"Oh, Ouch"

I have to agree and sorta laugh with a statement Jake made this morning... I was attached to my beloved pump when Jake walked in. He immediately came up to me and said, "oh, ouch, oh". Yes, sweet man, ouch is right! :)

Pierce Habecker McWilliams

Seriously, I don't know how you people find time to blog! I find it nearly impossible to find time- plus I'm still getting used to this whole "blogging" thing. Bear with me :)

Mark, Jake and I joyfully announce the arrival of the newest McWilliams family member...
Pierce Habecker McWilliams was born on Wednesday, September 30 at 3:24 am. He weighed 8.2 pounds (exactly what Jake weighed) and was 18 3/4 inches long.

Mark and I were planning on going into San Francisco for my doctor appointment that Tuesday and then planning on having a nice dinner in the city afterwards. After a quick check my doctor announced that I was dilated to a 5 and was under no circumstance allowed to make the hour long trip home. She sent us over to L&D triage to be monitored for an hour. I had been having pretty consistent contractions for the past several weeks but they hadn't been bad enough to actually time. That tuesday morning I had felt a little different but really couldn't put my finger on it. I just knew that I was really pregnant and that he was coming soon and my body was just getting ready. I had wondered if he was starting to drop. Anyways- after an hour and contractions every 3 minutes, my doctor said that I was having this baby that night! Well, here we go! Mark and I couldn't believe that it was happening. I had hoped that I could experience "natural labor" since I was induced with Jake but this was not how I had imagined :) My doctor broke my water at 8:30 and I was literally crying for my epidural an hour later. Seriously, DON'T KNOW HOW people have babies without epidurals!!! FINALLY, at 3 am I was ready to push. 24 short minutes later, I was holding Pierce in my arms, crying and praising Jesus for a healthy baby. A little different than the 2.5 hours of pushing with Jake. He was and still is perfect! Hopefully all that wasn't too much information to share :)

Pierce is now a week old and we are totally sleep deprived and struggling to keep our heads above water BUT we have never been more in love with this little man who completely OWNS our hearts! Poor little Jake has been so sick so we are trying to keep him away from Pierce but we can tell that he is going to be a great big brother! I have been so grateful to my mom for all of her hard work since she has been here. She has cooked, cleaned, held, rocked, done laundry, played with Jake, encouraged me, made me drink beer, held me while I cried, forced medicine down Jake's mouth, even given a bottle to so I could get some extra sleep, really, she has been a perfect example of an amazing mom! A mom that I hope to be for Jake and Pierce. My dad has been here for a week now too and he and Jake are literally BEST FRIENDS! I love watching the 2 of them hold hands while going on a walk and playing on the floor with cars and trains.

So, I think I've written enough... is anyone even still reading?!? If you have managed to hold on, you can now enjoy some pictures. Enjoy looking at our sweet boy!

About to leave Healdsburg for my doctor appointment!

Leaving triage for L&D. Can you see the tears in my eyes? Still can't believe this is happening!


My amazing husband making me laugh!


2:45 am and about ready to start pushing.


He's here!


And absolutely perfect!


The amazing doctor that helped bring Pierce into the world! Isn't she cute?!?


Proud daddy!


Sweet little angel.


Family of 4!


Skeptic big brother :)


Blissfully sleeping!


Trying out his swing.


If we aren't careful, Jake will push that swing like the pirate ship at Six Flags!



xoxo

Guess who's here?!?

Just a little sneak peak! Will update with pictures and "the story" soon... I hope!

xoxo

A Few More

I've been told that I left out some pictures! :)

Daddy pointing out something very important I'm sure!

I love this picture!

"Can I eat just one more pleeeaaassseeee?"

Making sure he picks the perfect grape.

Going off on his own.

Satisfied and walkin' home with his dog.

Harvest is here!

Jake and daddy were in the vineyard this afternoon making sure that everything is ready for harvest this week. The first load of grapes will come in tomorrow (Sept 1). We are set to harvest Arista's estate vineyards on Thursday, so of course, Jake will be there to help supervise! Come back for some more pictures. Jake LOVES being in the vineyard. He is his daddy's little clone!

Isn't She Lovely?

This post is dedicated to my best friend, my sister. Seriously, isn't she gorgeous?!? I'm incredibly proud to be her big sister. AND I get the utmost honor of standing by her side in just 7 months at her wedding- a day that I have dreamed about! Bethany and I are 16 months apart and I can't remember a time when we were not friends. Well, maybe a few times :) I think our friendship really solidified when we both "liked" the same boy. Seriously, we both had crushes on the SAME boy! You would have thought that would make us hate each other but just the opposite happened. Very weird, I know.

Some of the things that I admire and love most about my sister are her loyalty, compassion, honesty and trustworthiness. Bethany has some really special friends that she would drop anything in a second to go be with them. She has a giant heart - even to the few patients that she would like to wring the necks of at 2 am in the ER. Bethany has an incredible sense of style (I try to NOT be jealous every time I look in her closet!) She loves being an ER nurse. I don't know why but if I ever have to be in the ER, I hope my nurse loves her job too! She is a perfectionist. She likes everything to be a certain way and if they are not, look out! I can only imagine how unbelievably perfect April 17th will be!

I miss her like crazy. She had the opportunity last year to come live in CA and work and it was the best summer ever! I got to see her everyday and spend just some special time with her.

Bethany, like all of us, has gone through her share of hardships but she always emerges a stronger person full of grace and love.

I can't wait to continue to watch her grow as an individual and now in 7 months as a wife and hopefully as a mom one day. It is an honor to be her sister and she has been one of the biggest blessings in my life and know that she will always be. I love you buddy!

Luke, you better take care of my little sister or you will have me to deal with... and a few others!

Well, here we go!

I never thought the day would come... the day that I have a blog! I never thought that my life would be at all interesting to other people other than my parents. I mean, who else wants to know what Jake ate for breakfast? But I just had the greatest weekend with Wendi and Ashley and thanks to them they basically made this blog for me so I have no choice now. They promised it would be so easy so here we go! We shall see just how easy this is! Bear with me, k?

I can't promise that I will post often or that my posts will be interesting but I will try my hardest.

In the mean time, a little update on what's going on in the McWilliams Family:
Jake is 21 months old and is the absolute light of my life (despite the whiny stage he is in currently!). We are expecting our 2nd boy sometime the beginning of October. I think we have decided on a name... Pierce Harold McWilliams. Pierce, because we like it. Harold, after my daddy. Mark is gearing up for harvest at Arista, our family's winery. We won't see much of him the next couple of months but he is doing what he was born to do and he loves it! I, Jennifer, am busy chasing after my little guy, and trying to be a good mommy and wife. I am doing what I was born to do and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

See, I told you, not that interesting. Maybe next time!

love,
jennifer