Browsing Tag

baby

Blog, Faith, Family, Homemaking, Parenting, prayer

We have a new family member! Baby Willow!

Ray and I are so excited that we have a new family member–Baby Willow, our 5th grandchild! She was born yesterday and is 6 pounds 3 ounces and 19 inches long. Her name is Willow Cathleen Rose Gooch. She’s beautiful and precious!

Willow Cathleen Rose Gooch Beautiful & precious!

Willow Cathleen Rose Gooch
Beautiful & precious!

Our middle daughter Eden decided to test her new makeup, Younique, for which she is a presenter, to see if it was labor-proof. It was! Isn’t she the most glam mom ever? I thought this was hilarious. Only Eden would do this, haha!

She has always loved makeup. Even when she was three years old, she’d look through our friend Kim Weber’s purse to find lipstick and put it on her little lips. 

Our daughter Eden labor-proofing her Younique makeup

Our daughter Eden labor-proofing her Younique makeup

 

Craig & Eden waiting for baby Willow in labor room

Craig & Eden waiting for baby Willow in labor room

Although Eden went into the hospital the night before, active labor started at 7 a.m. yesterday morning. She had her before supper time, and she only pushed for five minutes—amazing! I’ve never heard of such a short pushing time!

baby Willow

baby Willow

 

Craig & Eden

Craig & Eden

After labor Eden was hungry, and she could order whatever she wanted to eat at the hospital. She chose a cheeseburger, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, grape juice, and a chocolate brownie. Her pickle looked like it had a face on it, which made all of us laugh.

Eden's meal

Eden’s meal

 

funny "face" pickle on Eden's cheeseburger

funny “face” pickle on Eden’s cheeseburger

Eden is 110% Sanguine, which means she is very outgoing, has one volume (loud!) and talks constantly. After giving birth to Willow, she was sitting up in her bed, talking non-stop to Ray and me, while eating her cheeseburger, laughing at the “face” pickle, and telling us how awful the mashed potatoes with gravy were. I was extremely amused that she had all her makeup still on and was talking a lot after just having a baby.

Me & Ray at hospital

Me & Ray at hospital

Willow’s body temperature wasn’t quite warm enough, so both Eden and Craig had to do skin to skin contact with her to warm up her body. We weren’t able to hold her yet because of this, but we were happy to see her right after she was born. We are praying and believing that all is well with her.

Craig having skin to skin contact with Willow

Craig having skin to skin contact with Willow

Craig’s parents live in Oklahoma and sent gifts to Willow and Eden, which arrived while we were visiting them. The big, soft elephant is so cute and I wanted to take it home!

Gifts for Willow & Eden

Gifts for Willow & Eden

 

Willow's balloon

Willow’s balloon

I love the cute little blankets that hospitals provide to wrap babies in after they are born. This one has ducks, which I adore. 

duck baby blanket

duck baby blanket

Ray and I are so happy that all went well with labor and delivery, and that we have this new precious, beautiful baby as part of our growing family. God is good! Please keep them all in your prayers. As a young married couple with little children, they have many needs for provision. God is Jehovah Jireh, their provider, amen.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”–Ephesians 2:10

Precious baby Willow

Precious baby Willow

Blog, Faith, Marriage, Parenting, prayer

Catching up: Baby Piper, a wedding, a funeral, & War Room

So much going on right now, it’s hard to know where to start. I’m editing my previous eBook, 3 P’s in a Pod: Prayer, Purpose, and Passion, and having another eBook formatted for Kindle at Amazon, a close family friend’s husband and her sister passed away the same week (my husband Ray is officiating at the funeral), Ray is teaching an EMT class at work and our daughter Leah is taking the class to learn the skills, Ray and I went to see War Room yesterday (the movie on prayer-powerful), and I just spoke at Women’s Aglow in Grandview, MO, on Cinderella and her unique glass slipper (about walking in your purpose).

But I think the best news is that we have a beautiful, new addition to our family! Thank you, Jesus!

Our middle daughter Eden was pregnant with her second child and she had her baby girl, Piper Elizabeth Raine Gooch. Piper was 7 pounds 5 ounces, has brown-blonde, curly hair with red in it, and is a healthy girl! Isn’t she beautiful and precious?!

Piper Elizabeth Raine Gooch

Piper Elizabeth Raine Gooch

Below is a picture of Eden at the hospital in labor. She had the most remarkable, nearly pain-free labor I’ve ever heard of or seen, with the medicine they gave her (Nubain) and the epidural. While she did feel pressure, there was no crying or screaming. I was so amazed!

Our middle daughter Eden in labor

Our middle daughter Eden in labor

Here is Eden sleeping at the hospital during labor. Craig had worked before coming to the hospital, so he dozed a little, too. 

Eden sleeping during labor

Eden sleeping during labor

 

Eden had to be at the hospital with Craig at 5:30 a.m. and Ray, Leah, Heather and I arrived at the hospital about 8 a.m. She didn’t have Piper until about 10:30 p.m. that night, so it made for a long day for all of us! Cups of coffee helped pass the time!

coffee

coffee

Here’s Ray on his phone and Leah and Heather chatting. Heather had to go back to work around noon, then she came back later to help Craig coach Eden during delivery, an amazing (first time) experience for Heather. She said they all cried when beautiful Piper was born!

Ray on phone, Leah & Heather chatting

Ray on phone, Leah & Heather chatting

Right before delivery, Heather and I busted out laughing because Eden had been talking all day long while in labor and was talking even more than usual right before delivery, because she was nervous. She put on her makeup right before labor, too, which was funny to me….but I understand, because I don’t go anywhere without my eyeliner! Her friends and family were in the room with her to spend a few minutes with Eden before she had Piper. Below is a picture of Eden on the phone in the labor room, lol.

Eden on phone during labor

Eden on phone during labor

One of the happiest times during labor was when the nurse brought Eden a banana popsicle. She actually had two of them (the other was cherry flavored). She’d only been allowed to eat ice chips up to that point and she was hungry!

Eden eating popsicle during labor

Eden eating popsicle during labor

Below are Eden and Craig, eagerly anticipating holding their baby girl in their arms.

Eden & Craig at hospital

Eden & Craig at hospital

By the time supper rolled around, Ray, Leah and I felt starved (we’d had just snacks for lunch). Our oldest daughter Heather brought us a pizza and we quickly devoured it in the waiting area (to not tempt Eden with food). Heather is such a good, thoughtful daughter!

pizza

pizza

Heather in waiting area

Heather in waiting area

Our family in the waiting area

Our family in the waiting area

Leah and her older sister Eden before Piper was born

Leah and her older sister Eden before Piper was born

Eden and Craig were so happy when Piper was born. She is just perfect and such a joy to us all!

Piper, Eden, and Craig

Piper, Eden, and Craig

Eden, Piper & Craig

Eden, Piper & Craig

Heather had never been in a labor room before, but Eden wanted her in there with Craig, her and the hospital staff. She said it was incredible witnessing the birth and when Piper was born, they all cried. Heather is a proud aunt!

Heather and Piper

Heather and Piper

As Eden handed Piper to Ray for him to hold her for the first time after delivery, tears streamed down her face and she said, “Isn’t she beautiful, daddy? I’m so happy!” Naturally he was smitten with Piper!

The grandkids (four now!) call Ray “Papa” and me “Nana.” 

Ray and Piper

Ray and Piper

Piper and Ray

Piper and Ray

Craig and Eden greatly honored me by naming Piper’s middle name after my formal name, Elizabeth. I’ve never had a namesake before, and this really blessed me! Below I am holding PIper right after she was born for the first time. 

Ray, me and Piper

Ray, me and Piper

Here I am holding Piper when we came to visit Eden at the hospital 2 days later. I actually did a scope (Periscope) with Piper while there, lol. (I got Eden’s and Craig’s permission first to do it.) I joked that she’s now a social media star. You can follow me on Periscope @bethmjones. 

Piper and me

Piper and me

Here is Eden’s sister Leah with Piper. She was afraid to hold her, because she didn’t want to drop her. She did great, though, and is a proud aunt, too! 

Leah and Piper

Leah and Piper

Here’s Leah holding her again when we went to visit Eden later. I think she’s a natural at this!

Piper and Leah

Piper and Leah

Eden was concerned her son Jacob wasn’t going to “like” Piper. He wanted a baby brother instead of a girl, but he immediately loved her. His response after he looked at her was, “Mom, I’m glad she’s pretty.” Isn’t Jacob adorable? He’s ALL BOY! (Ray is so thankful to finally have a boy in the family!)

Jacob and his baby sister Piper

Jacob and his baby sister Piper

Jacob, Eden, and Piper

Jacob, Eden, and Piper

Heather’s girls Annabelle and Violet also immediately loved Piper. Violet wanted to “play” with her, lol. I had to explain she can’t sit up yet or crawl. Annabelle wanted to know if she could at least “army crawl.” Not yet!

Heather, Annabelle holding Piper, Violet

Heather, Annabelle holding her cousin Piper, Violet

Violet holding her cousin Piper

Violet holding her cousin Piper

We’re so thankful that Eden had a smooth, relatively pain-free labor and delivery (she only pushed 25 minutes!), and for a healthy baby girl. God is good and worthy to be praised! Thank you to all of you who prayed for her and Piper! We are very excited and happy that she is here! Mom and baby are doing good. 

Piper Elizabeth

Piper Elizabeth

“Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals! Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”–Psalm 150:3-6

Blog

Baby Piper: it’s hard to wait

It’s hard to wait. I’m not much of a waiter. Like a racehorse rarin’ to go out of the starting gate, I’m not real long on patience. Yet patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. “So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.” ~ James 1:4, TLB

My stepdaughter Eden is now 32 weeks pregnant. Like most moms-to-be, she wants everything ready ahead of time to prepare for her baby girl, Piper. (I LOVE Piper’s name! Very prophetic!)

Eden is all baby. She looks so cute! I think pregnant women are just beautiful. 🙂

My stepdaughter Eden, pregnant at 32 weeks

My stepdaughter Eden, pregnant at 32 weeks

We’ve been praying for God to provide everything Eden and Piper’s dad Craig need, as Eden already gave away all of her baby items for her now 7-year-old son Jacob. Recently God answered a HUGE prayer – a crib for Eden’s baby.

Eden’s godparents Gary and Sandy Peters had a crib that they used for their grandkids when they were babies, and they blessed Eden with it. Yesterday I went to pick it up to take it to Eden at her apartment. I’m so thankful Craig was able to put it together right away. Eden wants to paint it white for Piper’s room. 

Craig putting baby Piper's crib together

Craig putting baby Piper’s crib together

Piper's crib

Piper’s crib

After I picked up the crib at Gary’s and Sandy’s house, I went to Walmart to buy Piper a new car seat, their other great need. I bought this pretty purple and black one by Evenflo. It is impact-tested for safety and is for newborn size. Another huge answered prayer! God is Jehovah Jireh, the Provider!

 

Evenflo, newborn car seat

Evenflo, newborn car seat

I also bought Piper some more little things: an owl and hearts onesies, fitted crib sheets, a package of 4 receiving blankets, and a cheery yellow owl wall deco for pictures and notes (Eden wants an owl theme for her bedroom).

Gifts for Piper

Gifts for Piper

Receiving blankets

Receiving blankets

Owl wall deco

Owl wall deco

About a month ago, I bought a “care package” for Eden to have some things ready for when Piper is born and she comes home from the hospital. I love doing this for new moms: Pampers diapers, pacifiers, a soft owl blanket, hand mitts, and pink cupcakes onesies (Eden used to work in a bakery and loves baking and eating cupcakes).

Baby-going-home care package

Baby-going-home care package

Cupcakes onesies

Cupcakes onesies

Soft owl blanket for Piper

Soft owl blanket for Piper

Our oldest daughter Heather bought Eden an owl diaper bag. Eden has packed it with the diapers, wipes, pacifiers, outfits, little hats, etc., to be ready to go to the hospital. I’m so glad that now Craig and Eden have the main things they need for Piper: the crib, her car seat, the diaper bag packed and ready to go, and of course everyone’s prayers for Eden’s pregnancy, an easy delivery, and a healthy baby! 

Owl diaper bag for Piper

Owl diaper bag for Piper

Heather also bought Eden this nice baby swing from a mom at church. These can be life-savers when babies are fussy! (other than rocking the baby or snuggling with her, of course!)

Swing

Swing

After I dropped off the crib, car seat, and the gifts, I invited Eden and Craig to eat lunch. There is a Mexican restaurant across the street from their apartment, so we went there. I could eat Mexican every day! It was delicious! I think Eden and Craig enjoyed it, too. 🙂

Eden & Craig at Mexican restaurant

Eden & Craig at Mexican restaurant

Eden and I both have had two dreams each that Piper came early. Eden’s son Jacob came early and labor with him only took 5 hours! Usually in second, third and subsequent pregnancies, the baby comes faster. We think Piper will come early, but we’re praying she won’t be premature. Please keep Eden, Craig, and Piper in prayer. We all are very excited to meet her! It’s hard to be patient!

Is it hard for you to be patient? What is something you’ve been praying about, but your prayers haven’t been answered yet? Keep praying! Leave your comments below.