Just One Year Ago...

4 of the 6 tests I took. I was in shock!! July 2, 2008

Me with my positive pregnancy tests

1st ultrasound picture

15 weeks

17 weeks

Scott and I at Olive Garden celebrating after we found out that Carter was a boy, October 2008

I made blue cupcakes to share at work the night we found out Carter was a boy

21 weeks

Scott went as a gangsta and I was a prego ho, Halloween 2008

22 weeks

23 weeks

26 weeks

Carter at the Grand Canyon December 2008

29 weeks

30 weeks

Mama and I at the Smith baby shower January 2009

Mama and I at the Stauffer baby shower January 2009

32 weeks

34 weeks

Carter's profile at 36 weeks

37 weeks

38 weeks

The following is my birth story. I never got around to posting it in the last year, but wanted to have it so I'd remember later in life the details. :)

1:00am Monday morning of March 16, 2009, I started having contractions. I woke Scott up after I'd timed them myself for about 2 hours. He turned on TV and watched Roadhouse while I was rolling around in teeth clenching labor. I called the doctor per Scott's request, but later decided if I could fall back to sleep it wasn't quite time to go to the hospital. We both did fall back to sleep.

Scott went to work that morning and I labored through some rough contractions. I called my doctor to see if they could do an exam before I went to triage. I received a really rough exam (thanks Dr. D!), was told I was 3cm, and was told to keep walking once I got back home and to call when things got to the point I couldn't stand it anymore. I have no clue how I made the drive home myself because things made a turn for the worse after that exam. The contractions got ten times worse after I'd walked for about an hour and I quickly realized it was time to call Scott home. He arrived at the house at 4:30-5pm. I decided it was time to head to the hospital an hour later at 6pm.

I was checked in to triage at 6:30. They hooked me up to monitors and did an exam. They monitored things to make sure I really was in labor, which I was. They then quickly moved me to L&D and 20 minutes later I had my epidural. Ahhhhhhhhh, life was much better!

Triage St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, 6:30pm, March 16, 2009

Breathing through some serious contractions before my epidural. I also had really bad shacks so they covered me with warm blankets

I'm all smiles after my epidural!!

When the epi was administered I was dilated to 3cm. Our families arrived from Dayton at about 10:00pm and I was at 7cm. The nurses told everyone not to go too far. Somewhere between 10pm and 5am, they determined Carter was sunny side up, so they helped me into a few different positions to try and get him to turn so he was face down. We were not successful in this attempt! 5:00am, March 17, 2009, rolls around and I was 10cm complete and ready to push!!

I started getting super nauseous about 2 hours before delivery, so while I was pushing I wanted to vomit. The nurses kept telling me to push through the burn and that I would feel pressure, but I felt nothing. I pushed for 30 minutes and we welcomed Carter James to the world at 5:25am. He weighed 7lbs 12oz and was 21 inches long. They put him on my chest and when I heard him cry I felt such relief that everything was ok. He was just as I had imagined and I was so happy he finally decided to grace us with his presence. I couldn't believe I had MY own child in my arms!!!

Welcome to the world Carter James. Notice the pink vomit bucket (urine pan) up by my head!

Carter being weighed in, 7lbs 12oz and 21"

Scott holding Carter for the first time

Finally got my hands on my sweet baby boy

The doctor that delivered, Dr. O'Leary

Although I didn't push long, I did have a rough delivery. I mean it was a super easy delivery, but I had a 4th degree tear and an episiotomy. So while Carter was getting cleaned up, it took about 30 minutes for the doctor to sew me up. Only later would I learn just how long it takes to fully recover from child birth with all I had endured. I sat on my boppy and doughnut shaped pillows for almost 8 weeks after.

After everything was cleaned up in the room, Scott and I were given a few minutes to be alone with Carter. Carter came out rooting for my boob, so I was able to breast feed right away, an awesome and awkward feeling. Scott then went and brought family back to meet our baby. I remember Karen, my MIL, came in crying which made me tear up, and then everyone else shortly followed. I also remeber, aside from Scott and myself holding Carter, I was most anxious and excited for my dad to hold him. His first grandchild and it was a boy!! He just beamed from ear to ear! After everyone got a chance to hold and love on him, they decided to leave to get some sleep. We were then quickly moved to the Mother/Baby unit after they left.

My dad holding Carter for the first time

My parents holding Carter for the first time

Carter and I in the Mother/Baby unit

Scott changing a yucky black tar diaper

It was bittersweet to leave the hospital on Thursday, March 19th. It was so nice to be going home, but sad and scary to leave the help of the nursing staff and hospitality of the nursery. I was scared about the first night at home, just the three of us. All I remember of that first night was we were up ALOT! Breast feeding is a huge task and takes 100% commitment. It hurts like hell and is uncomfortable and takes awhile to get the hang of it and it takes pretty much all of your time since baby eats every 2-3 hours. Luckily, Amy and Josh were at our house when we arrived home from the hospital. Then, my cousin Jen and her two girls visited Friday all day and my parents came to stay that first weekend.

Carter and I ready to leave the hospital, March 19, 2009

Carter's ride home from the hospital. It was sunny and in the 50's that day, just like today except it's sunny and in the 60's.

Scott introducing Carter to Maggie

Time For A Change

Sunday, Scott turned Carter's car seat around to face forward. I have to admit it was really weird to put him in the seat for the first time all over again yesterday. You could tell the minute I strapped him in facing front he was amazed. Whenever I look back at him, he's smiling or laughing. Car seat facing front=A big plus in Carter's book!!

First, Jackson, Then, Tessa, Next up, Carter

February 20th, we went to the first of 3 important 1st birthday parties. His name is Jackson and his mommy and daddy are Carmen and Rob. Rob works with Scott at Toyota. Jackson was born on February 20, 2009. The party was great and was very put together, sadly due to Carmen being on bed rest with her second pregnancy. It was a Winter-One-derland theme. It was really cute!

March 14th, we went to the second party. It was for Tessa and her mommy and daddy are Megan and Kevin. Kevin also works with Scott. Tessa was born on March 12, 2009. She had a butterfly themed party. Again, very cute and alot of fun!

Next up and the last of the 3 parties is for Carter!! Pics to come soon!!

Party Decor...Check!

I finished two of the picture collages I wanted to use for Carter's birthday parties. It was hard work, not quite my cup of tea, but I think they turned out pretty cute. I have to say it wouldn't be a Smith/Stauffer birthday party if pictures weren't somehow involved. It's going to be a busy week getting projects finished and last minute things purchased for this weekend's festivities!

Monthday collage to use at the 2 parties in Ohio

Monthday collage to use for the party here at our house on March 27th

JCP Portrait Session=FAIL!

Scott and I took Carter to JCP for pictures this morning. I wanted a nice family portrait (we had none) and some cute 1 year birthday shots of Carter. I painted wooden letters, O-N-E, in the colors of his birthday parties this coming weekend and I wanted to do a cake smashing session too.

Thank heavens we did the family portrait first because everything else was a big fat fail! Carter had a meltdown complete with tears, screams, runny nose, splotchy red face (the kind you may get after you've had one too many cocktails), and was super clingy to me. He hasn't felt the best, he has a small cold, but I really thought he would do better than he did. So needless to say, we ended the photo shoot, chose our free 8x10 and were on our way. Here are a few of the best shots we got.

Kel Kel Is Pregnant!!

This Monday my good friend called to tell me that she's pregnant. She's the third of us 5 friends to have a baby. Shannon and I both had boys on March 17, 2009, Carter and Cooper. I'm very excited for Kelly and her husband, Joe. Their lives are about to change dramatically and totally for the better. I can't wait to hear her take on lack of sleep, breast feeding (if she chooses to do that), diaper changes, midnight feedings, moodiness, etc.

(Kelly's belly 3/12/2010)

It's a very big thing to have in common with a friend that you've known for so many years. I live far from all my high school friends and I think being mommies together will bring us a tad closer in heart and spirit. It's fun to share stories and track progress of development. Anyhow....

I posted this poem below just after I had Carter, but thought it would be appropriate to post again; to mark Carter's birth 1 year ago next week and to inspire Kelly, the new mommy-to-be!!! Love you Kel and I'm very excited to inspire you to be the best mama you can be. I'm always around to help give advice and share all the things I've learned from being a first timer. Anytime mama...anytime!! (Was it this weird for you to call me mama when I was pregnant as it is for me to call you the same? Haha! I just always picture us drinking, staying up late, and laying in the sun or something.)

A Parents Prayer

Help me give my children the best... not of trappings or toys, but of myself, cherishing them on good days and bad, theirs and mine. Teach me to accept them for who they are, not for what they do; to listen to what they say, if only so they will listen to me; to encourage their goals, not mine; and please, let me laugh with them and be silly.Let me give them a home where respect is the cornerstone, integrity the foundation, and there is enough happiness to raise the roof. May I give them the courage to be true to themselves; the independence to take care of themselves and the faith to believe in a power much greater than their own. See that I discipline my children without demeaning them, demand good manners without forgetting my own and let them know they have limitless love, no matter what they do. Let me feed them properly, clothe them adequately and have enough to give them small allowances... not for the work they do but the pleasure they bring...and let me be moderate in all these things, so the joy of getting will help them discover the joy of giving. See that their responsibilities are real but not burdensome, that my expectations are high but not overwhelming and that my thanks and praise are thoughtful and given when they're due. Help me teach them that excellence is work's real reward, and not the glory it brings. But when it comes.. and it will.. let me revel in each honor, however small, without once pretending that it's mine; my children are glories enough. Above all, let me ground these children so well that I can dare to let them go.

And may they be so blessed!!!