Waiting for something to happen...

More waiting...

(Ginger tried so hard to see the baby but she was about 30 hrs early! Sorry Ging...)

Still Waiting...

He's HERE!!!You're only allowed to post pics of yourself with multiple chins if you've just given birth

Staring at his dad

Hanging with Aunt Leah

Whoa... who knew your neck was that strong!?!

Rocking with Aunt Debbie
Sweet Baby Lennox

Two rough looking parents headed home with their baby

Catch up - Hospital Stay

I started this a long time ago and meant to post it but never got around to it.

I went to the doctor on Wednesday July 23 for one of my last regular check ups. I had an ultra sound to check on the baby's size because I had steadily been measuring ahead. The u/s said the baby weighed 8 lbs 7 oz! I was not dilated at all so my doctor gave me 2 options: schedule my c-section or be induced on Sunday night. Even though I know most births don't go as planned, I was really disappointed to hear my options. I had imagined that I would go into labor at home then Jay and I would run around frantically and gather our things. We would arrive at the hospital to have a quick, painless natural birth and a perfect baby boy!? What? OK... so I said I imagined that.
Anyway, after many tears I chose to be induced on Sunday night. Jay and I got there at 9 pm and just knew we would have our baby on Monday. Monday came and went and we still had no baby... who ever heard of an induction not working?! My doctor took me off of the pitocin for an hour and let me eat (thank goodness) then it was back to the drawing board. By Tuesday morning I had not slept for about 48 hours. Good news though... I was FINALLY dilated 1 cm. I know that seems like a joke to most but I was actually excited about it. The doctor broke my water around 8 am and by 12:45 I was 6-7 cm and dying in pain. I had put off asking for an epidural because I was so afraid the doctor would check me and I would only be 2 cm. I didn't want to totally wuss out or to risk delaying my labor. When I heard the good news about how much I was dilated they couldn't get that anistesiologist in my room fast enough. Everything was smooth sailing after that.

Lennox arrived at 5:46 pm. The delivery went really well. It was actually a breeze... I couldn't feel a thing and I was SO HAPPY I couldn't feel a thing! Jay and I both kept saying... Thank God you had the epidural! When I first saw the baby I had such an overwhelming rush of emotions. I was so excited & relieved but also scared out of my mind. I couldn't believe that this was our baby & we were actually parents. My niece Avery looked at the pictures and asked me why I had that look on my face, was I sad? I think sadness is one of the only emotions I wasn't feeling at the time...

So many people came to visit us at the hospital. It was completely exhausting but we felt so special to see how many people care about us and wanted to celebrate Lennox's arrival. I think I was in a state of euphoria most of that time. I do have to say that Jay was the perfect husband. He did everything I wanted him to do without me having to ask and he didn't do anything I didn't want him to do. If you know me at all, you know that is quite an accomplishment! I have never felt closer to him than I did during those first few days after Lennox arrived.

My sister was able to stay with me at the hospital so Jay could go get some rest. Leah is an incredible sister. She took such good care of me the whole time. She had me stocked up on medicine, drinks, food, and other important things you need right after you have a baby. Thank goodness she was there because I think I had to ask her and my mom about 10,000 questions... not that that is any different than usual!

We left the hospital on Thursday around lunch. We just had to wrap up a few things before we left... like naming the baby. I'm still surprised that his name is Lennox but I do love it and I think it fits him.

Now Lennox is almost 6 weeks old. He is growing entirely too fast. I cannot get enough time holding him and staring at him and trying to get him to smile at me. He is just now getting used to sleeping by himself for any amount of time at all. For the first 5 weeks or so I just held him while he slept. I know that's totally impractical though.

First Road Trip

On the 29th we went to visit my aunts and cousins. Thank goodness my dad was kind enough to drive me there. I had planned to do it alone but I probably wouldn't have made it past Poplarville without my dad. Lennox is not a big fan of the car seat so it is really helpful to have someone in the back seat with him. We also went to Jay's first game of the year in Laurel. It was a long day but it was worth the stress... Lennox was so tired he slept through the night (see post below).

Lennox & Kinsley who is 18 days older

Lanie holding Lennox

Aunt Renae with Lennox

Sally & Lennox

1 month check up

Lennox went to his 1 month checkup yesterday. I could not believe it but he weighed 11 lbs 5 oz & he was 22 3/4" long... 90th percentile for weight and height. He is growing entirely too fast! The doctor said he looks like a 2 month old and has excellent head control. I don't know what she expected... he's obviously gifted!

Thank You Lord!

Lennox slept through the night last night! YAY!!! I laid him down on his stomach in my bed at 10:30. This morning he woke me up at 6:30. I slept like a rock. I was kind of scared when I woke up because the sun was shining in my window.... but I was so happy to finally have SLEEP!

I know, I know...I'm not supposed to put him on his stomach and I only did it because I was thinking he was only taking a short nap. Every single time his back hits a flat surface, he wakes up crying. He has a bad back people. He prefers to be held, thanks.

Oh, he also smiled this week on purpose. He smiled before but I think he was just using the bathroom most of those times. This week he looked right at Jay and just cooed and smiled. I was so mad because he never does that to me. I ran over and started talking to him and he smiled so big at me too! It was priceless. No pictures. I was too busy looking at him to get the camera.

Hitting the Road

Thanks Gustav for the spontaneously planned vacation!!

We're hitting the road tomorrow morning at 6 am. I really, really hope that this contra flow situation on the interstate makes our life easier not harder. I'm so not looking forward to a 6 hour (potentially 12 hour) drive with a 4 week old. I would dread a day or two or three or seventeen without power with a 4 week old! So... we're going.

Plan A: head to condo in Panama City

Plan B: Spend the night in Laurel with Sally

Plan 3: head north to Memphis to last remaining hotel room

Last Resort Plan: Drive up to Dallas and spend 2 weeks with sister

Thanks to all who offered a place for us (Ging, Lizbeth, Sally, etc)

Last time I left for a hurricane I packed some flip flops and t-shirts and all of my pictures... knowing full well there was no point but, just in case, I took the few irreplaceable things that would fit in my car. 12 hours later I was in a condo in Panama City watching my world basically fall apart. We had about 4 feet of water in our 2nd story apartment and just shreds of a roof. We pretty much lost every material item we had (minus the flip flops and t-shirts and pictures). We spent days without water & phone service; weeks without electricity, ice, & confirmation that we both still had jobs; months without a place of our own; and over a year trying to recover financially, mentally, & emotionally. Katrina changed so much of my life but I really think it made me and most people affected better people. We learned how to share, how to help each other, how to make the most of a terrible situation, and, most importantly, we learned that life isn't about what you have or where you live but it is about the people in your life. We would not have survived (ok, maybe we would have lived but not as well) without my family, Jay's family, Lockheed Martin employees, friends, neighbors, and volunteers... oh and people who let us grind their stumps! Jay and I were stump grinders for several weeks after Katrina! (it is really surprising what you will do during uncertain times)

So, anyway... we're getting out of dodge. I hope everyone has a safe evacuation. I hope the outcome of this hurricane is much less devastating than the last. Happy Labor Day!

Lennox Jay Beech

Lennox was born on July 29th. He weighed 8 lb 9 oz and was 19 3/4 inches long. He was a big boy!!!


He's finally here!!


I could not believe he was really that big...


Snoozing at the hospital


On our way home.

Lennox is the best thing I've ever done in my life. Every day I look at him and love him even more that I did the day before. Motherhood is an incredible feeling.