BIRTH STORY//John Michael Wood

 Wednesday, June 29th started out like the rest of the days  leading up to it, lots of back pain and I mean it was bad.  I stayed home a week or so before John was born because I was in so much pain.  Now I kind of wonder if I had low amniotic fluid or something.  I know he wasn't a small baby, but whew that hurt!    

Anyway, I was having contractions all through out the night ranging from 5 to 10 minutes apart.  I texted my OB early that morning & she said I welcome to stop by Labor & Delivery and get monitored.  I kept going back & forth.  I kept talking myself out of it because I knew I would get to there and hardly be dilated.  Jordan's mom happened to be watching James that day, so Jordan encouraged me to go since it wouldn't hurt to get monitored with the expectation that it might be nothing.  So, we went!  Thankfully, when I got there I was dilated to a 3, which was more than I thought.  By the time my OB got there & checked me I was a 4.  She told me, "You're here for good until that baby arrives!"  Praise the Lord!  I didn't really want to be sent home since the contractions were getting pretty painful.  

The anesthesiologist wouldn't be there for a couple more hours, so I asked the nurses if I could get any other pain meds until he arrived.  So, they gave me some stadol.  I think they remembered me from James' birth because they didn't give me as high of a dose this time.  I was pretty crazy after they gave it to me last time.  I received the epidural around 2 pm.  This was the only time I remember the stadol really affecting me.  When I was about to receive the epidural, I got really scared & almost refused it.  I was afraid that something would go wrong with it & I would get paralyzed or something crazy to that effect.  It seemed out of character for me because I had talked about how I wanted an epidural all pregnancy long.  So I blame my fears & tears on the stadol :)  

An hour after getting the epidural, I had only progressed to 5 cm.  The doctor then decided to give me pitocin to speed up the process.  The OB checked me a couple hours later (around 5 pm) after her day was over at her office & I was a 6 cm.  I was thinking that I wouldn't have John until midnight because I wasn't progressing as fast as I thought.  Around 7ish, Jordan's dad brought James to the hospital & everyone burgers for dinner.  Meanwhile, my doctor came back to check me and told me "You're complete!"  I replied, "Wait, what does that mean?!"  "It's time to push!"  she said.  I was in shock, I couldn't believe I had went from a 6 to a 10 in an hour.  Jordan shoved down his dinner & came back into the room.  After 3 contractions, and 8 minutes of pushing he was here!  Another shocker, I couldn't believe how fast it went!  I pushed for 30 minutes with James.  However, I was a lot more with it this time since I wasn't so high on stadol.  The Lord was so gracious.  I thought James' birth went so well, and this one was just as smooth if not smoother.  I cannot thank the nurses, my OB & all those who were there enough.    Love you all!

TWO

Two years, really?  I know it sounds cliche, but that flew by!  He is getting tall and losing that baby fat.  I kind of miss his little chubs.  He is going to preschool two days a week at First United Methodist, which he LOVES.  He is so outgoing and loves being around other kids--he cried the first day I picked him up because he didn't want to leave.  

Since I've lasted posted, which was fifteen months, he has been saying a lot more words, learning his colors & numbers.  He LOVES his daddy.  Every time he hears the garage door open, he yells "daddy" because he thinks daddy is home.  It's precious.    He is also obsessed with his cousin, Ethan who he sees every Wednesday at Grandmom & Grandfather's house.  I don't know what it is, but he loves playing with the older kids. 

THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.  In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—  for we are members of his body.  “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[c] This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Ephesians 5:25-33

As I'm writing this, I'm still kind of shocked that it has been 3 years since Jordan and I got married.  I know we are rookies compared to other couples, but it seems like just yesterday I walked down the isle.  

When I was single, I remember have many doubts that I was too picky or never going to get married.  People would even question me and ask, "Do you think maybe you have too high of standards for your future husband?"  I don't think they were trying to be cynical but just looking after me.   For the most part, I would let it go in one ear and out the other, but occasionally doubt would creep in.  Was I too picky?  And boy, am I glad I waited.  I married thee most serving, godly, funny man.  I was't really expecting him to be 2,200 miles from where I was born and raised, but he was definitely worth the move & the wait.  Not to mention, I married into an awesome family.  That wasn't a requirement I had for a future husband, but it has definitely been a bonus.  

I have been reading this blog by Kara Tippetts called Mundane Faithfulness. Basically she steals the words from my mouth regarding Jordan.  

I will be very clear: he’s not perfect, but he’s humble in his imperfection.

-Kara Tippetts

That's just a small insert of her post, but I can relate to her whole post regarding her husband Jason.  Jordan is a man who has taken Ephesians 5 seriously and leads our family well.  Seeing him be a father to our precious son these past 16 months have caused me to love him even more.  I knew before we got married that he would be a great husband and father, but he has far exceeded my expectations.  He wakes up with James in the middle of the night; he changes his diapers without me asking; he comes home from a long day at work and wrestles with James; he reads aloud Bible stories to James.  I try not to take all that he does for our family for granted.  These past three years have been far from perfect, but has been the best years of my life.  I look forward to many more.  

   

POPPYSEED CHICKEN RECIPE

If you are looking for a healthy recipe, this is probably not it!  But it is so amazing & yummy!

Well, I pretty much get stuck in a rut when it comes to recipes & cooking.  A while back I blogged about being "tacoed out" and guess what?  Not a lot has changed.  I have tried many of the recipes everyone has sent-so thank you very much for that.  However, I still make a lot of tacos because they are just so easy!   

Anyway, back to this amazing chicken recipe.  My friend, Maggie, gave it to me and I will be sure to list the ingredients/directions below!  Can I just say that I am very intimidated by baking chicken?  I always undercook or overcook it.  So, Maggie gave me a little short cut if you're like me & scared to bake chicken.  (We do eat chicken by the way, but typically Jordan grills it.)  

  

Poppyseed Chicken
Directions:

• Boil the chicken & then reduce to simmer (for about 20 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink). My shortcut:  Buy a rotisserie chicken and use that instead :) Shred the chicken. 
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Combine the butter, crackers & poppy seeds in a bowl.
• Blend the sour cream & cream of chicken soup in a separate bowl with the shredded chicken, but save half of the soup to put in the bottom of a 9x9 pan.  Then place the mixture in the pan. Sprinkle with cheese, then put the ritz mixture on top of the cheese.  (I left out the cheese).
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese has melted or sauce is bubbly.  (20-30 minutes).
• ALL DONE

Ingredients:

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast (or a rotisserie chicken)
• 1/2 butter, melted
• 1 sleeve of ritz crackers
• 1 teaspoon of poppy seeds
• 1 (8 ounce) of sour cream
• 1 (10.75) can of condensed cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups of shredded cheese (I left out the cheese)

Jordan LOVED this meal and said to save it!  He loved the rolls and salad that I served it with too.   

FIFTEEN MONTHS

A few days after James turned one he started walking.  Now, he is officially running!  He surprises us with new words every day.  He says "tank too", "bye, bye", "uh oh", "ball", "dog", "woof", "mama" and "daddy".  He's such a little daddy's boy.  I'm chopped liver when Jordan is around, but it is the sweetest thing to see him playing and interacting with Jordan.  

James has such a fun personality.  He definitely isn't shy.  Usually, he will go up to people and start talking gibberish--he's quite the little talker.  And he's not afraid to grab stuff from people either.  When we were at church a few weeks ago, I was talking with this lady and before I knew it, he grabbed the cookie out of her hand and shoved it in his mouth real fast.  Not really sure why, but he loves brooms, canes, & vacuums.  I hope that means he will help around the house, but I'm not counting on it.  He is now giving kisses & hugs, which is so sweet.  

We went to the doc for his 15 month check up and he is still in the 95% for weight and 98% for height (33.5 inches).   The doc said he looks like a perfect little 15 month old!  I'm so grateful for a healthy little boy. 

Dear James,
We love you so much sweet boy.  You have no idea how much you have changed our lives, for the good.  We pray for you non stop, and hope that you will surrender your life to Jesus at a young age.