Makenna's Nursery!

Soo since I am behind on my blogging I just realized that I never posted about her nursery. Well its complete for the most part and she has been sleeping in her own room since she was about 7 weeks old. Such a big girl! :) Well Sam and I could not decide on a theme... he wanted this.. I wanted that... So after lots of back and forth we decided that we would do something very gender neutral. We painted a dark gray and would accent with yellow! I would get to add in my own touches a bit too! I was soo excited :) Well once we had decided this I had trouble finding bedding that find our color scheme. Well my best friends mom heard about our problem and offered to make me my crib skirt and matching window hangings!! I got to go pick out my fabric and this was her baby shower gift to us! It was perfect. Well... here it is :)

                                the right side of her room...

               changing table was from a friends yard sale... we sanded and repainted them.

 this dresser used to be my little bros. It was passed down to our cousins who were done with it... soo we got it, sanded it, and painted it :)

                      the crib was a gift from my mom and dad (grammy and grandad) 

                                adorable ruffle crib skirt made my Patty Leach 

left side of the room. Shelves, book shelf and rocker from a good friends yard sale... The cushions on the rocker were also made for me to match the room. Kinda hard to see but the window coverings are also ruffled and match the crib skirt :)


It was kind of a DIY room and we enjoyed getting each little piece ready for our little lady!

Birth Story and Life!!

Wow! It has been forever since I blogged and I miss it! Looking back my last entry was when I was 39 weeks... just a few days before our little bundle of joy entered the world! Well I thought that I would back track and start with my birth story and work my way from there!! :)
  On Thursday October 20th I had by 37 week doctors appt. At this visit he told me that I was 3cm and 80% effaced. WOW!! What??!?! I know you can stay at that for a while or you could progress it just depends on that little baby! Well after some advise from my wonderful friend Dr. Megan and knowing that I had a very important weekend ahead of me... I went into semi bed rest or shall we say sit rest! lol My friends were amazing!! They wouldnt let me do anything! Our goal was to keep baby in! So I sat a lot! If you know we at all this was VERY hard for me! I was hosting the rehearsal dinner for the wedding party at my house and I just had to sit and watch my friends get things ready for me! What a blessing that I have such wonderful girls but defiantly very humbling!! Sooo the wedding festivities continued as planned... dinner, mani/pedis, and on Sunday October 23rd we were so blessed to be in our dear friends Shawn and Candace's wedding. It was a wonderful day of joy and laughter and lots of sitting! :) Well since I made it through the wedding with no baby yet as the music started at the reception it was game on! I was done sitting and figured baby could come anytime now! So we danced, and danced and danced!! Well... my Braxton Hicks contractions started to get very consistent and a bit stronger. They were every 1-2 minutes apart lasting about 45 secs. At first I didnt even notice since I had been having them almost my whole third trimester. But after a while we decided that maybe we should get our things and start heading back to Downey (the wedding was in beautiful Temecula). So off we went! We had my own little entourage with us! (Kristin, Brooke and Josh, Megan and Christian). As we got closer to Downey things continued so we decided to go to the hospital to be checked out. I was set up in a triage room and monitored for about 4 hours. After many laps of walking the labor and delivery floor they said that my contractions werent intense enough and sent me home! The nurse told me that when I coudlnt walk or talk through a contraction then I should come in. I was a bit discouraged... How would I know when they were real contractions! (HAHAHAHA yea all you moms out there can laugh with me). Soo the next couple of days i spent running errands and walking... a lot! Then on Wednesday October 26th I was just 39 weeks and we had a doctors appointment. I took that day off work and just enjoyed a lazy morning with the hubby! Our appointment was in the afternoon and the doctor told me that I was 4cm and 80% effaced. She said that I would probably deliver in the next few days. This was nothing too new... at my 38th week appt they had told me pretty much the same thing so I was like ya ya ya whatever!! So we left the appointment and I told Sam I was in the mood for some comfort food!! So we went to Rite-Aid and got my favorite ice cream, Chocolate Malted Crunch. Since I have really been in early labor since Sunday I was playing the waiting game! A good friend related it to a bomb waiting to explode! Lol Well after walking the entire Rite-Aid store with our ice cream we headed home. Took a walk around the block then decided we werent going to make it to church that evening. Kristin called and offered to come over and make us dinner. Sam and Christian were here hanging too! We had a great dinner... no changes yet! Sam then escorted me as we walked laps through our house. I was over those and feeling kinda silly walking the house so Kristin suggested I vacuum! What a great idea!! I got the living room done, my bedroom and down the hall into the nursery and then it happened! My first REAL contraction! I knew there was something different!! OUCH!!! lol soo I kept vacuuming and then... it hit again!! Yes very close together. So I calmly walked into the dining room where Sam was and asked him to find the paper we got in our Labor class about how to deal with the pain. Before he could even understand what I was asking I was having another contraction. We tried a few different positions to ease the pain but NOTHING was working. At this point it was about 6:30pm and I said we needed to head to the hospital! So off we went!! We quickly got to the hospital and the same receptionist that checked me in on Sunday night was there. She said huh you look a little different this time! lol and that she would hurry and get me in! I was checked and showing at 5cm. I asked if I could please get my epidural! LOL she said it would take about an hour!! OMG! ok here we go!! The pain was A LOT so I asked for some Advil... lol yes you can laugh again! At 7:45pm my nurse Melissa (best nurse ever) offered me some Nubain at this point. I went ahead and took it. It didnt take the pain away but it gave me some rest between contractions. I was also told that I would be getting my epidural soon and that I would have to hold totally still for the 15 minutes he was doing the procedure! 15 MINUTES!!! with these contractions!! Thanks the Lord that I was able to get the Nubain cause if not there would have been no way I would have made it! So at 8:45pm I successfully received my epidural, and the pain was gone, the only side effect was shaky arms) and was checked again. I was now at 8cm so they decided that they would break my water. When they did this there were signs of meconium so the NICU was informed and would be there when i delivered incase the baby had ingested anything. We waiting a little bit to allow me to continue to progress. Patty brought Sam and Kristin sodas to keep them awake. Grammy (my mom) was sitting reading her favorite book and Grandma (Sam's mom) came in to say hi. Grandad (my dad) brought everyone porto treats to share. I was checked again at 10:45pm and was 10cm. Makenna was not down far enough for me to start pushing to we began rotating me from side to side to see if that would encourage her to move down. Its now 11:30pm and time to push! WHOOHOO!! So exciting to know that she was almost here!! Well the pushing started and kept going, and going, and going... I pushed for two hours and that little lady was not coming. Dr. Gray came in around 1:30am and asked if I wanted a little help. He explained to us the vacuum tool that he could use to help get her out. We agreed it was a good idea since I was wiped out!! Three more pushes and a few seconds of the vacuum and our little bundle of joy was here!! Makenna Marie Torres was born at 1:48am on Thursday October 27, 2011 (Her and Auntie Kristin share the same birthday which I think is soo cool) She was 6 pounds and 6 oz. and 19 inches long. 

She is simply precious!! The NICU team was able to get all of the meconium out of her and she was as healthy as can be! Daddy got to enjoy her while the doctor finished up with me.

                                           Then it was mommy's turn! :)

                                                 We are soo blessed!!

It is so crazy! One minute you arent a mommy and the next you are! It took a while for the reality of it all to set in. We were both overwhelmed with an amazing love for this little person and was now our world! 

Life has been so much fun! We got to enjoy her first Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas! We are watching her grow and change into such a happy little lady! Her personality is beginning to form and we fall more in love with her everyday (if its possible! lol) We are so blessed to have such amazing family and friends who are here walking this journey with us! There for an encouraging phone call or text, a dinner, or just to love on our little one! All glory to the Lord for this amazing addition to our family and the joy and love that comes with her! 

   

39 Weeks!! Wedding #4 and a practice run!!

Let the wedding festivities begin!! :) Friday night was Candace's Bachlorette party! So fun! We went to a Comedy Club and then back to our house for dessert and presents! It was a wonderful night out celebrating the bride to be with all the ladies!

Saturday we got to continue the festivities! The fellas took Shawn to the desert to go shooting! They had a blast!! They came back with stories about how wonderful the day was! While they were out us ladies got breakfast together and then spent the morning getting manicures and pedicures! It was really nice!

As all of these festivities are taking place three of my wonderful girlfriends (Kristin, Megan , and Brooke) were very helpful in making me sit and relax. We knew how far progressed I was and wanted to be sure that we made it to the wedding on Sunday! It was so hard to just sit and let people help me... The Lord knew I was not the lady that would have dealt well with bed rest and I thank Him for a wonderful pregnancy. 

Saturday evening we hosted the rehearsal dinner here at our place. It was so nice to get everyone together. Shawn had friends here from TN and it was just nice to get everyone together to love and support Shawn and Candace. 

Sunday, Wedding Day!! Whoohoo!! It was a blast getting pampered with hair and make-up! It was a nice relaxing morning! 

It was such a beautiful day! We were soo thankful to be able to be a part of the celebration! :)

Sooo... we made it through the wedding so my "sitting" rest was over!! Time to get that little baby moving! :) We had a blast at the reception dancing and hanging out with everyone!!

Around 8:30pm I started to notice that my Braxton Hicks contractions, or what I thought were Braxton Hick contractions were getting very frequent. Around 9pm we decided that we would start heading back to Downey and track the contractions on the way home to see if they frequency stayed! Kristin rode with us and the Newmasters and Velazquez followed us! :) It took us about and hour and a half to get back to the Downey area and the whole way home my contractions were about 3 minutes apart so we decided to go straight to the hospital! 

We wondered how many expectant moms show up straight from a wedding with hair and make up done and all! lol Lets just say we were all looking good! Sam didnt even have time to change! haha

Well they took me back around 11pm to begin to monitoring me! They watched my contractions for about an hour and then checked me. I was 3cm so for the next hour they wanted me to walk. Sam and I did what seemed like 200 laps around the Labor and Delivery floor then decided to go into the waiting room where Kristin, the Newmasters, the Velazquez's, my parents and great gma was. As I walked the contractions were about every 2mins. apart. Getting a bit more intense but still very manageable.  

After an hour of walking they monitored me again and then checked me. I was between 3-4cms at this point. The nurse asked me a bunch of questions and then said she was going to call the doctor. We thought at this point it was the real deal and that they would admit us. By this time it is about 2:30am. The nurse comes back in and says that the doctor says that I should just go home. :/ Not gonna lie we were a little disappointed. We felt like this was it. So we went home and watched the contractions. We were both exhausted! It was very nice to get a full night sleep. On Monday we (Sam, I, Kristin, and Christian) did what we could to keep that baby moving! We went on a walk around the neighborhood, walked Best Buy, Costco, and Wal-Mart. We had spicy food for dinner too! My contractions were still there but very random! It seems as though I have stalled out! This is a great time to remember that the Lord's timing is PERFECT! He knows what we need and what Makenna needs. We are still walking and enjoying getting some rest before she arrives. We have a doctors appt tomorrow so we will see what is going on. :)

Please pray that we trust in God's timing and that the process will be pleasing to Him. 

We also want to thank our AMAZING family and friends so have been there for us! God is using you to be a blessing to us!! 

38 Weeks and Reality Hits! :)

Yes!! Two weeks away from my due date of November 2nd. Wow!! Our pregnancy has gone by so fast. We are both anxious to meet our little lady. Everyone keeps asking me if I am over being pregnant... I am not really. Yes, I could get along without the trouble sleeping at night, the back pain and the waddling when I walk but I am very thankful to have had a great pregnancy. I have enjoyed every bit of it... hearing her heartbeat, feeling her kick, feeling her jiggle when she has the hiccups, lol, Sam talking to her or laying his head on my belly to hear her heartbeat. Having people come and say hello to Makenna and rub my belly or showing support through showing us with love and things to prepare us for her arrival. What an amazing experience this journey has been. I am also soo thankful for the loving arms that have been wrapped around us through each step. Family and friends from young to old have been loving on us as we prepare to bring this new life into the world. Lord, thank you for all the preparing you have done in Sam and I to be mommy and daddy!! Ok... getting emo... but I really wanted to share what was on my heart!! :)


  Soooo.... what's been going on in our lives these past few weeks...


My little brother got married!! WHoohoo! October 15! So crazy to watch your little brother say I do but it was a pleasure to be a part of their special day!!

Sam and I both got to be a part of Rob and Chelsey's bridal party! And Auntie KK was there as the wedding coordinator and to remind me to sit down and drink lots of water! :) It was a wonderful day!! 

October 15th was also a special day for another reason!! My friend Karla who I have mentioned in previous post is due 4 days before me. Here is a pic of us and our baby bumps at my baby shower...

Well as I am getting ready for my brother's wedding I get the news that she has delivered her baby girl!! Whoohoo!! I was so excited to hear that mommy and baby were very happy and healthy!! Then... the reality check came!! She was only due 4 days before me and her little bundle of joy is here!! That means that my little lady could be here any moment!! WOW!! For the last 9 months we have been talking about her and preparing for her... the reality had not yet hit me... and I still dont think that it completely has, but wow!! I will be holding my daughter at any moment now!! I began to stress about the timing of her arrival. My brother was getting married and we have really good friends getting married this next weekend and we are also blessed to be in the wedding. Would I get to experience these wonderful events?? What better moment to remember what a BIG, AMAZING God we serve. I was quickly reminded that it is in HIS hands. He knows the day and he knows the circumstances around us. He will bring her into the world as He has planned and it will be perfect! :)

So of course we went to visit Karla and baby Sophia in the hospital the next day!! She is so precious and I think looks just like her daddy!!

Then the adventure began!! Auntie KK and I were ready for an adventure! We had heard of an wives tale salad that was said to put woman into labor! lol Now let me say... I was not trying to get her to come out early! I know very well that this is just a wives tale and that our little lady will only come if she is ready, salad or not! But we had an afternoon with nothing going on so we decided to take the adventure to Studio City to taste the salad! 

We found it at the Caioti Cafe! We soon found out that their success rate was not very high, and sounded more like timing than actually success. We also found out that you do not have to sign a waiver to eat this salad (I had heard that you did have to sign something) and that the secret is not in the salad but in the balsamic dressing! We order a full order of the salad, which we shared, and a speciality pizza! The food was very yummy but did nothing but fill my tummy and give us a nice afternoon out! :)

Today, October 20th... we moved Rob and Chelsey into their new apartment!! I remember moving into our first apartment (which I dont miss one bit), but all the fun feelings that came from having our own place was fun and fun to get to experience with Rob & Chelsey today! 

We also saw the doctor today (Thursday 10/20)...

he was surprised to say that I was already 80% effaced and 2cm dilated.  He said that she could come anytime now and he didnt think I would make it all the way to November 2nd. WoW!!! Well our prayer is that we make it to Shawn and Candace's wedding this weekend! :)

35 weeks and being showered!

1. How are you feeling?
 I am feeling great still! Most of the time I have my energy but I have noticed that I get tired and achey much quicker! lol
2. How far along are you?
 I'm 35 weeks!! Whoohoo! We can count the weeks on one finger!!
3. Have you had any weird cravings?
  I'm on a Honey Nut Cherrios and peanut butter and jelly kick right now! :)


We have been so blessed! Around 32 weeks our good friend Holly took some maternity pics for us! It was so much fun to just enjoy each other and my belly! Here are some of our favorites....

We also had our first shower! :) My amazing best friend hosted a beautiful afternoon with the help of some wonderful family and friends! Makenna is already one spoiled little lady! 

                                         It was a sweets party of course! :)

                                       the Jr. High girlies from church...

                     Lots of memories and stories came out of this table! Mirm (in the pink) was at my baby shower when my mom was expecting me and Auntie Brenda (in the red dress with the white shirt) was in the labor and delivery room when I was born! :) So cool! 

                                                       My girlies! :)

             

                            The onesie game! Each personalized just for Makenna! It was so hard                to pick a winner but the owl on the far right took the prize.

          Wow!!! Thank you Lord for placing such amazing woman of God in our lives. So much wisdom and guidance that I am sure will come in handy as we raise a little girl who we pray will walk in the Lord daily. 

                              Auntie KK! I dont know what I would do without her! She is truly 
                        a blessing to our family! Makenna is sooo lucky to have you!

                  3 generations... coming soon... 4 generations!! My moms first grand baby and my grandmas first great grand baby!! Love you grammy and gma! :)

                                          My wonderful mother-in-law! :) 

                                        Thank you Holly for everything! :)

                                      The mamas at 34 weeks!! Sooo fun!!

                                     my girls, my support, my encouragement!

                                      they love her so much already!

                                                    wonderful ladies! :)

                      family!! So blessed to have such love and support from my family! 
                       Love  you cousins very much!!

lots of memories and history with these ladies! :) Thanks for celebrating with me!

I was very thankful for Krisitn and Stacey who came over the next day during Sunday afternoon football to help me begin to organize the nursery! Its coming together!! We have our dresser, thank you Scott & Erica! This past weekend I was able to get a rocking chair and changing table from a good friend. Her and her mom even offer to make me cushions for the rocking chair that would match the nursery! :) I cant wait to see them! 

Special moments... 

Tonight Makenna got the hiccups and Sam and I lay in bed watching my tummy shake at each hiccup. We tried to get her to wiggle a bit more by putting a flashlight on my tummy... the light didnt seem to bother her too much. Sam laid his head on my tummy... he could hear her heartbeat!! Sooo cool!! She then wasnt too pleased that he was laying on her so she started kicking in in the head!! lol We thank the Lord for those moments that we can just enjoy each other and her! What a miracle this whole process is... the Lord created woman to grow his precious life in... it leaves me in awe... and I am so thankful to be able to experience this and have such a wonderful man by my side through the process!! :)