8 Months Old (or "mom fails to blog for 5 months")

This is proof that your mom is a slacker.  The last post here was the 3-month recap?  Ouch.  I blame Tumblr.  I HAVE been diligent about keeping that up-to-date with pictures on a weekly basis...so I'm not a total failure ;)

Let's see.  SO much has changed!

At 3 months I think you were still spending most of your time on your favorite toy...the mobile gym.  You would spend a good 30 minutes touching all the colorful, dangling figures above you.  You were motivated to roll over from back to front and then front to back. 

You went from sleeping 9pm-6am to 7am and since 4 months you have been sleeping 8pm-7am...we even managed to keep this up during the time change, although you were VERY grumpy the week before when we kept forcing you to stay awake later and later.

We got you on a great schedule around 3 months...wake, eat, play, nap, repeat every 3 hours.  You are still taking 4 naps per day, but SOME days you can go without that last one.  You have evolved from four 45-min naps to three 1-hr naps and one 1.5-2hr nap, which tends to be around mid-day.  You still sleep on your belly with your butt in the air, but sometimes I have caught you snoozing on your side and once *gasp* on your back.

We started solids right at 4 months.  You did NOT like the oatmeal cereal on its own (who could blame you!), but you took to everything else immediately.  Your first food was pureed yellow squash...then avocado...then sweet potatoes.  You LOVE frozen bananas.  You have also had carrots, peas, green beans and apples.

At 6 months we started letting you try feeding yourself with puffs.  You seem to favor your left hand for eating and are getting better and better all the time.  We've started giving you bits of whatever we're eating at dinner.  You do tend to stare longingly at our plates, even if you've just eaten.  I made you scrambled eggs the other night for the first time and boy did you gobble them right up!

You're getting better with your sippy cups of water, too.  We have been rotating three of them and you don't seem to have a preference, though you can't seem to figure out how to work the fourth one that has a straw.  We'll revisit it some other day.

You have certainly had your share of illness since daycare started.  I think you are just getting over cold #5.  You have had two ear infections...I wouldn't have known as you never complained, but the Dr. could tell.  You have had plenty of shots and your mom is terrible because she laughs when you make such an angry face once you feel the sting of the injection.  You are really the cutest even when upset.

You are growing like crazy.  At 6 months you weighed 19.5 lbs....at 8 months you weigh 21!  I thought this was huge, but really it's more like 60th percentile.  I am so anxious for your 9 month checkup.  I am always so proud sitting with you in the waiting room and I love how you charm all the nurses and the doctor.

What else...some milestones should be noted I suppose.  You started laughing right at 4 months.  It is THE best sound in the world.  Your giggle box has only continued to grow and your father and I love finding new ways to send you into hysterics.  You love when Dad tickles you...your armpits are particularly sensitive.  You also love when we cover you with a blanket and whisk it away moments later.  You love to be sung to and you love books even though you tend to get antsy for us to turn the page.

You have been exposed to TV some.  Your last feeding tends to coincide with Wheel Of Fortune and OMG you LOVE it!  You love letters and graphics.  You are enthralled when the 7-day forecast pops up during the news and you giggle anytime the screen goes black.

You started grabbing your feet at 4 months.

At 5 months you learned how to bounce in your jumperoo.  I caught you sleeping in it once and was shocked since you seem to only sleep in your crib.

Halloween coincided with hitting 6 months and we had so much fun.  We took you to a pumpkin patch...before we carved a face into our jackolantern we put YOU in it and you had a blast while I took 100 pictures.  We dressed you up as a little skeleton later.  The cutest skeleton ever I do believe ;)

6 months was a big month...you learned to sit all on your own!  It also marked your very first tooth!  And then the second came in 2 weeks later, though we have yet to see a third.  This is also when mom and dad finally got brave enough to take you out to a restaurant.  It may have been 4pm as we didn't want it to be crowded.  It was funny because the only other people there at the time were other couples with babies, but you did great!  You did seem a bit bored so we had to take turns holding you, but it was good overall...though we haven't done it again since haha.  We also took you to the grocery store...ooh you really liked that!  So much to see!

7 months hit around Thanksgiving and you began commando crawling!  I couldn't believe it.  Here I thought I had so much more time before we needed to start babyproofing...not so much! You are not afraid to move around so we got a baby jail for you right away.  Of course, you'd rather go for our entertainment center, remotes and houseplants than your toys.  Silly boy.

You also started babbling at 7 months.  Lots of bababababa, but one day you shocked me by saying "ma ma," too bad it wasn't meant explicitly for me...I'll be patient ;)  I LOVE hearing you babble...unfortunately most of it is when you are a) tired or b) when you have something in your mouth.


Christmas came and you hit 8 months a week later.  Pretty sure you got all the toys you should need for a WHILE.  Trying to keep you unspoiled will surely be a challenge.  You got some clothes, but can always use more considering you are quickly outgrowing all your 9-month threads.  You have started enjoying standing on us or at the coffee table, but you are far from being able to balance on your own.

Some little things that make you you...you are one squirmy kid.  When we carry you...ok when we TRY to carry you you are always trying to face forward...sometimes you whip around so quickly that you have hit me in the face on more than a couple occasions and OUCH!

You went through a phase where you would blow raspberries WHILE we were feeding you...so glad that only lasted a couple weeks.  I prefer you EAT the carrots than make me wear them ;)

You haven't wanted a pacifier since 3 months.  We do give it to you sometimes since it makes you laugh and you like to put the whole thing in your mouth.  You use it pretty much every way other than the way it was intended.  Such a rebel.

So far you still love everyone you meet and charm the pants off them, though you definitely know who mommy and daddy are.  When we come to get you from daycare you have the BIGGEST grin on your face and your limbs start flailing about with excitement.  Makes us feel so blessed and special that you are ours.

The flipside of this is that we fear separation anxiety is just around the corner.  When we put you in your crib to nap or to go night-night you have started pulling the bumper down and looking fretful.  We just leave the room and luckily you still settle yourself.

Though we haven't established a bedtime routine your body seems locked into a serious circadian rhythm.  You get your last bottle around 7:45...we change you around 8...put on your sleep sack...I say "time for night-night" on our way to your room and you are out until 7.  I can't thank you enough for this...you have spoiled us for sure in this regard.

OMG you LOVE bathtime.  It's the first thing we do when I get you home from daycare, "gonna wash that daycare outta your hair!" ♫  We get the actual washing bit over pretty quickly, but then I let you play with some toys and you go CRAZY splashing.  I could probably let you bathe in the tub alone, but you still seem to enjoy your inflatable ducky tub. 

You know your name and you seem to be able to tell from the way we say it if you're doing something good or bad ;)

If there is something you can see and is within your reach you want it and you want it now.

Right at 8 months you learned how to rock on your hands and knees and have started incorporating that kind of crawling though you still prefer commando at the moment, but we know it's only a matter of time before you are fast!  Not ready!

You have gotten so coordinated with your hands!  You have a toy I call the "magic bean machine" and you have learned how to take the beans and drop them in the curly-slide part and you are so delighted when it makes its way down so you can do it all over again.

Banging two objects together rhythmically is another activity you love.  I can already see you begging for a drum kit one day.

So here we are...8 months has flown by!  I cannot believe you'll be a whole year old in 4 months.  It boggles my mind to think I wasn't yet 5 months pregnant this time last year?!  Just amazing.  I can't make any promises, but I HOPE I will be better about updating here.

3 Months Old

Today you are three months old.  How did that happen???  You are a quarter of the way through your first year of life and already been through so much.

And yet I can still remember this day oh so well...

At just 5 weeks old you had to go through surgery for an inguinal hernia.  You were such a trooper even if your mom cried buckets when they took you away.  You turned into such a happier baby from that moment forward.

You have grown so much.  I checked you yesterday and you are up to 13.5 lbs from your 8 lb, 1 oz birth weight.  You do love to eat!  Whereas we used to burp you once every ounce, now we only dare try once halfway through and even then you act like we are the cruelest people in the world.

You didn't love bath time at first, but now you love it!

Since around 10 weeks you have been sleeping from 9pm-6am...and that has increased to 7am in the last few weeks!  We certainly can't complain about that.  Your daddy actually gives you your last bottle and puts you down for the night.  He does it so well, I'm scared to do your last feeding myself.  But I always get you in the mornings and you have the biggest grin on your face for me.  It makes my insides melt.

A couple of mornings recently you have woken yourself up by rolling from your tummy to your back.  You have never liked sleeping on your back so I can understand why you don't get back to sleep.  Now if you can just roll over during the day when I can see you vs. finding you all cute in your crib.

Speaking of crib, you've been sleeping in yours in your own room since your second week home!  I was amazed that you took to it so well.  We were so proud of you.

You have recently started "talking" more and more and when you squeal with delight it lights up the world around you.  You still love your mobile gym and recently "discovered" the many toys that have been surrounding you forever.  You are looking at and eating your hands and it is one of the cutest things ever.

You had your first beach vacation with daddy's family at Emerald Isle and had your toes dipped in the ocean and guess what?  You loved it!

You spent many nights with mommy's family, too, and it was G-Ma Adams who stayed with us for the first 7 weeks of your life.  Without her, your mommy might have lost her mind ;)

We had a wonderful 12 weeks together at home and vacationing, but then mommy had to return to work and had a time with it having you in daycare three days a week, but you did great and remarkably, so did mommy!  I think it helps that I can be with you at home on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I love my time with my little man!

I cannot wait to see what's in store for us in your fourth month! 

Birth Story and The First 12 Weeks

It's only taken 3 months to put this out there...

Sunday, April 29

I wake up around midnight with what feels like mild, period-like cramping.  I go to the bathroom...I also have diarrhea (yes, you have to get all the gory details)...and I go back to bed.  I wake up around 1 a.m. and the cramping is a teensy bit more, but not crazy...I go back to sleep.  I wake up at 2 a.m. and notice that not only is the cramping getting worse, it seems like it's only maybe 5 minutes apart.

I call the OB number as instructed and leave a message and await callback from whoever is on call.  The Dr calls back within minutes.  He says, "yep...time to come in" so I wake Ryan.  We are in the car by 3 a.m.

We get checked into the hospital and I make it to the bathroom JUST in time for my water to break.  It was totally like peeing, but having NO control over it.  Still having diarrhea also...lovely.

They get me to a temporary bay area, changed and hooked up to monitors.  They check and I'm at 3cm.  They have to test to make sure that yes, that was amniotic fluid.  By now the contractions are getting much more intense and are only like 2 minutes apart.  They get me moved to my Labor and Delivery room.

Since I tested positive for Group B Strep, they have to hook me up to IV antibiotics.  I have to go through two bags before they want me to start delivering.  At this point the contractions are getting out of control and I'm getting virtually NO break in between.  They were coming 1 minute apart and felt like knives ripping my insides apart.  I was actually whimpering.  Ryan was a bit freaked out by the sounds I'm making.

I keep asking when can I PLEASE have the epidural???  I can't remember why they kept putting it off...but I know that it was probably around 5 a.m. that the guy came in to administer.  It was such a strange feeling...felt like electric shocks down one leg?  But nothing painful really.  After that I just waited probably 15 minutes and then the relief kicked in.  Sweet, blissful relief...ahhhhh.  I felt so much better that all of a sudden felt super relaxed and wanted to go to sleep haha.

The Dr came in and checked me out and said to just try to relax.  Ryan and I just chilled and after an hour the Dr came back in and said that I had gone from 3cm to 10cm!  He said that was kinda crazy.  He said I was almost ready to begin pushing, but we were still having to wait for the stupid antibiotics to be in my system.  So we just wait...and wait.

Finally around 8 a.m. they give me the go ahead to start pushing.  So it's just me, Ryan and the RN.  She's great though and coaches me well considering I can't feel what I'm doing like at all.  So while I'm not feeling ANYthing...the act of pushing is really exhausting.  I pushed like 3 times then would rest...then they could see on the machine when another contraction was coming so I would push 3 more times and then rest...etc.

This went on for 2 hours.  At this point the Dr comes in and tells me that if things don't progress further in a decent amount of time, we may need to do vacuum-assist, forceps or a c-section.  He said that baby's shoulder seemed to be at a non-ideal angle.  So this had me determined more than ever to make every push count. So those last 30 minutes I gave it my all.

He finally crowned and the Dr came in and tried to coach me on my pushing.  All I know is that he told me to push...then quickly said, "ok stop, stop, STOP!" but it was too late.  I had just had a third degree tear, but Nolan was here at 10:37 a.m.!


They took him away to clean him up and do all the usual checks.  Ryan had to hold him while the Dr spent over an hour repairing me.  He said had I not had such a wonderful epidural, he'd have had to have taken me straight to the OR because the damage was so great.  I lost a little over a liter of blood, but sitting there while he worked on me, I felt fine.

But then they sat me upright and my whole world faded.

It was so scary...I remember looking at Ryan and then my vision going tunnel-like and gray...and then black as my hearing also faded out.  I honestly thought I was dying.  I have never passed out in my life.  As soon as they laid me back down I came back, but I was terrified.

They wheeled me to my postpartum room.  As soon as I'm in there, they let the immediate family in.  I remember I'm just STARVING...keep in mind it's almost 1 p.m. and I hadn't eaten since maybe 6 p.m. the night before.  I remember seeing all my family and watching them all look at Nolan and pass him around.

And then they tried to sit me upright again...once again the world starts fading away and I yell for them to put me back down.  I hear a nurse say that my blood pressure is 79/54 o_0.  Apparently I was "this close" to needing a transfusion, but they really only do those if ABSOLUTELY necessary.  Apparently I look scary to everyone...my family is so freaked by my pale appearance that they insist on leaving and try to get Ryan's family to do the same...they feel as if I need to rest and looking back I think they were right.  I remember finally getting some food and Ryan had to feed me lying down.

At this point I can't yet feel anything to do with my tear and luckily I have no need to go to the bathroom for quite a while.  But later that evening I do and the nurses have to help me...I almost pass out every single time they set me upright.  And on top of that, all the feeling is coming back and it's just horrible.

I also haven't slept at all during any of my time since I checked in...every time I am finally left alone, I try to get to sleep, but then a machine in my room beeps, or the IV has an issue, or the blood pressure cuff goes super-tight and wakes me.  And if I do drift off momentarily through all of that, they bring Nolan back from the nursery to try to nurse, which is a total disaster in itself.

So this goes on for the 2 nights I am there.  Completely exhausted, in so much pain and feeling like a huge failure to Nolan who is so obviously starving that they have to ask me if they can give him some formula.  He is jaundiced :(

It was just such a stressful time.  Not at all what I had expected.  Thank GOD my mom was able to stay with us from the beginning because I couldn't do much of anything with my tear and blood loss.  It was all I could do to hold Nolan and try to breastfeed.  My milk didn't come in until the fifth day and the Dr was concerned about Nolan's health.  He had lost quite a bit of weight so we had to supplement.  I was pumping and pumping all the time, but never got more than 5 oz total from both breasts.  We gave it a solid 3 weeks, but that's all I could do.

The first three weeks of his life were hard...omg were they hard.  He wouldn't sleep more than an hour and a half at the most...ever.  Around 4 weeks I was changing him and noticed an olive-sized lump in his groin above his penis.  I knew that Ryan, his dad and his brother had all had inguinal hernias as children...but more like after 6 months of age.  Sure enough this is what Nolan has.

Poor little guy has surgery at just over 5 weeks of age.  That was so hard...to hand him over knowing he'll have to be put under at such a young age.  But he made it through and that completely changed how he slept, ate and felt overall.  Was so nice to have him nap for more than 25 minutes at the time.

By 6 weeks things were really getting good.  I had figured out a great routine that was pretty much on a 3-hour cycle.  Wake, change, feed, play, nap, repeat.  In doing this, I was getting 1-hour naps during the day and he was sleeping 5 hours a night with only one feeding.  By 8 weeks he was consistently sleeping 6 hours at night...by 10 weeks 8 hours at night with two, 2-hr+ naps and now he's going around 10 hours at night with at least two, 2-hour naps during the day.

I never used to believe it when people would say "it gets better"...but now I know it CAN happen haha.

Things he loves:
Mobile gym - omg his favorite thing ever!  He'll spend 30 min on this easily
Bumbo - he just recently can sit in this and is good for right after he eats
Eating
Cooing and laughing

Things he does not love:
The swing??  Of course the most $$$ thing we have for him he's not big on..I've gotten him to like it for like 10 min at the time haha
The bouncer??  He likes it more now than he used to, but still not much

What else...um...I know I'm forgetting things here and there...but I would say we're doing good!  I just started back to work, but with reduced hours.  I now work 30 hours...3 days are in the office so Nolan is in daycare on Monday, Wednesday and Friday...then I work a few hours from home on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I'm so fortunate to be able to do this...but also still mad jealous of women in the UK and Canada who get crazy maternity leave.  And REALLY jealous of those fortunate enough to be able to be stay-at-home moms.  Best job in the world I think!

I'm alive!

Hi all...sorry I've been so MIA...this first week has been a rough one.

I'm not gonna type out the birth story yet, but basically...epidurals are awesome, but a third degree tear is NOT.  I lost a good liter of blood and it took them an hour to put me back together :(  The tear is healing well apparently, but getting my energy back from the blood loss has been a struggle.  The first night home I tried to do to much and didn't wake mom to get help and I had a mini-breakdown both physically and emotionally.  But I'm better each day and he really is a cutie. 

Ryan is still adjusting too.  He's doing really well I think, but right now he says he only likes him when he's sleeping ;)  I think that's a pretty normal sentiment.

My milk JUST came in today so we've been having to do formula in the meantime.  I just tried out my breast pump...WEIRD!  But I did manage to get some.  This is all soooooooooo alien to me, but I'm going with it.  Nothing like having your mom help you shove your nipple into your baby's mouth while your husband helps hold his little arms still ;)  So long modesty!

That's all I got for now, but will try to be better about communicating in the future...just might be really scarce for a bit longer ;)  Love you all! 

How is everyone else doing??
Mandy

39 weeks 6 Days

Ok so...Ryan and I were all excited about our ultrasound today.  We get to the waiting room and the ultrasound tech comes over to us.  She says that the girl who scheduled this appt for me last week wasn't paying attention.  Insurance won't cover the ultrasound or NST monitoring until AFTER my due date, which would mean Friday.  She explains she is sorry and that I'll still meet with the Dr for the cervix check and measuring.  I'm just so so disappointed.  I tell Ryan he can go back to work.

I see the Dr and she apologizes for the mixup.  She says she will still check me and offers to strip my membranes as it can sometimes speed things up (said can trigger labor within 48 hrs?).  I say sure.  She checks and I've not made any further progress.  Still 3cm and 70% effaced.  She strips my membranes, which is only slightly more uncomfy than the check itself. 

So now I'm home and grumpy and spotting like whoa.  No cramping or contractions yet that I'm aware of.  Baby still measuring "normal"...she estimated he'll be under 8 lbs or just over.  Now the next available u/s and NST appt is Monday at 2pm.  Maybe I'll go into labor before then.  They did go ahead and put me on the schedule to be induced next Thursday if he hasn't yet arrived. 

I'm just so disappointed...but I'm hormonal and I know I'll get over it.  Just such a letdown.

39 weeks 4 days (TMI)

So over the weekend I had some TMI events...I spotted most of the day Friday after the OB appt...nothing unusual.

Saturday morning I noticed some brownish mucus so I assumed it was my mucus plug. Ryan had gotten up WAY early to go to Record Store Day so I texted him that I had lost it. His reply was too funny...I just imagined him standing in line and reacting. He kills me!


Anyway, Sunday morning was the REAL mucus plug...a brownish mass at the bottom of the toilet. Gross, but ok whatever.

Then this morning after peeing I noticed a rather sizable reddish brown streaky mucus mass on the TP...after googling I realize this is the "bloody show," which is way more indicative that things are about to start happening.

So here I sit today at my desk...highly unmotivated to work. Haven't had any menstrual-like cramping or BH contractions that I'm aware of since Tuesday, but I do think we will be meeting BB before the weekend perhaps! My brother is back stateside around 10:30am tomorrow when I'm supposed to pick him up from the airport. Crazy times!

Next OB appt is Wednesday at 1:20pm. Kinda hoping I go into labor then and there since we'll be right at the hospital ;)

39 weeks 1 day

Baby
-measuring normal
-still head down
-heart rate 140bpm

Me
-3cm dilated and still 70% effaced.
-If he hasn't yet arrived by then, the next appt is Wednesday at 1:20 where they'll do an ultrasound to make sure all is well. If he is showing any signs of stress or whatnot, they move up induction, but for now he won't be induced until May 3 if he hasn't shown up by then.

New stuff
-Had my first, definitive Braxton Hicks contractions the past two nights. No pain, just definite tightening of entire abdomen for a few minutes at the time.
-Also had more intense, menstrual-like cramps down low earlier in the week. Nothing since.

Colleen's Birth Story 4/11/12

Even though I'm planning a birth with some drugs and an epidural I'm posting my friend's birth story as it's a pretty awesome one for those wishing to go natural:

So there is totally truth to the "you'll know thing". I mean, i was not 100%, but i just felt different that morning. I actually slept so soundly the night before - natures way of getting me ready, perhaps? I had no appetite, but no other "symptoms" until we were leaving for the dr...when I peed, the toilet paper had a little pink - not enough to be sure, but I was certainly suspicious.

Ok, so I had a 9:45 dr appointment (40 weeks) and she is delivering a baby, so we are waiting. Probably 20 min go by and I tell my husband that this is the day and I ask the receptionist if I can see any dr because I think I'm going into labor. I cannot tell you any particular reason I said this. So anyway, I go back and get undressed and the nurse says my dr will be there in five minuets. I'm on the table and I have my first true contraction - major cramp, a "strong" BH feeling, and then a fairly sharp pain very low. I said "ouch" pretty loudly and made a face. Pretty soon I told my husband that I felt "leaky". Dr comes in, looks at the leak, and says that my bag hasn't fully broken, but it does have a leak. She goes to examine me, I have another contraction (much stronger!), there is an audible "pop", and I gush water everywhere! Yuck! She declares that I am 4cm, 90%, and at 0 station - and says I must go to labor and delivery now because there was slight meconium staining. Mind you, my dr is at the hospital, so we only have a one minute walk.

Call the doula (come now!), call my mom, get checked in and by now my contractions are about two minutes apart (not necessarily normal - everything was in fast forward for me). Doula arrives, Davin runs home (thankfully five minutes away) to get the camera and bags, and by the time he returns (20 min) my contractions are one minute apart and very strong. It hurt. A lot. But it is doable and that minute inbetween is heavenly! I found waking, swaying, and leaning forward on someone very helpful. Laying down made my low back really hurt. I also had this obsession with Davin rubbing between my thumb and first finger - I actually bruised but would not let him stop - I think I focused on it. Gross alert - at this point I very suddenly and painfully had to poop. I ran to the toilet and, in front of everyone, just let go. Ugh! But you truly don't care at that point. Also, my doula was great about making me drink water (with a straw - she'd just shove it in my face) and I still ended dehydrated, so put someone on water duty. At the end of this part, I suddenly got violently shaky - like I was cold, but I don't think I was. The nurse and my doula said it was normal - my teeth about rattled out of my head.

Transition came quickly for me and that was the worst part. A contraction would peak and just start to wane and another would come - I kept saying I thought I'd have a break. But that did go quickly. In fact, the whole thing flew by. At this point, I moved to the toilet to labor and that ended up feeling the best and I hung out there forever. I sometimes stood over it, but usually just kind of sat with my legs wide apart and used it as leverage. Davin was in front of me and sometimes I would lean forward on him. In between the contractions I would completely zone out - it felt like I was on the brink of fainting almost, but I never did. I felt nauseas at times, but never got sick - burped like a drunk man though! Haha! My temperature fluctuated wildly - I would have these hot, sweaty flashes and someone would fan me - bring something to fan with! Then I'd get cold and shaky and want to hug someone for warmth.

Pushing sucked - it did. But again, it flew by and I pushed for nearly two hours. The time inbetween was, again, great and I'd zone out. But when the contraction would hit, it would hurt and pushing hurt and I could never decide which was worse. So sometimes I pushed and sometimes I just breathed through it. I did this over the toilet as well and when they made me move to check me, it hurt worse, so I went back to the toilet. Good thing - I pooped again. :( ugh! The whole time I could feel his head moving lower, which was actually very reassuring. And when I did summon the strength to really push, it felt good because I felt like I was making progress.

Ok, so then I KNEW when he was starting to crown because it burned! I had to move to the bed, which I didn't love, BUT I did have a squat bar, which I used and liked a lot. Also, if I did lay back, Davin and my doula would grab my legs and pull them back and then I'd grab my thighs and pull forward and that felt good. Then when they could first see the head, Davin got excited and I reached down to feel it and that was awesome and gave me the strength to keep going. Plus, then you know it's almost over! Very shortly after, I could SEE the head when I pushed and pulled myself forward, and that was great too. While crowning did burn a lot, it was not as bad as I had expected. And it was quick. So then the dr has to kind of push your skin back a little as the head comes out, which is terrible, but the second it clears, the feeling is of tremendous relief - it was amazingly great! Then the shoulders I didn't really notice, and then my only real yelling - Davin had his shoulders and I told him to just pull and get him out! Haha! Then he was on my belly and it was over and all worth it and all the terrible thoughts seem ridiculous (I actually said out loud at one point that we were never having another kid!) and you instantly start to forget! I only vaguely remember delivering the placenta- it was easy and felt again slightly like relief.

Then unfortunately, I hemmoraged (spl?) pretty badly - my uterus would not contract and shrink and I lost A LOT of blood! I was so enamored with Henry that I was unaware for awhile. But the dr got really concerned and more nurses came in and they had to give my oxytocin to make it contract. Later, they said they really thought I was going to need a transfusion! But again, I was somewhat blissfully unaware!

The tummy time was amazing and he fed right away and Davin cut the cord. That all lasted about an hour. Then they took him (just across the room) for all the stats and I realized I was STARVING and dehydrated. I ate graham crackers and downed apple juice like a kid and let me tell you, it was the best thing I have ever tasted! Haha! Then we moved to recovery. So my water broke about 10:25 and he was born at 3:50. Fast! And I did it the way I wanted - no meds!!!

38 weeks

Nothing too crazy, but it's been far too long since I posted anything. Still need to go through pics from my formal shower at some point :)

Had my 38 week checkup yesterday...some stats:

Baby
-measuring normal
-still head down
-heart rate 158bpm

Me
-Dr confirmed I did test positive for Group B Strep. Just means I will have an IV of antibiotics at time of delivery.
-up 35 lbs...not real happy about this, but Dr said I'm fine. will just be extra motivated to get it all off and then some ;)
-cervix checked for first time...1cm dilated and 70% effaced. Dr said she doesn't expect me to go past my due date, but you never know.

In other news...how am I feeling and what's new? Been a while since I documented so this is for posterity's sake:

-backache a daily battle. always under bra-line on left in my upper back...kinda under shoulder blade. used to hit me around 5:30...now it gets me way early in the day and driving is a killer...even just my short 10-15 min commute. Only fix is laying down

-heartburn...luckily Zantac has kept it mostly at bay so long as I remember to take the 2nd dose by 4pm.

-swelling of hands and feet...it's never crazy, but definitely there and more noticeable at the end of the day

-painful hands in the middle of the night...Dr said it's from fluid redistributing during the night. hurts to do anything with my hands, but disappears almost immediately upon waking

-been waking up sometimes in the past few weeks almost choking on acid reflux...ugh. it's a pretty horrible experience. have tried sleeping propped up a bit and it does help...some

-in the past week I have had some bad (TMI) trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night. apparently this is likely due to the hormone Prostaglandin, which helps prep the body for labor by thinning the cervix and whatnot

-heart racing/elevated pulse...this has been ongoing since 36 weeks I think. will be racing up to 120bpm while just sitting at my desk. asked Dr and she said can be normal at this stage and to not worry unless I develop chest pain. but it's really annoying and causes me to sigh almost constantly. i'm sure my coworkers aren't annoyed at all ;)

I'll post more if I think of anything haha...seems like a lot of complaining, but it's more just documenting. Can't believe I get to meet my son soon...omg "my son"...WHAT??? :D

Shower #1

This past Saturday was my first shower! It was a drop-in style shower hosted by my mom and her sister, my Aunt Hilda. It was really nice, though it's pretty exhausting standing around and chatting when you're 34+ weeks pregnant ;)

Got lots of clothes and some other goodies. Shower #2 is Wednesday at work.

Diaper cake my mom made...I was so impressed! She'd never made one before:


Cake my Aunt Hilda made...sooo good!


Ryan and me:


Loot!

5 Words Babies Use

For future reference...watched this video and found it pretty amazing:



Readers Digest version:

neh = hungry
owh = sleepy
heh = discomfort (hot, cold, needs diaper change)
eair = lower gas
eh = burp me

OB appt (31w1d)

Had my 31 week OB appt Friday...and everything was good. Blood pressure normal, BB's heartrate was 128 (normal), belly/uterus measuring right on track and I'm up 25 lbs, which they said is also "normal"...at this rate I should be up ~35 lbs total at the end...should gain about a pound a week.

Not real happy about this as I had hoped 25 would be my max, but what can ya do? BB is sitting head-down, but of course he can still do flips right now, but they said this is also good. Now I will have bi-weekly appts for a bit (next one March 9) and then weekly. Ahhhhhhhhh! Time is FLYING!

Help after baby arrives...

So yesterday I had asked what you guys are planning to do/have done when it came to having family around right after the baby arrives. My mom lives 3 hours away at the coast. My MIL lives only 20 minutes away. MIL is chill and laid-back and even if she's chomping at the bit to be super-involved in BB's life, she doesn't make it known the way OMG my mom does haha. This is the first grandchild for everyone so it's a big, big deal.

Anyway, my mom I think had planned to come home with us from the hospital and stay at least a week to help out...which, initially, I was ok with. But as time has gone on, I have come to think a lot on it and I'm just not sure.

So...in order to not have shiz hit the fan later on...I sent an email to mom last night...

Been talking with other moms and with Ryan and just starting to think about what will happen once BB finally arrives. Ryan and I think it'd be good to be just he, me and the baby for the first two weeks (we'd love to have you at the hospital of course when things actually happen)...and then once Ryan goes back to work (week 3), would love for you (and dad if he wants haha) to come stay for a week.

I just think even though it'll be tiring and crazy, that it's important for us to have that time getting to know our new addition y'know? Some good bonding time. Just thinking ahead.

But then again I may call you after our first night at home on our own and beg you to come up then haha...but can we play it by ear? See how things go?

She replied better than I expected actually...

Of course we will respect whatever you and Ryan want and will be there when needed or "if" needed. I did have a small crib in our room when you were born so I could just raise my head and see you any time day or night. After about three days, with no sleep for either of us, we put you next door in your own room. It was so cute. When you would wake up, Dad, me, Chad (older brother) and Mimmie (her mom) would show up in your room. However, mother did a fantastic job giving you a bath and washing your head from the beginning.

This article below sort of says it all. You and he have to be the judge of what you need and I guarantee you will not know that until the time comes.

Knowing What Kind of Help You Need
http://www.nwitimes.com/niche/yourfamily/family-life/new-moms-how-much-help-will-you-need/article_98a5ef33-c346-53db-8d70-70ae0a54fc10.html

Thoughts?

Bumpwatch: 30 Weeks

Time is REALLY flying now!

So here's me at 24 weeks...

...and this is me today at 30!

And I still have 10 more weeks to grow?? What??

Nursery coming along...

Got the bedding in (still need to remove, launder and iron things of course), window treatment up and nightstand painted! We still have to paint the bookcase and chest of drawers.

Mom bought us a changing table, which should arrive on Tuesday. We are still looking for a glider and ottoman, too, but THEN I think we'll be set on the actual furnishing of the nursery.

We do have some Classic Pooh decals to put up (tastefully, of course) and a few things to hang on the walls. I would like to get a couple floating shelf-type deals to put around the room. Not in a huge rush.

Ahhhhhhhh time is FLYING!

Crib Bedding

Mother-in-law just ordered this for us. Classic Pooh Together Time. Yippie! Hope it comes in SOON! We're putting the crib together tonight. Oh how our Friday nights have changed ;)

The nursery begins

Still have a TON to do, but we got the blah-white walls painted a nice, neutral taupe/beige on Saturday. It's Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth (984). My friend helped me paint, but even so, my back and calves are STILL reeling haha.

Ordered the Graco Stanton crib in black over the weekend along with a Sealy crib mattress. Hope to order the stroller today. Ahhhhhhhhh!

Before:



After:



FYI that bookcase was Ryan's when he was little. We plan to paint it black(ish) to match the crib. Also have a 3-drawer dresser that was mine when I was little that we'll also be painting and using as the changing table, too. Eeek!

Have to figure out window treatments and crib bedding. Thinking of a gray-blue? Or maybe going with the teal and brown trend that is so popular at the moment? Guess will have to see what's out there. Oh and will be putting in a nice ceiling fan. Our whole house upstairs has 90s-dated brass fixtures at the moment...been slowly replacing them.

Baby Transportation and Digs

Ok so I have obsessed and obsessed and researched til I'm blue in the face, but I think I have FINALLY figured out how the heck we're gonna get this little boy around town for the first 55 lbs of his life...

The plan is to get an infant car seat and 2 bases to go with a snap 'n go frame for the first 3 months. We are leaning heavily toward a Graco SnugRide 35 and the Graco SnugRider frame:


After those first few months, the plan would be to move on to a stroller that will be *the* stroller throughout toddlerdom. Have heard so many moms say that while a travel system is very nice, it turns out to be a pain to lug around and sometimes you have to fuss with it with both hands. I wanted something that I could unfold with one hand...even do while holding baby.

After MUCH (OMG TOO MUCH) researching...I got it narrowed to the Baby Jogger City Mini and the Britax B-Agile. Once I had done that, I found this article and my decision was made...that and the reviews on Amazon were amazingly positive:

Britax B-Agile vs. Baby Jogger City Mini

So yeah...we have a $200 gift card to Sears from Ryan's grandmother so I'm pretty sure we'll be spending it very soon on the Britax B-Agile. I only wish it came in more colors. Right now they offer only black and red so we'll be doing black.


Whew...now only 1,465,983 more decisions to make o_0

At least the nursery will be painted this weekend. That's the plan anyway ;) Then we can start on furnishing. Pretty set on this crib so far...Graco Stanton:

Baby Product Advice #5 (Courtney)

We've gone through a lot of strollers. Had a travel system, but the stroller that came with it didn't work well on the sidewalks, so we got rid of it. I used the snap and go all the time - I highly recommend it. I borrowed mine.

I got a BOB when Liam was a little over a year, and we still use it now. Great for all kinds of outings, including the beach. We also have an umbrella stroller - that's what we used for the mall/stores once Liam and James were out of the snap n go.

For babyseats, it's been a while so I'm sure Baby Bargains has updates, but I used Graco infant seats and Britax convertible seats. Now back to the Graco for big boy's booster.

Pack n play - we have the Graco. It's been great. We did use it downstairs while both kids were infants and of course use it on trips.

Diaper pails ... I wouldn't bother with one. We had a diaper champ and it just always smelled bad. I switched to a trash can with a lid and that has worked much better.

Exercise ball. If you don't already have one, it's helpful for pregnancy (comfortable for sitting) and for soothing the baby (sitting on it and bouncing while holding baby).

For equipment, we used the bouncy seat with both kids. They both loved it, and we loved it too. Liam slept in it on his first few nights home. James also loved the swing. We borrowed one because it's hard to know if your baby will like it. I think Liam would have liked a swing too, but we didn't even try him on one.
We also borrowed things like the exersaucer since they use them for such a short period. I definitely recommend borrowing things!

Speaking of using things for a short period - in hindsight, I wouldn't get a high chair. Neither of my kids would use one past 12 months - they sat at little tables at daycare, so they didn't want to use them at home. You could get a booster seat (there's one for traveling that comes with a tray that we borrowed and liked), which would take up less space.

For carriers, I used the baby bjorn, the hotsling, and the ergo. I liked them all at different stages. Liam loved the hotsling and it was a godsend for the early months - I actually used it until he was 18 months, then we got the Ergo. The hotsling is very easy to use if you have a kid that needs to be held all the time. James didn't like it, but he liked the Ergo, which he calls the "mommy backpack". I didn't use the Bjorn for all that long - a few months, but it was very helpful during those months.

Swaddling is great. I highly recommend it as well. It's hard to keep up with it for a spring baby since it gets hot, but it really works. Get some of those Aden and Anais blankets. They are my absolute favorite for swaddling. James still sleeps with those blankets as lovies, so nice and soft!

Good, comfortable rocker - I have an upholstered chair and rocking ottoman that is still indispensible from Oh Baby.

Backpack diaper bag (or something that your man will be ok to carry). It's actually great to have something hands-free like a back-pack when the kids get bigger. Backpacks are not as useful when you have to carry the kids in a backpack carrier though!

Random things I found helpful - cloth diapers for burp cloths and for putting on the changing table (saves you from having to change the cover all the time), sheet savers (snaps on top of the crib sheet if you have a super soaker kid so you don't have to change sheets in the middle of the night), Eddie Bauer pack n play sheets (softer than most), the Boppy - for nursing and just arm support, quilts for the floor.

Baby Product Advice #4 (Susan)

We didn't have space for more than 1 stroller, so we got a bumbleride indie and strapped the car seat (Chicco KeyFit 30) in it until he could sit up in it on his own at about 4 months. The sidewalks in our neighborhood are awful, and the travel systems just don't have good enough tires. I jog with the indie now and love it. It has a narrower profile than the BOB. Again, space is always a premium! I will say that a snap and go would have been handy to take to the mall or Target - we didn't have anything lightweight to use until he was about 4 months old and I picked up a little umbrella stroller at a consignment sale for $10. Now I keep that in the car and we use it at stores.

Ok - all the equipment is very baby specific. We bought a bouncy seat (you are welcome to borrow it) because the swings were huge. But the I ended up borrowing a swing to see if he liked it. This was in the early days, when you think that if you just find the right appliance they'll stop crying. We hardly ever used it and I gave it back at about 3 months. The bouncy seat got used every day while I was taking a shower and while we ate dinner. It was a must have. I have the Bright Starts automatic bouncer. Ah, I can still hear that music playing when I think about it! Other people's babies would sleep in the bouncer, mine never did. Mine only slept in the Baby Bjorn during the day, which would be another recommendation. I have the Air model, which is more mesh fabric. Great for spring/summer babies. I also have a Moby wrap that you're welcome to borrow. I thought I'd really get into wrapping him up and wearing him, but it was just too much fabric and I was too hot. It did soothe him well though. Takes some practice - I practiced with a baby doll.

Pack and play- we have the Chicco one. It's at my mom's now so he can nap over there. Way too cumbersome to move back and forth. I borrowed another one and it's at my MIL's house. I never had much use for it. Our house is 1 story and very small, so it was in our living room and just became a place to put laundry or somewhere to put him for a second if I had to pee. I would imagine that in a two story house it would get more use as a diaper changing spot or a nap place. Again, mine never napped in the crib until he was 3 months old.

Practice swaddling. I've got the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD if you want to borrow. Swaddling blankets can be tricky. I actually had the most success with 2 cotton waffle weave blankets - nothing fancy. I've got a Swaddle Designs kind, a miracle blanket, a Woombie. You're welcome to try any of them in those early days and see what works before buying more. Lots of people have the Velcro kind, but for some reason I never got any of those. I can also show you the double swaddling technique that finally tamed my little Houdini - Kerry taught me. She's the best. I cried when she showed me how to do it!

My guy wasn't into pacifiers. We used the green ones that you can stick your finger into - I can't remember what they're called. That phase didn't last long.

Best toy for a baby - Manhattan Toy's Whoozit. Still plays with it now. He would stare at those black and white circles forever. Also there's this Sassy "photo album" with the infant toys at Target and it's got different black and white designs on each page. Best $5 spent on a toy! I honestly dont remember him paying much attention to other toys. At about 2 months or so, he would kind of like the little gym thing. We have the Fisher Price jungle one. Again - want to borrow?

(we're packing up to put our house on the market, so I'm totally cool with loaning all this stuff out for a while!)

I just asked Dave what we used all the time, and he said earplugs. He's right. [:)]

I got an upholstered chair and ottoman that rocked, rather than a glider with a wood frame. You will log more hours than you'll care to imagine in that chair, so get the most comfortable thing you can find. I got mine at Oh Baby which is closed now, but they have good ones at Smart Momma out on 70 - great store if you haven't been there yet.