Hey Jude You're 4 Weeks Old!

This is way past due, but it's something I did 3 weeks ago and wanted to post.
Hey Jude,
It is 2:01 in the morning and as I sit here staring at you sleeping on the couch next to me I remember that you are now 4 weeks old! Wow, how time has flown by! You were once a little 7 pound 12 ounce baby which I could easily hold in my arms and now you are an 8 pound 12 ounce baby! Can you believe it? You're a whole pound bigger and a whole lot heavier to carry around! You are sooooo unbelievably cute though! You now have a cute double chin, chubby little fingers, and a pot belly which I just love to kiss! You're not my tiny little man anymore! Stop growing so fast! It has only been 4 weeks and I'm already wishing I could freeze time! Although I know it's a good thing your growing healthy and strong, I just wish I could keep you this small forever! I wish there was some kind of pause button in life that we could press when we are the happiest and stay there forever! Your dad and I have been the happiest we have ever been, EVER! Son, you melt our hearts! We have felt so incredibly blessed that you have chosen us to be your parents and that we can have you as our child! Life is sooooooo much better with you around! The world has more love, happiness, kindness, laughter, and joy because you are in it! You are our everything! We love you more and more every moment we spend with you! With every smile, gaze into our eyes, grasp of our hand, and arm wrapped around us, you become more loved! We cannot believe that we can feel this much love for something so small! And we didn't know we had this much room in our hearts either! Ju Ju Bean, you make the world a better place! I hope that you will continue to do that as you grow because you are such a special spirit and you have so much to offer to the people who surround you! Thank you for making your dad and I better people! Because of you we are more kind to those whom we come in contact with, we are more sensitive to others feelings, we are happier, we are more calm, and we are becoming the people we've always wanted to be! You inspire us both, even though you are so small and don't even talk yet. You have had a major influence on us! You've inspired your dad to do great with his new job and he is getting an average of 94% on his tests in training! I've never seen him be so driven! He has become a better man because of you! Jude, you have inspired your mom in so many ways! You've inspired her to continue to follow her dreams and never give up on them. You were her number one dream and have made her the most happy, so now she knows how happy her other dreams will make her too. She wants to follow her dream of designing a children's clothing line because of you and with your help as her inspiration of course she can accomplish it. Little man, you've truly inspired us to be better people and even parents. You teach us in so many ways to have patience, enjoy life, love the relationships around us, and to trust. We've learned these things because we have watched and learned from you. Even though you are only 4 weeks old you are much wiser than we are and now we strive to be more like you! Thank you for your influence and your love over the past 4 weeks! We have loved having you in our home and in our lives! You are such a blessing!
Top 28 Favorite Things of the Past 28 Days of Your Life
1. Watching you be born
2. Holding you in our arms for the first time
3. Looking into your bright eyes
4. Watching you look at the world around you and taking it all in
5. Bringing you home for Christmas
6. Snuggling with you
7. Falling asleep with you in our arms
8. The late night feedings because mom gets to hold you in her arms and share special moments with you
9. Seeing you smile
10. Really seeing you smile (not because of gas but because you see us smiling at you)
11. Crying when held by someone else only because you wanted your mom or dad instead
12. Having you sleep in bed with us despite the crap people have given us. This has been the most special time we have had together and we wouldn't trade it for the world!
13. Rocking you to sleep
14. Holding your hand and feeling you grasp our hand right back
15. Dressing you for the first time and everytime after that
16. Giving you your first bath
17. Changing your first diaper
18. Playing with your first toys and reading your first books
19. Having you meet your family
20. Watching you sleep
21. Watching and learning what your favorite toy is
22. Learning your different cries, discovering what they mean, and being able to know what you want because of them.
23. Daddy giving you your first bottle and being able to bond with you
24. Cuddling on the couch toghether
25. Taking pictures and having photo shoots
26. Loving you more and more everyday
27. The grunts and squeaks you make all the time, even while you sleep
28. Watching you grow
Happy 4 weeks baby Jude! We love you more than you'll ever know! You are our everything! The past 4 weeks have been the best weeks of our lives and we look forward to the ones to come!
Love,
Mama and Daddy

Jude David Leatham

Wednesday December 23rd was the best day of our lives! We welcomed Jude into our family! After being induced at 2 pm the previous day Dan and I sat in the hospital amazed that we were going to have our little guy here soon. It was a precious time for us as we awaited Jude's arrival. We were so excited to meet him! When we arrived I was given a pill that would help get things going and a little bit later given pitocin. My contractions came on really fast and hurt so bad. I held out as long as I could to get the epidural and finally I said, "Give me the drugs!" After getting the epidural I was in heaven and felt sooooo much better. At about 12 AM I had my water broken and was dilated to a 3. Things were moving slow. The doctor said that the baby would most likely come in the afternoon. So, Dan and I hung out, in and out of sleep. At 3:15 AM the nurse checked me and I was at 5 cm dilated. She still thought Jude would be delivered later in the day. Lying in bed I kept feeling a ton of pressure and I could see on the screen that was monitoring my contractions that they were going crazy. Then at 3:45 AM another nurse came in to check that she had the baby's heartrate and not mine because she wasn't getting a good reading with the monitor on my stomach. She then decided she needed to attach a monitor to the baby's head to get a more accurate reading. While she was doing that she discovered I was dilated to an 8. So in 30 minutes I had dilated 3 cm and Jude was on his way. Dan called our mom's and they raced to the hospital to be our support. I was so glad to have them there! Thank you mom, Shelly, and my love for all of your help! I couldn't have done it without you! At about 6:20 I began pushing. Then at around 7:15ish the nurse asked me to stop pushing because the doctor was almost there. Jude's head was crowning when she asked me to do that and I could've cared less who delivered me at that point. The pressure was unbelievable! Finally the doctor arrived and after about 3 pushes Jude was born. He came into the world at 7:45 AM on Wednesday Decemeber 23, 2009. He was 7 pounds 12 ounces and 21 inches long. I can't even express the emotions I felt as my sweet little guy was laid across my chest. He was beautiful! I have never felt so much love flow through me in my entire life!!! It was amazing! Dan and I have loved having Jude in our lives and feel so blessed to have him for our son! Welcome sweet baby Jude! We love you!

The Best Husband Ever!!!

Okay, I officially have the best husband ever! On his way home from work he swung by the store and picked up funfetti frosting for me! The best part is he didn't even see what I posted either. He did it all on his own! What a sweetheart! I love you babe! Thanks for the can of sugar! I will enjoy every bit of it!

Funfetti Frosting!!!

I have been craving a can of funfetti frosting like crazy! Dan keeps telling me that I don't need a can of sugar, which is so true, but I can't get it off of my mind! It sounds delicious!!! While looking on babycenter.com today I came across the funniest thing and had to share it.

Belly Laughs
Four things you never thought you'd say
• "Let me just finish this can of frosting."
• "Would you mind tying my shoes?"
• "Does my stomach look too small to you?"
• "Help, I can't get out of bed."

Notice the first one. See, I'm not the only one! There is just something so yummy sounding about a can of frosting to us prego women. So, anyone that wants to buy me a can of the funfetti frosting with chunks in it will be my most favorite person in the world. Just kidding! Dan just keeps talking me out of buying it! It's driving me crazy. Maybe, I should just waddle up to the grocery store right now and buy some!

Making Progress

On Tuesday I went to my weekly doctor's appointment. I had to meet with the nurse because my doctor was called to a delivery. Anyway, she asked if I wanted to be checked to see if there was any progress in the baby coming. Before she checked, she said, "Yeah, I doubt you've made any progress because your only 36 weeks, but will see." After checking, she looked at me with a surprised look and said, "You're 1 cm dilated and 70% effaced. But, don't worry. Hopefully you'll continue to progress slowly over the next couple of weeks." So, I just wanted you all to know, sweet baby Jude is making his way into the world. I'm freaking out a little bit, okay a lot because I still have sooooo much to do! HOPEFULLY, he will wait until closer to his due date, so I can pull my house together, but I doubt it. He is such an active baby and I can just tell how bad he wants to get out. I'll keep you posted on the little guy and his progress. My next appointment is Tuesday.

Jude's Crib Bedding!

The Finished Product

Love it!




Pocket for books, stuffed animals, toys, anything! I love the extra space!

When I found out that I was pregnant the first thing I knew I wanted to do for my little one was to make his or her baby bedding. Which is something I plan on doing for everyone of my children, so that they can keep it as an heirloom if they want. Anyway, I counted down the days until we could find out what we were having so that I could rush off to the fabric store and pick out what to use for the bedding. I looked all over the place because I didn't want your typical baby type of fabric. I wanted something fun and exciting that would make the baby's room a happy place. Finally I found the cutest fabric and the process began. Making the baby bumper was DEFINITELY a process. Sometimes I would have to read the directions over and over again to understand what the heck I needed to do. Luckily my mom was able to talk me through some of it. Thanks mom! I also had to go back and redo a couple of things which was beyond frustrating. I almost lost all motivation to continue on. But, after countless hours of staying up all night, I am finally, FINALLY done with Jude's crib bumper! I am soooo happy with the finished product! I can't believe I actually finished and it looks great! If I do say so myself. I'm really proud that I stuck with it because there were more than a handful of times that I wanted to quit, but I didn't. Thank goodness! Here are the pics! Enjoy! Now I'm off to the next projects. Wish me luck! I have 29 days to go (hopefully) and here is the list of what I need to finish.
Crib Skirt
Pillow Sham
Baby Quilt
Curtains for closet and window
Baby Mobile
Letters for Jude's name
Cover Lamp with Crib Fabric

How Far We've Come

Last night Dan and I slept over at my parents. It felt like old times, like when we were dating. Back then Dan practically lived at my house since his family was living in Argentina. Often times we would stay up late playing SkipBo and then cuddle on the couch while we watched Friends. Most of the time we would fall asleep in eachothers arms on accident and wake up in the early hours of the morning. Dan would have to roll over and sneak out so that he could go home and get ready for school. This morning felt like one of those mornings. But, this time it was different because when I rolled over to see my sweet husband sleeping on the couch, I rolled over to my pregnant belly, and a little baby kicking inside me. I lay there while Dan continued to sleep peacefully and thought to myself about how far we had come. Almost five years ago I met Dan at a Frat/Sorority Exchange. He was the first boy to come and say hello to me that night. Little did I know at that moment in time that he would later become my everything! He would become my first date, my first kiss, my first love, my husband, and the father of my children! It is so crazy to think that from one moment, one instant, your life can change forever and that it can change you in so many ways that you didn't even think were possible. I have loved the changes that have come into my life! The change from girlfriend to wife and from wife to mother have been among my favorites and are such a blessing! So, as I rolled over this morning to see the most beautiful things in my life right in front of my very eyes, I found myself grateful on this Thanksgiving day to be alive! I'm thankful for where I've been and where I'm going! Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine myself at this point today. I wouldn't change it for the world! It has been a blessing and a dream come true! I love you my danny boy! I'm soooo grateful that you came into my life and that you have made me who I am today! You are my everything!