It Won't Be Like This For Long

It Won't Be Like This For Long 
By Darius Rucker


He didn't have to wake up
He'd been up all night
Layin’ there in bed listenin’
To his new born baby cry
He makes a pot of coffee
He splashes water on his face
His wife gives him a kiss and says
It gonna be OK

It won’t be like this for long
One day we'll look back laughin’
At the week we brought her home
This phase is gonna fly by
So baby just hold on
‘Cause it won't be like this for long




 Last night was one of the harder nights. Lyla was not happy at all (Maybe because her Papa G and Chella left her for the night and she was missing them) We were up and down until almost 4 a.m. trying anything and everything to get her to stop crying. It was one of those nights where Jeff and I had to double team it-


This song often comes to my mind at times like these-it's not the easiest thing to wake up out of a dead sleep and try to calm a screaming child, but when you stop and think about how precious these moments are, it makes things a little better. I know that this won't last forever and one day I will look back and wish I could get this time back. Last night was rough but there was one point when she started to calm down and she just looked at me- You know I melt everytime:) She is such a joy to us and I encourage everyone no matter what stage of life you are in (with or without children) to cherish each second of life and to take the good over the bad...because it won't be like this for long:)

2 years

Yesterday marked 2 wonderful years of being married to the most amazing man in the world.

I had full intentions on writing yesterday, but boy oh boy was Lyla Rae in a mood! I would feed her, change her, burp her, hold her, play with her and the SECOND I put her down she would scream her lungs out. There was even one point where she was so furious that a scream couldn't even escape her little mouth! I think that this is partially due to the fact that we have had SO much company since she was born and she has been  held so much of the time that when it is just me and her and life MUST go on, she flips out! So needless to say we didn't get much done yesterday-but we did make it up to Jeff's office to surprise him. (I think the surprise was more intended for me-I needed to get out of the house!)

Anyways, yesterday was our 2 year anniversary! Sometimes I cannot believe that we have been married that long and other days it seems like we have been married forever ( I mean that in a good way:)) The truth is, I love being married. I think it is one of the greatest blessings of all time. And I know that it is because I have found an amazing GODLY husband! I could not imagine my life without Jeff and I look forward to many more anniversaries with him.

While our actual anniversary day was spent at home with Lyla, we did get to celebrate twice this weekend. It started Friday when a church friend of ours offered to watch Lyla for a few hours while we went out. This was my first time to leave her (other than the one time I left her with Jeff for an hour-more on that another time ha!) Jeff and I went to lunch and ran a few errands and then to look for furniture. We decided this year, since we couldn't really go anywhere, that we would make a big purchase for the house-we decided on bedroom furniture! We looked several places in town and finally decided on a set that we LOVED! It should be here in two weeks...I am pumped! It was amazing to be out with Jeff! We talked the entire day and had such a great time! I was so thankful for the few hours away from the house-  I am beginning to feel like myself again! I must admit that there was a moment in Toys R Us (we had to return something) when I heard a baby crying and I teared up missing my sweet girl! That's when it was time to go home!

Saturday, my parents decided to come back out to Mississippi. Sunday was my mom's 50th birthday

(sorry for revealing your age mom!) She said all she wanted was to come out to see us and see her sweet grandbaby. We were so excited to welcome them back. I know it is so hard on both our parents to be so far away from Lyla! Mom all but demanded that we go out for our anniversary that night so she could babysit. We didn't refuse. We decided to spice it up a bit and go to Hattiesburg (which is like an hour away) where the starbucks and target are. We had gotten several gift cards to Target so we took those with us. It was the perfect evening again with my guy! We went to eat at TGIFridays (we don't have one near us, so it was nice to eat somewhere different), shopped at Target, got dessert at Krispy Kreme and Starbucks. I love spending time with Jeff (especially when it involves a starbucks!)

Thanks for babysitting Gammie!

Papa is in love!

After 2 years, I am still so in love with you Jeff. You are an amazing husband and it has been one of the greatest joys of my life seeing you with our daughter. There are so many things I love about you. You are a great spiritual leader for our little family, you make me laugh, you are such a terrific helper around the house, your walk with the Lord is genuine and you encourage me to seek HIM with all my heart! I cannot wait to spend forever with you!!!

July 25, 2009

July 24, 2011

Firsts

Lyla, yesterday you were one week old! Time is already flying and I know it will continue to do so. Today we celebrate your FIRST week of life- here are some of your FIRSTS.

First time we met you!

First time Daddy changed your diaper

First trip to the doctor

First time meeting Diggs

First bath at home

First time in your big girl bed (you didn't stay there long)

First day at home alone with mommy

Happy first week of Life my precious angel! We love you!!!

Lyla's Birth Story

Unlike most people, we were able to actually plan when our daughter's grand entrance into this world would be.  Knowing that we would check in Tuesday night at midnight, we had a set plan that kicked off Sunday afternoon with the arrival of my parents. Being the amazing parents that they are, they used that time to clean house and give Jeff and I our time together. Since Monday was the 4th of July, me and Jeff decided to have one last special date just us before making the big transition into parenthood. As many of you know, this was so important to me to have this time with him and it couldn't have been more perfect! 

We decided to go see a movie since it was raining. 

We had a great meal at Outback Steakhouse (Jeff cleaned his plate) 

Then we took in the fireworks for the 4th. (so happy the rain cleared up)

On the way home I got pretty emotional about everything and so we decided not to head straight home. Instead we went and parked down by the lake and just talked and prayed together.  I had such a peace about everything when the night ended. I love my husband so much!

Tuesday was mainly spent resting and getting a few last minute things together. Once Jeff got home from work, my nerves really kicked in. We decided to head out for one last meal since rumor has it you can't eat anything while in labor. Unfortunately, there isn't an IHOP (I really could have gone for some pancakes) or a denny's (again, I had pancakes on the brain) where we live, so we hit up AppleBees at 10 Tuesday night. I really didn't think I would be able to stomach anything (besides those pancakes of course) but I really surprised myself and shared a sampler appetizer with Jeff, AND got a fried chicken salad with a side of loaded mashed potatoes. (I was trying to store up for the big event) It was so nice to unwind a bit before actually heading to the hospital. 

Once we got there, we started unloading the car...seriously looked like we were moving in for good. 

Once we got there, the process started immediately. They had me use a bath scrub just in case a C section was in our future and started the IV. I must admit that I am a BIG baby when it comes to getting stuck with a needle. It is strange because I can take a shot with the best of the them, but try and draw blood or stick an IV in and I literally get all light headed. As they were putting the IV in, I remember thinking "seriously, I am about to pass out, and the labor part hasn't even started yet" Mind you, at this point, Jeff is literally fanning me down and has a cold compress on my forehead. Looking back, it is kinda funny, but that IV was so not funny then. I barely slept that night because of said IV. 

Once all of that was settled down, they started the cytotec tablets that would soften my cervix. (we ended up doing two rounds of this) They woke me up around 5:30 to start the second round and I was awake for the rest of the day. At this point I was having mild contractions and the nurses seemed really pleased with my progress. Around 10, they came in to check on us and discovered that Lyla was very, very low and I was dilated to 4cm. I am certain that if they had waited another few minutes, my water would have broke on it's own, but they decided to go ahead and break it themselves (such a weird feeling by the way!) and start the pitocin. At this point, my doctor informed me that it was about to get serious and that if I wanted an epidural, now was the time to let them know because it takes a little while to get it. (umm...yes, I want one!) From that point on, she was not kidding when she said things were about to speed up. Contractions hit pretty hard almost right away. I was so thankful for my amazing husband who stood by my side the ENTIRE time and let me squeeze the ever loving stew out of his hands. (He had to switch them up a bit) My mom was also in the delivery room with us and encouraged me the whole way through it. I must document that I did not say one mean thing to Jeff through the whole thing. (I asked him if he was disappointed because I think he thought he'd be reliving the movie "The Exorcist". There was one point, however, that he kept telling me, "You're doing okay, you're doing okay" and I asked him to please tell me I was doing great or wonderful, terrific even...okay wasn't working for me.) But that's about as violent as it got. 

The contractions stayed strong for about an hour an a half and they ended up taking me off the pitocin because I was contracting on my own- Such an answered prayer because I really wanted my body to be able to respond to this induction as naturally as possible. Finally,  the epidural arrived. I was so relieved to see the anesthesiologist. The actual epidural wasn't bad, other than the fact that I was still having horrible contractions while they were trying to do the procedure. Once all was said and done though, I was feeling good....

...So good that my dad and Elaine got to come in and see us before the real show started. 

I quickly dilated to 7 cm and around 3pm the nurse came in and told us that I was "complete" and it was time to start pushing. It took a little while for the doctor to get there because she was delivering another baby at a neighboring hospital. They put me on oxygen in the meantime and Jeff alerted our parents-who had literally spent the entire night in the waiting room sleeping on the floor and in the chairs. (They are such troopers)

Once the doctor arrived, they geared up and the pushing began. I did not realize how hard this actually was. The movies make it seem so glamorous and of course, I was thinking since I had the epidural that the hard part was over. This pushing business was no easy task and I truly admire those who stay in this stage for hours. I pushed for about 30 mins before Lyla made her grand entrance into this world at 4:11pm on July 6, 2011. 

**(hats off to my mom for taking these priceless pictures for us) 

Lyla Rae Graves weighed 6 lbs 10 oz and is absolutely perfect. I could not believe how beautiful and alert she was. People are so right when they tell you that you forget all of the pregnancy/labor pains the moment you hold that precious gift from God. 

We are so in love...

...and are looking forward to starting life as a family of 4 now (you know we have to include Diggs):) 

It's JULY!

Wow, I have been waiting for this month for 9 long months. In the back of my mind, I was always so sure that Lyla would make her appearance in June, but that was definitely wishful thinking and no longer an option since today is July 1. We went to the doctor this past Monday for our weekly check up. We decided to go ahead and put the bags in the car (and by bags, I mean 3 bags, a laptop, video camera and tri pod, and boppy) because we were SO sure that all of our walking in this incredible heat had helped us make progress. Unfortunately, when we got to the doctor, she informed us that I am still at the same spot we were 3 weeks ago. Knowing that, she gave us two options: We could either wait on Lyla to come on her own (which could still be 3 more weeks and looking at our situation, we could very well still have to induce) OR we could pick a date next week and go ahead and do this thing. We had NO clue what  to do and so we made the decision that we felt like was best for us. Since we live so far away from our parents, I cannot tell you how extremely important it is to have our families here and knowing when she will arrive makes that more possible. So, after literally crying and hugging in room #2, we decided to schedule Miss Lyla's birth for next Wednesday July 6. We will go in on Tuesday the 5th to start the induction and just hang on from there. Monday night was very emotional for me because we KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that next week, we will have a daughter. We had one week to get our stuff together, get the house together and spend these last precious days together. Even as I am writing this, I cannot believe that the week  is almost over. Jeff and I have dated each other every night this week and are planning on at least one more special date Monday night for the 4th. That will be our last night before we become parents and that is so important to me to have that time with him. 

Some new emotions that have taken over me have to do with our dog Diggs. I can only imagine how it will be when we have our second child, and I begin having these feelings about Lyla, but for now, Diggs IS our baby and I know that he is sensing change.  I want so badly for him to know that we still love him and WILL still love him because he is definitely experiencing some emotions!

Lots and lots of presents! hmmm...what can I get into??

Found something!!!

Can you see me mom?

Hmmm...what's this? 

Maybe now they'll notice me!

Trying to escape all this baby talk!

Anything to get attention! Diggs, we still love you so much and I just know you and Lyla are going to be best friends:)