My birth story!

While I was pregnant, I had EVERYTHING planned out.

How I would parent, how I would refuse medication during birth, how I would NEVER have a c-section, because its unnecessary… Everyone told me ‘you keep on planning, but just wait, everything will change...’ It made me angry. No one believed me. So my mindset was that of ‘I’m gonna show YOU!’

Ha!

November 17, 2013: 1 week until my due date. I was so excited, so scared, so nervous! My husband had finally come home from his deployment, just in time to welcome his baby girl! My family would all be here any day now, hopefully she would arrive while they’re here! I was still very adamant about a med-free vaginal birth. I made my birth plan and packed my hospital bag. I was all ready!

The night I picked my husband up from the airport after not seeing him for 4 months!

November 23, 2013: 1 day until my due date. My family had arrived in time for my due date AND Thanksgiving! I was thrilled! I couldn’t wait for Paisley to make her appearance and my whole family be around to see her! I was getting anxious, but I still wanted that med-free birth.

On the beach outside of my families condo! The day before my due date! 

November 24, 2013: My due date. I tried EVERYTHING to try and get this little girl to come out! I mean, EVERYTHING! My family, who traveled from Ohio to visit, was leaving in a couple days. I really wanted them to be around when I had Pai. The likelihood of that seemed small.

November 28, 2013: 4 days after my due date and its Thanksgiving. My family will be leaving in 2 days and still no sign of Paisley. My doctor said I was completely unfavorable. 1 cm dilated, 0% effaced. The thought of induction sounded REALLY great at that moment, even though I SWORE I would NEVER do it. At this appointment, my doctor said that if I have not gone into labor by my next appointment, he would induce me.

My husband and I on Thanksgiving. 4 days overdue!

December 3, 2013: Induction day. Yes, I chose the induction. I strayed from my plan. I proved everyone right. At the time, I just wanted her out. I was tired of being pregnant. I never once felt contractions. I was still completely closed. They started me on cervadil at 5pm and let it sit overnight.

December 4, 2013:

6AM My doctor came in to check me after the cervadil. Still completely closed. He tried to break my water, but my cervix was too high up. So they started me on pitocin (logic?)

After 11 hours on pitocin,still completely closed. So I told my doctor just to schedule my c-section. I knew where this was headed.

5:26 PM, I birthed a beautiful baby girl via c-section. 7lbs 20.5 inches.

 

A huge part of me wishes I had just waited until she came naturally, but I realized having a c-section doesn’t make you less of a mother. Just like having a vaginal birth doesn’t make you more of a mother.

After my c-section I was loopy from the drugs and I didn’t even see my daughter or my husband for at least 2 hours after the surgery. I was able to breastfeed when she came in, with the help of a nipple shield but I didn't feel any special bond. I loved her immediately and she was beautiful, but it was a hot mess.

 It truly didn’t matter how she came, though, only that she did; And honestly, I’d do it all over again, for her.

xox

Baby Face Boutique Review with 20% off coupon! (Code and link at the bottom!)

Babyface Boutique is a shop on Instagram run by Caylee Williams.

She's sweet as candy and has amazing clothes and patterns!

Hashtag Swagforbabies!

Let me start off with the fact that she makes infinity scarves... FOR INFANTS! Paisley has 2 of them so far, and I hope to get more! 

Paisley rocking her infinity scarf and matching pants!

She has a ridiculous amount of patterns! She makes scarves with matching pants, skirts and harem pants; she also makes stylish bibs called Bibdanas with matching pants! The fabrics are so soft and Paisley loves to wear them! 

Here's a few examples of her fabulous work! 

Omg are these two outfits not the most adorable???? 

<--Left: Skirt with matching headband!

Right: Pants with matching Bibdana!-->

She also has loads of headbands that match the outfits AND she has adorable beanies! 

Paisley with her scarf and beanie!

Some of the beanie patterns! Paisley has the pink with bows!!

Here is some of her Bibdana patterns! How cool are these? 

You've GOT to go check out her shop on IG @babyfaceboutique! 

She is offering a 20% discount on orders using the code APL2014 through paypal! 

You need these in your life! 

xox

Taking time for me.

My purpose in life is to make my daughter happy. I truly believe I was born to be a stay at home mom. There is not a single item in this world that could buy me the joy I have when I see my daughter every morning and spend every day with her. 

That said, with all the time we spend together, it's very important for me to have some 'Me Time'

My favorite 'me time' activity is taking a nice, hot bubble bath while scrolling through Facebook. 

Me time is SO essential to a mother AND fathers well-being.

Don't be afraid to communicate to your partner when you're feeling overwhelmed with life and you need a break. It doesn't make you any less of a person. 

It's so much better for yourself, and your family if you're de-stressed. 

Happy parents, happy family.

Xox

Why having one child is enough for me.

                                               

      

When I tell people that I don't want to have anymore children I get one of these responses:

• Really, it's that bad?!
• Wait until she's [insert random age here], you'll want another
• Only children are spoiled brats!
• She's going to be lonely!

To answer those questions; 

• Absolutely not, my daughter is the best thing that's ever happened to me. 
• I realize that upon seeing my baby girl, everyone gets baby fever, but that doesn't happen to everyone, and if it does, I'll just get a puppy ;)
• Its pretty rude to generalize only children. My best friend is an only child and is the sweetest girl you will ever meet...
• It may not seem like much to you, but I am her friend. She will never be lonely as long as she is with me!

Paisley is my best friend, my tiny partner in crime. I honestly only have enough love in my heart for her. I have no desire to ever have anymore children. 

I want to teach her as much as humanly possible and I only want to teach life lessons once. 

I want to put all my time and effort into watching her grow up and shaping her into the individual she will be! I owe it to her to put all my love into her and her alone. 

Parents who have multiple children have big big hearts for their multiple children. They have the patience and time to shape more than one baby and watch them grow! I think that's so cool! 

I, positively, only have a heart big enough for my sweet sweet baby girl. And that's okay with me! God will create beautiful babies in the wombs of other women!

I will never stop hearing 'I know you are saying that now, but you'll want another!', and that is something I've learned to accept! My mind will never change, though!

Paisley Jayne is my one and my only! And that's okay with me!

xox

Mikab Teething Jewellery Review! (With a 15% off coupon code!)

Mikab Teething Necklace in Black

Got this beauty a couple weeks ago.

I.AM.OBSESSED. 

The owner, Dominika, is sweet as pie and awesome to deal with!

Her shop is located in the Republic of Ireland, and lucky for us, she ships to the US <3 

Her teething necklaces are made of non-toxic, food grade silicone; the same kind of silicon babies soothers and bottle nipples are made of! BPA free!!

It also has a breakaway clasp for added safety and complies with EN71 toys safety standard! GENIUSSSSS! 

Mama rockin the necklace that Paisley was just chewing on :P

The necklace looks great with any outfit and Paisley LOVES chewing on it! 

Its a Godsend, especially since my little 4 month old is currently teething! 

She offers and array of colors in bengals, pendants and necklaces, like mine!! 

I LOVE the turquoise pieces!

Lucky for my awesome followers, Dominika is offering a discount on her already amazingly priced jewelry! 

If you head to her website and purchase a piece, you will get 15% your order by applying the code BR2013! This code is valid until the end of 2014! <3 

Click on one of the links below and check out her inventory and get your discount today! 

Fashion statements are so much cooler when they serve more than one purpose!

Mikab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikabteethingjewellery

Mikab Website: http://www.mikabteethingjewellery.ie/

xox

I saw the light.

It is very likely that I am one of the most passionate people you'll ever meet. 

Within itself, that is a blessing and a curse; whatever you make it out to be.

For the majority of my life, I have chosen to make it a curse. It has always been 'Kayla and her big mouth', 'Kayla and her unwanted opinions', 'Kayla is being a drama queen... again' 

I mean, day after day, it was always something new with me. I say 'was' very lightly, since I'm basically talking about just yesterday ;) 

When I am passionate about something, there is NO stopping me. I say things I don't mean, I won't stop until I get my point across or until the responder (enabler) stops responding. Which means, conversations (in my case, arguing) would go on for HOURS. People would say things I didn't like and it would make my blood boil. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest. I want to strangle whomever I'm talking to, to make them SEE THE LIGHT! 

Then someone VERY important to me said this;

"Dont be offended.. but I believe you are pushing your parenting views onto people who don't really care. I understand you feel that way and that is awesome, but maybe you are heading a tad overboard with presenting to other people".

Chicka WHAAAAT? Maybe it was ME who needed to see the light. Why, in God's name, do I care about what other people are doing, how they are parenting, how they are living? Even if I did care, why do I feel the need to tell them, when they really don't care, whether I do or not?! 

Seriously people. If you want to leave your little bits of information to someone who may have views that are different than yours, go ahead! If they don't like it, leave the conversation. Staying and arguing, or even conversing, isn't going to change their mind; but, if you kindly leave a bit of information that they may have never seen before and don't say another word, it could plant a seed.. (or it couldn't but lets be positive, here!)

Open your eyes, fighters! Stop fighting. You may be pushing people away around you without even realizing it... until they're all gone. Stop while you're ahead. 

xox.