Our perfect little man

November 26, 2011: Going home from the hospital!

Just a little guy for such a big car seat!

I can't believe that our little man is here and he's healthy and happy. I can't say how grateful I am for him and for how smoothly everything went in the hospital. We truly have been so blessed. I just wanted to make a list of all the adorable things little Jackson Andrew does that just melts my heart.

1. He makes this adorable old man face where he furrows his brow and pouts his lips out.
2. He lifts his head up and out and raises his eyebrows, but keeps his eyes closed. He looks like a little turtle :)
3. He likes to hold hands, which Mom and Dad just LOVE :)
4. Whenever he's awake he likes to look around with a little furrowed brow that says, "Hmm...what is this place?"
5. He likes to wink at us :) He opens one eye sometimes while he's a little sleepy and just looks at you :)
6. Whenever Chuck sings "I am a child of God" to him, he always seems to calm down.
7. Sometimes when he's fussy and he's laying on my chest, he'll lift his head up and put it against mine. I like to think he wants to give me kisses :)
8. When he gets the hiccups he sounds just like a squeak toy.
9. He loves to suck on his hands or to keep them by his face...makes swaddling him a little bit of a challenge.
10. He's already a pacifier addict...we're trying to keep it to a minimum :)

Here are some pictures from the past little bit :)

The Krebs family at the hospital :)

Jackson sure does love his papa.

Grandma Woods and Jackson!

His little old man face :)

He really is the best little guy. We love him so much.

Peanut is here... oh, and Happy Thanksgiving!

post-bath :) so stinkin' cute! 

Well, mom and peanut are sleeping and I just can't - everything is too exciting, too new - I just can't seem to put my head down. What a miracle. I know that today is Thanksgiving and can I just say how incredibly grateful (inexplicably grateful) I am that my wife is healthy (albeit exhausted) and our new son is as perfect as can be... and I can't pass up a chance to show him off to anyone who wants to see him :)

Right after cutting the umbilical cord with Dr. Jacob

So while I wait for my two best friends to wake up here's a run-down - before he's even 12 hours old - that I'm sure everyone is dying to hear :)

Cleaning him off while mom finishes the job!

• 2:20 p.m. - Went to our 38 week appointment (5 days after our last checkup) and em's blood pressure was high. 
• 3:00 p.m. - The Dr. tested her and found that she had preeclampsia (eclampsia is seizures that can happen in first time moms during their 2nd and 3rd trimester - luckily we hadn't had one of those). 
• 3:30 p.m. - The only cure for preeclampsia is to deliver the baby, so we went and checked in the hospital (it is connected to the OB/GYN office we were at)
• 4:15 p.m. - I got back to the hospital with all of our stuff (Nicole and David helped us pack!) and Em already had the IV all set up (magnesium sulfate, normal fluids and oxytocin). She had been having contractions all along - she just couldn't feel them - the oxytocin helped that.
• 5:00 p.m. - Sent Nicole and David on our errands (we didn't even have a car seat yet). You guys rock!
• 5:30 p.m. - The Dr. came and broke her water, the pain started to come with the contractions (3 cm. dilate)
• 9:30 p.m. - 4 cm dilated, the pain from the labor was bad. 
• 10:00 p.m. - Started the epidural (I'll let Emily explain the relief that was!)
• 11:00 p.m. - 6 cm dilated. 
• 12:00 a.m. - 9 cm dilated. 
• 12:40 a.m. - Em really felt like she should push but the nurse hadn't come back yet... we called her in, the nurse measured and the baby was ready to come. 
• 1:05 a.m. - Start pushing...
• 1:28 a.m. - _________ Andrew Krebs arrived at 6 lbs. 7 oz. and 19 in. 
• 2:30 a.m. - first feeding :) 
• 3:30 a.m. - first bath...
• 4:30 a.m. - moved to the more comfortable bed in the more comfortable room... 
• 9:00 a.m. - Pediatrician checked and everything is perfect with peanut.
• 10:00 a.m. - Both mom and baby are happily sleeping! 

We are so happy - so grateful - so lucky to be parents, to be entrusted with this responsibility. We'd love to see Provo friends in the hospital today or tomorrow... let us know if you want to come by, we'll add you to the list of people allowed back. 

weighing him... he's not shy about being a boy either

We can't wait for Momma Woods to come see her first grandson tomorrow, he is anxiously waiting. Thanks for your support, your love, your prayers and for joining with us as we welcome the newest Krebs into the world :)

holding mom's hand :)

Trying to figure out what he's doing on the outside...

pre-first bath shot... 

he doesn't really love the bath all that much

They even let me wash his head... how incredible 

he liked this part more than the last one

Here's how he currently looks :) What a miracle... 

Yet another...Peanut Update!

Less than one month...woo hoo! We are officially 37 weeks (almost 38!), which means little peanut probably isn't very little anymore and will be arriving shortly.

November 20, 2011: 37 weeks

November 20, 2011: 30 weeks

At our last doctor's appointment the doctor estimated that peanut was around six pounds. He also said he wasn't worried about him "fitting" through my pelvis, which was a huge relief! Also (and sorry for those who would rather be spared the details) I was already 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced! I was extremely happy to hear that. 2 out of 10 centimeters down and I didn't even have to work for them? I'll take it.

We are still working on names and instead of the list getting shorter, it just keeps getting longer! We're having a little bit of a rough time :) We've put the list on the fridge and take votes each day on the ones we like best and like least. Hopefully, by the time he comes home from the hospital he'll be something other than peanut.

Other than the occasional fainting spell and massive acid reflux attacks, I'm doing really well. I can't decide if I'm uncomfortable enough that I'd rather have him here already or if I'm a little too scared/anxious/nervous for when he actually comes and would rather stick it out. It's a tough call :) But all in all, things are happy and healthy in our neck of the woods and we are so excited to welcome our little one so soon!

We bleed blue.

In Lexington, Kentucky you're either a Wildcat fan or you keep your mouth shut. Luckily, Chuck and I both grew up in families who are the former :) By age seven we were watching the games and by age ten we could rattle off the Wildcat Basketball starting line-up.

Chuck Krebs as a little guy sporting his UK gear :)

The 1998 National Championship game was one of the highlights of my childhood. Ask Chuck any question about Kentucky basketball and he probably knows the answer or can find it in under a minute. If there's a game on, we're either watching it or religiously checking the score. So, as you can see, our families have passed on their love for UK ball to us :)

The only use for our computer during March Madness.

On that note, we are SUPER excited for our wildcats this year and for their explosive start against Marist and Kansas! Woo Hoo!

There really is nothing like being a Kentucky Wildcat fan.

Peanut Update!

Week 36! We're officially one measly little month from meeting our little guy :) I can't believe it. We are definitely getting nervous/excited/anxious. We bought our first box of diapers and wipes a few weeks ago and it made it more real than ever.

November 13, 2011: 36 Weeks

We are currently taking a birthing class, which has been super helpful. I'm a little less worried about the whole labor and delivery portion of our little guy. It still amazes me that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with the ability to create life. What a marvelous blessing :)

November 13, 2011: 36 Weeks

Husband of the Century

That's right, there is a Husband of the Century award. And I'll tell you why Chuck deserves it...

Awesome things my husband does:

1. While I was away in Kentucky/South Carolina playing with my family and having a grand ole' time, my husband was eating frozen burritos, going to class, applying for Law schools and working. When I finally came back to Utah, he had a lovely little surprise waiting for me in our incredibly clean apartment when I got home:

My new favorite piece of furniture!

We had been discussing getting a rocker for when little peanut arrives, but weren't really sure if it was worth it. But let me tell you, it's the most comfortable seating in our house currently and I'm sure it will make all the difference at 3am when our little guy gets hungry!

2. Chuck is a pretty busy guy. And when I say pretty busy, I mean he's booked almost every day from morning until evening. He's a full-time student, works part-time, is a Program Director for Community Outreach Day (a service program through BYU), is the Vice President of Professional Development for the PRSSA chapter at BYU, is "Joseph" in the Savior of the World Production that our Stake is putting on for Christmas, works in the Bradley Lab (an "internship" type experience for PR students who work for real clients, but don't get paid. Bummer) and is the Executive Secretary in our ward. All in all, he's got a pretty full plate. But, he still finds time to:

•  Eat dinner with me almost every night.
• Take me out on awesome dates on the weekends.
• Do the dishes.
• Help me reorganize something that we've already reorganized...without complaining.
• Watch TV shows with me at night even though he doesn't really have time.

AND, when he comes home after a twelve hour day and I tell him that I slept until 11am, didn't go to the gym because I was too tired, only made quesadillas for dinner because I didn't feel like standing up for that long and only did one scrapbook page even though our front room is covered in scrapbook junk...he just smiles and kisses me and says, "It's so good to see you." 

3. I'm getting to the point where almost every position is uncomfortable and my fat feet hurt all the time. Wanna know what he does? Gives me foot massages and back massages. The best part? I don't even ask.

4. Chuck writes the press releases for BYU Communications, specifically the Arts releases. One of the perks is that he gets free tickets to any arts show on campus! So, this weekend he took me to the BYU Singers and Concert Choir show--a beautiful concert. We went to the matinee showing and hung out on campus afterwards, checking out the BYU Bookstore goodies and grabbing subway sandwiches for dinner. That same day, we went to the evening showing of "White Christmas." It was an absolutely fantastic performance and I highly recommend it to anyone in the area :) So, he's pretty great and taking me out on dates.

We tried to take this picture approximately 14 times...this was our best shot :)

The lovely show :)

5. While the list could go on...quite literally forever, I'll just end by saying that he is one of the most patient and caring people on the planet. He listens to me complain about inconsequential things and doesn't make fun, he lets me put my feet on him whenever we are watching a movie on the couch because it's more comfortable for me, he lets me lean on his shoulder during church even when the heat is on and it's miserably hot, he says that everything I cook is delicious (which we all know cannot possibly be true), he tells me I'm beautiful almost everyday even though I mostly feel like a fat cow, most of all he shows me that he loves me in all the most fantastic and simple ways that a husband should.

And the Husband of the Century award goes to...

So, the Husband of the Century? Definitely Chuck Krebs.

Thanks Chuck for being one of the best people I know. And for marrying me. That was pretty awesome too :)

Craft #2: Gratitude Collector

I'm a pinterest lover. It's true. Mainly because I get some really awesome craft ideas and recipes from it. I found this cute little Thanksgiving jar that I decided to do for Thanksgiving!

CRAFT: Gratitude Collector

COST: $0 (if you have a few colorful papers and a jar!)
CRAFTING TIME: 30 minutes - 1 hour (depending on your degree of perfectionism....)

1. Find a glass jar around the house. An Adams PB jar, spaghetti jar or old mason jar would all work. I used a spaghetti sauce jar that we had just finished with the night before.

2. Next, I picked out a few "Thanksgiving" colored scrapbook papers and measured out how much I needed for them to wrap around the jar. I started wtih a base color of red and then built on top of that. 

3. I put each piece onto the jar one at a time, but in hindsight, it would be much easier to build the whole cover and then put the whole thing on the jar at once. So for my jar, I did a red paper underlay with a orange cardstock on top. Then I did brown ribbon around the center. Next I used sticker letters on brown cardstock to create the phrase: "Give Thanks." I cut out each letter individually and pasted them (with glue dots) around the jar. 

4. Next, I traced the lid size onto brown cardstock and then measured the side with orange cardstock and covered the ugly blue lid. 

5. Lastly, I made a folded ribbon bow for the top! These are easy bows to make, especially for pretty gift wrapping. Just fold the ribbon back and forth on top of it's self to create loops. Hold the middle of the loops (so there are loop stacks on either side of your fingers). Cut a small slit on either side of the ribbon where your fingers are at a diagonal angle. Tie a smaller ribbon through the slits. Then pull and twist the loops up into a bow! Viola!

We write what we are thankful for each day on a little piece of paper and will read them all at Thanksgiving dinner!