becoming parents

When I found out I was pregnant last July, I was in shock. Standing in the bathroom in the guest house at my father-in-laws, our temporary residence, I bawled my eyes out while trying to muster up the courage to walk out into the living room and drop this bomb on my un-suspecting husband. I just watched him there for a second watching TV, trying to let him have just a few more moments before he found out he was going to be a Daddy. I felt like a pregnant teenager, like I was going to be kicked off the dance team for this. When I finally said it, "I think I am pregnant", his reaction was, "why??". "Because this stick says I am!!!! *sobs*. Brennan wrapped his arms around me, reassured me that this was going to be the best thing that ever happened to us, and from that moment on I was over joyed at the idea of becoming a mommy. Granted there were still moments of fear to follow. We lived in a two room apartment above Brennan's dad's catering kitchen which had stairs leading up to it that you were literally risking your life on every time you climbed them. Of course this was an upgrade from our apartment in TN in which we had mice for roomates and rednecks for neighbors, but still not where I imagined bringing a baby home to. We initially moved to the guesthouse so we could build our savings, but now that I was pregnant it was time to GET OUT.

We stayed there a few more months while we looked for an apartment that would allow us to have our pit bull, Karma, living with us. Our boxer, Major, was no big deal but its the pit bull breed that apartment communities ban. We found a place we loved and told them we had a boxer and a mutt. We even went as far as to take her with us for them to meet and approve her, and when they asked if she was a pit bull we played dumb.  Now, this dog has pit bull written all over her. So they basically called our bluff and laughed us right out of that office. We (Brennan) left disappointed that we would have to find her a new home. Thankfully Brennan's brother took her in so Brennan still gets to visit her.

Getting our own place made us feel a little more prepared to have a baby in March. Over the next few months we did our best to prepare ourselves and our home for our precious little girl. When I had my scheduled c-section (due to placenta previa) on March 3rd, our lives were forever changed.

The first time I held her, I couldn't speak. I simply started at her in amazement of God's amazing ability to create such a beautiful little baby, and also in complete wonder of why I deserved to recieve this little gift. Oh, and also shear terror that she was OUR responsibility and the poor thing would have to endure a life with us for parents. This moment lasted only for about 2 minutes before they had to take her to the NICU, where she would spend the next 5 days.

When we finally brought her home we were so happy to finally begin our life with her. My parents and sister stayed with us all week to help out and it was AMAZING. My mom and sister cleaned, cooked, and waited on me hand and foot. Brennan ended up getting sick that week so it was really great they were there. It was also great to have my dad there so someone could hold down the couch and make sure the TV was working ;)

For that first week she slept around the clock, rarely cried, and was a pleasure in general. Then that week ended, and madness set in. My family left and it was just the three of us. She stayed up all night and slept all day. She also developed colic. It was the most challenging thing I could ever have imagined. There is nothing more frustrating then not being able to comfort your screaming child, especially when you haven't had any sleep.  We got used to sleeping in 3 hour increments and since she insisted on being held all the time we learned to do everything with one hand. When she would finally fall to sleep, we laid in our bed being as silent as possible and tried to get some rest before she woke up and it all started over again.  While this was all very challenging, it was also wonderful. She's the most beautiful little crying creature we have ever laid eyes on and I would rather spend my time holding her and loving her than doing anything else.

Things have settled down in the last few weeks so we are finally able to reintroduce some level of normalcy into our lives. Willow sleeps in her crib and naps without having to be held! I started back to work 2 weeks ago and now work Saturday-Tuesday with Wednesday, Thursday and Friday off. Brennan works at night and stays home with Willow during the day. His mom keeps her for a couple of hours each afternoon and I pick her up when I get off work at 7. Because of this arrangement Brennan and I don't see each other as much as we would like but Willow is always with someone who loves her so for now it is working out great. Last night I went to his mom's to get my girl and to my surprise Brennan was there too. He said that Becky would be keeping Willow while we went on a little date. He surprised me with a beautiful set of pearls and dinner at PF Changs. This was the first time we had been out alone since Willow was born, and while it was so much fun and a night I won't forget, we couldn't wait to go pick up our baby! She is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to us and we are so thankful we got pregnant on accident. God knows what he is doing!!

Now if you made it all the way to the end of this incredibly long post you must really be my friend, so thank you!!

Side Note: At work this week, someone wiped salsa off of Brennan's arm, licked it off her fingers, then went back for more. He also met Mark Ingram and got his autograph. At my job, a man called and pleasured himself to the sound of my voice and it unfortunately took me about 30 seconds to realize this was what he was doing.

and we're back!

I started this blog in January of 2010, had three posts, then I ran out of stories and abandoned blogging all together. SO much has happened with us since that time, and I am now ready to get back on the blogging horse! The following is a list of the changes we have been through:

1. Moved to Alabama

2. Had a baby

...and thats pretty much it. However, our average life is filled with joy never dull and I am excited to start sharing our stories with the 5 people who will read this.