James Meets Jacob

Jon brought James up to see Mommy and Jacob the day after Jacob was born.  James seems to like Jacob as long as Mom still gives him some attention.  Here is the first time James saw Jacob.

James holding Jacob for the first time.

Mommy and her boys.

It is weird to me to think that now I have two boys now.  I am sure it will not take too long until I am used to it though.

Jacob's Birth

Here are a few more pictures from the day that Jacob was born.  Me after Jacob was born and watching the nurse clean him up.

Jacob with his weight shown on the screen.

Side note, when we went to the doctor two days after being home, Jacob weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces.  He has actually gained weight!  Just shows how much he likes to eat.  Daddy holding Jacob after he was cleaned up.

Jon was glad he was able to watch this time.  With James, the doctor would not let him watch the C-section.  Mommy holding Jacob for the first time.

I actually got to hold Jacob sooner than I did James.  James went to the NICU for a few hours first.  It was nice to have Jacob in the recovery room with me.  Mommy and Daddy with Jacob.

Love his hair!

His hair seems to be getting more red every day.  We think he will be a red head.

James wants to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUNT DEANA!

Jacob

Jacob was supposed to be born today.  Crazy that he is already over a week old.  I know that some of you want to know the story of how or why he came on the 18th instead.  I will get to that in a minute, but first a little about why I have not blogged in a while.  Yes, I am recuperating, and yes, I have a new baby at home, but the biggest reason I have not blogged in a while it that I am trying to spend some one-on-one time with James.  That takes up all the spare time that I would normally spend blogging.  I don't want James to feel like the baby gets all his Mommy's time now.  Actually, Grandma Brower and Daddy mostly take care of Jacob during the day, and I do night duty.

Anyway,  let's go back to last weekend.  Saturday was a really busy day.  We started with a trip to the grocery store.  It was our normal weekly trip to get all the things we would need for the week.  Too bad half the stuff went bad before we used it.  Then we put James down for his nap and watched some College Football.  A normal activity for a Saturday at the Felt's house.  When James woke up, we headed out to find a couch and guest bed.  We were able to find both for the amount we had budgeted for a couch.  We got some great deals.

Now, you might ask, what did our Saturday activities have to do with Jacob's birth, and really not much, except that we are glad we went on Saturday.  And scheduled the delivery of our new furniture for the next Friday.

Sunday started like any other Sunday.  I got James and myself ready for church.  My stomach was hurting a little, but it felt more like I had to go to the bathroom than anything else, so I did not think much of it.  At church, it was our Primary Program.  James wanted to sit on my lap through most of it, so he could see his friend Sheridan on the stand singing.  After Sacrament Meeting, Sheridan came to take James to nursery and Jon followed at a safe distance just to make sure James got to nursery alright.  When Jon joined me in the Relief Society Room for Sunday School  I told him about the pain I was feeling in my stomach and how weird it was.  He said I should time how often I felt it, so I started doing that.  Through Sunday School, it was anywhere from 15 minutes to 4 minutes apart.

For Relief Society, I put my feet up on another chair because my feet were really swollen, and I continued to time what I now knew to be contractions.  they were consistently 3 to 4 minutes apart all through the lesson.  Afterward on of the sisters asked me how I was doing.  I told her I was having contractions about 4 minutes apart and she was surprised that I was so calm.  She said if I need somewhere to take James that night , I could bring him to her place.  Sister Jones overheard too, and said the same, but she lives a lot closer to us.

I told Jon about the contractions and the offers for babysitting.  We stayed a little bit after church for choir practice.  James played with Sheridan, who was hiding from her mom so she didn't have to go home yet, and I sat in the back of the chapel with my feet up, keeping up the timing of the contractions.  They were now 2 to 3 minutes apart.  While I was sitting there, Sheridan's mom, the Relief Society President, found us.  We talked for a little bit.  Sister Jones had told her that I was having contractions 4 minutes apart.  Sister Richmond said Jon and I should head to the hospital right then and her family would take James until Jon could come get him.  Jon stood up in the middle of the song that they were singing and came to the back of the chapel.  He went to get the car seat so the Richmonds could take James.

We stopped at our house first so we could call ahead and let them know we were coming.  I also changed out of my dress and grabbed my wallet in case they needed my insurance card.  Once again, I was not able to pack a bag, but it all worked out.  I knew I should have done it sooner.  We got to the hospital and a security guard wheeled me in while Jon parked the car.  They just set me off to the side and called Labor and Delivery to come and get me.  Jon got there before the nurse.  We went up and right into a room.  I was only dilated to  1 cm and 50 % effaced, but I was having contractions every 3 minutes.  They were going to wait until 7:00 p.m. (about 2 hours) since the doctor was currently delivering another baby and that is when he was expected to be done.  At 6:00, the doctor said to check me again so we could know if we were having a baby that night or going home.  2 cm and 80% effaced.  Jon said that was a fast progression, but I have nothing to go by.  They started to prep. me for a C-section.  The contractions were starting to get pretty intense, and I was glad for the spinal to start working.  Jacob was born at 6:57 p.m.  About 4 hours after church.

Luckily, Jon was able to get most of the week off, so he could be with James.  Thanks to the Harris Family for watching James when Jon had to work.  My mom actually got here the day after I went home from the hospital.  We are all glad she is here!

I am going to try and get some more pictures up in the next few days.  I think we are getting into some kind of a routine, but it will all change when Jon goes back to work (he now has two weeks of vacation) and then again when Grandmas leave.

Update and new pictures

Keriann and Jacob came home yesterday from the hospital. It's definitely nice to have mommy home. James is much happier. He's been such a great big brother. He loves to stand with his chin over the top of the pack-n-play watching his little brother sleeping. We've even caught him singing him songs (twinkle-twinkle little star, ABCs, etc.). It's really cute. Of course when he sees us watching he gets all shy and embarrassed, which is even cuter.

Here is our latest family picture. Grandma B arrives tonight, and we are very excited!

New baby boy

Here he is. Born at 6:57 p.m. EST. 8 lbs. exactly and 21 inches long. We're thinking he'll be Jacob Ivan Felt, but still waiting to see if the name sticks. Mom and baby are doing great.

Back To Cars

How many remember this or this or even this?  James has not been lining his cars up around the house for a very long time.  Recently, he has been playing with his car all the time again.  He lines the up and drives them every where.  Here is proof.

Of coarse when he saw the camera.  "CHEESE!"

I brought James with me to one of my doctor appointments last week and he insisted on bringing all of his cars with him.  He loaded them up in his pumpkin and carried them around.  Everyone thought he was trick-or-treating, so I had to explain that he carries his cars in his pumpkin.  It was funny, but kept him occupied while I was hooked to the machine having a non-stress test.

13 Days!

I am scheduled for a C-section on September 26th (so many other people's birthday too, including his Aunt Deana).  So this boy will be born on (or before, but hopefully on) that day. Just 13 days away!  James was breach and therefore I had to have a C-section with him, so that is why I am going that route this time too.

All of my doctor appointments have continued to go well.  Yesterday, the doctor (or ultrasound tech) estimated that he weighs about 7 pounds 6 ounces, which is a little smaller than where James was, but the doctor said it was only an estimate, and he really could be more or less than that.  The picture they gave me is supposedly of the hair on the nape of his neck.  He would not show his face.  To me the picture just looks like a black and white blur, so I decided not to add the picture here.

I really do not have much more right now, which is good.  I am so grateful things have gone so well with this pregnancy when it could have been a lot worse.  We are looking forward to having this little guy here safely (and not going to the doctor twice a week anymore).  Thanks to all of you for all you have done for us through this!

Smores

Friday night, we had a "bonfire" and smores with other first year pediatric residents.  It was lots of fun!  James did really well staying away from the fire.  In fact when we tried to get him to sit with us by the fire, he would not.  I guess that is better than the alternative.  I felt a little antisocial since I was sitting with James to make sure he did not run off the edge of the deck, which he almost did a few times.  James loved all the dogs too.  There were four there before we left.  Then at about 9:00, James had a melt down and we knew it was time for us to go home.  It was past his bed time.

These are actually pictures from the baby shower we had, but it was at the same house and Abby sent them to us after we made smores.  Thanks Abby!  James playing with Henry the train and giving his cheese smile.

James got really sweaty running around playing with the dog and anyone else who would play.  In the background you can see one of the triplets being held by Kyle.

Laura and Chris helped James decorate and color the picture of the train, which he is holding in this picture.

We have enjoyed spending time with the other pediatric residents, and I am sure there will be move time doing things together over the next 3 years.

Thomas S Monson Writes For the Washington Post

9/11 destruction allowed us to spiritually rebuild

By Thomas S. Monson

 

The calamity of September 11th, 2001 has cast a long shadow. Ten years later, many of us are still haunted by its terrible tragedy of lost lives and broken hearts. It is an episode of anguish that has become a defining moment in the history of the American nation and the world. This week, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, along with Tom Brokaw, will pay its own homage to the unforgettable events of September 11, 2001.
There was, as many have noted, a remarkable surge of faith following the tragedy. People across the United States rediscovered the need for God and turned to Him for solace and understanding. Comfortable times were shattered. We felt the great unsteadiness of life and reached for the great steadiness of our Father in Heaven. And, as ever, we found it. Americans of all faiths came together in a remarkable way.

Sadly, it seems that much of that renewal of faith has waned in the years that have followed. Healing has come with time, but so has indifference. We forget how vulnerable and sorrowful we felt. Our sorrow moved us to remember the deep purposes of our lives. The darkness of our despair brought us a moment of enlightenment. But we are forgetful. When the depth of grief has passed, its lessons often pass from our minds and hearts as well.

Our Father’s commitment to us, His children, is unwavering. Indeed He softens the winters of our lives, but He also brightens our summers. Whether it is the best of times or the worst, He is with us. He has promised us that this will never change.

But we are less faithful than He is. By nature we are vain, frail, and foolish. We sometimes neglect God. Sometimes we fail to keep the commandments that He gives us to make us happy. Sometimes we fail to commune with Him in prayer. Sometimes we forget to succor the poor and the downtrodden who are also His children. And our forgetfulness is very much to our detriment.

If there is a spiritual lesson to be learned from our experience of that fateful day, it may be that we owe to God the same faithfulness that He gives to us. We should strive for steadiness, and for a commitment to God that does not ebb and flow with the years or the crises of our lives. It should not require tragedy for us to remember Him, and we should not be compelled to humility before giving Him our faith and trust. We too should be with Him in every season.

The way to be with God in every season is to strive to be near Him every week and each day. We truly “need Him every hour,” not just in hours of devastation. We must speak to Him, listen to Him, and serve Him. If we wish to serve Him, we should serve our fellow men. We will mourn the lives we lose, but we should also fix the lives that can be mended and heal the hearts that may yet be healed.
It is constancy that God would have from us. Tragedies are not merely opportunities to give Him a fleeting thought, or for momentary insight to His plan for our happiness. Destruction allows us to rebuild our lives in the way He teaches us, and to become something different than we were. We can make Him the center of our thoughts and His Son, Jesus Christ, the pattern for our behavior. We may not only find faith in God in our sorrow. We may also become faithful to Him in times of calm.
Thomas S. Monson is president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

James wants to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CARSON!

The Sun Is Setting...

We have had some spectacular sunsets since we have been in Michigan.  The nice part it that we can see them from our front window.  Jon took some pictures the other night using the "sunset" mode on our camera. 

So beautiful!

James wants to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNCLE JORDON!

John Ball Zoo

Monday before our movie, we took James to the John Ball Zoo here in Grand Rapids and tried out our new stroller.  Jon had not been yet so it was fun for all of us.  We learned that John Ball never even lived in Grand Rapids, but the zoo is named after him.  Interesting, or weird.

The weather was wonderful.  It maybe got to 60 degrees while we were there.  Wonderful jacket weather, and it was not too busy.  It is a really interactive zoo.  There are lots of hands on things for kids of all ages.  We did not do much of it though.  Just walked around and looked at the different animals.

There are two places to pet animals.  One looked more like it was for smaller kids.  It just had a few little goats.  The other one had goats of all sizes, pigs, chickens, roosters,  and turkeys. 

James really liked the pigs, but I could not get a smile.

Another attempt at a smile with the pigs in the background.

There is a place where the wallabies can hop around the path and you can pet them.  They seemed content to stay away from the path while we were there, but here is a picture of the joey getting his face cleaned and some of the other wallabies.

We got a better picture of the bears this time.

They were just relaxing.

Lots of colorful bird that you can go into the cage and feed.

I had a picture of this animal before and I did not know what it was.  Well, I looked at the sign this time, but I forgot.  Still a fun looking animal.

Pink flamingos.

I really like the colors of this animal, but again I cannot remember what it was called.

These last two pictures are not the greatest, because they were taken through glass.  It was a cute little monkey.

We saw the whole zoo in about an hour, so not as big as the Toledo Zoo, but Jon and I really like it.  It felt like being out in the woods.  There are lots of trees and waterfalls and stuff that make it feel more outdoorsy.  It was a fun morning at the zoo.