Guess Who Came to See Me?

Pappa Bob!!!


Mom came in yesterday and we picked up my dad from the airport today and he has been holding Henry ever since. Henry has smiled several times today and we are eating it up. PLUS, mom and dad have offered to take Henry tonight after I do his first feeding and to take him and feed him with some of my pumped milk for the next feeding and get him back down. Yessssss! I do not know what I will do with that much sleep!


Mama Lulu is in the kitchen cooking us supper.

Adam went fly fishing all day but is home now (with his new haircut...it started out as a terrible haircut that he got at the mall and then we just plowed it all off with clippers.)


All is so well in the Jennings household and Cowboy Henry is having a great weekend.

Ding Dong, Step One is Done

Adam last summer at a winery. 

 

Sleep deprivation does not make for good all night celebrating with the hubby.  Sadly after my glass of wine last night, I fell asleep on the couch at 8:00 before Henry had a bath.  But it doesn't matter because Adam is done with his boards.  He says he feels freer than he's felt in two years.  Is that how you spell freer?  It looks weird.  Anyways, I'm very proud of him and now we wait and see how he did.  Now there's nothing else to be done and that's a good feeling for my studmuffin husband. 

Now, I need to brag on myself.  You know I totally have to list my accomplishments on here so just listen up.  Yesterday it was rainy so I didn't run or walk, just cleaned house with Henry in the Baby Bjorn- which is kind of a workout and makes everything take just a little bit longer.  So today,  I went for my 4th run.  I walked for 5 minutes, then ran for 20 minutes consecutively, then walked for 5 more minutes.  It was hot as dookie so Powers and I about passed out but I strung those two 10 minute segments together from Monday and was feeling so good by the end.   Obviously, for the last 4 minutes, I put on the ultimate motivator workout song..."Fighter" by Christina Aguilera.  Don't laugh- it'll push you on until the end!  It feels good to be getting back into it and I'm excited to keep pushing on but also listening to my body...aka no running tomorrow.  

However, my best friend Mary Lou (her birthday was on the 23rd- shout out!) did send me THE SHRED workout so I am excited to try it even though I have to admit, I've never seen the Biggest Loser.  I've heard lots of good things about the dvd though. 

Okay, going to go feed my little man.  Mama Lulu is coming tomorrow and we are VERY excited about that.  Adam and I plan on going on our first SOLO date while she's here to babysit- woohoo! 

Brooke

Since Brooke is so good about doing birthday shout-outs,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKE! Enjoy California!

Gettin' there.

Adam is off taking his boards right now (prayer) and, to distract myself, I just have to report that the running is improving. I had my 3rd official run yesterday and I walked for 5 minutes to warm up, ran for 10 minutes, walked for 5, ran for 10, and walked 6 to get back home. So, my running increments are getting longer and I think that normal runs may be just around the corner! I was feeling much better during the run and I didn't feel so hunched over and like a 90-year-old with a peg leg. I also used the ipod and pumped up the motivating tunes to get my legs moving on tempo and that certainly helped (not to mention the people driving by while I ran...they helped too).

I also tried to do abs and realized that I have no abs any longer. I don't know if they've even reconnected since I had Henry. Doing normal crunches was okay by trying to do anything lower-ab-y was pathetic. BUT it feels good to be doing something and I am enjoying getting back into exercising- it makes me a much more pleasant and balanced person to be around and gives me energy to keep up with my three men.

Plus, I'd like to fit into my jeans again one day...and NOT my maternity jeans.

Step One

T'was the night before step one
and all through the house
Henry was squalling,
spitting pacifiers out of his mouth.

Adam's khakis were hung by his closet with care
in hopes that super on his exam, he would fare.

Adam was snuggled all warm in his bed
with visions of pathology questions dancing in his head.

The coffee was prepped and the truck had gas
prayers had been said that Adam would kick that test's you-know-what.

Ok, this is getting ridiculous and I only have a few minutes before I need to get Henry's bath stuff ready. Adam is taking step 1 of the boards for medical licensing tomorrow and he has been working his butt off. I am so proud of how committed he's been while also not making me feel neglected. He's a good balancer, that one.

If you get a second tomorrow, please shout out a prayer for him. We are definitely hoping in and trusting in the Lord to see this thing on through, as he has been beyond faithful in every other aspect of medical school. But we sure are excited about celebrating tomorrow night- woohoo! Incidentally, celebrating with a newborn is funny since we still will need to give him a bath and to bed on time and then we will likely pass out at 9:30 p.m.

Adam, I love you and am so proud of you. You're going to kick that test in the junk.

C-C-C-Curry!

C-C-C-Curry and the rice... bum, bum..
(Sung to the tune of Benny and the Jets)

Sooo, yesterday Adam and I took Henry to A Taste of Curry World on 8th Street. It was good and the people there are so nice. It's only been open 3 weeks so you should go try it. I had the chicken curry and you must try the curried sweet potatoes. Adam had jerk chicken but makes sure you get a container of the hot sauce, it's pineapple-y and spicy. The good thing about going out to eat curry is that your house doesn't smell like curry for the week that it would following cooking it.

Henry lasted through the meal miraculously and as I took my last bite he started crying. Good timing!

Also, I'd like to add that Henry blew out his diaper, onesie and pooped all over this sweet girl that I was meeting for the first time. She (Lindsey) came to our girls' group on Thursday and was like, "Can I hold your baby?" and later on he made a horrific pooping noise and there was bright yellow poop all over her brown dress. Wow. She was very cool about it, though, even though she had another engagement that night. Whoops.

1 Month

Happy one month birthday, baby! I'm going to have some ice cream for you.

All he wants to do is...all he wants to do is dance.

Adam and I created these playlists for Henry when he was just a-cookin' in my womb. Soothing worship tunes meant to lull our son into sleep and create a peaceful atmosphere. Sounds wonderful, right? Well, turns out that he prefers "Hollaback Girl" and "Let's Get Retarded" and other soul-searching, meaningful songs. We found this out when he was fussin' the other day. Did the serene hymns bring peace...no. No they did not. Instead, Hollaback Girl lulled him to sleep. Then another song came on...a slow accoustic one. Henry began fussing a bit and so Adam switched it to the next song, "Let's Get Retarded" and ba-da-bing. Out like a light.

Adios Uterus.

Since today was the official 4-week mark of my darling son's birth, I was officially cleared for exercise. Adam and I have been walking but today I decided that I'd try to run a bit. After all, before I was pregnant I ran all the time! No sweat...

So, my plan of action was to do a little walk/jog routine and repeat. I left Henry with his Papa and leashed up Powers. After a short warm-up walk, I took my first step of my run. In the (abridged) words of Suzanne D. Tyler, It felt like my insides were about to fall out. Also, I looked like what I can only imagine an arthritic 87-year-old woman with a peg leg trying to go for a jog would look like. In short, it was slightly awkward.

I was reminded, though, that some of my best thinking is accomplished on runs. For example, this jewel formed in my head while Powers and I tromped the roads..."What if I lined my yard with political signs for opposing candidates?" and "What color is a chameleon"?

However, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and with that in mind, I pressed on. I did a little walk for three minutes, run for two minutes repeats and then headed back home. I will keep y'all posted with my hobblings and shufflings as I continue to press on and get back into it. I know, I know...you just can't wait.

My apologies to anyone whose uterus has actually fallen out...I didn't mean to offend...just comedic hyperbole.

Rested and Happy

Hellooooo bloggies.  How we doing?  I am elated because Henry has had two pretty decent nights in a row, Praise Jesus!  I never thought I could be so happy about three and a half hours of uninterrupted sleep!  

I had my OB appointment yesterday and I was thrilled (I did a fist pump and said, "YES!") to find out that I didn't have to have a pelvic exam...ooooh yeah.  They just checked my incision and sent me on my way.  Although, you remember a few blog posts back where I was bragging about how fast I was losing weight?  Yeah, that's come to a stand-still.  It could have to do with the fact that I have dessert multiple times a day...I keep justifying by saying, "Hey- I'm burning so many calories breast feeding..."  but probably not like 6 brownies-worth, eh?  I got the clear to start working out so I will maybe start that soon...we've been going on walks and I tell ya what, pushing that stroller adds a new dimension!  I can't imagine what it'll be like to start to run again...the day I found out I was pregnant, I stopped running and I haven't run since....yikes.

 

Adam is busy studying for his boards which he will take one week from today!  Then he starts his first rotation (Psychiatry) on June 1st...me thinks he'll have some good stories to share...oh but wait, he can't...silly privacy laws.

Two firsts

I am proud to announce that Henry and I went on our first outing by ourselves last night. I went to my girls' group and I put him in the car seat by myself successfully and it was my first time to drive since he was born. I feel so much better now that I know we can get out and about even without Adam and I feel less chained to the house.

Also, Adam gave Henry his first bottle today. I pumped for the first time and got over 3 1/2 ounces off one side before i quit (I was feeling really good about that...like a rockstar...)

Three Years...

Happy Anniversary to my main squeeze...
I love you so stinking much.

Mom, was that you??

I don't know who was praying last night (Mom?) but Henry and I both had awesome sleep nights! We gave him a bath at 8 and then he ate at 9 and then he slept in his crib from like 10 to 1:40 a.m. (WOW!), and 4:25 and then we woke up at 6:45 to get our day started and ate and had some fun time hanging out in bed. He is happy and awake and I am happy and much more rested. Thank you, Lord!

Giblets

Happy 3 week birthday Henry James!

Hey, Remember that time you were born? That was awesome.

Henry James, although pure sunshine and joy, is keeping his mama awake at night. He CAN sleep...I see it...it's happened before...but just not much the past few nights. In desperation, I have pulled him into bed beside at 4 a.m. so I could pat his bottom and then pass out for a second. YES, I know it's bad to sleep with your baby in bed...but I keep him away from Adam and curl him up beside me... I've been trying to feed him at night and then put him right back down but, so far, he is not too happy with that. Well, sometimes he is okay with it and sometimes he cries and sometimes he falls asleep for 15 minutes and then wakes himself up pushing out a #2 (why do babies strain so hard to push out #2? It is very soft when you are a breastfed baby...) So, any tips on how you got your baby to sleep better at night, I would love to hear. Yes, I have read Babywise. Yes, I am trying to get him on a routine. Yes, sometimes you literally cannot keep him awake after a feeding during the day.

Regardless, I love our little nuggy with his affinity for partying at night and i mean that in more ways than one. not that you can measure love by success. or not that love can even be measured using the metric system. its just all a matter of heart. What? I am losing cognitive abilities. Good-bye.

Monster Milk

Monster Milk...you get it from milking monsters!

Adam went to GNC to get Muscle Milk (protein powder) and ended up buying their new product, Monster Milk. He announced that it had come with a free t-shirt and unrolled the teeny-tiny package to reveal this. Here it is...in all it's glory...the world's best t-shirt:


Yikes.

And, in cuter shirt news...

Henry playin' possum:

Brooke made this onesie, by the by.

Adam had an ophthalmology clinic today and he came home with one eye dilated for the next six hours. (They had to dilate one another's eyes to do exams) I should've taken a picture. He looked freakish...one eye all huge and black and the other blue with a normal sized pupil...but still handsome, of course.

Wonderful Mamas

Happy Mothers Day to the two best mamas on the planet. Thanks for loving us, supporting us, encouraging us, listening to us, feeding us, disciplining us, hugging us, sacrificing for us, and showing us how to live and love well. We love you and are so thankful that we got to grow up with you as our moms.

Love,
Adam & Camille

Let the Games Begin...

Henry took his first intra-state trip today. Intra-state? Interstate? I don't know. The point is, he went to New York today. Buffalo, to be exact, to drop off his Mama Lulu at the airport. Henry passed out on this trip with his head sinking to the left and right in uncomfortable looking, contorted positions that seemed to not bother him a bit as he snoozed on through. On the way back, we pulled over and fed him and had a diaper change at an old car dealership. Although he was not happy to be stuck back in his seat, as soon as the car started moving, he passed out once again. Miracle!

I won't delve into too much detail about the dropping off my mom part except to say that there were plenty of tears and she is a wonderful, wonderful woman. But you already knew that, I blogged about it yesterday. Suffice it to say, that she landed safely in Jackson and is on her way to Ruston to be reunited with my Dad.

Now it's Adam, me, Henry, and Powers. Tonight we had chips & salsa and then brownies and ice cream for supper. Oh yeah, and left-over dilled carrots. Listen, we were emotionally spent- we had to have an junk-y supper. We took a long walk and talked about this season of life and what our days look like now. Being a mom is both the most exhilarating and terrifying thing I've ever done in my life. There are moments where it seems so natural and so comfortable. There are moments when fear sneaks up and I am desperate for the peace of God to calm my anxious heart. Nothing has made me crave the presence of the Lord like having a child. Nothing has made me more desperate for wisdom and contentment that I know can be found alone in abiding in Him. Nothing has made me more aware of my need for Jesus...and that is such a beautiful place to be- helpless but sure of where my help comes from.

Henry James in the O.R., moments after birth

It is messy- being a mom, my heart, my emotions. But what an honor, what a love to be given. It is precious. I pray that I savor each second...that I don't wish away any moment, no matter how hard. That I would be grateful, thankful, joyful, and ever mindful of the grace that I've been shown.

So Long, Farewell!

Well, I haven't blogged since Monday because I have been slightly sleep-deprived and trying to function. We had a much better night last night so this morning I am feeling pretty darn good.



Mama Lulu (My mom) is leaving us tomorrow. It'll be a sad day. She's been here since April 15th and we have loved having her here. She's so easy to be around, so encouraging, and she works so hard to bless our family and ease this transition. This verse comes to mind when I think of my mom:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Phil 2:3-4

That's quite a difficult challenge but my mom truly lives this way and has blessed and loved us so well. We will miss her but she says we need to be a family of 3 (or 4...with Powers) now. I know she's right but I just get a little weepy thinking about her leaving. I've gotten used to having her close and not so many states away in Louisiana.

She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed

-Proverbs 31:25-28a

We'll see you soon, Mama Lulu. We love you!

Fast Days

All my days are so fast now. Feedings and naps fill the days and it's amazing how quickly the day is gone! I am trying to savor each day and each little snuggle with our baby. God's timing for this pregnancy was perfect- Adam has been home studying for boards until May 29th and then he'll start his rotations on June 1st so we're getting a lot of quality family time. Plus having Henry's wonderful Mama Lulu here has been such a blessing. She really is such a humble servant and has made life so easy for us.

After a week of awake time during nights, Henry went 5 HOURS between his feedings last night! He ate at 10 and stayed awake kinda fussing until 11:40 or so...kinda fussy...and then he slept until 3 a.m. when I finally woke him up to eat! Can you believe that? After that, he'd wake up every 2 1/2 hours or so to eat but what a delight that he slept that long! We'll see if that repeats or continues but I was definitely thanking the Good Lord. Maybe we're getting our days and nights straight!



Mary Lou & Tristyn sent us this sweet monkey hat for Henry. Pretty snazzy, eh? It went well with his monkey onesie from Aunt Sam.



Thanks for the sweet lamb towel, Mrs. Helen! Even though you might have meant it for Henry, Adam's really taken a liking to it!

Baby Spa Day

So far, Henry has not enjoyed his sponge baths. You can't give him real baths until his umbilical chord falls out (please...any day now...it's getting kinda stinky), so we sponge him down and wash his hair. Well, so far, he has hated it. BUT, yesterday, we tried something new. We ran the shower as hot as it would go and filled the bathroom with steam. Then we brought him into the bathroom and layed him down on his mat and gave him his bath. No complaints from our little man! He was happy as a clam. And THAT may be the secret to the sponge bath. Kinda like a sauna. Lucky kid.

We went on a walk today in the sunshine and it was so nice. The weight drops off so quickly after you deliver and that is really encouraging to me. i gained about 41 lbs. and I've already lost 25 all while eating dessert every night. It's probably the breast feeding too because I wake up in the middle of the night with my stomach growling. Just to encourage all you present and future baby makers...

Bathed and Ready to Entertain

First Walk

We took Mr. Henry on his first walk today. He slept the entire way and I made it almost 2 miles, which I felt good about post-op. I am feeling better everyday, physically. We're still working on getting Henry straight on his nights & days. I'm trying to keep him awake for a little bit after his day-time feedings. Sometimes it works...sometimes it doesn't. He likes to stay awake after his night time feedings...huh, Babywise- What do you say to that?