The light

It is time for me to open up. For the last handle of years I have not been myself. I used to be outgoing, fearless, and wouldn't let a negative thing get the best of me. I am not even sure where it happened but it did and I have felt it everywhere.

Being pregnant with J and becoming a mom for the first time helped bring me back to my old spirit. Sadly though, it wasn't enough. You see from a young age I knew I wanted to be a mom. I was lucky enough to to grow up having my mom be a stay at home mom. I wanted to be like her and take care of my family. To be there when one of my kids leaves their lunch bag behind. To be able to surprise them at school. And most important, to not miss their firsts. 

Once I decided to sell Mary Kay, I thought I would just try to make some extra money. As I started going to more events I quickly realized that my calling wasn't only to be a mom but to lead others. I set my goals high to become a director. Meaning I would lead and empower others to reach their own goals. To help them earn what they need most in their life. 

Since I made this decision I have become a better person all around. I surround my self around other dedicated, God driven individuals and the inspiration just pours out! I am a happier person, I walk taller, stand straighter and most best of all...I don't give up. The old me would throw my hands up and say "I'm done. It's too hard." I have gained enough confidence to battle anything thrown my way. 

The people I am around are so supportive. Many other environments of my life is too focused on bringing each other down. Where as Mary Kay lifts one another up. Alongside the goals I have by tomorrow, I also have a new goal. To never stop trying. 

The push God has given me will open up so many doors for me. I can finally be at home with my son. I can do what I love. I can spend my days making people feel good about themselves. I can be a part of a company that respects me and rewards me for working hard. I can be able to not have a car payment. I can actually do activities with my son. I can get paid the amount I deserve for the hard work I do. I can go to empowering not events with my husband to help our relationship. I can see the good in others. Lastly, I can serve the Lord by working the life he wanted me too. 

For those of you who read this, thank you. Now you can truly feel where I am coming from. Why wouldn't I want others to feel this way? 

The Start of a New Day! Previously known as Happily Ever Kellar

Hello all!

A new day is something we all long for. It gives us a chance to start fresh, turn a new leaf, be a new you. We are always given a way to start over. So why not?

I am going to be a pretty open book on here. Starting...now. I have always been the type of person who wants everything all figured out! I would ask my mom what we would be having for dinner while eating lunch. I enjoy planning and knowing what is coming up next. Some may say that this could be a good trait to have. For me it turned into something evil.

As I got older I would try to plan my life way too much. When I was in my last year of college I was so determined to find a job. I needed to know what I would be doing, where I would be living and how much money I would make. Let me tell you, this is not the way to live. I would worry so much about succeeding or failing and not knowing which would take place.

My mother would always say to me that God has a plan for me and that he wouldn't give me anything I couldn't handle. At the times I needed to hear it most is when I should have really listened!

To make a long story short, I have always been the one to have a dream and go for it. But if something too hard shook the dream, I would doubt myself and give up.i have juggled ideas around of starting my own boutique, become a teacher, get into fitness. Stay home and nanny and  start a photography business (whoops, took that one too far). None of these things worked out for me so I just wanted to give up. It wasn't until recently that I really soaked in what my mom has been telling me all of these years. Obstacles have been placed before me not to bring me down , but to help mold me into a better person. To analyze my strengths and weakness ghat God gave me. 

It sounds silly to me to say this but the moment I held Jamison in my arms for the first time, I knew my purpose was to be a mom. Anything else I ever wanted to do went out the window. Unfortunetly in this day and age we can't stay at home and raise our kids that easily. Mostly both parents have to work! 

I work full time and do some things here and there to make extra money. I most recently joined an outstanding Mary Kay team! At these meetings I heard someone say how Mary Kay has helped her be a better person, follower of Christ, mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend! The moment I heard that, I knew that's where I needed to be! I am setting myself up for not just sales goals but personal growth goals as well. I want to be a working mom to show Jamison what hard work looks like. But I also want to do that from home so I can take him to preschool and bawl like a baby myself. Wish me luck! I will be updating as life goes by! 

The moral of the story here is to never give up. If you get frustrated, know there is a new day ahead of you wipe yourself clean and start over. Our God has given this to us. For that we should be great fun for! 

Jamison is now 3 months old and Baptized!

Our little Jamison has really grown up in the past few months. We have started to belly laugh when dad is tickling him, rolling over when having tummy time, and sleeping thru the night.

He is growing up so fast that he is in 6 month clothing and gives mom and dad quite the arm workout these days! We are all about smiling and flirting with the ladies! Here are some 3 month photos I have taken of him. Family pictures was taken by my sister Kim. 

Today we celebrated Jamison being baptized into the Catholic Church! It was such a wonderful day for celebration! We started the day by having a family breakfast at our favorite breakfast joint, down the street from our house. We then took some photos that describes the day.  We went to mass, then had the baptism. We had a nice celebration at our house afterwards with family. Jamison's Godparents are my sister Amy and her husband Troy! 

Welcome to the world Mr Jamison!

Since the last post (about 20 weeks of pregnancy) a lot has happened! Obviously by now I would have had my baby, so that is what I am going to share with you. The rest of my pregnancy went pretty well for the third trimester. I got your typical symptoms of not being able to sleep, getting swollen, rocking the pregnancy waddle, oh and having to pee what feels like every 5 minutes!

I had one time that I had to go to the hospital. I was 35 weeks and ended up having a stomach virus. It was really bad. I have not been that sick in a really long time. I could not keep any fluids down so we had to make a little visit to triage to have an iv put in. Baby was being tracked and was doing just fine. Thankfully this was only a 24 hour thing.

Fast forwarding towards the very end. I had a check up with my doctor the day before he was due. I mentioned that I didn't feel him move as much as he had been. Between that and the fact that my blood pressure was higher than it normally has been, my doctor asked me if I was ready to throw in the towel and go get induced. I was really hoping that my body would naturally go into labor, but when the opportunity was there for me to see my baby finally, I couldn't say no.

So I left the doctors office and went right over to the hospital to check in. Once I was in the delivery room, it felt so surreal. I changed into the gown I would give birth in and laid in the bed, mentally preparing myself for what was ahead of me.

They started me on cervidill, a medication inserted on your cervix to help ripen it. Eight hours later they found I was dilated to almost 2 cm so they broke my water and started petocin. Once my water was broken I could start to feel the contractions. It was not pleasant at all. I had every intention of getting an epidural, but it wasn't time yet. I had to experience the contractions for a while to be able to tell when I would need to start pushing when the time came. They offered me another pain medication that would temporarily numb the pain but would possibly make me feel sick, and the baby could come out drowsy. I did not want either of those things. Expecially since I felt nauseous anyways since they don't let you eat or drink anything. I decided to keep calm and ride through the contractions until they said it was fine to get the epidural.

Once I got the epidural (which I did not feel was as painful as they say) I was in great shape. I was able to talk to people again and actually allow Shaun to comfort me. Before that I didn't want to be touched or barely talked to. The rest of the labor flew by it felt like! I got that epidural at 4am, got checked at 7am and was dilated to a 5 and then at 10am was dilated to a 10 already and was ready to push! They placed this peanut looking exercise ball thing in between my legs and had me lay on my side. I guess that was supposed to help my body to naturally drop the baby more before I try pushing. Within that time I was texting and calling my loved ones telling them it was almost time and if they planned to be there for the birth, they should come ASAP! My two sisters Amy and Julie (both nurses) really wanted to be in the room. So I let them, making them promise to document it. Amy was in charge of the video and Julie, the pictures.

Aside from those duties I was lucky to have them with me! Between them, Shaun, the nurse and my doctor I felt extremely comfortable and motivated. They kept telling me with each push how great I was doing and when I needed to try harder. I am telling you, I have never been so motivated in my life. When my doctor said my pushes at the end of the sequence was stronger than the first two, I was so determined to make those first pushes just as strong. She let me touch his head when he was close to coming out too which kept me going. Pushing that hard will take your breath away though and you have to make sure you are pushing from the right spot. After the fastest hour and a half of my life Jamison was born right at noon on 12/17/2014. There where many tears in the room when he came out and had the cutest cry I have ever heard. He started to immediately open his eyes and look at us. I have never been so in love in my entire life. You can love your family, friends, pets and spouse certain ways but nothing can compare to the complete joy and love you have for your own child.

Now 3 weeks old, I still look at Jamison and can't believe that he is ours! With every smile he makes, my heart grows bigger.

Below are pictures that my sister Julie took for me of the big day!

 

 

 

Julie also made some sweet treats for the nurses on staff that day!

 

I love this picture! Captured the moment he was born. Shows the time and the board that has the date, my nurse and my doctor.

 

 

I am so happy to have these pics that she took of Shaun and I in between pushing.