How can someone change from...

this...

to this...

...in just a few weeks?!

My Thoughts on Motherhood

Bronson is 5 weeks old today!  It has been such an interesting, tiring, rewarding, frustrating, growing, and did I say tiring 5 weeks.  People keep asking me what I think about being a mother, and I have a hard time putting together my thoughts.  Here is my attempt. 

Motherhood is definitely the hardest thing I've ever done.  (I can't believe something could top nursing school.)  Having someone completely dependent on you is very hard and exhausting.  The lack of sleep makes it very difficult to be cheerful and in the mood for bonding when the baby needs some love and affection (and food).  It's also such a life changing thing to be at someone's every beckon call.  There are so many worries and wondering because he can't tell me if I'm doing something wrong or what he wants.

But...it IS the most rewarding thing someone could do.  I've heard that my whole life...that parenting is so rewarding.  "What does that even mean?" I always thought.  Even when Bronson has cried for over an hour at 3 o'clock in the morning, I still can't sleep until I know that he's okay.  Two days ago, Bronson consciously smiled at me for the first time.  I tell you, that made EVERYTHING wonderful!  Just seeing all of his new little accomplishments has been so fun and reassuring that I'm doing something right.

It's only been 5 weeks and I've learned SO much!...and haven't gotten anything else done, but fed, changed, and rocked my Baby Bronson.  :)  I've definitely fallen in love with another boy.

I'm Back!

I'm finally back on the blog.  It has taken me a while to feel back to normal and motivated to do anything but sleep and feed the baby.  I definitely had a bad case of the baby blues, and for a while I wasn't sure if I would come out of it.  I'm feeling much better now though.  Luke has been very patient with me through the transition, and I'm very thankful for him.  Now...for some pictures.

First bottle

Grandma Stuckey and Great Grandma Hufker

First bath at home

Kristen and Elaina came to visit

Grandma and Great Grandma bought us a swing and Eeyore blankie

Auntie Anna bought a cute monkey outfit.

First walk in the neighborhood

We dedicated Bronson to the Lord on Mother's Day.

Four Generations

3 weeks old today

First tummy time.  Only lasted about 2 minutes before getting frustrated.

Finally Home!

Hello again. Since Sarah has been pretty busy with Bronson (kid LOVES to eat!) and sleeping whenever she gets a chance, I'm posting the next installment of the Saga.

Ready to go home.

Comfy carseat...slept the whole way home.

We brought Bronson home on Sunday afternoon. What a relief! We were in the hospital for 2 1/2 days, but halfway through Day 2 (Saturday) we were VERY ready to go home. Since neither Bronson nor Sarah had any complications, it's not like they were doing much with us. Maybe it's hospital policy to keep everybody that long. I think it was because not as many people are there on the weekend and everything moves slower.

An old friend of Dad's made me this cool hat.

It has been fun having a few visitors to see the little guy. Jenny and Jacqueline came by the hospital on Saturday. Kacie, Wendy, and Adam & Anne Reid visited Sunday afternoon/evening. Wendy also brought us some delicious pulled pork for dinner. SO good. (not going to lie, Dad is really enjoying the whole dinner delivery thing. Makes me want to have another one) Carrie came over yesterday (again, with rotisserie chicken for dinner...mmm) and met Bronson. We have SO appreciated everyone's encouragement over the past few days, whether dinners, visits, gifts, or notes, we know we have lots of friends and family who are thinking of and praying for us.

Snoozin' with Dad

So now we just have to figure out how to take care of this little guy while still getting enough sleep to function and continue to take care of the dog and the house and all the other things we have to do.

Laika's still not sure what Bronson is...she'll figure it out.

 

Thank the Lord I get to take 10 days of "Daddy Leave," so I'll be around to help all-day every-day for another week. Sarah's mom & grandma are on the road right now, they'll arrive sometime tomorrow evening, to visit and help for a week as well. That will be great for Bronson to hang out with Grandma Stuckey and Great-Grandma Hufker. (my parents and grandma will be here in a few weeks)

Can't wait to meet Grandma & Great-Grandma!

Please continue to pray for us as we figure this thing out. Any of you who are parents know what I'm talking about (they don't come with instructions). We still don't totally know what we're doing, but with your encouragement and the Lord's help, we'll get the hang of it.

yep...I'm adorable

Come by anytime and meet the little squirt.

-L

Jonathan "Bronson" Scripture

So after much anxious anticipation, our little (and by little I mean, relatively huge) package has finally arrived. Would you like to meet him?

 "Hello. My name is Jonathan Bronson, but Mom and Dad usually just call me Bronson...or maybe Jon Bron. I was born on April 29th at 9:35 a.m.  Everybody kept talking about how big I was. I only weighed 9lbs 2oz and was just 21" long, but I guess that's pretty big considering I wasn't supposed to be here for another week.

 "Mom and Dad were SO happy to see me. I was pretty glad to finally be here, weird as this place is. I was especially glad to meet Mommy; she is so beautiful...and she feeds me. She was pretty tired afterwards, but the Doctor said that she and I were really healthy

 "It was quite a trip to get here, so I was pretty tired...and hungry, and then tired again, then hungry.

 "I've been hanging out with Dad some too. He doesn't quite seem to totally know what he's doing, but he sure seems to be trying hard, and he does seem to be pretty fond of me. I think he'll be alright.

 "At least I know I'll be rolling in style. Some volunteers at the hospital made me this awesome beanie to wear. It's cool. Handmade for me...no big deal.
I'm sure you'd like to see some more of me...who wouldn't? But Mom and Dad forgot to bring the camera cord, so the rest of the pictures will come later. Looking forward to meeting you all soon."
 -JBS

Starting to come together...

We got orders yesterday!  We are officially going to Japan sometime in July.  I say "we", because the baby and I also get to go.  Yay!  It's nice to finally have some definite answers for people and to be able to plan.  It's weird that I'm more relieved to know what's going on than relieved to be able to go with Luke over there.  Maybe I've been so distracted by the coming of a baby that I haven't thought much about having to stay in the U.S. by myself with a newborn.  Or maybe God gave me peace in whatever decision was made.  In any case, I'm just glad to have some dates and definites.

Luke will be finished with his training here in Jacksonville at the end of May.  He will detach from the squadron here and head to SERE (Survive, Evade, Resist, and Escape) school in Maine for 2 weeks (June 6-17).  Meanwhile, we're not sure the details of when they will be moving our stuff or whether they will pay for his flight back to Jacksonville (They may only pay for a flight to Japan from there.).  He then has until the end of July to report to his squadron in Japan (HSL-51).  We haven't officially gotten leave approved, but we're hoping they give us 30 days.  Then begins our farewell tour (or Tour de Bebe', as Luke has named it).  We're wanting to see as many of our friends and family as we can before we take the big flight out to Tokyo.  It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out with the inflating gas prices and the new experience of traveling with a new baby, but it should be fun.

And no, we still have not had the baby.... :(  I have been scheduled for an induction on May 3rd, so we will have Baby Scripture no later than Tuesday. 

Big Belly

Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment in which I will be having a procedure done called "stripping the membrane".  The doctor is hoping to begin labor with this very low risk procedure.  It is supposed to trigger the hormones that induce labor naturally.  He is nervous about letting me carry the baby much longer because of how big the baby is.  I'm really grateful for this type of attitude because I am SO anxious to have the baby.  I feel like I'm physically falling apart.  I'm so uncomfortable!  The doctor says that this procedure works for his patients about 50 percent of the time, so I'm hoping that it works for me.  If not, I may have to be induced within the next week.  I would of course rather go into labor by myself, but am definitely okay with being induced if it means getting a baby at the end.  How crazy to think that we will have another member of the family within a week!

Here are some pictures from about a week and a half ago that I haven't gotten up on the blog yet.

37 weeks

Luke drew henna on my belly.