River Jenkins' First Week

Ryan and I wanted to take a few minutes and post some more pics of Rivers' first week.

I'm working on my own birth story to share with everyone. It's in the works, so just bare with me.

Ben & Mel bring Karis to The Farm to meet River!

Grammy and Pappy

Grandma and Grandpap

Cuteness!

Uncle Choyer and Uncle Jim (Godparents) also made the drive.

Sunbathing

Pamela, our midwife, checking on River

At home for the Steelers in the Superbowl! Learning lessons early from Dad.

All three of us taking a little R&R

River's first pediatrician appointment

My two favorite men

"I would just like to show the world my massive biceps" - River

River Morgan Jenkins Has Arrived! - The Next Big Adventure

There are some feelings in life that just cannot be explained. Tuesday afternoon Kari and I felt an unexplainable feeling.
Tuesday, January 27^th at 1:31 PM, River Morgan was born. That was the climax of an exciting evening and morning. At around 10 Monday night, Kari and I were at River’s Godparent’s house (Jim & Choyer) and Kari starting having what she called “sensations”. She neglected to tell anyone because she didn’t want to get anyone too exciting incase it was a false alarm. Her and I went home that evening and she told me she was feeling them pretty regularly. So we began to time them and they were around 10 minutes apart. We took a shower and got Kari into bed so she could try and rest and see what came of the morning.
5 AM rolls around and the surges are keeping Kari awake at this point. We call our midwife Pamela and she tells us that this could go on for days or even weeks, that it could just be the baby dropping into place. So, as instructed, we try and lay back down for a bit and call her later in the morning.
7 AM rolls around and Kari and I are up, moving about, trying to have something to eat because neither one of us could sleep. Kari from the contractions and me from the excitement/nervousness of what I knew was happening. We called Pamela and she said to come on down for a check, but to take our time. So I “took my time” and hurried to get a shower and get the car packed up.
We got to the birthing center sometime around 10 or 10:30 AM. Pamela told Kari and rest sleep after she got checked because this could go on into the night. Turns out she was 3 centimeters dilated. So Kari layed down and I sat in a chair beside the bed to wait it out all day. Kari did a wonderful job of breathing through the surges. She didn’t make a sound all morning.
An hour and a half passes and Kari starts complaining that she has to poop, but she’s not sure if she’s allowed to. I run next door (the midwife lives 30 feet from the front door of our birthing cabin.) and get Pamela. She checks Kari and she is at 8 centimeters already! Kari and I looked at each other and were stunned. So Pamela calls her midwife team and tells them to hurry on over because things are beginning to progress. Our doula’s hadn’t even made it down yet!
30 minutes later, as Pamela was preparing the medical supplies, Kari started complaining of wanting to push. Pamela checked her and she was at 9.5 cm! She wasn’t allowed to push just yet though. So Kari held it in, staying as calm as possible, and breathing through the contractions. She sounded like the ocean waves crashing against the shore.
Pamela’s midwife assistant, Jen, showed up and helped Pamela finish preparing. Before Jen showed up it was just Pamela and I. I looked at Pamela and said “just tell me what to do.” I thought I was going to have to play doctor!
Just a few minutes after measuring at 9.5 cm, Kari starting saying that she had to push, she had to push! So Pamela told her to go ahead. 10 minutes of pushing and the baby was crowning. Finally the other midwife walked in, to her surprise there was almost a baby here already! Another push or so and River Morgan Jenkins had arrived with us here!
The rush of emotions was unexplainable. One minute you are just you, and the next minute there is a physical extension of you laying next to you. Amazing.

Needless to say, he is beautiful! He is feeding, sleeping, and obviously pooping! I’m sure you will be seeing a lot of him on this blog, but here are some pictures of him from the first day and a half of his wonderful life.

First Moments

Getting a little fresh air

Mom and Dad cannot express the joy!



Dad holding River...(I was really nervous, but it came naturally!)

Kari doing what she now knows best! Loving our baby boy.

Our Midwives: Stacie Hunt, Jennifer Albanese, Pamela Hunt (left to right)

Our Friends and Doulas, Maranda Alford and Jolynn Lewis



Mom showing River a picture of his big sister...Chaco


Our little Muscle Man!



Showing Off



First Diaper Change



Cute!


**Note: More updates will follow. It is 2:38 AM, beginning his 5th day of life. We are just now getting around to posting pictures because we did not have internet access at the birthing center. Keep checking back for more adventures and pictures of River!**

Belly Photos

Ryan and I have a good friend, Jamina, who takes amazing photos. As a gift to us, she took some family and belly photos on MLK Day. They turned out great. Some of our favorites...well, I'm topless. But thanks to the internet, you can watch all the violence that you want, but don't dare put a photo out there with a "milk machine" in it. That would be considered obscene. Silly Americans. So, if you want to see all the photos, you'll have to make a stop at the Jenkins' home. We did do a montage with some of the photos Jamina took.

Thank you, Jamina, for your kind soul and sharing your talents.
Enjoy!

This One Is For My Lovely Disposable Diaper Nazis!!

Most people know that Ryan and I are planning on using cloth diapers. I try and be careful about what I say I'm going to do or not do because...well, we've never done this whole raising a child thing before. I mean, Chaco, is a bit easy, and I'm not sure that actually counts for child-rearing.

But honestly, I have been a bit shocked by some of the resistance from the mamas using disposables. Why??? I'm not entirely sure, but I have a guess or two. I know I'm entering a new realm of people offering their baby advice and will do my best to embrace the goodness that people offer. And I am fully aware that all of this is something Ryan and I have to feel our way through together. Can't wait for the adventure!

With that being said, I feel like it's time for me to put some information out there that led me to my personal cloth diapering decision. There's plenty of information out there on the internet, and I just pulled some of my info from several websites.

It initially started when I thought about the idea of "restocking" that comes with parenting...The Diaper Genie refills, plastic drop-ins that go into some bottles, wipes, diapers, on and on...It's all a bit overwhelming when you start thinking about it. So, where exactly could we cut out on some of those expenses and waste? I completely understand that just about every product we use or consume plays some toll on our environment, and we have to pick and choose what we're comfortable with. And it would serve us and our world well to choose alternatives when possible.

I have several friends who are using cloth diapers and love it. So, I began asking questions and doing research.

I've seen several different numbers, but on average a babe will use anywhere from 5,000 - 8,000 diapers in their should we say potty career.

There's the Health, Environment, and Costs aspects...
- The chemicals and bleaching agents used to make disposable diapers produce toxic chemicals for our air and soil.
- The chemical used to draw out the urine and turn it into a "gel" is very accurate for absorbing those leaky dipes but has also been associated with severe diaper rash among other health issues.
- It takes about 880 lbs of fluff pulp and 286 lbs of plastic per year to supply a single baby with disposables.
- They are the 3rd largest single product in the waste stream behind newspapers and beverage containers. In areas where paper, glass, and tin cans are collected for recycling, diapers make up an even greater portion of the garbage.
- Landfills do not provide the conditions necessary for disposable diapers to decompose, and it takes roughly 500 years for the poop holder to decompose. That means my poo could still be in a landfill in Georgia if my parents hadn't swaddled my bum with cloth. Thanks, Mom and Dad!!
- Washing cloth diapers at home uses 50 - 70 gallons of water (which is recyclable) every three days. To put that into perspective, a toilet-trained person, flushing the toilet 5 - 6 times a day, uses about 70 gallons of water every three days.
- Wastewater from washing cloth diapers is relatively benign compared to the chemicals in the wastewater from the disposable dipes.
- It roughly costs $3000 - $4000 for the potty career of a disposable baby. I'm not ashamed to share it, but Ryan and I spent about $500 for Baby J's One Size Cloth Diapers that should last his/her diapering career. This includes the cloth wipes, diaper covers, and liners.
- The energy costs for washing a load of diapers is around $1.25 a load.

So, that's where I'm coming from. I'm not saying that a disposable will never touch my babe's bum. We're planning on taking disposables to the birth, and I don't expect our care providers to do that if they're not comfortable with it. But as much as we can, we plan to cover the cute tooshie with cloth.

I do admit it does annoy the hell out of me though...no pun intended...well, kind of...when people totally disregard their personal responsibility to this Earth. Sorry, but I see it a lot in a certain group of people who believe they're going to this magical place in the sky, and we're passing through this planet like little aliens. Well, we can hope that will happen. But to be completely honest, the only thing we know for sure is what we've been given right here and now. And that's Planet Earth. Every little bit can help protect and nurture the only place we know and have been given to enjoy and care for, and every little bit makes this place a little better for our children, grandchildren, their children, and on and on. What a gift to give the future generations?! A cleaner place to live, and well, it doesn't hurt the "pocketbook" too much either.

A House O' Joy!!

The JOY in this house keeps growing! Sometime within the next month, we will finally meet our little one. You would think that would be all the excitement and joy the Jenkins' could handle, but wait...

Not after the AFC Championship game. Now, we have even more excitement coming our way! Steelers at the Superbowl!!!

Our home is filled with us singing the song..."PITTSBURGH'S GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!!! I'VE GOT A FEELING!"

And I'm not ashamed to admit that it's 4:30 in the morning, my hips were too achy for me to stay in bed and keep lying down. So, I'm up on the computer yet again in the wee hours of the morning. But to confess with much joy and pride, when my body woke me up, I was singing..."PITTSBURGH'S GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL! I'VE GOT A FEELING!!!"

After the game, we joked about Baby J needs to meet the world NOT on February 1st. But then through our excitement, we both had to reassure each other that Baby J is definitely more important than the Steelers in the Superbowl. So, come when you so desire, Baby J. We're waiting!!

Our Blessing Way and The Birth Bundle

We had our Blessing Way on Thursday night. Maranda and Jolynn ROCK! They created such a lovely, sacred gathering for Ryan, me, and Baby Jenkins.

A Blessing Way is a Native American tradition preparing and celebrating the mama and papa's transition to parenthood. Maiden to Mother, an amazing celebration I wish more Americans embraced. Hopefully, with more exposure to the tradition it will start happening. We had a potluck and NO gifts...just a time for some of our closest friends to get together and enjoy this time with us.

When people arrived, Maranda and Jolynn "smudged" everyone to clear any negative energy and create a very sacred space for the family and the gathering.



We all dined on some good vegetarian "eats" which when you get together with these women, I'm telling you, we dine like goddesses. Jamina made fresh "juice" cocktails for everyone before dinner. She's my juicing queen and taught me the ways of the juicer. I can't wait till Baby J gets here, and Mama can get back on the juicing train. I can't have apples, beets, and carrots because of the sugars. But I admit, I did have a little juice cocktail at The Blessing Way.



After dinner, the festivities began...Tristan and Jolynn made flowers for my hair. They brushed and pulled back my hair for me and placed the flowers in my hair...symbolizing my change to motherhood.




Choyer was there....so, just in case they did a shoddy job, he was my back up. Luckily, the girls did well. Prom Hair, WATCH OUT!!! I kept wanting to go into Green Hills and tell them that Choyer did it. I thought it would drum up some business for him in that area. HA!






Maranda enjoys Henna and had the brilliant idea to let people Henna my belly. She started it off with the word, Love. One of her favorites.





Most people got in on the Henna Action. Misty got in on some of the design. Baby J was wigglin' around the whole night. He/She must be a true hippie. The little muffin enjoyed the henna.



While people took turns doing the henna, they passed around a bowl of beads. Everyone shared a blessing or two they wished for Ryan, me, and the baby. Then, they put their bead on a necklace for me to take and wear for the birth.

Logan wished for me to have an orgasmic birth. Crossing my fingers, dear Logan! And Becky is giving Baby J a special blessing. You can see Tonya in the picture trying to clean up her henna mess. Love her!!

Even after all this special treatment, Jolynn and Galit gave me a foot bath and massage.





Choyer, one of Baby J's godparents, got in on some henna while Galit gave me a nice shoulder massage. Even though she's now in midwifery school, she hasn't lost her magic massage hands.




I shared my Birth Bundle with everyone and closed it up there until the birth. Most of you know that I'm training to become a Birthing From Within childbirth mentor. One of the things they do for the program is create a birth bundle. There's supposed to be 3 items in the bundle, but I got a bit carried away and now have created a birth altar to set up during the birth process. But it's my birth, so I guess it's what I make it.



I'll tell you about the 3 main items though. I had to find a symbol of my connection with the other strong women who have given birth and the 300,000 women around the world that will be giving birth the same day. I chose a candle to burn for that one. The second item was to symbolize the father's role...how I see Ryan, our relationship, our love for each other...I found a little lamb. Ryan is always so gentle and supportive of me...especially throughout the pregnancy. He's been up at all hours of the night massaging my hips or turning the shower head for me so the hot water can hit my back. He's always very selfless and gentle, and a lamb is what stuck out to me. The last item is a symbol of me and the baby working together during birth. I found a piece of rope and tied a knot to symbolize our interconnection in this process. I threw other items in my "birth bundle turned birth altar" such as a picture of Chaco, some birth art I've done, a LabOrinth I drew, some rocks, and some other important things to me.



The evening was so special for Ryan and me. I enjoy just hanging out with friends when there's no rush. I was so grateful people took time to come and chill out with us for the night and celebrate our baby with us. It was definitely an evening we'll cherish and remember as we become parents.

Baby J's Amulet....Protection

Ryan's parents came in town last weekend to celebrate Christmas and the upcoming addition to the family. We were supposed to travel to Virginia for the holidays this year, but with bedrest on my agenda, the trip got nicked at the last minute. While we would have been there, Ryan's mom was going to host a little family baby shower for Baby J. She still held the baby shower in our honor and brought a piece of the shower to Nashville.

I am grateful for ALL the gifts we received. MawMaw even made Baby J a blanket!! There's this one that I keep going back to and picking up. An amulet.

Amulets have been made for a long time....they date back even to the Early Egyptians. They are designed for protection. I think amulets are "supposed" to be worn, but ours will hang in the nursery (also for parental protection....don't think Baby J should be wearing the amulet yet. Plus, my mom-in-law would probably shoot me if she showed up and saw it around the babe's neck. I've already been warned of a possible shooting if I let my child climb all over the back of grocery carts like we witnessed at Target).

Moving on. Correct me Morgan family if I'm wrong, but I believe Aunt Linda made the amulet. They kept saying it was her first one; I thought it looked great. The center piece is a belt buckle from Grandma Morgan's old belt (Ryan's great grandmother), and Ryan's grandparents, aunts, and cousins tied on blessings in the form of a bead or a charm of some sort for the baby. They wrote them all down, so we could have a copy of it.

I'll just mention a few....there are different color beads representing the Earth's elements for protection by the Earth's spirits and that Baby J will grow up with a love and appreciation for all of nature's miracles. A cousin tied on a seashell that she picked up while she was on vacation with her mom; she wishes that Ryan and I will always treasure the small moments with Baby J. There was a charm of the word Hope, and charms of butterflies and dragonflies: symbolizing the baby's health, happiness, and a love for the outdoors. A Love charm encouraging Baby J to Love one another and to know that he/she will have the love of the family. That was just a few of them.

Well, I can guarantee Baby J one thing for sure....that the little muffin is already LOVED by his/her family so much!!!

Mama Bear

"Emulating an animal made it easier for me to access that power that I instinctively knew I needed during labor." - Ina May Gaskin from her book Ina May's Guide To Childbirth

For some reason, I'm having a hard time prying myself from the computer today. I'm working on NOT feeling guilty for it. I hear a voice in my head. Don't be scared; it's a real person. I keep hearing my friend, Logan, which just so happens to also be my what we like to call...life coach. I was just about to retire from the computer today, take a shower, make some hot tea, and enjoy a book. But I want more computer time. Worked through the guilt by hearing Logan's voice saying something like...."A lot of times we do what we think we should do and then we never get to do what we want to do." So, my urge to blog seeps through. On to Mama Bear...

I've been thinking about this for awhile, and it really started to radiate in me today, so much so that I want to share it. Here's a few little clips about "loving the primate in you" from my favorite childbirth book, Ina May's Guide To Childbirth.

"Letting the primate in you do the work of labor is a short way of saying not to let your over-busy mind interfere with the ancient wisdom of your body. To give you an idea of what I mean, here are some things monkeys and apes don't do in labor that many women do - and that interfere with labor:

• Monkeys don't think of technology as necessary to birth-giving.
• Monkeys don't obsess about their bodies being inadequate.
• Monkeys don't blame their condition on anyone else.
• Monkeys don't do math about their dilation to speculate how long labor might take.
• Monkeys in labor get into the position that feels best, not the one they're told to assume.

• Monkeys aren't self-conscious about making noise, farting, or pooping during labor. All queens, duchesses, and movie stars poop-every day, if they're healthy.

How can you 'let your monkey do it' in a hospital? I believe that it helps to mentally prepare to be a little wild while you're there. Try to behave as much as possible as you would in your own bedroom. Be willing to be unconventional if that might help your labor along....
Given that all other primates are known to cope well with labor and birth, while civilized humans often aren't, it seems that we would be wise to emulate other female primates as much as possible....Many say it helps them to find the wild woman within and to tap into the ancient knowledge that is the potential of all women."

Ohhhh, Ina May. I love it. I love it.

There are quite a few of my family and friends who find me freakish to want to give birth naturally at a birthing center. And so I feel they tend to write off everything else as I say about birth as ludicrous. So be it. I turn my birth over to my body and my baby, and as it sees fit to unfold I hope to embrace it. But before you turn your head to what Ina May says in her book, there are a couple of stats I would like to share from Ina May and the midwives at the birthing center she helped to establish and has worked at for 30 years.

Home Births: 95.1%
Transports: 4.9%
Cesareans: 1.4% (Hospitals are close to 30 - 40%)
Inductions: 5.4% (done with Castor Oil and swept membranes)
Intact Perineum: 68.8%
1st degree: 19.1%
2nd degree: 11.5%
3rd degree: 0.3%
4th degree: 0.1%

Reputable, I would say. It's amazing how important the mind and body connection is when giving birth. And that's something these midwives are aware of that many doctors are not.

Back to our primates. It blows my mind how many people don't like to think of us as animals. There is a woman I know who even said to me, "We're not animals. We're humans." That blew my mind. We're mammals, hello. Our name is human. Just like a cow is a cow. But it's still an animal. We're the only animals that fear birth. Yes, I'm nervous about the unknown. But I feel like I trust my care providers (and with stats like that, how could you not???) and my innate power like every other animal. Thanks in part to the over intervening OB/GYNs (who do have their place in emergency and high risk situations - I am grateful for them for that capability and will willingly except their help IF needed) and television drama (kiss it goodbye - TLC/ The Baby Story) I feel like women feel that they have lost their power to give birth!!!

And I am proudly trying to attempt to dig deep and love that primate in me. There is something to it whether we like it or not. They can give birth - no problem, no fear. And we struggle. Don't get me wrong. It doesn't matter how we choose to give birth. We have to be comfortable with our choices. And I support and validate every woman and her desires to give birth to her children...naturally, with an epidural, an induction, a cesarean, vaginally. What I'm trying to encourage and empower women and men today here is to NOT lose their innate power and wisdom - no matter what. Listen to our bodies, and they'll speak to us.

I feel like people cross the threshold of the hospital and lose themselves. It's hard. I've been with women who have dealt with some horrible behavior from doctors and nurses. It's hard to not lose yourself. But I think it's amazing that we can know that we are primates and we want to protect our children and to do that - We Might Just Have To Picture Ourselves As A Monkey or An Ape.

I've been trying to envision what animal would most resonate with me in birth, so that I can tap into that animal when needed. I keep coming back to the Mama Bear. When I've been out West and came across bears, there's this level of respect you give her, especially when her cubs are near by. I have this idea of you don't mess with a Mama Bear. I can't imagine if she was giving birth. So, Mama Bear it is for me. I think I need to find a picture and take it with me to the birthing center, so I can be reminded of that Mama Bear in the throes of labor.

What animal most resonates with you? Not only for birth, but every day life, so you can take a stand for yourself and your family.

Birth Music

The time is getting closer to Baby Jenkins' arrival, and we're starting to prepare ourselves by packing and getting some things in order.

We started working on a music/play list tonight. We just began at the top of our ITunes Playlist and put songs in a new list: Birth Lite (easy, feel good music), Birth Fun (a little rowdier...yes, there is some Hip Hop...who knows, I might need some to get my hips all relaxed), Birth Massage (some of my massage music), and then other random albums we like......YES, folks, Hanson will be included.

I'm putting it out there. If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations, we would love to get some input. And, No, Dad, I don't want to hear any Pipe Organs. Sorry!!

There doesn't need to be a theme of any sort...just music you love to relax to or have a good time to.

Painting an Owl

Some of you may know already that I have been trying to paint some as a hobby. It's fun. I really enjoy it and it is a good way to relax. I don't get around to it much, but sometimes I'll get the nerve for it and spend my free time painting a picture. Kari suggested that I paint an owl for my next picture so a little bit before Thanksgiving this year I started drawing on a canvas a picture on an owl.
Well, today I finished it. It felt great! I am my own worst critic, but I figured I would show off my owl painting for everyone. Give me your best/worst critiques! I can take it.
I took pictures throughout the process just for the records:

A Quick House Arrest Update

Just to give an update from the previous "Bedrest" post. After seeing the midwives on Friday, they think they figured out my mishap with my blood pressure. When they tested my urine, glucose showed up! They think I am having some issues regulating my blood sugar levels. Pamela says "no more work" and "lay low, resting and taking walks".

We had to go by the store on the way home and purchase a glucose monitoring system. Now I have the enjoyment of pricking my fingers all throughout the day and spending the majority of my time monitoring my food and blood glucose levels. It has been interesting seeing the effects of what I eat on my blood sugar levels and on the way I feel.

So for the next month or month and a half me, Chaco, and Baby Jenkins will be enjoying a modified house arrest... with NO Red Velvet cake to pass the time!!!
I guess Pamela and my own body knew I wouldn't slow down unless I was forced. I'm trying to be grateful for the opportunity to rest before the baby gets here.

"I'll make you in February when I am released from house arrest, Red Velvet cake!"

Bitter but Sweet! My First Steelers Game!

For Kari and My anniversary, Kari bought her and I tickets to the Steelers/Titans game here in Nashville. (If you don't already know, I am a die hard Steelers fan, and Kari has become even more die hard!)
Well, guess what,....we're pregnant!! and that leads to some unexpected happenings every now and then. And if you've kept up with this blog, you'll know that Kari's midwives have placed her on "house arrest." So the Steelers would have to deal with just me screaming for them in person which made the game bitter sweet for me. I wanted Kari to be a part of this experience.
Little did I know that I wouldn't be the only person wearing black and gold in the Titans stadium. When I got to my seat, there was not another Titans fan anywhere around me. There were actually tons of Steelers fans everywhere. It seemed like everywhere you walked downtown, Steelers fans were walking around. At least 40% of the Titans stadium was filled with Steelers' Terrible Towels.
I deffinitley didn't feel alone during the game. The Steelers congregation was high fiving me, screaming with me, grabing me and shaking me during the tense moments. It was such an amazing experience. I thoroughly enjoyed it...despite the 29 degree high temp!!
The second bitter sweet part of the day was that the Steelers lost the game due to some less than great play. But even still, I stayed until the last second ticked off the clock and then I stayed even a little longer. It was my first Steelers game, so I wanted to drain every second and memory from it. It's funny, because when I watch the Steelers lose at home, I get so upset, but because it was my first ever Pittsburgh game, I was quite giddy and high on life.
Now Kari and I have our sites set on an even higher goal,...go to a Steelers game in Pittsburgh! We'll see if we can get our baby some Black and Gold garb and teach them how to cheer for the Steelers before next season!!

Calling on the Mamas!!

I'm absolutely sure this will NOT be the last time I make a call out to the mamas! So, maybe this should be titled My First of Many. Oh well. Hopefully, I'll get some good information this way about preparing for the Baby J.

I'm going through some of our stuff and wondering how many I need of all this baby stuff. So, for all the mamas out there, I'd love to hear your opinion. Here's my list.

How many burp cloths do I need?
How many bibs?
Receiving blankets?
And 8 oz. bowls with lids?
Spoons?

Any advice? I'm trying to figure out roughly how many because I'm trying to determine if I need to take some stuff back. Having never ventured there before I'm not sure what the kiddo really needs.

Thanks for any help you wise wise women give!!

Buried in burp cloths, bibs, and blankets,
Kari J.

Nashville Baby Shower Love!!!

This past Sunday we got some more Baby Shower love. It was quite eventful. Some of my friends from Nashville, Maranda and Jamina, worked real hard with some of my bestfriends from Georgia, Jody and Amanda, on making it so special. Becky, Melanie, and Misty helped out too by bringing some delectable eats. My bestfriends from Georgia came up with their moms and their babes, and we did some community living for a couple of days. I loved it! At one point, there were 15 people here I think...4 of which were under the age of 2. We cooked, played with the kiddos, talked, and ate some "gourmet" cupcakes.

Then, on Sunday part of my Georgia world and my Nashville world met!! It was so wonderful to have all these ladies in one place. It felt so great to have my mom there, my closest friends, my massage clients, my doula clients and their babes, and so much love and support for the Baby Jenkins.

The home was set up so warm and cozy with different places for people to sit and hang out. Everything was decorated up. Now, if you know me then you know I love food. And I'll tell you it was the best baby shower food EVER!!! I'll try and remember it all. There were quiches galore, salmon and shrimp cakes, yummy salad, banana bread, fruit, spinach dip and veggies, apple/raspberry yum yum, and homemade cookies. All of which were lovingly created by my beautiful friends. We played a couple of games and just chatted it up. I'm not so big on being the center of attention. I'd rather hang out and talk. So, Ryan and I took the presents home and opened them there. It gave me more time to talk with all my friends that took time to come and hang out with me and the baby on their Sunday afternoon.

It flew by like most events do, and it seem to be a bit of a time warp. But I had such a wonderful time and am so grateful for everyone who contributed and came to hang out.

Here are some pictures from the shower.

The Bed of Rest

I'm now somewhere in the vicinity of 32 -33 weeks. What I really want to blog about is my Amazing Baby Shower I had on Sunday, but that will come in due time.
Right now, I'm laying on my Bed of Rest. Day 3 of Bed rest...Hopefully, only one more to go.
Let's see. How to explain???
Sunday night, my body went into some sort of shock mode. And a cold set in at the same time. The immune-comprised pregnant body is pretty intriguing. My blood pressure was up Sunday night and Monday morning. The midwives had me take my blood pressure, drink some water, and lie down and retake it about 30 minutes later. It had gone down. But why had it gone up? That's the question. They have me taking my blood pressure every few hours, loading up on water and protein, and the lovely bed rest...preferably on my left side. As long as my blood pressure stays stable, I can wait until Friday when I have my appointment for them to do some blood work and try and play detective with my pregnant body.
So until then, me, Baby Jenkins, and Chaco are lying in bed. The view of Chaco's rear-end is getting a bit old, but it's cute watching her dream and run in her sleep. Baby Jenkins is swimming around and seems to be having a blast too. Maybe I should just give in and absolutely enjoy myself.

Santa Love Is Back In Business!!!

If you've been following the blog for awhile, then you know about Santa Love.
If you don't know about him, I suggest you read his personalized blog back in 2007.
December 15th to be exact.


The short story is that a friend of mine, Bethann, purchased him when she lived in New Orleans for a friend who lived in California. She never got it to him. Then, Hurricane Katrina hit. She lost everything. When she went back to check on her life, one of the ONLY things to survive was Santa Love. She hangs on to him for years. Then, we meet, and she discovers my desire to Griswold-up my house at Christmas time. She brings me Santa Love to work one day and knows that he will find a good home with the Jenkins. And so it is - The Miracle of Santa Love.
OH! But this year, Bethann, stopped by my new business holding a black piece of plastic. She found it. Santa Love's pipe. She thought it was gone, but all we have to do now is remember where we put it and glue it on to put him all back together again.

Last year's story is much better. So, check it out.

When people stop by during this time of year, we always insist on everyone getting their picture made with Santa Love. So, stop by this season for the sighting of a real survival miracle.

This year we won't be home during the week of Christmas, so we've decided with everything we have going on....we're not going to pull out all the decorations. Scrooge, Grinch....maybe. Or an attempt to keep what's left of my sanity. However, Santa Love is out. He's going to be the bearer of the gifts this year instead of a tree.

It's all you, Santa Love!
Keep checking back for people who stop by to get their picture made with the one and only - Santa Love.

Jonathan, Callie, and Josiah - the first ones this year!!

The Lioness Roars...

I've always been a quiet sleeper. Well, at least that's what I've been told through the years. My mother and my brother were the ones who could carry on conversations in their dream state (*take note - that's the best time to ask your mom for something). And the patriarch, Larry, could wake Fayetteville with his snoring. Now, Ryan can be found making some heads turn with his snoring if he is on his back with his jaw ajar. But not me, I've always nestled into my sleep position and except for a phase of teeth grinding when I was younger, I never disturbed anyone.

However, pregnancy has changed me. This new habit of snoring has been going on for a month now, but something happened the other night that merited a blog. I had made my cozy den with my man-lion, our furry child, and the cub that's growing inside of me. Our bed was crowded like the lioness likes it, and I was finally off into my jungle of dreams when I felt something on my face. I pried my eyes open to find Ryan face to face with me, and he was "petting" me.

"I guess I was snoring."
"Yeah."
"Are you trying to get me to stop?"
"I thought if I stroked your face, your body would relax and maybe you could stop snoring."

Yes. Yes. I have a very loving husband who copes with my new found snoring habit, and I am so grateful for his gentle gesture. But I thought to myself, does he realize that just because he strokes my face, it doesn't mean that my stomach and other organs are going to retreat back to their "pre-pregancy" place and give my lungs the room they need? It was too late to even attempt that explanation.

So, I apologized. And rolled over to the other side....only to roar through the night.

Every night I just assume that it's going to be a loud roaring night in the Jungle Land of The Jenkins' Den. This Lioness is quite proud that I have something to offer besides a silent night.

I just sing to myself as I'm turning my queen size bed into a lion's den..."In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lioness roars every night...." Thank you, Lion King!