Thursday, May 29, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
He's Here!
Our hearts are overflowing with joy as we welcome our new son into the world!
John Stephen Knapp arrived on May 25, 2008 at 1:58am. He was born in the peacefulness of our home, after a speedy labor and delivery. He weighed in at 8 pounds, 10 ounces, and measures 21 inches long.
He is perfect in every way and we are loving the full head of black hair he has!
Thank you Lord for this precious gift You've given us.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Lady in Waiting
Well, I made it once again to the 40 week mark.
Today is my due date according to my LMP although an early sonogram predicted that my due date was May 29th, based on the baby's size at that time. I'm hoping to go before then, as I don't think I can grow any more, let alone become more mobile in the weeks ahead. My mobility/agility level is that of a 92 year old woman. At least that's how I feel right about now.
I went to get adjusted today and Dr. Crack-Crack did something to my pelvis and I can hardly walk now! I'm not sure how I'm going to labor with this sort of pain; in fact, I'd rather be in labor than have this sort of pain. It's excruiciating.
I'm hoping to wake tomorrow morning with my body feeling back to normal. Well, as normal as a full term Momma can feel!
Here are my "due date pics" for you all to smirk at. :) Yes, I am huge. I keep repeating to myself: "Big and beautiful!"
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Savoring Tiny
Tiny is a nickname that Jeff affectionately gave to Jak during the first few weeks of his life. Indeed, he was tiny. And a tiny version of Jeff as well. I laughed a bit because I figured the name would stick and that as Jak got bigger, he'd 'outgrow' it for sure. I could just picture him at at 17, tall and broad, tackling people on the football field as the crowd chants, "Ti-ny! Ti-ny!"
In these last few days of my pregnancy I find my thoughts constantly turning to the fact that soon there will be another Tiny in the house and I won't be able to spend hours upon hours investing in my one and only son anymore. This makes me quite wistful and to be honest, I wasn't really expecting to feel this way. I guess I hadn't thought about what the transition to two children would look like, at least not emotionally.
The closer we get to D-Day, the more I try to relish these days, these precious moments where Jak is our only child, our only focus, our only pride and joy.
(Let me add that none of this is to take away the feeling of blessedness that we have about soon receiving a second son. We are overjoyed to be welcoming another little one into the world, and are so excited to meet him any day now. We look forward to the time we'll have with him, wathcing him grow into his own person and then watching the two boys play together, amongst other things.)
Here are some recent moments I've captured for our enjoyment, as well as yours, as we try to savor the time we have left with our first Tiny man.
In these last few days of my pregnancy I find my thoughts constantly turning to the fact that soon there will be another Tiny in the house and I won't be able to spend hours upon hours investing in my one and only son anymore. This makes me quite wistful and to be honest, I wasn't really expecting to feel this way. I guess I hadn't thought about what the transition to two children would look like, at least not emotionally.
The closer we get to D-Day, the more I try to relish these days, these precious moments where Jak is our only child, our only focus, our only pride and joy.
(Let me add that none of this is to take away the feeling of blessedness that we have about soon receiving a second son. We are overjoyed to be welcoming another little one into the world, and are so excited to meet him any day now. We look forward to the time we'll have with him, wathcing him grow into his own person and then watching the two boys play together, amongst other things.)
Here are some recent moments I've captured for our enjoyment, as well as yours, as we try to savor the time we have left with our first Tiny man.
Jak's First Hair Cut!
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Well, I finally did it. Took some time, some coercing and some pouting (by me, not Jak!) but I finally did it. The back of his little head was starting to become more shag than curls, so I had to chop it. I would've waited had the rest of his hair grown as fast as the back, but it just wasn't. Here are the before and after pics. He looks like a boy now rather than a baby. :( (Can you tell Mommy's having a hard time letting go??)
AFTER:
Well, I finally did it. Took some time, some coercing and some pouting (by me, not Jak!) but I finally did it. The back of his little head was starting to become more shag than curls, so I had to chop it. I would've waited had the rest of his hair grown as fast as the back, but it just wasn't. Here are the before and after pics. He looks like a boy now rather than a baby. :( (Can you tell Mommy's having a hard time letting go??)
Big Boy Things
Daddy made an awesome steak dinner on our new grill a few days ago. Jak is a meat lover like his parents, and he enjoyed that juicy steak as much as we did! He also got his first cob of corn to nibble on. I realized that I didn't need to cut the corn off of the cob anymore since he was a "big boy" and as usual--he loved it.
Jak has entered the climbing phase of his toddler years. Yay. Each morning he likes to climb up on a "big boy chair" and pick out his banana. I peel it for him and he eats it like a little grown up.
One of the things I think that is very important for little ones is them learning how to occupy themselves from time to time, to play independently. While Mommy has some down time, Jak goes into his crib for his own down time.
One day last week, I walked in to check on him and found that he was lining up all of his animals against the wall where they wouldn't fall down. I thought this very clever of him, despite the marks all over the newly painted wall. He loves to line them up all the time now, just to tear them down and do it all over again!
Mmm...Salsa!
"Hmm this looks good."
"Try it, Mom!"
"I like it Dad! I do!"
"Would YOU like some?"
We went out to dinner a few weeks ago to a Mexican place, and it was very good! Jak had his first taste of salsa and loved it! He even dipped his granola bar into it, you know, to get a different perspective on the whole salsa thing. Still loved it!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
39 Weeks
...and counting! We are all doing great. At times I feel like I just cannot wait any longer for this baby, but there are just as many times that I know he will come when he is ready and the more time he spends tucked in my womb, the better the transition afterward.
I can tell that my body is getting ready and will spare you the details of how I know, but let's just say, a woman knows. And so does her husband, because she (likely) complains a lot at this point of the pregnancy!
At my 38 week visit, everything was on target: blood pressure, heart tones, measurements, etc. The baby is still moving quite a bit and everyone who feels my tummy loves to feel his little foot sticking out of my right side. He's had his bottom felt by a dozen people so far, if not more! It's the most prominent part of him that I can point out at this point!
We wonder what little John will look like, what color his hair will be and how big he'll be (I think I'm the one who mostly wonders that), what color his eyes will end up as, and if he'll have Daddy's plush lips. I hope so! One thing is for sure, we'll find out soon!
I can tell that my body is getting ready and will spare you the details of how I know, but let's just say, a woman knows. And so does her husband, because she (likely) complains a lot at this point of the pregnancy!
At my 38 week visit, everything was on target: blood pressure, heart tones, measurements, etc. The baby is still moving quite a bit and everyone who feels my tummy loves to feel his little foot sticking out of my right side. He's had his bottom felt by a dozen people so far, if not more! It's the most prominent part of him that I can point out at this point!
We wonder what little John will look like, what color his hair will be and how big he'll be (I think I'm the one who mostly wonders that), what color his eyes will end up as, and if he'll have Daddy's plush lips. I hope so! One thing is for sure, we'll find out soon!
Monday, May 12, 2008
The Scoop
Well, I can't believe May is here already, but it is. Where did the time go? Little baby boy will be here any day now, the weather is getting warmer, the flowers are dotting the ground, we are moved in and mostly settled, and life is just plain good. Spring is here.
Our house now looks like a home, thanks to the help of many people who come weekly to work on it for us. :) Thank God for family! We still have some minor decorating to do, but for the most part, things are looking pretty good. A lot of our projects are coming to an end as well, and the house looks completely different from when we moved in. I wish I had taken before and after pictures. We still have other projects yet to start, but we've gotten a good handle on things for the small amount of time we've been here, and all before the baby arrives, which was the goal. We couldn't have done it without the help we've had, and are so thankful to everyone who came to clean, paint, unpack, decorate, paint some more, and for those who've occupied Jak as well. I will post pictures soon, but you know me, not until the rooms are completely "finished". Which they almost are. :)
Jeff is enjoying his job more and more, and I can see that he is becoming much more comfortable with the things he's been learning in it. God has been very good to us: this job was literally thrown into his lap, so that makes it neat to know he is doing what he's supposed to for right now. He is also trying to trade on the side and still finds that job wise, he's most passionate about that. I'm so proud of him and the way that he works so hard to enable me to stay at home and care for him and the boys. It's such a gift, a dream come true, and I am ever grateful.
I am feeling well. Approaching the 39th week of pregnancy already and ready to meet my new little man. I did have some minor contractions on Friday night into Saturday morning, but they went away as soon as I got up and started the day. We were disappointed but hey, the more that happens now, the less that happens later on! At least that's what I'm hoping for!
My swelling has kept at bay, and I've been better about resting a bit more than I normally do. I get occasional heartburn but not every day, which has been a relief. The belly is quite large, and I'm not sure it can get any bigger but I don't dare say that out loud in case it just might. The baby is measuring on time and I feel like he's taken up every single inch of space that he possibly can! His movements now are hard and painful but again, I know it's almost time for him to come so it's not so bad. I'll miss feeling him inside of me and having the intimate relationship as only a Mother and Child can have during pregnancy. What a miracle.
I was reading my previous blog the other day (www.kellyjoan.blogspot.com), trying to remember how I felt at this point in my pregnancy with Jak, when I read one particular post. I was 40 weeks pregnant and all of my time and energy was focused on having my first baby. I wrote: "In other thoughts, I've been thinking a bit on how right now, this baby is in the Lord's presence...right there! How neat. No wonder it is taking it's time to enter the world. I think I'd want to wait a bit, too! I thought about this the entire pregnancy, that the only person to really know this baby was God, and how intricately He knows him/her. He is the only One who has seen and soon we'll be welcomed into the picture, but all of this time, this created soul has been hanging out with the Almighty. That's really pretty cool and I can't quite get my head wrapped around it."
As I think about this baby right now, my thoughts turn to the same thing...that he (John Stephen) is in the presence of the Lord. WOW. That stills my heart. We can never know what that will be like until we die, and yet this baby is living through me and in me and yet is with the Lord right now. Hard to understand but awesome to think about. I feel blessed beyond words, that God would have me to be a Mother. A humble yet extraordinary calling, and I can think of nothing else I'd rather do.
And while I'm on the topic of Mothering, let me just say that my husband did a wonderful job of making me feel special this Mother's Day. He gave me a day at the premier spa in town so that I could be pampered for 5 hours!!! I got some beautiful flowers as well, which I've been meaning to take a picture of for days now...they reminded me of our wedding flowers because they were gorgeous colors of greens, creams and pinks. Fragrant, too! And on the actual day of Mother's Day, I was not to lift a finger and I tried hard to follow his request. Ok, so it wasn't that hard. He took care of Jak so that I could relax all day, and while we celebrated at my sister's house with the family, he was cooking and cleaning and setting up desserts while I sat there! I really could get used to that! All in all it was a very nice day and he did a great job making me feel so loved.
As for Jak-man, he is growing like a weed and we are loving watching him get older. I miss my tiny baby boy, but watching him grow is like watching a flower blossom--as corny as it sounds. Everyday he does something new and he is now more of a little boy than a baby. I get so nostalgic these days, I can't imagine how I'll be in 3 years when he goes to Kindergarten, or in 16 years as he heads off to college! He is now climbing which I could do without, but hey, he's a boy. He runs throughout the house like a madman, screaming and laughing as he goes from room to room. I'm sure we'll have to tweak that once the baby comes but I do love watching him do this. :) He tries new sounds/words every few days, and when you tell him to say "yes" he becomes a little bobblehead. His hair flops and he giggles as his head goes up and down. The actual word "yes" never comes out, but this bobblehead will do just fine for now.
He got some cool animal toys for his birthday and has just recently begun to play with them. During his 'independent play time' in his crib (read: Mommy's alone time to clean/shower/read/email/cook/lay down) he will line them all up along his crib rail and make all kinds of animal sounds. Then he'll carefully take them down, put them back in the basket, and do the entire routine all over again. Very cute. He also started playing with his Mega Bloks and enjoys building them just to knock them down. Must be a boy thing, because for me, I'd like to build them and stand back to say, "ahh, how pretty!" Guess I'd better change my way of thinking.
We took him with us into church yesterday instead of leaving him in the nursery. He was so cute with his little seersucker blazer and saddle shoes on, and since it was Mother's Day, I wanted him to be with us. He sat between Jeff and I in the pew and was the best behaved little boy. He "sang" and clapped and watched the screen, and when he got restless we gave him his teddies and pacifier and he stayed calm. The man behind us remarked on how well behaved he was and we agreed, proud parents that we are.
Well, I think that's all the news that's fit to print for now. Life is good and is about to get better, if not more tiring!
Our house now looks like a home, thanks to the help of many people who come weekly to work on it for us. :) Thank God for family! We still have some minor decorating to do, but for the most part, things are looking pretty good. A lot of our projects are coming to an end as well, and the house looks completely different from when we moved in. I wish I had taken before and after pictures. We still have other projects yet to start, but we've gotten a good handle on things for the small amount of time we've been here, and all before the baby arrives, which was the goal. We couldn't have done it without the help we've had, and are so thankful to everyone who came to clean, paint, unpack, decorate, paint some more, and for those who've occupied Jak as well. I will post pictures soon, but you know me, not until the rooms are completely "finished". Which they almost are. :)
Jeff is enjoying his job more and more, and I can see that he is becoming much more comfortable with the things he's been learning in it. God has been very good to us: this job was literally thrown into his lap, so that makes it neat to know he is doing what he's supposed to for right now. He is also trying to trade on the side and still finds that job wise, he's most passionate about that. I'm so proud of him and the way that he works so hard to enable me to stay at home and care for him and the boys. It's such a gift, a dream come true, and I am ever grateful.
I am feeling well. Approaching the 39th week of pregnancy already and ready to meet my new little man. I did have some minor contractions on Friday night into Saturday morning, but they went away as soon as I got up and started the day. We were disappointed but hey, the more that happens now, the less that happens later on! At least that's what I'm hoping for!
My swelling has kept at bay, and I've been better about resting a bit more than I normally do. I get occasional heartburn but not every day, which has been a relief. The belly is quite large, and I'm not sure it can get any bigger but I don't dare say that out loud in case it just might. The baby is measuring on time and I feel like he's taken up every single inch of space that he possibly can! His movements now are hard and painful but again, I know it's almost time for him to come so it's not so bad. I'll miss feeling him inside of me and having the intimate relationship as only a Mother and Child can have during pregnancy. What a miracle.
I was reading my previous blog the other day (www.kellyjoan.blogspot.com), trying to remember how I felt at this point in my pregnancy with Jak, when I read one particular post. I was 40 weeks pregnant and all of my time and energy was focused on having my first baby. I wrote: "In other thoughts, I've been thinking a bit on how right now, this baby is in the Lord's presence...right there! How neat. No wonder it is taking it's time to enter the world. I think I'd want to wait a bit, too! I thought about this the entire pregnancy, that the only person to really know this baby was God, and how intricately He knows him/her. He is the only One who has seen and soon we'll be welcomed into the picture, but all of this time, this created soul has been hanging out with the Almighty. That's really pretty cool and I can't quite get my head wrapped around it."
As I think about this baby right now, my thoughts turn to the same thing...that he (John Stephen) is in the presence of the Lord. WOW. That stills my heart. We can never know what that will be like until we die, and yet this baby is living through me and in me and yet is with the Lord right now. Hard to understand but awesome to think about. I feel blessed beyond words, that God would have me to be a Mother. A humble yet extraordinary calling, and I can think of nothing else I'd rather do.
And while I'm on the topic of Mothering, let me just say that my husband did a wonderful job of making me feel special this Mother's Day. He gave me a day at the premier spa in town so that I could be pampered for 5 hours!!! I got some beautiful flowers as well, which I've been meaning to take a picture of for days now...they reminded me of our wedding flowers because they were gorgeous colors of greens, creams and pinks. Fragrant, too! And on the actual day of Mother's Day, I was not to lift a finger and I tried hard to follow his request. Ok, so it wasn't that hard. He took care of Jak so that I could relax all day, and while we celebrated at my sister's house with the family, he was cooking and cleaning and setting up desserts while I sat there! I really could get used to that! All in all it was a very nice day and he did a great job making me feel so loved.
As for Jak-man, he is growing like a weed and we are loving watching him get older. I miss my tiny baby boy, but watching him grow is like watching a flower blossom--as corny as it sounds. Everyday he does something new and he is now more of a little boy than a baby. I get so nostalgic these days, I can't imagine how I'll be in 3 years when he goes to Kindergarten, or in 16 years as he heads off to college! He is now climbing which I could do without, but hey, he's a boy. He runs throughout the house like a madman, screaming and laughing as he goes from room to room. I'm sure we'll have to tweak that once the baby comes but I do love watching him do this. :) He tries new sounds/words every few days, and when you tell him to say "yes" he becomes a little bobblehead. His hair flops and he giggles as his head goes up and down. The actual word "yes" never comes out, but this bobblehead will do just fine for now.
He got some cool animal toys for his birthday and has just recently begun to play with them. During his 'independent play time' in his crib (read: Mommy's alone time to clean/shower/read/email/cook/lay down) he will line them all up along his crib rail and make all kinds of animal sounds. Then he'll carefully take them down, put them back in the basket, and do the entire routine all over again. Very cute. He also started playing with his Mega Bloks and enjoys building them just to knock them down. Must be a boy thing, because for me, I'd like to build them and stand back to say, "ahh, how pretty!" Guess I'd better change my way of thinking.
We took him with us into church yesterday instead of leaving him in the nursery. He was so cute with his little seersucker blazer and saddle shoes on, and since it was Mother's Day, I wanted him to be with us. He sat between Jeff and I in the pew and was the best behaved little boy. He "sang" and clapped and watched the screen, and when he got restless we gave him his teddies and pacifier and he stayed calm. The man behind us remarked on how well behaved he was and we agreed, proud parents that we are.
Well, I think that's all the news that's fit to print for now. Life is good and is about to get better, if not more tiring!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
9 Months
You know you're at the end of your pregnancy when you walk right into the door frame, hitting it hard with the enormous belly that's in front of you, and stand there, shocked, because you never expected to be so clumsy in all your life.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Days Go By...
Here is a shot of Jak watching the world go by from the nursery. He loves that the windows are short enough that he can look out whenever he wants! (He's actually watching the neighbor mow the lawn.) I wish you could see how the wind is making his hair flow...it's so cute!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Video
OK, so I don't know how to do this as well as I thought....Jeff is going to fix the video problem later today. Stay tuned!
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