Mother and Son

My sweet boys.

June 2013

-Mason-

photo credit: Lianne Barr

June 2010

-Jacob-

I am the mother of two fantastic little boys. They are so much like eachother. Both easy, sweet, mild-mannered, snuggly, and don't forget chubby. As they grow I hope that we can teach them to be men of God. Chivalrous, kind, respectful, good natured, helpful, light hearted, sensitive to other's needs. When we found out we were having another boy I was not sad at all. If we are going to have all boys, how lovely for us. Also how lucky for their future wives because we are going to raise the best husbands ever, because they have a fantastic example.

photo credit: Lianne Barr

This willing band of brothers were by their mothers taught

To trust in God continually, be true in deed and thought,

For God would then protect them; their faith He would reward.

They did not doubt their mothers knew; they trusted in the Lord.'

Infant Pictures

My wonderful sister, Lianne, brought her kids up from Florida to visit us after Mason was born. It was so fun to see them! I've made that drive and I'm so lucky that my sister was willing to brave it with all three of her kiddos.

While Lianne was here, she was sweet enough to take pictures of Mason for us. Here are some of the pictures she took.

We had such a nice visit with those guys. Miss them!

(More photos from that session later)

Summer

My Jacob loves to be outside. He could spend hours out there doing black flips down his slide into the pool, creating a HUGE mess in his sand table, flying kites, cashing butterflies. You name it. He's in. 

(Love our huge backyard, by the way)

Water Table. Such a Big Mess but totally work the hours and hours that he spends out there

#thiskidisgoingtokillhimself

This year we grew herbs (Basil, Parsley, Cilantro, and Spinach) and tomato plants. I had awesome salsa, pesto and marinara sauce from scratch. So easy and ... delish.

Our baby basically slept the summer away. Okay by me!

He also started smiling :)

We also drove to North Carolina to the Gillespie Family Beach Reunion. 

We stayed in two huge beach houses right on the beach. 15 Adults and 22 kids. Oh my.

It was so much fun! Kind of crazy with an 8 week old but fun. This Florida girl missed the ocean so much! Thanks to everyone who held my baby so I could splash around in the waves like a crazy person.

The whole family 

Grandbabies
 (You have no idea what we had to do to get this picture)

Hello, my name is...

Mason Ambs Gillespie

19 June 2013

09:21 a.m.

8 lbs 6 oz

[BIRTH STORY] After a third trimester full of contractions, I thought for sure I would have this baby before my due date. Well, my due date came and went. We tried everything (walking, spicy foods, pumping, etc) and nothing. No baby. Doctor was worried baby wasn't growing so we decided to go for the induction. 

After getting checked into Labor and Delivery and being monitored for a few hours, I was given the pitocin  around 3 a.m. By 4 I was having regular contractions. Those pitocin contractions are no joke! I labored until about 8 a.m. when I got my epidural (I wanted to wait a little longer but by the time they gave it to me I was ready. Thanks for pushing me towards getting it, Jake!). Doctor came in to break my water around 8:30. I was at 4 cm and officially in active labor. My epidural had kicked in and was working great. About fifteen minutes later I was feeling nauseous so the nurses checked me. I was now 7 cm. By 9 a.m. I was at a ten and ready to deliver. I was very numb from the epidural. After a few easy pushes baby was born at 9:21 a.m. He was 8 lbs 6 oz. A nice, big, healthy boy. (Apparently he was growing, he was just very very squished) I couldn't believe it happened so fast! Here is our little Mason's first day...

Lanie and her Jakes

As we wait in anticipation for the arrival of our new baby boy (which could literally be any minute now) I keep thinking about my sweet little Jacob. He is such a gift to me. As a baby he was quiet and calm. As he grew he became sweet, wonderfully curious, fantastically happy and just the right amount of naughty. He puts his little heart into everything that he does and I have to admit I love that about him. I love this little guy so much! We have been Lanie and her Jakes so long it is definitely going to be an adventure adding a new little personality in the mix. Moving forward to the next chapter!

(My Jakes)

Jacob just turned 3!(So glad we didn't have a baby on his birthday) All of a sudden he is such a big boy. Good thing we're about to have a baby because he is definitely not a baby ANYMORE!

Side note...Jacob got this book for his birthday from his Nana. See the resemblance? hahaha.