Josiah is 1 week old!

Well, what can I say? God has blessed us yet again, and we are head over heels in love with our third boy! Josiah is perfect.

We see similarities of both Eli and Noah in him, but strangely don't think he vividly resembles me or Jonny. However, about three or four different nurses commented that Josiah looks like Daddy. I'm sure we'll hear all sorts of varying opinions like we did (and still do) with Eli and Noah. Unlike the rest of us, who all have double calics on the back of our heads, Josiah just has one. He does, however, have a second one right in the front of his head. I'm sure he'll appreciate that when he's of middle school age. :) So far he is super sleepy. He is very alert when he is awake, but that doesn't happen much. Josiah's fussiest times are during diaper changes and in the early evenings, but he easily calms down with some Mama bouncing. :) He sleeps great at night- waking about every three hours to nurse and goes right back to sleep. We had one rough night due to milky issues :) ... but all is good now!

Okay, here are some- well, LOTS- of snapshots from our first week with Baby SiSi. (A nickname coined by big brother Noah.)

Proverbs Topic #9: Fear of the LORD

Here are the verses:

1:7 "Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline."
2:3-5 "Cry out for insight and understanding. Search for them as you would for lost money or treasure. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God."
3:7 "Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn your back on evil."
9:10 "Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding."
10:27 "Fear of the LORD lengthens one's life, but the years of the wicked are cut short."
14:26 "Those who fear the LORD are secure; he will be a place of refuge for their children."
14:27 "Fear of the LORD is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death."
15:16 "It is better to have little with fear for the LORD than to have great treasure with turmoil."
15:33 "Fear of the LORD teaches a person to be wise; humility precedes honor."
16:6 "Unfailing love and faithfulness cover sin; evil is avoided by fear of the LORD."
19:23 "Fear of the LORD gives life, security, and protection from harm."
22:4 "True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor and long life."
24:21 "My child, fear the LORD and the king, and don't associate with rebels."

Birth Story...

I thought I'd share Josiah's birth story, so if this sort of thing is not your cup of tea- skip this reading. :) I'll try to give the brief- nutshell version of our first day with Josiah.

On Mother's Day morning (Sunday) I woke up feeling tiny little contractions and tons of pressure like the baby was very, very low. I had a few other surprises that had me thinking he was coming very soon. I called my mom, the midwife, etc. etc. .... turned out we still needed to wait. We went to church, took a nap, played outside, and after dinner I noticed I had been getting contractions every 15-20min. or so.

I called my mom. I called Julia. I did the dishes. I put away laundry. I sat on my exercise ball. After 4 or 5 hours of mild contractions every 10-5 min. apart, Jonny, Julia and I drove into Corvallis to the hospital. I was only a 4. I was disappointed. I thought I'd be further along than that. Then, to make things worse, the girl in the room next door was yelling and hollering like she was dying. It freaked me out. I was more scared this time than with the first two. Something about knowing what is going to happen, the fact that I was only a 4, and that the girl next door was dying... I was really scared.

About an hour later, around 12:30am, Jonny got a migraine. Praise the Lord Julia was there. My contractions were getting harder, but not terrible. Jonny took medicine and went down to the cafeteria for a cheeseburger. Julia and I walked up and down the hallway to help Josiah position just right. My back ached!!! Jonny took a little 30 min. power nap.

At 1:20am I was only a 5 and the girl next door was still screaming! I started talking about getting an epidural because I was only half way and my contractions were getting more intense. I was wondering how in the world I had Eli and Noah without meds. I was praying. I was afraid. I felt bad for the girl next door.

Then, THANK YOU JESUS, in an hour and a half I finished those last 5cm. Contractions were hard! Julia was so helpful in coaching me to breath. Jonny was rubbing my sore back. At 2:55am I felt like I could stand and maybe pop my bag of water if I gave a little push... and I did! Then there was TONS of pressure I got on the bed as fast as I could, and about 4 or 5 pushes later Josiah was born at 3:03am!!!

Here are a few pictures... (sorry I wasn't paying attention and some are way bigger...)

Yay! And now we get to go home!!!

Josiah Owen

This is Becky (Jess' sister) reporting in for Jessica since she's in the hospital and unable to post.

Josiah Owen (they're pretty sure that's what his name is) was born at 3:03 this morning. Smaller than his two older brother, he came out weighing in at 7lbs 1oz and 20 inches long. This is over 1 1/2 lbs less than Eli and Noah, who were 8lbs 10oz and 8lbs 14oz, respectively!

It appears Josiah may have a personality more like his mother. Eli and Noah were both born late in the week on a Friday, 3 days past their due dates. Josiah, however, kept telling Mom he was ready early with all these random contractions she was having. Just like Jess was trying to prepare me for my visit with all her email updates and information on watching the boys and where everything is kept, Josiah was trying to prepare Mom by telling her he was coming soon. Jess started going into labor late on Mother's Day, and Josiah was born about 8 1/2 hours later early Monday morning! What a great beginning to life!

Josiah, I can't wait to meet you! Aunt Becky is coming soon!

P.S. Jess just updated me and wanted me to add that Josiah just had his first poop!

Happy Mother's Day!

Sometimes these holidays become weekend events in my mind, instead of just a day... 'Mother's Day Weekend', 'My Birthday Weekend', 'Easter Weekend', etc, and this weekend has been pretty fun.

On Saturday Jonny built a flower bed and I planted lots of pretty flowers. I love it! (So does Eli.)

Me and my precious boys.Cutie.Our neighbor, Nona, always lets the boys water her flowers when she comes home from work. They love it, so when she saw that we were building our own flower bed, she bought them their own watering cans!! We are so blessed to have such kind neighbors, they also bought us some flowers I wanted, but couldn't find, and this morning they beat us home from church and David shoveled all the left over soil that was piled in our driveway.

Noah and I were thinking about labor- it didn't evoke good feelings. But if you notice, we're sitting in my Mother's Day gift. Jonny and the boys got me a patio swing that I've wanted for a long time. I'm so excited to sit and rock my baby in it!And here I am... 39 weeks pregnant. Things are feeling really, really ready. Last night I called my sis-in-law, Lacey, because I thought I might need her to come stay with the boys. It turned out to be nothing. Then this morning a similar thing happened... sorry for the 6:45am call Mom! I don't know if this baby is going to wait for you, Becky!!!

And currently as I type this, the boys are playing in a pool the neighbors let us borrow. Crazy boys!!!

Ick

Scratch that. I'm not ready tonight. Today was a rough day. Actually, I feel like in the last two days I've been the worst version of myself. I feel like such a baby complaining about a silly cold, but I seriously have the worst cold I've had in a long, long time. It doesn't help that I have a hard time sleeping at night due to pregnancy, but add a sore throat, stuffy nose and not being able to breathe- it makes for a hard night. I was sneezing and sniffling all day!

I don't know if this has ever happened to anyone else, but do you ever react harshly or stupidly to something that provokes or upsets you? I had that happen to me last night and then again this afternoon. It's horrible! Something reasonable and legitimate can upset me, then I don't react well, and end up feeling worse than I did in the first place. I feel stupid, embarrassed and ashamed. Ugh! I hate that! The embarrassment is probably rooted in pride... But also, I get mad when I react in an inappropriate way because it is a bad witness and doesn't glorify the Lord. I'm always telling Eli that its okay to get frustrated and upset, but there is a right and wrong way to handle your feelings. I have not been a good example of that in the last two days. :(

Anyway, I don't know why I am sharing this on a blog post. I guess I'm hoping I'm not the only one who feels this way. Big, sick, tired, uncomfortable, embarrassed, convicted.... ICK! I need an extra measure of His grace.

Waiting for Baby

Okay, I think I'm ready now. I'm a little scared of the labor part, but I'm ready to hold my baby. I've got everything on my list checked off. Picked a name- check. (But no middle name yet.) Clean house- check. Eli done with swim lessons- check. Mommy shower- check. Packed hospital bag -check. Camera batteries charged- check. Baby clothes & diapers in dresser- check. Pedicure- check. Becky here- oh wait, not till next Thursday! :)

Eli and Noah were both born three days after that 'ovulation calculated due date'. If that's the case with this little guy, then we will be waiting until the 17th! My guess is that he will be earlier than that. I'm having all kinds of random contractions- something I never experienced with the first two. It's pretty annoying, to be honest. Last night I was awake timing contractions for a couple hours just to have them suddenly stop. It seems like I get them every evening lately, but according to a few friends of mine, this could last for weeks. Sigh...

Today was the last day I had plans, and was preferring not to have the baby. We had some friends over for a little Cinco de Mayo play date and lunch, and then this evening another friend joined me for a pedicure. (Gotta have those feet lookin' pretty for labor!) Next on my agenda- meet my newest son!