6.22.12

Outside my window... it is overcast, but there is blue skies peeking through.

I am thinking...  about the balance between forgiveness and self-preservation.  (I know; deep for a Friday afternoon.)

I am thankful...  that even though I don't remember caring for James in the middle of the night, that there is evidence that he was fed and changed and woke up breathing and healthy.  Oy vey.  I need some sleep, with a nanny in the other room. 

In the kitchen... there is an empty take-out container from my Max and Erma's salad that I didn't have the chance to eat last night. 

I am wearing... NOT maternity pants =) and a nursing tank.

I am creating... Pinterest boards for the kiddos' new rooms, to commence in a week or two.

I am going... to pick up Seth from preschool, then to karate with Seth and Lucas, and then to Costco for a Friday family date night.

I am reading... through my blog feed reader; that's it. 

I am hoping... for beautiful weather for our birthday party cookout Saturday night!

I am looking forward to... a date with Jim, sometime.

I am learning... to trust my gut. 

Around the house... it is quiet.  Erin and James are both napping. 

A favorite quote for today... "Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed," Eph. 4:29

One of my favorite things... Almond Joy candy.  And I've found a Turkey Hill ice cream to match that passion. 

A few plans for the rest of the week...karate, Costco, laundry, banana pudding and pasta salad prepping, birthday party cookout, sleepover and Grandma's, baseball game with Jim and James . 

James 1/12

Do y’all hear the weeping coming out of your computer speakers, all over the country?  It’s me, bemoaning the fact that the littlest mister is already an entire month old.  Time is moving so much faster than I would wish….

It’s been an interesting month, though moreso at the beginning, when we were averaging a doctor visit every few days.   At 6 days old, James had us back at the hospital for blood draws to check bilirubin levels.  His results were borderline, but low enough to keep us away from having to do phototherapy.

Then, between weeks one and two, we started to realize James’ was having difficulty keeping his feeds down, whether he nursed or took pumped breast milk from a bottle.  A visit to his pediatrician showed that he was in fact gaining weight, albeit slowly.  We were asked to have an ultrasound done to rule out pyloric stenosis, which, yea for us!, came back negative.  Which left us with a handful of other possible diagnosis for the projectile vomiting after every. single. feed.  (a) James has reflux, and we are addressing that with baby Zantac, and we’ll see how his weight gain is at his one month check up next week; (b) that his gastrointestinal track is merely immature, and the issue will self resolve in the next several weeks; or (c)  that something in my diet isn’t agreeing with him.  We will see what Dr. P has to say next week.

We haven’t wasted any time in introducing James to our crazy-busy lifestyle.  He’s been to Chipotle, the pool, church, the park, karate lessons, photo shoots grocery shopping…  He doesn’t seem to love his car seat like Seth did, but he sure doesn’t hate it like Erin did.  I’ll take it.

 
We’re teaching him early the importance of happy hour. ;)

Hey, look!  A picture that actually caught him wide-eyed.  (They are rare!)  He still sleeps a lot.  We’ve even had a few nights where he slept from 10:30 PM until 5:00ish AM.  Good for rest, but BAD for my poor milk-producing front region!

Speaking of my front regions….I’m nursing.  I don’t know that I mentioned that in my 40w update post, but it is worth mentioning again, if I did.  I really had convinced myself that I just wasn’t cut out to nurse, and that I was just going to find myself exclusively pumping again.  But this little guy knows his way around, and despite some latching issues in the beginning, we’re getting it like old pros.  Yea, us!

Seth and Erin have adjusted fairly well.  Erin actually better than anticipated, and Seth not as well.  When James cries, Seth actually sticks his fingers in his ears and shouts “PACIFIER!!!” at the top of his lungs – as if yelling for me to stick something in James’ mouth is going to get me to move any faster.  Erin, on the other hand, is a little mother.  She adores James and is completely attentive to his needs.  Unreal.

We are still using newborn diapers and newborn clothing, though I know I’m going to blink, and those onesies aren’t going to snap anymore.

Until then, I’m cherishing each moment I can steal to just snuggle him under my chin and breathe in his milky newborn scent.

Wordless Wednesday 6.13.12

 

Since he wasn’t interested in his paci, she thought maybe he’d want Woody instead.

BLTN: Erin’s birthday celebration

We kept it simple this year….poor baby girl, already getting the shaft due to baby brother. ;)

But really, what more does a girl need to celebrate her special day than a chocolate cake?  Especially if it is lovingly crafted by your big brother.
 

She wasn’t so sure about the singing and the cameras and the lit candles….

  But, she was all about the cake itself.  That’s my girl.
 

Ah, and then there was the present.  (Her one and only….but she is two.  She won’t remember how many gifts she got.)  Thankfully, she was SUPER EXCITED OMG DO YOU SEE MY NEW BIKE!!!!!?????, so all was well in birthday world.

 
And, yes, Seth is secure in his manhood.  All in the name of birthday fun, people.

Only one of us is ready

Guess who is getting ready to move to a big girl bed?

The weekend before James was born, we headed up to IKEA to kill some time and to shop for the bunk beds that we are planning to get for Seth this summer.
While we were there, we found this super cute, super affordable white platform bed that seems ideal for Erin when we pull the crib from her room for James.

She still isn’t the world’s best sleeper, so I’m not sure how she is going to do in an unconfined bed, but….we’ll figure it out.  I’ll keep y’all posted on how she does, and how her room transforms from nursery to “big girl.”  (I know, I know, Andrea, I still haven’t posted pictures of her room as is….I’ll get on that, too, I promise!)

Wordless Wednesday 6.6.12

Radiator Springs, Dollar Store style

I’ve gotten really, really good at drawing the World grand Prix and Radiator Springs with sidewalk chalk.

Version 001 was at my inlaw’s, and we’ve recreated it twice at home, resulting in hours of outdoor fun.

Yeah, I pretty much get super-mom status for this one. Go, me!

The Ducks

We weren’t sure who was going to hatch first. The ducklings, or our little one.

I honestly don’t know which came first.

But by the time we came home from the hospital on the 23rd, this is what we found under the hydrangea bush outside the dining room window.

The momma and her babies have already abandoned her nest, yet I find it hard to clean up the egg shells and rake out the mulch….

40w Update

How far along: Today is my due date!  Or, at least, one of them.  Between my four doctors, I had four due dates: May 27, May 31, June 2, or June 3.  But according to MY calculations, today was the forty week mark.  I have to admit, I’m thrilled to be two weeks post-partum rather than still pregnant at forty weeks.

Total weight gain: I ended up gaining 25 lbs for the entirety of James’ pregnancy.  25 from my starting weight, and (gulp!) 38 from the lowest weight reached during the first tri sickness.  As of today, I only have 2 lbs to lose to be back at the starting weight; so that makes 15 to lose to get back on track with where I was during my Weight Watchers journey at the end of summer last year.  I’m giving myself a few more weeks to regulate my milk supply and to wean off a couple of my meds, and then I plan to sign back up with WW Online.

General disposition:  It’s been an interesting two weeks.  James is an amazing baby, and in the parenting department, I’m feeling pretty good.  We’ve had a few extenuating family issues come up in the past couple weeks, and those have had me anxious and sad, but I’m dealing.  Dr. Gibbs wants me to talk to a counselor; we’ll see.

Sleep:  I’m actually sleeping well enough.  James eats about 11 pm, and then not again until 3ish, and then 7, so not too bad in the middle-of-the-night wakings.  But I have to admit, being up that hour in the middle of the night is no fun, and I feel pretty groggy when I wake up for the day.

Best moment this week: It’s hard to narrow down – it’s been a great week.  I think one of my favorite moments was just this morning, cuddling on the couch with Jim and Erin before he headed out for the day.  The contentedness was so pure.

Movement:  Let’s go with my movement.  My recovery from the c-section has been a BREEZE.  Seriously, hands down, my easiest recovery.  I have yet to actually have any pain from the actual surgery.  I’ve had some cramping the past few days, but Dr. Gibbs said that is actually more from the tubal.  I’ve not had any hemorrhoid issues (thank you, Jesus!!!).  I have some pretty yucky headaches lingering from some complications with my spinal.  But overall?  I feel great!   

Labor Signs/Body Changes of Note:  I’ve already touched on my weight, and how I’m feeling.  My body has yet to really morph back into a shape that fits into pre-pregnancy clothes, but I know that will come.  James is actually nursing – which is a whole new experience! – and my milk came in about day three, so, yeah, there is that change. =)

What I miss:  Not a whole lot!  It’s no secret that things got SO HARD at the end.  I honestly don’t miss being pregnant one bit.  I’m so, so, so happier with James on the outside.

What I am looking forward to:  I’m looking forward to so much….I just want time to slow down a little so I can enjoy this newborn stage as much as possible!

And just to close…here is a picture of the sweet little man at two weeks old, napping away while mommy blogs: