Roll Over....

So I probably should save this for the three month post.... but I just can't. Titus shocked me this morning when he rolled from his front to back. I thought surely it was a fluke thing... but oh no... he has been doing it all day. Look how cute he is! It is so fun to watch him grow and change.

2 Months

Saturday March 5th Titus was 2 months old. This is hard to believe. This past month has been very smooth and fun. He has started to gibber gabber and I absolutely love hearing those sweet little noises. For this post I have put up some short videos of his very cute new skills. You may not think they are special, but as his momma I am just amazed!

Titus now smiles often, this very big goofy smile. He even does it on command for Keith. Watch and see.

Remember that noise making giraffe from my last post? Well not only does it make him sleep... he also talks and dances to some of the music.

Isn't he cute and determined?
Last thing... he has started eating his hands... ALL the time! Any help on how to stop this? We already use a pacifier but he will spit it out and then stick in his hand.
We are so thankful for the joy this little one has brought into our life. I can't wait to see what these next months and years have in store!

Momma Now Knows (but didn't before)

So it's weird, I know, but I am now a mom. There a many wonderful friends and family who helped me transition into this stage of life with lots of advice. There are also many things I learned from friends blogs after they first had a baby. So I am here to do my share.... share the things I didn't know but quickly learned being a momma. If you are soon to be a mom, or one day hoping I hope this helps. Every baby and every family is different, but here is a piece of what I have learned so far.
Baby Essentials:

My Breast Friend
No it's not a typo.... that's what it is called. And for the amount of time I use this pillow a day I would say it's an appropriate name. When I came home from the hospital I had a boppy and well it didn't make things that much easier. Then I went to a lactation specialist and she made me try one of these... and well friends, it's a life saver! It makes breastfeeding so much simpler, and well more comfortable.

White Noise Maker

This little giraffe was given to us about two weeks after Titus was born. A friend from Keith's work said it would help with Ty not sleeping. This little giraffe makes different noises. The white sound noise calms babies and lulls them to sleep. Sometimes in the middle of the night Titus will wake up fussing and all I have to do is turn this guy on and Titus is sound asleep before we know it. I so wish we would have had this those first few nights!

The Magic Swaddle
This is it not on Titus.
This is my sweet boy all wrapped up.
So this thing really is magic. Keith is former army so he can swaddle and swaddle well, but our little boy had his arms out of those hospital blankets in no time, which means he was waking up in no time. So the magic swaddle totally keeps his arms inside most of the night. It is hard to explain how it works. If you want to know go to their website it has lots of really cool videos.
http://www.miracleblanket.com/

This momma has learned much much more... and will share in post to come!

The First Month

Today Baby Titus is one month old.
In ways it seems like it has been a really long month, then in other ways things have flown by.

It is crazy how much you can learn about a baby in the first month. Baby Titus loves to be held, well not just held but snuggled. I call him my snuggle bug. Titus is a fighter. We went through blood sugar issues, feeding issues and now he has RSV. Through all of this, he has not been a whiny baby but a strong baby. He doesn't fuss even when feeling totally awful. He just lets you know very clearly when he needs something. The term don't wake the baby doesn't really apply in our house, because when Ty is sleepy, he sleeps and nothing is going to stop him. Ty looks like Keith. Even the way his forehead wrinkles. I think the cutest similarity is the space between his big toe and his other toes. Oh but it does look like just maybe Titus got something from his momma, blues eyes... but we will have to wait and see.
Keith as a baby

Baby Titus

Titus has also proved that he knows some things, like who his momma is. He loves to turn his head in the direction of my voice.


This month I have been reminded how much God cares for and delights in me. When Titus is sleeping so sweetly and I can't stop staring at his little face and smiling, these lyrics play in my head " you dance over me" I truly believe God does the same awwing at His children, and takes just as much pleasure from us. He "dances over us."

I have also been reminded of what a wonderful man God gave me. Keith is a great daddy. He is very intentional about being a dad. He won't miss a doctors appointment. We discuss how we are going to do everything. I love that the baby is not just my thing, but that it is ours. He has been very supportive and just plain fun to be around.

As a family we have been so blessed by others. We had wonderful friends come visit us at the hospital. Family has made the long trip to see Titus. The church family has so graciously provided meals for us. With all the little health issues so many have come along side us in prayer. With all these wonderful things my heart can't help but overflow with thanksgiving. We have been loved so well. This is why God designed community. This past month could have been really stressful on our family, but I can confidently say it was a time of blessing instead. So thank you to all the sweet friends and family out there that have loved us so well.

At this moment baby Titus is in a nasty battle with a respiratory virus called RSV. We are almost one week into it. It is supposed to last 2 weeks. It has been so hard to see my baby cough and struggle to breathe. Please continue to pray for his healing and wisdom for Keith and I. Hopefully at the 2 month update we won't even remember RSV.

Titus Aaron Becker - The Birth Story

Announcing Titus Aaron Becker January 5th 2011 3:53 p.m. 8 lbs. 8oz.

I totally intended to update to blog earlier, but well things have been crazier than we expected. Today I will share our birth story and then my next post will be on the crazy week that followed.
So Tuesday January 4th Keith and I went out to dinner at Kerbey Lane for our last date. Then we headed to the hospital to start the induction process. At 8 the nurse hooked me up to the monitor to see the babies heart beat and contractions. And surprise to us I was already having contractions 3 minutes apart. The doctor came and would not give me the medicine to start softening my cervix because I was already showing signs of labor. Keith and I tried to explain that my body had been contracting like this for weeks, causing me to get no sleep, and that I still had no progress. But the doctor was not convinced so she said if I had still been contracting at midnight and had no progress they would start the Cervadil. Around midnight I was still only one centimeter and at 80 percent effacement. Then they gave me the cervidil which is supposed to make your cervix softer and increase contractions. At 5 am they checked me again and even with the Cervadil there was no progress.
At 7 am they started the big bad potocin. At this point after being anxious all night and not sleeping I was ready to get things started. At 7:30 my doctor came and checked me and I was still at 1cm. She said she would like to break my bag of waters to get things going. I asked her to wait, and she said she would come back in an hour. At 8 am I had to go to the bathroom and Keith was helping me get out of bed and my water broke on it's own, at first I didn't know my water had broken, I thought I peed on my self and started crying. But then Keith helped me realize that I hadn't peed on my self that my water had broken. I stopped crying and was excited.
After my water broke I started to have real labor contractions that hurt. This is when Keith was such a help to me. We walked the halls, rocked in a rocking chair, and changed positions often. At 9 am they checked and I was at 2 cm, finally a little progress!
Sometime after that the baby turned and I went into back labor. Labor went from bad to unbearable. Breathing through contractions became much more difficult and concentrating became even more difficult. During all of this I remember is praying "Lord please help me not to faint." I was telling Keith to count, and whenever I heard 6 I knew the contraction was on it's way down hill. Back labor felt like someone had a hammer and was beating my lower back, no exaggeration. I actually bit Keith at one point, I know, awful. At 11:30 I asked the nurse to check me at I was only at 4 cm. She said that was good progress, but that was not good enough progress for this momma, then I started balling and asked for an epidural. The nurse said she thought I could finish naturally but totally supported my request. So with the blessing of Keith the anesthesiologist came and I got an epidural. After the epidural I could still feel when I was contracting, but no longer thought I was dying. Then for the first time I relaxed. They turned me on my side every hour to help the baby turn.
At 3pm I was feeling some pressure and asked the nurse to check me. And to our surprise she says "You are 10 cm and ready to push." That shocked us .... for the first time labor went faster than expected. Then nurse went to get the doctor and Keith went tell all the family. My mom and dad and Keith's mom and sister Shannon where all in the waiting area. They though Keith was kidding when he said I was ready to push. But it was no joke.
The doctor came around 3:15 and I gave one good push and she said it looks like we will have a baby in 15 minutes. I was like what?? I thought you had to push for hours... but no... this baby was ready to come out. So then we waited for all the staff needed to get there and a little after 3:30 we started pushing for real. I don't feel like I pushed very long at all. I remember the doctor saying three more pushes then one push later out came our baby boy. I was shocked! I expected a huge baby with black hair, and got a large but not huge baby, with blonde hair. Keith was in shock, and I mean shock, that God had given him a son. The first thing I said is "My baby is cute! Is my baby really cute or is just because I am his mom?"

So here are some pictures. Enjoy!

These are the proud grandparents aka Grammie and Paw Paw!

Titus, his MiMi and Keith.

Titus and his aunt Shannon.

Look at that long body.

This is my favorite!
Titus had a beautiful scream!
My next post will detail the very long and stressful week that followed. Thankfully God protected Titus and our family, and he is now doing well, but only after many prayers and doctors visits. Oh yes and my mom was here to help.... wow what a blessing!

39 Weeks!

An early Merry Christmas from our family to yours! As we anticipate the birth of our first child, we can't help but imagine Mary and Joseph and the anticipation for the Prince of Peace. Or riding on a donkey while pregnant... ouch! We are also confined to Austin and missing our wonderful families. Know we love you and miss sharing this joyous time of year with you.
Sorry I haven't posted in weeks. Finishing up school, the holiday season, and being pregnant I think we have just been barely surviving. Then our toilette flooded and our house turned into a drying machine zone for five days. But praise the Lord, they dried out and we don't have to have them replaced!

Pregnancy Highlights for the Week:

How Far Along: 39 weeks

Fruit/Veggie: Baby is now the weight of a mini watermelon ( looks like a full size watermelon to me)

Size: a little over 7 pounds and about 20 inches long, so says the pregnancy books... the Dr. says closer to 8 or 9 lbs....

Baby Changes: Baby continues to build a layer of fat to help control his/her body temperature after birth, but it's likely he/she already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath. Baby Becker is developed and ready to come visit the world outside the womb.

Best Moment this week: My class had a diapers and doughnuts celebration for me and it was super sweet and fun to get to share this with them. School is finished, who hoo!! I can't tell you what an accomplishment this is!
We celebrated 2 years of marriage on the 20th. I so love Keith, and am very blessed with such a God fearing man. I can't wait to see him be a daddy!
And all the blowers are out of our house and there is peace again!

Gender: who knows??? Kieth is pretty insistent on a girl..... I have no clue, but I am super anxious to find out :)

Movement: Movement is allot slower than in weeks past... there is a foot that often sweeps across my belly, it is really weird you can feel the heal.

Food/Drink Craving: hot chocolate ( the unprego Tori can't get enough of that though), cereal and oatmeal

Sleep: Sleep has been pretty much non existent. I have bags under my eyes... For about 3 weeks now I start having contractions in the afternoon and they last all through the night. And well lying down and contractions don't go together.

What I am looking forward to: Meeting our baby! Boy our girl? My chin or Kieth's? Hair or no hair? So much anticipation.... oh ya and you know I want to go into that nursery so bad!
Also I am looking forward to wearing clothes that fit.... I have gotten so large that Keith's close are the best fit for me....and I am ready to go back to the girl side of the closet.

Symptoms: I have felt pretty icky lately. I am swollen and having contractions. I am constantly exhausted and often have tummy aches. Contractions are picking up but no "true labor" contractions.

2 weeks ago I went the Dr. and was 1cm dilated and 70% effacement.
1 week ago I went and was a "roomy 1" almost 2 cm and only 70%.
I go this afternoon and am hoping for lots of progress.... please! We have tried all the natural ways to progress labor except drinking Castor oil, because the Dr. said not too....

Hopefully the next post will be introducing our little one! But if not we will keep waiting :)

33/34 Weeks

So 34 weeks and we are almost ready for a baby... nursery done, bags packed, car seat in the car! Wooo hoo!!! Parenting here we come :)

Pregnancy Highlights for the Week:

How Far Along: 34 weeks (8 1/2 months)

Fruit/Veggie: the weight of an average cantaloupe

Size: about 18 inches and about 5 pounds

Baby Changes: Baby Becker's fat layers — which will help regulate his/her body temperature once he's/she's born — are filling out, making a rounder baby. Babies skin is also smoother than ever. Tatonka's central nervous system is maturing and his/her lungs are continuing to mature as well. His/her tiny fingernails have probably reached the tips of his fingers by now.

Best Moment this week:Well technically it was last week... but.... the prayer shower and school baby shower, were both a total blessing! Oh, and how could I forget the nursery is ready and locked.... I am relieved this is finished, and resolved not to peak! Thank you Matt and Molly :)

Gender: precious baby..... I have been thinking boy this week... who knows??

Movement: Tatonka's movement has slowed down this week. It is more like get me out of here pressure, than kicking and flipping like weeks past. I guess he/she is feeling really tight in there. Oh and the hiccups have become a daily, whole belly shaking occurrence, kinda a funny feeling.

Food/Drink Craving:umm.... none really... my appetite has gone down, with less sounding good. Oh don't be mad at me, but I love me some decaf coffee with lots of milk!

Sleep: I don't sleep..... I lay down, start to snooze, then have to get up and go to the bathroom.... then the cycle starts again...

What I am looking forward to: Being off of school Thanksgiving break... it is getting harder and harder to make it through the school day.... rest sounds great! Oh and my grandparents are flying down from Oklahoma, and I love them so much!

Symptoms: I feel gigantic.... I am not complaining, but I have no idea how people can "love" being pregnant, my body is super uncomfortable . The swelling has started, it is not super severe but Keith and I both definitely notice it. Throwing up breakfast is annoying and a hard way to start the day... but only 40 something more days!