Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts

Saturday, July 5, 2014

MILEStones


Our little guy turned three months this week! He is realizing the world around him and we love to watch him discover his surroundings. We may be in pre-teething mode because it seems a fountain has spouted in his mouth leaving him most always, soaked. He can make any gloomy day bright with that smile!

xo jess + greg

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Family Photos//

We quickly realized that having a new baby means lots and lots of photos. And how could you resist, there's cuteness at every turn! What we didn't consider is someone is always holding the camera so we had almost no pictures of the three of us. We had friends visiting last month and enlisted their help. Danny is extremely talented and I hoped he could even just take 2 pictures of us all together. I told him I wouldn't have cared if he just took them on our camera, no editing, no fuss, I just wanted his creative eye. And even though he was super busy he graciously carved out a half hour for us and worked his magic. My otherwise happy baby was completely fussy and uncooperative. When Danny left I was SO sad because I figured there was no way any of the photos would be redeemable considering my grumpy little guy. With Danny's calm, kind spirit I should have trusted his patience to get the shot. And in just thirty minutes in our backyard he gave us something we will hold dear for a lifetime.












Our first family photos. I will always cherish these.
Danny, Thank you.

xo jess + greg


all photos c/o ebersole photography

Monday, June 9, 2014

Ode to my body.


I've always hated my body.
I know that is a really harsh thing to say but I would be lying if I said it any kinder or in any easier terms.

Since the sixth grade I have had body issues. It breaks my heart to even type that because now I work with kids and if any of them ever saw themselves as anything less than perfect it would kill me. But it's the honest truth. Sixth grade until my first year in college I struggled physically with an eating disorder and mentally I'll probably deal with it forever.

Something happened though when I saw my son, I fell in love with my body for the first time. This shell that I have spent so many years hating, disgusted over, talking down to; this very body carried my baby boy for nine months. It carried him and kept him safe. Then in all its might it brought him safely into the world. My body is a more remarkable thing then I could have ever imagined, a more sacred thing than I could ever have believed.

That's not to say I'm always thrilled with the squishy stomach that now resides where my abs used to be. Or that my wardrobe rejected by my new shape isn't covering the floor in our bedroom.
But when I hold my little guy it all melts away. No matter how much I dislike my body or its imperfections there is one truth that can never be changed: my body made me a mother, my body gave me Miles.
And for that I will give myself a break. I will rock a bathing suit even though there's stretch marks on my thighs. I will let you take my picture even though I'm not satisfied with the way I look. And I will stop looking at me and focus on him, because I do not want to miss a moment.
I will be thankful to him my size will never matter, to him I'll always just be Mama and that's just fine with me.

be kind to yourself,
xo jess

|| Psalm 139 ||

Friday, June 6, 2014

MILEStones


Our little guys seems bigger everyday! We cant believe how quickly two months has come and gone and love seeing him grow and interact with us more each day. We're so lucky to be his Mommy and Daddy!
more soon to come,
xo jess and greg

Monday, May 12, 2014

Miles's Debut.

Since my last post our lives has seemed completely a blur. We wanted to share all the happenings but to be honest between late night feedings, lack of sleep, and overall new baby-ness, I considered it a personal success if I even was able to take a shower and that's the real life of it. Sitting at a computer long enough to write a post seemed like a very distant, wishful goal.

Yes, we have a son. He's here and were so in love. You've been waiting for the story here it is...

My birthday was approaching right along with my due date and we were all anxiously awaiting this little guys arrival.
My brother and sister-in-law came into town and the reunion was so needed. It had been over a year since we've seen them which I am ashamed to even admit. Having them home is like someone giving you a big hug everyday, you just feel happy and whole.
 I do not really know what I would have done without them here, especially my sister-in-law. As the baby's due date passed I started to get really anxious and stressed I just really wanted to meet this little guy! But Rachael, was there to walk and walk and walk with me, to keep me company as I bounced on a yoga ball, and to talk all night and all day about life. I really, really missed her.

One night we had all our favorites over and we spent the night laughing and playing ridiculous trivia games. Everyone kept commenting on my crazy energy boost seeing that I am most always a 9pm beditme person.
We said our goodbyes and hopes the baby would come soon.
Then at 4am I felt kind of funny. I laid wide awake in bed feeling my belly and trying not to get my hopes up if it was really nothing. My contractions seemed stronger so I got up and started bouncing on my yoga ball to pass the time, intently looking at the clock counting every second. As I felt them get stronger I also started to get more excited. I yelled into the bedroom.. "Greg, I think its happening.. I dont think you can go to work"
I kept bouncing and counting and then I called the midwife.
I let her know they how far apart they were and that I was going to stay home until I really knew it was for sure (there was absoluetly no way I was going to get sent back home).
I told Greg to really call into work because it was really happening and at 6:30am we headed to the hospital.
They were STRONG and they hurt. Greg keeps saying I was a champion but I am pretty sure I broke his fingers in the process.
Once I was admitted and put in a delivery room my flood of family came rushing in. Everyone was excited and we were all in for the wait. I rested awhile and everyone was coming and going. Then all of a sudden I made eye contact with my Nan and she just said "what's wrong". I was told very calmly and simply I just replied "I think my water broke" everyone laughed and started fussling toward the door. I remember Greg hitting my nurse button and saying "uhhh we think my wife's water just broke". Everyone gave kisses and said good luck, my brother last minute tried to stow away in the room which was really cute but we kindly kicked everyone out.

They informed us it would be at least two - three hours of pushing...
Sixteen minutes later our son was born.

 They put him on my stomach and I felt like I looked Love right in the face. His eyes were wide and all I could say was "hi, welcome to the world" before looking at Greg and preceding to sob. My heart felt like it was continually bursting into pieces as I held him.
They let us have time with him then Greg cut the cord and they cleaned him up.

Everyone was allowed to come back in and they were immediately smitten with him.
I can never be thankful enough that my baby came into this world surrounded by so much love.
It took us two days to even decide on the name:
Miles Jay Antonow
After spending time with him we knew it just fit.
I couldn't wait to leave the hospital but was so sad knowing that when we got home we would have to say goodbye to Jay and Rachael. Guys, if you read this I really couldn't have done all this without you. Thank you truly for everything you did for us.
We came home to a clean house, a happy dog, and a refrigerator stocked with frozen crock pot meals with instructions that Rachael had made. She's so cute.
They left and Greg had to go back to work, but we were never alone. We had both my parents and Greg's parents come to town. Uncle Kyle on call to bring over diapers at a moments notice. Mama Babiuk and Co. who dropped off bucket loads of groceries and a wonderful small group that provided us dinner for each day of the first three weeks.
All this has gotten us through the biggest transition of our lives. When they say it takes a village, they're serious.

Thanks for coming along on our family's little journey. Miles is almost six weeks old and we cannot wait to share life with you as we learn it.
Here's to the newness, growing, unknown, and messy.
xoxo jess and greg

Monday, March 10, 2014

family photos// maternity

I was starting to panic slightly that we had almost NO pictures together since I have been pregnant.
We have plenty of me but none of us.
The weeks were dwindling down so we finally set a date with our dear friend Lisa and made it happen.
I pretty much would never choose to do a photo shoot in the middle of winter. I am a natural light loving, fresh air and nature kind of picture girl but I knew we would have to make it work. Thank goodness for Lisa and her ability to know me well and to see the potential of my big ideas in a tiny living room.
I do not think I have loved photos this much in a very long time.

When I look at these I see my family. I see us, the real us and it makes my heart sing.
More soon,
jess

photos by Lisa Barker.
Teepee was made by Greg (my Christmas gift last year) and painted by our friend Rachel.