4 weeks old already?

He's going to be 4 weeks old this week. How did this happen?

As I sit here sipping my coffee listening to some classical music on Pandora (how did the soundtrack from "How to Train Your Dragon" get on this station, anyway?), I just finished another practice exam for my boards. Jack is peacefully sleeping on the couch beside me and Cooper on the loveseat, Riley under the coffee table awaiting his daily terrorization attempt of the mailman. There's a light snow falling outside and the trees are being whisped around in the cold winter wind. It's quiet. Very quiet. As a new mom, you'd think I'd appreciate the silence. It's not like I'll get much of it in the years to come, so soak it up now, right?

But the silence is too loud, really. I could use a little giggle or snort or fart or something. Anything. He's going to be 4 weeks old on Friday. Why does he have to be 4 weeks already?

There's no way to explain the feeling of watching your newborn grow into what will soon be your little boy. It's like trying to prevent the sun from setting- the process of it is such a sad idea, but once the sunset arrives, it's more beautiful than you ever imagined. Every day that passes, I see him look more and more like his Daddy. His curls are coming in, his eyelashes are getting longer. His eyes are wider and more alert, and his tiny perfect little feet have already grown out of his newborn booties. And I try to remember what he looked like the day before. How does that happen? You go to bed at night, and the next morning, he's grown again. Just a little more precious than the day before. Family members always say, "They grow up so fast." What an understatement.

The past four weeks have been one big whirlwind, I'll put it that way. Getting this "mom" thing down is exhausting. For every time you feel like you got it right, you feel like a failure five more times. Soon after we brought Jack home, I surrendered myself to imperfection and decided it's no use. I did all the research, had every little gizmo and gadget waiting for me. I was going to nip those screaming fits and blowout diapers right in the butt! (no pun intended). Alas, it is no use. The nights will be long and those baby tears will make your own heart want to cry. Lesson learned: you're going to feel like you suck at this no matter how much you prepare. But it'll be ok. In fact, it will be wonderful.

I love being a mom. I love having a little ball of cuddly happiness to snuggle with as I study. It's hard, though. The nights when he's gassy as all heck, and I can't do anything but fill him with those darn gas drops and bicycle-kick his legs until the sun comes up. The mornings I wake up and my boobs decided to turn into a sprinkler system after his last feeding and soaked right through the nursing pads and onto the bedsheets. The days when he's screaming his lungs out, his mid-diaper-change bare butt aimed in every which direction and I realize I left the clean diapers in the basement again. Or those moments when he just fell asleep, and I have to pee like a racehorse: to put him down and risk the wrath of un-cuddled Jackson, or just keep rocking and risk a bladder explosion.

They're right, it's hard.

But it's a good hard. It's the little things that keep you going, and thank goodness, they come in ample supply. When you finally figure out that "Ehhh ehhh ehhh" cry means his tummy hurts, the "Aerghhh" cry means he's gotta fart again, the lip quiver or ear tug means he's hungry. When you figure out he's fussy and fidgety as all heck because his diaper's wet, and you change it, and all is right with the world again. Or when his bottom starts to get pink and splotchy, and you, being the all-knowing (common sense) parent you are, recognize this is the early stage of diaper rash and slap some coconut oil on that booty and kick that rash right in the butt (again, no pun intended). Or the best part: the first time he smiles at you, and it's not because he farted. Those are the little victories when you think to yourself, "Hey, this isn't so bad. Maybe I won't kill myself today." Those are the moments that make everything worth it, and remind you you're going to be ok. I feel incredibly blessed to say that as time goes on, Mike and I have gotten to see more and more little victories, and fewer and fewer moments of utter chaos. Life is exactly as it should be, and I wouldn't trade this for the world.

Jackson Robert: Born January 10, 2014 at 5:24pm. 7lbs 10oz, 20" long

Thursday, January 9, 2014 was just like any other Thursday. I was home studying for my boards, Mike went to work but was planning to come home early for my 39 week appointment and then for him to get his hair cut.

Around 3pm we entered the doctor's office, and my OB did the usual check, and asked to strip my membranes. For those curious, it's a very common procedure done (depending on your OB) between 37-42 weeks in which the doctor separates the amniotic sac from the inner lining of the uterus using a sweeping (tornado) motion with her hand/fingers. Dependent upon how dilated you are prior to the procedure, it will either hurt like hell or you won't even feel it. Being the impeccably lucky (NOT) individual that I am, Jack was so low and me only 2cm dilate, I was pretty sure in the 30 seconds it took my OB to strip my membranes that I was going to have a baby in my arms by the time she was done. That was the second most painful thing I've ever done... probably for Mike as well, as I screamed more in that 30 seconds than I did during actual labor. Good news for the Mamas out there who are considering having it done at the end of their pregnancy: if it does hurt for you, it will only hurt for 30 seconds.

The long and short of membrane stripping is this: it releases a mass amount of your own hormones (prostaglandins) into the cervix as the amniotic sac in which the baby is floating is stripped away from the inside of your uterus. This surge of hormones will ultimately ripen the cervix for labor, signaling the uterus to get this show on the road. For some Mamas it works like a charm, for others it doesn't do a darn thing. It has no negative effects on baby, and can actually aid in shortening labor if it does work. So my recommendation: try it. If it doesn't work the 1st time, try it at your next appointment. If it doesn't work the 2nd time, don't be a fool. Give your poor lady parts a break and just be patient.

So 39 weeks along, on January 9th at 3pm, my OB stripped my membranes, told me to go get a cheesburger, and wait for something to happen. Which is ultimately what I did (though it was in fact a chicken sandwich, not a cheeseburger), then went with Mike to the Vici Institute to get his haircut at 4pm. Mike's stylist, though a total sweetheart and actually very pretty, took FOREVER to cut his hair, so I was chilling out there until almost 5:30pm waiting for him. By 5pm, I started feeling a little woozy, maybe some indigestion, I thought. We left the salon and I remember turning to Mike as we walked to the car, saying "I feel weird. I need to go home."

So, seeing as I wanted to go home, we went to Pick n' Save instead. Because that makes sense. We grabbed a few items, a movie, and walked out to the car. It was now almost 6:30pm, and I was getting uncomfortable. Uncomfortable like when it's that time of the month. That can't be right... PMS? What is going on here?

And then 7pm hit, and let me just say, all I wanted to do is take 24 ibuprofens and drown myself in a lavender-scented chocolate jacuzzi. At least for myself, I went into this thinking labor contractions would feel like a tearing, or burning, or sharp pain, or anything but what they actually were for me. I was expecting gut-wrenching, machete-to-the-insides kind of pain. I was having Braxton Hicks contractions since 28 weeks, and while they were uncomfortable and made the outside of my tummy feel like a cement wall, they were NOTHING compared to labor contractions. Labor contractions were like the worst period cramps I've ever had in my life. I tried lying in every position on our couch, walked up and down the stairs and did laps around the house about 3,672 times. I took a hot shower, took a cold shower, tried warm compresses, tried watching a movie, tried listening to music, tried stretching... but the pains kept getting stronger and closer together, between 3-4 minutes apart and lasting anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute. By 10pm Mike was convinced: "Mandy, for real, you can call the hospital now."

Now I have to explain my predicament here: I've been working in Labor & Delivery for over a year. I'm the one telling Mamas when to come in, when the fluid they lost or contractions they're describing to me on the phone sounds like the real deal. I've been the one standing next to them coaching them through pushing and holding their legs up, doing their assessments, and doing baby's assessments and checks. For a year now I've been in the driver's seat, directing Moms & Dads on what to do. But when it's you, when you're the one in the passenger seat, all that knowledge and smarts and common sense falls out the back of your head and all that knowledge basically turns into a crockpot of gooey stupidity. So the last thing I wanted to do was call my friends at work for a "false alarm." But after a great deal of nagging and coercing from my more-sensical-than-I husband, at 11:15pm I called work, and what do ya know, my friends gave me those exciting but scary words every soon-to-be-mom wants to hear: "Yeah, Mandy, I think it's about time you came in."

Here we go...

So, around 12:15am, on January 10th, Mike and I packed up the last of our things, I ate my "last meal" (all I could muster by this point was a banana) and arrived at the hospital in our schnazzy little Corolla, parked that baby right outside the skywalk, and made our way to the 6th floor of Children's & Froedtert Hospital. It took us a grand total of 10 minutes to drive from our house to the hospital, and about 20 minutes for us to walk from the parking structure to the Labor & Delivery unit. No, it was not because it was a long walk. It was because me, being the non-sensical laboring mother I was, absolutely refused a wheelchair. I NEEDED to walk. Don't ask me why, but I even got annoyed with the janitorial lady who was vacuuming because she was kind enough to offer me a wheelchair. I suppose when your contractions are coming with a vengeance every 3 minutes, it doesn't matter whether you're sitting or standing, it's gonna hurt regardless, so what's a wheelchair gonna do anyway?

Almost there!

Get you there faster, that's what. For goodness sake, Moms, take the damn wheelchair when someone offers it to you.

Fake smiling for the camera in between contractions

My admission went like any other admission, I had to be poked 3 times again for my IV as my veins are every nurse's worst nightmare. Not that it mattered- a little poke in the arm or hand was nothing by then. 1am came and went, as did 2am. By 3am the breathing and relaxing techniques were no longer working as my body went into transition and I couldn't stop throwing up with each contraction (praise God all I'd eaten was a banana), and the doctor finally came in and said I should consider getting an epidural as things weren't getting any better. I graciously obliged by that paint, and let me tell you: getting that epidural was the best decision of my freaking life.

Breathing...

Now let me say, I was totally hoping for a natural labor and birth. I still believe that's beautiful, and it's what

we women were made to do, so all the more power to those women who can make it the whole nine yards without an epidural their first time around. But I am 100% content with joining the epidural club. Why? Because it was like
a night and day difference in how I was able to function after that point. Granted, my legs turned into the consistency of a jellyfish, but once they placed the epidural I was able to breathe again. The vomitting stopped, I could feel baby moving, and Mike came into bed and snuggled with me and rubbed my awkward jellyfish feet while we watched Boy Meets World and I feasted on water and ice chips. I could relax and can genuinely say I was comfortable. By 4am I was able to call my mom myself and tell her Jack was on his way so she could come. I was able take a nap with my husband, and laugh with my mom in calm and quiet. There's something to be appreciated about being able to really enjoy those last hours and minutes with those closest to you rather than focusing on your breathing and distracting yourself. And seeing as my labor ended up being 22 hours long, I sure am glad I did. Going back, would I get the epidural again? Oh hell yes. I would get it sooner if I could.

Oma came to keep me sane :)

At 5am my water broke, and I was 6 cm dilated. My OB arrived, and predicted Jack would be here by lunchtime, and that she'd hurry through her clinic patients to get back in time as she was not on call that day. By 11am, I was at a standstill. I was still 6cm, 100% effaced, and at +2 station. The RNs nor the OBs could understand it, as everything had moved so fast up to this point and then I got stuck with no progress. At that point they started pitocin to hopefully induce a progression, but nothing seemed to be working.

I don't even know how many bags of LR they'd
pumped into me by this point, but you can see from
the photo I was puffy!

This is the part where things got scary. Once a woman's water breaks, it is preferred she gives birth within 12 hours due to a risk for chorioamnionitis- an infection of the internal membranes of the sac and uterine lining due to irritiation brought on by labor contractions. Seeing as my water had broken at 5am, I was due to have Jack by 5pm. By 2pm, I had spiked a fever and the doctors were assuming the worst: indeed I had gotten chorio. A resident came in and gave me the scary news: If I didn't have at least a 1cm progression within the hour, I would need a c-section. Yes, I did cry like a baby. Who wants a c-section if they can help it? And then I demanded they up the pitocin and I sit up in bed to stretch and get this kid to put some serious pressure down there.

Holding Jackson for the first time

And at 3pm, my OB returned for the scariest check of my life. Who knew the words "8 centimeters" could

cause butterflies to fly out your ears? Praise God for that. The last 2 hours are a blur, as my temperature rose to 101F and I became more and more sleepy, and the doctors ordered antibiotics for the chorio infection. At 5pm, my OB checked me one last time and found I was complete. And after 5 rounds of pushing (in between which we had a decent amount of laughter, which was very much needed by this point), at 5:24pm Mike and I finally got to meet our son. 7lbs 10oz, 20" long. He was perfect. After 22 hours of labor, some 20 minutes of pushing, and a whole bunch of tears and laughter, it was all worth it. And I was ready for a cheeseburger. Maybe five.

Due to the long labor and fast delivery I had, Jack was born with transient tachypnea, which is common in babies whose moms do not push very long. When a baby moves through the birth canal, the contractions of the uterus typically put pressure on the baby to push excess fluid out of the lungs on their way into the world. If a mother has a short delivery, this pressure is cut short and many times babies are born with excess fluid in their lungs, causing them to breathe faster than normal. As a result, Jack had to remain in the hospital for extra monitoring for a few days before he could come home. By the 3rd day, needless to say Mike & I were very, VERY ansy and couldn't wait to come home. We were so ready to begin our lives as a family and settle into a new routine with our little one.

For the time being, Jack is doing amazing. He is the most beautiful, perfect, silly snuggler we've ever met. He has Mommy's round face and chin and Daddy's hair color, nose and lips. As all newborns do, he has bright beautiful blue eyes which we'll find out around 6-9 months if they remain that color or change. And our favorite part: he has hair :) Lots of it, with some curls down by the nape of his neck, just like Daddy. We're so in love with this little bundle it's hard to really explain just how amazing it is to be parents for the very first time. Extremely exhausting, but so worth it, to say the very least.

Jack's first night home was the worst due to being circumcised literally 2 hours before being discharged, so Fussy McFusserson kept us up all night. In the days following, he sleeps 3-4 hours each night as I have to wake him up for feeds. His pediatrician gave us the ok to let him go 4 hours if he can due to maintaining a good weight and having no major signs of jaundice or other health problems. So we're very thankful everything is going so well thus far.

Thank you so, SO much to all of our amazing family members and friends who provided us so much support in the months leading up to Jack's birth. We are so grateful to have brought him into the world surrounded by so much love. Now on to the most fun, demanding, and hardest part: parenthood. And seeing as we have two dogs to parent as well (one of whom thought Jack was treat when we first brought him home... Riley), this should be a very, very amusing journey.

38 weeks: Pregnancy in Review

I'm huge. Uncomfortable, and huge. Don't get me wrong folks, I am very, VERY excited for Jack to get here (and by excited, I mean impatient as heck!) but this being huge thing- so overrated. I'll take my size 6 back any day now, thanks.

I've made the blankies, washed the clothes, cleaned the house, sewed the crinkle toys, got the diapers all ready set and every kind of baby wash known to mankind and then some. I've rearranged the furniture a dozen times (thank you, Mike, for helping me/putting up with that), and even resorted to scrubbing down the kitchen cabinets. Our bathtub, the baby whale tub, and the sinks are spotless and ready for a baby. I'm pretty sure you could eat off our kitchen floor at this point (though the dogs take care of that). Mike installed the carpeting on the basement stairs, and we've got freezer/crockpot meals to last us well over a month. We are golden. So what's left?

Jack. Any day now. Seriously.

So now that I'm well-into the final stretch here (no pun intended there), what am I most excited for?

• Baby-snuggles. Newborn, especially. I'm pretty sure those are the best snuggles there is.
• Wine. 
• Sushi.
• Feta cheese.
• Not worrying about my dumb lunchmeat anymore.
• More coffee.
• Diet Coke.
• Exercising like a normal person again.
• Climbing the stairs without groaning.
• Shaving my legs without feeling like I just pumped iron.
• Painting my toenails without feeling like a contortionist.
• My normal jeans.
• My belly not showing at the bottom of my shirts.
• Cute underwear... though I'm sure that'll be a while again.
• High heels.
• Being able to snuggle up next to my husband without feeling like we're snuggling a watermelon.
• Lying on my tummy again (BACK MASSAGES!)
• Being able to pick things up easily when I drop them (which happens a lot)

What am I most nervous about?

Being a good mom, a good role model, a good friend, and a good wife. That Jack grows up to be a Jesus-loving, confident, intelligent, respectful boy who is curious and creative and silly. I feel like there are only so many articles you can read, books you can buy, and pieces of advice you can take before it all goes to shit, really, and you just end up flying by the seat of your pants I feel like my greatest resource in the years ahead is going to be a boat-load of prayer and perseverance. I'm nervous about the sleepless nights and crying frenzies, the blow-out diapers, scraped knees, night terrors, first crushes, drivers ed, college tuition, and who he'll turn out to be someday. I'm nervous because our little man will change the world simply by living in it. So here's to a whole lot of prayer that we get this right the first time :)

Merry Christmas! 37 weeks

Merry Christmas! Mandy officially made it to term :) No more worries for a preemie baby now. Now if only we could just count on our dogs to look at the camera for family photos, life would be peachy keen... But I suppose this is how it's going to be from this point forward. Bring on the awkward family photos :)

36 weeks

So what do you do at 36 weeks? Get super, super impatient. I can't say that I'm totally shocked he's still cooking, but really, I'm pretty impressed. Our little kiddo is nestled nice and snug and doesn't seem to be going anywhere fast, but in the meantime, Mike and I are finishing up preparing the house, cleaning, and enjoying the holidays. There isn't much new going on around here, other than some serious shoveling due to all this beautiful snow! If there's one thing I'm super happy about, it's that we'll be having a White Christmas this year- no doubt about it! Now if only it wouldn't be so darn cold. But I guess you can't have everything, right?

Something I can honestly say I won't miss once I'm no longer pregnant: rolling over in bed. No one tells you that when you turn over, get up, sit down, stand up, every movement is like defying gravity *cue Wicked.* I can't even remember the last time I didn't grunt, groan, or make a sound comparable to a 3-legged moose stuck in a bog while trying to get out of bed. This whole "cute little bump"thing is definitely not what it used to be, I'll say that much.

But in other news- nursery is very, very close to being done! I'll probably still be tweaking it long after Baby arrives, but in the meantime, here are photos of our little one's soon to be room!

The view when you walk in- it's a mix of forest and Winnie the Pooh themed :) And his little treehouse (which I realize now I didn't take a full-on photo of) in the right-hand corner with the little lantern.

 A shot of his little crib! Mike hasn't made his nightstand yet, but he'll have a little red side-table and tree-stump. Which I'm super excited for :) Yes, we decided on the name Jack for our little man! Jackson Robert, to be exact (Robert after Mike's dad).

And a beanstalk (because every Jack needs one of these) to keep track of his height as he grows! I painted this on the back of his closet door- which is chalkboard paint on the other side for some fun once he's older.

35 weeks along and 35 days left :)

35 weeks!

Some good news for us: we have our hospital bag packed! We got all our little ducks in a row and decided to kick it into high gear finally. The house is clean, the baby's room is anxiously awaiting his arrival, bags are packed and our basement freezer is FULL of yummy meal and crockpot recipes for the weeks following babies birth. We're starting to feel slightly more prepared for Baby's arrival!

Here's what went into our hospital bag (yes, there's really just one!):

For Mommy & Daddy:

• Wallet: And don't forget your ID and insurance card, just in case :)
• Camera AND batteries/charge cord: Seriously. You have no idea how many people forget. Don't be one of them.
• Birth plan: You definitely don't need one! The biggest thing about birth plans: you need to remain flexible and realistic, and understand a birth plan is simply way of communicating preferences to your hospital staff. It should never be seen as the be-all-end-all for decision-making. Birth plans won't be followed in the even of an emergency, so always stay flexible and remember: it's meant as a guide, not a law, for your healthcare team.
• Your POA or Living Will: Got it? Bring it. Things happen, and regardless of the fact that it's the most depressing thing ever, it's a good resource to have on file so your loved ones don't need to go crazy over what you wanted in the event (heaven forbid) all hell breaks loose. Some hospitals have social workers on staff to make these with you, but your best bet is going to your state's government website, printing a copy, filling it out, and having it signed by two witnesses (it's free). Bring a copy (not the original) with you to L&D.
• Prescription (if necessary) or Contact information for Breastpump Provider: If you're getting a breastpump from your insurance (insurance plans are now required to cover electric breast pumps under the new healthcare act), don't forget to keep the number handy on who to call when you deliver so you or a family member can pick up your breast pump for you from the DME provider on your way home from the hospital.
• Mesh panties and pads: The world will tell you they are amazing, and they are. But my personal preference: Depends. They stay on better and don't leak when you reposition (and you will bleed- a lot. It's uncomfortable, awkward, and feels gross). And Depends don't show through going-home pants the way the massive pads do.
• Tums: Your tummy and throat will thank you just to have some on hand if you need them quick and the orders aren't in. As for other meds, you will most likely have standing orders for ibuprofen, tylenol, hydrocodone, witch hazel (Tucks for hemmorhoids), and stool softeners for constipation. You will also likely be offered the flu vaccine and Tdap, among other vaccines, if you are not up to date. Baby will also be expected to be given the Hepatitis B vaccine prior to leaving the hospital, unless you refuse it. The hospital will also have Lanolin cream on hand for you, as well as every other breastfeeding supply known to man.
• Shoes: Non-slip socks and non-slip slippers so you can walk if you want to through the hallways to get contractions moving if you're having a vaginal delivery. If you're having a c-section: warm socks. OR's and recovery rooms can get VERY cold! And do NOT forget flip-flops for the shower. Tell daddy to bring his too. Your feet will thank you.
• Hygiene: I bought the little travel sizes of my favorite shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, etc. They WILL have all these for you at the hospital, but think about it: you just pushed a baby out and you're stinky, sweaty, and sore. Who wants to use that crummy cheap stuff they give you? Treat yourself a little after you deliver and enjoy that wonderful first post-baby shower in the hospital. It might be the last semi-quiet one in you get in a while ;)
• Books & magazines. Labor can take forever, is not unbearable the WHOLE time, and you might actually get bored waiting for your contractions to get going. Get a favorite book- one that's NOT about babies! Give yourself some last-minute "you" time before baby arrives. You might not get many opportunities for joy-reading romance or mystery novels in the next few weeks, but you will have plenty of opportunities to read about baby rashes and different colored poops. 
• Your iPod/iPhone. Most hospitals nowadays have docks for these in the rooms so you can blast your favorite Jimmi Hendrix songs while pushing, or listen to some calming relaxation music instead. Don't forget the charger too, just in case the dock isn't there :)
• Comfortable clothing in layers: A great thing to remember about hospital rooms: thermostats are pointless. If you set it at 70F, it will either be 55F with the vents blowing or 95F and the heater smelling like burnt. A set of cotton PJ's is your best bet as they are warm yet let your skin breathe. If you're hot, you can always just change into a gown...or go naked, if that's how you roll.
• Robe: Hospitals have robes and gowns galore, but let me tell you- they're ugly as heck. If you've got a favorite snuggly robe, bring it along so you can walk the hallways in something less atrocious and more comfortable than a giant blue sheet of a robe that's 6 sizes too big :)
• Pillows! I can't stress this enough if you will be delivering in a large hospital. Often, hospital pillows 1) suck, 2) are few and far between, and 3) are gross. Bring your favorite pillow or two, and just bring an old *colored* pillowcase so it isn't mistaken for a hospital pillow by housekeeping.
• Blankets: You don't have to, but let me tell you- it's lovely to have your favorite soft fuzzy blanket at your side to snuggle up in with baby and daddy.
• Button-up shirt(s) are the best. I am bringing a pair of button-up cotton PJ's so baby has "easy access" and I don't have to bare it all or feel exposed when family is visiting and I'm breastfeeding.
• Nursing bras: just one's enough. Your milk may or may not show up before you leave the hospital but if it does, you'll be happy you have some comfy bras to wear. Ones I always recommend to my patients: Target. They're ridiculously soft, give you some support, and yet are functional with some extra room for sensitive breasts before and after feedings.
• Tea: I'm personally a big tea lover, so I'm bringing my favorite nursing/lactation support tea along for my own comfort as the only teas they typically have at hospitals are earl greys or lemon. You can also bring your own favorite snacks or drinks along, but just something to make you feel relaxed is a great start- in my opinion :) Also bringing raspberry leaf tea (which is great during pregnancy to prep your body for labor too) is a great supplement for getting your uterus back to where it was before baby.
• Change for vending machines/cafeteria: So Daddy can go get a late-night snack for you from the cafeteria or machine if you need it :)
• Parking: If your hospital provided you your parking pass in advance, don't forget to keep it in the car! I HIGHLY suggest driving to your hospital a month ahead of your due date, with hubby or whoever will be with you, to figure out where and how to park (or figuring out valet), and making your way up to L&D just so you aren't scrambling or adding extra stress to your life the day you go into labor. 

For Baby:

• Carseat: Well, this one won't fit in the bag :) But don't forget it! A good idea is also to make sure you have a carseat that fits in your car easily and snuggly, and also to have it's install checked by your local fire department. Something we also did: we  put Medical Alert stickers on our baby's carseat with information on his name, ours, contact info, Dr & hospital info, blood type, allergies, etc. It's a great thing to have available if (heaven forbid) a paramedic ever needs to know it!
• Going home outfit: Remember, dress & bundle accordingly. Bring layers. Hospitals provide onesies, shirts, diapers, nooks, brushes, combs, washcloths, the works. You don't need to bring those. Another big one: remember that baby WILL have their umbilical cord yet that will be drying, and putting baby in a 2-piece outfit (pants) can irritate their sensitive little bellybutton area. One-piece going home outfits are many times more comfy for baby's ride home.
• Swaddle/blanket(s):  ESPECIALLY if you have a pet. Wrap that baby up all nice and cozy and bring that blanket home early so your dogs/cats get a sniff of baby before you bring baby home. Otherwise, the hospital will also have 5 million swaddles and blankets on hand for you, but who doesn't like to snuggle their baby up in their very first blankie?
• Baby Book (footprints & signatures/notes from MD's and RN's): 95% of people forget this one too. The hospital can always send you home with ink pads, but it's amazing to see those little prints in your book that first big day :)

34 weeks

From our family to yours, happiest of holidays! We hope you all had a delicious Thanksgiving filled with food, fun, and family and lots of memories. Seeing as Mike and I are nearing the end of our 9 month trek here, we have incredible things to be thankful for this year :) Every day Baby gets a little bigger, kicks a little harder, and the thought of him arriving is a little (or a lot) bit sweeter. Our house is filled with books and toys and precious things for our coming addition, and each day we get a little closer to being "finished" making our house a home, for both us and for baby. We've had so much fun these last couple months and can not wait to snuggle Baby to bits!

This Thanksgiving we spent a little time with both our families and also decided to be "those crazies" who try to snag a deal when the Black Friday (Thursday) doors opened at 8pm at some stores. And, despite my being the size of the Titanic, we did manage to get the items we wanted! I got a Cuisinart food processor to make our own baby food (among other delicious things), the highchair we've been eyeing up, and a Cricut bundle, and we also snagged a new vacuum (which is AMAZING!), Mike got some bits for his router and a bunch of Bond movies, and we managed to finish up all our Christmas shopping (and are really excited about the gifts we found people, which is the best feeling ever!). So despite being 33 weeks pregnant and exhausted, we are super excited to have gotten things we wanted and needed. And no, we didn't stay up all night- not this year :)

Only 6 more days of clinical practicum left for this girl and then hopefully it's just smooth sailing from here til baby shows up! I've got plenty of crafts and sewing projects piled high in the craft room yet for baby, which I'm crossing my fingers I'll get done before he arrives. I scored some amazing deals on baby fleece for crib rail covers and a changing pad, some muslin(gauze) for swaddles, waterproof fabrics for wet bags for our cloth diapers, and some amazingly fun print remnants for homemade toys :) so I am VERY excited to be done with school for a bit and have some fun back on the sewing machine instead! This whole studying and paper-writing thing is definitely super lame compared to cute baby prepping.

So the big news this week? Baby's almost in the clear as far as health goes! After 34 weeks, typically babies are able to breath on their own with fewer interventions (if any) and generally do well if born at this point. Of course, we'd love for him to stay cooking a little longer (i.e. like, after I'm done with school) but at least we've got some reassurance now that he's got some good chances even if he did show up early :) As of now, he's pretty much just working on that surfactant (aka, lung lube) and filling out those cute chubby cheeks before he makes his appearance!

33 weeks of big.

As promised, here is my wonderful, massive self just shy of 33 weeks. It's definitely getting harder to walk now, I fall asleep around 7:30pm or 8pm every night (unless it's Monday and I have to watch Castle), and my "pregnancy brain" is literally driving me up the wall and down again. But, our little guy is almost here and we are sooo super super excited to meet him!

So what's on our agenda in the coming weeks? Cleaning. A hundred million hours of cleaning- which gets old, when you have the harriest sheddiest dog on earth (Riley) and every time you sweep, vacuum or mop, he goes and sheds another coat. Luckily, we finally found the most amazing groomer ever who knows how to properly blow-out our guys' coat, leaving them with beautiful, shiny, less hair. And letting me let them up on the bed a little more often (though they pretty much spend their days there while Mike and I are at work... Sneaky dogs).

We are very much enjoying getting ready for the holidays though :) shopping and decorating is almost complete and baby's almost here! 

Baby Fank dropped at 32 weeks!

So I skipped 30 weeks and jumped straight to 32. Which according to our doctor, might now actually be more like 34 weeks. This past weekend, I began feeling A LOT of pressure from baby, and began having shooting pains in some pretty unfortunate areas... not sciatica. Being the type that isn't keen on freaking out about every little thing, and seeing as I was able to pick up baby's heart rate just fine and he was still practicing his daily routine of somersaults and cartwheels, I decided to wait to speak with her until my appointment yesterday. Good news: his somersaults paid off and he is officially head-down! Bad news: turns out Mommy's instinct is, in fact, correct. Baby Fank apparently decided to head south this past week and is now settled comfortably into a 0 station, and conveniently onto a nerve (or a few). This is the "drop" so many mom's refer to, medically termed "lightening." Lightening for many moms occurs around or after the 36th week of pregnancy.

Fetal station refers to the location of the baby's head in relation to the mother's pelvis. Typically, at 32 weeks, a health professional will refer to a cervix and baby's position as CTH (closed, thick and high- the "high" referring to -4 or above). But, Baby Fank being the instigator that he is, decided to skip this part and start his journey early. Good news: it typically makes laboring a little shorter and easier. Bad news: it makes for a pretty uncomfortable end to the pregnancy when a baby drops this early, and it can mean baby's coming a lot sooner. Hence, my doctor decided now's a good time to chill out and get a belly-support band to keep this kiddo in line. Literally.

So, last night Mike and I headed on down to our local Destination Maternity/Pea in the Pod/Motherhood Maternity store (seriously, there's 3 in one? Which one is it!?) to get a belly band. All the girls there (and there were A LOT of them as there was prenatal yoga going on) raved about The Ultimate Maternity Belt. The owners of the store were very adamant about me trying it one before I did get it, so together, they and Mike strapped me on in and told me to take it for a "15 minute test drive around the store", no joke. And let me tell you- the thing WORKS. And what's even more awesome? There was a BOGO sale going on so they gave me a postpartum tummy tucker along with it to keep my stuff in line post-baby. No complaints here! Here's hoping this seat belt-like contraption helps keep this little man stationary for at least 5 more weeks when I'm term (Christmas Day, to be exact). "Do not open until Christmas" has never been more appropriate.

So what's on the agenda for this coming week? Packing our diaper & hospital bags, finishing the nursery, and cleaning. And washing lots, and lots, of baby clothes. Once our diaper & hospital bags are packed, I'll be writing a post on the needs and do-not needs of packing for the hospital. Working in labor & delivery has definitely taught me to pack light and pack smart. So look forward to an extra post sometime this week :) Oh, and once I'm not in my pajamas anymore, a 32-week bump picture, too!

28 weeks

We're 28 weeks and how time has flown :) our little peanut is becoming more and more active by the day (and bigger and bigger by the day, too!). The nursery's almost done, the house is almost put back together, school is going well and I'm just a few short weeks away from graduation, and Mike is loving his job. Life is good.

Looking back, it seems like just yesterday I came out of that bathroom with a pee-stick in my hand and a big dopey grin on my face, and Mike's eyes lit up all stupid-like. And now we have a little baby on the way, not just our little blob anymore. He has tiny little hands, little footprints, and is blinking his eyes and listening to us sing him lullabies every night (our favorite: "Godspeed" by the Dixie Chicks). Mike is a particularly good lullaby-singer, probably from all the practice he got when we first brought Cooper home :)

So what are we doing these days? Taking it one day at a time, really. This past weekend my mom threw us a beautiful fall-themed shower, with pumpkin cupcakes and hot apple cider and enough food to feed five thousand. We got a super cute bedding set, a rock n' play, baby clothes galore, Packer attire, toys and books and breastfeeding supplies, diapers and so much more. And, my amazing friends from nursing school were also kind enough to throw me another little baby shower where they gave us the most adorable whale bathtub ever, filled with a million things bathtime. SO cute. And we still have one more shower to go from Mike's side too! We're anxiously anticipating the holidays, as this year we have a few extra things to be thankful for, of course, and one of those things just happens to be scheduled to come and bless us shortly after the holidays. And what better gift could we possibly have ever hoped for this holiday season?

26 weeks

26 weeks

One week away from the third trimester, and I can NOT believe where the time went! I can't believe we're on our final stretch before getting to finally meet our little pumpkin! We are SO excited! Lately it's getting harder and harder to stay focused on school and work, and becoming easier to focus on what little crafty thing I can make, sew, or paint next for Baby or what meals to freeze for my crockpot/freezer meal endeavor. It's also becoming harder to sleep for more than 20 minutes at a time... nothing to do with my tummy (yet), but rather, this little boy's kicks every night starting around 9pm and lasting until 2 or 3am. Really, honey? Really? We're going to start this already?

I suppose I can't complain though, this little boy reminds me every few minutes that he's there, alive and well. It's gotten to the point now that Mike can feel him when we're snuggling, and he'll talk to him and try to calm him down for me. And believe it or not, it works. Mike's going to be a very good Daddy, I can see it already. He's a professional baby-whisperer and our little one hasn't even arrived yet. Here's hoping his techniques continue long after our sweet little guy arrives, since that baby-whispering will come in handy those first few months. At least for me :)

Speaking of Mike's baby whispering skills... it looks like we are definitely going to need them. Our little boy is already very quickly developing an personality (attitude), as was stated by our doctor, sonographer, and very obviously, Mike and myself. Last week, Mike and I had to stop in at the hospital for one last ultrasound to get some pictures of the little guy's heart, as he tends not to cooperate well when in the spotlight. And, once again, he did not want to cooperate. He was sucking (and by sucking, I mean pretty much consuming) his thumb to the point at which I was 99% confident if he didn't already have his Daddy's thumb-nubs, he will by the time he's born. The sonographer had to push and jab on my tummy for a good 10-15 minutes again just to get him to move his arm to see his heart. And what does he do when he finally lets go of that thumb for the sonographer? Why, he simply resorts to his other thumb. Down comes one hand, and up goes the other, straight to his lips. All caught on camera. Yes, my 26 week-old already is quite aware of his own self. The sonographer was very impressed. I simply saw it as a warning. I can see where this is going already... he's going to be just like his Daddy. Boy am I going to have my hands full!

So what else is new? Bathroom's done! Well, not the walls... we still need to finish caulking and painting... but Mike amazingly, as usual, replaced the plumbing and fixed the shower valves, soldered the pipes, installed the new shower, surround, soaker tub, and flooring, installed all new insulation (including inside the tub so my baths will stay nice and warm!) and made it functional and wonderful, and I can finally shower again in my own bathroom! And the best part: we saved WAY more money than we spent, thanks to a bunch of sales and Mike's amazing DIY abilities. Not to mention, what material science engineer doesn't like knocking down walls, taking things apart, and soldering pipes together? :) So Mike got some fun out of it, too. Oh, and the soaker tub... a thousand times better than the old 14" baby blue steel tub that said on the bottom of it was installed May 27, 1953. Clearly it was time for an upgrade.

On our agenda for these next few weeks? 

• Planning our "baby-moon"
• Mike's last hunting trip before the kiddo arrives
• Collecting foods to make our freezer meals (because our chest freezer we recently bought is a total dream!)
• Finishing up Christmas shopping

Notice how there isn't any house stuff on there? Notice how that's all FUN stuff? That's because we're DONE! Well, certainly not done done, but we are done with our "home improvement" projects that we set out to finish prior to our Baby's arrival. Kitchen, bath, laundry, and baby room: we did it! And it feels SO good to not have to think about that now. I'm not even mention our planned projects for next year, simply because they're just cosmetic and simple, and so not necessary to think about now :) The joys of accomplishment! Next week we hit the third trimester. And I can not wait!

Birthdays & Beehives

Yesterday, for my birthday, we had our ducts cleaned. As those of you who are married probably have already realized, general improvements to the quality of your life/living situation are often times some of he best presents you could possibly ask for. So when Mike asked me this year "Is there anything in particular you want for your birthday?" My response was, "Yes! LET'S GET THE DUCTS CLEANED!" Yes, folks, my life is that stimulating. Keep your pants on.

Now, that certainly didn't stop Mike from being the sweetheart that he is, and waking up early to buy me flowers and have the house decorated and balloons waiting in the kitchen for my birthday. It also didn't stop him from buying me the shoes I'd been dying for (don't get too excited- they were just a pair of b.o.c. clogs that are super comfy) and taking me out to dinner at The Melting Pot. But let's face it: the little perks of married life are those things that add quality and contentment, and just a general feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction, to the every day. So, that's what we did. We had our ducts cleaned. 

Let me start out by saying, our decision to have our ducts cleaned was the result of some very important factors:

• Our house is 60+ years old
• We have two dogs, one of whom refuses to keep his coat on.
• We have a baby coming.
• We started having a LOT of dust build-up.
• We've been doing a LOT of remodeling, and some of the ducts were getting noticeably dirtier.

That being said, we decided this had to get done. Notice how I didn't mention reasons concerning any beehives in there? Yes, I said beehives. That's because when making this decision, we weren't aware that there was a massive, 12" by 15" beehive hiding in the air supply duct of our master bedroom, about 3 feet below the vent. I was informed of this, and shown it, by the workers as they went through our home. Their response: "Yeah, seeing a hive that big in a supply vent... that's a first." Oh good! Glad I could add some uniqueness to your day! 

Granted, the bees were long gone and the hive was very obviously years old (alas, all the honey was gone), but the presence of said massive hive explains why our bedroom refused to warm up in the winters and cool down in the summers.Good to know, right? Even better to know AFTER it's been removed. Glad I never looked down that air vent before... I probably would've had a mild stroke. Thank goodness we had this done before our little boy arrives.

So now that that's over, what else is new? Well, for starters, I started gaining weight. My doctor is VERY happy about that. I've officially hit 12 pounds up- a far cry from the 50+ I was terrified of. So far, I'm doing alright, and our little one is doing an excellent job of staying on track too. As some of you might know, Mike was slightly chunky, and I'm not exactly keen on the idea of pushing out a 9+ pound baby, so I've been very much so attempting to prevent that from happening by eating healthy and staying active.

Otherwise, things are relatively decent around here. We are on the verge of finishing the master bathroom and my basement laundry & sewing/crafting area. What a beauty it will be to shower in my own bathroom again! It's a good thing I'm not pregnant or anything, or this would be even more inconvenient... oh wait.