Savannah GA 2013

Me and Adam took a late Anniversary trip to Savannah in October.  It was great.  His mom kept the kids and it was such a nice break.   It was a time we both really needed some time away.   We didn't want to fly or go far, so we decided Savannah was a great choice.  We both had never been and heard so many good things about it.   We drove down on a Saturday and stayed till Wednesday.   The weather was nice.  It got hot some days, but I actually had to wear a hoodie one day.  A cold front came in and it was chilly.  

We stayed at the Westin, and it was a awesome!!!  Our room was on 15th floor, corner view with a balcony.  I loved the view.  The hotel offered a free water taxi, so we took the tax over to River Street anytime we wanted to go downtown. Sadly to say I was over joyed at the idea of staying here because I love Westin Beds.  Seriously they are awesome!!!  The first night we ate at a place on River Street, called One Eyed Lizzy I think.  There was a festival and we walked around and shopped that night.  Sunday we ate breakfast in the hotel, then drove to Tybee Island.  I have to say it was pretty, but it doesn't compare to the gulf.  You just can't beat the gulf white sand and crystal water!!!!  We toured some Historical things there.  We walked 175 steps in the old Lighthouse.  OH MY GOODNESS.  What was I thinking??  My legs were like jello when we got done.  I thought I might pass out.  I am NOT in shape.  Note to self...next time just take some pics. :)  The view was gorgeous though!  We ate lunch out there at a little cafe/beach place.  We went back to the hotel and chilled and got ready.  We took the taxi over to River Street.  We walked up to Anna's in the City Market Area.  Adam had his favorite meal here.  He ordered the Bayou Chicken.  It was outstanding.  I wanted his food.  I ordered Pasta Primavera or something.  It was good but his was awesome.  I tried making it once we got home but couldn't replicate it.  We walked around and shopped after we ate.

Monday we went to River Street and ate at Huey's for breakfast.  We had the pain purdue (New Orleans style French Toast with pecan butter).  OH MY.  Me and Adam both LOVED them!!!!  It was soo good!!!

Today we did the trolley tour.  You can get on and off at one of 15 or so stops.  It is the perfect way to see the town.  There is SO  much history in Savannah.  It was very interesting.  I love hearing all the stories (true or not).  Adam loved all the ghost stories. :)  He wanted to take a ghost tour but I wasn't up for that.  I did agree to finally do it but we didn't ever go.  It poured down rain this day but thankfully we got on the trolley just in time. We went back to the Hotel and got ready.  We had dinner reservations at The Pink House.  Its an old house built in the 18th Century.  Of course there are plenty of stories about how it is Haunted.  The waitstaff do a good job of explaining all about the Old House and all its stories.  You can walk down into the bar/cellar part.  I didn't want to because I am a total chicken :)  Savannah is said to be one of the most Haunted Cities in the US.  Back to the dinner..it was good.  I had Tilapia and I think Adam had steak.  It was pretty good but not as great as everyone makes it out to be.  

Tuesday we went into town and ate at a little cafe style place for breakfast. It was called Goose Feathers.  So modern and cool.  It was SO yum.  I had the birds nest :)  It was a bowl of grits with eggs poached with salsa, etc.  I think Adam had a platter of eggs, bacon, etc.  We went back to the Hotel.  I had a Spa day planned for myself.  I can't even describe how excited I was for this part of my vacation!!!!  The Spa was part of the Hotel. I told Adam I was going to the Spa and he might not see me for a good 4 hours or so :)  AWWW.  It was not busy, so I had the whole place really to myself.  I put on my big robe and drank my hot tea while listening to soothing music.  The LIFE!!!   I had a massage, a facial, and a manicure.  The first facial I have ever had.  I was always skeptical of them because my skin is so fair. I am VERY particular what I put on my face.  It was wonderful though. I will for sure do it again.  So really almost 3-4 hours later I returned to the hotel. ::)   We drove over to Hilton Head which was a 30 minute or so drive.  There were some Tanger Outlets so we shopped :)  This is where my vacation starts on a downward slope. On our way back to the Hotel the car had a service light or something appear.  We got to the parking lot and the car wouldn't start back up again. :(   REALLY??  Our luck for real.  We went ahead and got ready, then took the water taxi into town for some supper.  We ate at Tubby's I think.  It was typical shrimp, etc.   So we shopped and went back to the Hotel.  I got SOOO sick through the night. :(  UGH..Totally put a dampener on my trip.  

Wednesday morning we went back to River Street and ate breakfast at Huey's again :)   When we get the car ready to leave it goes dead at the pickup area.  The valet guys tried helping Adam jump it off but it still went dead again.  We ended up waiting for hours and had to get it towed to the local Firestone.  The verdict came in and it was the Alternator.   So here is where I wanted to get aggravated and complain.  BUT if we would have NOT went to Hilton head the afternoon before we might have got on the road home and been 30 miles in the middle of nowhere when the car went dead.  So God knew and took care of us.  Thank you Lord!   We walked into town and ate lunch outside in City Market at Wet Willies.  We finally got on the road at 3-4 or so.  We made it safe to ATL to pick up our kiddos, whom we missed SOO much.  You want a break from your kids at times,  but you miss them terribly!!!  We went ahead and drove all the way back home late.  It was a great trip!!!!  I am not sure I would take the kids though.  There is A LOT of walking and cobble stone streets.  I saw so many moms pushing strollers and totally felt sorry for them.

River street from Hotel

The Lighthouse

Tybee Island

Tybee Island view from Lighthouse

View from my Balcony!

Westin Hotel

Dinner at Anna's

A HUGE barge!

YUMMY french Toast at Hueys

Bench from Forest Gump

At our Hotel one night

Dinner at the Pink House

Creepy girl from Midnight in the Garden of good and Evil

Girl Scout Exhibit. :)  Yes I was a girl scout.  The lady that founded the Girl Scouts was from this area.  It was a very interesting exhibit.

The days after

Its funny how life changes with two kids.  When Ava was born we adjusted our lives around her.  I noticed with Liam we just kind of threw him in the mix of things and didn't adjust much.  For example with Ava I am pretty sure she didn't go out of the house for days (other than doctors appointments).  Poor Liam got ran around everywhere.  Ava started her 4 year Preschool in August.  I had to get him out daily to take her and pick her up.  We got in a schedule and it just worked.

Ava loves her baby brother.  She wants to feed him (or as she calls it drink him).  She doesn't want to change diapers but she gets a chair and watches me do it.  The first few months she wouldn't leave the house or my side.  She was afraid I think she would miss something.  We made her feel very involved.  There were days she didn't even want to go to Nanas and play or go have fun.  I have to watch her though.  She can't keep her hands off of him.

Liam is a good baby.  He sleeps good and when he does cry his cry is so soft.  He started off eating every 3-4 hours.

Her first day of 4 Year old Preschool

Ava loves school this year.  She doesn't dread it or cry anymore.  Its amazing!!  She begs to go and really does enjoy it.  Its wonderful knowing she loves it.

Liam went to his first Church Service in August.

He is One Month

He is 2 Months

He had his 2 month check up in September.  Of course he had to get shots. :(

He weighed 11 lbs and was doing great.

Liam Jude Estes

Liam Jude Estes was born on July 27, 2013 at 1:57 PM.  He weighed 7 lbs and was 19 inches long.

So Liam's birth story:     Beware its long. 

I went to my doctors appointment on Thursday July 25th (his due date).  Ava was born at 39 weeks and a few days, so I was expecting to go into labor with him earlier too.  NO.  Every checkup there was no real progress but no problems either.  That I am thankful for.

Here is a pic of me before my last doctors appointment.  July 25th.  (40 weeks)

At that doctors appointment there was again no change. I was really disappointed because at that point you are just ready to have the kid already!!!!!  I was secretly hoping in a way the doctor would send me on to the hospital.  Now I really didn't want to be induced. I wanted my body to start doing its thing on its own.  BUT I was just SO ready to have him.  OH well after that doctor's appointment me and Adam went to Olive Garden and I pigged out.  I was depressed, huge, and miserable.  So I found comfort in one of my favorite restaurants.  

Did I forget to mention I had been walking too?  I am a firm believer in walking to start labor naturally.  So I was taking walks pretty much every night I could feel like it.  Even in the dead heat of summer :(  So through the night Friday I started having some contractions.  I even woke up and started timing them at one point.  They weren't consistent.  I called into work Friday morning. I didn't get much sleep and my contractions were starting up again.  I walked and walked and walked Friday.  I mean outside, laps around the living room, etc.    At one point Ava looked at me and was like "Why are you walking laps?"  Good question honey.  I am going crazy trying to get this baby to be ready to come out.  The whole day passed and no baby. :(  I was like great.   At this point I was ready...meaning everyone bags were packed and ready to go. I was trying to constantly keep all laundry done, and the house clean so we could rush out the door.  Hopefully returning with a baby.  We had a good dinner that night (Captain D's if I remember right).  Ok, its not Olive Garden but our town doesn't have much to offer.  I got a good shower and washed my hair and all that good business.  Yes women I know you understand the importance of having yourself all "ready".  So I settle in for a uneventful night.  I started having contractions at 9pm (why do they always start at night).  I start timing them and they are every 5-8 minutes.  I walk.....again.  I continued having steady stronger contractions for 2 solid hours.  At that point other things were starting and I decided to just go on to the hospital.   So mom came to the house and we left.  It was a hot humid summer night.  I remember being so nervous on the ride down with Ava.  I wasn't so much this time.  We got there and checked in around 12.  They got me hooked up and checked.  I was dilated to 2-3.   REALLY?  I thought I was at least a 4.  I labored for a few more hours more before I asked for my epidural.  I really asked for it to rest.  My pain wasn't that bad.  Plus I knew by the time I asked for it, it would take another 45 minutes to an hour to get it all done.  The nurse that done my IV was not good.  I told her I am a passer outer :)  She gave me a cold wash cloth and I needed it.  She didn't get my vein right and took it out then back in.  Adam says there was a lot of blood.  I didn't look.  I almost passed out then...She had to change my sheets and stuff she got so much blood on everything.  So onto the epidural.  The guy came in and got me all ready for it.  Well my body was shaking a lot. I do that in labor so I was trying to settle it down and stop.  He got the epidural in and it wasn't painful at all.  She laid me flat for the epidural to move to my legs.  I felt very weird and sick so I spoke up.  My blood pressure had bottomed out.  I was trying to just pray and concentrate.  By the time she did whatever she was suppose to I was already feeling better.  Thank you God!!  Adam said it dropped pretty low.  Adam loved to watch the monitor.  He would say, "Are you having a contraction?  Wow, that's a pretty bad one!"  Ok, Adam I don't need a play by play.  I feel it.  But then the epidural set in and everything was right in the world!  I think I got the epidural around 4am.  The night shift nurse left and another one came in I guess at 7.  I LOVED her.  She was great!!!!  Of course my doctor wasn't on call so I saw one of the doctors I had never even met.  He was great though and I was pleased.  The doctor came in and thought I would have him before lunch.  So that made me feel excited and hopeful.  This is where I always get in labor.  My body starts on its own and gets going then either just stops progressing or is super slow.  I did that with Ava too.  So time rocked on and slow progress.  He came back in and broke my water later in the day.  I didn't want to be put on pitocin, but the nurse ended up giving it to me in a low dose.  I was only on it a little while.  My progress still wasn't the best so the nurses came in to put me in the "Pregnancy Wedge".   I did this with Ava and dilated VERY quick.  I am not really sure the logic behind it but it works people.  Its almost like a twisting of your body and laying on your side with pillows wedged.  I am a FIRM believer in it.  So within about 15-20 minutes I told Adam to page the nurse.  I knew I was ready and I WAS!!!  Whooaaa.  So the doctor came in and everybody got set up.  I was prepared to labor a while because it took an hour and half with Ava.  We got started pushing and after a few minutes my heart rate and his went up.  They put me on some oxygen and I was VERY confused what was going on.  Really I think they just were being cautious.  Mom was worried I couldn't push because I was so tired and hungry.  Everyone that knows me knows I have low blood sugar and I eat every few hours.  I had ate supper at 7pm or so Friday night and it was almost 2pm on Saturday.  I had really had no sleep too!  BUT this labor was so different than with Ava. The doctor also told me the hair was dark :)  Of course the big joke is "Is it red?"  I pushed maybe 20 minutes and he was born.  I was overjoyed and so relieved.  He was finally here and healthy!!  Thank you Lord!!  They let me hold him and I couldn't believe I had another baby :)  They let Ava do his bath.  It was so sweet.  She wasn't sure about him at first.  I am sure she felt she was going to hurt him.  I mean, they are so tiny you just think they will break.   They let me nurse him while we waited to get all ready to be moved.  The doctor and nurses got me all cleaned and ready to be moved to the room.

My dad with Liam

Ava (Big Sis) with Liam

My mom and Aunt with Ava and Liam

Me and my first baby

My two blessings

She is checking him out

Our New family

A proud and overjoyed daddy

Ava giving Liam his first bath

Dressed up :)

Going Home

Going home outfit

Liam's Baby Shower and Belly shots

My sweet friends gave us a baby shower for Liam.   I got a lot.  You can never get enough diapers, wipes and sleepers.

And here are some belly shots.

32 weeks

34 weeks

36 weeks I think

37 weeks

39 weeks

July 22....3 days before Due date

Our New Family

We have a new family since I last posted back in April.   Things have been busy and chaotic and sadly I let this blog fall to the wayside.  I vow to do better because I want to document all these wonderful times and memories.

So lets go back in time......

May..Ava finished her 3 year preschool year.  The weekend after school was out we took a beach trip.  It was the last trip we were a family of 3.  We had a good time.  Ava again didn't care for the beach and ocean.  She loved the pool.  She swam the entire length of the pool with floaties....that's a big accomplishment for her.   I wore out quickly walking in that sand and the heat.  It was nice the time I got to rest though.

Just a few belly shots :)

"Graduation night"

Last day of school

Beach fun.