My new life

I am now watching my older sisters 2 kids during the week days and am having a great time. This is by far the best job I could ever have! It's a little challenging keeping a 14, 9, and 3 year old entertained while attending to the needs of a 2 month old, but it is a fun challenge! Avery loves having her cousins around, and we get out to swim and do other fun things as often as we can.

I have such a sense of peace about quitting my job. It really was a hard decision, not only were we giving up a huge amount of our income, but I have never known adult life without being gainfully employed. I feel so fulfilled now staying home, cleaning, taking care of kids...it's peaceful, there is no other way for me to describe it. I know its temporary, so that probably makes it even more precious to me. I'm going to enjoy everyday that I have at home with my kids!

Here are a few pics from the last few weeks.

Avery got her first hair cut!

Sweet sleeping baby

Jake started smiling right at 6 weeks old

This is my current favorite photo!

Growing like crazy!

A few of my closest friends are having babies at the end of this year, so I am very excited for them and can't wait for Jake to have some very close friends to play with soon!

3 weeks old

I can't even begin to express how very happy we are. Jacob is an amazingly content baby (although he still sleeps a ton) and Avery absolutely adores him. She wants to hold him all the time and kiss and love on him. In fact, the other morning, Avery woke up and came into my room. I tried to have her go into the living room with me while Jake was still sleeping, but she was NOT about to let her baby brother stay in there by himself. I had to pick him up and bring him into the living room with us, it was really very sweet.

Here are some of the pictures we took of Jacob at 1 week old. They are too sweet not to share! Hunter took these pictures on our back patio, although you would swear they were done at a studio by a professional!

It's a Boy!

Jacob Hunter Pontious was born on Tuesday, April 26th, at 2:56pm!
8lbs 2.3 oz
21 inches

Birth Story:
I checked into the hospital Monday night for a slow induction. They started a drug called cryotec at 8pm, and gave a second dose at 12am. I had regular contractions throughout the night, but was able to relax and even sleep a little. At 6am Tuesday, they slowly started the pitocin. Around 11:30am I got an epidural (which was a very odd experience, although definitely made things better). My blood pressure kept falling with the epidural, so they had me on oxygen and made me lay flat on my sides in order to maintain. After another few hours, I started feeling pressure with contractions, definitely no pain though. Then I got a little nauseous and the Dr. came in to check me. "Wow, we are ready for a baby!" he said. He started yelling at all the nurses to get everything ready. After only 3-4 pushes, baby Jacob was born! I cried and cried when I found out he was a boy and was screaming with healthy lungs! Hunter was so excited and a little emotional too and was really looking forward to telling the waiting family members.

The doctor worked to control my bleeding quickly, which was much easier to take with the epidural (this was the hard part of my delivery with Avery). Baby Jake took in a little fluid, so had to be monitored closely for a little while to make sure his breathing was steady. After about 30-45 minutes, we were both ready to greet family!

Papa Kevin, Papa Mike, Mawmaw Pam, GreatPapa Sam, Great Grandmommy Joyce, Uncle Alan, Aunt Nikki, and Aunt Linsey were all there to rush into meet Jacob. Everyone fell instantly in love!

My recovery was excellent. My doctor is absolutely amazing and made sure that I didn't have any of the postpartum issues I had with Avery, so I felt great and was able to enjoy my new baby completely! We left the hospital on Thursday and have been unbelievably blessed with love and support from all our family and friends. Baby Jake is perfect and even lets me sleep for 6+ hours at night (although broken into 2-3 hours spurts of course!).

Avery has adjusted beautifully to being a big sister. She loves to kiss and hug Jake and has never questioned this new addition to our family.

I am looking forward to being fully recovered and enjoying my time at home with my babies!
We are so very blessed and happy! God is great!

Love to all!
The Pontious Family


Moments after birth-Proud Mommy and Daddy


Meeting all the family for the 1st time!


Avery and Jake's first meeting


Sweet big sister!


1 week old


Wide eyed handsome little man!

Final Days!

I am spending my last day at home trying to make sure the house is neat and tidy and that everything is set up for Avery and Mawmaw (or Papa, or Aunt Linsey) while Hunter and I are in the hospital having baby #2. So glad we are here already!

I am so much more swollen with this little one than I was with Avery, and so much larger! My next post will be about my birth story and how we are adjusting to life as a family of four! EEEEE!!!!

Excitement, nerves, anxiety...that's how I've felt the last 24 hours.

Here are a few pics from Easter, our last pics as a family of 3:






39 Weeks...final belly pic!

36 Weeks = FULL TERM!

It's officially April, which means it is baby month! WOW!

I am starting part-time work today, yay!! Baby is due in 4 weeks, but Dr. wants to induce a little early if baby keeps measuring so big. I am hoping baby will come early on his/her own in about 2-3 weeks, that would be perfect!

Check out this bump!

(32 Weeks)


(34 Weeks)


(35.5 Weeks)

Everyone is guessing it's a boy. I refuse to guess, because whatever I guess will be wrong! hehe
Avery was patting the baby bump yesterday, and I asked her if she thinks its a boy or a girl. Without hesitation she said, "Boy!" ;-)

I am looking very forward to not being pregnant anymore. The backaches and night-time bathroom trips are starting to take a toll. Most of all though, I am just ready to meet this little miracle!

Andrea

31.5 Weeks

We are in the home stretch!

I am so excited that it is now March. This is my last month of full-time work...ahh, light at the end of the tunnel. I am scheduled to start working part-time April 1st and then have April 15th be my last day (assuming baby cooperates with this schedule of course!).

I don't think I'll complain if this little one decides to come a few weeks early like big sister Avery did. In fact, I KNOW I won't complain, and I am hoping that this pregnancy will be about 38 weeks (which means only 7 weeks left!).


(30.5 Weeks)

Hunter put up crown-molding in the nursery and we have all the furniture set up. I need to organize the closet and hang up some decorations as well as do a few loads of baby laundry. Other than that, we are pretty much ready!

Everyone keeps asking me if Avery is excited. The truthful answer is that the poor child has NO CLUE what is going on. She will point at my belly when we ask her where the baby is, but she's not comprehending the big picture. Her life will be completely turned upside down in April when this baby comes home. I'm ready for a rough adjustment for her and I'm already praying that she transitions well into having a sibling.

Happy spring time everyone! It's baby season, yay! lol

Andrea

28 weeks

Well, so much for being better about blogging. Oh well. Should be fun to see the pregnancy progression all together anyway!

(I think I have a few earlier pics at home, I'll have to dig them up!)

18 Weeks


22 Weeks


23 Weeks


24 Weeks


26.5 Weeks


27.5 Weeks


I am feeling good, although my entire house has been battling the sinus crud. Hopefully it will clear out soon as the weather starts to warm up.

The biggest news for now is that I informed my workplace that I will not be returning after the new baby is born. I will be a pseudo stay at home mom, meaning I will be helping my older sister with her house and kids (and maybe taking on odd jobs here and there to make ends meet), but I will be able to dedicate myself to my family in a new and exciting way! I know this will be the hardest job I will ever have in my life, but I am ready for the challenge and excited for the time I will have with my babies.

Can't believe I only have 10-12 weeks left. I know it will fly by. I have been very blessed with a healthy and relatively easy pregnancy so far, and I pray that it continues this way and can't wait till April when we find out if Avery will have a little sister or brother!

Any guesses?!

Love to all,
Andrea