WARNING: CUTE OVERLOAD!!!

I LOVE these baby pictures! I'm sad I didn't get any of Zack at this age, but oh well. Ya live and learn, right? The first one is my favorite even though I know it was just gas since he exploded two seconds later. :) Enjoy!

I'm so sorry!

I really, really, really didn't want to be one of THOSE people who had a baby and didn't update their blog with pictures until a week later. But, in my defense, I did update facebook with pictures and most people have that so I felt okay about waiting. Anyway, I'll go ahead and post a modified birth story for those interested and some pictures of our new little Brody!

Okay. This induction didn't go exactly according to plan, but what birth actually does? The morning started off pretty good. My mom came in the night before to stay with Zack. I was so worried about leaving him with someone else, but he has taken to my mom like I never even existed! He is officially in love with Grandma. And she has been so helpful this whole week. But back to the story. Todd and I woke up on time and got to the hospital a little early. Here is a picture we took before take off:

So, after we got there at 6:00 we did the normal check in stuff. They hooked my IV up around 7, and the doctor broke my water around 8. After that, they kept telling me I could get my epidural anytime and that it would take about 30 minutes for the guy to get up there to give it to me. I didn't ask for it until around 9:30 because I wanted my contractions to be more regular and a little more painful so I wouldn't be so freaked about the epidural.

Big mistake.

After asking for it at 9:30, I didn't end up getting it until around 10:45. By this time I was ready to KILL someone. Or myself. Not sure which. About ten minutes after getting it, I noticed only my legs were still numb. I could still feel everything, including the horrible back labor. I told the nurse and she went to get someone to get me a higher dose to hopefully numb me. Before this, she did check me and I was only dilated to a 4, so we thought I had plenty of time to get more medicine and take a nap before pushing.

Then the anesthesiologist came in and gave me some drugs that REALLY numbed my legs. Like, I couldn't even move them. But I could still feel everything! She told me it was because I was tall and the epidural was too low. Scream. Didn't they learn about this kind of stuff in school? Anyway, I told her to go get my nurse so I could pee (sorry if TMI) and maybe this would help ease my contractions.

11:30ish the nurse comes in to do a catheter and for some reason it won't go in. After checking me she says "Oh my gosh! You're ready to push!" And then two pushes later, Brody was born!

So the bad news, epidurals don't always work. Never plan on having a pain-free birth, because while it is possible it won't always happen. We were so unprepared to do it this way. Poor Todd had to try to talk me through it all and did a wonderful job! The good news: I got him out in TWO pushes!!! It took me over two hours to get Zack out. And I went from a 4 to a 10 in like 45 min, which is awesome since I was in so much pain.

Okay, now for the pictures! Enjoy! And I have tons of pictures of Zack and Brody together, but they are all on my phone. I'll post them once Todd uploads them on the computer.

And one of Zack. He just looks so big in this picture!

The last couple days...

have been pretty fun! I decided to just wrap all my time around Zack and try to enjoy having only him and me as much as possible. Here is what we have done so far:

1) LOTS of walks together

2) Sprinkler time outside

3) Saw Toy Story 2 in 3D!

4) Went swimming

5) Went out for lunch...like every day! (don't tell Todd!)

6) Snuggle, snuggle, snuggle.

So, that's about it. Actually, aside from going to the movies, we really haven't done anything that special. But I'm just enjoying it more than before. I really have no idea what to do with two kids, and trying REALLY hard not to freak out. I wish it could just be Tuesday and this could all be over with.

My mom comes tomorrow! Hopefully the induction goes okay on Monday. Is it possible to not be able to be induced? I mean, I'm already starting labor so it just needs to help me along a little. Scheduling a time to have a baby seems so off to me. Like it's a hair appointment or something. And I KNOW when I'm going to be in pain. (Monday, June 21st, 6:00 a.m.) Ugh. Why can't having a baby be fun or actually feel good?

Next post: announcing little baby Broden Kurt Jackson! With TONS of pictures, of course!

Did you really just say that??

One thing I love about living here in AR is how nice people are. They always hold doors open for you, wave at you when driving, let you cut in front of them in lines, offer to hold things for you, and will have a full on conversation with you even if they just met you five seconds ago.

They also say things to pregnant people that are a little uncalled for.

Like today at Wal-Mart someone literally screamed, "Oh my gosh! Your turkey popper has POPPED!" Really. I know I'm about to explode. I don't need you announcing it in the crudest way possible.

Then at Chick-fil-a Zack decided to take his shoes off and toss them to me. This would have been fine if I would have been paying attention, but instead they landed right in the holy Chick-fil-a sauce (if you're asking why it's holy, shame on you! Go try some) and splashed all over me. Some old guy says "Kids are hard...especially when they act like THAT! I have two girls and they are crazy. Are you sure you're ready for that?"

Do I have a choice? And who asked your opinion? And Zack is an angel, even if he does spill holy sauce on me and run around a stinking fast food restaurant while eating his chicken.

These are just two examples of many. And it doesn't help that most questions or pieces of advice come with long stories. I've actually stopped trying to be nice and now just stare at them blankly. I think it freaks them out a little.

Oh, and no change in the labor thing. :( Looks like I'll make it until the 21st after all. But on a happy note I did have my last weigh in before I deliver which means I can now eat whatever I want and pretend I'm not gaining anymore weight! Yay for sugar!

the count down is on

Had my 37 week doctor appointment today and found out I was dilated 2 cm and 50% effaced. I was pretty happy with that, but considering I've been walking almost three miles a day plus chasing after Zack plus swimming plus....you get the picture...I'm also a little disappointed. I'm not sure what I expected to be, except maybe in active labor? Oh well.

I also scheduled my induction date just in case Brody decides to not come out. My doctor said I can go up to a week early, so that's the plan. June 21st can NOT come any sooner!

So, my little Brody, you have less than two weeks. Get all the kicking my ribs you can out of your system because soon you will be evicted. This is your a little less than two weeks notice. Love you lots, but love you on the outside more. :)