Today

This little woman has been my life lately. Taking all of my energy, thoughts, prayers, & everything else that has to do with me! I can't even describe how having a baby can be one of the most amazing things, and one of the most difficult things all at the same time. Unfortunately, breastfeeding has not really improved much. I'm still really struggling & crying a lot! BUT, I'm not giving up. She's gonna get it eventually. But keep those prayers coming friends!! I know they help :)

Ellie has changed a lot already. Adam and I are SO in love with her. We are the typical "stare-at-your-baby's-every-move" parents. So proud. AND NOT TO MENTION- I have lost 20 lbs already!!! Yay!!!! :) Amidst the tough things, that is something that I am SO grateful for! I'll gladly accept that gift from above!

Today I was having the "woe-is-me's". Feeling so sorry for myself about having little SUCK-cess with breastfeeding. I felt like I was at my end. Then I read this blog, and it reminded me how truly blessed I am. Thank the Lord for transparent people who put life back into perspective. I'm not demeaning my hardships, but it's easier to see the BAD in your situation over the GOOD.

Til next time...

Birth Story

Whew! It has been a while since I have been able to update...turns out that being a momma is hard work and VERY time consuming! I thought I would let you all in on my birth story with Ellie as lots of people have been asking.

On 9am, on Saturday the 16th of May, I started having little contractions. They were pretty consistent- about 5-7 minutes apart, and they were lasting hours. I was actually in a wedding that day and didn't really know if it was the "real deal" or not, so I just went ahead and went on with my day as though nothing was happening. They weren't really that painful...early labor stuff, so the contractions were really managable. By about 3pm my contractions were consistently 5 minutes apart and getting a little stronger. I read in a book called "Birthing From Within" that this lady had cleaned- I mean DEEP cleaned her whole entire home, painted a rocking chair, and did all this other stuff during labor, and when the midwife came, she was 9 cm dilated! I was SO determined to have the same heart as this lady... I knew that I wasn't dying- Just having a baby. So, I just decided to go along with my day. I survived through the ceremony at 5pm while having contractions consistently throughout.

Once we got to the reception, that's when I started really feeling them. They started to get a lot closer and stronger! I didn't want to go home because I knew that if I did, I wasn't gonna be able to leave, so we stayed there. I danced and ate in between contractions! It was actually a lot of fun- I was so glad that I stayed and kept myself distracted. Once things started getting a little tougher- around 9pm- we went home. I had to start breathing through my contractions a little more and doing some of the coping techniques that we learned. My midwife suggested that I drink a little wine and take a bath just to make sure that I wasn't in false labor. I did that and the contractions kept coming, so my midwife came and checked me. By that time I was about 5cm dilated! It was so awesome. I felt like I didn't even have to work that hard to get to that point. I had really been using all the things that I planned- the distractions during early labor, using my breathing, and the pain coping techniques.

It seems like immediately after that, things started to progress really fast. My contractions were REALLY strong. My midwife checked me at about 12:00am and I was about 8cm dilated. And this is when it got TOUGH!!! I stayed at 8cm for pretty much the rest of the time. My contractions were so strong- the most pain I had ever been in in my entire life- and it felt like I had no time in between them to rest. I kept telling Adam and my doula that I just wanted it to be over! They were so supportive and just told me that I was doing a great job and filled me up with encouraging words...it was great. I couldn't handle anyone touching me AT ALL, so those words of affirmation were so needed.

It wasn't until 6am that I could FINALLY start pushing! My water actually never broke, but I was fully dilated. I started pushing, and ready for the gross part??!?! I actually pushed out my bag of water! It was fully intact...so CRAZY! My midwife had to break it because it didn't break on it's own............Ellie was born at 6:37am. She was absolutely perfect.

Everyone asked me if I gave birth in the water since I had the tub, but I didn't. Her heart rate was going down and I actually just had to go into a position that helped my pelvis give her some room. That ended up being a sort of lunge. I never thought that is how I would get her out!

Our home-birth was everything that we imagined it would be. My labor was WAY harder than I thought, but I did it! And you know how people say " The only thing that people get from doing it naturally is a gold star saying they did it".......well, I am VERY happy and satisfied with MY gold star! It was totally liberating and amazing to know that I felt EVERYTHING, and that I was the one who was able to manage my pain and birth my baby with my own strength.

So, there you have it! As of right now, I'm TOTALLY sruggling with breastfeeding...BIG TIME! I would LOVE your prayers to have as we call it- SUCK-cess!!! :)

Suprise, Suprise! She's Here!!!

Hey everyone!

Just a quick update to let you know that our little girl, Ellie Grace is here! Almost 2 weeks early!
She was born Sunday, May 17th @ 6:37am. She is absolutely perfect. PERFECT. Adam and I feel so overwhelmed with love for her....amongst being overwhelmed with LOTS of other "new" things to learn :) But it's so worth every tear I have shed so far.

My birth story will be following as soon as I have a little more energy to write.

Love, Krystle

Ellie Grace Porter
First Car ride to the Doctor for 1st Check-Up

Mommy & Ellie a few hours after the delivery :)

Pregnancy Photos Round 2!

Last Saturday we went out with our family friend Jennifer and took our last set of pregnancy pictures. It was so much fun! There was a nice breeze and it was a beautiful day in the mid 80's. Perfect for the beginning of an Arizona summer :) I am SO PLEASED with the way these turned out...we even went when the sun was at the worst point for taking outdoor pictures...But Jennifer is so awesome and took some GREAT shots. Hope you enjoy! We did!!! And if you are interested in getting YOUR pictures done, you should TOTALLY use Jennifer. She is amazing, and so fun to work with...(P.S. She didn't ask me to advertise for her, but we just had such a great experience, that I feel like I CAN'T NOT to it!)

The "16" is Adam's Number. We HAD to take a picture by it!

We were walking by a little boutique, and saw this chair..it was amazing! We hurried and snuck a few shots in!...We're so bad!

Thanks Jennifer!

Oops...Forgot Something!

I forgot to write in the last post that a couple from our church generously gave us a sweet rocking chair! Well, they actually gave us 2 of them, but I wanted to show you the one that we decided to use for Ellie's room. I really wanted just a simple, classic rocking chair, and this one is just perfect!

Also, I have a very TINY theme going throughout her room with one pattern. This morning I made a little cushion/pillow for the rocking chair to fit the theme...Here is what I have so far!

The Crib Skirt up-close and personal
Cushion/Pillow for the Rocking Chair

Emroidery Hoop on Wall

The Rocking Chair! Also, Adam and I are going to sand-down and repaint the chair white to match the rest of the room. What do you guys think? Leave it or paint it?????

Love, Krystle

It's called Getting it Done!

Oh yes. Feelings of victory surround me. I have been doing a pretty darn good job of knocking things off my list. I'm still not nesting...don't care about the dirty baseboards, cleaning out the cabinets, and I'm pretty sure that Adam was the one to point out that our refrigerator needed to be cleaned...then he proceeded to clean it himself....maybe HE is nesting...is that possible? Ha ha!

So, here is the list o' victory thus far:

1) Made birthing plans (yes, you read that right, plans is plural). One for the hospital, just in case, and one for here at home. Although I'm pretty sure that my midwife & doula will do a rockin' job of doing what I ask..

2) I completed the crib skirt border! I'm a terrible sewer (spelling?), but it was pretty fool-proof.

3) Made my condensed version of baby-wise through the first month. :) It's about 3 pages long full of quick pointers to help me out.

4) Took my last set of maternity photos! Thanks Jennifer. You are awesome.

Here are some pictures to prove that they are Done!

These aren't in order (After)
Before (and I'd like to thank Steve & Sophie for being my reluctant models!)

This is the park where we took our photos..isn't the fountain awesome?! And we took these with our camera by the way...note the unprofessionalism :)

9 months pregnant, and still loving it! (Did you notice the beard??Not mine, silly...Adams!)

And lastly, the computer stuff.

Thanks for keeping me accountable everyone :-)

Love, Krystle

Birth Month....Hopefully!

It's here! THE month. I feel like I have waited SO long for May to come. I'm weeks away from meeting my little girl, and I can't wait. And if you are all wondering about my little projects I promised to post all in 1 week...well...I did finish 3 of them...I just haven't posted yet :( Bad me. I will do one massive post with it all on there sometime in the next few days.

I had an inkling that Ellie was posterior (meaning she is basically laying on my back, which causes LOTS of pain in labor). And I was right. My midwife confirmed it on Saturday...bummer! So it's totally game time. I am doing a ton of different things to try to move her around. And it better work dang-it! I don't want a labor that lasts for days, which can totally end up happening if she doesn't decide to move. But, I'm not gonna stress about it. I will just take it as it comes, and work with my circumstances as they arrive (insert positive-optimistic thinking here!).

One thing that has NOT FAILED to amaze me during this pregnancy are other people's opinions. Sometimes I think I wish that people would just let me make mistakes (lots of them) instead of offer their friendly "suggestions". Bringing a life into this world is a lot to take in all by itself. Add other people's opinions about how you should parent, breastfeed, discipline, etc, and you've got one crammed mind full of self-doubt and confusion- constantly questioning your own decisions that you have already made and felt COMPLETELY comfortable & excited about. It's so unfortunate when you would rather sit back and not say what you are "planning" to do, in fear of having to be on the immediate defense after you say it. This is no bueno people. No bueno. I hope no one takes this as me not being open to suggestions, because I am, but sometimes people are just too overpowering and dictating with their opinions, not allowing YOU to figure it out for yourself...does that make sense?

Anyways! All of that to say, I am so happy & excited... Of course very apprehensive & nervous at the same time. Adam has still been absolutely amazing. I have no complaints in the marriage area...just feeling truly truly blessed. Did I mention Adam is growing his beard out again? I'm pretty sure his level of awesomeness increases 100% each time he does this.... my manly lumberjack :)

Wish me luck in my baby-turning adventures!