tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38550192563827861032024-02-08T04:11:40.652-08:00The Cox FamilyThis is me keeping a journal as my life as a Homemaker, pet parent, and women of God.Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.comBlogger217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-46542786931881624732014-05-01T12:23:00.001-07:002014-05-01T12:23:54.526-07:00Our GoodbyesIn two days we leave Wilmington... we leave Delaware... we leave the East Coast. It has been so crazy that I have not had the time to blog about any of it. We made the really hard decision to sell everything and start over fresh once again when we buy our home. We literately are shipping 3-4 boxes and packing our car full and that's all we will own. We have sold our furniture on Craigslist, held a moving sale, and threw away everything else. Our apartment is empty! We just have our bed, Riley's pack and play, boxes, and a bit more stuff to be taken to the dumpster. Its so sad. This is the stuff we have collected over the years since we have been married.. and its going to the trash in hand fulls. We just could not afford to get a moving truck. We are driving across country from Delaware to Washington state with the two of us, two cats, a dog, and a two month old infant in a 2001 Honda civic. This will be chaotic. I want to think it will be a fun road trip and adventure but I will be in constant worry to make sure the pets and Riley have everything they need and are comfortable.<br />
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These last few weeks have been busy but we have also had to say some really hard goodbyes. I really didn't expect to make long lasting relationships while in Delaware but life happened anyways. We got really involved in our church and our last Sunday was really hard for us. We have been in a Marriage life group and it was so great to have the teachers that we did. We could relate to them so much. They had a really rough start to their marriage and I feel like we did as well when we were Newlyweds and Steve had just come home from Deployment. It was nice to learn from a family who overcame those struggles as well as have the same values as we do. We believe in traditional gender roles and she was a Homemaker and home schooled her kids which is the same path I am taking. We even spent Easter dinner with them which is when I got to pick her brain about homeschooling and hearing her story. I will miss them so much. It feels like we will never find a church as close knit as that one.<br />
*funny story of our Easter dinner at the Taylor's home. Riley has a big mess in his diaper to the point it was leaking out. Of course I had never though of having an extra onesie in my diaper bag. I thought he would have to go home with just a diaper on but Michelle had extra baby clothes she bought as gifts and never used (her kids are teenagers). What a life saver. Lesson learned, always have extra clothes.*<br />
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We also had our Centering Pregnancy reunion and got to see the other babies. We had food, a raffle, got pictures taken, ate more food, talked, laughed, and sadly said our goodbyes. Riley is such a big boy that the other babies looked so small compared to him. It was so nice to talk with the other moms and compare and learn from them. I was the only first time mom.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R6HToU0Y4Hc/U2GGAksMTDI/AAAAAAAAE5E/GDT6-1DUP5Y/s1600/20140424_091042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R6HToU0Y4Hc/U2GGAksMTDI/AAAAAAAAE5E/GDT6-1DUP5Y/s1600/20140424_091042.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that face! Puked in the car on the way to the reunion. Made a big mess for mommy to clean but felt so much better afterwards. and yep, I had an extra pair of clothes for him :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only my husband...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just us girls minus one who couldn't make it to picture day :P</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the ladies and babies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How cute are they???</td></tr>
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Of all the goodbyes, moving away from my cousin Nicole will be the hardest. We live a block away and I really didn't get to spend the time I wanted with her while here. Life happened. We both had a baby, and other responsibilities so it is completely understandable. But I will sure miss her and all my little cousins.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner at Hibatchi with my cousins!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole and I after dinner</td></tr>
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<br />Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-76713325804001889382014-04-30T16:27:00.001-07:002014-05-01T12:26:02.295-07:00Nursing in Public<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Short story I would like to share-</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">During my pregnancy I was so passionate about moms being allowed to breastfeed where ever they want. Now that I am a breastfeeding mommy, I get so nervous and make sure to be home by the next feeding. HOW EXHAUSTING! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Today I overcame that when the car was being fixed and we were stuck in Wilmington during that time. Riley was getting hungry and I almost went in to a public bathroom stall, at the Boston Market restaurant we were eating lunch at, to feed him but put my big girl panties on (as my husband likes to say) and nursed him in public for the first time. I promised myself right then and there that I would never subject myself or my baby to having him eat in a bathroom stall. I grew as a person and as a mom today :)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-54181915004216760132014-04-17T09:56:00.000-07:002014-05-01T13:25:39.355-07:00Two Months OldHe is growing so much! He has been called a "Bruiser" and a "big boy" many times now by people who stop me in the supermarket, at the dog park, or out on our walks. Being his Mommy is the best feeling in the world. I can't imagine not having him. I can't believe its been to months but I also can't believe its only been two months.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BABY SMILES!!!</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>15lbs 8oz (90th percentile)</li>
<li>25.5 inches long (97th percentile) {two month checkup was at 11 weeks old}</li>
<li>Head circumference is 42 cm</li>
<li>Can bring hands together</li>
<li>Smiles when he sees Mommy or Daddy</li>
<li>Tolerates bath times and loves to kick and splash</li>
<li>Wearing 3-6 month clothes</li>
<li>Size 2 diapers</li>
<li>Loves musical toys and rattles</li>
<li>Just like little boys, manages to get dirt under his nails while doing nothing</li>
<li>Has phases of rejecting his Binky for days then needs it for comfort</li>
<li>Loves to fall asleep nursing (even when is not done with his meal)</li>
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Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-76183296109968832062014-03-20T12:39:00.000-07:002014-05-01T12:39:53.567-07:00Diaper Bag SetOkay so I ordered a custom made diaper bag from a woman who owns her own home sewing business on Etsy but she couldn't get it to me until Riley was almost a month old so I canceled that and set out on a what to be a very long, strenuous, taxing adventure of making my own diaper bag and matching accessories. I had never made a bag before or made anything from a paper pattern so it was a first time for both. It took me a month! A MONTH!!! I would get so stressed out, quit, and not touch it for days. Plus I was going through postpartum depression at the time and sewing was the last thing I wanted to do but I really needed my diaper bag done. Here is the final product. My husband thinks I should make them to sell but I am pretty sure it will be a very long while until I even look at my sewing machine again.<br />
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<br />Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-82235806971732786572014-03-19T16:56:00.001-07:002014-05-01T13:26:24.693-07:00One Month Old!My baby boy is a month old and I just can't believe how much he has grown. I wish he could stay my little baby forever. He truly is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am going to start monthly updates on him and try my best to record all his little milestones.<br />
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<ul>
<li>12lbs 6oz (86th percentile) </li>
<li>23 inches long (87th percentile) {one month checkup was at 5 weeks old}</li>
<li>Head circumference was 40cm</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Smiles in his sleep</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Loves a good swaddle and his swing</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Size 1 diapers</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Does not like baths</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Wakes up to feed four times at night</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Loves to grunt</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Grasps your finger when placed on his hand</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Lifts head briefly when on tummy (little bobble head)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Can focus on a face</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Responds to loud noise by startling</li>
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Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-27015918276936263602014-03-19T16:06:00.000-07:002014-05-01T13:05:42.723-07:00My Breastfeeding Journey & first weeks home Its now been almost three weeks since I gave birth and I still can only walk a few steps before I get really winded and pained. My hemoglobin is still very low so I run out of breath easily. I am still bleeding a lot and that is not helping at all. They don't expect me to be healed by my 6 week postpartum checkup... but maybe that's normal. My husband has been wonderful in taking on the cooking and cleaning. Thankfully I had freezer meals ready for after birth. He always makes me laugh on his little rants on never being able to keep up with the dishes, how we never have any clean glasses, and how he has no idea how I do it, how I keep up with it all. So sweet.<br />
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Breastfeeding has not gone well.. but the lactation specialists at the hospital say my situation is not all too uncommon so knowing others have overcome it gives me hope.<br />
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An hour or so after birth when I was up in my postpartum room, I had a nurse come in to help me feed my new baby for the very first time. I was excited to learn to breastfeed. I never read a thing on it during pregnancy. I though breastfeeding was going to be the most natural thing I had ever done. I was so naive. The nurse tried to help me the best she could but Riley would not latch. She said the lactation specialists would be here in the morning. I was starting to stress, was she really saying I had to wait until tomorrow to feed my baby? She assured me he would be fine with no food for the first 24 hours of life.. and to only worry when its getting to that point.<br />
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The next afternoon we finally got a visit from a lactation specialist who works at the hospital. She also tried every method to get him to latch but still no luck. She said I have flat nipples. At this point I was an emotional wreck. Here I was a new mom and could not feed my baby. Its been almost 24 hours since birth and he still has not eaten. I was so upset that my body had failed me and his first meal in this world was formula. I did not want a bottle, we put it in a syringe and let him suck on my finger and gave him a little bit with every suck so he could still smell and taste my skin and not silicone. The nurses said they its a better way in hopes to not discourage breastfeeding. They finally put a pump in my room to help my milk come in and from there fed him the colostrum (and eventually milk) the same way. If he wanted to suck, we gave him our pinkies because I refused to give him a binky until breastfeeding was established.<br />
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Since I was not prepared to have such trouble, or have any plans to go back to work, I had not even thought about needing to buy a pump. It was now time to take our sweet little bundle home and all I had was a hand pump given to me by the hospital. We frantically called everywhere where there was hope to get an affordable pump or possibly have my insurance pay for it. After two long weeks of pumping every few hours (I eventually was able to keep up with his demand and drop the formula) with a hand pump that was getting so much use that it was falling apart, we finally got a insurance paid pump from The Birth Center. While there to pick it up, I was able to sit in on on their weekly breastfeeding moms group and it was so comforting to hear other women's stories that had the same exact problems as me and had overcome them. I also learned about their lactation consultant and made an appointment with her.<br />
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When I finally met with the LC, she put me with a Contact Nipple Shield and I got to breastfeed Riley for the first time. It was such a joyous day. Sure, I needed the shield but we could finally bond more like nature intended a mother and baby bonded. You truly don't understand until you become a mother.<br />
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Those first few weeks were so tough on my mind and body. During it all, I was also dealing with postpartum depression. Just about everything would upset me. I cried every day.. really, every. single. day! I never thought I would ever feel better. I felt completely overwhelmed. It helped to have the shield and know their was a way to feed my baby without a pump but eventually the shield became a hassle. It really stressed me out when I could not get the shield on right and Riley would scream and scream because he was so hungry and the darn thing wouldn't stay on.<br />
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Every now and then I would try to get him to latch without the shield. It was very discouraging to see my nipples were still too flat. But over time I did notice the shield doing its job and they began protruding little by little. About a month of that, I once again tried to have him latch without the shield and HE LATCHED! It hurt and so I thought it may have been a bad latch. We tried again and again and he was latching every time. In a day I weaned him off the shield cold turkey.<br />
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We have been breastfeeding with absolutely no latch problems ever since. I don't even have to guide his head.. he knows exactly what do. I truly believe now that breastfeeding is a learned skill by both mother and baby. I was really naive in assuming it would come natural to me.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"you want me to drink from what?"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On my due date. He is one week old.</td></tr>
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<br />Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-59429924032737779912014-03-02T06:45:00.000-08:002014-05-01T13:17:29.847-07:00Riley's birth storyI want to try and record as many details of the most beautiful experience of my life so please excuse some of the not so pleasant details.<br />
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The Monday after I turned 39 weeks pregnant, I noticed I had lost what looked like to be my mucus plug. I remember reading something about that in my baby book and rushed to it to find out what this meant in terms of how soon our sweet baby would be here. All I got was that it means labor could be three days away or three weeks. Not really a good indicator of how soon.<br />
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But sure enough, three days later, on Wednesday, I woke up at 5 to be me peeing the bed. I got out of bed as quick as I could and rushed to the bathroom. I tried stopping the flow like I was instructed to see if it was urine or my water breaking as well as smelling it to see if it smelled sweet or like urine. Both indicators did not help me at all in trying to figure out what was happening. I called to my husband and told him to go to the store to buy me pads because I am leaking and I don't know what it is. He didn't want to leave me and said we better go to the hospital. I really didn't think I was in labor, I felt just fine, so I decided I was going to hop in the shower to shave my legs and get some makeup on. I thought I better get dressed and just get ready for the day since they would surely send me home. Once in the shower I shared having pressure on my lower abdomen like indigestion. It wasn't painful but uncomfortable. I got out of the shower and noticed I was still leaking something and it now had blood in it. I knew that if I wasn't in labor, then something must be wrong with the baby and I got real in a hurry to get to the hospital. I got dressed and put the last few things I needed for my hospital bag in it. In the hustle and bustle of it all, I was the calm one while my husband was so anxiety ridden and in a hurry. He wanted to get to the hospital right away and apparently I was taking my time.<br />
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On the drive there, I started to get a little more uncomfortable with this supposedly indigestion. It did not feel like cramps or the braxton hicks I am used to in a contraction. These little indigestion pressures were 2-3 minutes apart from the time I was in the shower until now. I started getting really hot and rolled my window down to get some air. Of course, leave it to Murphy's law, it wouldn't roll back up and we had to sit there in the parking lot at the hospital and jimmy it back to its position. The poor thing froze since it was so cold out. When I got out of the car, I then noticed my legs were wet and it had hit me that my water had for surely broken. We got to the hospital at 5:45am.<br />
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We checked in and they examined me to see how dilated I was and if my water had actually broken. It was then, as I laid on the table that I started to actually feel pain and it didn't feel like indigestion anymore. I asked how soon I could get an epidural and the nurse told me she had to see if I am even going to be admitted first. After they did their checks, a lady came in and told me I was dilated to 9cm and that I was having this baby now. Its only been an hour since my water broke and here I was almost completely dilated.. and just now getting a real pained contraction. I had to consider myself blessed. They wheeled me up to labor and delivery and I was surely in pain by then with contractions very close.<br />
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I was in such great pain that I was begging for an epidural and the nurse said it was too late to get one. I started bawling, half from pain and half knowing I would feel everything when he came out. I was scared.They had me push through a few contractions to see where we were at and he was teetering underneath the pelvic bone. It was obvious he was going to take his time coming out so they finally agreed to give me an epidural.They told me it may take the edge off but there was no guarantee it would take any pain away when I delivered. I was just too far along. My husband was such a blessing, he would rub my hips during a contraction and it helped so much with the pressure. He never left my side and would start telling me old Army stories to take my mind off of the pain. He would pause it once the contraction is over and resume on the next one so there was always something to listen to through it.<br />
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After what seemed like eternity, the anesthesiologist finally showed up and gave me an epidural. The contractions did seem to not be as bad but it was as they said, it did not take the major amount of pressure away. I could still feel every contraction. At this point the doctors had me just relax and let my body do the pushing. I laid in bed for a few hours (maybe four) to let the contractions push him down as far as possible.<br />
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Then I started having some serious pressure. I kept asking for more epidural probably every 15 minutes but it was not touching it at all. He was starting to get real low and the pressure was me feeling him in the birth canal. It was time to push. I pushed for about an hour when I finally felt a slimy little body come out at 12:45pm. The nurses wiped him off and placed him on my chest for skin-to-skin. I was so happy to have him. He was really sticky and feeling his body on me made everything real. He was so interested in the world and looked around and finally up to stare up at me. I just let him be, to explore the world with his eyes. After that everything was all a blur. My first words to Riley were "I love you". I didn't even remember that, my husband later told me while helping me remember what happened after birth. I don't remember a whole lot. I do remember looking up at my wonderful husband and see him crying with pride and joy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy cutting the cord</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little cone head</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our beautiful baby boy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy holding his baby for the first time</td></tr>
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With my sweet little one on my chest, I began to feel not so well. The doctors were pushing on my stomach to get the placenta out and it was so painful. I could feel liquid gushing out of me and when I looked at my husband, he seemed worried. I learned later that I had a Hematoma (internal bleeding) and was losing blood. I asked if I tore at all and I learned that Riley came out with his arm up above his head and so I tore pretty bad because of it. They sat there for about 30 minutes putting stitches in. My husband later said they put two full rolls of stitches in me. I was not looking good and my husband later revealed he really didn't know if I would make it. He was standing by my head and could see all the blood I was losing. I was turning white and was very weak. He actually thought for a while that there was a chance he would have to raise Riley on his own. Hearing that just broke my heart.<br />
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When it was time to go to my postpartum room after I was done being stitched up, I could not even lift myself from my bed to the transport bed. I was so weak. But I managed to get over to the other bed and I immediately felt dizzy and lightheaded. I was put on bed rest until the next afternoon. That first night was horrible. My right leg was still numb from the epidural and I could not get up and get to my baby at his every whimper. I had to call a nurse for every diaper change and it killed me. My husband had to leave to stay the night at home with Gunyr, our dog, since he couldn't be boarded at Dogtopia until the next morning and I didn't want him home alone all night.<br />
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I stayed at the hospital for three nights. Its usually two nights but I had to get a blood transfusion from the high blood loss and they had to monitor me. Riley also got Jaundice and had to stay under the UV light for our last night there as well and thank goodness, it cleared up in time so he could go home with us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a break from the UV light with Mommy.</td></tr>
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Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-2430542495408092382014-02-19T12:22:00.000-08:002014-02-19T12:22:22.700-08:00Riley is HERE!Our sweet baby boy is HERE! His name is Riley Martin Cox. He was born February 12th 2014 at 12:45pm. Riley was 8 lbs & 1 oz, and 21 and a half inches long. I had a really hard time bringing him into this world but I'll share more of that in his birth story soon. I just wanted to share the great news that he is here and we are finally home. He is the most perfect baby. We have been so blessed. The amount of love he has brought in to our lives...its just amazing.<br />
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<br />Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-35439301926176575692014-02-09T11:36:00.000-08:002014-02-22T11:41:23.756-08:0039 weeksWon't be long now. It really has not set in at all that I could be meeting my sweet boy any day. I don't have much of an update this week. My OB is going to check my cervix at 40 weeks to see where we are at. They didn't find it necessary to do it this week since I have not been contracting much so I am probably not too far along.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">39 weeks</td></tr>
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<br />Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-19656871544513296902014-02-07T14:58:00.001-08:002014-02-07T14:58:46.269-08:00Udder CoverI am less then two weeks away from my due date and slowly but surly getting everything done. I could go in to labor at any time and I still don't have my hospital bag packed. Time is flying by, I just can't believe it. This week I was able to finally get my Udder cover done. Don't you just love the name of it, haha. I am doing a cow print theme for my diaper bag so I made my cover cow print with a green lining since I am trying to stick to a green theme for baby anyways. Since I have no energy and time is just running out, I decided to have my diaper bag made for me and I would make the accessories for it myself. But since I am so close, I may not get it until after He is born. Sort of a bummer but we will see what happens.<br />
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<br />Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-46347056111087670922014-02-07T14:51:00.000-08:002014-02-07T14:51:00.623-08:00Superbowl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For this year's big game, we headed to the Superbowl party at our church. It was such a fun night of fellowship and football. I think it is absolutely awesome that the Seahawks made it to the Superbowl and actually WON! We grew up in Washington so it was really neat. I am not a huge Football fan but I was sure rooting for my home state for sure.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a potluck party so I made some homemade Buffalo Chicken chip dip.</td></tr>
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Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-87332128718883230882014-01-27T06:02:00.003-08:002014-02-06T03:46:12.278-08:0037 weeksI am in just total awe that I am now considered 'full term'. Some consider 39 weeks to be full term but a lot consider 37 weeks. Its just crazy to think I am almost done with this pregnancy. We will meet our baby boy in three weeks or less. How amazing to just think about. I never knew you could love someone that you have never met so much. This time next month, I will be busy with new mom stuff.. diaper changes, feedings, cuddles, late nights, kisses, hugs, and everything in between. We can't wait.<br />
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Everything is ready for him except those little items we still have to get like diapers and such. Just everyday necessities. I am planing to cloth diaper but since I still have not had the time to make them.. (well, energy more like) we will use disposable ones until I get my diaper stash done. Plus using disposable will help with adjusting to mommy-hood so I don't have a pile of diapers piling up to clean when I am exhausted from lack of sleep so it just makes sense.<br />
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We decided not to get him permanent furniture like a crib and changing station. Those type of things are such a hassle to take apart and we move two months after he is due so we are using a pack and play for his crib that now sits by my side of the bed. It has a bassinet and changing station in it so I thought that was perfect. I always thought pack and plays was for toddlers so I was really impressed. It will be perfect for the hotels and things during our move too. I wish we could have a nursery for him but once we get in to our new home, I plan to really make his room special and look forward to decorating.</div>
<br />Centering Pregnancy is over now. We had our last session this week and now I am doing weekly visits to the office for normal prenatal checkups until baby boy decides to make an appearance.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">37 Weeks</td></tr>
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Some highlights I don't want to forget-</div>
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<li>I have gained 9 pounds in total so far (no gain or loss since 30 weeks)</li>
<li>Baby seems to always get the hiccups after I eat a big meal.</li>
<li>I have started to get those weird cravings that I would never eat otherwise. I actually like peas.. for now.</li>
<li>Baby's heart beat is 146 bpm</li>
<li>Craving both salty and sweet.. depends on the day. I could go for potato chips one day and a can of peaches the next.</li>
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Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-34151787911146881032014-01-23T06:13:00.000-08:002014-01-27T06:14:48.062-08:00Rag QuiltI really wanted to make baby boy his first blanket. I searched and searched for a good tutorial on how to make one online but didn't find anything that jumped out at me. Then I looked on Pinterest and found one for a rag quilt. I feel in love and had to make it asap. I didn't know how long this quilt was going to take me since I have never made one so I wanted to get started right away. I must say I am really impressed with myself. I did not mess up once. There was no sewing the wrong sides together or cutting anything to the wrong size. Plus it only took me three days. I am pretty happy with the results. Hubby saw it and is now begging for me to make us one to cuddle up in for movie nights and things. I may have to surprise him once I have everything else made for baby and have the time to put in to another quilt.<br />
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Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-52353057769964490162014-01-16T17:21:00.000-08:002014-01-28T17:57:02.482-08:00Maternity photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Just doing a quick post to share our photos from our maternity shoot. I am 35 weeks pregnant here. Enjoy!</div>
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Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-24243346046302856152014-01-13T07:38:00.000-08:002014-01-13T07:38:34.194-08:00Making plans for 2014I had a few <a href="http://thecoxfamilychronicle.blogspot.com/2012/12/resolutions-for-2013.html" target="_blank">2013 resolutions</a> that did not happen the way I had planned them.. but that's just life and I got something even better. I wanted to lose weight and excel at working from home (as well as a few others which you can read at the link above) but then I was finally blessed with this pregnancy so no weight loss for me and I am now a full time Homemaker which is where I will stay. My dream is to be a stay at home Mom so yes, I got the better end of the deal. I made plans and God had something better in mind. I couldn't be happier.<br />
2014 is going to be such a busy year. We will become Mommy and Daddy next month. Steve started school after a month long Winter break and this will be his last semester at Delaware Tech. Days to maybe a week or so after this semester is over, we take a u-haul from Delaware to Washington state. We are MOVING! We really hope to buy a bigger car (maybe an SUV or van) before the big move since it will be Daddy, Mommy, baby boy, Tubbles, Bunker and Gunyr all cramped into a car for a week long road trip across country. We really don't know the logistics yet on if we will drive the u-haul and tow the car or drive the car and ship our stuff over via boat like we did from Germany but this all happens in FOUR MONTHS! We have four months to plan this and get everything done because once he is done with this semester, we pack up and will be gone for good. Our lease ends the same month as his semester ends so its like it was meant to be. I can not wait. I really am done with this living in a new place every few years. My heart yearns for <i>home</i>. I can't wait to move back, buy a house, and know that if I paint the walls, I wont have to paint them white in a couple years because it will be ours. I dream of decorating and painting baby boy's room and having a Nursery for our next baby. I dream of making lasting relationships with other women and have the town we live in (wherever we end of settling) be our home. I can get more involved in the church and everything that entails. We will be staying with family in WA until we find a house. No more Holidays of just us. I hope to be in our new house by the Holidays next year and host Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner and invite everyone.<br />
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For this years resolution, I am not going to give myself a list of things to try to accomplish. I just have one goal. That is to keep learning and becoming the best mom and wife I can. I want to be that Homemaker that knows how to do everything and can get a stain out of anything. I am now learning to can foods (with my awesome new pressure canner) and getting my home and life more organized (I think my nesting instincts is helping with that as well). I have a vision of the wife I want to be so I am just going to focus on that and keep doing what I have been doing.<br />
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<br />Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-48780225233517830262014-01-07T19:29:00.002-08:002014-01-07T19:29:15.419-08:0034 weeks<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rxrH9wSkifQ/Usy6opjaU_I/AAAAAAAAEmM/92xD39LPwN0/s1600/20131224_125107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rxrH9wSkifQ/Usy6opjaU_I/AAAAAAAAEmM/92xD39LPwN0/s1600/20131224_125107.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">32 Weeks </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">34 Weeks</td></tr>
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I am starting to experience all those discomforts that those late in pregnancy talk about. When I lay on my side at night, I have to have something, like a pillow, to prop my tummy or else it hurts so much as well as horrible pain from sneezing or coughing from round ligaments. I have started to get full quickly and my belly button is nearly all the way stretched out and gone. Its super weird to see. It will be interesting to see what it looks like in a few weeks.<br />
We can officially say we will meet our baby boy NEXT MONTH! Woah! Some have said we could be meeting him in March if he decides to stay in longer but I have a feeling he will be early rather than late. So far my intuition has been right on most things so I am eager to see what happens. I am considered "full term" at 37 weeks and that's at the end of January. Won't be long now and I feel so unprepared. I have not even started making his diapers.. or anything I planned on sewing for him. I really need to get my butt in gear on getting the house ready and everything bought and made. So much to still be done.</div>
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Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-59566576189185440422014-01-07T18:54:00.001-08:002014-01-07T18:54:41.322-08:00DogtopiaGunyr had his first day of doggie day care. It was so hard to leave him but we needed a place for him to be able to stay for when I go in to labor and need to stay a few days at the hospital.We decided Dogtopia was best since they have a webcam we can watch and be able to play all day instead of the traditional boarding of being in a cage the majority of the time. I could only bear to leave him for half the day but we are slowly going to get him used to the day care so it wont be too big of a deal when he has to stay the night. I think I had a harder time with separation anxiety than he did. Being able to watch him online helped a lot.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dz9bwwQbAoY/Usy7yTP6lRI/AAAAAAAAEmk/sMu2qr2uHW0/s1600/20140107101102.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dz9bwwQbAoY/Usy7yTP6lRI/AAAAAAAAEmk/sMu2qr2uHW0/s1600/20140107101102.bmp" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching my baby play</td></tr>
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<br />Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-33413901281409023952014-01-07T18:29:00.002-08:002014-01-07T18:29:45.563-08:00Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A few photos of our Christmas.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stockings and Christmas cards from family and friends.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think he enjoyed his gift.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking out some toys at Petco.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wWJpB8Tvdrw/Usy05oAiRZI/AAAAAAAAElE/MrwTVuJ1sGM/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage+4x6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wWJpB8Tvdrw/Usy05oAiRZI/AAAAAAAAElE/MrwTVuJ1sGM/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage+4x6.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This years Christmas card.</td></tr>
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Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-41353852476842829122014-01-07T18:06:00.000-08:002014-01-16T15:02:07.437-08:00Freezer CookingBeing in my seventh month of pregnancy, trying to keep up with it all has not been the easiest task. Cooking meals every night has been a drag when I don't feel well or am dog tired. I recently learned about freezer cooking and got pretty excited to do it. I know I will want to do this for when baby boy comes so I wont be in the kitchen slaving away days after delivery. I was so excited to start and thought it would be fun to record how it goes.<br />
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I read so many different blogs who all had different methods of freezer cooking planning and prep, so I got the basic idea from them and did my own spin on things. So this is how I did it.<br />
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1) Decide what we will eat for the next month. Planned it all out in my meal planner and then looked up recipes for dinners I didn't have a clue on how to make, made recipe cards for them, and set aside all recipe cards that will be added in to this months freezer cooking day.<br />
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2) Make a list of all the foods I will need and how much for each to buy.<br />
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3) Go through coupons and store ads to see what savings I can get for Shopping day. Spent seven hours shopping just to get all the deals by going multiple stores.<br />
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4) Cooking Day! Do all the prep first. Cut up all veggies and things to measure out for each meal later. Saves so much time then doing each prep before the meal. This way you can relax while you wait for pots and pans to become available.<br />
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By the end of the day, my feet and back were killing me. And I was still trying to get all the dishes done by the end of the next day. But meals are done and I only really have to worry about breakfast and lunch for the next month. Dinners always take the longest and keep me on my feet since I cook from scratch (most of the time) so its so nice to just thaw and reheat nutritious meals instead of just going for takeout when I don't feel up to cooking. I think I could get used to cooking dinners once a month. I also made waffles and froze them so breakfast can be on the fly too for those busy mornings.<br />
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What I made:<br />
Peppered Shrimp Alfredo Sauce (just mix with whole grain Penne noodles and garlic bread)<br />
Spinach Lasagna<br />
Corn and Potato Chowder<br />
Teriyaki Chicken<br />
Cheesy Vegetable Chowder<br />
Vegetable Chili<br />
Chicken noodle soup<br />
Frozen Waffles<br />
..and a few other things that I can't remember since I this is last months meals and I am just now getting around to blogging. Thanks preggie brain.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sort of late on taking a photo so a lot has already been eaten but here is whats left. Its almost time for another day of cooking.</td></tr>
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<br />Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-20636970547593431422013-12-09T16:23:00.002-08:002014-01-27T06:53:53.241-08:0030 weeks and a snow day!I sort of feel like we have hit a milestone. 30 weeks! Wow. I still can't picture myself ever being on labor and actually meeting my sweet baby boy but, God willing, it will be in the next seven to ten weeks. I feel so blessed for the baby growing inside me. The love I feel for him, I didn't know existed or was possible. Its so overwhelming. I love him so much and I can't wait to meet him.<br />
I am never bored when he is awake and active. I can push on my tummy and he will start going crazy with those little feet where I pushed. He is getting so big that he can now deform my tummy as he moves. His position is often quite noticeable.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n2SDC15gRck/UqZckGyQ__I/AAAAAAAAEhU/QkEG68oC_ho/s1600/20131205_113156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n2SDC15gRck/UqZckGyQ__I/AAAAAAAAEhU/QkEG68oC_ho/s320/20131205_113156.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anatomically correct baby mold at 30 weeks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to imagine how he would look inside.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Centering Pregnancy instructor helped me visualize his position.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hxxSXQBYe5A/UqZcmCbQEKI/AAAAAAAAEhU/w3Dmao5FYBk/s1600/20131208_112902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hxxSXQBYe5A/UqZcmCbQEKI/AAAAAAAAEhU/w3Dmao5FYBk/s320/20131208_112902.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">30 Weeks pregnant</td></tr>
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Some Highlights-<br />
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<li>Baby's heart rate is 138 bpm</li>
<li>I have gained 9 lbs so far</li>
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This week, we had our first major snow storm. We had a lot of fun introducing Gunyr to snow for the first time. He was going crazy and running around all over. Its now hard to get him to come back inside. He sure has some mountain dog in him. Later in the day, I got a must-have craving for Taco Bell. I talked Steve in to taking Gunyr for a car ride to get him out of the house since we couldn't go to the dog park due to the bad weather, we knew no one would be there.<br />
About a half hour later, I got a call from my husband saying he has not gotten far from home and stuck in traffic because people don't know how to drive in the snow. I talked with him for an hour on the phone (with his ear piece, of course) while he sat in traffic.. and then he had to slow crawl a hill. Somehow the engine died and he got a flat tire. So now he was broke down with a dead battery with our pup in the car. The car wouldn't start and they had no heat. The snow was coming down hard and while still having me on the phone hearing all this, I was losing my mind, looking online for a roadside assistance service, and praying praying praying. I was so worried and trying to come up with some way to get them back home.<br />
Police were out directing traffic since it was so bad and he was finally able to get a squad car out to help him, thank the lord. Even through all that, he still made the trip to Taco Bell. I was just so happy to have them home but baby boy sure enjoyed his taco bell.. if only he knew what his Daddy had to go through to get it for him.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0CliqDCtdLk/UqZc44ZKaVI/AAAAAAAAEhs/A3To-6HPYo8/s1600/1386521775186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0CliqDCtdLk/UqZc44ZKaVI/AAAAAAAAEhs/A3To-6HPYo8/s320/1386521775186.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little collage of Gunyr's first snow day and us playing in the winter wonderland. This is my favorite time of the year.</td></tr>
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<br />Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-32623720811862664482013-12-01T15:33:00.003-08:002013-12-09T16:30:07.281-08:00Thanksgiving/Black FridayThis was Bunkers and Gunyrs first Thanksgiving. Of course, they got a big helping of all you can eat organic turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and whatever else they decided they wanted from the feast. I decided to try a few new recipes and made some amazing pumpkin cheesecake, apple pie, and a new version of crock pot mac and cheese. I have really gotten in to being the best Homemaker I can and making our meals from scratch, and as organic as possible, have definitely become more of a priority. I have a vision of the type of Mom and wife I want to be and slowly working towards that so this first Thanksgiving where not everything came from a package or box was such an experience and made our feast so much more enjoyable.<br />
Can you believe this is our last holiday season where we wont be surrounded by family.. our last of just us, our little family. Six more months until we are back on the west coast.<br />
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After dinner, we started our Black Friday shopping. I seriously had way too much fun if that's possible. I have have been looking forward to black Friday for YEARS! Sure, we were back in the States for last years Black Friday but since Steve had to work, we couldn't go. So this year was the first year I have been able to participate since 2008. Crazy! I was 18 back then and I don't think I even cared for it much so this really is my first Black Friday.<br />
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I searched the web all week looking for ad leaks and deals. Then got and scoured the Thanksgiving day paper which had all the Black Friday ads. I even made a list and game plan to how we would do it and where we would go, in which order, and who would get what. Yep, had way too much fun. I loved the craziness of it all and how insane people got. Being pregnant, of course, my poor husband was on over protective mode of anyone who got too close. It was sweet but he was a nervous wreck but didn't want to ruin my fun because he knew how excited I was.<br />
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We went to Walmart, Joann Fabrics, AC Moore, Petco, Micheals, and Macys.<br />
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We pretty much got a steal on canning jars from AC Moore. Then got a new Pressure Canner from Macys for nearly half off. I can't wait to start canning our fruits and veggies. Such a cheaper alternative to buying overpriced organic canned fruits and veggies from Whole Foods.<br />
From Joann's, we got some fabric at 75% off. Um, STEAL! Sure we had to wait an hour or so to get it cut but we literately paid $10 for $40 worth of merchandise. I also got some super cheap patterns and book on making my own cloth diapers with a pattern. I knew I wanted to cloth diaper but Steve got me into wanting to make my own.. oh boy, what have I got myself into?<br />
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A few photos from our day!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Turkey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3tB7rNDMDnk/Up0yesRmAOI/AAAAAAAAEfA/B9v4D_7Tzlw/s1600/20131128_094803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3tB7rNDMDnk/Up0yesRmAOI/AAAAAAAAEfA/B9v4D_7Tzlw/s320/20131128_094803.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helping make the pie</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Man of the house carving the bird</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dAxSysyfXVM/Up0yj_komEI/AAAAAAAAEfY/BwDIkJFZ0Qo/s1600/20131128_162656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dAxSysyfXVM/Up0yj_komEI/AAAAAAAAEfY/BwDIkJFZ0Qo/s320/20131128_162656.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"...Can I have it yet?"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wXhHoDtEdJE/Up0yfJzabUI/AAAAAAAAEfE/S5ywn6CiC3E/s1600/2013-11-24+14.13.36.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wXhHoDtEdJE/Up0yfJzabUI/AAAAAAAAEfE/S5ywn6CiC3E/s320/2013-11-24+14.13.36.png" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cart full of jars! I am ready to can!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IhTyQQe_HqQ/Up0yj9lRX1I/AAAAAAAAEfc/8MxaxfKQR8U/s1600/20131128_181626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IhTyQQe_HqQ/Up0yj9lRX1I/AAAAAAAAEfc/8MxaxfKQR8U/s320/20131128_181626.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Craziness at Walmart! Had to snap a photo.</td></tr>
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As per tradition, after we got home from Black Friday shopping, we set up our Christmas tree and stockings. I also made Gunyr's Christmas stocking. I did a lot better then last year when I made Tubbles' and Bunker's stockings. I think I have definitely improved my skills in the last year. I will post photos of our beautiful tree and stockings soon.Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-57026228575148470092013-11-24T16:57:00.000-08:002013-12-03T12:07:08.787-08:0028 WeeksWe are finally in the third trimester! Where has the time gone? In centering, we did a tour of Labor and Delivery to see where we will be having our babies and I just can't imagine that day of delivering would ever come. I am still trying to comprehend that there is actually a baby, a real human, in there. The thought of holding this baby and taking him home seems like a dream.. not a reality that will soon come.<br />
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One more trimester. Just crazy! He is getting so big. You can see him poking himself out of my tummy and moving all over. He loves when I rub his back, head, and little feet. I will rub my tummy where I can feel he is and he will just stay right there while I do so. He will get real active after I eat but there is no settling down when he gets something sweet in him. He will just kick and kick. We will just sit and watch my tummy bounce and move all over.<br />
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My cravings have been pretty normal all pregnancy. No weird ones that I hear from everyone else like Pizza with mustard. But I do have pretty intense cravings for Chinese food and have even drove across state lines to go to Panda Express at the mall in PA. I have also waited for KFC to open just for a large serving of mac and cheese.<br />
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I'm not sure of I ever gave the results to my three hour glucose test but it came back normal. I had my third trimester glucose test a few days ago and that came back normal as well, thank the Lord. But, I have become anemic and now have to take Iron and Vitamin C pills twice a day. Since I have a major fear of swallowing pill (never been able to do it), I have been grinding them up in smoothies with our Vita-mix and that has worked out great.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3kANJuRWnc/Up0rvtRYe1I/AAAAAAAAEeU/6Fiw4kJtTbc/s1600/2013-11-24+10.56.22.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3kANJuRWnc/Up0rvtRYe1I/AAAAAAAAEeU/6Fiw4kJtTbc/s400/2013-11-24+10.56.22.png" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">28 Weeks</td></tr>
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<br />Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-18191994852128843572013-11-10T14:23:00.001-08:002013-11-10T14:23:11.035-08:0026 weeks I can really feel baby boy moving now. Sometimes I have to stop and say "whoa, that was a big kick". Kick counts have been a breeze. Ill start counting during his most active time and it takes anywhere from a minute to five minutes to get ten kicks.<br />
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My cravings have included noodle dishes, mac and cheese, chocolate, and strangely enough, candy canes. Good thing they are starting to put them back on the shelves since the Holidays are coming up. But Chinese food has been a big one. Just today we drove to Pennsylvania (again) so I could get Panda Express. YUM! I can't get enough. <br />
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I have been feeling great but the exhaustion has officially crept back in. Very few days am I able to go through a day without a nap. Maybe the insomnia has something to do with that as well. Its very hard to sleep at night and I am always waking up to numb hips. Can't lay on my back, can't lay on my front.. and my hips go numb when I lay on either side. Yeah, sleeping these days has been way too much fun. And of course I should mention (since I don't want to forget anything), he is getting much heavier and when he lays low on my bladder, its very uncomfortable. Not to mention when he starts to kicks it. I have to run to the closest bathroom. Hubby loves to laugh at me and cheers baby boy on. And this whole peeing a little every time I sneeze thing is for the birds. <br />
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I am not complaining, just trying to record everything. I wanted this.. all of it! I thank God for it. With all the minor discomforts, this is the best experience I have ever had. I fall more in love with this baby with every kick and flip. If God forbids me to have another, I just want to be able to remember my experience in my own words.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rdDzreasDPk/UoAGjUYaY9I/AAAAAAAAEc0/6AVL4muxNOM/s1600/2013-11-10+14.03.36.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rdDzreasDPk/UoAGjUYaY9I/AAAAAAAAEc0/6AVL4muxNOM/s320/2013-11-10+14.03.36.png" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">26 weeks</td></tr>
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I posted a photo of this shirt at a concession stand at the Mall when we first moved to Delaware because I thought it was awesome.. well, Hubby bought it for me! Haha, I love it. I love how its customized to where we live. Proud Homemaker, I am. <br />
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Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-33139829187469997022013-11-09T06:08:00.000-08:002013-11-09T06:45:23.408-08:00BabymoonWe decided to have a baby-moon which basically is one last fun vacation type trip before baby comes. Ive known some to leave the country on extravagant trips for their baby-moon but we wanted to stay close since we have our fur-kids and Stephen is right in the middle of the semester at school. We went to a close Hotel that had everything we wanted. We swam in the beautiful indoor pool ..quite a bit. Ordered takeout, watched some interesting shows on cable, and just enjoyed each other. It was so fun and so relaxing. The hot tub was off limits for me but soaking my feet in it was so nice. Plus they had the best breakfast. I didn't want to leave.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VgLdrdrGZqw/Un4_zbowiUI/AAAAAAAAEao/6r4zjODqnF8/s1600/20131031_151431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VgLdrdrGZqw/Un4_zbowiUI/AAAAAAAAEao/6r4zjODqnF8/s320/20131031_151431.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2_LEbvDnpPc/Un4_z-r54_I/AAAAAAAAEas/Ev3VM-XKONs/s1600/20131031_154720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2_LEbvDnpPc/Un4_z-r54_I/AAAAAAAAEas/Ev3VM-XKONs/s320/20131031_154720.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pool and Hottub</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy and Gunyr relaxing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fHexA-SJHpU/Un5AC9LcfeI/AAAAAAAAEbs/JubrdMJ4I8o/s1600/20131101_105411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fHexA-SJHpU/Un5AC9LcfeI/AAAAAAAAEbs/JubrdMJ4I8o/s320/20131101_105411.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing off the growing belly. 24 weeks here.</td></tr>
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<br />Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3855019256382786103.post-7881937685698828742013-10-23T11:27:00.000-07:002013-10-23T11:36:13.286-07:0023 weeksI can't believe how fast time is going.. or how much this sweet baby of ours is growing. I can now watch him kick and move under my clothes. He sure is an active one. Steve also got to feel him kick for the first time on October 20th. I could tell he was starting to kick hard and had him put his hand on my belly and He got to feel. He was pretty amazed.<br />
At our recent centering group, they passed around an anatomically correct baby mold at 22 weeks. We got to hold it and see exactly what our baby is looking like and how heavy he would be if we held him now. He was pretty big. I snapped a photo, can you believe how big our boy is getting? By the feel of his kicks, I believe it. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JefjguRNQQE/UmgQqBaTOBI/AAAAAAAAEY0/0slGuwHwsGk/s1600/20131017_095936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JefjguRNQQE/UmgQqBaTOBI/AAAAAAAAEY0/0slGuwHwsGk/s320/20131017_095936.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">baby mold of a 22 week old baby</td></tr>
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My cravings as of lately has been chocolate, Arbys, and Sprite soda. I am completely off of Caffeine beverages. Wooo, go me! I started getting even more sensitive to the caffeine and my heart started skipping beats real bad after drinking a Pepsi and my husband almost had to take me to the emergency room. I just can't drink them anymore. That was a month or so ago and I have not touched them since. Decaf drinks only for me.<br />
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I have been feeling pretty good... when I am relaxing. haha. My feet will start to swell easily and my back will start hurting pretty quickly into a shopping trip. I try my best to walk at night and started doing pregnancy stretches and it helps a bit. I try to save my energy for keeping up with house chores, I think I am in full nesting mode. I don't even like dishes being in the sink. Everything must be clean!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JaP1e94Bhvg/UmgQxYJ18uI/AAAAAAAAEZI/sJ8MmUPrB0I/s1600/IMG_20131017_192730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JaP1e94Bhvg/UmgQxYJ18uI/AAAAAAAAEZI/sJ8MmUPrB0I/s320/IMG_20131017_192730.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another week and I start my kick counts. (how cute is my pen from my centering group?) Also showing is my Centering notebook. I keep track of all things mommy and baby in there. Info that the doctors have, I have. I love that about Centering.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_kS5zh1vLY8/UmgSFOMrM5I/AAAAAAAAEZg/ByMRBz1uDkI/s1600/20131020_115600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_kS5zh1vLY8/UmgSFOMrM5I/AAAAAAAAEZg/ByMRBz1uDkI/s320/20131020_115600.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">23 weeks along. Baby boy is growing.</td></tr>
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<br />Crystal Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12730648467118694719noreply@blogger.com1