Levi's Birth Story

                       Levi Bryce 

Levi's Birth Story:

Before I forget...haha like that will happen!

All started Monday 11/9/15...

I was having contractions on and off all day and it felt like Levi was going to fall out!  But like before everything stopped by the afternoon!  

Tuesday 11/10/15...

Went to the doctor for my weekly NST.  Was having contraction that were pretty good every two minutes. Doctor checked me and I was 2.5 cm so she stripped my membranes and said it would be before the end of the week! My contractions continued but spaced out as the day went on.  By the evening they started to pick up again so I timed them and they were about 5-10 min apart.  I went to bed thinking it would probably happen the next day. 

3AM 11/11/15...

Really bad contraction woke me up and when I rolled over...warm wetness which I thought was my water breaking.  Went to check and I was bleeding. By his did not happen with Liam so I was scared.  The contractions were really bad at this point and I woke up J and we headed to the hospital.  We got there just before 4 and I was in tremendous pain and 5cm dilated already.  I asked for an epidural right away but of course it's a waiting game.  

Two things that really bugged me:

1.) My first nurse!!!!  She was kind of a jerk and she tried to give me fentenal (sp?) without my permission then made me feel bad for refusing it. 

2.) The OB who admitted me checked my dilation DURING a contraction telling me to relax and drop my legs further.  Ummmm like contractions aren't bad enough....her checking me made them off the charts!!!  Then telling me to relax...I was ready to punch her!!

5:30AM 11/11/15...

Epidural bliss!!!  Now if you know Liam's story, you know my epidural did not work!  This time around it worked perfectly:) I was 7cm already when I got the epidural!  Things were going fast!!! 

Just after 7AM...my water broke and my doctor showed up!  My OB is amazing and I love her!  She came in just to deliver me! She stayed with me the whole time we pushed.  I had to push a little early because Levi's heart rate dropped after contractions.  Something called a decel I think.  

8:15AM...

Apparently I have one great push and Levi almost came out and no one was really ready lol!  Then everyone quickly got ready...gowns and gloves and I had to "hold him in" until they said go.  Thank goodness my epidural was working!!!  Once everyone was ready one more push and out he came!!  Jason got to deliver Levi completely unassisted from my doctor. He only cried a little bit and calmed down instantly once he was on my chest.  

Favorite moment...J came over after delivering Levi and as soon as Levi heard his voice he turned and looked at J!  It was precious!  

There was no room ready for us so went spent almost all day in the delivery room but it was actually very quiet and peaceful in there!  

I'm so glad labor is over and Levi is here! It's nice being able to bend over again!  I'm actually not in any pain really!  Which means I really need to be reminded to take it easy!!  

We are officially a family of four and parents to two beautiful boys (under 3)!  

Xoxo, 

Molly 

*~* Halloween 2015 *~*

Marshall from Nick Jr's Paw Patrol

First and foremost I am so glad Levi stayed put so that we could enjoy Liam's first real time Trick or Treating.  This was the first year Liam walked the whole time and was able to say Trick or Treat and Thank you at every door!  Granted he wanted me to go with him to every door and wanted to be picked up at the first few...but for the most part he did it all on his own.  I was so proud of him!  We joined some of our friends in their neighborhood and boy does their neighborhood do Halloween up big!!!  There were tons of people and Liam did a great job listening and holding my hand the whole time (this is something that rarely happens as he always wants to run off on his own).  We walked around for close to 45 minutes and he was a trooper.  At the end of that 45 minutes though he said he was ready to go home so, we gladly took the little guy home, as we were already well past normal bedtime.  He didn't get much candy - much to my hubby and my dismay - but it was the whole experience that made it so much fun.  We let him have one Kit Kat when we got home, and of course had to watch one more Paw Patrol episode before bath.  Now he knows the joys of a Kit Kat (despite his milk sensitivity/allergy).

I am so proud of my second DIY Halloween Family Costumes too!  I worked on them for a few weekends in a row and they were actually really easy to do.  I want to do matching family costumes as long as the kiddos will allow.  J is always such a trooper and good sport too with them.  He looked adorable as Rubble last night:)

To Make the costumes all you need is:
Felt
Foam board
Glitter puff paint
Foam Glue
Super Glue
Fabric Glue
Velcro
T-shirts
Hard Hat (hubby had one from work)
Child's fire hat
Pink Beanie
Aviator googles (Amazon)

The T-shirts were the easiest...I wrote our names on the front and used the foam board to make the paw print shields for the back.  I used foam glue and fabric glue to attach the paw prints shields to the back of the shirts.

Our pup tags (collars) were easy too!  Just felt and foam board!  I used velcro to fasten them together at the ends for easy on and off.  Super glue was my best friend with these cause I knew Liam would not be easy on them.  They held up really well!  Liam has been wearing his all day - the day after Halloween.

Hats just needed some felt ears super glued on and foam board paw prints once again.  Super glue held everything on but Liam's ears fell off of his hat after I made them.  So I ended up using velcro to attach them to his hat.  All I did for my ears and my husband's ears were to cut felt and super glue them to our hats.  Stayed no problem!

Liam's Dalmatian shirt was just a fabric marker and a little sharpie to make it darker...super easy!

Being the typical 2 year old he is...Liam did not want to put on his costume at first.  Threw a fit.  But once we told him he could not go trick or treating without wearing it he reluctantly put it on.  Once it was on....he didn't take it off!  He was having a grand ol' time as Marshall!

We had a great time this year!
Looking forward to next year and 2 cute little boys to dress up!!!

Skye and Marshall ready for action!

Rubble and Marshall ready for action!

Ready to go Trick or Treat!!

37 weeks and 2 days pregnant but you would never know from behind!!!


Now on to the Christmas Season!!!!

xoxo,
Molly

An Open Letter to My Boys

An Open Letter to My Boys <3

Dear J, Li Li and Levi,

        I am writing you this letter so that one day we can look back and hopefully laugh about how worried we were about becoming a family of four, because we will have a new "normal" once little Levi joins us.  It's been a rough ride over the last 35 weeks and 3 days, but here we are in the home stretch waiting for Levi to join us.  Thank you both for putting up with me and the roller coaster of emotions this pregnancy has put me through.  I would not have made it without your love and support J - you are truly amazing and I am beyond lucky to have you by my side.  Li Li thank you for being the best little boy any mommy could ask for - even when you drive mommy nuts - you are and will always be my whole world.  Levi - thank you for choosing me to be your mommy:)  Now let me get down to the specifics....

       Jason<3

        I feel like I can never say or show you enough how much I love you and appreciate you for all that you do for this family.  I know I get irritated with you more than I should and for that I am sorry.  You are always doing something to benefit the house or our family.  Thank you for that.  I really do appreciate all that you do around the house...sometimes I just wish you chose different times to do so:)  I am so thankful you have a job that keeps you close to home now.  I no longer worry about you on a daily basis and I love knowing you will be home every night.  You are my teammate and my partner in life.  I cannot imagine doing this mom thing alone right now.  I know I could...but I am glad I don't have to.  I know you have a passion for fire and helping others...that is one of the reasons I fell in love with you.  Putting our family over that is something I would never force you to do and sometimes I am still shocked at how much your career has shifted.  You know you have my support in anything you want to do in life.  I will always be your biggest cheerleader.  But I cannot promise I won't whine or complain a little bit along the way.  

     I must admit that I am much more apprehensive and scared this go around.  Not just with labor and delivery...although that does scare the sh*t out of me.  I am scared of how Levi will affect our relationship even more than Liam did.  It's no secret that children change your marriage and your relationship.  We work on it everyday and will for as long as these two boogers live and breathe.  I never expected to become so all consumed as a mom.  I am sorry you have not been my top priority over the past 2 years and 4 months.  I am sorry I let myself get run down and so tired that I get grouchy and short with you.  I am sorry for not spoiling you and pampering you like I used to.  I am sorry for not focusing on the house and chores more.  I am sorry for expecting you to read my mind.  I am sorry for not being a better wife.  This is what I worry about when Levi gets here...that all of this will continue and get worse.  I need to find more balance with this mom thing.  You are such a wonderful person and deserve to be pampered and spoiled for being such a wonderful husband and daddy.  I promise to work on this as much as I can.  I promise to put you first more often.  I promise to show my appreciation more than just saying it.  I love you.  I love you.  I love you.  Thank you for loving me in a way that most only dream about.  You are my best friend and I love you to the moon and back:)

        Li Li <3 

        Honestly, sometimes when I sit and think about Levi arriving I feel very sad and guilty because I know our time and "You and Me" is ending.  You changed my life in the best possible way.  I did not know how much I could love someone until you came into the world.  You have given my life such purpose and sense of worth.  You have become the center of everything I do and every thought I have.  I am scared of taking that away from you.  I am scared that you will feel abandoned and forgotten.  I know how all consumed I became with you and I don't know how I can balance that and be fair to both you and Levi.  I never want you to feel left out or like mommy does not have time for you.  You have made me who I am today.  You have made me the mommy I am today.  My life has meaning because of you.  You are my reason for working hard everyday, so that I can give you everything you need (and want).  Never forget how much I love you and how much you mean to me.         We will just have to get used to sharing our time with your little brother.  We can do it.  We will still have our special time just you and me.  I will tuck you in at night until you ask me not to...and then I will just because I can.  We will still watch Paw Patrol and Blaze together.  We will still build your block towers and race tracks.  We will still dunk our graham crackers in milk together.  We will still read as many books as you want together.  We will still go for runs together.  We will still go feed the animals at the barn together.  We can still do all of the things we have always done together and many more.  You're my first little boy and you will always be my baby:)  I'm going to be that mom that kisses you until your 40 and beyond.  I am so proud of you and the little man you are growing into.  I hope you always have the zest for life that you currently have.  Stay curious and strive to learn.  I love you my boogie!!!!  You are my whole world:)  You're two and drive me a little nuts but I would not change a single moment we share together.  I love you.  I love you.  I love you! 

      Levi <3

      I've loved you from the moment I knew about you.  You have given mommy a rough ride through these past 35 weeks and 3 days, but I am so thankful to be carrying you and bringing you into this fun ride called life.  You will love our little family and your big brother.  He may not welcome you with open arms but don't worry, he will grow to love you more than either of you could ever put into words.  You will always have someone who has your back.  You will always have someone to play with.  You will always have someone to drive mom and dad crazy with.  You will always have a partner in crime.  You will always have a teammate.  You will always have a wing man (when you're much much older).  You will always have a brother.  I am so excited to watch you and Liam grow up together.  He has so much to teach you already.  

      It's going to take awhile for all of us to adjust to you being here.  Give us a little break while we figure things out.  We are going to make mistakes and screw up...that's just how life goes.  I promise we will find our groove and then things will sail right along.  Keep in mind we have been just the three of us for over two years.  We are all a little nervous about becoming a family of four.  I want you to remember one thing for the rest of your life....You will never be the "second best" in this family.  I know being the second child and getting hand me downs your whole life can make it seem like you are not important or not the priority....but that is not the case.  We love you just as much as Liam and you are just as important to us.  Please don't ever feel second best in this house.  With that being said...feel free to join the party whenever you feel you are ready.  Preferably in about 2 weeks:)  Love you my little monkey:)  

xoxo,

Molly

Preschool

One of the best decisions I have made for Liam was sending him to preschool!

A lot of people thought I was crazy to send Liam to preschool at 2.  But after being home with him for a few weeks over the summer it was very clear that it was the step he needed in his little life right now.  This kiddo craves learning and figuring out new things.  He also thrives on structure and routine.  Seeing all of this sent me on a mission to find him a preschool ASAP.  

What's sad is how unbelievably hard it was to 1- Find a place with an opening for his age 2- A place that would take him un-potty trained and 3- A place we could afford.  Thankfully (I think) Liam helped out with #2 and took it upon himself to potty train...but that's another post;). I just find it sad and ridiculous how expensive preschool is.  It is such a crucial time for little ones and its untraceable for many families due to costs!  Two years old ( for my little guy ) was when he became a sponge.  He is learning new things DAILY!  I'm always shocked at what comes out of his little mouth!  

Warning: getting on my little pedestal now...

As a primary teacher I have seen the effects preschool has and the effects of those who were unable to attend.  I fully believe it should be mandatory for two big reasons: 1- It sets a solid foundation for learning and 2- It teaches kids social skills they won't learn at home and how to function as a student in school.  I'm not saying homeschooling for preschool is terrible or bad.  Hey if you're home and can do it more power to you.  But in my opinion homeschooling lacks the social development aspect of a true preschool environment.  If I had been lucky enough to be a stay at home mom, I still would have sent Li Li to preschool.  I love picking Liam up and seeing his whole little class sitting politely at the table waiting for snack.  It's possible to get even the little ones to follow directions. It only helps them down the road. 

Now before you get mad at me...yes I feel preschool should be mandatory, but I also feel it should be provided by the state just like any other public school.  Financially, even for J and I who have pretty well paid jobs, it's a struggle.  We pay over $600 a month for Liam to go to preschool.  That's a hefty fee and definitely on the lower side depending on where you live.  That kind of money put preschool out of reach for many.  Trust me I get that and I think it's wrong!  We now have Transitional Kindergarten which is fantastic but unfortunately only some kids qualify.  My Li Li misses the birthday cutoff cause he's a June baby so he can't attend TK.  This means if I want that foundation laid at an early age I have to fork over the $$ to do so.  Obviously education is hugely important in this household so we are gladly giving Li Li this opportunity to learn as much as possible now.  But it shouldn't be like this.  I just taught my 5th graders about human rights and how we all have the right to education...free education in the primary years.  But alas...for our smallest students it costs a fortune.  So yes...preschool should not be optional...but it should also be provided by our government.  The kindergarten teachers out there would greatly appreciate it I'm sure;) 

Ok off my soap box...

Liam already knows his colors and counts better than some of my first graders did last year.  I attribute this to preschool completely...with a little pat on my own back for reinforcing what I can with him.  He's recognizing words and matching words to pictures!  He's singing songs and his imagination has blossomed!  Preschool provides him with everything his little mind needs right now...plus a nap and snacks;).  I'm so so glad we found such a wonderful place for him to go everyday!  I don't worry about him as much as I used to...prolly because he's growing up so fast:/. 

If you want to know where he goes send me a message:)  it's truly a wonderful environment!  We love it so much that Levi will be going there when I head back to work:). 

Xoxo, 

Molly 

So proud of himself❤️

Baby #2....Levi Bryce!!!

Here we are at 7 months with little Levi Bryce!

Here we are at 34 weeks with little Levi Bryce! 

I'm back!

After Liam hit the one year mark my blog sadly started fading till I stopped all together.  What can I say life is busy when you work full time and have a toddler!  I've been wanting to get back into for awhile now so here we go!!

As you can see (and most already know) we are about 6 weeks away from becoming a family of four!  Levi Bryce Johnston will join us and complete our family very soon!  He's tried coming early a few times already but now seems to have settled down, hopefully.  I only have three weeks of work left and cannot wait to be off my feet and home just being pregnant!  This pregnancy has been a doozy!!!  Here are the "highlights"...

* Crazy fatigue this time around! Like I literally dozed off teaching first grade last year!!

* Sadly running was not an option after 14 weeks due to bladder issues😁  a Kudos to all my running mommies!  I cannot wait to get back to it! 

* An ER trip for me at 14 weeks due to a stomach bug knocking me down.  Dehydrated and pregnant is not a good combo!

* I was convinced Levi was a Lexi until our gender reveal party in July!  Nothing about this pregnancy was like Liam's so I figured it had to be a girl!  Nope...my hubby makes boys!  

* My hubby makes BIG BOYS!  Levi is already 6 pounds and we have 6 weeks to go!  This means over 9 pounds if we go all the way😳. But my doctor will induce me early or it will be a c-section of he's a 10 pounder!  

* Preterm labor at 32 weeks!  Scary stuff folks!  Took two doses of meds to calm my contractions (which I still have daily).  Thankfully now we are in the "safer" zone and Levi's lungs are mature.  But we still would prefer him to wait a few weeks!  

* Working while pregnant with a 2 year old at home....exhausting does not even cover it!  Thankfully I have 5th grade this year which has been awesome!  However, in still usually asleep on the couch by 8:30PM.  J is too😉. 

* Oh yay we moved while I was 20 weeks pregnant too!  So not fun!  But we loooove our new house!  

Well those are all the big turning points I can think of for now! I'm excited to get back to blogging!  I have lots stored up to share and say about being a mommy!  

****Disclaimer****

I am not here to tell you how to mommy or what is right and wrong.  I have opinions and thoughts that I want to share in hopes it may help a fellow mommy out there. If I offend you...I'm sorry it was not my intention.  No mommy bashing allowed on this blog.  If you can't say something nice....don't comment.  That being said...I'm not afraid of my opinions but I'm not trying to say I'm right and you're wrong.  Just like you don't have the right to judge me for what I believe!  I'm liberal and very open minded.  Just a warning😉. 

Can't wait to share some more thoughts! Join me on my journey to being a mom of two!!!! 

Here's my beautiful, silly, energetic, stubborn, brilliant, fun loving, sweet, caring, curious little Liam who is about to become a BIG brother💙  

XOXO, 

Molly