Lessons Learned from Mommy Bootcamp

Molly will be four weeks old on Saturday!  4 Weeks already!?!?!  And in four quick weeks, I know this much to be true:

* Getting 2 hours of sleep at a time really isn't so bad.  Yes, napping when she naps sometimes during the day helps tremendously as well.  But it's really surprised me how well I've done on little sleep.  It helps, too, that Molly typically does really well at night, waking up for feedings every 3 hours at the most.  And yes, she typically goes right back down.

* Babies really do grow too quickly.  Molly's already trying to hold up her head!  And she's growing out of some of her newborn clothes, specifically this onesie that's my very favorite.  I'm pretty sure last night was the last time she'll wear it.  She's too long for it!

Here she is in my favorite onesie in the hospital.  It was really too big then!  Only 4 weeks ago!!

* Just when you think you got the whole mommy-thing down pat, something new happens to throw you for a loop!

* Girls will tinkle all over you when you're changing them!  That's not just a boy thing! 

* 7 pounds of love can certainly steal a man's heart

* Nursing is NOT for the weak and weary.  This is serious business!

* A sleeping child is really a beautiful sight!

* Wardrobe issues for a new mommy are not fun!

The days go by quickly and are often such a blur.  But it's full of love, fun, joy and sunshine.  All in the form of our precious baby girl!  And I wouldn't have it any other way!

HaPpY 4th Of JulY!!

We're headed to my mom's for some good ole' burgers and dogs, all the fixin's and family fun!  It'll be Molly's first time at her Lovie's house!  First of many, many fun times to be had there!

First, Happy 4th of July from Miss Molly!

Little Firecracker shirt is from my sister's company, InStitches Monogram.  Thanks, Jenn!

I'm taking strawberry cupcakes and baked beans to the party.  And y'all, I have got to figure out how to ice cupcakes gracefully.  These aren't the prettiest but they're pretty yummy!

Hope you have a safe and happy 4th of July!

God Bless the USA!

Lovin' Life!

Well, it's safe to say that I'm still adjusting to motherhood and learning to find time to do things like blog!  We are doing great and loving life as a family of three for sure!  Molly is three weeks old today!  Here are some pictures!!

When Molly first came home, we had to spend a couple of days under the bili light (thankfully they brought one to our house), so that's why this picture has a little bit of a blue tint to it.  The light was on and nearby. 

Here Molly was a few days old.  This was one of the first pictures we captured with her eyes open!

When Molly was 8 days old, we had newborn pictures done by one of my sweet friends, Karrie Drake.  Karrie did a fantastic job of getting some really great shots of sweet Molly!  Here are some of our favorites from that day....

~ Family of Three ~

~ A Daddy and His Princess ~

~ Snug as a Bug ~

~ All Wrapped Up ~

~ Sweet Face ~

Thanks so much, Karrie, for coming and capturing some precious moments for us!  We couldn't be happier with the results!

Also, Veronica sent Molly a precious little hat that I completely forgot to pull out for the photo shoot, so I had to have our own little modeling session just yesterday to get these precious pictures!  Thanks so much, Veronica!  The hat is soooo cute!

And that is a tiny glimpse into our world thus far! 

Molly is really a great baby.  She is starting to have some awake times each day, and we love to watch her little mind turn and her eyes move all around the room.  Molly makes some incredibly funny faces that I'm trying to capture in pictures so we can remember them!  The days seem to fly by and are usually a blur to me by the time the evening comes.  But we are having a ball and are sooooo in love with Molly Miller!

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Meet Molly Miller

Little did I know how true the title of my last post was! 

It WAS time!

Saturday was a busy day, from pedicures (with my mom and sister) to a good walk at the gym to dinner plans with some of our friends, we had a full day!  It was about 5:45 Saturday afternoon when we were heading over to our friends' house for a cook out.  Without getting too graphic, I was thinking my water may be breaking or leaking.  We kind of hung around the house for a few minutes before we decided to head on over to our friends' and I planned to ask the girls there who are moms what they thought.

My friends were quick to encourage me to call the doctor, which I did.  He told me to get to the hospital so they could assess and see if my water had in fact broken. 

So, we left the cook out and headed to the hospital.  We weren't even out of our friends' neighborhood when I had my first real contraction. 

And I knew.  It was time!

We got to the hospital just before 7pm.  I'd now had a few contractions.  I was 5 - 6 cm dilated and the doctor told us we were in fact going to have a baby!

The nurses were setting me up and asked if I wanted an epidural.  You bet I did! 

Then the contractions got stronger.  Faster.  Much more intense.  I reminded the nurse that I wanted an epidural.  She reminded me we had to get a full bag of fluids in me first.  God love her heart, she put the bag of fluids in this pump thing and literally pumped the fluids as fast as she could into me.

They checked me again and I was 8 - 9 cm and was moved from assessment into a delivery room.  Once we got in there, the contractions were unbelievable!  The anesthesiologist arrived to put in my epidural.   But I was contracting too often and couldn't be still long enough.  The nurses told me to let them know if I felt like I needed to push.

And just like that, I had to push!

They turned me around, checked me and I was 10 cm dilated.  No epidural for me!  I remember asking, "no epidural?  What about those other pain meds you offered me?"

The sweet looking nurse looked me square in the eyes and said, "Honey, you're about to have this baby now!  PUSH!"

Thank goodness somebody in the room asked if we had a camera.  Omigosh!  My mother and sister were probably at the hospital by now wondering why in the world they couldn't get back to see us (which was case!), so that nurse ran to get my mother and sister. 

At 8:18pm on Saturday, June 12, Molly Miller made her debut!  And she is some kinda beautiful! 

Meet Molly Miller Slocum

6 pounds, 0.5 ounces

19 inches long

And full of sweetness!

The Slocums ~ a family of three

We are home and doing well.  Molly is a little jaundiced, so we've had a bili light at home for the past two days.  Today her levels were down a good bit, and we are hopeful that her session tonight under that light will be the last.  Praying that's the case! 

And this, the arrival of my little girl has truly made me HappyascanB!

It's Time!!!

There's a scene towards the end of Steel Magnolias when they're at an Easter Egg hunt and Annelle is big and pregnant.  She starts having contractions and everyone runs around hollering, "It's time!  It's time!" 

We are almost there ourselves around here....

Well, Tuesday we went to the doctor and found out I am 3 - 4 cm dilated and 70% effaced.  My OB was not in the office last week, so the OB we saw made an appointment for us to come back this coming week, "if you make it that far."  He also went through the run down of "if you start having steady contractions, call us; if your water breaks, go to the hospital immediately.  I don't think you'll labor long."

I was hoping for some progress.  You know, to hear my body was getting ready for delivering.  THAT was more than I expected!  We were beside ourselves! 

Later in the week, my doctor's office called and said my OB had called to check in and has scheduled me for an induction on Tuesday, if I don't go before then on my own.

Our bags are packed and in Tim's office (he works at the hospital).

Car seats have been installed.

Treat bags* have been made.

Yes, we are ready for Miss Molly Miller!

*A few weeks ago, Tim came to me and said, "Hey, I have kind of a cheesy idea.  What if we gave out M&Ms when Molly's born since her initials are MM?"  I loved it!  It's perfect, especially considering M&Ms are Tim's all-time favorite candy!  The little tags on the baggies say "Enjoy these M&Ms in celebration of our MM. . .  Molly Miller Slocum"

It's a Blog Party!

Three of my blog buddies (Hey, Kristin, Ver and Kate!) are participating in this blog party today, and I thought I’d jump in on the fun, too! Thanks, Amy, for hosting a fun event!


It’s kind of a Getting to Know You party, and we’re supposed to answer these questions.

1. If you could have dinner with any person (past or present) who would it be?

My Daddy. This one is easy today since I dreamed about him last night, he’s really on my heart today. Daddy died 15 ½ years ago, and there are so very many things I’d love to talk to him about. Oh, how I wish he could’ve known Tim. And known being and becoming a grandfather.

2. What is your most embarrassing moment that you are willing to share with the blogging world?

The time with BIG HAIR. . . . As a senior in high school, I was on the Homecoming Court. Tradition was each senior girl was to ask a senior guy to speak for her in front of the student body. The speeches were to encourage the students to vote for you. My friend Jason spoke for me, and I had to stand up beside him in front of everyone while he spoke. Jason was known as a light-hearted, fun guy. He’d run his speech by me a couple of times, but left out an embarrassing detail. So, we’re standing in front of the high school, and he goes through my name and Queen, each letter standing for something. B was something silly like Babe. He said all queens are babes. E was Excellent Friend. T was she Talks a lot! And then there was H. Hair. She has big hair! I. was. Mortified! On the video my mom recorded, you can see me look at him with my mouth gaping open (and yes, big hair) and saying, “Dauber!?!?!” We called him Dauber because he looked so much like the character from the show Coach. I was super embarrassed! People still laugh about that!

3. If you could only use one word to describe yourself, what would it be?

PREGNANT. Very pregnant. But not for much longer!!!!

4. You found a machine that allows you to fast forward your life to a moment or to rewind your life to a certain moment, but it can only be used for one moment. Would you fast forward or rewind and to which moment would you choose?

My knee-jerk reaction is yes. I’d rewind to the last minute I saw my Dad and tell him I loved him. Or anything that may’ve prevented him from committing suicide that afternoon.

Or there are plenty of things I did during my late teen and early twenties I regret so much. The idea of going back and changing my decisions appeals to me sometimes.

But here’s the thing: everything that’s happened in my life happened for a reason. And Praise the Good Lord for bringing me through it! I wouldn’t be who I am today if things had been different.

5. What is your favorite simple blessing in life?

Ellie Grace patting my belly and smiling when you ask her where Molly is! Priceless!

Thursday's Ten ~ Pictures

I'm participating in Lora's Thursday's Ten today; we're posting ten of our favorite recent pictures.  It'll be no surprise that these pictures scream BABY BABY BABY!  With a dose of Ellie, of course!

1.  These cookies were not only delicious, but precious to boot! Bottles and Bibs ~ with Molly's monogram!  True southern cookies if you ask me!

2.  Ellie and Lovie at one of my showers.  Lovie was writing Ellie's name over and over and over again.  I love how Ellie's head is tilted just right into her Lovie.  Priceless pose.

3.  Tim's been nesting just as much as I have, and he's been on daddy duty already!  Here he is washing bottles!

4.  And assembling Molly's stroller

5. Molly's nursery has really come together!  Here's her crib with her name over it....

6.  Here's the chest with the precious boa wreath my friend Meredith made for her!

7.  The rocking chair and window.  Treatment was made by another friend, Amy.  Cornice board is in process and will be hung soon (and rod will be removed, of course)!

8.  Ellie Grace beachin' it this last weekend

9.  Another Ellie Grace shot.  Isn't she just beautiful?

10.  And perhaps the last belly shot I'll post.  This was a couple of weeks ago at 34 weeks.

So, what are some of your recent favorite photos?  Link up and show us!