Noah 8 weeks

Big Milestone?
We brought out the bumpo seat and you love it! You sat in the bumpo this morning while I got your brother's breakfast ready. ALSO last night you were exhausted and went to bed at 6pm, we "dream fed" you at 10pm and you went alllll the way to 6am!! Thats awesome! Except you are still in our room, you start in the bassinet but your paci keeps falling out and you wake up sad that you aren't cuddling mommy,... so you end up in the bed right next to me! and i LOVE your cuddles,... but you are a loud sleeper my love <3

Looking forward to this weekend?
This is Memorial Day Weekend so daddy has Monday off so hopefully we will do something fun! And your Mia is coming on Sunday to watch your brother while you and I go up to Gadsden to do a cheerleading camp. 

Looking forward to this week?
We are going to Gadsden Wednesday evening,... this is the longest ride that we have ever done with you,... and it's just me and you! Wow! I hope it goes well!! Ekk! =) But you are such a sweet baby, as long as you are fed all will be good!
Special outings?
Last week we went blue berry picking, Gma's pool, attempted a mommy & me tumbling class with your brother (a disaster), fed the ducks, jazzercise 3x & went to the Zoo with your buddy Max, his brother Jameson & his mommy Stefanie.  

Growth activities?
We do bicycles with your legs and we "dance" with your hands and you love it!!

Life with Eli?
Your brother is a nut. And sometimes a bit of a turd. He is throwing toys a lot. And when we went to the mommy & me class he didn't do anything the instructor or I asked,... he just ran around like a chicken with his head cut off,... so we left. After less than 10 minutes we left. I was so upset. I wanted to do something special with your brother and it did not go as planned at all. But he is only 2. I should have given him more grace, he is a healthy, happy boy and loves to run! 

Best part of the week?

Mommy had an interview to be East Hill's new cheerleading coach and I got the job! Starting next week I am the new varsity cheer coach at EHCS. I am excited and nervous. I am nervous because I don't want to let you down. I have a circle of responsibilities and you are in the center because you are my baby.

Worst part of the week?

Noah 7 weeks

Noah 7 weeks old 

Big milestone? 

You are "social" smiling now! I have only seen you smile at me and daddy,.. brother still makes you nervous! I love when you smile because your sweet little dimples pop out. I love that you have my Pawpaw's dimple chin. Pawpaw is Gma's daddy who passed away in 1991. Genes are so cool!

Who does he remind you of? 

Gma says that you look like her side of the family, specifically Uncle Grady. But to me you are your daddy, because of your sweet, laid back personality.  

Weight? 

You are about 12 lbs according to the bathroom scale

Diaper & clothes size? 

Size 1 diapers during the day, size 2 at night & size 0-3 clothes

Looking forward to this weekend?

This weekend is Lily Ransom's birthday party, we are excited to celebrate year #3 with her! And I am looking forward to this weekend because your daddy is watching you and Eli while I go get a pedicure to celebrate Mother's day. 

Looking forward to this week?

This coming week we have no "plans" but we will probably go swimming at Gma's 

Special outings?

Last week we were all over the place! We went swimming with our sweet friends the Caputas, splash pad with Jameson & Lilliana (and their babies Max & Caden - oh their moms came too!), we went blue berry picking and played at the park!

Favorite part of the day?

When me and you and Eli do something fun together! It's also nice when Eli takes a nap and we get to have alone time. I feel like that is so important to have a time to give each of you guys 100% of my attention. 

Eating?

As of this week you went from EBF to formula. This was a very hard decision for me. I want to give you the best. I want to do all I can for you. But with your extremely energetic brother, EBF was hard. SO hard. Your sweet brother would climb all over us making it impossible to nurse,... I would try to go into another room, but your brother would cry for us on the other side of the as swedoor, breaking my heart. Now that you are on formula we are able to go and do like we weren't able to before. I hope that you received good immunities while you were nursing,.. so help strengthen you immune system we are starting to use thieves oil on your clothes until it is safe to put on your body (6 months). I love you Noah, I am sorry I was unable to nurse you as long as your brother. You are so easy going and laid back, a true sweetheart - you will probably never care. 

What our schedule looks like?

Schedule? What the hecks a schedule! LOL

6:00 - wake up hungry, eat, go back to sleep

8:00 - we are all up for the day, get ready and go to Jazzercise (WMF) or Eli's Preschool (Th) or run errands/someplace fun

Between this time and Eli's nap you eat & nap yourself, I am not sure the hours, but you eat every 2 - 3 hours depending on how hungry you are,... or I should say "hangry" because as sweet as you are, when you get hungry you get angry,... hence "hangry"

1:00 - Eli naps and we cuddle & I blog, finish chores, watch Price is Right =)

3:30 - Daddy comes home and M-Th I head to Kidsnasium

I usually get back from Kidsnasium between 5:30 & 6 depending on what needs to be done 

After I get home sometimes we go to Gma's to swim or other family activities

7 - Noahs bath time

8 - Noah's bedtime 

10/11 - Daddy gives you a dream feed

3:30 - wake up hungry (hangry)

Sleeping?

Not gonna lie, I wish you slept more. But right now you are in the bed with me & daddy. I love this because its more me & you time... but this is also difficult because you a noisy. You make a lot of weird breathing sounds. And also I sleep light knowing you are right beside me, so even when you are sleeping, sometimes I cannot. You may be going to your crib soon,... If I can bring myself to put you in your "big bed"

Life with Eli?

Your brother loves you so much. As soon as he wakes up "where's baby Noah?" But we are struggling with pushing & throwing toys. Mostly he pushed younger kids. But sometimes in the car he will kick your carseat or flick your check,... makes me so sad,.. and mad. But your brother is hilarious. He can't say "L"s , He loves to point out all the trucks,.. I should do a separate post of the things your brother says. 

Best part of the week?

The splash pad! Ms. Stefanie & I took you boys (you, Eli, Jameson & Max) out to lunch afterwards,...my first time out to eat with out your daddy & both of you boys,.. you both were great. You slept the whole time, and Eli only spilled all his chocolate milk on the ground,... =) 

Worst part of the week?

I am still learning to juggle you and your brother. Its hard to give you both 100% when there is only one of me and 2 of you guys. I hope I am doing right by you my sweet baby... I want to give you the world. You deserve the best. 

What do you want Noah to know?

That I love you so much. And you are a perfect addition to our family. 

Anything else?

Hmmm You are really good at tummy time and an angel at Jazzercise. You are a blessing to our family. You had an ear infection and were on antibiotics that we finished today, so hopefully the fever won't come back XOXO

Noah's Birth Story

Warning, this is a BIRTH STORY. So unless you want to read about a BIRTH experience and all that that entails....., do not read. 

After Eli's Birth I was anything but excited to experience labor again,... 

But I had my mind made up on a few things,... 

I didn't want to be 8 days overdue & I didn't want the labor to last 35 hours. 

And I knew I wanted an epidural...., really bad. I really really wanted one. 

My due date was always a little iffy,... was it the 26th or the 30th? Ultrasounds went back and forth between the 2 dates, and I had not been diligently tracking my dot days like I should have been. So of coarse I claimed the earliest eviction date. 

On Sunday, the 22nd of March, we called in reinforcements, MIA!! My mother in law came Monday to help take care of Eli if/when I went into labor. This turned out to be great because Eli got to have some quality Mia time before little brother busted through wanting Eli to share the spotlight. 

My mid-wife appointment was on Tuesday the 24th and I was ready to get things going. I had heard that my mid-wife Jenny Allen had "devil fingers" and was known to start women's labor after sweeping their membranes. (Sweeping membranes is a natural labor inducing method where the dr/midwife/nurse separates the bag of water from the uterus)  As soon as Jenny entered the room I told her that I wanted the procedure done. But instead of doing it herself, she had her apprentice do the procedure. I was NOT happy about this, because #1 I knew it was suppose to hurt and it didn't #2 she had never done one before I didn't really care to be the guinea pig. 

I told Jenny I didn't feel like it had been effective because it didn't hurt, I think she sensed my disappointment because she told me to come back on Thursday, the 27th, and she would break my water. 

I want to take a second to say how much I love Jenny Allen. If you are in the Pensacola area and want an amazing mid-wife,... it's Jenny. I had "Jenny-withdraws" after giving birth because I wasn't seeing her weekly anymore. 

Anyway,... I wanted my baby to come. I wanted Noah to come ASAP. I was walking 4 to 6 miles a day trying to wiggle that child down into the birth canal. I tried everything: oils, labor cookies, the hubs did acupressure points, I spent time with my hubs, yoga, jazzercise, you name it I tried it,... except castro oil (that was going to be a last minute Hail Mary,.... I hear its HORRIBLE, but better than pitocin) 

Well Thursday rolled around, still no baby, but I was having the occasional contraction. My appointment with Jenny was at 1:30. So before the fun began, my mom, Mia, hubs and dad all had a nice lunch together at one of my favorite spots, Portabello Market. After lunch, my mom wanted to take me to a local boutique to pick out Noah's going home outfit. Following Eli's tradition we headed over to Artesana. While driving I had a few contractions, and I was getting excited. 

After Artesana, I picked up Christian and we headed to Jenny's. 

While in the office, Jenny told us that the baby wasn't low enough to break my water. I was so disappointed. I felt like Noah was never going to come. Jenny said that she would be surprised if I made it through the weekend though, and that was encouraging. While still in the stirrups I got a painful surprise,... I asked Jenny if she just stripped my membranes and she said she did not, but gave an "aggressive exam". 

I was feeling crampy and willing to try anything, so I asked hubs to take me to the acupressure-ist in our mall for a foot massage, hoping that might help get the ball rolling. Afterwards, Christian went back to work, and so did I. I was determined to stay on my feet (helps induce labor). So I started making cookies. At 4:30 I was having "steady" contractions. I did not want these precious contractions to go away, it was time to walk. So Christian and I started around the neighborhood with Eli in the jogger. My sweet sister joined us shortly after. And we had fun taking my mind off the contractions that were getting increasingly strong. It was time to head home. Mia had to finish my cookies. 

We packed up and headed the short 2-4 min drive to Baptist Hospital. After getting situated in my cute hospital gown I had ordered weeks ago, and getting set up to see how I was progressing, everything stopped. My contractions that had been 4-5 min apart were gone, or if they happened they were nothing compared to the pain I had felt previously. 

So I was given a choice, head home or walk the halls. I had done that walk the halls game before with Eli. It sucks. And I was discouraged, I felt like it was Eli's labor story all over again. I had been on my feet all day, I had been walking the neighborhood. Walking the halls at the hospital was not going to magically make Noah come, I just wanted to go home and try to rest. 

Around 10 pm my hubs, Amelia and I came back home. So we rested, or at least tried. We laid in the bed, us 3, watching Netflix and timing contractions. Those 2, Amelia and Christian, were like the dream team. I had the heating pad on my back and I would get a cool clothe during the contractions. Whatever I needed done I had 4 hands ready to help me. There was crying out, praying and calling Jesus to please come take me home. But the great thing about contractions is, you know when there coming and how long they will last for. So I would ask Chris "how long until the next one?" Get the approx. time, bear down and breath for that 1 minute of crazy, intense, indescribable pain.

At 1am Christian said we had to leave. I didn't want to. I was so embarrassed about being kicked out last time, I wanted to wait until contractions were closer, stronger,... I really just didn't want to get kicked out again. But I did see the hospital as my refuge, my reward. Like, as soon as I would arrive they would put in that precious epidural and all the pain would go away,... I guess Mia heard my cries of pain, because she was by the door getting ready to kick us out if we didn't leave. 

When we arrived at the hospital I felt like my pain was not being taken seriously.After they saw I was 5 cm I was admitted and Jenny was texted (she was hoarse and couldn't talk) I told them then,... I want my epidural NOW,... please. They said "an epidural is not in your chart" EXCUSE ME?? I had already paid for our labor/delivery and the EPIDURAL. No no lady, I am getting the epidural. 

At this point the pain was crazy. I mean cray-cray crazy. I needed oxygen, babys heart rate was dropping. I was bouncing on the ball. I was shaking,... the transition phase. Where in the world is this epidural? I wanted to cry. I did cry. My hips hurt so bad during contractions because of how low Noah was. Jenny came, I asked "please, please I can't do this without an epidural" She said it was "coming" She said she could break my water now and the baby would be here. I cried. I was scared. I wanted the cussing epidural. Jenny prepared me for the anesthesiologist, on the edge of the bed, back exposed. Then Hillsongs "Oceans" came on. And I just could whisper Jesus, Jesus please. The anesthesiologist came, I was 9.5 cms. No time for an epidural. I was getting a spinal block. Which I found out translates into feeling everything below but not feeling the contractions. 

I started pushing at 4:50 am and at 5:05 our beautiful John Noah Voelkel was born. I remember telling Jenny I couldn't do it anymore. She just said "the ring of fire is real" I had no idea what she was talking about because I had not planned for this "natural" birth. But if you are wondering about the "Ring of Fire" click here. Ring of Fire Noah had punched through with an arm before he came out, so there was a little taring. But he was perfect. He was laid on my chest and got all that "good" umbilical blood. With Eli they had rushed him off because of his birthing complications, but with Noah he stayed on my chest the whole time. He, like Eli, passed the meconium in the womb, but wasn't to the extent of Eli's. He was only taken away to be weighed and bathed. And we were able to immediately nurse. I was in a daze, I was on a mountain. I was EXHAUSTED. I had my baby. And he was amazing. He was here. At 7 lbs 9.8 oz, 19 inches long he is my piece of heaven, my little miracle. Nothing else mattered. And the pain was just a memory and now a blog post. 

And like that we are a family of four, I am a mother of two. My cup runneth over, worthy is your name Jesus. 

Note from the Hub:
What a crazy, incredible, joyful, scary, and wonderful experience. A lot of the story / emotions can not be expressed in words. Eli, Noah, and I are so blessed to have the most amazing, incredible, strong, caring, and loving mother / wife. God is so good! Living the dream and loving every millisecond!