Candace's Calling

Sunday, June 23, 2013

A Lovely Shower for Sissy...

I feel like I'll be playing a lot of catch-up here on the blog, since Sissy came early! Now that I'm pretty much nursing around the clock, usually with my iphone in hand... I might as well blog, right?
I've been dying to show y'all some pictures of the sweet shower my dear friend, Casey, threw a few weeks before our baby girl arrived! She also co-hosted a beautiful shower when Lovebug was born HERE.

The food table was absolutely gorgeous... as I had expected. Vintage linens, striped paper straws in mason jars, angel food cupcakes, lots of yummy treats! I loved the tiny chalkboards!

Casey has amazing style. I took a few pictures of her gorgeous house in the city during the shower, but I'll need a whole post just to show you all the DIY and vintage goodness!

I felt so loved and blessed by having my sweet friends and family spoil Sissy like they did for Lovebug. We felt very supported through this pregnancy... reminders of God's grace in our lives.

I so want my sweet girl to know the love and anticipation that we felt for her even before she was born. Sweet gifts and things that are just for HER, since she will be receiving a lot of things second-hand as the little sister.

There were clothespins handed out as we arrived, and when we said Baby, they were stolen away... guess who lost hers first? That would be me. My life seems to be deeply centered around my babies these days. That's the way I like it.

There's Case, along with other sweet ladies. It was such a nice afternoon of chatting, and eating and opening gifts. I love these women, and the way they live life along side us.

My girl was being read to by Casey's Mama. She's been a long time friend and mentor in my life and I'm so thankful to be raising my girls around her now.

Lovebug was such a good little helper! I wanted her to be a part of all the preparation for Sissy to get her excited and to keep her aware of the coming change. She did so well! She'd say "for Sissy" after each gift was opened.

My sis, Mama, Me and my Girls. Thank you Casey for a wonderful shower!

Friday, June 21, 2013

Insta-Friday! {iphone dump}

Happy Friday y'all! It's been a crazy couple weeks since we added sweet Sissy to our family! This Mama is nursing around the clock, and trying to squeeze in some cuddles with my toddler too. Here's a peek at our days...

Blessed|Naps in a new toddler bed

Showered with Love for Sissy|Yummy treats!

First haircut|First big girl overnight

Naps on the floor|All grown up

Olivia Grace|Sweet baby

Sisters|Daddy's girl

My view|Anniversary ice cream date

Cuddles|Father's Day brunch

Their 1st Love|Sissy's 1st trip to Starbucks

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Baby Sissy is Here! {& Her Birth Story}

We are so excited to announce that Miss Olivia Grace was born Tuesday the 4th at 5pm! 6lb 8 oz & 19 inches! We are so in love! She came out quickly and unexpectedly, but in God's perfect timing!

I started having contractions at 6:45am on Tuesday, along with a cranky toddler who just woke up and realizing she gave me her head cold, I was mostly just annoyed and tried to ignore them. I honestly thought it might be false labor, and that the contractions would stop altogether. They stayed anywhere from 3-6 minutes apart for hours. I decided not to go to bible study, and to have my sister come get Lovebug for our lunch date with our Grandma. Meanwhile, I did two loads of laundry, wiped down counters, made sure our bags were packed (just in case) and made lunch. My sister brought home Lovebug, put her down for a nap, and said she'd stay with her for the day.

Brian ran a few errands and told his boss he was going to my Dr appt with me, that was scheduled for 4pm. I figured we'd go get checked at my regular appt and then maybe go walk around Target if my contractions weren't consistently closer and I wasn't dialated much. We kissed our girl goodbye and told her Baby Sissy might be coming! On route to the appt, I called my Dr and she told me to go straight to Labor and Delivery to be checked and she'd meet me there. We stopped at Sonic so I could get a big cup of ice (a serious craving lately) to munch on.

When we arrived at the hospital, the contractions were stronger. I was sure I was only dilated to a 3 or 4, but was anxious to find out. The nurse came at 4pm and checked me... I was at a big 8! Things got a little crazy from there. Nurses were having me fill out paperwork with one hand, while getting blood drawn from another and answering questions for another nurse while she typed on the computer!

I started crying. This was fast! Our baby was coming and I didn't feel prepared emotionally! It was 28 1/2 hrs of labor with Lovebug and I guess I assumed it would be long this time too. Bri was very calm and reassuring. He told me excitedly that we were about to meet our baby!

I had decided this time that I was open to an epidural. It had been a long, hard pregnancy and I felt that my body was already worn out. Unfourtunately, it was too little too late. The anesthesiologist arrived at 4:30 and ten minutes later, my Dr came in and wanted me to start pushing! There were people everywhere! Still doing paperwork, and hooking things up and a team from the Nicu was there, since there was miconium when my water broke. I was freaking out- in position, feeling EVERYTHING. In the next few minutes, there were a few pushes, a lot of screaming, and then... Our girl.

She is absolutely perfect. Almost a carbon copy of her big sister when she was born. Another full head of dark hair, just like their Daddy. We cuddled for an hour, and soaked up her sweetness. Then our family was let in. I couldn't believe that just 2 1/2 hours before, I had kissed my girl goodbye, and now she was meeting her Baby Sissy! The first thing she said was, "Sissy... Livi." So precious.

We spent all of Wednesday and half of Thursday in the hospital. It was hard for me to sleep there, I had a pretty bad sinus headache, and I missed my Lovebug. Once Sissy stopped eating long enough, we packed up and left the hospital! We were so excited to be heading home and be a family of four!
We are resting (as much as possible with a toddler) and cuddling with our girls, and settling in now. So thankful, and so blessed.

The post I wrote last Monday {& Maternity Pics!}

Well folks, Baby Sissy is here! Things took an unexpected turn last week, and I was planning on posting this the day she was born, after picking up our maternity pictures {shot by our sweet friend, Jenny's Lens!} We ended up at the hospital instead, and things have been a little busy since then! So here's the last update, just a little late.

{I'll post pictures of our sweet Olivia and her birth story next!}

We are 37 and a 1/2 weeks y'all! I getting so excited to meet our sweet little addition. Our bags are packed, last minute projects finished, and I'm ready for her to come OUT!

It was a much more difficult pregnancy this time around. Thirty some weeks of puking and meds to keep food down, insomnia that ended with more medication. Three weeks ago my Pelvic bone separated, resulting in Physical therapy both now and after Baby Sissy comes. The Dr said I probably won't make it to 40wks, but you know that just means I probably will :)

Through all the physical discomfort, I must still say that it is so very, very worth it all. Just imagining her sweet face and all the newborn snuggling we'll soon be doing, makes me giddy. Bri and I feel immensely blessed, not only to be given this child, but by all the friends who have showered us with love in the last few months.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

A Quilt for Baby Sissy...

Three weeks left before Baby Sissy arrives, and this Mama is nesting away! All the sweet newborn clothes are washed and put away, the house is clean, and the swing, rock 'n sleep, and infant carseat are ready! The girls' room has two beds, with two handmade quilts. There are two rows of sweet girly dresses hanging in their closet, and boxes of diapers in two sizes.

I finished Baby Sissy's quilt weeks ago, and had it quilted by my sweet friend Lisa (she always does a gorgeous job!) It's taken me forever to snap a few pictures and get them up on the blog! I used THIS pattern, which was super easy and I'm so happy with how it turned out!

I searched high and low for pieces of Moda's Wee Woodland line on Etsy, since it's been long discontinued since I made all of Lovebug's bedding! HERE's the original post on her nursery. I'm so glad I found what I needed, since I've just been adding to all the original bedding and decor to update the nursery for both girls.

It's backed and quilted in turquoise, which I'm in love with right now and Lisa used the same bubble quilting that she used on Lovebug's quilt. I can't wait to lay our new baby girl on her quilt! I'll post pictures soon of the updated Nursery soon, along with some maternity pictures and a pregnancy update!

Monday, May 27, 2013

My {Tiny} Big Girl...

Sweet, sweet Lovebug. The sunshine in my days. I truly feel so very blessed to mother this child.
She loves to cuddle up and watch movies with Mama at night, and run around in the backyard with Daddy after dinner. She tells me what's she'd like for lunch each day... usually "Jay" (PB&J) with fruit and yogurt. She tells Daddy to play his "Tar" (guitar), "sing! Cheesus!" each time we meet with our Church Growth Group and Worship. These precious moments are so fleeting and I want to quickly write them all down before I forget.

Our days are not all rose-colored and full of sugary moments. Sometimes she gets upset when we say "no" and lays on the ground face first. Some days she's very sad and cries and needs extra cuddles when Mama's got a million things to do, but that is just life. I still feel blessed to do this job... it's such an important one.

These last few weeks she has grown up so much... she's doing so many big girl things. I want to hold her and squeeze her and rock her forever. Yet, when I stop and watch what my baby girl is doing, she's typically rocking HER baby and patting his bottom and feeding him a bottle. She's counting to 20, and putting all her ABC puzzle pieces where they go. She's trying to put her own shoes on, and leaving her binky in the crib all day. They say that they grow up fast... so very true. So I'll keep taking pictures of sweet moments, and trying in vain to write it all down.

We'll have TWO sweet girls soon (4 weeks!) and this Mama's heart is full. I may be tired and uncomfortable, but I've been given a gift that I certainly don't want to take for granted.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Insta-Friday

I'm so glad it's Friday again. Although I haven't been writing much in this space lately, it's certainly not for lack of things to write about! I so want this blog to be "real"... what's happening in our life, written honestly. Sometimes "real life" is so much that I can't even put my thoughts into words or take the time to write them all out. So forgive me. Once again, I'm so thankful for Instagram and the ways it keeps my little moments and memories for me... telling our story one picture at a time, until I can catch up. We're FOUR weeks (give or take) away from Baby Sissy's arrival and I'm busy nesting for our new little one, while spending precious time with our Lovebug. So until I post again (soon I hope) here's a peek into our last few weeks...