27 Weeks

The Strangest Process Ever

First child + Nurse & student  = Need childcare!!

Naturally this is my first time looking into childcare and wow what a not fun process. Stressful would be the best word to describe it actually because ultimately I am having to choose someone off of paper and meeting them once or twice to take care of my child for 40+ hours each week! It's so scary... And I don't want to make the wrong choice but like my sister reminded me "Taylor if you don't like who you choose she doesn't have to keep going there."  (Thanks Alisha!)

So after using many different resources and many phone calls later I was able to find a few different in home child care options. I then set up some appointments to meet with them and see their homes and went from there. Truthfully I think the most reassuring part of the entire process was contacting the parents who had or currently going to the in home child care centers I visited and listening to their experiences. Nonetheless I have made a decision and I just pray it was the best choice for my little girl! 

Yayyy Viability!

Well school is in full swing, I am almost out of orientation at the new job, I have registered with the help of my sisters and the nursery has been started! So in other words... I am feeling pretty accomplished! I also went to the doctor last week and everything with baby girl continues to look great, I just pray it continues!

Yayyy, I'm finally 24 weeks which means baby girl is viable!! Yes, this is how my nursing brain works! To me this means I am safe to register and start on the nursery! I am so excited to see how it all comes together, hopefully all the images in my head will be a reality soon!

Baby Bump Watch: Weeks 12 - 23

I decided to start taking pictures at 12 weeks to show the baby's growth. These are belly pics from a lady who's husband is always on the road and she has no one other than herself to take a picture so don't mind my selfies! 

Honestly I have no pregnancy horror stories for you. I have felt pretty great since the beginning! About the only complaint I had was my issue with food. Pretty much nothing sounded good so this girl ate a like a 5 year old: grilled cheese and PB&Js were my diet. 

  
It was a slow night and work so me and a couple co-workers decided to play around with the sono machine. One of the residents came in to take a look and the baby at her goods on display so I had her write down the gender on a piece of paper and I waited until that night to open it up with Isaac! 

This was me to night after work, don't mind my facial expression, I'm exhausted and ready to get off of my feet!!! I go to the doctor on Friday and I am afraid of what the scale is going to read, so far I have only gained 1 lb! 

Jackson Turns 1!!

Being an aunt is pretty much the best thing in the entire world! I can't believe this little guys is already 1!!! My sister threw a monster theme party for his first birthday and it was a hit, everything from monster bubbles, eyeball lemonade to the most adorable and yummy monster cookies, rice crispies and cake!!! This lil guy is so smiley and so happy all the time, I hope I can say the same about my little girl!! Here are some pictures from the party!

 Clayton (almost 7) pushing Jackson around on his new truck!!I mean how stinking sweet! (All I know is this little girl is going to have a lot of boys watching her back!)

Love how this kid always has to have two things in his hands at all times, why not two cookies???!!

Those dimples and his beautiful momma of course!

He was being a gentlemen and wanting to share!! ;) 

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY JACKSON DEAN!!! XOXO 

Last Shift

I am no longer a labor and delivery nurse, I just worked my last 12 hour shift at Saint Francis. The place I have worked since graduation. The place that I have been so proud to call my home for the last five years. I have learned so much through all of my experiences and I wish I could stay but it is time for me to think about my family and put them first. Being a labor nurse was always a dream of mine, a goal that I knew one day I would achieve. It truly became a part of me and made me feel like I made a difference every time I went to work. Labor and delivery is not always rainbows and sunshine but even through the difficult patients and outcomes I still enjoyed what I was doing. I loved the adrenaline and the fast paced environment that could erupt at any minute during a shift. Labor and delivery nurses definitely have a reputation: women who are bossy, intimidating, protective, loud, unaware of what "TMI" means and of course we know how to have a good time and you know what? I have no problem being any of these things. As a labor nurse I gained confidence in myself and in my skills and was not afraid to be an advocate for my patients even if it meant standing up to an attending physician. It is skills like this that I will forever be grateful for because it has made me the nurse that I am today. It gave me the confidence to go back to school for my masters degree... something that will allow my family to grow and allow me to continue to do what I love, women's health.

I have made so many friends over the years and we have had a lot of good times at work and of course out of work and here are just a few pictures of me and my labor girls ;) !! xoxo

Wit, Bunnell, Isaac, Me, Jenny and Mandy at my wedding!

At a Jason Aldean concert! 

Red lipstick is always important, even at 3 am ;) 

New Years Eve!

A bunch of wonderful people that I will miss!! xoxo 

Surprise!

Well my house had sold and I had been accepted into the FNP program at ISU and my husband and I figured, why not?! Lets just see what happens... a little quicker than we both thought on a Saturday afternoon in April we found out we were pregnant!

I felt the need to take a few just to make it all seem real!