Look Who's Here!!

Welcome

Levi Jack Fox!

7lbs 5oz 21inches long

May 29, 2013  2:05pm

"Come and see what God has done, 

how awesome His works in man's behalf!" 

Psalm 66:6

Dear Baby Fox (40 weeks)

Dear Baby Fox (40 weeks)

Dear Baby Fox,
  Sweet boy, how many more letters are you going to make me write to you before you just get here?? I just don't think you realize how much you're going to love it out here. First of all, your Mom and Dad are really cool people who love you to the moon and back. You have a spunky puppy, Sophie, who is soooo ready to lick your little toes and tickle you! You have grandparents and aunts and uncles who are determined to spoil you rotten. You have cousins that are looking forward to playing with you and getting you into all sorts of mischief! Plus, we have so many friends, some of which even have little friends for you, all of which can't wait to meet you and love on you! We have plans to take you to fun places and read you stories and teach you all sorts of awesome things. So, baby boy, what's the hold up?? ;)
  I know I'll meet you soon enough. I know you'll only come when you're good and ready. I know it's such a gift to be able to carry a baby to full term, and for that I'm so thankful. Just don't become too content in there. Or we will have no problem coming in after you, boy! I love you more than you'll ever know and I am soooo looking forward to kissing your face and hearing your cry and holding you close and showing you off to everyone. You're my world, kid.

Love, Mama

How far along?: 40 WEEKS! I did it!!

Baby is the size of a:  Friggin' watermelon! No wonder I'm tired!

The Bump: It bumps into things often...

Symptoms: Back pain, contractions, headaches, nausea, upset stomach, irritable, emotional, swollen feet (for the first time in 9 months!), acid reflux...shall I go on?

Food Cravings: Not a lot...my belly can only handle so much food these days. I did pick up some freezie pops today though...looking forward to eating all of them this week...or tomorrow.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Nothing in particular, just still feeling a little more nauseous and struggling with some acid reflux

Sleep: Sunday I woke up at 3:30 with contractions that lasted until about 10pm that night...then last night I woke up about once an hour with pains. Nothing consistent. Stupid.

What I miss: Being 6-8 months pregnant...the throwing up had finally subsided and I fit perfectly into maternity clothes. Oh, the glory days.

Weddings Rings On or Off: Off...sad about that, but it just didn't fit any more!

Any Names Picked Out Yet: Yup :)

Movement: He has finally slowed down...but now every movement he makes is like a knife in my side. Ouchie.

Maternity Clothes: They just aren't cutting it these days

Labor Signs: Contraction overload.

Best Moment of the Week: Slept in until 10:30 Saturday morning...haven't done that in years!!

What I’m excited about/looking forward to: Holding my baby in my arms and finally seeing his sweet face!

Dear Baby Fox (38 weeks)

Dear Baby Fox (38 weeks)

Dear Baby Fox,
  We've spent so much time together already, and I know you. I know you hate the hiccups, because every time you have them, your arms and legs flail about as if you're throwing a fit. (I don't blame you, by the way; I hate them too.) I know that music makes you sleepy. The moment a song starts to play, you chill out. Unless I start singing along. I'd like to think you're just clapping along with the beat because you enjoy it when I sing to you, but I think deep down you want me to pipe down so you can hear the song better. I also know that when I talk to someone in a quiet room, you kick and squirm whenever I start to speak. I don't know if it's because you're trying to nap and I'm keeping you up, or maybe it's because you get excited because you recognize my voice. I'll take the latter.
  I know that after a long, hard nap, you stretch your arms and legs one time really big for a few seconds before you start wiggling around, making my belly go lopsided. Also, you seem to be camera shy like your daddy. You move like crazy day and night and whenever I try to record you doing it, you stop dead in your tracks. What's up with that, boy? Your dad thinks it's because you hear the noise the camera makes when I turn it on. I think you're just a little ornery like him. I'm sorry if you don't like pictures and videos, but God's placed you in a family with a mama who loves to capture every moment. So...too bad. ;)
  You are incredibly active and have been since I was about 17 weeks along with you. Your daddy felt you move at just 18 weeks...what a strong, energetic boy we have on our hands! I'm so excited to see the kind of adventures you get into in life with a personality like that. I'm excited to get to know you more. I want to know what your smile looks like, what kind of hair you'll have, and the color of your eyes. I want to know what soothes you, what makes you mad, and what makes you smile. I can't wait to learn how you like to be swaddled or what your favorite toys are. But for now...for now I'm going to rest in the fact that I know you, sweet boy. And I love everything about you. Hope to see you soon!

Love, Mama

How far along?: 38 weeks

Baby is the size of a:  He's not still growing, is he!?

The Bump: How low can you go?

Symptoms: Back pain, contractions, and I'm sporting the "waddle"

Food Cravings: Anything cold, it's been so hot.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Nothing in particular, just still feeling a little more nauseous and struggling with some acid reflux

Sleep: Sleeping so lightly, but having funny dreams. The weird thing is, I keep dreaming Brett and I go to the hospital and I deliver a baby GIRL. Don't know what that's about ;)

What I miss: I miss being able to really belt it out when I sing...I have to sing with a hint of a whisper to keep from gasping for air. Also, I miss being skinny. However, as uncomfortable as I am and as much as I'm just dying to hold my baby, I know he will come when he's ready. I'm trying to enjoy pregnancy up until the very end. I don't want to clock out...I refuse to clock out. I'm going to soak in every last ounce of him being with me 24/7...I actually think I'll miss him once he's here, just because it will be the first time in 10 months where I'll actually be in a different room than him...that will be so sad to me. Does that make sense??

Weddings Rings On or Off: Off, but only because there were a few loose diamonds in it so I had to get it fixed. Just as well, it was getting a little snug! According to my niece, Brett should just buy me a new ring in the mean time :) Smart girl!

Any Names Picked Out Yet: Yes and we can't wait to share :) Soon enough, my friends!

Movement: He hasn't slowed down yet! I love it when his little feet stretch from one side of my belly to the other.

Maternity Clothes: Going through my closet and picking out my absolute favorite maternity shirts I won't be able to wear once he's here and making myself wear them every day. I won't miss the back pain, but I will miss the belly...Oh, how I'll miss that belly.

Labor Signs: I had contractions every 5 minutes for 5 hours Friday...but they weren't strong enough to make me feel pain, I was just uncomfortable. The good news is I'm finally dilated a measly little centimeter! I'll take what I can get...

Best Moment of the Week: Last Friday, I fell over Sophie and slammed into our wardrobe in the living room. I had to go to the hospital to be monitored for a while, and thankfully the baby was perfectly fine. So, to answer the best moment of the week question, I would say it would be having my mom and husband join me as we listened to the baby's heart beat for over an hour. What a sweet, sweet sound.

What I’m excited about/looking forward to: Delivering this sweet boy!!

Dear Baby Fox (37 Weeks)

Dear Baby Fox (37 weeks)

Dear Baby Fox,
  Last weekend, your daddy and I had to do something very difficult. We spent an afternoon at the funeral of a little baby boy. I was sooo looking forward to the two of you becoming buddies and growing up together. I was looking forward to raising a beautiful boy alongside my friend. But baby, sometimes God has other things in mind. Sometimes He does things we don't understand. He allows us to feel hurt and pain we don't want to feel.
  There are two things I want you to know from this. One, I want you to understand that God is good all the time, in every season, no matter what. His love for us far outweighs the trials we'll face, and He is always prepared to give us the grace we need to endure hard times. Two, there will be a lot of times in life when things are going well for you and not for someone else, and vice versa.  In these times, be sensitive to others. Don't focus on yourself...the Bible says we are to always look for opportunities to serve and encourage others. No matter how great or how hard life can get, promise me you'll do just that, sweet baby boy.
  Three more weeks. I am so ready to meet you! There's a part of me that just wants you to stay put because you seem so safe there. But there's another part of me that really wants you to come so I can hold you and kiss you and know you're ok. I'm going to miss all your sweet kicks and hiccups and your constant company. There are so many more things I can't wait to discover about you, but discovering you here these last nine months has been the most beautiful season of my life. I love you, boy.

Love, Mama

How far along?: 37 weeks

Baby is the size of a:  He should now be about the size he'll be when he's born, with the exception of half a pound or two...CRAZY

The Bump: Closer and closer to my feet

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks contractions, crazy hot all the time, nauseous again, acid reflux, exhausted, dizzy when standing too long...

Food Cravings: Icecream...it's so stinkin' hot! And since I haven't gained any weight in the last 3 weeks, I don't even feel guilty eating it!

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Eating. I'll get hungry but can only eat a little bit before I feel super full, then heartburn/acid reflux kicks in. A few minutes later, I'm hungry again. This kid is taking up too much space!

Sleep: I hear I'll enjoy it again, years down the road

What I miss: Getting in and out of the car without making it a four step process. Reaching the bottom of the washing machine. Picking up my dog. Resting my back against the headboard and not slowly slide down with no ability to stop myself. You know, the little things.

Weddings Rings On or Off: On during the day, starting to take off at night...when I'm able to!

Any Names Picked Out Yet: We will all know what it is soon enough!

Movement: He's still my little ninja!

Maternity Clothes: You know it's bad when you're walking into church and you feel a breeze and realize your belly hangs out of your shirt. Woopsies.

Labor Signs: So many contractions, plus he is head down and engaged and getting lower and lower. PRESSURE. But alas, still not dilated!

Best Moment of the (last few) Week(s): Honestly, there haven't been very many good moments these last 3 weeks...but spending time in prayer with my husband is so precious to me, and I'm so thankful for him

What I’m excited about/looking forward to: How much my life is going to change in the next 21 (give or take) days!!

Happy Six Years!

Six years ago today I was just a 19 year old girl starting a new job. Little did I know it would become one of the greatest blessings in my life. The art of cutting and coloring hair makes my heart pump fast and the satisfaction of a client makes me smile. On top of that, I've been blessed with clients I've been able to develop relationships with. Perfect strangers have become dear friends. Not a lot of people have the opportunity to do what they love AND get paid for it. A day hasn't gone by when I haven't been grateful for this job.

In just 26 days, I'm due to have my first child. WHEN DID I GROW UP!? That, I'll never know. What I do know is how incredibly precious life is, and how humbled I am that God would call Brett and I to raise this child. What an honor and a privilege to be trusted with one of God's children! 

Brett and I have made the decision that when I go back to work, I will only go back part time. This was an easy decision to make in some ways, and a difficult one to make in other ways. The obvious pro's are that I'll get to spend more time with our baby...I'll be his main influence and I won't miss milestones in his life. I'll be able to invest in his life and become well aware of who he is and how I can point him to Jesus. Working part time will also allow me to get out of the house now and then and enjoy adult conversation! I will be able to bring in some kind of income and still do what I love to do.

The con's are that I won't make as much money. Not in an greedy/selfish way, but I've built my business from the ground up and poured my heart into it these last six years. It's tough to turn new clients away and it's difficult knowing I won't be able to be quite as accommodating and flexible. I also won't be able to keep near as many clients as what I've had in the past. At one point two years ago, I think I added up that I had about 200+ clients that consistently came to me. I'll be going from working four days a week to about one and half, sometimes two a week. That's sooooo many people I won't be able to enjoy talking to and doing their hair. It really does make me sad to think about. It's been a difficult transition mentally, and I haven't even had to turn people away yet. I can't imagine how hard it will be come July when people are calling for appointments and I can't get them in.

All that being said, we have prayed about this and feel confident that this is the best decision for our family. This is a new season of life that will require us to make changes to adjust. It won't be easy, but I hear all it takes is one look at our baby's sweet face for me to be 110% confident that we've made the best decision. I'm so thankful for our families and friends and my sweet clients who have been so supportive and understanding and excited for us to enter this new chapter. Your encouragement and prayers are coveted and appreciated far more than you know.

That being said, on this "six year anniversary," I just want to thank each and every one of my clients from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for your business and your referrals, yes. But more importantly, thank you for the laughs and the cries and the greatest conversations. Thank you for opening up to me and allowing me to be a part of your life. Thank you for your loyalty to me. I hope that I've been able to impact your life the way you've impacted mine...that you've left my chair feeling encouraged and refreshed. Whether or not you've realized this, you've been prayed for often by me (especially when I'm drying your hair and we don't talk...I pray for you then!) Whether or not our schedules will allow me to continue doing your hair, you've been more than just a client. You've become dear friends I'll cherish forever. Thanks so much for your understanding and support as I enter this new season of life when I become a MOM! Oh, sweet goodness, this is going to get interesting!!!