A few facts about Kolton

Since Kolton is 6 weeks old, I thought I would share a few facts about him:

1) He is a grunter!!!  The first 2 weeks after he was born he rarely cried...just grunted.   At times it can be really funny and cute, but at 2:00 in the morning, it's not too funny!!

2) He LOVES ceiling fans, especially the one in our living room.  In fact, in the picture of him smiling below he is looking up at the fan.  We are still trying to teach him to smile when he sees mommy or daddy....right now he just smiles at his best friend...the fan.  One day I'll get my smile!

3) He's not a big fan of soda, which is a big bummer for me.  I'm going through withdrawals...

4) He is colic.  Because of this, Ryan and I have not eaten dinner together for the past 3 weeks.  It is the worst thing to have your child screaming and act like he's in a ton of pain and there's nothing you can do about it.  One thing he does like during his colic episodes is to sit in his bouncer on top of the dryer.

5) When Kolton was born, he had the funny ability to bend his foot to touch his shin.  It was the funniest thing ever!  You can kindof see it in this picture...

6) Kolton came out with his hand by his face and to this day he loves to sleep with his hands up by his face.  

7)  When Kolton is awake, he loves to be facing forward to look around.  This is how we walk around the house when he's awake:

8)  He's not a big fan of his swing, but hopefully one day he will enjoy it more...that will give me a little break! 

9)  He is a great baby and we are very lucky that he chose us to be his parents.  I can't believe how quickly he has already grown!!!  

Kolton James Waters

I'm finally getting around to updating the blog since Kolton was born 6 weeks ago (I know...he's already 6 weeks!) I finally feel like I'm getting more of a handle on being a mom.  So let me tell you about Kolton's appearance into this world:

On Saturday night, June 27th, Ryan and I had just gotten back from dinner and a movie.  I sat down to watch a little T.V. before I went up to bed.  About 9:45 I felt a little "pop" and felt like I had peed my pants a little.  I immediately jumped up and went to the bathroom.  I wasn't quite sure if it was my water breaking, since it wasn't a gush of water, but I knew that it wasn't "normal".  So I went upstairs and told Ryan that I thought my water broke and the look on his face was priceless.  After calling Ryan's parents and the hospital, we got ready to leave (I was literally shaking...I couldn't believe it was time).  There was just one thing left to do...call my mom.  

My moms flight was scheduled for Wednesday, so I dreaded the phone call (I had Ryan call).  Both my mom and I were keeping our fingers crossed that Kolton would listen to us and wait until she got there (I even tried keeping my legs crossed more, but I guess the dinner and movie did it!).  So it was about 1:00 a.m. Georgia time when Ryan called my mom.  She told us she would get the first flight out that morning....but we had our doubts that she would even make it across the country in time.  

So we got to the hospital about 11:00 p.m. and got checked in.  I didn't start feeling contractions for a while, but once I felt them, I wanted the epidural!!  I got the epidural, but it didn't work right.  I got really numb in my chest and was having a hard time breathing, so they turned it off for an hour to let things settle.  After an hour, they turned it back on  (to a lower dose), but it wasn't getting rid of the pain.  They tried another kind of medicine (can't remember what it's called), which helped the pain a little, but I still felt every contraction during labor.  By the time I had Kolton, my legs were no longer numb and I had felt the worst pain in my life!  Not the way I had pictured the epidural going!!

Well, things were progressing at a good pace, but not too fast.  I was put on oxygen for awhile because Kolton's heart rate would drop really low during a contraction.  About 8:00 I was 6 cm dilated.  I was keeping my fingers crossed that my mom would make it in time (her flight got in at 11:30).  At the pace I was going, I thought she would make it.  But then they checked me about 9:00 and I was 9 1/2 cm dilated.  I broke down because I knew I was close to pushing, which meant my mom would miss it (crazy I know...who cries because their labor is almost over?? or went too quickly??).  An hour went by and then 2 hours went by and I was still at a 9 1/2.  About 11:15 they checked me and I was ready to push! 

I pushed for about an hour and 15 minutes.  And believe it or not, at about 12:20ish my mom walked through the door!!! I was sooo happy to see her, although I didn't show it much since I was in so much pain!!  Yes, she made it with only minutes to spare! (Isn't that the coolest thing?Kolton ended up listening to us and waiting until my mom was there!!) A few more pushes and 15 minutes later Kolton James was born:

12:34p.m.      7lbs. 10 ounces      20.5 inches

After much discussion on a name (we went into the hospital debating either Brayden or Aiden) we decided on Kolton.  After looking at him, we thought he needed a strong name for his strong features and thought Kolton was the name.  

He has his dads nose, lips, eye color (they are blue...yay!!), long fingers and big feet.  He has the shape of my eyes, chin, ears and eyebrows (or lack thereof when born).  He has dark hair, which we are guessing will turn blonde since Ryan and I had dark hair when we were born and are now blonde.  

We are truly blessed to have Kolton in our lives.  He makes us laugh everyday and we look forward to the laughter the rest of our lives.  We love you Kolton!!

Any day now

So I am almost 39 weeks.  I had a doctors appointment on Tuesday where he checked my cervix.  It is not completely closed off, so the doctor guessed that I would have the baby within the next week...let's see how accurate he is!  You can guess with these things, but the baby is going to come on his terms.

I got a little nervous when the doctor made his guess because my mom isn't coming until Wednesday.  I really want and need her to be there, so I'm hoping the doctor is off just a little!!  That sounds crazy because most women at this stage of pregnancy are dying for that little one to come, and although I definitely want him to come soon, I want him to wait until my mom gets here!  So now it's just a matter of time.  I'm taking my moms advice and keeping my legs up and crossed to keep that baby in there!! Haha.  

It's pretty crazy to think that in a matter of a couple of weeks I will be holding my little boy.  It's always been something we have talked about as down the road, but it really could be any day now.  It makes me very nervous, yet excited thinking about it.  I just hope the labor and delivery go well!!  The next time I blog, I will probably be a mommy!!  How crazy!!

Here are pictures of me at 38 weeks:

And the wait begins....

Last Wednesday was the last day of school/teaching.  Although I was very ready to be done and have a break, it was a little sad as well.  After much prayer and thought, I decided to take next year off to stay home with baby Waters.  I am very excited and blessed to be able to stay home and wouldn't want it any other way, but it was a little sad leaving the nice school I was at and the sweet class that I had.  I have a new adventure to take on, and I hope that if I could handle 30 third graders, I should be able to handle one little guy...hopefully!!  Here is a picture of my class on the last day of school...they were an awesome class!

All year long I've been focused on getting through the school year.  I'm grateful that I have worked through most of the pregnancy because it has kept me busy and active.  Now that the school year has ended, the true waiting has begun.  There are times where I love just sitting around and being lazy, and I've needed that at times, but it has been hard going from being "on the go" and teaching every day of the week to not having anything I "have" to do.  I try to keep myself busy (I have made a list of all the things I would like to get done by the time the baby gets here), and that has helped, but it hasn't made time go by very quickly.  I still have 3 more weeks and I have completed most of the things on my list.  I shouldn't complain, but this waiting game is not very fun!!  I know that I need to enjoy the time I have before the baby gets here, but can't he just come already!!  I guess one thing I need to learn is patience and this is a good way of teaching me that trait.  

Here is a picture I took today.  I'm about 37 weeks (on Saturday).  I can make it!!

May happenings

It's been awhile since I've posted anything, so I thought I would catch up on a few things that have happened in May.

First, my 3rd grade co-workers gave me a baby shower at work.  It turned out very cute and I got a lot of good gifts for the baby.  Here are a few of pictures from the shower:

    

The yummy cake

  

     One of the many "cakes" made from diapers

    

Hard to read, but VERY cute!!

  

       The awesome gifts!!

Second, we took a much needed little vacation over the Memorial Day weekend.  In the 3 1/2 hour drive, we went from Visalia with temperatures of the upper 90's to San Francisco with temperatures in the mid 50's.  It was a nice break from the heat (especially for me!), but it turned out to be a little cooler than we had expected.  The whole point of the trip was that we had tickets to see Wicked.  I love this play!  I recommend that everyone sees it!  Ryan and I saw it last summer in New York.  We enjoyed seeing it again, although New York's was better.  We also did some shopping, went to Ghirardelli Square, the California Academy of Sciences museum, and Alcatraz.  It was a TON of walking in 2 days and I was the caboose of the gang, but it was a TON of fun.   One our way home we stopped at the Gilroy outlets.  It was a full and eventful weekend.  Here are a few pictures from the trip:

                    

          

  

This is a horrible pic, 

but it's the only one of us that weekend

And finally, I thought I would update you on my ever growing belly.  I am now 35 weeks and counting down, although I know I still have awhile.  I have been feeling pretty good still and the baby seems to be doing just fine.  Within the last week, my feet have decided to swell pretty good.  With teaching it doesn't help, but I'm drinking a lot of water and trying to put them up as much as possible.  The doctor is guessing that the baby will be about average, which is 7 1/2 lbs.  Lets see how accurate that is, considering Ryan was 10 lbs.  We are getting very excited to see the little guy, but also more anxious and nervous for the labor and delivery.  I hope all goes well!!  Here's my 35 week picture:

Counting down the days

It has been awhile since I posted , so I thought I would give an update.  Not much has changed since I last posted, other than the fact that I'm getting bigger each day.  I am now 33 weeks.  I've been feeling pretty good still, although I get more tired and my feet have begun to swell a little.  The swelling usually is the worst after I have been teaching and standing all day or when I sit (like at church or in a movie) for a long time with my feet down.  The beginnings of the summer heat doesn't help at all (in fact, it's 102 today).  It's not the most comfortable thing, but I could have it a whole lot worse.

We have 2 1/2 weeks left of school (which is 12 teaching days) and I'm definitely counting down.  I love my little 3rd graders, but its time they move up to 4th grade and I get to stay home with the little one!  It is nice that Ryan teaches because he will be able to be home during the first month or so to help with the new baby.  Then it will be just me and the little guy!!  Can't wait...but I think it is still a little too early to count down by the days (although it is only like 48 more days or something...)

So that is about all that is going on with us.  Here are a few pictures of me pregnant to catch you up on how big I'm getting!  All I have to say is that it better come off easily!!

                                                                        30 weeks

                                                                           30 weeks

31 weeks

33 weeks

Changes in the Waters Family

Since it has been 6 months since I have posted anything on here, I felt like I needed to catch up.  Soon after I created the blog and made the first post, we found out that I was pregnant.  YAY!!  We found out the beginning of February that we were having a boy!  Along with this big news, there have been a few other changes as well.  

First picture (8 weeks)

19 weeks

We've got a boy!

To begin, in February, we bought our first home.  Because of the economy and housing market, we got a really good deal on our house.  And it came at no better time; as we start our little family.  We are pretty much all moved in, although with any home comes the never-ending "to do" list.  We have really enjoyed getting out of the apartment atmosphere and realizing the work that goes into a house (mowing the lawn, etc.).  

Our new home

Baby's Room

In March I had the opportunity to fly home to Georgia for my brother, Matthew's homecoming. Although he was serving in southern California and I live in central California, I flew across the country to see him for the first time in 2 years!   It was a lot of fun having the whole family (minus Ryan) home.  It was amazing to see the changes in my brother and the blessings he received from serving the Lord.  I am so proud of his sacrifice and am glad that he made it back safely!

Picking Matt up from the airport

The last few weeks have been busy with teaching.  We are counting down the weeks for summer vacation and the arrival of Baby Waters.  I am getting bigger by the day, but have enjoyed the kicks, punches and hiccups I feel each day from him.  I (and my back) hope these last 10 weeks go by quickly.  Luckily I only have a a few more weeks of teaching....standing all day does not help the back.  

25 weeks

27 weeks