He's here!

Blake Everett Winters arrived at 6:45 last night---all 9 lbs., 9 oz., and 21 inches of him! Here's our future linebacker :-)




He's got a healthy set of lungs, as he screamed/cried the first 30 minutes until Mommy could hold him




Dr. Merideth was awesome! I started having mild contractions around 4 (after experiencing some other non-noteworthy symptoms all day) so I drove myself straight from work while Brett arranged for his brother to get Jameston from daycare so he could meet me directly at the hospital. I checked in at 3 cm dilated and 90% effaced, and contracted pretty much every 4-5 minutes for an hour while they arranged the OR for the c-section. And then my water broke, but they didn't say how far dilated I had become in that hour.




Two hours after I had checked in, he was here!




Cade brought Jameston by around 8:30 or so after treating him to dinner so the he could meet his little brother. He was such a sweet big bro, all the while concerned about Blake and Mommy. So sweet!




Jameston came back up to the hospital this morning, and Blake was more alert...so JW was excited! We had a good night last night. Baby brother is a great eater and sleeper so far, and this Mommy is feeling like she's headed down the road to recovery a lot quicker than last time.




We are SO in love! More pictures to come, as these are just some from our phones.
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Another decade behind me...

I turned 30-years-old last Friday...gulp. I remember thinking that age sounded old when I was in high school, and now, here I am...bring it on! My boys sure did a great job of pampering me not only that day but ALL weekend. What can I say? I am a lucky gal! And it sure is nice when a birthday (especially a BIG one) falls on the weekend...

Friday started with home-made breakfast made by Brett (yum!) and a trip to the doctor (since I am off work only on Fridays). I found out that my blood pressure was up from the last week (I was in on the 13th for a sonogram, at which they measure baby bro at 7 lbs. 12 oz.) Boo for high blood pressure! So, I had to go back in this Monday to double check. My doctor is not worried, since it did elevate near the end of my pregnancy with Jameston, and since I have not had any "worrisome" symptoms like headaches, blurred vision, etc. On Monday I was dilated to 2cm, and 50% effaced. Right now we are scheduled for a c-section on Monday morning unless he decides to arrive before then!

Back to my birthday festivities: after my doctor's appointment, my mom and I took Jameston to MiMi's Cafe for lunch (I had a Groupon!) While he napped and mom stayed home with him, I treated myself to a mani/pedi. It was so relaxing, and I think I "needed" it to bring my blood pressure down :-) I then went home to rest a little myself. Brett and I went on a date that night to dinner (California Pizza kitchen; Maggiano's had a 2-hour wait!) and a movie ("The Hunger Games"). I was flooded with calls, texts and Facebook messages that sure made this birthday girl feel loved and further put icing on the turning-30-cake :-) What a WONDERFUL day!
Then on Saturday my boys offered to take me on a shopping trip to the Allen Outlet Malls, where I went somewhat "hog-wild" for clothes to wear post-baby (hopefully)! We went to lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings (had a gift card from Brett's birthday---I think I gained 10 pounds this weekend! oh well, just tack it on!) for some wings and Rangers baseball. That night, Brett grilled out fajitas for me and about 15 family/friends and their kids who came over to help me celebrate turning 30. No pictures of the group really, or myself for that matter...I just snapped ones of the kiddos having a grand ole time in the backyard. Another great day!
AND on Sunday, I was feeling VERY pregnant, so I relaxed and nested most of the day, while Brett cleaned out my car (it took him a LONG time, if that tells you how bad it was). I'm telling you, we could sell it right now it is that clean! 

I had such a wonderful weekend that I wish I turned 30 more often :-) No birthday blues here...I am so excited to see what the next decade (and next few days) holds for me and my family. And I am even more ecstatic that one of my boys will have a birthday close to his Mommy's!

You gotta be kidding me

Three weeks ago I was in Irving on a Tuesday morning for an all-day training. And Brett was in Houston. And Jameston was in daycare. Of all days to have horrible weather in the metroplex, it for some reason HAD to be this day. Lovely. Just what my nerves needed at 36 weeks pregnant! Thankfully I was in a hotel conference room being taught and not caught out in the hailstorm. And thank the Lord the storms went south of where Jameston was (I was calling up there like a mad woman, and checking the radar like crazy)! But my car did not fair too well...$3000 worth of damage later, the Santa Fe never looked so beat up!

Probably 200 hail dings all over the hood and top (even sides)

 The windshield got the worst end of it...and it was replaced last week, also while I was at work!

What is so miraculous is that with the 15 (or more) reported tornados from that day, no one was killed. God had many, many angels looking over everyone!

Weekend in Austin

About a month ago, we (as in Jamseton and myself, since Brett had to work) loaded up with Brett's brother's family and headed to Austin for a fun weekend, and I totally forgot to post the pictures from our excursion! Cade and Jessica were kind enough to let us bum a ride (I was 35 weeks pregnant), and we left first thing on Saturday morning. Since Blogger has gone all crazy with this new layout (and I don't have time to rearrange pictures), these are out of order...

Sunday best! The cousins paused for a quick second to take a picture after breakfast before heading into town for church

When we arrived on Saturday, we met the rest of the crew at Krause Springs for an afternoon of "cool" fun!

Toes in the water!

Sisters taking in the scenery

Papa showing Jameston a fossil

In a tree!

In the same tree, but this preggo was able to join in on the fun and take a pic!

Papa helping the grandkids get their feet wet

Riley was brave and was the first one (kiddo) in!

Jameston and Ruby were a little more timid...

Off to the botanical gardens...checking out a caterpillar!

Back at Granny's and Papa's house that night...still full of energy!

Love this one!

They had a tent set up since there was a lot of company staying that night...the kids had a blast inside the tent!

The main reason for the trip was a going-away party for Aunt Kayla, who moved to Seattle in April

And we also celebrated GiGi's 93rd birthday that weekend (but I didn't snap pictures...above and below are older pictures)

Granny and Papa also had a front year full of bluebonnets, so JW had to check them out :-)

It was a fun, very short, weekend! And we were glad to have made the trip to see everyone :-)

Mother/Son photo session

On Sunday afternoon, Brett took some maternity pictures of me with Jameston, who was happy to be on camera with Mommy. And me...well, I was (somewhat) happy to be able to document my current state of pregnancy. No, really...I just wanted some pictures of my oldest son and myself together before our second son joins the family. And I think Brett caught some pretty sweet moments.

Headed out the back gate

Dancing with Mommy

Talking about/pointing to "Baby Blake"

Giving kisses as he does every day (although it looks like he's taking a bite!)

Same pirate smiles in this picture...love my sweet boy!

Loving on Mommy and Blake both...he has such a tender heart

There is no doubt Jameston, like us, is ready to meet his baby brother (I am sure this pregnancy has seemed like forever to not only me but also him)! From the way he talks about what we will do when Blake is here to the way he curiously inquires about his little brother's features (eyes, hair, feet) and future likes/dislikes (soccer, potty training haha, etc.), our first born son will undoubtedly be such a wonderful and caring big brother. Can't wait!!

First haircut!

We cut Jameston's hair for the first time on Tuesday night...finally! I have been longing to do so for about six months (I know, I should've just snuck a cut in!), but Brett had been adamantly opposed to it since it took JW so long to grow in a full head of hair (that is very fine, I might add). We both liked the longer look in the back, since Jamseton's hair has some curl, but now that his baby hair was falling out in the front, the middle section was looking OUT OF CONTROL. Case in point:

So, Brett obliged to my hair-cutting desire and also snapped some pictures to document JW's first cut. What better way to bond with your first-born before baby brother gets here, right?

The towel/"cape" made it fun for him:

Cheese! Note all of the chapstick on JW...

It helped him stay put for the 10 minutes I needed...

And his treat for being so good and sitting still for Mommy: ice cream and baseball!

Happy boy with a new 'do!

I know, I did not cut MUCH off at all...I just can't part with his curls! But (I think) it looks much better :-)

Friday FUN day!

Last Friday, two of my girlfriends from high school stopped by our house for a visit! We had a blast catching up, and we think the kids had fun getting to know each other, too :-) Here are Jameston and Leisy drawing us their best chalk art on the driveway...

JW had to show off his running skills at the playground

Back at the house for some grilled hotdogs and burgers. All six kids ate well :-) YUM!

Later on they decided that we needed to eat dessert (Brownie cake and Blue Bell) outside

Kailey and Isaac agreed it was good!

Ice cream outside?! And soccer and the sandbox with my new friends? This is AWESOME!

Cutie-pie Kailey really liked the sand-box :-)

It was so great to get to visit with Genese and Sami---what a fun night! Looking forward to next time, ladies :-) Hopefully, I'll be a little more spry then!