The Gulley's

6 months and counting...

2008-12-06T19:57:00.003-05:00

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone which means Jakob has passed up his six month mark. I cannot believe how big he is getting. He went for his check up on December 3 and had five shots! Yes, five! Poor kid. He wasn't very happy with me that afternoon. Everything went great at his appointment though, he is weighing in at 16 pounds 6 ounces and is 26 inches long! Time goes way too quickly. He is now sitting up on his own, eating baby food and drinking from a sippy cup! I'm betting by the new year he will be crawling around and then we all know walking will be close behind...I can't believe it.

We've got our Christmas tree put up and Jakob loves the lights. It's so exciting to think about having his first Christmas! Last year I was only 4 months pregnant at Christmas, we didn't even know the sex yet! And now here we are with a 6 month old this Christmas! (Well I guess he will be 7 months two days after Christmas...goodness!) This year we have decided we are staying home on Christmas Day. We want to be able to open up Santa's presents and cherish every minute of Jakob's first Christmas. We've invited the grandparents over for the day to watch him open his presents and just visit. I'm really excited about staying home this year and being able to enjoy time with my little family. I just think it'll be better than bundling him up and taking him all over the place all day long and not being able to sit still and enjoy his first big holiday!

The only other big thing right now is we just entered Jakob into the Cute Baby Contest that the Lebanon Reporter/Creekside OBGYN is having. The voting starts on December 12 at midnight and runs through December 21 at 5pm. You vote online at www.reporter.net and can vote up to thirty times! So you should all get online and VOTE VOTE VOTE! The grand prize winner wins a $100 savings bond and is on the cover of the calendar! The 12 runner ups are the calendar months. So far it looks like he could win, hands down...although I might be a bit biased.

A long time coming...

2008-11-25T13:49:00.003-05:00

Well, it has certainly been a long time since I've written on here but my mother-in-law kindly reminded me that it probably be nice to update this every once in a while. :) So here I am, letting all of you know how things are going in our lives. I haven't written since Jakob was less than a week old and he will be turning 6 months old on Thursday (Thanksgiving Day)! I cannot believe how quickly time goes when you have a little one depending on you.

So Jakob is now turning 6 months and at his last doctors appointment was weighing in at 15 lbs 2 oz. and was 25 inches long. He goes back in December 3 so I look for that to have changed yet again. He has just started sitting up on his own, although sometimes loses his balance and topples on over. He's getting up on his elbows and knees and is trying so hard to crawl away on us. He can't get away yet...I'm not ready for those days!! He has been such a enormous blessing in our lives, I just can't think back six months and imagine our life without him. Ryan has been working lots of hours as usual, but relishes in his time with his little boy. Watching them together is the most amazing joy to me. I cannot explain how wonderful it is to see how much they love each other. Jakob knows his daddy for sure and cannot wipe the gummy grin off his face if he had to when he sees his daddy. I can't tell you how thankful I am for these two. How lucky am I!?

Jakob is still going to my aunt's during the week while we work and I cannot say how much of a blessing they have been to us. Jakob loves it there. And it's such a huge blessing to know he's being taken care of, spoiled, and truly loved. I never have to worry about him, which is a huge relief because I'm not sure I could leave him otherwise. Not to mention the spoil him to pieces...no wonder he loves going there!! :)

As for me, I'm still working 40 hours a week and, well, it's just alright I guess. It's a job. I'd much rather be at home with Jakob, but that's not financially a possibility right now. Maybe some day. I love being a mommy. It's something I knew I'd love, but I think it's absolutely correct when people tell you "You'll never know a love like this." He's amazing. He's my life. He's the reason I wake up every morning and I could not imagine my life without him in it. God has blessed me greatly to be able to be a mother and a wife to two wonderful men. I'm certainly not complaining of the life He has given me...

Lastly - we're going to be having a niece!! I'm sure most of you are quite aware of this, but I cannot say how excited Ryan and I are for Dan & Amber. They are going to make absolutely wonderful parents and we cannot wait to spoil that little girl. And feel so happy that they are closer to home so we have the opportunity to see her grow.

Well this has turned into a book - but there's the short version of our life the last six months. I will vow to keep this more up to date and keep everyone clued in on what's been going on.

He's finally here!

2008-06-04T10:09:00.002-04:00

He's finally here!!! I'm sure most of you already know, but Jakob Dylin arrived Tuesday May 27 at 5:44pm weighing in at 7lbs. 10oz. and 20 1/2 inches long. And of course, he's perfect. I was in labor for about 11 1/2 hours and only dialated to an 8, so they decided to deliver our little man by c-section. It wasn't pleasant, but it got our little guy here safe and sound and so it was all completely worth it. We've been home since Thursday and things are going great! We truly got a wonderful baby! He wakes up at twice during the night, once at 12:30 and again at 4:30. I don't know how we got so lucky - but we're truly blessed!! Today is my first day at home alone with the little guy, as Ryan has gone back to work. It's not been so bad yet, he's asleep in his crib not really making a peep. Hopefully he and I can get a good routine down while daddy is at work and manage on our own. But, I just wanted to update and let everyone know he's here and he's healthy and absolutely precious! It's time for me to go get housework done since he's asleep - might as well take advantage of it!! :) Thanks for all the prayers - my every prayer has been answered.

A note from the hospital...

2008-05-27T04:10:00.000-04:00

Well it is 4 am on Tuesday morning and were laying here at Clarian. Ryan is sound asleep in the chair next to me and I just had my last dose of medicine and can't seem to get anymore sleep. I finally fell asleep around midnight after they gave me some Ambien to help me rest. I think a combination of nerves and being in an unfamiliar place (without my precious fan!) kept me up. We got here at 6:45 last night and they promptly got us into the labor and delivery room. It didn't take long before I was in a hospital gown and had monitors hooked up to me, one to monitor Jakob's heartbeat and one to monitor my contractions. And followed shortly by that, came my IV. That's what I was most nervous about quite frankly, I'm not a needle fan! And, the worst came true (at least in my eyes). They stuck me twice in the wrist with no result. And finally a third time in the top of the hand did the trick and it wasn't pretty. So needless to say, my left hand isn't feeling the best! But I can't complain, the nurses so far have been great. And Ryan was great - until he fell asleep on me, haha. Well, I suppose this is truly my last post as a mommy-to-be. We just got word that my potocin will be started promptly at 6:30, so I'm up at 5 to begin my shower. I just pray the Lord watches over all three of us today and things go as smoothly as possible and produces a beautiful, healthy baby. And that my darling husband makes it through with me, I'm not sure I could make it through without his patience, support, and love. Well, this is it...welcome to parenthood!!

And the end is near!

2008-05-20T12:52:00.002-04:00

FINALLY! :) I went to the doctor today and found out some exciting news. I am now 80% effaced and Jakob has dropped a lot. However, so far I have yet to dialate any further than a 2. So kind of a bummer. But, an end is in sight! If the little guy hasn't decided to show his precious little face by Monday, we will be heading to the hospital anyways. We have to be there on Monday, the 26th at 7pm. They will then give me some medicine that will start to make me cramp and Tuesday morning they will begin inducing me! So after all this wait - we should have little Jakob Dylin in our lives sometime on Tuesday! After all the prayers and wishing we are finally arriving to the end of the pregnancy journey and the beginning of a lifelong journey with our baby boy! My mom got to go with me to the doctor's appointment today, so afterwards we stopped by Ryan's work to tell him the good news. I don't think I've ever seen his eyes get so wide before. :) I think we're both more excited now than we've ever been! But boy are the nerves kicking in now!!! So my next post will be pictures of our adorable little man (you know he will be!). Thanks to everyone for all the prayers and please continue to pray for us as we come to the big day! My last post as a mommy-to-be...

Yet another week goes by...

2008-05-14T09:11:00.003-04:00

Well, another week has come and gone and that brought on another doctor's appointment. And this particular doctor's appointment was definitely not what I was hoping for! I went to the doctor yesterday and she told me that nothing has changed from last week. I'm still dialated to a 2 and 50% effaced. I go back to see her again next Tuesday and she told me if I don't go into labor before hand, we will be discussing the idea of inducing me. I'm looking forward to an end to the pregnancy and the beginning of our life with little Jakob! But, the main focus was at yesterday's visit she told me that he is still absolutely healthy and just barely over 6 pounds she believes. :) So just continue to keep us in your prayers and he'll be here when God knows he's ready to face the world!

The latest pregnancy news!

2008-05-08T07:26:00.002-04:00

Well, my doctor's appointment Tuesday has come & gone and we are still without a little man! Ryan got to go with me to this appointment and we found out that I am dialated to a 2 and I am also 50% effaced. So we are getting somewhere - just not as quickly as I had hoped! I go back to the doctor again next Tuesday, so keep us in your prayers that things are moving along and that baby Jakob stays healthy! So far everything is looking fantastic though and he weighs right around 6 pounds. Maybe we'll get lucky and I won't have a doctor's appointment next week. :) Here's hoping to having my first baby on Mother's Day...

Getting ready

2008-05-06T08:50:00.000-04:00

Well, we've decided to try to keep a blog to keep family members near and far up-to-date with things going on with us and of course our (soon to be) new addition to the family!
Ryan and I have now been married for almost a year (June 23!) and little Jakob Dylin is expected to be here by May 29. Or that's what they tell us anyways! Last week I went to the doctor and they told me that I could go at anytime...so we're anxiously awaiting that "time" to arrive! I go back again to the doctor today at 2:45 and I think both Ryan and I are in high hopes that things have progressed and we'll be bringing home our precious baby boy sometime in the very near future. Other than getting ready for Jakob's big arrival Ryan has been working a lot of hours and being a huge help around the house with me not being able to participate in as much as I would like. We've been trying to spend a lot of time with family and some quality time alone as we know our world is about to be turned upside down. But it's definitely a turn we are more than anxious for. But, I will keep my posts on my doctor's appointments (which hopefully there will not be many more to go!) and hopefully we'll be posting an exciting blog about the arrival of Jakob here very soon!