hanging out

Who knew your heart could love so deeply & purely.

Happy Holidays

Happy holidays!

two months in pictures

found this in my archives from a while ago ...

seriously ... i have no idea how you mamas find time to blog.

i am totally in love and having a blast being a mama, but it's way hard to find time to sit down, compose my thoughts and write a blog post.

here are a few cell phone pictures from the last two months.

pax will be 2 months old on november 26th.

has it really been that long?

totally milk drunk ...

hanging out with my grandma ...

looking very handsome and ready for auntie jordan's birthday party ...

napping on mama's lap ...

taking a little snooze ...

first bath & pumpkin patch

Things are settling down here ... just in time for Jay to go back to work and chaos for me to start.

After a few weeks of many sleepless nights driving around town trying to soothe Paxton and lull him to sleep, we've discovered that little man has acid reflux. Since being on Zantac (yes, I HATE giving my newborn baby medicine) he's back to his happy self.

A few updated pictures.

Paxton's first bath in the kitchen sink ...

Since this pictures were taken, we've bathed him in his little tub and he LOVES it so much!

We went to the pumpkin patch yesterday with our little pumpkin and some family members.

Here are a couple pictures of my new family.

I am so blessed.

newborn pictures

Looky, looky who got their pictures taken today.

Too cute!

{in my humble opinion}

Thank you Rustic Star Photography!

He's HERE!

Look who made his arrival!

Paxton James Stookey

September 26, 2011

10:00 pm

8 lbs, 4 oz

19-1/2 inches

We are totally in love.

More to come in the days ahead!

39 weeks, 5 days

But who's counting?

Cleary, I am ready.

Are YOU Paxton?

countdown :: 9

We're down to single-digit status in our countdown!

9 more days to go until Paxton's due date.

Could I be more excited?!?

Nope!

We are so excited to meet this bundle of joy that we've waited so many years for.

I can't think about it too much - I don't need to be pushed over the edge to cry right now - I'm emotional enough - so we'll just leave it at that.

We're excited to meet you little man!

At last night's appointment I was a fingertip dilated and 30% effaced.

Not much - but I'll take it!

xoxoox

38 weeks // bump shot

Everything is big now.

We're ready for you Pax.

Anytime little man!

Mommy & Daddy can't wait to meet you.
The jury is still out on how Cooper feels about it.

38 weeks

How about a bit of an update?

The last couple weeks have been cRaZy!

Last Monday, I woke up with a weird-feeling tongue. It felt burnt, but I couldn't recall burning it on anything.

On Monday night, I noticed my taste was a bit off - things didn't taste as flavorful as usual.

On Tuesday morning, I went to check my teeth {for food} in the mirror after breakfast and I couldn't open my lower lip all the way - I couldn't see the bottom row of my teeth on the right side.

By lunchtime, I was unable to swish with water with out water coming out and I also drooled food out the right side of my mouth.

Scary stuff.

Jay called my OB and they had him drive me to the emergency room right away.

Long story short - they ruled out a blood clot and/or stroke, and I've been diagnosed with Bell's palsy.

If you haven't heard of it - you can look it up - I'm not going to provide a link and I refuse to look it up because I feel like it will just scare me.

The beginning of this week was spent in foll0w-up appointments.

I saw a wonderful neurologist who said I basically have a 95% of making a full recovery within the next few weeks.

He was impressed with how fast we got medical attention {thanks Jay!} and said my case isn't bad at all.

Basically it affected the right side of my face.

My smile is off and my right eye doesn't always blink with my left one ... oh ... and I get to tape my eye shut while I sleep with scotch tape.

Jealous much!?!

Jeez - the things mother's do for their children during pregnancy!

I never got to start school with my kiddos and I miss them a ton.

I've been put on medical leave for work and honestly I can't imagine working anyway - especially since the vision in my right eye has been affected (but getting better every day!).

We are on the countdown to meeting Pax ... 14 days until our due date.

I can't wait to meet him!

Is it bad I'm too lazy to go back and proof-read this for errors?

I'm hitting publish.

:)

:: love ::

Little man's side profile.

Love.

35 weeks

Holy cow ... where have the weeks gone?

Is there an award for the worst blogger?

The least-updated blog?

I'd self-appoint the award to me.

Time seems to fly by and then I realize I haven't blogged in a really long time.

Here's Pax & I at 35 weeks.

We've had a busy few weeks.

Summer is winding down and we're making the most out of our last few days.

I'm not gonna lie - my 3rd trimester has been so easy without working.

I am REALLY worried about next week.

I start back full-time and I'm already so tired and uncomfortable.

This should be interesting.

Little man is measuring 39 weeks as of our last appointment.

We had an unexpected ultrasound and it was so nice to see his cute little face.

This guy has some CHUBBY cheeks!

Happy School Schedule everyone!

32 weeks!

Another great week with Paxton.

He's moving around a ton and I'm loving every second!

Love you little man!

xoxo

31 weeks

Happy 31 weeks big boy.

Aunt Patty is throwing us a baby shower tomorrow, and I'm beside myself with excitement.

We came home from Lake Chelan last night, and the first thing I did was sit in your room for a while. I looked in your crib, smelled your clothes in your closet, and read you a few board books.

I can't wait to meet you.

I love you very much Paxton!

30 weeks

We just spent a week in Lake Chelan with my parents.

It was so nice and relaxing and the weather was decent.

I'm choosing to NOT complain about the weather this summer, because the cooler weather keeps me less swollen!

Here's Paxton and I at 30 weeks - in all our glory (read: bathing suit attire).

29 weeks

Happy 29 weeks Paxton!

where have i been?

Wow, time flies when your head is spinning off your body.

June was absolutely cRaZy.

Being a teacher automatically enters you into CRAZY ZONE in the month of June.

Between end-of-year functions, assessments, grades, and report cards ... the Mr. and I also coached our school's Track & Field team AND organized Field Day for our school.

Needless to say - I've been exhausted.

Summer is treating us good.

I had my 29 week check-up today along with my glucose test.

My blood pressure & weight gain was perfect.

Paxton is measuring 3 weeks big but our doctor seems fine with it - just something to keep an eye on.

I continue to feel so grateful for every day I have with my sweet baby boy in my body.

I love feeling him move around and kick me - I'll never get tired of that.

We just returned from a week with the Mr's family in Eastern Washington.

Remember this trip 3 years ago?

Thank goodness this year wasn't as eventful.

We had so much fun - it's always so nice to relax and spend time with his family.

But I'll tell ya what - this pregnant lady is NOT fit for hot Eastern Washington weather.

I will be the first to admit that I am 100% wussy when it comes to heat.

We're back home now and relaxing before our next trip with my family.

Happy Summer everyone!

22 weeks

A couple weeks have flown by.

Jay & I started coaching our school's Track & Field team
{you can imagine my running shape these days!}
and it's been so much fun.

I celebrated my 35th birthday last week with my family.

I've never been more happy.

Life is great.

And after two difficult years,
I'm cherishing every day.

Here I am at 22 weeks ...

Announcing ...

Life has gone by in the whirl the last month.

Baby is doing awesome and I've finally emerged from a 2-week stint of being EXHAUSTED 24/7.

Jay and I are THRILLED to announce that we're 20 weeks along today, and ...

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!!

I no longer have to obsess about the fact that the gray walls we painted
in the nursery have blue undertones.

Yeah!

We're so exited to meet you
Paxton James!

18.5 weeks

I've trained the Mr. too well to always get my best angle.

My belly bump shots make me look SO SKINNY.

I took one on my own yesterday after work.

Here's a more realistic point of view.

The angle is a bit weird because I took it myself while trying to lift up my cardigan.

18 weeks

18 weeks.

17 weeks

17 week bump shot.

Update // I'm Alive

I'm officially the world's worst blogger this month.

I started slacking in my posts because I was so annoyed with my cell phone.

I've been sending my daily pictures from my cell phone - but now it doesn't work for some reason - and I'm not techy enough to figure it out - or energetic enough to stay awake long enough.

Let's be honest.

The majority of hours that compromise the month of April, have been used up in REM sleeping.

I am so tired.

Like, understatement of the day tired.

I refuse to complain {to anyone other than Jay & Jordan - luckies!} because I know I have a loooong road ahead of me.

But today I think I've figured it out.

I think I need to eat more protein.

So anyway, the pregnancy is going GREAT.

I'm 18 weeks now and happy as a clam.

Also, sUpEr grateful for every day.

If I think about it too long, I'll cry.

I seem to be feeling quite sensitive to girlfriends who have been down the same road as me.

There is nothing more annoying than reading a blog FULL of baby news and pregnancy updates, when you're hurting in that area.

Because of that - I tend to shy away from blogging lately.

Having a difficult time finding some balance in that area I suppose.

I'll give you some quick updates:

• Jay painted the baby's room a couple weeks ago - an adorable grey
• We purchased our crib and changing table and set them up in the nursery (picture below)
• We started some basic registries
• We had a GREAT 17 week prenatal exam
• Easter was nice and relaxing at mom and dad's house
• We're missing our Spokane family and wish every day they were closer to share in all this baby excitement
• My students are BEYOND cute about my pregnancy. They talk to my belly and say sweet things like, "Hi baby P! I hope you're happy in there!"
• We have an ultrasound appointment for May 13th to find out what we're having
• We've agreed on baby names. Girl: Piper. Boy: Paxton. Feel free to NOT leave your opinion if it's negative ... these ARE the names we will be using.

Enjoy the picture of the changing table.

I've sent over 15 photos to my email via my phone the last few weeks, and this is the ONLY one that I received.

If they ever show up ... I'll post them.

I've been so busy with working, sleeping and creating a baby from scratch ... I've been a terrible blog reader also.

Hope you're all doing great!

Is it bad that I'm too tired to proof-read this post?!?

:)

april 9th

I have been LOVING green beans and pearl onions lately.

We went over to my mom's house for dinner tonight
and looky what she made!

And guess who got to go home with leftovers?

YUMM-O!

april 8th

Happy 16 weeks Baby P!

Not only was today beautiful ...
but we did a ton of fun stuff.

Lunch with my family & grandma at Spud's on Alki.

Took a scenic drive around Alki and looked at beautiful houses.

Soaked up the sun.

Visited Jay's brother Casey and wife Susie while they worked in the yard
(I'm a really good over-see-er of yard work).

Took a nap.
(Lisa)

Did yard work.
(Jay)

Played with neighbors outside in the sun.

Went out to dinner for yummy burgers.

Had dessert at TCBY with my parents.

And guess what?

No one took a picture.

Of anything.

All day.

Guess it was just one of those days when you're too busy having fun!

april 7th

Jay, my mom and I went to University Village today and went baby shopping.

We purchased our adorable crib and changing table.
(yeah!).

We also went to lunch and Gap Maternity.

I'm officially too big for pre-pregnancy pants.

While trying clothes on, I also wore their "bump."

A great way to see how clothes will fit when you're about to pop.

It was fun to see what I'll look like.
(See photo above)

What a fun day full of making memories!

april 6th

Jay came home from Spokane last night so we Jay cleaned out one of our guest rooms and made room for the nursery.

Here is the one and only piece of furniture in the room right now.

Holding some baby clothes that Jay couldn't resist buying,
along with a glassy baby,
a sweet blanket that Amy bought us,
and a picture of Baby P's cousin, Tatum.

LOVE!

april 5th

Day one million #5 of feeling terrible.

So here's yet another picture of Cooper on the bed, sleeping.

These pictures of the day could NOT get more boring.

Sorry.

april 4th

I woke up today and my stomach was LIKE THIS!

Hello baby bump popping out!

Wowza.

I'm LOVING every second of this amazing gift.

Thank you God!

april 3rd

I stayed in bed all day again today trying to get over this sinus infection.

Without meds.

NOT fun.

I should really take a picture of how many Target bags I've filled with used Kleenexes.

But that would be really gross.

And I'm sure the visual you have in your head right now is enough.

distractions

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

This is what you do when you're distracting yourself from nausea ...

You make videos.

april 2nd

Clothes are definitively feeling tight!

april 1st

I'm basically swallowing razor blades today.

My throat COULD NOT hurt more.

So today is a stay-in-bed kind of day.

A cuddle-with-your-dog kind of day.

A wish-I-could-take-meds kind of day.

A grateful-to-have-the-day-off kind of day.

new year's resolution :: failure

I've officially failed at my New Year's Resolution.

I took not ONE picture this last week.

At first I felt really guilty about it ...

Then I started getting so behind on picture-taking, that I just gave up.

Maybe next week will be better.

For now - I'm OK with breaking up with my resolution until something picture-worthy happens.

We're on Spring Break now ...

So you'll most likely see pictures of the day that consist of catching up on sleep and my DVR.

EXCITING!

mar 27th

14 weeks.

Looks much like 13 weeks.

:)

mar 26th

What a fun day ...

Started with pedicures with Jordan.

Then a baby shower for Kinsey.

Then rounded out the evening with a 60th birthday celebration for my dad.

We gorged on food at Ivar's.

SO DELISH!

I'm slowly starting to enjoy food again.

It was nice to enjoy time with the family.

Happy Birthday Dad,
you're my hero.

Aren't my mom and dad adorable?!?

xoxo

mar 24th

Heaven has arrived in Woodinville.

Thank you TCBY,
for making all my dreams come true.

Honestly, if you haven't been there - GO!

mar 23rd

Spring is in the air!

This is my favorite tree.

It grows right outside my front door.

Soon its yellow flowers will fall off producing lush green leaves.

This is why I bought the tree.

Yellow always makes me happy.