life lately

Undoubtedly our life has looked different the last few weeks. With the addition of a new family member, discovering our routine as a family of 4, figuring out how to be a stay at home mama of 2 sweet babies, Jimmy learning about and getting into the swing of things in a new job, harvest time which means Jimmy is back at his parents place as often as possible, oh yeah and on top of this trying to sell our house and lining things up in our soon to be new hometown of Ankeny. To say we've had a lot going on the last few weeks may be a slight understatement.

However, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I truly enjoy and thrive off of change. While I enjoy a routine, change keeps things interesting and keeps me on my toes. Although I may not have signed up for this much change at one time, it's ok and we are adapting.

Yesterday was my first day home alone with Preston and Lily. Why is it that a 2 week old baby and 16 month old toddler can scare us so much? For whatever reason I had a lot of anxious feelings about this day. What if they are both crying at once? What if I'm feeding Preston - which I feel like I'm doing ALL THE TIME! - and Lily needs something, or gets hurt, or needs her diaper changed, etc etc? What if I go crazy in the house all day because I'm too scared to venture out and actually do something? What if someone stops by and I haven't showered and am still in my PJs? What if, what if, what if.

The reality of it is all those things may happen and it's ok. Yesterday came and went and was relatively uneventful. We played inside in the morning with coloring books, baby dolls, building blocks, and the ipad, enjoyed a little lunch before nap time, then headed outside in the afternoon to enjoy the beautiful weather. And I proved to myself that I can handle this mom of 2 thing :)

As for other news - let me bring you up to date. I think I blogged about Jimmy getting a new job, didn't I? Well if not, Jimmy got a new job as a Operations Project Manager of a new Sprayer facility in Ankeny. So while his job was technically effective September 15th he will be traveling back and forth and working from home in the next month or so until we close on our house. Which is my next point, we bought a house. Now while I haven't actually seen the house because why would I want to do that?! we close on a new construction home in NE Ankeny on October 26th. So now we just have to sell our house here!

Here's the link to our house if you know anyone in the market!

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5505-Applewood-Ln-Cedar-Falls-IA-50613/76671826_zpid/

Harvest - I must have mentioned at some point previously that Jimmy and I are farming a farm this year. We took over one of his dad's farms when he had the opportunity for some more land and this is our first year doing it. Which means Jimmy likes to, and needs to, get back to help whenever he can - especially during planting and harvest time. We have all gone with him a few times and Lily loves riding in the combine - so sweet!

So that's about it for now. I am enjoying these slower and seemingly lazy days at home with our little family of 4 as we figure out how to do life together and what our new routine and normal will look like. Those 2 little faces are the most precious thing and when we are just laying on the floor reading a book together or giggling at a silly song those are the moments that melt my heart and I know I will cherish forever.

cool girl rockin the shades

our little man sleeping away

:)

trying to figure out what mommy does with this pump thing

who doesn't wear boots, pj pants, and a bib?

kisses for brother

preston's birth

On September 11, 2012 at 9am Jimmy and I checked into Covenant Hospital to be induced. The first room we were brought into we were quickly disturbed by construction right outside our window. After waiting a half hour or so for our nurse to arrive we asked to be moved. After waiting another half hour we were told we were going to be brought into another room - thank goodness! How annoying would construction noise be while enduring contractions and labor??

So, finally about 10:45am I was situated in bed, checked by the nurse, my IV in, and Pitocin was started. And so the waiting began. I was dilated to 2cm and 50% effaced before they started the medicine and it took quite a while for me to progress. After checking me every few hours around 1pm they broke my water. A few hours later I decided to go ahead and get the epidural - so that happened around 3pm. 

My mom was at home spending the day with Lily and Jimmy's mom and sister Jalissa came and went throughout the morning and early afternoon to the hospital. When my dad got off work he and my mom brought Lily up to see us at the hospital - it was so good to see her! And then they swapped and had Jimmy's mom head back to our house with Lily while they hungout at the hospital for a bit. A few hours later they left the hospital to put Lily to bed for the night and the whole Grover clan came to visit.

Once I got to 5cm I progressed rather quickly - about 1cm per hour. So by late afternoon we were pretty confident that it would be late into the night until I had our little man. Being induced with Lily I didn't expect anything different however, I was hopefully it wouldn't take as long!

I tried to rest off and on during the early evening but had a hard time actually falling asleep. Something about knowing that we would be meeting our baby soon makes it hard for one to sleep :)

By 11pm my parents had come back - leaving Lily with our previous nanny, Bailey - so that they could be at the hospital during the actual birth. It was also around 11:30pm or so that I was 9cm and 100% effaced. It wasn't long after that that I began to feel intense pressure and the urge to push.

Around 11:45pm I wasn't sure I could "hold it" much longer and told the nurse I was pretty sure I could feel his head. Within a few minutes my doctor was in the room, the delivery crew and baby nurses were in place and it was time to have a baby! 

About 11:55pm my doctor asked me if I wanted to wait a few minutes so that he wouldn't be a 9/11 baby and I said "yes" - she had a feeling he would come quick and that it would only be a few pushes before he was here!

Right at midnight I began to push. After a few hard pushes they discovered that he was face up - another face up baby! Which meant it would take more than a few pushes on my part. When I overheard these conversations I automatically got a little discouraged as I remembered the 3 hours of pushing it took to deliver Lily due to her being face up! However, I tried to stay positive, remembering what I did with Lily that worked and just pushed hard.

We used the "towel tug-a-war" method where I pull on one end of a towel and a nurse pulls on the other. This seems to help me push "correctly" and it's what worked with Lily and Preston.

So after about 30 minutes of pushing our son was delivered. I remember feeling his head crown and then with the next push the relief as his head and shoulders came out. And he was instantly laid on my chest and the emotions I felt at the moment are truly indescribable. The love, joy, adoration and relief is overwhelming. The love is so instant and the relief that he is healthy and here is incredible. I was worried about if I would love him as much as I loved our first child or if I'd feel the same way when he was born and I absolutely did - without a doubt. He was perfect!

After he got cleaned up and wrapped up a bit they brought him back for me to snuggle and try to nurse him. He wasn't too up for eating right away but we enjoyed some special time just the 3 of us for 30 minutes or so before he was able to meet his grandparents.

So it was 12:29am on Wednesday September 12, 2012 that James Preston Grover was born. He weighed 7lbs 12oz and measured 21.5inches long. 

A little bit of history behind his name......Jimmy is the 3rd James in his family. His grandpa, dad, and he are all named James but have different middle names. So when we found out we were having a son and discussed names James was an obvious front runner. However, Jimmy wasn't positive that he wanted to follow suite and name his son James. He admitted to some confusion when growing up having the same name as his dad and he wanted to think it through a bit. We soon decided that we wanted to use James in one sense or another, whether it be the middle or first name. After lots of discussion and ideas of other names to accompany James we decided on Preston. We then decided that we did want James to be his first name but decided we would have him go by his middle name, Preston. So, James Preston it is and I am honored to carry on the tradition of a strong family name, I love the fact that he has the same name as some wonderful men, men that will surely be an important part of his life - and I think it fits him perfectly :)

meet preston

We welcomed our son into this world last week. 

Meet James Preston Grover. He is a 4th generation James but he will go by Preston. He was born at 12:29am September 12, 2012 weighing 7lbs 12oz and measuring 21.5in long.

We adore him and everyone is adjusting well. Birth story and more pictures to come.

one of my first moments with him

lily meeting her brother

ready to bring home our son

tomorrow

Tomorrow is the day. The day we will meet our son.

It's hard to believe how quickly our world will change in just one day by just one event - in that one moment when we see and hold our precious boy!

So many people have asked me if I'm excited, scared, ready, feeling sad about Lily, etc. and honestly I have a hard time answering. I'm not entirely sure what I'm feeling - a little of all those things I suppose. 

I am SO ready to have this baby. Physically and mentally it's time. I am a little scared about the day and the process of being induced as I've experienced it before and I remember it all. I am so excited to meet out little man and experience life as a family of 4. I feel a little sad about Lily but at the same time we have had a wonderful last few weeks really spending some special time with just her, doing some things we've been wanting to do with her throughout the summer, and I know that she will adore her little brother and be such a wonderful big sister. I am excited to see her in that role. Yes I am scared when I think about the work that 2 children bring compared to 1 and when I think about doing things and going places by myself. Yes I am scared when I think about how young Lily is and how that, in itself, will be a challenge. However, every mother that has even gone from 1 to 2 has experienced these emotions, in some capacity. No one knows what 2 children looks like until they have them. No one knows how their first child will react, change, and grow when you bring another home and into their life. So while yes, I am scared of some of these things I absolutely know I can handle it. Jimmy and I always knew we wanted more than 1 child so....here goes :)

Lily May - may you always remember how dearly loved and adored you are, no matter what. You will always always have a special place in my heart as my first born and the one that made me a mom. I can't wait to watch your little personality continue to grow, change, and develop as these new things happen around you. May our family and our home always be a place that you feel safe, welcomed, cherished, and loved unconditionally. We love you!

first haircut

A month or so ago Lily got her very first haircut. That is if we classify a trim a cut.

My sister in law Kristle used to cut hair and it has become tradition for her to give all the nieces and nephews their first snip. So after weeks of watching Lily's bangs hang in her face we decided to go for it and let her cut it. For whatever reason I think Jimmy was more sentimental about it than I was.

So while we were out for an afternoon we decided to get out the scissors and give it go right outside - country style. You know, since I'm so country :)

Here's pictures of the official event and it's already begun to grow out again.

38 weeks

Yesterday I was 38 weeks pregnant with our sweet boy.

Yesterday I also learned that if he does not decide to come on his own that they will induce me next Tuesday, September 11th. The end is in sight!!

We have talked about inducing at 39 weeks for the last couple weeks for a few reasons. 1. Baby boy may be a little big - via ultrasound he is measuring just a bit ahead of the curve so as a precaution a week before his due date would be a good thing. 2. I have had a rough last week of contractions, migraines, and stomach aches 3. My cervix is favorable as it has begun dilating on its own, which signficiantly decreases my chances of a c-section, even when induced. So all these things equals a happy mama and an official countdown!

As I mentioned this past week for me has been tough. The end of pregnancy is just hard on your body. My belly just feels so heavy and low! I have had several intense contractions off and on however, they don't stay consistent. I suffered through a very intense migraine for 3 days over this past weekend which is 100 times worse when you can't take anything to curb the pain! And on top of all that I had several flu like symptoms. Thankfully the migraine has subsided - thank the Lord - and my stomach ache has gone away as well. I am definitely to the point where I can't/don't eat much though. Contractions have become a little less consistent however, I definitely feel the pressure/pain/expansion of things "down there". 

So the plan is to see my doctor on Monday for a final check and then, as long as the hospital isn't too busy, we will go in at 9am on Tuesday to be induced.

I am so ready to meet our little man. I get so excited to think that a week from today he will be here and just as quickly as he comes it will feel like he has always belonged. I can't wait to see Lily interact with her brother and experience all the joys, and trials, of having a sibling! 

So next prego post will be delivery day - yeah!!

Here's pictures at 38 weeks......

His plan is never our own

Isn't it interesting how God tends to remind us who is really in control of our lives just when we think we have things figured out?

Within just a few short weeks the direction of our families future has taken an unplanned twist. A few weeks ago Jimmy applied for a new job, still with John Deere, in Des Moines. He wasn't too confident applying because rumor was they already had someone in mind for the job however, he applied anyways. Within a few short days he was called by the hiring manager and asked to come the next day for an interview. Two days after the interview he received a call from that manager offering him the position. After prayer, lots of conversation, and a little housing market research we decided that it was the right choice for our family.

The new job for Jimmy offers limited, to no travel, which is HUGE for our young family coming off a summer of him traveling nearly 80% of the time. This job offers him opportunities to learn the in's and out's of whole new product line, brings significant networking opportunities with folks he has not worked with in the past, and lots of visibility to key management in our company, not to mention that he would love the job. 

The downside - we LOVE our home here, we have both families close by that we see often and really enjoy spending time with, and that we were just beginning to feel established and grounded in the community and with a network of new friendships. However, we know this is not a final thing. We know this is one stop for us along the way and that in a few years we would like to be back in this area again.

The positives - my sister Jacinda and best friend Katie live in Ankeny. We love Des Moines. We've always said that that would be our first choice of places to live if we had to move again. 

So our family will embark on yet another moving adventure. We moved here from Springfield when Lily was just 2 weeks old and it's funny how God's timing is working that way once again. Our planned move date won't be until mid October, beginning of November, so we will have a little more time here with little man before hitting the road, but not much.

As I think about all the changes that are on the horizon for our family I start to get stressed - overwhelmed with choices and decisions that need to be made about selling our home here, buying a new home in Ankeny, welcoming a new precious life into this world and into our family, ensuring that Lily does well in all these transitions, and supporting my husband as he faces new challenges and demands as he learns a new job in a new place. But once again I am reminded of God's unfailing love and faithfulness to always always be with us, His promise to never ever give us anything we can't handle, and His promise that His plan is always right and sufficient.

While buying a house and deciding where our family will learn and grow for the next few years what really matters is that we are together and safe. So please pray for our family as we start yet another journey and experience some big changes in the coming weeks.