Lucy Grace Mendoza Birth Story 6.5.11

It was the weekend and you were three days overdue. Your mommy was determined to try every old wives tale out there to bring you into the world earlier , but we all know that babies come when they are ready! It was Saturday, we had already taken a couple mile long walks in the morning and I was now cleaning every last piece of wood work in our house with murphy's oil soap...still nothing. We decided to go swimming and I got the great idea to tread water in the deep end. After about an hour we headed home and I started having braxton hicks contractions every 6 to 10 minutes. I have had these before and didn't get too excited. We waited a few hours and they were still there and consistent but not yet painful. Since I was already dilated to 4cm since our doctors appointment on Thursday and I hadn't had painful contractions to get me that far we decided we should just go get checked out just in case. It was now 7pm and I very calmly let your daddy know I was going to shower get ready and that we needed to go to the hospital. He was trying not to show it..but he was a nervous wreck! He couldn't even eat dinner! We had a nice drive to the hospital video taped it and all. I joked with daddy that I was sad we didn't have the rush of driving fast to get there in time. We checked into triage around 8pm and was hooked up to the monitor for a little over an hour. I was still contracting regularly and still at 4cm. After the nurse spoke with the doctor over the phone (my doctor was not on call) she decided to let us go home and come back if my contractions got stronger and closer together. So we drove home and daddy was finally able to get some dinner. After getting home I decided to bounce on the exercise ball while watching the rest of a finals game. Within the next hour daddy went to sleep and mommy started to finally feel some pain with the contractions still coming every 5 to 8 minutes now. I waited about an hour and woke daddy up this time a bit less calmly exclaimed that we needed to go to the hospital. It was 1am and we got that rush of speeding back to the hospital (which was 25 min away) as I felt so much pressure with each contraction. We got about a mile down the road and your daddy almost turned around because he realized he forgot his watch to time the contractions. This is when I almost killed your daddy :) Just kidding!! I did not so gently scream at him to keep driving!! We checked back into triage and was told I was dilated to 7cm with a bulging bag of water. The nurse said you're not going anywhere! We got admitted and within an hour my water broke on its own and I was at 8cm right after. By around 4:30 I was completely dilated and ready to push..there was just one small problem we had to wait for the doctor! Luckily during the waiting time I was able to stand up in between contractions to go pee as I felt so much pressure from trying not to push you out! The doctor arrived and around 5am I started pushing. You were born at exactly 6am Sunday morning with Daddy and Grandma Meck there to cheer us on. The rest of the family was right outside the door to hear your first cry. Your daddy did such a great job of encouraging me and keeping me calm! My goal was to go all natural and with his help I was able to do it without an epidural! Words can't explain the feelings we felt as they placed you up on my belly. You were finally here and you were perfect in every way!! Welcome to the world Lucy Grace!!

Little Miss Lucy

How far along? I am currently just over 21 weeks along and passed the half way point. Praise the Lord!!

Average size of baby? Average weight is around 12 to 16 ounces and measures around 10.5 inches. About the size of a small cantaloupe.

Development this week? baby's skin begins to thicken and will develop into four layers. The sebaceous glands secrete a waxy substance to cover and protect the skin called vernix. Scalp hair and toenails are forming.

Symptoms? The morning sickness is finally subsiding...I think :) Lately I have been getting horrible charlie horses in the middle of the night.

Cravings? Still baked potatoes and lately lemonade...this past week I have actually started to feel more hungry then before. I successfully ate my first footlong sub and it didn't even hurt! haha

Weight gain? 9lbs

Best moment this week? Within the past few weeks we were both able to feel the baby move. It was such an exciting moment! Now I can feel baby moving pretty much all day long. We also had a 17 and 20 week ultrasound confirming a healthy baby girl. We feel so incredibly blessed!!

Name? We have decided on Lucy...I have always loved old classic names and this name has always been one of my favorites. It just hasn't felt right calling her anything else since the day we found out she was a girl! We are still deciding on a middle name and open to ideas!

16 WEEKS

How far along? 16 weeks

Average size of the baby? The size of an advocado. 4.6 Inches and 3.5 ounces.

Development this week? Tiny bones are forming in the baby's ear this week which means they are able to hear now. Eyebrows, lashes, and hair are starting to fill in and tastebuds are forming.

Cravings? Auntie Anne's Pretzles and loaded baked potatoes!

Weight gain? I am at 4lbs..which is what I was at my first 9 week OB appointment. I think the morning sickness has kept it from increasing..I'm sure come next month it'll be a different story :)

Symptoms? Well I thought I had kissed morning sickness goodbye but it decided to make it's lovely appearance again for the last 4 days. Other than that I get round ligament pain when I cough or sneeze as the baby is stretching my lower abdominal muscles.

What I miss? Not worrying about this baby every single day...Next week we have our next OB appointment I'm hoping that helps calm my nervous nellie nerves!

Greatest moment this week? Hearing the heartbeat with the doppler at home! Still strong and in the 160's. Also having the best husband in the world bring me home an early Christmas present...a pregnancy pillow...I'm not sure if I'll ever sleep without it...it's amazing!

10 WEEKS

How Far Along? 10 weeks

Average size of baby? 1.2 Inches .14 ounces. Compareable to the size of a prune.

Development this week? Bones and cartilage are starting to form and vital organs are beginning to function. Arm and leg joints are now working. Body length will double within the next three weeks. The baby is moving inside however I won't be able to feel it for another month and a half.

Cravings? Cold crunchy salads..I just discovered last night that Marcos Pizza will deliver an Italian side salad when it's 8pm and you don't want to run out to buy more lettuce at the store.

Symptoms? Morning sickness...nasty! Fatigue and a general I don't feel like doing anything attitude. :)

What I miss? Sleeping through the night without waking up at least 3 times to go pee.

Greatest moment this week? Seeing our sweet babe during my first ultrasound and hearing the heartbeat. Such a happy happy time. Also sharing the news with our families!

The house we'll call home

I've been waiting for this day for a long time now, and I'm so excited to share that we are moving back home to Ohio! Ever since I was a little girl playing with doll houses, I've always dreamed of someday living in a big old victorian home myself. I dreamed of the colors, the nooks, the crannies, and all the fun parties we could host. Lately I've been dreaming of back yard bbq's full of friends and family and a bonfire to close the night. Soon all these dreams will come true when we move into our new home. I have to thank my husband for being such a great man and following his woman back home, even though it involves leaving his "home". We are excited to begin this new chapter of our life together, and excited for our family to be a part of it. So stop by....anytime, we'll be on the front porch waiting!

Caramel Apple Layer Dip

Here is a yummy dish just in time for Valentine's Day!

<> Mix 1 package of softened cream cheese with 1/3 cup brown sugar and smooth into dish.

<> Top with 1 jar of caramel icecream topping.

<> Sprinkle on milk chocolate heath bits (as many as your little heart desires)

<> Serve with apples

<> Eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner too (if there is any left by then)!

Rewind to Christmas time

We went to an ugly Christmas Party...here are the proud winners...and the newly engaged :)
Family Christmas with the Mendoza side
These twins are giving me major baby fever. Our newest cousins Gavin and Gibson
We toured this beauty of a home
We enjoyed watching the kiddos tear into their stockings!
Matching sisters
Now me and my big sister
Me and my sister-in-law outside the Blue Gate Restaurant in Shipshewana (YUM)

Easy Christmas Craft

Looking for something fun, super cute, and easy to give to someone this year? I got this tree at michaels craft store for 2.50 and then got the balls for .50 cents! The balls came all together with wires that were easy to take apart. I originally was going to get all different colors of buttons and glue them on, then saw these instead. I'm thinking this was much easier. They have all different colors at Michaels! Go on...get crafty!

Some Christmas Cheer

Blog Designs by Jamie is giving away free Chritmas banners until Friday 12am. These are super cute, so hurry on over to here and get your blog ready for the holidays!

Show us what you make day!

I made this diaper wreath for my cousin for her hospital door after she had her baby.
cute. as. a. button.

Once again I'm joining in on Kelly's Korner Show us your life Friday's. This week we are showing things we make/sell. I just started making these last year when some friends and family started having babies. They are quick and easy. I got these plastic buttons from Target in the craft section and just sewed them on! There you have it....Cute as a button onesies!

I heart coupons

Want to score products like this for FREE??

Keep Reading!

After coupons I was able to get all the above products for free....free!! I used to think couponing was for the birds! Way too time consuming! After reading a few different money saving blogs, my opinion instantly changed. It becomes somewhat of an art. If you can take the time to organize you coupons before heading to the store and have a game plan in mind things will go much more smoothly. I like to tackle just one store per day so I don't get too coupon crazy! :) I like to wait until I see items on sale and then use the coupons. Also remember that on most products you can buy the smallest size. So even though you may go through the product faster, you are still getting it for free! Here a few additional tips:

You can download coupons for free to your Kroger card from the following websites:

http://www.pgesaver.com/

http://www.cellfire.com/

http://www.kroger.com/

Kroger is great because the let you use an unlimited amount of coupons. You can also print of coupons and double them with your card coupons from great websites like this:

http://www.coupons.com/

My favorite daily coupon check comes from this blogger who got this all started for me:

http://hip2save.blogspot.com/

She updates her site many times a day with the best deals around. She also store specific coupons and guides along the right side of her blog, and additional tips and deals along the left side under information station. She has started a new video series called Follow me Monday,where she takes you inside target, walgreens, cvs, etc and shows you how to get the most out of your money at each store.

Another money saving blog I follow is here:

http://dealchaser.blogspot.com/

She does not update as frequently as the other blog, however she has a list of her fav money saving blogs all linked to the right of her blog that you can click on it to take you directly to their website.

I hope this is helpful to you all...now go out there and save some money!!

Dave Ramsey Live

A couple things I learned from Dave Ramsey's The total money makeover: 1.) Marry someone who loves numbers, and enjoys taking care of the budget!

(thanks honey!)

2.) Do not display your love for eachother for all 10,000 people to see at a christian financial conference. It's just plain weird!

OK, really here are some key points to remember (BABY STEPS)

1.) Get 1,000 to start an "Emergency Fund"

"68% of Americans could not cover a 5,000 emeregency with cash without having to go into debt for it."

2.) Pay off all debt using the "Debt Snowball" from smallest balence to the largest to help keep you motivated and stay on track. Every time you pay a debt off, you add its old minimum payment to the next debt in the snowball.

3.) Build 3-6 months of expenses in savings. (use money markets b/c the often had no penalty for early withdrawals, and have check-writing privileges)

4.) Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement. "It has been said that Albert Einstein called compound interest the eighth wonder of the world" $100 a month from age 25 to 65 at 12%= 1,176,477!

5.) Prepare for college funding withe an Educational Savings Account funded in growth stock mutual funds. The average college student graduates with $42,406 in student loan debt. We just paid ours off this past year!!

6.) Pay off your home early

MYTH- It is wise to keep my home mortgage to get the tax deduction

TRUTH- Tax deductions are no bargain!

Best option is a 15 yr fixed, and payments should be no more than 25% of your take home pay.

example: a $200,000 mortgage at 6% interest

30 yrs: you pay back the loan amt, in addition to $231,683 in interest

15yrs: you pay back the loan amt, in additioan to $103,797 in interest

cash: you pay 0% interest (wouldn't this be nice!)

7.) Build weath and GIVE

"No one would remember the good samaritan if he didn't have money" Margaret Thatcher

I would highly Dave Ramsey books/events to EVERYONE!! They have a great children/teens series also. If you are thinking about getting married or engaged, this is a must!!!

Monon Center Waterpark

Mya in the lazy river

wanting to be just like the big kids

being brave

Blayn fell half way through b/c he couldn't reach the next rope

Mya made it all the way across

This place was great! It was like a mini wet and wild...my fav place as a child!

It had a few big slides, diving boards, lily pads, a lazy river, and a fun play pool for kids.

I only wish I would've discovered it sooner than this past year!

Family Bowling Night

Mya and Blayn loved it!
hoping for a strike

Praise the Lord for bumpers!

Show us your life...wedding dress edition

Here is the picture we started with
She also made my veil as well
It was a one piece strapless with folded tulle and lace
and little silk and pearl flowers around the bottom of the skirt
She offered to make the bridesmaid dresses as well,
however I chose these from a local bridal store

I hope someday I'll have a daughter that will want to wear it on her wedding day

Today I decided to take part in Kelly's Korner Friday tradition of showing the blog world a little bit about yourself, your home, essentially your life. Today is Wedding Dresses!!! My grandmother made my wedding dress, I was so honored!! I found a picture online and then we went and picked out the fabric and the rest is history. She put a lot of hard work into it!

It was perfect, I'm forever grateful to her!

Back at Little Eden

Little Eden is a week....full of beauty
full of tubing

full of boat trips on the new family boat

full of minnow catching

full of fun long lasting memories that will last us forever!

It hasn't changed a bit

Sights of Sanibel (Mendoza Family Vacation)

Things you won't find on Sanibel: big neon signs, crazy spring breakers, or high-rises. Instead you'll find quite the the peaceful, family oriented, friendly island. With over 17 miles of beaches, 26 miles of bike trails (A.D. made it around the Island one day!) and one main street call periwinkle drive full of chic shops and oh so yummy restaurants. You will always see kids and adults fascinated with sea shells. We found quite the beautiful collection along the shores. The island's east-west orientation acts as a scoop for the tide's treasures. We also enjoyed a fun family kayak trip through the J. N. ('Ding') Darling National Wildlife Refuge, and a breath taking sunset/dolphin cruise through the Gulf of Mexico.

Praise the Lord for vacations and relaxation!