on here so you all know how it went!! On Tuesday, November 23, at 330 am, I started having contractions. I had been having contractions for a couple weeks, so I wanted to take some time and make sure this was the real thing. I got up, watched some TV, ate some cereal, and after about 30 minutes, I decided to time my contractions. Jason was still fast asleep at this point, but after another hour and contractions that were coming every 6 minutes or so, I woke him up. I told him it might not be it, but said he might want to get up and take a shower and I would do the same. Since I had a couple scares before, I decided to walk around, sit down, and do anything I could think to slow the contractions down. When the got more intense and frequent, I decided it was time to go to the hospital. Jason was so excited!! I was excited too. We got to the hospital at about 530 and they admitt...

I went to the doctor today...it appears I am still only 1 cm dialated and 70% affaced. I was really disappointed today, I thought for sure he would say "you are ready to go, let's go to the hospital!" Now, we still might be pregnant next weekend. We scheduled an induction for the 29th, just in case. So at least I know a week from Monday, Avery will be here. I don't think I've ever felt so impatient. It might actually be good, it gives us time to spend with the kids and have Thanksgiving. My husband is looking at me like, stop typing! Goodnight, Blogland.

Well, I started having contractions this last weekend. They were very few and far between, but they started. On Monday at work, they started coming more often and closer together. After a few hours, they just stopped. Today they started again. This time, they were stronger and closer together. About 4, they were 3 to 5 minutes apart. On the way home, we decided to go to the hospital. On the way, the contractions got farther apart until they just went away. So, we just stayed home. This childbirth stuff is really annoying, I must say. I will keep you all updated!!

Many people have asked me to post pictures of the finished nursery. I have been so blessed by people who have taken care of us and given us the things we have needed for Avery. All of the furniture, except the crib, was given to us by Kathy Roper, the ADORABLE rocking chair for Avery was made by Kristen Chapman (who is a GENIUS by the way) and the bedding was given to us by our wonderful mother. I am so lucky and can't wait to see how cute she is going to look in her new stuff!

In what is now a Whitehead family tradition, we took the kids to the Double Oak Pumpkin Patch. I think this is the best pumpkin patch in the metroplex, by far. The kids really enjoy going. This year, we learned some lessons: 1) Snow cones AFTER important pictures, so no blue mouths! 2) Take all pictures you really want in the first 15 minutes so no dirty, hay filled hair and clothes. 3) Only go to the patch for a couple of hours because that is all our poor noses can take! It is so cool that we have come to the point where we can look back on things we have done a year ago, see how the kids have grown since last year, and create memories we can talk about with each other. They have just gotten so much bigger since last year, I guess kids are funny that way. They just keep growing! I think we have a bit of a mixed reference here...

This last fall, Jordan played soccer. I think he's played before, but we kind of considered it his first season because he didn't know too much about it. Many kids on his team hadn't played before, so it was really fun to watch him and the boys learn over the season. We really enjoyed being able to go and see the kids so much. Since we normally only see them Thursdays and every other weekend, it gave Jason a reason to see them more often. I think the coach has volunteered to coach next spring, so Jordan will probably want to play again. Towards the end of the season, he started playing goalie, which he really enjoys. He keeps telling us he is going to get a college scholarship..I don't think he realizes how much work that takes, so we will see how that works out in a few years. :-) I am uploading some pictures of his in his uniform and the team...I have to admit, he is a cute, cute kid. I am a lucky step-mom. We love you, Jordan! Way to go this season!

I need your help, blogland.... I need recipes that I can cook and freeze. Pass around the word!!!!!

I know I haven't done a great job of keeping up with the blogging lately. I did want to update, for those of you who haven't already heard, that Avery will be joining the world on November 23 via c-section. At this point, she is still breech, so while there still may be a chance she will turn, it's not normally likely to happen at this point. I just want her to come and be healthy. I am not concerned about having a c-section at all. As far as we go, we have been spending our time hanging out at home and watching Jordan play soccer, which is alot of fun. I will try to post some pics and video. just pray for us in these next few weeks...

Friday, I had noticed some pains in my stomach that were similiar to menstrual cramps. My hip joints had also begun to hurt quite a bit. I was texting my sister in law back and forth about it and she finally convinced me to at least call the doctor. Apparently, menstrual cramps are not a normal part of your third trimester, so I went ahead and called just in case. They had me come in right away, just to get checked out. As soon as they told me to come on in to the office, my heart started racing and I got very nervous. I was scared they were going to tell me something was wrong. When I got there, they immediately took me in to the sonograph room and took some pictures of Avery. Whew. There she is, looking good! The sonograph nurse told me that everything seemed to be fine, my cervix looked long and closed (which means I hadn't started dialating - good thing) but that the baby looked to be frank breech. For those of you who had no clue what that meant, I have attached a picture. I...

This last weekend marked my official trip into my 3rd trimester. My pregnancy has pretty much played out like a text book pregnancy. The first trimester was marked by mood swings and sickness. The week I entered my 2nd trimester, my sickness pretty much went away and I got all of my energy back. My 3rd trimester is proving to also be a different stage, however, I must say, the further I get into this pregnancy, the more fear I have and the more I am scared by even the slightest change. Yesterday, I had noticed Avery's movements had changed. Before, I would feel very distinctive kicks pretty much all day. Yesterday, I hadn't felt Avery move in a long time. All day, I had a cramp in my stomach. When we got home from work, we decided to go on a walk. I had to stop a couple of times because the cramp in my stomach had gotten worse, like Avery had moved down really far and it was very painful. I hadn't really felt "pain" before, it was more just an uncomfortable feel...

Well, I have never been a crafty person, so I must say I am very proud of myself right now. We got the furniture for Avery's room, which is beautiful, but I need it to be black and white and the hardware was all brass. I was going to go buy all new hardware, but after looking at another blog this last week that featured a dresser makeover, I figured out I could do this alot cheaper. So, I went and got some painter's tape and black spray paint and Jason spray painted the existing pieces of hardware. Below you see the chest of drawers before and after. I still have a design I want to paint on the top, which will hopefully take place tomorrow. This makes me so motivated to want to see what else I can redo in my house. :-) src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/97/41935D205B28A41158BB87B105EE9E19.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/>

Wow, am I only 11 weeks away from having a baby?? I can't believe it. I know I am not looking the best I have ever looked, but here I am anyway!

I was going to post a few of my past days 30 days of prayer and the topics, but something else sideswiped me today, so I thought it was only fitting that I pray for something else today, including my marriage. I do NOT always like to be the bigger person. There, I said it. Sometimes, it's nice to be the bigger person, because you feel good about yourself, knowing that you have done the right thing. Other times, being the bigger person JUST. PLAIN. STINKS. I feel really sorry for Jason sometimes. Being divorced with kids involves ALOT of being the bigger person. Especially when there is someone that just doesn't want to cooperate. I had a taste of what it was like tonight to have someone just not care, one small little bit, about someone else's life, feelings, or time. Let me tell you, in alot of life's circumstances, you have control over the situation, to a certain degree. Divorce and children is not one of those circumstances if you are the parent who does not hav...

"Love is patient, love is kind..." Probably one of the most recognized verses of the Bible, even for non-Christians. We put this on cards, we read it at our weddings, we have it on decor around our house. But how often do we put it in to practice? Living with someone, day in and day out, can be very trying of your patience. When your spouse puts their clothes on the floor instead of the hamper, which is only 2 inches away (and I am not talking about Jason here). Or when your husband watches his movie a little too loud and it disturbs the show you are watching in the bedroom. Or when you hear a constant sound they make. All of that certainly tries your patience. It's very easy to lose your patience with a spouse, and it's weird because it just sort of, sneaks up on you. You go from being fine to being completely ridiculously impatient with this person and everything that is happening is just getting on your nerves! In times of impatience, it is important we pray fo...

"Nagging." "Attacked." "Controlling." These are all words that have been used to describe me over the last few months. It's very hard to hear things like this from your husband, especially if you think they aren't true. Hearing these words actually spurs on more fighting because it aggravates me that he would say I am being like that to him. Nevertheless, these words are Jason's reality. He is not someone that is manipulative or uses words as a way to get me to do things, so when he says he feels like I am being a nag or he feels like I am attacking him, it's important that I listen, no matter how hard it might be. Sometimes, in a marriage or relationship, it's easier to accept that a person shouldn't feel that way instead of that they do feel that way. "My intent is not to nag you, I just want you to know..." "I am not being controlling, I just think you should..." "You shouldn't feel like I am attack...

Jason and I are newlyweds, going through the trials of the first year of marriage. We are also a couple that is expecting. We are also a couple who have both changed jobs this year. We have had alot of things happen to us in the last 7 months. When Jason and I got together in the beginning, I had convinced myself that I had alot of wisdom when it came to relationships. I was by myself for so long and had been through so many heartbreaks and bad situations when it came to guys that I thought when I met Jason, I had it all figured out. I really thought that since I was older when I got married and was "wiser" that I was going to be immune to alot of the things people go through in relationships. I had seen friends get together and break up, watching as they went through their trials and I told myself I learned a few things along the way. I knew the importance of keeping your sense of humor. I knew the importance of spending time with friends as an individual. I knew what coul...

I was in the bathroom when a cute black lab mix named Bella followed me in and watched me. She looked up at me, with those sad, lab eyes, and so I got on the ground and did what she wanted me to do: rub her belly. I rubbed her belly for about 20 minutes, in the middle of the bathroom floor, until she got up and went in the other room. I love that dog. I have loved that dog since the second I saw her. Bella came to me as a complete surprise. My friend Kate texted me, in the middle of a Monday, asking if I wanted a free puppy. I had been wanting one for a while, but it just never seemed to be the perfect fit. Blindly, I said I would love one. I told her I wanted a girl dog, so Kate went out to her friend's house, where her puppies were just accidents and she was giving them all away, and got the only female of a litter of 8. It just so happened, she was the only all black puppy, and the cutest one at that. She was the product of a corgi/blue heeler mother and a lab dad. Just a litt...

We went to the lake with Brooke, Dave and Leslie this last weekend. It was kind of a last minute thing and since Jason and I haven't been anywhere this summer, we decided it was a good idea. Basically, we spend the whole weekend doing nothing. Jason and Dave worked on the boat and then Sunday, they took the boat out tubing. I wasn't going to go out on the boat, for obvious reasons, until Dave found this HUGE tube meant for three people. I managed to get on and off without having to get in the water. Dave promised he would go slow, which he did, so I could at least get pulled around. This tube was pretty cool, it was hardly bouncy at all and I just stayed on the back and relaxed. Then, right after we were done, the boat ran out of gas. So we used his trolling motor to get back to the dock. Took about 20 minutes, but was certainly relaxing. Hot, but relaxing. I took another belly pic. I am 25 weeks and 4 days today. I have a little over 14 weeks until Avery comes to see us! ...