Braxton Hicks and Bili Rubin should be names of cheesy country singers...

Unfortunately, just like Mom and Dad, Nikson had jaundice when he was born. I am learning that most babies do, and I am grateful we could treat it at home. The hospital's way of treating him was on a fiber optic mat in just a diaper with space goggles on. Not a mom's or a baby's most favorite thing.

Nikson had to stay on the lights all the time except for when he ate so it made it hard for visitors to get to hold him. We were finally given the go-ahead to take him off the lights Thursday night.

He was a champ through the whole thing. Even when we had to go prick his heel for four days in a row. I hate needles. I hate needles pricking my baby.

This is the spaceship he got to sleep in. His chest was glowing green and it made me think of ET. The Bilibed guy said to put him on the floor in it. Not in this drafty house, I'll make it fit, right in his bassinet.


Nikson got his first package in the mail to top off the week! Aunt MaZat sent him the coolest robot PJ's ever! She knows us too well. (Should have taken a picture of the pj's, oops!)


Grandpa Jones came to pick up my mother and got to spend some time with us. He makes every baby sleep. I guess it's because he is so comfy! I love when he comes into town.

Halle just wants to hold him all the time, which is OK with us.

Blake has been so cute with him. Most of the time they have "grown-up" conversations. I laugh.

My mom left today which seemed too early but I have accepted it as so. After a few meltdowns and sudden bawl fests, I am doing much better. She thinks she wasn't super helpful; we had dinner brought in every night from the Relief Society, and I haven't had too many "transitioning into mommy mode" problems, but she just brings a sense of calm into my home and my heart. She gives me insight and advice that I consider invaluable. I love being with her and having her as a mom. I have lots to learn from her. She just knows me and tries to help me be a better wife and now a better mom. I love her lots.


Blake came into the kitchen today and said, " I don't know if you know this, but there is a baby in our room. I guess we have to be adults now." I may have cried a little. I felt a big knot build up in my throat. It is scary to think we have to be in charge of this little tiny person. Somehow he just trusts us and knows we will pull through for him.

Then I look at him and for some reason, I know we can do it too.

Bret Nikson Bishop

Well would you like to hear what happened? It is amazing to think that Friday morning I was pregnant and here it is Sunday and I am a mama. I am pretty overwhelmed with the new responsibilities that come with being a mom, but I married the best person to help me adjust. Blake has been everything during this experience and it has given me a tremendous amount of strength. So here is the story...


I was not due until January 26th, but lately I have been feeling like the 26th was just too far away, so Monday, the 17th, during family prayer I prayed that I would be able to have Nikson on Friday. Blake laughed and said that I can't pray for things like that, and for the rest of the week that is what I did. I am stubborn that way. The week could not have been crazier with work and my church calling. Lots of things to do and none of them seemed to be making me go into labor. But lo and behold, Friday morning at 4am I was up with contractions. I timed them with my iPhone app and they were about 7 minutes apart. Nothing to freak out about, but I was starting to feel it. I called into work and got the day off. My contractions were inconsistent, but roughly 3-7 minutes apart so we decided to go in and see Dr. England to see what he thought. After checking my cervix, which was now a 2+, from the 1 it was on Monday, we were sent home and told to come back when they contractions were putting me into some serious pain and were 3-5 minutes apart exactly. We grabbed lunch and went home only to find me in the bathtub at 3pm with some serious contractions. Blake was totally on the ball timing me and at 5pm, he told me to get out of the tub so we could get going. He got all of the last minute preparations done, while I tried to do my hair in between the worst pain of my life. Trying to flat iron your hair while you are bent over in agony takes some serious commitment. Before we left Blake gave me an awesome priesthood blessing that really helped calm my nerves. He is pretty good at that. We drove through rush hour traffic and I pleased to say my husband was very obedient to the speed limit and never ran a single light. We got to the hospital at 6pm and we were emitted into Triage, where they monitor contractions for an hour and check to see if my cervix had changed any since the previous visit. Still at a 2+ I was a little disheartened and nervous. We tried to play flight control to be distracted, but my contractions were getting so bad I kept crashing the planes. The nurse came in and told me that if I hadn't had any cervix change we would have to go home. I said a quick prayer and just asked Heavenly Father to give me a little help. I was dilated to a 4 and emitted into a Labor and Delivery room at 7pm. It was the best room in the unit. It was nice and big with a huge open window. We felt like we were in New York. All of my fears about labor were soon to be conquered as my cutest nurse came in ready to treat me. Amber could not have been a better nurse for me. She was a total champ and she even thought Blake was funny. I got my IV's which happened to be the worst pain of the night (I have vanishing veins, so I had lots of needle wiggling, ouch!) we finally found a vein we could call home after some deep searching (and a prayer). Next was the EPIDURAL at 9:45pm! After I mentally got myself to get used to the idea that I was getting one, (and a prayer) Blake let go of my hand and got to watch the horse needle go into my back as the greatest numbing sensation went through my legs and stopped the horrible pain I was feeling. Seriously, it was not as big of a deal as I thought. I was very surprised and I loved it. I would suggest it to anyone, and I seriously felt that I could actually enjoy my labor rather loath the experience. Blake's parents, Brynlee, and his grandparents came and got to be in and out of all the action, in and out because I am quite a private lady. I am grateful they were there though and that we were able to share the experience with them. A dr. came in and broke my water at 11pm, and I was now dilated to a 6. Dr. England, who was monitoring me from his home, suggested I go on Pitocin to speed up my delivery. Amber hooked me up but before it came down the drip line we had to get Nikson's heart monitored correctly. The monitor was jumpy and she was concerned that the cord was wrapped around him (lots of little prayers). So she moved me over to my other side and checked my cervix. I was dilated to a 9! She was shocked, called Dr. England, and told me we would now prep for delivery. Everything happened very quickly. I began feeling a lot of pressure to push and was nervous I might have the baby without Dr. England. Amber suggested we do a couple practice runs, but after two pushes she said we had to wait for him because if I pushed anymore we would have a baby and no doctor. At 1:00am I started practicing, Dr. England came at 1:05am and we started the real deal and Baby Nikson was here by 1:36am. The cord was wrapped twice around hid neck, but Blake said it wasn't too big of a deal for the dr. to unwind it quickly. They put Nikson right on my chest and Blake cut the cord and I just kept thinking, "We just had a baby! And that is him!"

Everything since then has been quite a blur, but a good blur. We have had lots of people come to see baby and lots of time to just be with him. Our first night as a family Blake came and got in my bed and we said our first family prayer together. My emotions were pretty high. I haven't gotten much sleep so that never helps. It is crazy the feelings I have as a mother. The same day Nikson was born, my cousin Doug and his darling wife Sara were saying goodbye to their baby Luke who had passed away for unknown reasons a few days ago. My whole family was there for the funeral. I have been feeling so badly for them. We often wonder why Heavenly Father does things He does. Why do we experience tragedies and triumphs the way we do? I keep thinking there is no way that was me who just gave birth to that baby and then I think about Sara and how much more strength she will need to say goodbye to someone she had the same amount of strength to bring into the world. I don't really understand God's plan perfectly. I guess what I am left with is the fact that I have faith in it, whatever the reasons may be. I have faith that I will be able to breastfeed (with prayer), and know what Nikson needs when he cries. I have faith in my husband and his ability to also nurture and teach. I have faith that when all the hype is over and everyone is back to normal that I will still be able to be Nikson's mom, and a good mom. I also have faith that Doug and Sara will be with their perfect baby again and that they will make it. I don't know everything. In fact, I don't know a whole lot, but I know what I feel and that has been my most real and intimate memory of having a baby. My relationship with my Heavenly Father has been strengthened. I am overwhelmed with love and gratitude. I am grateful that I chose to marry someone who wouldn't run from trials and who would support me through anything. I am grateful for in-laws who have been like real parents to me, when mine could not be here. I am grateful that I can love someone I know nothing about and yet I know everything about. I am grateful that my family is good at texting so that we can talk without waking up my two favorite guys. I am finding out, especially from my sister's, that I am a lucky lady for how smoothly everything went, and for that I am also grateful. I love our new baby, he looks like a little old man.

Bret Nikson Bishop

22 January 2010
1:36am
6 pounds 14 ounces
20 inches

Who is Braxton Hicks Anyway?

I was going to post about all the lame and sad things that have been going on with my pregnant self, but after realizing I have it pretty good as a pregnant lady I decided to change this post into all the good advice I have received for the upcoming life we are starting. I have had so many people tell me what they think I should do and how I should feel. The advice I really loved I decided to post.



1. " You have to promise me you will stay in your PJ's for two weeks after Nikson comes." My boss was telling me how there is something magical that happens in the first two weeks you are home and the second you put on the jeans and get out into the world, the spell is broken and you can't get that feeling back. I thought she was going to say two months and I was ok with that!

Anthropologie

2." The first night home should just be with Mom and Dad and Baby." I actually really loved this advice because Blake and I really were not ready for this commitment of baby having quite yet and I think the time alone with Nikson will be very needed.

3. "Protect your way of doing things." A lot of people try to influence how you do things with baby and once you make a conscious decision, you need to protect that, no matter what.

4. "You can miss family dinners for a little while, they will still be going when you are ready to come out."

5. "Don't eat like pregnancy is an excuse." My sister Natalie told me that she gets really annoyed with moms that think pregnancy exempts you from being healthy. She is so "pro" health and really thinks pregnancy is probably the most important time to be healthy.

6. "Bring a bowl of sweets to bribe the hospital staff." My friend Brandi seriously cracks me up and only she would think about bribing the hospital staff to be good to her! HA HA! I haven't quite yet decided what to do about this, but it is actually pretty funny.

This is probably how she did it too.

7. "Don't forget to pack pj's and a pillow for Blake." HELLO! I totally forgot about Blake having to stay the night too. Consider that one checked off!

8. "Not one pregnant woman is the same." Serious, ask around, and so you can't plan on having the exact same experiences as others do.

9. "When Mom comes, sleep." (Nuff said) My cute mom will be here soon after so I will have some serious help in figuring out how to do this and how to actually relax. I am so complicated.


10. "This is your only chance to have one baby and focus your attention and cares on one child. Don't mess it up." My boss told me this tonight and she told me how she spent the first weeks with her first baby working from home and she really feels like she missed out on a very magical time.




It is interesting how much advice you get when you are pregnant. Even advice about not being pregnant comes out often. I love to hear the stories people have and how they experienced this whole thing. I am lucky. I have heard scary stories. I don't get swollen very often, I measure smaller, no heart burn, and I think my husband would say I am surprisingly sane...for the most part! HA! I really am ready to be a mom. I have been training to be a mom for a long time and it really is something I have always wanted. I am excited for a son and pray I can be a good mommy. He will already have the best Dad so I gotta step up my game. Let's do this.

happy 2011...

I can't believe I am writing 2011. What a crazy year. Last night when Blake and I were driving home from the West's New Year's Bash we talked about how the year seemed to fly by and so much happened! What a fun time we had. Lots of trips and changes. Changes is probably an understatement. I feel like Heavenly Father has taken our life and is turning it into something completely different than what we could have imagined. That's why faith is such an important principle for us to live by. Sometimes we get a little stuck in "self" mode and think we know exactly what we are to do and how it is to be done and then something happens to completely change the course. There have been so many instances this year that have proven this a fact. So I remain faithful and pray that I will be able to do what is supposed to happen. I kind of like it more than I don't like it. It gives me the ability to progress and the opportunity to change. My hope is that I can record these feelings as openly as possible so that I can share them with my babies when they are bigger. So here is to a new year...


I am 36 weeks and getting ready to have Nikson. 2011 marks the year that I will forever be a mama bird. Althougth I have always desired to be Mom, it has proven to be a scary transition for me. We are anxious, scared, and excited. I seriously have the most mixed emotions I have ever felt. Lots to prepare and lots to think about. I try not to get too overwhelmed, but it is sort of inevitable. I will be back later to share more of our holidays and my resolutions. I told Blake we have to grow up this year... I suspect he had feelings a lot like this boy would.




love,
jac