Buggy in the big town

Seattle Seattle! A great city. We had so much fun and did not want to leave. Seeing the big city through our little Jack's eyes certainly exposed us to all the wonders there are...



A trip to the Seattle Aquarium down at Pike's Place. Jack loved being an octopus.



We rode the monorail down to the space needle and had a delicious picnic by a giant fountain.



We had donuts and coffee early every morning at a place called Top Pot donuts a block from our hotel.


Jack's first major league game at Safeco field. It was the last game of the season to a struggling team. Jack was enthralled with all the noise and action.



On our last night, we walked down to the water and took in the spectacular panaramas. We had a wonderful, wonderful time in the Emerald City.

Banana Buggy

My baby ate his first solid food today, a few bites of banana. Dad fed Buggy with a little spoon. Buggy made a few faces and tentatively took the banana in his mouth. He wrinkled his eyebrows in concern, his hands moved up and down, and took a few swallows. Just a little banana, but I was overcome with pride and happy sadness.

I've fed Jack all breastmilk all the way and I remember when I first saw him when he was born, how he immediately latched on to eat! And here is my boy eating his first bites of banana!

He's a big, healthy boy, so robust and strong! I am so thankful for that. I will continue to nurse him for awhile yet, but no doubt about it, he's on his way to being a big boy. Yay Jack!!!

Raised in Carolina

Jack and I went back east to ol' Cackalackee. Daddy saw us off in Seattle and went to a Mariners game.

We arrived in Jacksonville and it was night time, humid and humming with bugs. I hadn't been back for a long time. My parents drove us to their beach house in the little town of Snead's Ferry. They were so happy to see Buggy and could not get over his "pretty" face.





Snead's Ferry is a sleepy hot little town, full of shrimps, oysters, and crabs. My dad caught me some hermit crabs which were my pets. They have an annual shrimp pageant, but the festival was not on while I was there, so I could not be crowned Shrimp Queen. We did a lot of fishing. My dad is a good fisherman.



Little buggy got to go to the beach and see the ocean and many seashells, birds, and even a baby owl my dad rescued. Granddad loved carrying Jack everywhere in a pouch like an old man kangaroo.



Mom cooked many meals for us. Since she could. It was really good seeing my mom and understanding what it is to be a mom myself. We related birthing stories and breastfeeding. Mom had unassisted labor at home- my dad pulled my brother from her- I had a great appreciation of how brave she is.

Our trip to North Carolina was wonderful. Buggy liked the sea air, especially after knowing nothing but arctic winter. I ate many a Krispy Kreme donut and Bojangles BBQ biscuits. We let our hermit crab friends go back to their ocean home. Then we left to go back home to Daddy. We missed him terribly. When we got to Fairbanks, the snow had melted and it was sunny out- we gave Daddy a big hug.

Jack's First Plane Ride

Jack flew on a plane for the first time at 8 weeks old. He did great. We went down to Washington for my flight attendant training and stayed in the beautiful town of SeaTac.

We rode the light rail from one end to the other, getting off at the Westlake stop. I bought Jason birthday sushi at a food court at a bus stop. There were lots of people waiting for the bus doing the things that people do at bus stops.

The light rail is brand new and the stations are still shiny and clean. You don't go through turnstiles. The "authorities" come on randomly, stand still at the doors for a couple of authoratative seconds, and then go around inspecting tickets. I got to see parts of Seattle that I've never seen, like the Vietnamese and Filipino sections and the deportation building.



Jason and Jack visited mama at the training center for feedings throughout the next day and it ended up working well. Everyone was happy to see a little baby and such a good papa. No snow down there, grass was green, and the temperature in the mid 50s so Jack also got his first walks in the open air. Jason carried Jack in the Ergo carrier and it was delightful to see them outside.

Our trip was basically all business, but we had ourselves a good time. We even got a free meal from Roasters. On the way back, Jack slept through some rocky turbulence and I think he likes planes almost as much as cars and lightrails. Next we'll go on a boat and a choo choo train.

New Year's Post

jason started this blog a year ago. our black eyed peas worked because 2009 was a great year. this year, we had black eyed peas again and i believe we're in for another wonderful year. little jackaroo is here and we're excited to watch him grow and learn a little about livin and a lot about love.

What Daddy Saw

A week or two before baby Jack was born Tonia explained to me that when a mothers water breaks it is not like the movies. Usually it is a trickle or a small stream or the water does not break until the mom is already at the hospital. When Tonia's water broke it was like in the movies. Tonia, Dana and I were all sitting on the couch. I was on sip number two of my beer when out of the corner of my eye I could tell something was happening with Tonia. She said "my water just broke", she stood up took off her drawers and out it came, lots of it. Our first instinct was to get everything ready to go to the hospital. I did as much as I could on my but Tonia was quite active for a few minutes. I continued getting ready while she and Dana relaxed and assesed the situation. We were definatley in the pre-labor stage.

We had already decided to stay at home as long as possible before traveling to the hospital. Things went very smoothly. Dana and I poured through our numerous baby books so we new what to do and when to leave. The timing and the intensity of the contractions were very steady so we decided to lay down and maybe go to sleep. Around 10:30 Tonia had another rush of fluid escape her. I decided it was time to go.

It was a good decision to leave because on the way to the hospital the contraction became more intense. We checked in and met Valerie, the woman who did wonders to get us trough the night. We settled in very quickly. We asked a few questions and gave Valerie our birth plan. The next few hours were all about the contractions. It is hard to see your wife go through so much pain. I did what I could by holding Tonia's hand and giving her words of incouragement. Valerie was champion when it came to soothing Tonia during the hard contractions. She was very relaxed and had a very soft and assuring voice. Tonia called out to her many times during labor. I thank her very much for being there, we got very lucky with a great nurse. I don't recall exactly when the midwife arrived but she was a welcome sight. I knew we were getting closer to meeting baby Jack. Tonia wanted to push very badly and asked a few times if she could. Finally it was time. During this stage Dana held one of Tonia's feet while I held the other. While we did this Tonia grabbed her thigh are so help the process. I remember when I first saw that little bit of hair on Jack's head emerge. Another thing I remember was the absolute amazement of how much energy Tonia was putting into the pushing process. She would put any man to shame with what she gave. I knew she was giving everything she had. After seeing the crown of Jack's head a few minutes earlier I was shocked when his entire head came out. It was so big. Tonia followed the last few instructions including and big push followed by rapid small pushes. When Jack came out I was overwhelmed with emotions. I cried big time. They immediately placed Jack on Tonia's chest. Tonia giggled because the umbilical chord was tickling her. This made me cry even harder because I was laughing and crying at the same time. I took a picture of the placenta and then held Jack for the first time while Tonia was getting cleaned up. It was an unbelieveable feeling. As much as a loved holding newborn baby Jack I loved giving him back to Tonia. I was beyond proud seeing Tonia hold Jack. She went though nine months carrying the little fella and experience such and tough but rewarding experience during labor, without and epidural by the way. Tonia was champion of the world during labor. The nurse and the midwife said it was the best labor they had seen in years. They even said she should teach a birth class. For the past nine months and six days Tonia has been the greatest mother and wife imaginable. I love you Tonia and I love you Jack.

Bruna's New Kid

i write this blog on a pillow on my lap with my four day old son asleep on my left arm. it's the day after christmas and i can't help but be amazed that this is where i'm at- a beautiful baby boy and me at night on the couch at home.
just 4 days ago, jason, dana, and i sat on this couch watching tv and it was at 4:30 i heard and felt a pop in me and i got up in a hurry. "my water broke," i said and there was a flood of water suddenly pouring down my legs and pooling on the floor. dana and jason rushed for towels and i stood there shaking as they cleaned me up. all of us were in a little shock.
i had lost my mucus plug earlier that day after lunch at the wolf run, but i didn't think it meant much. now though, my heart raced and i thought, i got to pack my bag, i got to get it together! and i had to get out of my skirt and drawers. everyone busied themselves. i was shaking while packing baby clothes in the nursery- the room became really real.
then i calmed down and felt really good and clear headed. i felt ready. dana and jason passed this birth partner book back and forth and got a notebook out to record my first real contractions.
well, hours passed. my contractions were great, all 7 to ten minutes apart, i laughed and talked my way through dinner and some yahtzee and felt very positive. my water had broke at 4:30 just when jeopardy comes on. jason and i like to watch jeopardy when he comes home from the park. so it was around 10 when i decided we all might as well go to bed because nothing was really changing. the hours had zoomed by though. i figured that maybe tonight was the night, but most likely the next day.
at 10:30 in bed, i felt another pop and again jumped up. bloody water gushed out. jason got up, turned the light on, and we sort of stood there not knowing what to do. then jason decided we ought to call the hospital and so i did. the nurse said, yup, you better come in. i said, right now? and she said, come on in right now. i told jason and he jumped to action, put on his clothes to start the car and dana had got back up downstairs. but i didn't want to go. i felt like i hadn't really labored at home for as long as i could. that was my original plan.
i got into my freshly washed skirt, my only maternity outfit, and we all bundled up and carried our stuff out the door. i said goodbye to bruna.
on the porch, i got a contraction and had to stop and bend over until it was over. we all piled into the taurus and drove off into the snowy night.
i been down sheeps creek road hundreds of times, but i saw everything different suddenly. it was all clear and dark and intense, every bend in the road, ann's greenhouse, the turnoff for the parks highway and the lights of other cars.
i had a couple more contractions and these were getting a little serious. i remember pressing my palms on the window and kind of humming.
we got to town and all of us were quiet. i saw the hospital looming big and silent and suddenly jason had pulled to the emergency room entrance with its red lit up letters. dana and i got out and went inside. i noticed some real tired people setting in there the way emergency room waiting rooms are. the reception area had a star of david banner. i felt good still, and like there was a good chance we'd get sent home. jason came in with all our stuff and i felt a little silly.
then i got another contraction and i had to set down. i saw a blonde older woman coming down a hall for us and i made myself get back up.
we rode the elevator, us three and the nurse. she said her name, valerie, and she was very quiet and had little expression on her face.
but when we got to my room, 217, she said, "i saved my favorite room for you." i remembered it from the hospital tour. she told me i had to be examined and put on a fetal monitor and so i took my thermal pants and drawers off, but left my trusty skirt on. my skirt stayed on the whole time.
i got on the bed and from here on out, did not leave the bed very much except to use the bathroom. all my good plans to listen to the boss and roll around on the birthing ball never happened. i got hooked up to the monitor, was told i had elevated blood pressure, and that i might should get on an iv for dehydration. i realized that i was rolling towards being out of control and my contractions centered themselves in me like a radiator in my guts. i know i stopped talking much and began gripping the bed rail. still, i spoke up for myself and said i didn't want an iv, that i'd instead try to hydrate myself.
the room stayed semi dark and i was aware of jason and dana hovering. but mostly i felt really alone like i was retreating from the situation. i remember making myself go to the bathroom and having contractions on the cold hard floor and thinking, "i ought to lock the door and labor in here."
i began to shake and sweat by this point. i can't explain what was happening, just that i had entered a world far away- like some kind of nightmare. i remember yanking on my hair and biting the bed rail and then thinking, this can't be happening. jason and dana talked at me, soothed me, but they became one shadow that sort of hovered between this crazy world i was in and reality.
the only real person became valerie. i kept my eyes closed most of the time, but would peek and see valerie and she was like my long lost mother, this older, quiet blonde haired woman. i called out for her over and over and she would come and hold my hand, strength for strength, and we'd go through a contraction together, she said, "you're about to peak, you reach the peak, it's done, it's past..." i don't know what i would've done without valerie. she was like a lifeline.
you'd have to ask jason and dana what all was going on for most of those hours. i remember valerie saying i was 7 cm dialated at one point and therefore i was in the homestretch. i wanted an epidural and she said, you can make it without one, you're so close now. so i believed in her and myself i reckon. i felt like a savage!
the contractions got so close together i was pretty sure i was gonna die. i realized another woman was in the room, a very authoritative voice. it was lisa, the midwife. i think i remember tables being drawn from the walls, lights turned on, more action.
then dana had my leg up in the air and bent it at some yoga angle and i was mad and didn't like it at all. but she insisted and someone kept saying, this is going to help open you up. by this time, i was ready to push. valerie gripped my hand and she breathed through with me, made me not push. not pushing was horrible i have to say.
but then, like a light in the dark, i heard lisa say i was good to push! i left that nightmare world i was in and suddenly decided, i got to get down to business for real.
they said i pushed for 25 minutes, but it seemed even shorter than that. i attacked pushing. i summoned up every past, present, and future power in me and pushed. i felt the ring of fire and this just fired me up more! i thought of this son i was about to meet.
they said they could see his head and all his hair and i knew that i was really almost there. lisa was great. she told me exactly when to push and counted them down. jason and dana each had a hold of one of my legs and were counting down and telling me i was so strong.
i felt my baby's arms and legs like some wild octopus in me, about to spread out. and then after a mighty push, i saw him. it was the most wonderful moment of my life. lisa put him right on top of me and i was laughing and just so, so happy. i laughed because his umbilical cord tickled inside me. i saw jason crying and i wanted to cry too, but i was too overjoyed!
giving birth was the best experience of my life. i am so grateful to the hospital staff, especially my nurse mama valerie. and dana, who cried at the birth of my son while holding onto my right leg. and most of all jason, my husband whose constant support and quiet strength willed me to keep on keepin on.
lisa stitched me up as i had tore during pushing. i never thought i'd be the happiest woman in the world with my legs open getting my lady bits stitched, but that's what being a brand new mama to a beautiful boy is all about.
Baby Jack Nolan Jones was born at 3:20 AM on December 23rd, 5 days early. He weighed in at 7 lbs 5 oz and measured 21" long. He is absolutely beautiful with dark gray blue eyes, dark brown hair, and i call him my sweet muskrat.