Wednesday, December 30, 2009

What Day is it Again???



Wow! I dont know where to begin. It seems somewhere between the holidays I forgot to blog---gasp! The last few days Dale and I have both woken up wondering what day it is. It seems by the afternoon we have already forgotten what day it is and ask the question over and over again...



Well, lets not focus on days, rather on months: Kannon is 2 months old!!! I cant believe it has flown by so quick. Some days I feel as though he has been a part of my life forever. Those are days when parenting is easy and our daily routine is smooth and we are all on the same page. Then there are days where I cant believe Kannon is only 2 months....you mean we are not out of the newborn stage yet? For the most part, those days are rare and I find myself only wishing that I could hold on to these moments just a little bit longer as he continues to grow.



Kannon had is two month check-up today and weighed in at 11 lbs even and 22 inches long. The doc said his height is less than exciting but hey, with our genes, 2 inches in a month seems like HUGE growth (Dale and I are both about 5'4). He got his shots today which is the worst torture to put a mother through. I just sat there watching as the doc injected little needles into almost every limb of my little one. I just wanted to pick Kannon up and run far far away. Alas, we made it through the day with minimal fussing, but I am forever haunted by the pathetic inconsolable whimpering that resulted.



Kannon is still suffering from his shots as he has kept Dale and I up for 2 days as it seems he is not comfortable sleeping more than an hour at time. We finally got him comfortable, sleeping tummy-tummy on me while I watch hours of Law & Order from our horribly uncomfortable couch....hey, at least he is sleeping! Hopefully, he will return to normal in the next couple days!



Before the shots, Kannon was sleeping extremely well almost throughout the night. He has decided that he likes to be in bed no later than 8pm. We get him bathed, dressed, and nursed and is fast alseep until 2-3 am, in which he eats goes back to sleep until 6-7am. We are very lucky that he loves to sleep at night on his own but during the day its a different story. Kannon refuses to nap in his room and prefers to fall asleep on his play mat or bouncer with the tv on. We dont mind, except for when we are trying to clean and its impossible to sweep around our passed out baby...our house is getting dirtier by the day, but sleeping babies are happy babies and I would like to keep it that way!




We celebrated Christmas with friends and spent nearly 2 hours opening gifts that were all labeled to Kannon. Needless to say, we are exhausted from the festivities and taking a little break until the dust settles. We recieved so many wonderful gifts! Kannon got clothes, toys, books, and so much more! We cant wait to get him dressed in some of his adorable outfits!



Its new years eve and while we would like to go and celebrate with friends it looks like we will be staying in with our little man has he fights off his frustration and pain of shots (really, I never thought it would be this bad!) so we will throw on a movie and try to get some sleep. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Bath Time!




Kannon loves his bath time. I love his bath time. It is the only time during the day when I get to focus 100% of my attention on Kannon, playing, swishing water, and scrubbing those chubby thighs. He is content,peaceful, happy--I suspect that he feels a little more at home in the warm water. After his bath, we have a little baby massage, get dressed, and nurse and Kannon falls fast asleep (for now 6 hours!) probably still dreaming of his bath time.

Hand Made Ornaments



I meant to post this a few weeks ago, but its never too late! We decided to make some ornaments this year mainly because I wanted to make hand and foot print ornaments for Kannon. So I thought I would share it in case you find yourselves needing something fun to do before Christmas (no baking required!!!).




Hand Made Ornaments
(Cornstarch Dough)
Ingredients
1 cup cornstarch

2 cups baking soda

1-1/4 cups cold water


1.) Combine the cornstarch and baking soda in a saucepan.

2.) Gradually add the water until the mixture is smooth.

3.) Stir constantly, over medium heat, until the mixture reaches a moist, mashed potato consistency (about 7-10 min)

4.) Turn the dough onto a plate and cover it with a damp towel.

5.) Knead the dough when it is cool enough to handle.

6.) Roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness.

7.) Cut with cookie cutters. (Dip cutters in cornstarch and shake before cutting.)

8.) Using a skewer, pierce a hole at the top of each ornament (for the hook to go through later to hang the ornament).

9.) Place the dough ornaments on a cooling rack to air dry. It takes a couple days, depending on how humid your home is.

10.) PAINT!

* Add food coloring to make different colors.
* Roll out the dough into 1/4 inch thick to make foot/hand prints
* Clay may crack if too thick or too thin, so make sure to roll them thin and evenly about 1/4 inch thick.

ENJOY!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Cloth Diapering Journeys

We are in love. In love with our son, our life, the snow, the very decorated Christmas tree, and finally, our cloth diapers. We are VERY in love with cloth diapers. Despite the doubt and resistance we received from friends and family we always knew we would cloth diaper. For those of you who had doubts--we sure showed you!

For the first few weeks we used disposables and every day was a nightmare. I had poop on my legs, shirt, hands etc from EVERY single diaper explosion. I don't know if it was the breastfed poop or what but it managed to find its way everywhere EXCEPT Kannon's diaper. So when that disgusting umbilical cord finally popped off, we slapped on a prefold without ever turning back.

Kannon is almost 7 weeks now and we are still cloth diapering (cd'ing in my world) and looking forward to spending our Christmas cash on a new stash now that Kannon is growing out of the newborn prefolds. For those of you who are looking into Christmas presents, please send diapers! That being said, we have family in friends in town who will be introduced to the cloth diapering world, so I thought I would sort of do a diapering 101 so it wont be so confusing. Enjoy! If you have questions, feel free to ask!


Part of our stash

The Stash:
Our stash is pretty simple. We weren't sure what we were going to like so we started off with 24 prefolds, 2 Snappis, and 3 Thirsties covers which we got used for $48. Then we added 2 BumGenius 3.0s and 4 gDiapers. We also got 36 washcloths for $8 from WalMart which we use for wipes with a spray bottle. We can go 2-3 days between laundering. For our whole stash we spent $98 and our laundry costs are free since the cost of water and electric is already thrown into the cost of rent. Lets do the math: a 36 pack of diapers at $9 last us 3 days. Kannon is 7 weeks old, so had we been using disposables we would have already spent $130 on diapers...can you imagine how much we would have spent if using disposables for a year? Two? On other future children? So, our cloth diapers have already paid for themselves!


Our organization system

Washing:
Laundering is the best part. Instead of bundling up and heading to WalMart for disposables (which can sometimes take an hour or more) we just toss a load in. We run a cold rinse, hot wash, cold rinse with 1/4 of the recommended amount of detergent and a little lavender water. Then we toss everything but the BumGenius and covers in the dryer with a dryer ball. All in all, this process takes an 1 hour and 20 minutes---plus, I get to stay in my pj's the whole time. For a complete list on washing diapers


Kannon in a Little Lions prefold and Thirsties Cover

Prefolds:
These are the most simple and straight forward. They are pretty absorbant and very forgiving, which with the millions of different ways you can wash cloth diapers, we like that simple fact. You can fold them in a variety of ways using the newspaper, jelly roll, angelwing, bikini twist or can fold in threes and stuff in a cover. We use snappis instead of pins and throw on one of our Thirsties covers. We love to use the bikini twist fold, as it seems to do the best job containing all the messy poop and fits the trimmest between our little one's thighs. For more information on folding.


Kannon in his gDiaper

gDiapers:
We were initially really excited about using gDiapers. For the first couple weeks, we used prefolds as inserts and it worked great. Then, Kannon got bigger and getting his gDiapers to fit was more of a problem, in fact, he peed everywhere but the diaper (including onto my 20 year old brother who was not so thrilled about this). So, we started using terry cloth inserts that I found onsale and now we are in love with our gDipes again. Dale likes these because we can keep them preloaded for nighttime changes. You simply place the insert into the plastic liner and snap the liner into the cloth cover and voila. You put it on just like a disposable and when the diaper is soiled, you just toss the insert in the laundry and place a new insert in. These are more expensive than prefolds but have a little more to offer in terms of convenience. For more info on gDiapers.


Kannon in his BumGenius 3.0


BumGenius 3.0:

This is your standard pocket diaper and we have a love-hate relationship with it. The diaper is made of two pieces, an outer cover made of PUL waterproof fabric and lined with microsuede and a microfiber insert that you place inside the pocket. These are easy to keep preloaded and you slap them on just like a disposable. The great thing we love about these is the ease, trimmness, absorbancy (great nighttime dipe!) and they are one-size so they can be used for years to come. However, we still have our issues. We are not crazy about pulling a wet, heavy, stinky insert out of the pocket, especially in the middle of the night. My husband often forgets this step, which leaves me searching through a pile of dirty dipes in the morning to pull out a COLD, stinky, wet insert. Dale hates the price of BG's which are $17 a pop (remember though, you will use these for years!). These are a little trickier to wash and every time I wash them, I feel like I am playing with fire. I am sure it will get easier as we go along. We are still in search of other options, I have heard SmartiPants are a good alternative but we shall see. Really, our complaints are small as these are probably the BEST cloth diapers. If I could afford a whole stash of these, I would probably go for it, but for now, these are our luxury dipe. For more info on BG's.

Dale and I fight every day over what our favorite diaper is. I love the BumGenius 3.0s but Dale likes the simplicity and forgiveness of your standard prefold and cover. We love our gDiapers but we ADORE our BG's. We havent tried your all in one's nor have we ventured onto fitteds. There are so many options from BSRB's, to GoodMamas, FuzziBunz, and more. The makers of BumGenius now offer Flip! and EconoBum. There is so much uncharted diaper territory! Yet, as Kannon gets bigger and in need of something a little more absorbent I am sure we will start exploring more of our options....I wish we could just ask him what he preferred....although, I am guessing he could care less as he has been spending more time pooping the bath than in his diaper!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

My Winter Wonderland

They all say "sleep when baby sleeps" but with the loads of laundry, dishes in the sink and the 178 new emails in my inbox, chaos would ensue if I slept when the baby slept.

I am a mom, a wife, a pet owner, a VISTA, and a woman with needs but I am no superwoman and the cleaning fairies stopped coming a long time ago, so when the baby sleeps---I work. Actually, I scramble trying to get as much done during my little one's three hour nap. Laundry is thrown furiously into the washer, the floors swept with rage, the emails carelessly sorted through and if our dog is lucky, she gets a few tennis ball tosses into our forgotten backyard.

Today, I ignored my house, my computer, and my dog. Just as the snow drifted outside, I drifted into my own winter wonderland, with a sleeping baby on my chest, a cat on my feet, and a dog by my side. When I woke up, my little one's eyes peered up at me and he beamed the biggest smile, clearly happy about the arrangement.

My laundry is still talking to me. The dishes are angry. And the dust bunnies are attacking my floor but hey, at least we had the perfect nap.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Road Trip!

Yesterday Kannon and I braved the below zero temperatures and frozen roads to head to Helena for an AmeriCorps "Close of Service" event. I am actually continuing my service with AmeriCorps but I still attended to not only show off baby but say goodbye to those I have worked with throughout the year.

Before we left Missoula, Dale made sure to pack the car with all the essentials--including a zero degree sleeping bag just in case. Kannon was diapered, dressed, and fed, ready to head out the door at 9. He did great. The first 100 miles, all I heard were a few squeaks and grunts. The last 15 miles, however, just when the roads got really icy, he started wailing. He was hungry and those roads weren't going to stop him. All I could do was turn the music up and hold my breath. It was -12 degrees on the pass and there was no place to stop.

We got to Helena. Kannon got fed. Just when I thought my baby was going to hate me forever, he smiled. His first real, big smile. The kind of smile that makes his eyes light up at the sheer recognition of 'Mommy' and he did it the rest of the day.

As expected everyone loved him. He showed off his groovy hair (he has a mullet) and blue eyes. He even demonstrated his super baby strength by holding his head steady, practicing standing-up (with assistance of course) and attempting to roll-over.

While Kannon was busy showing off, I was busy connecting with coworkers, getting advice on resume building, career opportunities, and how to use my education award. Of course, he was not the only one who got to show off. My supervisor gave me a great review.

"Sentinel High School has had the pleasure of being Kat's choice of VISTA site for the last year. She has been a valuable asset to us for the past year.


First, Kat renewed our process for student job shadows and internships which are essential elements in students' career awareness, exploration, and development. Through job shadows students have an opportunity to see inside occupations that interest them. That experience is real life as opposed to being a virtual, second-hand look at an occupation. Prior to Kat's arrival, job shadows had nearly died at Sentinel. Now, just as we see them revitalized, Kat's term of service is about to expire.


Second, Kat has worked to enrich parent involvement at Sentinel. She organized student led conferences for our freshmen teams last spring, she developed a parent volunteer database, and she facilitated a parent evening this fall for parents of freshmen students. And, she did most of this work while awaiting the birth of first child, Kannon.


Luckily, Kat has decided to extend her service and we are thrilled."


We had a great trip and Kannon cooperated the whole time. He fussed a few minutes here and there, mainly do to hiccups that refused to leave him alone. I had him in my MOBY wrap most of the time. Its funny, that I discovered more about my son throughout this little trip than I have most days at home. Kannon is so engaged with the world around him. He loves looking at things, especially shadows, mirrors, and maps. He loves being held, facing outward at the world. He is particularly fond of women with brown hair (I wonder why). He has a habit of grabbing glasses of peoples faces. He refuses to nap when there is so much to see. He is perfectly content sitting in his stroller while I am 15 feet away (dont worry, I had my eye on him!)

We headed home early, in an attempt to cover the pass before dark. Kannon reached his limit and was so tired, he couldn't sleep. After a five minute fuss in the back seat, he passed out for the entire trip home, while I braved the icy roads.

The best part of all this adventure was that his nighttime sleep schedule finally regulated. He fell asleep at 8 last night, woke up to feed at 12 & 5 am but stayed asleep until 9 am this morning. We were blessed with a whole 8 hours of sleep (albeit interrupted).

I am so proud of my son for being such a great baby. I had visions of our road trip ending with hours of crying, tears, and frustration, but it was great! Even more, I am more confident about my abilities to go "public" with baby, despite the spit-up I think I actually appear to have it together. Nursing in public was no big deal. Diaper changes on the couch, floor, and table were no problem. Juggling a baby, a stroller, and my lunch was easy. My only complaint, the dirty diaper never made it to the garbage, rather it stayed in my pocket until Dale did laundry. I guess you cant win it all.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Empty-Womb Syndrome


Delivery Day....40 Weeks 1 Day

Last night I rolled over on my stomach and thought "oh, shi*, I crushed the baby" and then I remembered....I am NOT pregnant anymore.

Last week, Dale caught me rubbing my belly. Today, I found myself staring at the mirror baffled at the return of my nearly flat stomach. I almost cried.

I loved being pregnant so much. I felt great. I had an appetite and ate great. My skin was glowing, my hair thick, and my nails incredible. It was the best I have ever felt in my entire life, so full of energy and happiness.

Now, I am tired. My nails are splitting. My hair starting to thin. My face looks like the ring of fire, covered with zits ready to blow. I am having night sweats. The stretchmarks are no longer a sign of my growing belly. I don't feel like eating--everything looks so unappetizing, including me.

At 39 weeks, I never thought I would say "I miss being pregnant", but I do. I miss it terribly. I loved feeling my belly when Kannon kicked and imagining what he looked like. I loved daydreaming his arrival. I loved that every day was like a science project, analyzing every little symptom and daily change. Don't get me wrong, I love that Kannon is here. I want to cuddle with him every moment of the day. The smell of his skin gets me high. I can stare at him for hours, daydreaming about his growing up. But I want another one.

While my heart feels bigger and more full of love than ever, I am suffering from a little empty womb syndrome. Dale and I do plan on having more kids and I thought that I would be able to wait at least a few years but let's be honest, we are already talking about the next one. (Don't have a heart attack, its not like its happening tomorrow) Funny, how easily you can forget the pain of labor, the backaches, the hourly trips to the bathroom, in favor of another child.

I guess I had such an amazing pregnancy and childbirth experience that I am eager to go through the process again. Kannon has been such an amazing baby that I want to do all over again....of course, if the rumors are true, the second one is always a hellion...I suppose I should tattoo that to my forehead in attempts to keep any more children at bay. Or does anyone know of a cure for empty-womb syndrome?

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Mom, Mama, or Mommy.....



The morning of our induction, Dale and I drove nervously and excitedly to the hospital. The stoplights flashed yellow and red. A few headlights passed us. The roads were virtually empty and Dale and I silent. I wondered to myself whether I was about to become a 'Mom', 'Mama', or 'Mommy'. Of course, I kept this question to myself knowing very well that eventually time would tell.

6 weeks later and I am staring blankly at the Christmas presents we just wrapped for Kannon. I still don't know what I am.

To: Kannon
Love: Mom, Mama, or Mommy???

I finally settled on Mommy, since that is what Dale always calls me in front of not only Kannon but our 1-year old dog, Emma. However, it led to me to some serious questioning. What does each one of these terms mean? How does one suit us but not the other? I cant see Kannon calling me 'Mom' as its too serious but 'Mama' is how I referred to my mother, a title I am not yet willing to share. So, 'Mommy' it is.

I almost wrote 'From: Kat' before I realized what I was doing. I am not 'Kat' anymore. I am a mother. A mother to an adorable bundle of love named Kannon. I never thought I would be so excited to finally contemplate whether I am a 'Mom', 'Mama', or 'Mommy' but the question thrills me.

Everyday I am constantly discovering new parts of myself, a new identity that I am quickly adjusting too. I love being a mom. Even in the face of 2 am diaper changes, feedings hour after hour, wiping spit-up off my shoulder and cleaning pee off my face because I (once again) forgot to cover that little wizzer. Parenting comes surprisingly natural and I find myself feeling grateful that I can juggle both baby, dog, and dinner with ease and grace.

The truth is, I am finally fulfilling the role I was always destined for. I have always been a mother. I made sack-lunches for my roommates in college (I even decorated their lunch bags with little flowers and hearts). I watched after my brother day after day with no complaints. I nag at friends and family to quit smoking, clean up, and rise before noon (just ask them). Cleaning comes easy. Cooking for 10 a blessing. I love teaching and even the little snot nosed 5-year olds warm my heart. So whether or not, Kannon chooses to call me--'Mom', 'Mama', or 'Mommy' (a question only time will answer) I am most definitely a mother, and that is a title I am in love with.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Remembering my first love....



Emma Jean, my slobbery, energetic one-year old border collie-lab mix, was essentially my only child. She was spoiled to the bone with daily ventures--walks to the park, swims in the river, and was my car companion, even if we were only going blocks away. Emma snuggled between us, under the covers and every morning she would creep her way up onto our pillows. Dale and I loved taking a moment to cuddle as a family. Of course, we didn't necessarily love the morning dog breath.

Since Kannon was born, Emma has been patient with us. She has been ignored. We don't take her out very often. She gets left at home, babysat by the giant bag of pig ears in our pantry. We bribe her with treats, dog bones bigger than her head, and extra scraps. Her daily walks have become weekly and she hasn't had a good butt-scratching in over a month.

Today, Emma went with me to work. She hung her head out of the window and slobbered in the frigid wind. We made a stop at the bark park on our way home and she whimpered with excitement as we approached the beloved park. I remembered what it was like to walk my dog with a the cool breeze in my face and sunshine warming my cold bones. I savored the moment. Throwing her disgustingly sticky frisbee was no longer a chore as I saw how happy she was bounding after her toy. I used to be bothered by the slobber and muddy paws, but after weeks of being covered in spit-up I have given up.

I was happy. Emma was happy. We headed back to the car, both of us smiling at our adventure. We jumped in the car, Emma quickly climbed into the front seat---just like old times. She doesn't hate me. She is still our first "child" and knows she is part of a growing family. Our adventures may be few and far between but she is happy knowing that we can still sneak away for our cherished walks.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Working Mom...



Before becoming a mama, I thought working and child rearing at the same time would be easy. I wanted to be a working mother, leaving Dad at home to take care of those domestic duties. However, in the last 4 weeks since our little one's arrival, going back to work was about as desirable as jumping off a bridge. I dreaded the day. I had nightmares, sleepless nights, and woke up in sweats. I just couldn't fathom being separated from my little angel. I thought I would forget what he looked liked, forget the smell, and joy of his existence. Alas, the day has come for me to make my return to work.

Kannon woke up to nurse at 6am and rather than put him back in his crib, I savored his presence--holding him on my chest so we could catch a few zzz's before the alarm sounded. Of course, I ended up tuning out the alarm and started my day late for work. I rushed out the door, forgetting the spit up on my shirt, the mascara rings under my eyes, and went another day without a shower. I didn't have time to say goodbye and just passed the baby off like it was no big deal.

I am in my office (have been since 9 am) and I have accomplished nothing. The computer stares at me with doom. The to-do list is dauntingly long. All I can think about is getting home to Kannon--to cuddle, kiss, and hug him. I thought becoming a working mom would be easy but have realized that it is the hardest thing I have ever done. Part of me is empty. What if he smiles? Or laughs for the first time? How will I overcome the guilt of missing those first milestones?

I realized that these hours at work are my only moments of freedom. Even if it is front of a computer, I have a chance to be me. I can blog, get coffee, read a magazine, chat with co-worker--all without juggling a baby. I find that even though part of me is empty, another part of me is full.

I called Dale to check in on baby and he sounded like everything was under control. The baby has been fed and is sleeping contently in his arms. He sounded proud and happy. Now I understand why Dale was so anxious for me to return to work--so he could bond with the baby solo for the first time.

Then, I returned home. I was greeted with that newborn smell and cute face and cuddly hug. Our reunion was sweeter than ever. As much as I would love to be a stay at home mom, the working mom suits me and as hard as it is to leave every day, coming home is easy.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Our 1st Thanksgiving



Before the baby was born we had decided to have Thanksgiving at our house. I know this was a lofty goal seeing as we would have few hands to juggle both turkey and baby. However, with careful planning, extra hands, a moby wrap, and quick recipes, our Thanksgiving was successful!

After a month of living off freezer food, cooking was a privilege I enjoyed--even though I was up until 4 am preparing food and feeding a fussy baby (who clearly sensed the excitement in the air). However, even with a few hours of sleep I rolled out of bed excited to begin our feasting day.

Our menu:
Oven Roasted Butterflied Turkey
Apple-Cider Glazed Ham
Orange-Balsamic Roasted Beets & Carrots
Zucchini Gratin
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potato Pie
Candied Yams
Roasted Green Beans
Brussel Sprouts
Mac & Cheese
Cole Slaw
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Rolls
Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Cheese Plates
and so much more....

Whew.....I cant believe I fit all that in my belly (this is where no longer being pregnant had its clear disadvantage as I no longer have room to eat like a horse). Granted, everyone took part in preparing the Thanksgiving feast whether it was preparing a dish or holding a baby, and this year, the food was extra special.

Thanksgiving wouldn't be what it was if it wasn't for the few mishaps that can cause laughter, chaos, and sometimes a tear. Even with our confidence and expertise, we weren't protected from the usual T-day hiccups. Our 26.6 pound turkey didn't fit in the oven as planned. We had a few small grease fires (quickly put out and prevented with our newly converted muffin pan for grease trapping). We forgot the stuffing in an oven downstairs and left the cranberry sauce in the fridge...ooops. The disposable plates were too flimsy and somehow I ended up shoving mashed potatoes up my nose (only to be caught by everyone who saw me racing across the room for a napkin).

All in all, everything came out great. We sat in camp chairs. Drank beer from plastic cups and used our sleeves for drippings. The turkey was perfectly moist and cooked evenly (butterflied, roasted at 425 for 3 hours). There was no shortage of beer or wine. Listening to everyone compliment the food made the effort worth while. The best part was the pumpkin cheesecake topped with eggnog ice cream and pared with some Irish coffee.

By 9 pm, our house was empty, our fridge full, and our bellies working on their second wind. Unfortunately, we were headed to bed to wake up for the famous black Friday sale, all the while Kannon slept peacefully in the arms of family and friends.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Breakthrough!



Kannon slept in his crib last night for the first time!!! He was going through his usual fussy hour (between 8-midnight) and I put him in the MOBY wrap until he passed out. A few minutes later, we put him in the crib with some Bob Marley on the radio and we didnt hear a peep.

5 hours went by and Dale woke me up in panic, "go check the baby, he hasnt waken up yet"....of course, I raced out of the bedroom, heart pounding to see Kannon sleeping soundly. I stared at him longingly and returned to bed so proud of our little one! Another hour later, he finally woke up to be fed and passed out in his crib for another 4 hours! It was the most solid sleep yet!

Apparently, our little man likes room to stretch! All this time, I thought it would be such a traumatic transition and as it turns out, he sleeps better in his crib! We finally have our bedroom back and hopefully the sleep habits will keep up!

I think I was the one holding the process back. I really wanted Kannon to learn to sleep solo, but something about it seems so wrong....Our dog sleeps in our bed, but our baby cant???? However, since Kannon slept so well last night, I dont think we will be turning back (as much as it breaks my heart).

PS Listening to the baby monitor last night had Dale and me in hysterics. About every 20 minutes we heard a few grunts, coos, and even laughter (!!!) out of this sleeping child. Dale is convinced that if Kannon could talk he clearly would be talking about boobs in his sleep. Talk about sweet dreams. Hehehe.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

I left my heart.....at home



Last night I was given an opportunity to go see the Twilight "New Moon" movie--an outing that I had been looking forward to for over a week. It was my first time out without baby and I thought I would love the three hours to relax. Wrong.

My heart ached, my soul empty, and I was lonely--I wanted nothing more than to be at home holding the hand of my husband and my son.

Even though the movie was quite entertaining, my heart ached the entire time. I longed to be at home so badly that I contemplated leaving halfway through the film. All I could think about was Kannon. I could almost smell the newborn fuzzy hair and hear little cries in the back of my head.

My three hours away ended uneventfully and I raced home to return to my family. I arrived to find Kannon all dressed up and wide awake, eager to see his mommy. Dale had fun bonding with the baby and shared with me all of his stories that made me love him even more.

I cant believe that love is such a strong emotion. Of course I love Dale and have "missed" him before while I was away on vacation or trainings, but never this much, a feeling so deep it caught me off-guard. I was crying during the movie but for my own reasons. I cant believe how much I missed my two boys while only gone for 3 short hours. That being said, I am dreading my return to work in only 10 days, where undoubtedly little work will get done because I will be dreaming of little hands and feet.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Lovely Limoncello!



It may seem like I should have no free time to even think about cooking or blogging but the truth is, when this baby sleeps I am busy! While I know I should be sleeping myself, Kannon's naptime seems like the only time I can do things for MYSELF, like eat, get dressed, catch up on internet etc. Of course, now that I making ample use of the MOBY wrap it seems like I can do just about anything with a baby strapped to my chest (although, washing dishes is still fairly precarious, unless you dont mind bathing your baby with dirty dishwater!)

That said, Dale and I finally got a chance to master a limoncello recipe that we have meaning to try since LAST year. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be, so I thought I would pass the recipe along as limoncello makes a great Christmas gift!

Limoncello

1.75 liters of Vodka (cheap Vodka will work, we went with Potter's)
Roughly 17 lemons (we got the 5 pound bags from Costco, so numbers were tricky)
3.5 cups of sugar
5 cups of water

1.) Scrub those lemons and peel the skins using a vegetable peeler (try to avoid getting any of the white pith mixed in)

***You will have a bunch of skinless lemons lying around, I would suggest juicing them and freezing in ice cubes tray for later uses or if you feel motivated make lemon bars!

2.) Add the peels to a big airtight pitcher. Then add the vodka.

3.) Put the pitcher away somewhere dark where its out-of-sight, out-of-mind and let it rest for 4 weeks. (If you get really antsy like I do, feel free to give it a gentle shake about half way through, to get the oils distributed)

***You will know when its done, when the peels have turned white and are brittle.

4.) Mix the sugar and water in a pot and bring to boil for 5 minutes. Let it cool completely.

5.) Strain your vodka into another pitcher big enough to add the sugar/water mixture. Add the sugar/water and bottle (we used Grolsch bottles) and send out for gifts or place in your freezer for drinking pleasure.

6.) Limoncello is sweet and lemony and could be served simply chilled over ice or mixed in an a variety of adult drinks.


Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Lessons Learned



These 3 weeks have flown by and I still cant believe that we have a baby. Sometimes, I wish I was still pregnant, where taking care of a baby was a little easier but than I get that whiff of newborn hair and fall in love all over again.

Kannon is growing bigger every day and is gradually adjusting to a regular day/night schedule (thank god!). He is most alert at 8 am and again at 8 pm giving us just a glimpse of his personality and charm. We have spending most of those alert hours cuddling in bed and watching him discover his world.

At 3 weeks old, I sadly have to say that our little one is finally outgrowing his newborn clothes. The sleepers that I loved to dress him in are now stretched out in the feet and his long sleeves are beginning to look like 3/4 lengths. So, out with old and in with new, I started Kannon in the 0-3 month clothes which have plenty of room to grow.

I keep meaning to take note of all the things I would do differently next time around and have so far come up with a pretty extensive list. I remember sharing with my dad that I was eager to have this baby so I could figure out our routine. We spent the last 9 months reading every childbirth and parenting book on the planet to discover that we threw it all out the window and have set our own agenda instead. Some lessons learned:

1.) Skip the onesies. We got 18 onesies from baby showers and we have yet to use a single one. Kannon hates have stuff pulled over his head and we have been unable to figure out how to pull them over his delicate head without causing mass hysteria. So, we tossed the onesies in a box.



2.) Stock up on sleeper suits that button or zip. We started out with 3 of these and now we have a dozen. They are perfect for Montana--keeping our babe's arms, legs, and feet completely covered without worrying about disappearing socks. It also makes for easy diaper changes as we can unzip/unbutton half of the outfit with him getting cold. Now that he is outgrowing the newborn sizes, we will have to stock up with more 0-3 months, as I am in love with these things, plus you don't have to pull them over any one's head.

3.) Always use a changing table. For a minute there, Dale and contemplated the necessity of a changing table. Diapers can be changed anywhere, the floor, the bed, etc. But, our baby seems to like pooping the second the diaper comes off, and in almost every case, misses the back up diaper underneath. So the changing pad has been cleaned almost daily. I cant imagine having to clean up baby shi* on my bed.

4.) Bring a baby sling or wrap wherever you go! For the most part, Kannon falls fast asleep in his carseat wherever we go making errands easy and fuss-free. However, when he does wake up, shi* hits the fan. He wants to be held, fed, and taken care of in minutes whether you are standing in line at Costco or waiting for your bill at a restaurant. Having the wrap nearby makes for an easy transfer--just pop the baby in, give him the boob and he can live without a diaper change until we get home.

5.) Develop good sleeping habits. We started Kannon off in a bassinet in our room. That worked for 2 days and then he started fussing every night. We discovered that he loves sleeping his stroller (great investment!) and it is convenient because we can wheel him around without him even noticing. However, at 3 weeks, we are starting to transition him into his own crib, and we are failing miserably! So unless, you plan to co-sleep forever, get them started in their cribs early on!

6.) While we are at it, get a lazy-boy for the baby's room so Dad has a place to rest while he is on pacifier replacement duty. Dale's back is sore from the nights he has spent sleeping on the floor, arched over the crib. Perhaps, I will put this one on a Christmas list.

7.) Don't let the music stop! Kannon likes sleeping with noise--tv, music, the fan, you name it. We had just spent an hour getting him to sleep and we forgot to hit the repeat setting on our cd player. Sure enough, the second the cd stopped, Kannon wailed for another hour!

8.) Buy more mirrors. Mirrors are great distraction for our little one and as an added bonus they help ensure that moms don't walk out with spit up in their hair.

9.) Always keep batteries on hand. Our baby monitor stopped working and we didn't have batteries to replace it and spent the night with the baby because we cant hear a peep through our thick walls.

10.) Breast feeding moms--pump a supply for Dad. As much as I love breast feeding and bonding with Kannon, after zero sleep and a baby who feels compelled to nurse on the hour during the night, it is understandable to roll-over and say "I quit". Of course, you remember that its not an option unless you have some milk stored away. Since Dale has taken over some nighttime feedings it has given me a chance to sleep and given Dale more confidence in soothing those nighttime cries.

11.) Stock up on many different types of pacifiers. We didn't want our kid to be the one of those pacified pacifier babies but after 3 weeks of soothing Kannon with our pinky fingers we gave in. It took 4 different types of pacifiers to find one that Kannon likes--the soothie brand we came home from the hospital with. Now, our pinky nails have a chance to grow back and Kannon is happily fulfilling his sucking need.

12.) Glass bottles rock! We were given both and have decided that glass bottles are our favorite. They heat up much faster when you are trying to soothe baby and warm a bottle one handed. As an added benefit, they handle the dishwasher with ease.



13.) Go Cloth! If you can, use cloth diapers. We have been so surprised at our success with cloth diapering. It is sooooo much easier to run a load of laundry then run to the store for more diapers. We still have had NO blowout with our cloth unlike the disposables that disappointed us before. We spent $75 for 24 prefolds, 3 covers, and 4 gDiapers, I cant imagine what we would have spent buying disposables. They are cute, warm, and take just a few minutes to change. (I plan on doing a cloth diapering blog soon, for those of you who have been curious)

14.) They all say "sleep when baby sleeps" but make sure to use this time for "us". This is so hard to do, when you are staring a pile of dishes and unopened mail but you have to do it. If you don't want to sleep while baby sleeps, do something with your husband like watch a movie, or cuddle, or go for a walk. I felt like I hadn't seen Dale in days, then we took a nap together and cuddled for the first time in weeks. It truly elevated my day. Since then, we have been trying to make sure to use sleep time for "us" time, whether we sleep, walk, cook, whatever.

15.) Get dressed first. Those first few day my robe was my uniform. Finally, I started passing the baby to Dale for an hour each morning so I could get dressed, washed, and clean. I felt better, looked better, and smelled better meaning my day was off to a good start. So while those dishes could be washed while daddy is holding the baby, make sure you get dressed first. Plus, it is so great to feel pretty when you have a baby spitting up down your shirt.

Alrighty, these were quite a few lessons learned and I am sure they wont be the last. I am sorry to bore you with any of the details but for those new parents that read my blog, I am sure you can relate! There have been so many challenges but it is so worth it. We love parenthood and have enjoyed every day with our son, who shows us how big your hearts can grow and how wonderful the world is. Kannon is starting to stir so ta-ta for now!

Famous Last Words



"Its okay, I dont need a burp rag." Seconds later, my perfect baby expels the entire contents of his stomach into my hair, lap, sheets, and of course, himself.

The lesson here, always use a burp rag, unless you have just given up on staying dry--which lets face it here, I have.

The sad part, I was too tired to change the sheets, so I just put a towel down and slept over it. Three days later, I still havent changed the sheets, but at least I did take a shower!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The Boob Shark.


My boob shark.

You have heard it before, the unmistakable sound from "Jaws", the 'da-duh' that triggers goosebumps and forces you to look around and check your back and make sure there isnt a feeding frenzy taking place.

That sound has been replaced by "wa-wah's" echoing in our bedroom, requiring me to pull out my boob and bite my lips as my little "boob-shark" latches on in an all too familiar frenzy.

The mere smell of milk sets him off and he begins to root around furiously in search of his target--the ever so forgiving nipple. God forbid, he loses sight of his target in the darkened room, as he will latch onto anything--a finger, a shirt, the sheet-- only to spit it out with anger and rage.

For whatever reason, my little angel who nurses so peacefully during the day turns into "Jaws" at night. Hence the reason we have started calling him, "the boob shark", so nursing mothers and sore nipples beware because when the lights go down, the boob shark is on the prowl.

Two Week Wonders...



Today little Kannon turned 2 weeks old. I know its only 2 weeks but after waiting 9 months to meet this little bugger, 2 weeks is an important milestone. I am not going to get cake and ice cream to celebrate but I will at least spend a few hours cuddling and staring with amazement at the wonders of life.



It still seems like a miracle to me that this little creature has eyes, ears, and toes after seeing what first looked like a blob on the ultrasound screen. Kannon has gone from sleeping all day, to becoming more and more alert, allowing us a few hours each day to gaze into his curious eyes.

We had our 2 week doctors appointment and Kannon is perfect (which we already knew!) and healthy. We were worried those first few days about breastfeeding, whether he was eating enough, as he was done to 6 lbs 10 oz when we left the hospital (totally normal) but had worries soothed when the scale topped off at 7 lbs 7 oz. Kannon gained 13 oz in 8 days!!! Even the doctor was amazed and complimented my milk supply--which has so far been receiving no complaints from little man. After a quick once over, we got the green light to go and will not go back until December 29, when this little man reaches 2 months!!!



We are still sleeping in shifts as it appears Kannon only likes to sleep when held or nursed to la-la land, which means Dale and I get 2-3 hours of sleep at a time until we make the baby exchange. We are starting to think more about setting sleep habits but are not yet ready to take the plunge.

Kannon is getting more tummy time and proving himself to be iron man as he can hold his up to get a view of the world and is starting to pull himself up. His legs are growing, stretching, and strong as he knocks our box of wipes over with nearly every diaper change!



We love being parents and even amongst the sacrifices and challenges, we share more love for this child than we ever thought possible. However, I will admit that last night, I had a "holy shit" moment as I realized the responsibility never ends. There are no days off. You cant call in sick. You cant just roll over and ignore it. There is no snooze button. But, its worth it to see little baby smiles, to smell newborn hair, and hold those little fingers knowing that this child shares an insurmountable bond with you. Its a responsibility well worth doing.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Whats in a Name?



Dale and I argued for 9 months over what to name our son. We had names we loved but both feared our families reaction to the non-traditional. When we finally decided on Kannon for a name there was no going back--it just fit him. I know that in five years he might hate me for this but lets face it, kids are cruel and even "johns", "adams" and "scotts" get made fun of. (Even my name served up some pretty cruel name-calling!)

So, it was no surprise when I noticed on Facebook, that several people have started calling my son "Kannon-ball". I couldn't be prouder. There are worse nicknames in the world and its true, this little bundle of love is my little Kannon-ball. What is worse, is that I have jumped on the bandwagon and have started calling him my little Kol-Kannon (irish stoup) and my little Kannon-in-D (great orchestral piece).

Thank god, we gave him a middle name so he can at least go by "KC" if the jokes get too severe.

I feel that I should explain a little history behind his name, because we are so proud of the name we chose.

Last December, when we made the momentous decision to start trying to concieve, Dale and I stayed up late sharing our excitement, reservations, and fears. We shared our favorite names, both agreeing immediately that we like Kannon for a boy and Cora for a girl. Of course, when I actually got pregnant our naming game became much more critical as we were now naming a real child, not the one we invented in our imagination. I was afraid Kannon would be a recipe for torture but couldnt agree on any other name.

So I did some research and starting investigating the meanings of Kannon and every other name out there. Here are some tidbits I found.

"Kannon" (Kan-en) alt variations include "Kannen", "Kannan"--Orgin Japanese, Polynesian/Hawaiian--def: Variation of Krishna, Buddhist Diety of Mercy, "Enlightened One", "Free-Spirited", "Free", "Independent"

Things sounding like "Kannon" include: Cannon (weapon), Canon (fiction) genuine, perfect, Canon (music), Canon (culture) materials that have been essential in shaping Western Culture.

When Dale and I talked about the type of child we hoped to some day raise many of these previous words and ideas came to mind. We couldn't find any other name that accomplished such and it became clear that "Kannon" was our ideal name. It dawned on me on a bus ride in Seattle that if we named our son Kannon Charles, he could always go by "KC" or Kannon, or god-forbid he goes by whatever nickname we pass down (lets hope its not Peanut!).

So, when our son was born, we proudly announced the name we had been keeping secret all these months and it so far fits our little man perfectly.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

My Mommy Moment



I lounged around yesterday in my bathrobe. It was really the first day I didn't brush my teeth, change my clothes, or even wash my face. I took a nap, fed Kannon, relaxed etc.

I got up and noticed I had babyshi* all over my lap. Apparently, Kannon had a blow out and I didn't notice. The sad part, I checked his diaper and it was still clean from the previous diaper change a few hours before. So, who knows how long I walked around with babyshi* on my robe.

The best part, I still wore the robe because I was too tired to put on clothes.

It was a true mommy moment.

Our Firsts...



Everyone remembers their first kiss, their first love, their first car and usually remember such with fondness and nostalgia. This past week, Dale and I have shared many firsts with our son, firsts that we will always remember, even if our little one forgets.

It is amazing that in only 11 days Kannon has grown up so much. He is more alert with each passing day, gazing into the world around him. He spends much of his tummy-time exercising his head and neck muscles and even more of his time smiling, although fairly spontaneous, its still adorable.

Our Firsts for this week include:


(He looked something like this)

1.) First trip to the doctor. The nurse thought it was hilarious that even though he was stripped to his diaper on a cold mat, he still slept, completely stretched out!



2.) First trip out of the house. We went to the brewery, where yet again, he slept. Then we went to Target and the Mall for a few supplies.



3.) First bath! He LOOOOVVEED his bath. He especially loved having his face and hair washed. So, bath time will soon become an evening ritual.



4.) First stroll to the park. We made this a family affair and carted the dogs along (we had to kick the cat out of the stroller though!). The long walk apparently made him hungry as he wanted to nurse as soon as we arrived!

5.) First trip to the bar! We celebrated the last night of family in town by going to James Bar. He slept. No one would have guessed that we had a baby in a bar.

6.) First cloth diaper change! We made the switch yesterday to cloth diapers. He had so many blow outs in disposables and now, we are (so far) blow-out free! Plus, we love the fluffy bum!

7.) First stretch of sleep! Kannon slept for 5 hours straight last night!



8.) First time in a baby sling. We went hands free and put Kannon in our Moby wrap...he slept the whole time while I got caught up on emails and Dale cleaned the house!

9.) First night of gas....This broke our heart! Kannon was not and could not get comfortable. His face turned red, he was crying hysterically and refused breast, swaddle, swing, and everything! Finally he let out this HUGE fart and passed out. I think the french onion soup I ate for dinner may have hurt his little tummy.



These are only some of the many firsts that we will experience. I get emotional peeking ahead in our baby book at the spaces for "1st day of school" or "1st tooth". I cherish our time with our son as any mother and father will admit, they grow so fast!

Friday, November 6, 2009

The Big Sky Baby!



As many of know Big Sky Brewery has played a tremendous part in our lives. For whatever reason, we have always been drawn to the brewery--its relaxing elixir providing pure enjoyment and contentment for our mind, body, and soul. It only seemed natural that our first outing with the baby include the brewery!

We headed to the brewery, our quick trip now taking longer as we have to get the baby fed, diapered, and car-seated up. Nonetheless, we arrived at the brewery greeted by familiar faces all excited to see our adorable, yet sleeping, baby.

It was first time really able to drink (granted in moderation as I am breastfeeding) and I was perplexed with all the choices. Moose Drool, Powder Hound, IPA all tickled my taste buds, yet I settle with the all familiar IPA that sparkles in my belly and on my lips. I shared our story with my aunt about Big Sky's influence in our lives and stared at my husband joyfully.



Of course, minutes later, Dale joined us and asked me to look at our son, sleeping peacefully in his stroller with a ring-box in his hand! I couldn't believe my eyes! Inside the ring-box, contained my great-grandma Pete's diamond ring in a beautiful white-gold setting. We had been intending to get this ring set but with my pregnancy induced swollen man-hands, we decided to wait. Now, I stare at my beautiful son, husband, and glitter on my hand!



Once again, Big Sky plays a responsible part in our happy life together. We hope to make many more trips there, baby in tow, until he is old enough to enjoy the brew.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Kannon Charles is Here--Our Birth Story


Kannon Charles
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Time: 9:24 p.m.
Weight: 7 pounds, 2 ounces
Length: 19 inches

As many of you know, we decided that it was time to be induced and I had several fears about this process as for 9 months I have been imagining the perfect natural childbirth. Now, I realize that every birth is the perfect birth as long as you keep your mind open and take one step at a time!

Our alarm clock buzzed at 4:00 am on Wednesday morning alerting us that it was time to go--of course, Dale and I were already awake, staring at the ceiling contemplating what was ahead of us. We showered, ate, packed the car and headed to hospital to start our induction. Nothing can compare to our excitement and nervousness, perhaps it was like the first day of school or leaving for a big trip. We met our nurses, checked in, and started Pitocin at 6:30 am. At this point, I was still 2 cm and 60% effaced.

The contractions started off great, they were nothing more than a mild stomach ache. We watched TV and were excited to see that a Top Chef marathon would be starting soon! At 9 am the doctor came by and broke my water, at this point I was 2cm and 75% effaced. We were making progress!!!

The contractions got super strong at this point and it took all my focus to work through them. I labored against a wall, as standing was the only position that took the pressure off! Dale massaged my back and coached me through each contraction. The pain was surreal but still manageable. At 12:20pm my doctor officially declared me in "labor", as I was 3cm.

By 2:30 pm my contractions were off the chart. Pitocin increases the strength and effectiveness of contractions, usually showing up at around 100 on the scale, mine were 300 (I cant remember what scale they use...) !! They were coming every 2 minutes and after having made little progress, I decided it was time for an epidural so I could allow my mind and body to relax.

At 3 pm, the epidural brought instant relief, however, it had its hitches, as I could no longer leave the bed and needed a catheter. The pay off was worth it. I fell asleep at 3 cm and work up a few hours later at 6 cm and 80% effaced.

Dale and I were watching Top Chef, excited that the new episode was premiering at 8pm and that we would actually be able to watch it instead of having to wait. At 7:30, I was having bloody show and was checked at 8 cm and almost 100% effaced, I had one little lip that was in the way. The nurse stepped out for a minute and I had a big urge to push. She checked me again at 8 pm and I was 10 cm!!! At this point, I was working through each contraction, trying hard to to wait until that lip cleared and the pressure was intense--even with the epidural! (It really is like having to shit a watermelon!)

We started pushing at 8:40 pm, the doctor arrived just barely in time, as he was still putting his scrubs on as he raced into the delivery room. At 9:24pm, Kannon Charles was born, absolutely perfect, scoring a 9 on both APGARS. Dale and I both cried in amazement and disbelief that we now had a baby resting on my chest. I had a second degree tear that the doctor stitched while we bonded, Dale cut the umbilical cord, and even though I was exhausted, I was flying high with love.

My birth experience was nothing like I imagined it would be---it was better! The contractions were super strong. The epidural allowed me to relax and make progress and I still had the urge to push, which I wasn't expecting! Pushing was the best part, a relief in fact, and I was glad it was only 30 minutes of effort. All in all, we labored for 9 hours (from the time doc declared labor) and needless to say we never did see the new episode of Top Chef.

We are home now enjoying life with our new son, who even in 4 days of life is growing up faster than I can believe. We are loving getting to know him, his personality and needs and are quickly creating a routine for ourselves. Kannon is breastfeeding like a champ and sleeping countless hours! He loves being held, hates being swaddled, and prefers his swing to his bouncer. And, oops, we forgot to cover up, and he peed on our wall!! We cant wait to share more on our adventures!



Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Its the FINAL coutdown!!!

The last two weeks I have been pacing around the house wondering when this baby will be born--waking up each day questioning whether those pesky contractions would die down or lead to labor. I have cleaned the house daily, washed sheets twice weekly, packed and repacked my hospital bag hoping that all the cleaning would send me to L&D.

I was really hoping for labor to start spontaneously. I envisioned my water breaking, heading to the hospital in hurried excitement, and walking the hallways and doing pelvic rocks a top a yoga ball to handle contractions instead of using drugs. For months I have dreamed the perfect birth, as I imagine every woman does, and now I sit here staring at the clock waiting for our 5am departure for our hospital induction.

I have tried all the home-induction techniques (everything short of castor oil) and have been walking for hours on end each day hoping that labor would occur. Now that my blood pressure is elevated, fluid retention high, and my due date passed, we are waiting no longer. I had hoped to avoid making this decision and have so many fears for tomorrow, all compounded by feelings of guilt for agreeing to induction. However, I understand the serious nature of childbirth and want to ensure the safety and health of my soon-to-be son, so sometime tomorrow, I will be a new mom.

There is a huge sense of relief in knowing that tomorrow is the day. I feel like a weight has been lifted and rather than questioning whether each day is the "day" I can focus on my birth experience, relaxing, meditating, and anticipating our son's arrival. I still intend to keep our birth natural and am confident that with the strength of myself, Dale, and family, I will be able to accomplish this.

So, today, is my last day pregnant and while I am excited to count 10 fingers and toes, I am going to miss my beautiful belly, my glowing skin, and long nails (a first for me!) and eating 6 times a day! I look forward to sharing an intimate night with my husband, dinner with my family, and getting what will be my last night of sleep for quite a few days!!

We will keep you posted in every adventure along the way, however, please understand if our blogs are not as consistent as they have been! I cant guarantee when our birth announcement will be made but please check our hospital's website: http://www.newbabynews.net/hospitals/com28/public/ at some point this week to see if our little one has made the headlines!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Playing Hooky!

We realized on Wednesday with the upcoming arrival of family and baby that it was our last day to truly enjoy "just the two of us"--so we played hooky! Dale and I both took the day off, slept in, cleaned the house, went for a walk and enjoyed what will be our last movie for awhile by attending "Where the Wild Things Are". It was such a relaxing day and gave us a chance to celebrate each others company before the real party begins!

Thursday, my grandparents arrived giving me a few more days to get spoiled before this little one steals my thunder! We have enjoyed showing them Missoula, dining out, and of course shopping! And of course, we celebrated Dale's 28th b-day by first enjoying an afternoon happy hour riverside at Finn&Porter and then feasting ourselves on steak and potatoes (true Montana food!) at the Depot Restaurant!

Today marked the beginning of my maternity leave, as I packed up my office, changed my voicemail and announced to the world that I will be gone until December 1st!

Now that our bellies are full, our to-do lists accomplished, and our final moments together savored, we are ready for this little one to arrive!!!! Until then, we will take it easy, and celebrate the arrival of my mom (tomorrow!) who will surely help us get the party started!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Dear Work...

I am tired of coming into my office everyday. Tired of hauling my very pregnant self into my husband's explorer, tired of searching for the seat belt clip, tired of circling for parking and then walking the precarious slippery hallways only to be asked "you are still here????" or "still no baby???".

I do not want to stop working but at the same time I can't handle another person asking me "where's the baby???". Don't you think that if I had the baby, I would relay that information??? Seriously, I am getting embarrassed and feeling like everyday is a walk of shame because I am still pregnant. My due-date is next week and yet you have been asking me these questions since September 1st!!!!

For the record, I plan on showing up everyday until this baby pops and until then please refrain from opening your mouth!

Thank You,
A Seriously Aggravated Pregnant Lady

39 Weeks....Its almost time!!!

We just returned from our 39 week appointment. So far in this pregnancy I have gained 19 pounds and have been textbook from the start. Our baby has always measured on target, so I shouldn't be at all surprised if our baby makes his grand entrance on his due date.....however, I am losing patience as the 8-pound bowling ball sitting on my bladder is getting uncomfortable as is the daily bought of false labor contractions.

This week, I am still 2 cm dilated, 50% effaced, and the baby's head is still "right there". My doctor has given me permission to have this baby any day now (I hope the baby heard him!) However, if we have not had the baby by Monday the 26th our doctor would like to schedule an induction for that week...most likely the 28th, when I will be 40 weeks 1 day. He said we could wait until November 3rd to schedule an induction but realistically, it's easier to do before the baby gets too big and that a lot more complications can arise when the baby is overdue by too long. I have mixed feelings!!!! I hope that the baby will get here before I have to make a decision. I really don't agree with inductions but at the same time, I feel I will be able to sleep easier at night knowing that if this baby doesn't come by Monday, then he will come Wednesday, happy and healthy (YIKES!!!). (Our family has a history of GIANT babies....so lets hope this one is still the 6 1/2 pounds the doctor was predicting!)

So until then, I am doing everything short of shaking this baby out!!! I have continued with my walking and am now bouncing on a yoga ball playing "Katamari" (its an amazing game, I am hoping the visualization of growing my katamari from 1-10cm will be enough to make my cervix do the same!) and am headed in search of some spicy spicy food!!!