Bird Flippin Baby

I'm a bit on the delirious side right now... so please excuse any typos or random ramblings of stuff I've already said.

We took our little chub monster in on Tuesday to get his tinker toy nipped and the past two nights he's been a bit more awake then we would have liked.
I think we slept about 4 hours and not consecutively. I have to admit I was getting spoiled by my wonderful baby sleeping through the night; apparently he agreed and decided to change it up a bit.

I was complaining (okay, I was totally whining) to my dad this morning about my lack of sleep when my so-called adorable baby laughed at me! That's right, he broke out into a huge grin and laughed. Whole house went silent as we all stared at him. Then with a crooked smile... he flips me the bird! As if to say "That's right Mom, and it's going to happen again"

We almost weren't going to be able to get him nipped... He's almost 13 pounds and just barely fit in the board they strapped him into to keep him still while they cut. Thankfully he's not a fussy baby or he totally would have been able to break free.

I thought I was going to have so much more time to do things around the house, but I feel like all I do is feed the baby. I'll finally get him to sleep and I'll get up to go start a project... and not five minutes later he's hungry again. I guess that's one of the problems with having such a big baby *sigh*

I feel fantastic. I finally can walk up the stairs without wanting to pass out. I keep looking at him wondering how the heck I carried him, let alone gave birth to him.
I gained 66 pounds this pregnancy (I was determined not to hit 70) and while I've lost 30 pounds, I really want to go back down to my starting weight. I liked being in the 150's. I know it's only been three weeks but I am anxious to get started on moving (we will not call it exercising) and burning off the weight. Typically when I work out and strive to lose the weight is when I gain more, so I'm going to use my will power and just think it off... That should work, right?

Guess Who Finally Arrived!

Tada!

After 18 hours of (not-so-bad) labor, our beautiful little (big) boy is here!

It could have gone a wee bit easier but I couldn't have asked for more. My induction was scheduled for 11:50 p.m. on Thursday night, so, of course, I started having contractions at 11...

We went to my step-girl's spring recital (she was amazing as always), grabbed some Taco Bell (like a tradition almost) and I even had time to shower and rest before heading out to have my baby.

I gave in and got the epidural and I am so thankful I did because it allowed me to be more present and awake for the delivery. The hardest part of all of it was the waiting! It took Foooorrrrevvvverrrrrr...rrrr...

I'll spare the gory details because ewww but I have to share that when his head appeared the doctor and nurses (and even my love) all went silent and still... as they stared in disbelief at how huge his head was (39 inches), then it was back to "Push!"

Less than 15 minutes of pushing and he was here, quiet, mellow and taking in the new sights around him. He didn't even scream until they bathed him for the first time. No cute little newborn cry from him, nu-uh.... But he cries so rarely that's its still kind of adorable.

Then the doctor actually has the audacity to say that he could have stayed in another 2 weeks!!! Could you even imagine how frickin huge he would have been?!?!?!? I would have been the girl who delivered the 15 pound baby!! No way!

We were like rockstars at the hospital, all the nurses came in to see our beautiful 11 pound baby. They couldn't believe it. Neither could we. The hospital staff had to scrounge up diapers to fit him, cause he was already too big for the newborns. His going home outfit barely fit him, we thought we were going to have to do a midnight run just for clothes for him.

Today he's 10 days old and had his first check-up. He's already grown almost 2 inches and has advanced relexes. He's alert and the only time he fusses is when he's really hungry. We've had great luck getting him to sleep somewhat through the night. There's been a night or two where he woke up a lot for food, but we're working out the kinks. At least we're not like some of those new parents who get stuck awake through the whole night with a sleepless baby. I couldn't even imagine how much that would suck.

My baby bug is adapting really well to being big brother. He loves to help feed him but is completely against changing diapers. He told me it was a Mommy's job, not a big brother's. I was worried that he was going to act out or start misbehaving to get attention, but he's been almost normal so far. *She says with her fingers tightly crossed* He's got a smart mouth but he always has.

I couldn't be happier and I couldn't possibly feel any more blessed than I do right now. I'm almost in this euphoric state with a wide dopey grin plastered to my face.

Life is so good!!

Six Days Overdue

Today I am six days overdue and not showing one single sign of labor... Not happy

I started my maternity leave a little earlier than I really wanted to but my nerves were shot and I was going to blow my top if one more person asked when I was going to have my baby...

I hate being so weak that I can't keep working but it's for my co-workers safety and my whole body hurts so now no one has to listen to my whining.

Yesterday we scheduled our induction date and while I really hate saying it, I'm probably going to make it to Thursday night. So, more than likely, my boy will be born on Friday... if I don't have 36 hours of screaming labor.

We had his heart rate monitored to make sure it's safe to continue to the end of the week... and it is.

He's a little stinker and a total trouble maker. A normal baby's base line is 120/130 and he just decided that he was going to change his to 110... Nurse said it was safe and he was doing fine, but it wasn't something most babies do.

Then we had our ultrasound to make sure his amniotic fluid was high enough and that his lungs were developed. They had to buzz him twice because he was holding his breath and refused to perform for the technician. She said that she's never had a baby purposely hold their breath before. I just smiled and said, "Now you know why I want him out so bad."

I'm dilated to barely 2 cm... yeah, a whole 1/2 in two weeks... Go me!

I had one whole contraction yesterday... They were monitoring me and the nurse said "Oh, you're having a contraction" and I said "Um, no." and she showed me the monitor and I was! It didn't last long and it was only one, but whoo-hoo!

We have tried everything and he doesn't want to make his grand entrance.

My body is ready to give birth, all we're waiting on is him. He just needs to come out!

Come Out! Come Out! Come Out! Come Out!

Four More

My ultimate biggest pet peeve at this moment is people asking "Are you still here?" or "You haven't had that baby yet?"

Yeah, morons, I had the baby and I'm just wearing a pillow because I miss being pregnant so much... Oh, and I decided to keep coming to work because I'm a workaholic... Okay, I am a workaholic, but come on.

I am dilated to a whole.... (*drumroll*) 1 and a half cm... Oh yeah, I'm cruising now (<---- that's sarcasm)

If this baby gets any more onery, I am going to pull him out myself.

He kicks my leg nerves so my knees collapse and I crash to the ground. He kicks my ribs. He smacks my hand away if I try to rub my (oh so swollen) belly. He bumps my arm so whatever I was attemtping to write turns to gibberish. He doesn't like me hugging people. And to top it all off, I can't sit up straight anymore... which makes working rather interesting. Come on, who doesn't want to see the front desk girl slouched back in her chair, looking like she's about ready for nap time? That's still professional, right? Right?

The only thing saving my small little slice of sanity is my love. He rubs my tired feet. He makes Taco Bell runs (for the 4,089,564th time). He even helps me out of the bathtub because it sits so deep that I get stuck (oh yeah, fun). He is so amazing that he makes the sacrifice of running to get me Rocky Road ice cream and he even eats whatever is left over just so nothing is wasted. How generous is he? I already knew that he is one of the greatest guys ever but in my overemotional state I'm just overflowing with awe and with love for him...

I am so over it and I am beyond ready to have my baby... Why won't he come out?!?!?!?!?

Four more days til my due date, I'm sure the little stinker is going to make this as hard as he can.

Still Here

37.2 weeks... Almost there

My freakin awesome family

So last week was an utter whirlwind of activity and while I had a blast, I am so tired. I am probably beyond tired.... I'm exhausted.

The baby shower was a blast! My cake turned out perfect! I couldn't have asked for a prettier design. The artist (which is exactly what she is) duplicated the pattern on our plates down to the last dot! I cried a little, but I'm a wreck right now.
Not everyone made it to the shower, but I understand. It was a very busy weekend for everyone (moving, weddings and such). We got to have it where we got married which meant so much to me. It was in my grandparents community, and even though my grandma couldn't make it, I felt like she was there with us. I miss her so much sometimes.

The next day we did our family/ maternity pictures at Red Rock. It just happened to be a beautiful clear, slightly warm day, as if the weather knew this was a one shot deal. The photographer was amazing and took some fantastic shots, even if I do say so myself. And even though her schedule is a little tight right now, she rushed us our pics. How amazing is she? I know that we'll be meeting up with her sometime soon for newborn pictures.

Since we were doing the whole family picture thing, I thought it would be nice if we all went to a salon and got our hair did. I knew that I was in need of some pampering and my step-girl loves getting gussied up every now and then.

I had my first pedicure ever (yes, ever) and I am hooked! I wanted to be wheeled out of the salon because I thought it was just wrong to walk on my feet after all the pampering. I cannot wait to go again and I will be dragging my love with me. He's adamantly against it but I think I can persuade him.

My baby bug is one of the top five spellers in his class (second year in a row)!!!!! He's going to compete in the spelling bee and hopefully he gets past the first word this time. I think he was so angry about the word "sock" last time that he is determined to succeed this year. He thinks he's the best in his class so we'll see how he does with the whole grade.

Other than that, I am counting down the days. As I mentioned before, I am done. I was barely 1 cm dilated at my last doctor's appointment (Boo). I am antsy and uncomfortable. I want to move and clean, but I am so tired. I want to sleep. I've been having pains in my lower abdomen and they're starting to be beyond my tolerance levels... But don't get too excited, doc says it's normal and it's not contractions. WTF? There's more?!?! I'm not a wimp and I have a very high pain tolerance, but come on!

I can't even begin to tell you how happy I would be if my water broke and I went into labor right this second....

Guess not.

Looks like I"m stuck waiting....

Come out lil baby.... please!

Fatty Fatty 2 by 4

I don't know why I've (magically) gained 56 pounds with this pregnancy... But I am so not blaming my breakfast of champions, nummy banana pancakes and mozzarella sticks...

Oh so drooling just thinking about it
This is my new friend, he wobbles and bobbles and he entertains me while I watch my husband cook dinner.
My awesome adopted mother got it for me... Cause she rocks!

And no, your eyes are not playing evil mind tricks on you... those are my poor swollen feet. And that's not even as big as they can get. I wish I could just run around in flip flops but that's not very professional... at least that was what I was told when I pleaded my boss to let me wear them.

This past week has been uneventful, which is fine since next week is going to be a lot of us running amok (amok, amok, amok!). Got some overtime at work (which is awesome and rare), meeting our maternity photographer (hopefully) next weekend, my love has a sprint triathlon coming up and our baby shower is Saturday!!

Run, run, running around...

Doc says I'm measuring a week ahead of schedule... which could mean I'm having a big baby or that I'll have him sooner... I love when we get those non-answer answers (<--- That's so sarcasm)

He can't tell us a guess of how big he's going to be, but he said his best guess was always mother's instinct.... Which I seriously hope not because that means this not-so little guy is going to be 10 pounder!

Other than that, I'm whiny. I have reached the finish line and now I'm waiting for the baby to catch up with me. My feet are swollen like balloons, and my fingers are so swollen that I can hardly write. I hate stairs with a passion, which is just so awesome since my sister lives on the third floor... I know she moved there on purpose just to make me walk up all those flights of stairs.

3.5 more weeks til this is over and done with... watch the little stinker come a week late

Baby Shower Cakes

My love and I are looking forward to our baby shower cake that our lovely friend Liz is creating for us. It's going to be a surprise and we're just praying that it doesn't come out anything like these cakes:
http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2010/01/labor-of-love.html