Two Months

2 Months

• Look at that smile!!! I love how you learned how to smile this month (at 5 weeks old). You use your whole body to smile. And those cheeks!! You have gotten so chubby. It is so adorable. I just want to eat those cheeks off your face.
• This month, we went to Oregon for Thanksgiving. All your cousins and aunties and uncles were so excited to see you for the first time. Uncle Joe was a baby stealer and literally would grab you from others arms. But to his credit, he was able to calm you down every time he held you. We joked that he was going to come home with me to become your nanny. It was a bit of a rougher week for you. I don't think that you were able to nap well during the day, so it led to lots of crying. We were able to bless you while there. I was pretty stressed out that you were going to cry during the whole blessing and I wasn't going to be able to hear it, but you were clam for that brief moment, so all was well.
• When we got back home, I was able to get you to nap in your crib more regular which has made a big difference.  
• You have been cooing. Sam loves to think that you are saying actually words, so he will run up to me and tell me that you said your first word "agg". You are more happy to just lay down on the blanket, so the big kids will come lay next to you and try to get you to smile or coo.
• Maggie loves being a little mother to you. One Saturday, I was still sleeping when she heard you start waking up. She got you out of the crib, brought you into the living room and changed your diaper. Then she brought you to me to feed. 
• At your 2 month appointment, you were 13lbs and 8 oz!! We are needing to move up to size 2 diapers because of your chunkiness.

One Month

1 Month

• Oh my goodness, how are you already a month old? It has gone by so fast. You have had grandparents here for the first 2 1/2 weeks, which has helped out a lot. I don't think you laid down on your own during the day much during that time. Everyone loves you so much and are constantly wanting to hold you. 
• You are an amazing eater, super fast, and like your brother and sisters, you are packing on the chubs fast. You take the bottle really well, which is nice because then your dad gets the chance to feed you, which he loves.
• Sleeping is good. To be honest, you are not the best baby when it comes to sleep, but you are still a really good sleeper. The mornings tends to be your needy time. You have a harder time staying asleep on your own or when you are awake, you are not content to just lay on a blanket next to me while I am folding laundry or something. So I end up holding you all morning long and don't get much done, or I put you in the carrier and go for a walk. The afternoon is full of naps. In fact, I wish you were awake a bit more in the afternoon so you will get a full feeding. But night time, you are pretty good about going to sleep right away after feeding. 
• It took us a while to realize that you don't whimper when you stir at night. You let out a loud cry and then go back to sleep. So it is hard to tell if you are actually awake or not. In the morning, you will wake up an hour after your last feeding and I will send your dad into rock you wince you are crying loud enough to wake us both us. But by the time he goes to the bathroom real fast and walk in the room, you are already asleep. 

Baby Blessing

We were able to bless you in Oregon (Canby 2nd Ward of the the Oregon City Stake) Sunday, December 1, 2019. Those in the circle were your father, Grandpa Price, Uncle Joe, and Uncle Dusty.

Heavenly Father, with the authority of the Mel priesthood which we hold, we bring this infant in our arms to give her a name and a blessing. Her name which she will be known by throughout her mortal life is Joanna Bennett Matthews. Joanna, the lord has great things for you to do in this life. And being such He has many gifts that you will develop throughout your life time. We bless you with the gift of intelligence and with the gift of wisdom.We bless you with a cheerful countenance, and those around you will come to you and flock to you because of this countenance, because of the happiness and the love of Christ that you will show to the world. We bless you with friendship with those in need and with the ability to discern and recognize those who need this gift and all the other gifts that you have been given. We bless you with love for those around you. And these things we bless you Joanna in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

It was really sweet to share this moment with family. After church, we all meet up back at Grandma's house where we had pulled pork sandwiches, Cole slaw, fall harvest spinach salad, and chocolate chip cookies.

Birth Story

Birth Story

Well, you didn't come on your own, so we decided to go with the induction on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. We had a 9:00am check in, which I loved because I was able to get the big kids off to school, take a shower, do my hair and makeup, and eat a good breakfast. My mom was here so Millie was excited to play with her all day. Your dad was suppose to be in work early today to help with the c-section, so I was joking that my mom was going to have to drive me in to have this baby. Last minute and one of the other doctors stepped in to take over for Mike so we were able to check in together.

We started Pitocin around 10:00, and settled in the long day. We read books, watched shows on our phones, and browsed the internet. I wasn't feeling any of the contractions but was making steady progress. I didn't want to come in with a birth plan because I cared about was a healthy baby and healthy me. I signed the paper work for an epidural so when that moment came, we were ready. They warned me, "don't wait too long or you will reach that point of no return." Well, I still wasn't feeling much so I thought I should keep waiting. Around 3:00, we were watching an episode of Parks and Rec and the contractions were coming a bit stronger. I was starting to need to visualize through them, so the show was becoming distracting. Your dad asked if I wanted to watch another one, but I told him that I should probably start focusing on this labor. They came in to check me and I was at an 8. Wow, I am really far and I am still not in pain. I have always wanted to go natural, but in the back of my head, I still had that fear of the unknown amount of pain ahead. I asked your dad if he could see anything, but he said no but we were really close. I guess he wanted to say 30 more minutes, but didn't dare give me a time frame in case he was wrong. At that point, the doctor looked at me and said, we have reached that point of no return and I was in for a natural birth whether I was ready or not. I quickly became complete and was about to push. I have always been so nervous about going to the bathroom while pushing, especially if the doctor's face is right there. I have felt like I needed to go for a bit but had been holding it in. Finally I told your dad, "I either got to fart or poop and I can't hold it anymore. I am just going to do it." Well, that feeling was you and you came out in one push.

The laid this beautiful, dark hair baby girl on my chest. Not going to lie, I was still hurting for ripping a bit, so it was hard to fully enjoy the moment, but we were so excited that you were here and healthy. You weighed 7lbs 6 oz and was 21 inches long. We spent some time just the three of us getting to know you and figuring out what your name would be. We decided on Joanna Bennett Matthews. Joanna is my sister's name, though we call you JoJo, and Bennett was Great Grandma Matthews's maiden name. Your siblings came over after dinner with Grandma Price. You were so excited to meet you and loved your name, that was their  favorite.

Everything was healthy between both of us so we were able to go home the next afternoon. Nursing has gone so easy for you from the beginning. You gained weight like crazy. You are a get sleeper. You love to be snuggled, which makes having you lay down on your own a bit of a struggle. However, grandparents were here for the first 2 1/2 weeks so I have been able to soak up all the cuddling time with you.

We love you so much and are so thrilled to have you be in our family.

39 Weeks

39 Weeks

Well, my mom was gone this weekend in Utah for Amelia's baptism but she is back now so you can official come. Please do! I have the car seat in the van ready to go, Sister Rodriguez is our on-call baby sitter, and I have stopped calling people on the phone because every time I do, they want to know if I have had you yet. Nope. Everything is looking healthy though in our appointments. I do have an induction date set for Oct 22 if you don't come on your own. My mom should be here Friday night, so we will just have to wait and see what happens. I am a bit sad doing my last for a while this week. I taught Maggie's class, helped in Sam's class, read for Story time, and finished up all my photography. We borrowed a ton of dryers this week to try to finish up all the drying of the fruit so I don't have to worry about that when you get here. Mike still thinks that I am crazy for how much I am doing right now, but I just have this gut feeling that I am going to have to shut down for a few months when you come.

36 Weeks

36 Weeks

Well, it is crunch time now to get ready for you. I know you will probably not come early, but I pulled out all the baby clothes, washed them and organized them. We got the baby swing out and the bouncer (though Millie took over them with all her dolls). I am starting to get your hospital bag together. You would think that after three babies, I would remember what to put in there, but I went on Pinterest to look over those packing list just in case. Boy, I forgot some crucial things, like a pacifier and a blanket to warm you up in on our way home. I am still trying to figure out who to call as my back up sitter in case you come at night time.

34 Weeks

34 Weeks

Well, it hit me this week that you are coming really soon. With help from everyone, I pulled out all the baby stuff and started sorting through them and washing what you needed. I don't have a lot of warm stuff, so we made a shopping list for when we were in Spokane next week. I am hoping to have everything put away neatly in their baskets and have the room ready by 36 weeks.

I have a big list of things I want/need to get done before you come. Every day, I feel very overwhelm with all the garden and produce. I am really looking forward for you to come because I said that I am going to be done, whether I am actually done or not. So although I know I was be so tired having given birth and feeding through the night, I look forward to just focusing on you.