Smiles that Melt Your Heart

Blake Denver - TWO Months

• He has grown to 11 lbs. 7 oz. and 23 1/4" long.
• He is the in 60th percentile for height, the 38th percentile for weight, and the 15th percentile for head circumference.
• He is now wearing Newborn and size 0-3 month clothes. 
• He has moved to size 2 diapers.
• He loves being swaddled with his arms out, so he can sleep with them above his head.
• He smiled his first "real" smiles.
• He will follow his mom and dad around the room with his eyes.
• He loves looking at lights and moving fans.
• He has slept through the night many times, and lets mom and dad get at least 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night most nights.
• He loves to fall asleep in someones arms or laying on your chest.
• He had his first "play" dates this month...more playing to come in the following months.
• He can roll over from his tummy to his back much more easily.
• He can push himself up with him arms fully straight, and hold his head up all the way.
• He does not like getting the hiccups or being burped.
• He discovered his fingers, and has managed to suck his thumb a few times.
• He had to take his first medicine for baby reflux (twice a day).
• He went on his first of many family vacations to central Oregon and the Oregon Coast.

It is hard to believe that our sweet little boy is already two months old. He has become our life, and someone that when we are gone for just a little while we miss and can't wait to see again. The last two months have really been a blessing for Jason and I; especially since Jason got to be at home this whole two months. I know he has really treasured up his time with his son. I love seeing the two of them together and watch as Blake starts looking more and more like his daddy. Jason goes back to work this coming week, and although with work starting that means a schedule and routine are bound to come, which I love, I am really going to miss the lazy days of summer.

Cheering on daddy at a softball game.

Watching the Mariners with dad.

Buddy Owen...these little guys are two weeks apart :)

Goofy face :)

This summer we had the opportunity to get away with family a couple of times. We went to central Oregon with Jason's family and stayed in a house for the second summer in Tollgate, OR. I love that location because it is less than five minutes from Sisters, OR...one town I would not mind living in. We enjoyed spending time with family, and seeing Blake and his cousin Cayden interact with each other. It is obvious that she loves her little cousin and can't wait for him to be able to run around and play with her.

 

Sisters Coffee Company

We also got to go to the beach with my family.  It was Blake's first experience at the beach, and although he didn't like putting his toes in the sand, we all enjoyed some of the most beautiful Oregon Coast weather I have ever seen. We would set up a tent on the beach and spend the day relaxing and playing games in the warm sun. Blake even managed to take a few naps himself on the beach. :)

That's how he fell asleep :)

Blake got dedicated at church this last month as well. The dedication means that as parents we are making a declaration that we desire to raise our son to the values of the church, and desire to have those that attend to pray for and hold our family accountable to taking care and raising our son. It was neat to have our pastor talk about and pray for our sweet little guy. Jason and I met at Salem Heights when we were 14 years old, so the church is definately our second home, and a place that we are so thankful that Blake gets to grow up at.

Kinsey, my mom, Carrie, Charissa and Julie all threw me and Blake a wonderful family baby shower.  Blake loved being the star of the show, letting everyone hold him, giving smiles to his great grandmas and seeing all the cute clothes he was given. We are so thankful for the family that surrounds us. We were once again showered with love and awesome gifts. Blake is going to be one stylish little guy....excited to see him wear all the cute clothes.

 

 

 

Katrina came all the way from Alaska to celebrate Blake :)

Jason started back at work yesterday. He is teaching at Kalapuya Elementary, as the special education teacher for the 4th and 5th graders. He taught there last year since January, but this year he is full-time/permanent at the school! That is something that we have been praying for, for a long time. Very thankful.

I am loving being a mom, and as this new school year starts I am so thankful that I get to have the best job of raising up Blake and "teaching" him at home. I love teaching, but my passion right now is snuggling, feeding and watching my son grow.

Thankful.

Joyful. Patient. Faithful.

Blake Denver - ONE Month

• He has grown from his birth weight, 6lbs. 6oz, to 8lbs. 13.5oz.
• He is still wearing Newborn sized clothes.
• He loves being swaddled...most of the time.
• He has big beautiful dark blue eyes.
• Has lots of dark brown hair, with some lighter hair underneath.
• He smiles with his whole face while he is sleeping and after he has eaten.
• He is starting to really focus in on faces.
• He recognizes his mom and dad's smells, faces and voices.
• He has a few nicknames: Squeaker (after all the little sounds he makes), Little Man and Little Bug
• He still gets woken up every three hours to eat by mom and dad...even though he could sleep longer.
• He loves to snuggle, especially after his belly is nice and full.
• He likes going for rides in his stroller, unless he gets woken up by a bump in the road.
• He falls asleep every time he gets put in the car.
• He 'accidentally' rolled over from his tummy to his back...twice.
• He still gets hiccups a least once a day...same as when he was inside his mommy.
• He enjoys sleeping, and coos while he is settling in.

"Your hands made me and formed me."

Psalm 119:73

 "We love because he first loved us."

1 John 4:19

 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Romans 12:12

 

We are so in love with our sweet little boy. It is amazing to think that it has already been a month that he has been in our lives because it feels like we have known him forever. We have been working really hard this month getting his weight up and getting him to become a good eater. It has been a lot of work, and not so much sleep, but so worth the effort.  He has diffidently grown this month, and already he looks so much different than when we first brought him home from the hospital. We have been so blessed by so many family and friends that have helped us welcome our new little man. So many wonderful meals, and visitors have come to welcome Blake, and to make us as parents feel a little less overwhelmed.  So very thankful for the support we have had, and for the world that we get to raise Blake in.

Our family of two is now three.

Blake Denver Bernard

June 25th 2012

12:54pm

6lbs. 6oz. 19"

Our sweet little miracle decided that he was ready to come 3-weeks early; we could not be more excited that he is here. Our family has officially gone from two to three. Sweet little Blake is the perfect addition to our family, and even though we have only just started getting to know him, I know he is exactly what Jason and I needed in a son.

It all started Sunday morning, June 24th, when I let Jason know that I thought we should go to the hospital to get checked out since I wasn't feeling so good. At around 9:15am the triage nurse said she was pretty sure that we would be heading back home in an hour or so; then she checked me, and said I was 3cm and was having contractions.  They most likely would have sent me home except my blood pressure was just a little to high and wasn't coming down.  After walking the halls for an hour-and-a-half they checked me again, and the doctor working that day decided to keep me for observation and to further test to make sure I wasn't experiencing preeclampsia.

At around 11:30pm Sunday night, after Jason and I had spent the day playing cards, spending time with family and watching a movie we went to bed...well I should say Jason went to bed.  The moment I laid down, I felt my first contractions.  Since I had been told I had been having them all day, I wasn't sure if I was making them up or not...soon enough as they got stronger I knew they were real.  I attempted to time them, and paced around the room to alleviate some of the pain.  I wanted to give Jason as much sleep as possible, but at 3:30am I was ready to wake him up and get the process going.

The nurse came in, and I could tell she was still expecting nothing really to be happening.  What did take place was that I was already 6cm dilated and 80% effaced.  The nurse turned to us and said, "It looks like this is baby day for you two! Let's move you over to a delivery room."

Jason called our parents while I dressed into the "fashionable" gown and got ready for what the day would bring.  Around 6am our family started showing up.  I took a bath in the tub...not the most relaxing bath I have ever had...I was told it would cut my pain in half; I don't think that happened.  When I got out of the tub the nurse checked me again, and I had progressed to 7cm and 100% effaced.  She said I should go walk the halls to help the labor to keep progressing.

While in the hall I had two contractions less than a minute apart, and I looked at my mom and just said, "Epidural."  Ten minutes later I was sitting on the edge of the bed, shaking, but thankful for the decision I had made.  I got a little bit of a break after the epi, since my labor stalled at 8cm.  Soon though, after the doctor broke my water, my contractions intensified, and I was officially 10cm and ready to push.  I remember looking at Jason and us saying, "This is it. Our family of two is growing into three so soon."

At 12pm I started pushing.  Partway through there was a little bit of an issue.  Suddenly there was an extra nurse in the room, and they were having me roll from side to side while I was given oxygen.  We found out later that we were close to a C-Section due to the fact that the cord was wrapped around his neck, and with each contraction and push the baby's heart rate was dropping very low. Thankfully, the oxygen helped and we were able to continue pushing.

At 12:54pm I gave once last push, and instantly Jason and my life changed for the better.  Blake came into the world crying, but when they place him on my chest he calmed down and had his big eyes open looking around.  Amazing. That's the only word I can think of to explain the many feelings that were rushing through me as I held this tiny baby that is part of Jason and part of me. He is such a sweet blessing to our family.  We are feeling so blessed that the labor went smoothly, and that our 'little man' is healthy and here.

First Bath

Going home!

Relaxing at home.

Calli checking out her new baby brother.

Happy 4th of July

Church Baby Shower...Downpour

This last weekend I was thrown an amazing baby shower at Salem Heights by some very sweet friends. I was blown away at the many details that went into making it so unique and special.

36 Weeks

Leanna, Me and Elle...Some of my great friends who threw a wonderful shower :)

Babies on Board: Michelle (October); Amanda (September); Crystal (August); Alicia (July 31st); Me (July 14th)

The theme was "Mustache," and it was so cute. There was a photo booth where people could pose with some props, a game of 'Guess Whose Mustache It Is,' delicious chocolate and lemon cupcakes and so many people that came to celebrate.

More than anything, I felt like it was a party to reassure me that Jason and I are not in raising this little boy on our own.  We are the main ones that will be doing the job of raising him, but I know there are so many others that love him as well.

"Train up the child in the way he should go; 

even when he is old he will not depart from it." 

Proverbs 22:6

I am so thankful for my family and church family that I know are watching out for us. I was amazed at the outpouring of love and support. We received so many adorable baby clothes and supplies, a crib, car-seat/stroller, bouncer, etc.

More than the gifts though, it took my breath away to look out at all the smiling faces of women that I look up to as mothers, my own mom and mother-in-law, family and friends.  I realize that I don't know what it is going to be like to be a mommy, but I am so thankful for the amazing examples I have from: my own mom, my mother-in-law and my many friends that have already begun the journey of being a mom. My desire is to become a woman that:

"Speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue...

Does not eat the bread of idleness. 

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also; and he praises her...

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, 

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." 

Proverbs 31:26-31

Nolz and Bernard Women...soon to add a little BOY