Colin is Here

Warning: Cookies are known to cause happiness, stomach aches and early labor.

Who knew cookies could be so powerful?

Friday Jamie made "labor cookies" from a recipe she found online. She's been wanting to try anything to kick start her labor in hopes she wouldn't have another 9 lb baby to birth at her due date, especially since she was going into this thing as a VBAC. Well, we all tried one of the cayenne peppered ginger snap - like treats that night, but turns out Jamie had three to ensure their promised effectiveness. I woke the next morning and looked over at Jamie. She had a smile on her face and said "well, the cookies worked." She had started having some contractions that morning and we were pretty sure Colin was probably on his way.

By about 7:00 Saturday evening, Jamie was having very consistent and pretty intense contractions (she also had a couple more cookies to ensure progress) so we made the decision to go ahead and hit the hospital. We got there around 8:30 pm and after a long night of anxiousness, pain, soreness and exhaustion (Jamie had a pretty rough time too) Colin popped out and is about as perfect as they come. Just like his brother was. He was born at 9:40 am and was 7 lbs 8 ounces and 21 1/2 inches long.

We were so proud of Jamie for having the determination to deliver naturally this time after having the C-section with Jackson. She was amazing. She fought through the pain before her epidural so well as she wanted to make sure she did everything she could do to help progress the baby before any drugs. All the nurses and her doctor were so impressed with her focus and ability to deliver naturally especially as they are very hesitant and cautionary about VBACs. Right after she delivered Colin, I looked at her doctor and said - "Jamie, you VBACe'd the crap out of that baby" as a snub to his doubt he's had with her to do it.

Anyways, everything went perfectly and we're thankful for all the friends and families congratulations and support. We'll post some better pictures soon, but here's a look at Colin Jordan (yes, we changed it at the very last minute) Abraham.

The Joys of Parenthood!

The last couple of days have been pretty relaxed. Jackson woke up yesterday morning with a slight fever and claiming, with tears in his eyes, that he "lost his yawn". Which, translated means that his throat was sore.

We stayed inside all day yesterday, so today I thought it would be fun to carve our pumpkin outside on the porch. I got him changed out of his PJ's, and found us a pattern online that I thought wouldn't be too difficult to carve. The carving kit I bought consisted of a small saw, and a scoop. He claimed the scoop, and told me that I would use the saw. As soon as I cut the top off of the pumpkin, he was out. He didn't want anything to do with mess inside. He wouldn't even come close to it, so he decided that he was going to go to the backyard and play.

Not two minutes after hearing the backdoor shut, I hear him screaming. I, still on the front porch, run through the house and out the door to find him under the trampoline with a can of bug spray (strong stuff, with a lot of deet), covering his eyes. He wouldn't come out, and I couldn't reach him without crawling under the trampoline. Usually that wouldn't be a problem, but right now that's not a very easy task. We run to the bathtub, and I start trying to rinse off his face, and his eyes with a washcloth and water. He's still crying. Then I found one of the medicine syringes that you use for babies. I put some water in it to try to drop it into his eyes.

Now, Jackson is not very trusting when it comes to any medical intervention. He doesn't like it when I try to clean his boo boos, he is scared of neosporine, peroxide, band aids, most anything like that. He doesn't mind taking medicine and vitamins though, because they make them taste so good he thinks it's candy.

With that, I knew it wasn't going to be easy to put drops in his eyes. I ended up having to pin him down in my bed to do it. He was crying the whole time, (which made it even more difficult because his tears made his eyes harder to hold open) and saying that he wanted to go "love his babies"(his many stuffed animals). I know this makes me sound like the worst mom, and I'm sure it was quite traumatizing for him, but I was really worried he was going to go blind or something, and I had no idea how much spray actually got in his eyes to begin with.

It's is so frustrating when you are trying to do something for your child to help them and all they do it fight you on it, and I am well aware that this is a conflict that all parents have with all of their children until they're not children anymore. It's just under different circumstances throughout the different stages of the child's development. Still annoying!

So, after all of the drama, I left him in the house and told him not to go back outside until I finished with the pumpkin (yes I still wanted to finish my Jack-o-lantern). When I came back in, I found him asleep in his bed with all of his babies. So, I think I'm done for the day. Just think, all I wanted was a fun pumpkin carving activity for me and Jackson to do.

I am really starting to worry about the thought of two boys. Don't get me wrong, I can't wait for Colin to be here and for Jackson to meet his little brother. Jackson has just been really good lately at stressing me out and I know how multiple boys together can be. Granted, I know the joys that come from being a parent, and I know they will be two fold with two babies. I also know that there is no greater learning experience in life than raising a child, and no greater trial. I know that there is no greater blessing in life than to be a parent of one of God's children. However, will I be able to remember that when I'm trying to clean bug spray out of two, fighting boys eye's? Let's hope so!

Grapevine Pulling

Today was the Zufelt's annual Grapevine Pulling Party. It's not really a big deal, this is only the second year in a row that we've done it. But it's pretty fun! This year was a little bit more difficult for me than last year, but I still worked hard. So, we get a group of sister's together and go out to this specific super thorny tree somewhere on their, I don't know, 30 something acres and pull grapevine out of it for Tony to decorate her horse pins for The Fall Fest. This year the lucky bunch was Tony, Jenni, Linda, and myself. Jackson had fun running around, dragging vines for us, and playing with all of the animals.

So, I probably did more standing around than anything, but still I was exhausted! After we finished pulling, Jackson got a tour of the farm animals. He got to see the horses, the chickens, the rabbits, the kitten, and, of course, Skip the dog. Skip would chase anything, and Jackson was highly amused. Jackson could through a clump of dirt and Skip would run and pick it up and on occasion eat it. However, I think his favorite was the kitten. He could pick him up and carry him around and the poor thing didn't seem to mind. He had a lot of fun, and ended up worn out, yea!

Thank you Tony for such a fun time! We're definitely looking forward to Fall Fest!

Bug's Life

I just wanted to do a quick post about this cool catterpiller that we found outside. I found one last year too. I don't think this one is as big as the last one, but it's equally impressive. I think it's called a Luna Moth Catterpiller. It's not the best picture, but you get the idea.

Ahh, the Fall!

I am so excited that's finally starting to feel like fall here. Jared left this morning wearing a sweater. I love sweaters! It made me a little happy. I decided yesterday to update the blog with something to celebrate Fall. Then I got a call from Grandma Abraham saying that there was a pumpkin patch up at her school, and to bring Jackson. It worked out perfectly. I gave Jackson a haircut, and got him looking all cute and told him we were going to go take a lot of pictures with all the pumpkins. We don't get too many opportunities to get really cute pictures, so I had to take advantage of it while I could. I hope you all enjoy the pictures!

Jackson picking out his pumpkins.

The sun was a little too bright for Jackson, or the pumpkin was too heavy.

Jackson and Me in the pumpkins. Jackson and Grandma trying to decide.

Superman trying to pick up the big pumpkins.

After experiencing the Pumpkin Patch, we decided to have Jared meet up with us after he got off work and go to the park. The park has a couple of reeally nice walking trails, and Jackson loves going for walks.

Jackson riding his race car, and 3 yr old Jackson doing the monkey bars with just a little help from Grandma.

Jackson was trying to show us how your supposed to workout on that piece of equipment.

We had a really fun evening, and Jackson passed out in the car before we could get home(Yea!)

We are excited for the cooler weather and the chance to get outside more without overheating. On top of that, I've been telling myself this entire pregnancy that when it starts getting cold and we start seeing all of the holiday stuff on all the shelves at the store, it would almost be time for Colin to be here, so bring on the Holidays!