My little man

Meet Noah Brandon Stockton!

April 15, 2010 at 1:36pm

7lbs 10oz, 21 in

3+1= 4! Love my family!

The proudest sister in the world! She doesn't want anyone but her to hold him and doesn't think she needs help holding Noah either. When we try and help her she says, "Go away mommy/daddy!"

Daddy adoring his boy minutes after being born.

First day home from the hospital.

Aunt "Buggie" and Uncle Brandon with their little nephew!

Uncle Brandon is so proud that Noah has his middle name. He has been patiently waiting for 9 months to meet his nephew!

Popo (Burmese for grandpa) and Noah. (Mother moment...I love Noah's perfectly round face!)

Best friends already! Gracie is going to toughen Noah up fast!

Everything went really well at the hospital. The c-section was a little scary. Even tough Levi was nervous. It was so weird lying (awake) on a operating table and knowing you are being cut open! It's not like you don't feel anything! You feel the entire process, lots of push and pulling and tugging just without the pain (well, a little pain). It freaked me out and I kept telling my doctor, "I can still feel my legs!" He laughed and kept telling me that it was perfectly normal. It think I was most nervous about the spinal! And to make that worse, they had to redo it because my back muscles were too tight, oh what stress does to my back! It's amazing, from the moment they start the surgery it only took 5 minutes to get Noah out! It was so fast! Normal delivery or c-section, the moment you see your baby is so amazing! I was in love! And everyday I love him more.

Gracie is doing great and has stepped into her role as big sister well. My husband is amazing. He has taken on the role as superdad and superhusband without complaint. He's keeping our house clean, being Gracie's playmate, cooking dinner, and bringing me water and food without asking. He is such a blessing to me. The emotional, crazy, unstable hormonal part of me just wants to cry when I think of what an amazing man I married.

Anyways, both kids are sleeping and Levi is steam mopping the house so I thought I'd take a few minutes to update the blog...who knows the next time I'll get to blog again!

So much to do...why don't I just blog instead?!

Change of plans! Noah will be arriving this Thursday, April 15th! AHHHH! I feel like I have so much to do and NO time. Today was my last day of work, I am sad to leave all the teens and people that I have grown to be such close friends with but also relieved that I'll have at least one day to run around like a mad women, well with a 20 month old in tow, however successful that will be. I have such wonderful family and friends that have offered to help or take Grace but I just don't want to let her go anywhere tomorrow considering this will be our last full day of just "Gracie and Mommy" and then I won't even be able to hold her for the next two weeks. I'm feeling incredibly guitly about that!

Funny thing is that Missy, Clancy's wife, is scheduled to be induced this Thursday too. It looks like there might be 2 Stockton babies born on tax day! I hope it works out! Noah is still doing well but for some reason I am continuing to loose amniotic fluid, which is why the doc won't wait any longer than Thursday. I'm a little worried he might not be fully developed or needs more time to cook. I hope he's a strong little guy!

Anyways, next blog...the all so exciting "birth story" because every mom that has ever had a child loves to hear about other's birth/labor stories! And lots of pictures! :)

Has it been almost a year, dear blog?

Well, I've taken sometime off the blogging network but I'm back and vow to keep up with my blog, not for anyone else but for my kids and how fun it would be for them to read these someday when they are old. I love rereading mine and friends old blog post, time flies and things change so fast!

Our little Noah is coming April 19th! This little stinker is breech and has gotten the cord wrapped around his neck so we don't want to take any chances, he will be delivered by c-section in 2 weeks! For the past few weeks I've been doing every crazy, exercise/position possible to try and get this baby to flip. My favorite was laying upside down off the couch with a bag of frozen veggies on the top of my belly and a flashlight shining on my lower belly. (They say the baby will move away from the cold and move towards the light...yeah right!) This definitely didn't work but did succeed in making me incredibly sick and making my husband think I was crazy. If, by God's grace Noah flips himself then I would be so happy! Maybe this sounds a little weird but there was something so special about delivering Gracie how God created us women to, I am a little disappointed about not being able to do it again. But I've been spending the last 2 days thinking of all the positives of a c-section, here's what I've got (thanks Meg for helping me with this):

1. A lot less bleeding because they suck a lot of it out of you on the surgery table!
2. I'm guessing no hemorrhoids... I got those SO bad with Gracie it was horrible and took FOREVER to go away!
3. I can have the house clean, bags packed, Gracie taken to my parents and the dogs figured out since I won't be spontaneously going into labor!
4. I'm a planner, this is a set date. Levi can plan his three week leave from school around this too! (God likes to change my plans a lot though! His way always ends up better but sometimes it takes a while for me to see the "better".)
5. My doctor is one of the top docs in the valley for high risk, emergency c-sections so I think I'm in good hands!
6. I can lay in a bed for 3 days and I"m not allowed to do the dishes, vacuum, cook dinner or do laundry!
7. How could I forget, no labor pains! Granted the after pains are going to be a lot worse...

Ok, I think that's all I've got... Anyone else wanna add one?

Our little Gracie is doing awesome. She is such a smart little thing which she gets from her daddy. She can now count to 10, knows her colors and sings her favorite Barney songs all day long! Oh, Barney how I love you and hate you!


As of April 17th, I will be a full time stay-at-home mommy! YAY! Who would have thought that Levi getting laid off work would open up a door for him to go back to school and me to stay home? Isn't God so amazing? I have been praying about taking a few kids for daycare and think I already have one little boy starting in May/June. He and Gracie are the same age, it'll be so great for her to have a playmate and I'd love to start doing some "preschool" lessons each day.

Levi just is working like a maniac and going to school at UTI. He is excited about his new career path and I love the fact that he is learning how to fix most of our car problems and is so motivated. Goodbye costly car mechanics and labor fees!

Anyways, regardless of what trials come our way, God is good and he will see us through them as he always has!

Leaving with a few recent pics...

a peace that surpasses all understanding

Well we are back from the dead! The past month has been a little difficult and I haven't been in the mood to blog but now I'm back! A little over a month ago Levi got laid off. It was absolutely horrible! I have never known such fear as when he told me the news. All I could think about was Grace. I felt so guilty towards her like somehow we had let her down. The thought of paying bills put me in this crazy depression and all I wanted to do was sleep and escape from the nightmare that had become reality. At that point, I didn't want to talk to anyone. I wanted to be left alone my little world to feel sorry for myself. I was a mess. Levi, in one word, was strength. His faith was and is so strong it brought me to shame. Countless times throughout this whole ordeal he would ask me where my trust was and if I really believed in God's promises. Levi said that God would meet all of our needs and he absolutely has. It's so sad how difficult things have to happen for God to draw us back into him. He has completely taken care of everything. There are so many situations during the past year that God used to prepare us for this. I've come to realize that Levi and I alone are not sufficient. No matter what we do or how much money we make, we are not the providers of our family. God is the provider. It's crazy how when we start to stray and forget these important details he grabs us by the shirt collar and drags us back, sometimes kicking and screaming. It wasn't until he took the ground out from my feet that I realize I have to rely on him to stand. And that was when the "peace that surpasses all understanding" kicks in. I know he will take care of us. He has shown me in countless ways over the past 6 weeks.

It's funny because now that we are looking back, Levi getting fired has been a crazy blessing. We have a much better handle on our finances, our relationship is SO much stronger, we've been able to get more invovled in church, Levi LOVES his job and I went and found a job that I love. In fact, Levi and I are working at the same company and it's so much fun. We are both working at Guthrie Mainstream, a company that provides services for people with special needs. I am helping run the teen program and Levi works with 4 different clients. This job has brought out so many amazing qualities in Levi, some I really haven't ever seen before. He told me last Sunday he actually looks forward to Mondays. I love seeing him happy and watching him interact with these clients makes me burst with pride. Everyone loves him there and he has quickly become the favorite provider. Yes, money is a little tight now but I have no doubt we will be fine. I have a God that loves me, a family I adore and sweet little home...there is nothing to complain about!

Gracie to round 2!

Gracie made it to round 2 in the baby idol contest! Thank you for all your votes and now we need your votes again! You can vote once a day per email address... Voting ends on May 25, I think, so vote, vote, vote! Thanks!!

http://www.mix969.com/pages/baby-idol/vote-entrants.php?gid=2&id=50

Waiting it out...

School gets out in 8 days! I can't wait. This might be my last 8 days of being a teacher so there are some mixed feelings but overall I can't wait for a summer with my little girl. It's been getting so extremely hard to leave her lately. My class is getting a little crazy, a few worse than others, and I'm ready for a breather!

I'm not quite sure about next year. I was offered a position teaching a Pre-Kindergarten class but that is just SO young! I don't know if I could do it. Luckily it would only be 2 1/2 hours a day. There is also a position at Guthrie Mainstream where I could work from home, on my own schedule and the pay is better. The only problem is that I can't work until I have the training and certification and the state is not offering the training right now because of the crazy budget mess. I would take the Guthrie job in a heartbeat but I just don't know how long it'll take to get started and how long we can afford to wait. If I could work from home life would be so much easier and we could actually work on multiplying our family! :) Lately I've been having baby fever. I am feeling ready to have another baby. The only problem is I'd happily go through the labor, I just don't want the 9 months of being pregnant! I've just been struggling with trying to make the right decision about these jobs and when we should start trying for another baby. It's comforting to know God is in control. (I have to remind myself this a lot!) When I really stop and think about everything HE has provided for us, I realize it's crazy to worry. Worrying won't add a day onto my life and no matter how much I worry today there will still be more to worry about tomorrow.

Anyways, Levi, Caleigh, Carolyn and I went to the Matt Mahar and Shane and Shane concert. It was INCREDIBLE. Those guys have to most amazing voices I have EVER heard. It just goes to show what you can do when you use your talent to honor the Lord! If you ever listen to Christian music look up these guys! Here are a few videos, it doesn't really do them justice though!

My very first Mother's Day was perfect. It was relaxing and I got to spend it with my beautiful family. Levi is an amazing husband and really made it special! We went to my mom's later that day and took Gracie swimming for the first time. She LOVED it. She didn't want to get out!

Vote for Grace!

Okay I need all your help. Yes, the proud beaming mother that I am entered Gracie into the 96.9 Baby Idol contest. If you would click on this link and vote for her we would be so thankful! How great would it be to win and have a little college fund started for her?! You can vote one time a day! So if you're feeling really generous come back and vote tomorrow too! (and the day after that and the day after that!)

http://www.mix969.com/pages/baby-idol/vote-entrants.php?gid=3&id=23