Family Vacay

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Wow...it's been a while since I've written something...or even had time to write something.  Not great, I know.  I'm hoping to get better if and when I become an official SAHM.  I will use this time to catch you up on the life that is our family. 

We recently got back from a glorious, week long vacation to the beach with a few members of my side of the family.  I will be more specific...we went to Hatteras Island.  Waves, NC to be exact, and it. was. glorious! (get ready for picture overload...you have been warned)

Just having some quality family time with not only my family, but "my two best guys", was so needed.  It had been a while since the Whitson family took some time to get away, so that's exactly what we did!  J-man had some issues with the ocean... so different from last year, when he would let Daniel hold him close to the waves, for them to splash in his face.  He would laugh so hard! But this year...well, this year was a bit different.  He was so aprehensive about the water, he wouldn't get any closer than he had to.

Yep, that's my boy...he was holding on to Daniel's hair for dear life!  I almost feel bad about taking this shot instead of trying to comfort him.  Almost. 

But it's ok...it's what I do.  My camera is like an extra appendage for me - especially when I'm vacationing with the fam!  It's a good thing too, or else I wouldn't have caught this super, sweet moment between daddy and J-man.

 

Now that's more like it.  Let daddy hide the big, scary ocean from view and all is right with the world.  I live for these moments.

 

While we were on Hatteras, we took advantage of what the island had to offer (and the fact that we had a plethora of adults just waiting and willing to watch our little one so we could do so, was pretty freaking amazing).  Thanks again, family!

Me, the hubs, my niece and her boyfriend, decided to visit Hatteras Lighthouse.  Both Daniel and I love lighthouses and neither of us had ever seen Hatteras before.  So...when in Rome!

 

 

View at the entrance to Hatteras...

 

View at the top.  That's right folks.  Me and my 7 month preggo belly hauled ourselves to the top of the tallest brick lightouse in the USA.  All 286 steps of that bad boy.  Granted I couldn't walk for the rest of the trip, but it was totally worth it!

 

 

My niece didn't quite feel the same. ;)  But I'm proud of her for facing her fears. 

 

  

The view from the inside, looking down.  A bit daunting, I will admit.  It looks way cooler in person - if you've never been, I highly suggest you make a point to go.

 

 

The hubs and I spent a lot of family time on the beach with our little guy...he loved playing in the sand, demolishing the sand castles that daddy would build, running after random dogs that passed by, and flying his first kite!

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

He liked Uncle Mark's kites!

 

 

The hubs and I even got a nice evening out by our onesies! We headed into Nags Head, NC to find some delicious seafood.  We highly suggest you try Kelly's if you find yourself in the area...great service and A-Mazing food!  This preggo mama was craving some crab legs... and what mama wants, mama gets!  ( I should have taken a picture of them, because they were divine! )  Regardless....we had a nice night out and for once it was great not to feel rushed to get back to put little man to bed.  I did, however, manage to snag this little gem on our night out.  Look out, Blackbeard!

 

 

 We did have a rainy day while we were at the beach and decided it would be the perfect day to visit one of the NC Aquariums, so we headed over to Nags Head, NC with my folks.  

 

 

 

 

 

We THINK he had a good time.  He spent about 90% of his time just running around the place like a little mad man!  I was lucky to get the shots I did, haha! (sorry J-man kept us all on the run, mom and dad! Maybe next time we can all actually look at and enjoy the sea life in detail with him)

 

We had a few more fun family moments and on the last day of our trip, Daniel and I decided to leave the boy in the capable hands of my family, and treck over to Ocracoke Island to do a little more touristing.  Is that a word?  Oh well, it is now. We hopped on the 45 minute ferry (4Runner and all) to begin our adventure for the day.

 

*sigh* I love this bearded fellow...

 

We ate a tasty lunch at Howard's Pub and Raw Bar, then headed over to the Ocracoke Lighthouse...another that neither of us had seen.  Now we can check it off the list!  I think we determined that we have now seen all of the lighthouses on the NC coast - sweet!

 

 

After (a little too much, in my opinion) walking around, and visiting some of the cute local shops, we decided to head back to the ferry, back to Hatteras Island.  As beautiful as the weather was on Ocracoke, the storm was rolling in on Hatteras.  Oh joy.  On our way back to the island, it got a little chilly, so we opted to sit back and relax in the 4Runner for the trip back.

 

 

The weather still looked nice as we were leaving...until I got a text from my parents asking if we were getting hit with the storm like they were.  Nope, not yet.  It wasn't until we were a few miles from the shore that we could see the storm clouds.

 

 

They looked more daunting in person...I promise.



 



All in all, we had a great time!  I had some quality time with my boys, my parents, and my sister and her family...life is good.  Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.  I will leave you with one final gem of a picture.  My brother-in-law thought it would be funny to show our bellies...

 

 

...and I guess by my expression, it was! ;)

 

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read about our "boring" family vacation!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 





 

 



 

                                                                   

  

 



Josiah's Birth Story

Pin It Now! As a photographer, I am eagerly awaiting THREE of my friends, whose little babies are due...literally, any day now.  I feel like I am the official newborn photographer for all of my friends having babies, and I LOVE it. Having just wrapped up one newborn session last week and anxiously awaiting the three that are to come, I have been having feelings of nostalgia of my own birth story, from my first son, Josiah. Now I'm sure, as everyone says, baby boy #2 will have his very own and unique story, but I felt the need to share my (currently) only birth story with you all.

The date: August 22nd, 2011
The time: 6:45 am

I have just woken up to get ready for work and my water has just broken. I feel like the next few moments are a blur...all I can remember was a feeling of excitement (and slight terror), as I wake my husband up to tell him that "it's" happening. I took the 'normal' next steps for any first timer...I called my doula (which, by the way....I highly recommend as something to look into. But I will get into that on a later post) who asked me a variety of questions and began calming me down - because let's face it; a woman whose water has just broken and is ablout to have a baby for the first time, can be a little panic stricken. She prayed with me and encouraged me to try a few things to get my contractions started, since they haven't started on their own at this point.

So my husband and I got dressed and decided to take a hike up and down our driveway a few times...if you've ever been to my house, you would understand the insane feat this is for a normal person, nevermind a woman who is in labor. After about 3 trips up and down our road (with no signs of any contractions) I called my doula again. She encouraged me to try to relax, as often times contractions will start and can progress the more relaxed you are. Well, "what better way to relax than to take a nap?" I say to myself. Ha! That was a joke to even attempt. My mind was racing with so many thoughts and wondering if every little thing I felt was a contraction. (Little did I know that when I actually had one...I would KNOW it and not have to wonder).

After a few hours of no progression, we decided it would be best to head to the Midwife's office to have her check things out. Once we arrived I did receive a bit of a slap on the wrist for not contacting her sooner, but once she found out that my tests for group B strep were negative, she wasn't as mad. Oops. Pointer for you ladies who test positive...do. not. wait. If your water breaks, go to your doctor or hospital immediately!

My Midwife then gave me an additional 2 hours to go and do whatever we needed to, to get those contractions started before she induced me that evening. This terrified me. I had read story after story about women being induced and not being able to handle the pain, that they succumb to the epidural (even though they vowed not to get one). This was my one big "issue". I was bound and determined to have a natural birth with no epidural, so naturally I had some anxiety.  My midwife gave me until 5pm...I decided to head over to the local Greenway and run laps for the next few hours. Yes, I said run laps. I had lots of strange (and some scared) looks, but I was bound and determined to get those contractions started! Sadly...this produced nothing. So at 4:45 we headed to the hospital and by 5:00 they had me hooked up to Pitocin to get my contractions started.

Let me just preface this by stating that my birth plan did NOT include being induced...for fear (a really big fear) of the pain. I always heard that Pit increases the pain of your contractions immensley and I most certainly did not want to go back on my "No Epidural" birth plan. In fact I didn't even want that horrible word metioned in my birthing room.

Thankfully I was given a "mobile IV and fetal monitor" that allowed me to walk around and do pretty much whatever I needed to during labor. My contractions started out nice and slow...with the pain only increasing gradually. I found a ton of comfort walking the hospital halls with Daniel and my doula (we will call her M for this scenario to make it easier on us all). Each time I experienced a contraction, Daniel was there to hold me up, to help me breathe through each one and encourage me. M would help in the same way.

Finally, I believe around 4 or 5 cm, the pain began to increase exponentially and I felt like I needed the privacy of my birthing room. The continued to increase my Pit  - at one point a nurse came in to ask about my pain level and when I told her, she began mentioning the "E" word...the word that shall not be spoken...the word I did not want to hear. I looked to M, because this nurse would NOT stop talking about it. M kindly reached over and told the nurse that it was my desire to this naturally but if I happened to change my mind, I (me and only me) would let them know. The nurse got the hint and the word was never mentioned again (at least not in my presence).

Then I hit 7 cm...my contractions came hard and fast. Every minute. Literally. No more than 60 seconds rest in between. I was not progressing, and I thought I was going to hit the ceiling. I have never felt pain like this before. And I felt the urge to push. Nope. Not an option at this point. My midwife became concerned and (ok - I really don't remember this part, so I have to take M and Daniel's word on this) pulled Daniel and M out of the room to talk. She said she didn't think I would have the energy to continue and she encouraged them to try to urge me to get an epidural.
Both having full knowledge of my desire and strong opposition of getting an epidural (for strictly personal reasons), agreed they would let me continue until I asked for it. I am so thankful they did! Don't get me wrong, there were moments I looked into my husbands eyes and the word was on the tip of my tongue...almost begging to "give me the drugs!" But he was so supportive and so encouraging, I just knew I could do it.

At around 8 cm, they gave me a drug called fentanyl. This drug had zero affect on the baby and absolutely ZERO affect on the pain. It was strictly used to help me try to relax in between the fast coming contractions. And it worked! I can remember vividly almost being able to fall asleep between the contractions. And guess what?! All that business about being relaxed helping you progress...so true. I went from 8 to ready to push in no time.

*sidenote* I had my favorite artist, Josh Wilson, playing on repeat the entire time...and when the time came to push, this one song, Before the Morning, came on. Listen to it. It was definitely from God...at the perfect time that I needed it.

When the time came, I was so ready and surprisingly, energized. I focused on my midwife, listened to everything she told me to do and pushed my sweet boy out in 30 minutes. I feel like the shortened pushing time was a gift from God, after having spent the last 12 hours in the most excruciating pain I have ever felt in my life.

Josiah was born at 5:44 am on August 23, 2011.

Would I do it again? Just like it was? You bet. Every contraction, every ouce of pain I felt was totally worth it. I have learned to love another human being like never before. I cannot describe the love a parent has for their child. It's unexplainable and awesome. I have a handsome, intelligent, sweet boy - whom I would give my life to protect. Yes...my labor was painful - but to be surrounded by an amazing husband, my amazing doula and friend, M, the wonderful staff at the hospital and most of all, God's promise in John 16:21 "²¹ A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world" helped me through the most painful, scary, beautiful and joyous moment in my life.
 

Easter...is not about the bunny

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With a little one at home, I feel like there is pressure to make this Easter super memorable for him. Not just family, friends or co-workers, but PINTEREST! Please don't get me wrong...I have a special and very close relationship with Pinterest. But I feel like there's so much on there about enriching your kids lives and making holidays AMAZING by way of crafts, cookies, etc. that often times I feel like I fall extremely short of being an "on top of it" mama.

But I digress...

Throughout my day at work, I have been asked no less than 5 times if we had any big plans for Easter. Or if J-man was ready and getting excited for Easter. (First of all...he is 19 months and at this point, he has no idea that Easter is any different than any other Sunday) My response to all have been the same. We are just planning on spending time with family and going to church. No big Easter Bunny charade this year. Now, when I was a kid, I LOVED Easter. I loved waking up super early on Easter Sunday to search for the special place MY basket was hidden, then begin the hunt for Peeps, Cadbury Eggs and the like. So, yes...I plan on passing on those "fun" traditions with my own kids. The thing I refuse to do, however, is make this entire holiday solely about that. I feel like my parents did a pretty amazing job raising me to know the true meaning of the Christian holidays...and Easter is definitely no exception.

I want to teach my children about Jesus and what He did on that cross...just for them.

Just imagining what He went through...for me. For my family - makes me tear up. How unworthy we are to have deserved such mercy, such an outpouring of love from Jesus. Our Savior. I want my children to know that God loved them so much, he sent His son to die on that cross for our sins...so that one day we may spend eternity with Him in Heaven!

This is how I think of Jesus. My Redeemer. My Savior. My Friend.

Darrell Evans
Redeemer Savior Friend

I know You had me on Your mind
When You climbed up on that hill
For You saw me with eternal eyes
While I was yet in sin
Redeemer Savior Friend

Every stripe upon Your battered back
And every thorn that pierced Your brow
Every nail drawn deep through guiltless hands
Said that Your love knows no end
Redeemer Savior Friend

Redeemer redeem my heart again
Savior come and shelter me from sin
You're familiar with my weakness
Devoted to the end
Redeemer Savior Friend

So the grace You poured upon my life
Will return to You in praise
And I'll gladly lay down all my crowns
For the name by which I am saved

So as much fun as it will be to watch our children run around the house on Easter Sunday, searching for candy that the "Easter Bunny" left for them...it will be so much more fun to see them come to an understanding of the true meaning of Easter. To grow up to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to call him Redeemer, Savior, and Friend.

Happy Easter! The Lord is Risen indeed!