Friday, August 31, 2012

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Summer #BlogChallenge August 23- Who is your favorite villian?


Without a doubt, hands down... Gru from Despicable Me. Love love love this movie. It is so cute and so sweet.


Gru starts off thinking he is all bad and hardcore and super villan-y. Then through a series of events he ends up adopting 3 girls and falling in love with them. (I would too because they are super cute and adorable).

Very sweet movie... GO watch it!

♥ Rissa

Monday, August 20, 2012

How to.... Survive a Screaming 3 Month Old

She is crying. All night. I have no clue why. What does she want? OH MY GOD!!!

6pm
Boob? Doesn't want it
Play time? No way Jose!
Change the diaper? No difference

8pm
Paci? Nope
Gripe water? Didn't help
Teething gel? No change

10pm
Gas drops? Still nothing
Nap? Fat chance
Boob again? I may as well have just killed her puppy.



12am
Sit up in the Boppy? Must be uncomfortable somehow... because pillows can be uncomfortable?
Lay down? Screaming

All night
Mommy? At my wits end.

How to survive a screaming 3 month old... Don't take it personally (even if she stops crying the second Daddy picks her up). And put on the Boba wrap and walk the baby to 7-11 to treat yourself to a Slurpee and some Ben & Jerry's. Because you deserve it.

1am
Diaper change? Somehow hilarious
Swaddle? Calms her down
Boob? Her favorite thing in the whole world
Mommy cuddles? Happy, sleepy baby. ♥



♥ Rissa
No babies were harmed in the making of this blog post

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Summer #BlogChallenge August 18 - How did you meet your significant other?


Kodiak and I met basically because I'm a brat and I chase after what I want (and get it mind you!).

In February of 2011, I was working at my old office. I had worked there on and off since the previous fall and had landed a long term temp (read: 1 year plus) position. My mom also works there so I was super comfortable and loved my boss. Well one day one of the other employees was walking around the new guy. Guess who? Kodiak.

Well I thought he was cute and it had been awhile since I had found someone I liked. I spent a couple weeks stopping by his desk and bugging him (aka flirting). I have no idea why Kodiak decided to hang out with me since my flirting pretty much consisted of giving him a whole bunch of attitude. He thought I was funny I guess and nicknamed me Brat. Not exactly flattering... though once he got to know me better he changed it to SweetTart, much better I think!

We hung out a couple times and he insisted on "casual dating, nothing serious". Somehow that transformed to a trip to the Grand Canyon two months in and a Harry Potter marathon on the weekends. "Casual dating, nothing serious" turned into "boyfriend/girlfriend" which turned into "exclusive". Which turned into now. Living together, having a Jilly Bean, and lots of love.

Nursing the Bean while Kodiak feeds me soup

♥ Rissa

PS: Moral of the story? Having an attitude can work sometimes ;)

Friday, August 17, 2012

Summer #BlogChallenge August 17- How did your child (or pet) get their name?


Jilly Bean's real name is Jillian Rose. She is named after my grandma, Gillian. They share similar birthdays, only 6 days apart. When it comes down to it, I love my grandma, I wanted to honor her and I love the name. She is a great woman who has faced many things in her life and I think she deserves a namesake. If that isn't evidence enough... my aunt and uncle both gave one of their daughters Gillian as a middle name.

As for Jilly's nickname... after I decided on Jillian, I knew that I wanted her to be Jilly when she's young with the option of Jill and Jillian when she gets older. Kodiak is actually the one who nicknamed her Jilly Bean. He was talking to her (in my belly) one night and it just came out! And stuck. She has been Jilly Bean ever since.

I also don't like popular names so... Jillian works perfectly! Classic and not overly used.

♥ Rissa

Summer #BlogChallenge August 16 - 10 things you love about your significant other (or kids or pets)


Kodiak:

  1. His smile.
  2. How he cuddles me super close when I'm sad.
  3. That he can (almost) match my goofiness.
  4. His support of my Slurpee addiction.
  5. That he busted booty to get our AC installed because he knew being hot made me cranky.
  6. How much he loves our Jilly Bean.
  7. That he puts up with my goofy weirdo self!
  8. His reluctant adaptability.
  9. His desire to make me happy.
  10. He is spontaneous. He took me to the Grand Canyon after knowing me for approximately 5 seconds (ok 2 months).



Jilly Bean:
  1. The way her face lights up when she's happy to see me.
  2. How she stretches in the morning when we take her swaddle off.
  3. The funny faces she makes at me.
  4. Holding my hand while we nap.
  5. That she is starting to look like a Rissa-twin.
  6. How she tries to mimic me and we have "conversations".
  7. When I start her off sleeping a foot away from me, she wiggles until she's pressed up against me again.
  8. Her yummy milky baby smell.
  9. How curious she is already.
  10. That she can be soothed just because I'm holding her and singing to her (the one person on the planet who enjoys me singing!)


♥ Rissa

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Summer #BlogChallenge August 15 - The Hardest Part of Parenting....


The hardest part of parenting is...

Other people.

I love my friends and family and while I don't love random strangers, I know everyone had "good intentions". They just want to tell me what they think is right and what worked for them. The easiest part of parenting for me is instinct, it feels natural. I feel like I know what she needs and wants. So when other people tell me so many different things that are contradictory to what I know is best or works for my daughter, it can be hard to swallow. Its hard to just smile and nod.

Its hard to put this blog post up, knowing people will see it. I don't want to hurt any feelings, but we all get frustrated.

Everyone has an opinion. Including me. And when it comes to my daughter, I know best. Everyone is free to give her all the love and compliments they want. You can give me advice, if you want. But remember, I had her, I'm raising her. I know her. I love her too.

♥ Rissa

Friday, August 10, 2012

Summer #BlogChallenge August 9 - Movie You Like and Why


So this is about a day late... but I get a pass! I have a fussy growing baby!

So yesterday, Kodiak and I watched In Time. This is a sci-fi futuristic type movie. The basis of the plot is that it is a future world where time is currency. As in if you want a cup of coffee... it is going to cost you 4 minutes of your life. If you work, you might earn hours. In the background of the movie, they tell you that you get "free" time until you are 25 and then you stop aging. After 25 you have a year. Now you can give/trade your time for goods or services. People are paid in time, you gamble in time. That leads to 25 year old looking rich people who are over 100 years old. You run out of time... you die. You keep earning time? You live forever.

"For a few to be immortal, many must die."

I like this movie because it makes you think. Kodiak and I would pause the movie to take care of Jilly (feeding, gas, changing, soothing, etc). This means a normal length movie... becomes 4 hours long. Not so bad with this movie because it gave us an option to discuss the movie inbetween scenes. It really does make you think! What would you give to live forever? What would you to keep your loved ones alive?

In discussing the movie, I found myself saying things like "time is money" and "all the time in the world". Cliches we have all heard and know well, but watching the movie really made me "get" them more than I had before.

All in all, I would give it 4.5/5 stars.

♥ Rissa

Dinner Tonight! - Topless Chicken Pasta Pie

Well I just finished making dinner and it is one of Kodiak's favorites. I got bored in the kitchen one night about a month ago with chicken, Knorr Pasta Sides - Chicken Flavor, veggies, and some ingenuity.

Personally, one of my favorite dishes is chicken pot pie... but I have no clue how to make it. I'm sure I could look up a recipe, follow it, and end up with a decent chicken pot pie. But lets face it. That's not the kind of girl I am. I wing it. So here is how its done!

Pie Crust:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  2. Mix 1 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 cup shortening, and 1/4 cup cold water.
  3. Spread in 9 inch pie dish.
  4. Cook for 9 minutes then set aside.


Chicken Mix:

  1. Cook the Knorr Pasta Sides - Chicken Flavor on the stove as directed on the packet. I add a little garlic salt and dried chopped onions for fun.
  2. Cook your chicken breasts. 1 per person enjoying.
  3. Steam your veggies.
  4. Cut up chicken into bite sized pieces.
Both Together!
  1. Mix  Knorr Pasta Sides - Chicken Flavor, cut up chicken breasts, and veggies in a bowl together. Stir until thoroughly mixed. If you're in the mood for some cheesiness, I add some Parmesan cheese in.
  2. Scoop your ooey gooey yummy mix into your half baked pie crust and even it out.
  3. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
  4. Voila! Enjoy
So easy, so fun, so delicious. And quick!
(All of this was typed while pie was baking!)

♥ Rissa

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Summer #BlogChallenge August 8 - Bucket List


My Bucket List....

I'm going to go ahead and try to make a bucket list but when it comes down to it... I'm pretty happy and satisfied with my life. What is in the future will come.

So here goes!


  1. Get married.
    Call me silly and old fashioned but I love Kodiak. I want to marry him someday. (He knows this by the way... not exactly a shocker since we have baby Jilly!) I don't know about  a huge white wedding but something small and sweet and beachy probably would be awesome. Let's aim for within 3 years!
  2. Go to Hawaii (again).
    I went to Maui when I was 16 and adored it. But I spent a lot of silly teenage girl time on my brand new cell phone (running up a nice $800 bill - sorry Mom!) with my boyfriend back home. I would like to go back and enjoy it 100% this time. Less hotel time, more Maui time!
  3. Have more babies!
    I love Jilly. I adore her. I have always wanted to be a mommy and now that I am one I am excited for it to happen again... eventually! Preferably post- bucket list item #1!
  4. Learn to eat vegetables.
    I hate veggies. I am sooooo unhealthy. At some point I would like to learn to enjoy them and become more healthy... someday.
  5. Go back to school.
    In high school I was a slacker, it was so boring to me. I managed to graduate but I hated it. Then when I was 21 I went back to school and earned certificates for Medical and Nursing Assistants. To my surprise, I enjoyed learning and working for my grades. I would like to go back and become a midwife or maybe a lactation consultant. 
  6. Develop a better writing habit.
    This is kind of in the process since I've been working on this blog, but I would like to continuously work on my writing. Previously, I took writing classes so maybe I'll do that to get the writing bug back!
  7. Grow my hair out.
    Trichotillomania. Bad habit. I'd like to conquer it. Its kind of embarrassing and I don't enjoy it at all. I definitely don't want Jilly to pick it up from me!
  8. Learn to play... something.
    I am surrounded by musical people. Kodiak plays multiple instruments and for nothing else I would at least like to learn to play something. Guitar, piano, kazoo; whatever!
  9. Learn Spanish.
    In high school I took French. I remember about 2% of what I learned. I thought Fresh was romantic. French is useless in Los Angeles. 15 year olds should not be allowed to make decisions like this. I should have taken Spanish.
  10. Garden/farm.
    I give my Dad a lot of crap about his "farm" in my parents backyard, but I really would like to be able to grow some food for myself. 
  11. Scrapbook.
    Jilly (and future children) deserves a nicely documented childhood. I enjoy craftiness, but I am not necessarily excellent at it. I need more patience.
  12. Develop more patience.
    Enough said.
  13. Go "offline" for a week. Or two.
    We are so constantly connected, I would like to take a step back at some point and reconnect with regular not so ALWAYS GOING life.
  14. Date Kodiak again.
    Babies make life hard and you focus less on each other. Relationship revitalization is essential.
  15. Learn sign language.
    Working on this now with Jilly!
Now that I've started a list there is more I want to do but that's what the future is for :)

♥ Rissa

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Cloth Diapering... A Day in the Life

Hi all! This post is just a "day in the life" of what goes on for the "average" cloth diapering mom (me).

I am a newly stay at home mom and I am loving it. We get to sleep in, we don't have a set schedule. It is pretty awesome I must admit. We wake up around noon (Don't judge me! We have no set schedule remember!). The morning begins with some cuddling and breastfeeding followed with waking up Daddy and taking off Jilly's swaddle. Daddy then plays with Jilly a little bit before we head over to the changing table.

Last night Jilly slept in a Swaddlebees Capri Cover and sustainablebabyish newborn snapless fitted. Awesome combination and my definite go-to for over night cloth diapering. Its pretty much fool proof and I only plan on switching it up when I receive some sustainablebabyish wool I have ordered!


Today is bath day so Jilly get some splash time in her tub before we change her into a Tots Bots Easy Fit Diaper. These are a new find for me. The inner fabric and insert is ultra soft minky. You know those velvety blankets you spend 15 minutes just touching at the baby store and wish they made them in adults sizes? Er... ok maybe that's just me... But that's what this diaper feels like inside! I can't imagine a better way to start the day than to put something that smooth and soft on the bum!


After this we continue play time in the living room for a little bit and then feed again and Jilly is down for a nap! Score for mommy! Time to start folding and sorting all those diapers I spent what felt like a whole day washing. I get to watch some TV (yay Olympics!) and have some breakfast. Then Jilly is up and awake and no longer digging the swing. Time for another diaper change! This time I go for a Thirsties Duo AIO. I just  received this fluffy purchase in the mail in the Scottish Rose print. I was a little hesitant in pictures but it is absolutely adorable.

 Now that Jilly is up and alert it is definitely tummy time. She loves being propped up in the Boppy. For only 11 weeks she holds herself up pretty well!


After the little miss gets tired of the Boppy, she has a snack and then its nap time again. Sometimes I am absolutely amazed by how much she sleeps. And as a new mom it worries me a little, but I just keep reminding myself that she is growing. Nap time for mommy too at this point, I'm exhausted!

Lately, it has been very hot in Los Angeles and we have no air conditioning! Yikes! So since Jilly has woken up playful and happy again, its snack time and then we are going swimming! Time to suit up in a Bummis Swim Diaper and some sunblock then off to splash away! After awhile she wears herself out and we come back upstairs and change out of the swim diaper, into a Rumparooz in Eco Owls. I bought this because I wanted Kodiak to enjoy some of our diapers but this one is pretty darn cute if I do say so myself. And perfect for a long nap time that I know she is due for!


Since I know Jilly is about to give me a nice long stretch of a nap, I start dinner. Tonight we are having rosemary and parmesan crusted chicken. Yummy. I am so happy there are easy quick things to cook that don't heat my poor apartment up too badly. Well dinner is made and eaten so we wrap our night up with a movie/nursing session. We have some cuddles and cooing time during the movie and when its over, it is time for a night time diaper!

My favorite night time diaper is a sustainablebabyish snapless newborn fitted. (Are you seeing a theme) Totally awesome. Fool proof. I love it. We cover that with a  Swaddlebees Capri Cover again and its off to bed for the Jilly Bean!

As for me? Dishes and straightening up then time to join her!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my link, I will make a small commission which I will use to re-diaper Jilly Bean's bum!

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Summer #BlogChallenge August 2 - Dream Home Feature

Going Green with the Grizls

This may sound silly... but if you've ever cloth diapered, you know how important a washer and dryer are to making your life easier. We don't have a conventional washer and dryer. We live in an apartment. With one coin-op washer and dryer for all the tenants. Can someone say build up? Can someone say expensive?

So our alternative is a portable counter top washer and a spin dryer than I can only put about a days worth of diapers in at a time. It sits in our one bathroom. I still have to do 3 cycles and it only agitates, it doesn't spin or drain. I have to manually drain, squeeze out excess water and then spin dryer. 

My little Panda washer (pardon the 50s tile)

Spin dryer with drain tub

This is my wash routine:
Messy smushed counter!
  1. Move everything from left side of counter to the right side.
  2. Fill up washer 3/4 full of warm water using the shower head (I used to use cold water but warm works better for us)
  3. Put in diapers (I limit it to 15-18 "pieces", a "piece" being a cover, insert, or wipe etc)
  4. Set washer for 15 minutes 
  5. Wait 15 minutes (or more depending on if the baby needs to feed, the dishes need to get done, the boyfriend needs attention, dinner needs to get made)
  6. Bring down drain hose to drain dirty water into the sink
  7. Squeeze out extra water into sink
  8. Put diapers in spin dryer and wait til its only dripping water
  9. Empty the tub the dryer drains into
  10. Fill washer 3/4 full of hot water using shower head and add 1 TB detergent - Little Love Buns in Peach Mango  (thank you Kissed by the Moon!)
  11. Repeat steps 2-8
  12. Fill washer 3/4 full of cold water using shower head
  13. Repeat steps 2-8
  14. Put diapers on drying rack
Inside of the washer

Side of washer with drain hose

Multiply that by 3 since I have 3 days of diapers to do each time. Theoretically that sounds like about an hour per load max. But I have to factor in all the "mom-terruptions". The baby is crying, the baby is hungry, the boyfriend is hungry, someone needs to shower, I want to take a much needed nap, the list goes on and on. So in theory its only 3 hours. In real life its about 6. Or more. Diapers can wait, babies can't. Plus as much as I love my diapers, I love her more. 

Drain tub

Inside of dryer

Now, I'm not complaining because I love cloth diapering and I love her adorable cushy booty in the diapers. This actually just goes to show that it is not that hard to cloth diaper, anyone can do it!



Can you see why my dream home feature is something as simple as a washer and dryer?

♥ Rissa


World Breastfeeding Week - My Journey Into Breastfeeding - Breastfeeding Blog Hop

Several years ago, pre-baby, pre-relationship, I had a completely different outlook on breastfeeding. I didn't see a point. I didn't want to. I didn't want some little baby "ruining" my beloved boobs. I was the cleavage queen. I looked down on someone I saw still breastfeeding her baby at one year old!

Then I got pregnant. Everything changed and breastfeeding became a non-issue. I wanted it. It was exciting and nerve-racking. A lot of time was spent wondering if I could do it, if it would be hard, what would happen. I decided to have a home birth and cloth diaper too. All of a sudden this selfish, slightly shallow girl turned into a crunchified woman. It was definitely strange and probably eye-opening for those around me who know me so well. (Even now I'm pretty much only "crunchy" when it comes to the baby... small, gradual changes!)

My breastfeeding experience started directly after Jilly was born. I reached down and pulled her into my arms and held her. None of the blood or pain or anything else mattered. She was mine and I was in love, there was nothing else other than that. Shortly afterward we tried latching. It didn't work. We didn't try very long and I very much wish now that we had worked harder at it that first time. I know she had a strong sucking reflex since she was born sucking on her hand and took my finger her first minute to soothe. 

We tried for 2 days with nothing. I was crying and upset and worried I was hurting my baby. She wasn't even crying wanting anything but to suck. No matter what people said about babies not needing much in the first few days, it didn't matter. We finally called the lactation consultant and she ok'd us to give Jilly 10-20mls of formula just to make sure she didn't get dehydrated. We did and it broke my heart. I felt like there was something wrong with me. 

The next day we went to the pediatrician for the first time and the nurse practitioner spent over an hour with us to help get her latched. (It turns out I have flat nipples.) She still had a lot of trouble getting on and staying on. It took 3 people, a syringe, and a boppy to get it to happen. Still she fed for 20 minutes total, 10 on each side. Then we got home and couldn't do it. We went back to the pediatrician again. More help, she fed there. Back home, we still couldn't do it on our own.

Finally we resorted to a nipple shield. I didn't want to make the decision since I felt like it was a cop out and I was upset and unhappy that we were having so much trouble. Kodiak made the decision for me and ran out and got a nipple shield. 
Best. Decision. Ever.
She latched. She fed. I didn't care that there was something plastic between us. She was feeding!

For the next six weeks we used the nipple shield religiously and Kodiak started to worry that she was getting dependent on it. To be honest, I didn't particularly care as long as my baby was getting what she needed. With him insisting, I made an appointment with the lactation consultant to get help weaning her off the shield. We spent over and hour there and made progress but not much. The most important, relevant things I heard were this:
  • Don't make breastfeeding a battle
  • She may not be ready
  • All babies latch
I took those little pieces of wisdom home and continued feeding her. We would try once a day or once every other day to get her to latch without the shield but she had a lot of trouble. I wasn't going to push it. 

Then, as if by magic, about a week ago, I was preparing to feed her and she was in my lap with my breast out in front of her face. I turned to Kodiak to ask for a burp cloth and she just latched. On her own. She grabbed on. I was shocked. She went from needing help and soothing to even latch let alone make it through a whole feeding to latching on her own and feeding for a whole session with no issues. My little girl turned it around all on her own. 

Now we aren't fully off the shield yet. When she is worked up too much or if she is too sleepy we still use it, but for the most part she just latches without any issue. I don't regret any part of that journey. I wish I had reminded myself as I went through it that "this too will pass" and "there are no perfect moms". 

No one ever said breastfeeding was easy, just natural. If you are having trouble breastfeeding, please don't give up. Get help. It may be frustrating, it may be upsetting, depressing, painful, but someone out there has had the same problem. Google, scout forums, look for your local La Leche League chapter. That's how I found this blog hop and it has definitely helped me



♥ Rissa (and Jilly Bean)


Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Wordless Wednesday - Someone Missed Daddy




♥ Rissa

Jilly Bean's Birth Story


Note: This post contains pictures of a home birth including a baby immediately after birth, if blood freaks you out this is your warning!

So pardon me if this is a loooooong story but I think it is kinda funny so here goes it!

I was due May 11th and convinced my boyfriend (Kodiak) that since I hadn't given birth by the 13th (Mother's Day) that he should go visit his mom and dad. They only live 2 hours away and I mean what was the likelihood I was going to go into labor on that day, right? He really didn't want to go but between me pushing and the fact that he is a good guy and wanted to go see his mom... he went.

So I go down to my parents to spend Mother's Day with them (about 30 to 45 minutes away) and I am just hanging out and having a good time and around 3 o'clock in the afternoon I started getting contractions. They weren't really a big deal... coming every 10 to 15 minutes or so and lasting 30-45 seconds. I was actually talking to a close friend on FaceBook and whining about how they were "annoying"! I had been having prodromal labor for about a week or two prior so I didn't think it was a big deal. Well they didn't stop, but I was really anxious about raising a false alarm and crying "wolf". So I didn't tell anyone.

My cousin and her boyfriend were over hanging out with my family and around 5:30 they left and she says to me "So are we going to have a baby some time soon?" My mom replied "Oh probably within the next week." And I have no clue what got into me, random new mother instinct or what, but I said, "No probably more like tomorrow." Of course that freaked everyone out. My mom yelled and was like "Tomorrow???? What do you mean TOMORROW? Are you in LABOR!!!!!" I laughed and nodded.

At this point I texted Kodiak and asked what time he was planning on leaving. He said around 9 or 10 and I said "how about 7 or 8?" He says now that that wasn't enough indication that I was in labor lol. I standby the fact that I told him after that I was "kinda in labor". (Because you can be "kinda" in labor right? ;))  I remember this because he told me his sister said I should take a shower to relax!



So instead of going out to dinner for Mother's Day, my dad went and picked up some Outback and brought it back for us to have. While he was gone I went to the bathroom to take a shower to see if that would make the contractions stop. Before I got in I called the midwife and told her what was going on. The shower was nice and relaxing but the contractions didn't let up. They still weren't doing anything but slightly irritating me so I figured it was early on.

We sat down to eat probably around 7:45pm and every time I would get a contraction I would just stop eating for a minute and just sit there.... then start eating once it stopped. I was timing them on my phone and they were coming every 7 minutes or so and lasting about a minute. After dinner I had my dad run out and get some stuff I hadn't had a chance to pick up but that I needed for after labor and post partum. 

While he was out getting that stuff my godmother and her girls (18 year old twins) stopped by and chatted for a bit. Finally we decided it was probably time to get me home so my mom and brother loaded me and the laundry I had brought into the car and drove me home around 9:45pm. In the car everything changed. All of a sudden the contractions started making me paying attention and were down to 5 minutes apart and a minute long. 

So we pull into my apartment driveway and guess what? I can't find my keys. I call Kodiak and he is still about an hour away. He says to call the landlord but I don't have his number so he calls for me. My landlord comes over about 20 minutes later (very nice old man) and lets me in.... then proceeds to come in and talk to me about my plumbing problems in the kitchen and bathroom! Now its probably about 10:40 and Kodiak ends up showing up around 11. 

While I am waiting for Kodiak, my mom and brother refused to leave so I kept giving them directions like which bowls to get and where extra sheets were. I was just bouncing on my birth ball and making post partum pads thinking it was early and it was going to be awhile still, no biggie. So Kodiak gets home and he is looking at me and later tells me that he was thinking that this better not be the early stages because it looks like what they say transition looks like! My mom asked "Do you want me to leave?" I told her I was sure it was going to be awhile... ha!

Well Kodiak sat with me through a couple contractions and then asked if I wanted to call the midwife but I made him time a few more contractions first. I was down to 4 minutes apart, 1 minute long. He called and my midwife heard me in the background and asked if I wanted to be checked. I said yes, though I was thinking "do I need to be? This can't be very far along... I don't want to have her over to check me and me only be 3cm or so..." She arrived around midnight and checked me through a contraction and guess what? 8 centimeters with a bulging bag. What they say about personality in labor is right... your personality doesn't change, it just gets more intense!

I looked at Kodiak all shocked and made a signal to call.. EVERYONE. His mom was supposed to come but couldn't get there in time. I went into the bathroom to pee and call my mom... Woke her up and asked her to bring fruit and veggie trays and chicken broth... because I was in labor and insane apparently. So she got back to my house around 1am. I labored in bed for a little while and then the midwife made me go take some contractions on the toilet since my water still hadn't broken.

First contraction on the toilet my legs got very tight and stiff then SPLASH. A huge BURST of water shot out of me and completely hit the wall! Kodiak and I looked at each other with "oh.. my... god" expressions. Looking back, it was pretty funny. After that I went back to bed and pretty quickly was in pushing stages. I was dozing off between contractions and just asking for water since my birth instructor had drilled it into my head that I needed to drink water in between contractions so I didn't get dehydrated. 

Well it only took about 5 contractions of pushing and BAM little girl :)
Jillian Rose was born at 2:43am and it was honestly the best experience of my life. My mom says I said "ow" once when she was crowning followed by "it burns!" and that was it lol. Very glad I have a high pain tolerance!

Directly after when we are holding Jilly and cuddling he turns to me and says "Well if it was that easy we can have five more!"


Anyways... sorry for the essay but yeah :) there you have it!

♥ Rissa