Weird World of Wraps!

Two blogs in one week! WoW!

I have had a few people ask me for information on the wrap that I use to wear Harper so I decided to write a blog about the different types of wraps & how they are used!

I originally heard about baby wraps on a message board for AP (attatchment parenting) moms. They looked intriguing and I loved the idea of being able to hold the baby and still have hands free to do things around the house. The wraps looked pretty complicated so Dan (who was VERY skeptical!) and I decided to attend a babywearing 101 class at the local baby boutique. There we learned all about the different types of carriers (wraps, mei tais, ergos, babyhawks, ring slings.......) and were able to try on and play with the different carriers. We figured out pretty quick that we loved the feel and support of the wrap the most!

We also did some research into the benefits of baby-wearing. Not only is it easier for the parents (hands free!) but it is great for the babies as well! When wrapped infants use their core muscles when awake so they get all the benefit of "tummy-time" without having to actually be on their tummy (which my kiddo HATES!). Research has also shown that babies that are worn consistantly learn to talk earlier (due to being at face level with others...easier to mimick) and gain a sense of independence earlier. After all our research Dan and I decided to skip the expensive stroller we had been eyeing for the ease of wrapping! I figured that I would be the one to do the majority of the wearing....but Dan loves wrapping Harper up so we usually end up fighting over who gets to wear her when we go out!

It has been pretty funny seeing the reaction we get when we wear Harper. Most people stare and point but some older folks come up to say how comfy she looks & that they wished they had had one when their kids were little...and some people have come up for a quick demo! No matter what though we definately get attention when we are out with our wrap! :)

Now on to the information!!

TYPES OF WRAPS:

Stretchy: As the name implies, these wraps have quite a bit of stretch to them. Most are made of cotton jersey knit or a stretchy bamboo/cotton blend. The most well known stretch wrap is the Moby. Stretchy wraps are best for the newborn phase when support isn’t an issue. They are easy to “pop” baby in and out of – handy if you are wearing baby a large part of the day. Stretchy wraps are best for front carries, but can also be used for hip carries. They should not be used for back carries.

There are two downsides to stretchy wraps, however. One is that they can get extremely hot due to the material not letting air flow through! I love my Moby but now that we are in the dead of summer it can get unbearable pretty quick when outside....mom & baby end up sweaty messes! The other downside is that because of their stretchiness, they only last until baby is around 12ish pounds. Once baby gets to be heavier than that, the Moby sags too much and isn’t supportive enough, which can be very uncomfortable for the wearer and the wearee. Harper is currently in the 9lb range but I can already feel the difference with sagging!

Woven: German Style Woven wraps are the largest and most diverse category of wraps. Woven wraps are extremely strong (because of the way they are woven) and much cooler than stretchy wraps. They can be worn from the day baby is born until they are well into toddlerhood (although some fabric blends are more supportive than others for heavy toddlers). They come in many different sizes, lengths, and fabric blends, all of which can be very confusing! They can also be worn dozens and dozens of different ways (called ‘carries’) so it’s a bit overwhelming at first. Woven wraps have a bit more of a learning curve and take more than a few tries to get the hang of....but once you do they are amazing! :)

WOVEN BRANDS:

The big names are Didymos, Girasol, BBslen, Ellevill, Natibaby, Vatanai, and Storchenweige.

Didymos – The grand dame of wrap brands, Didymos wraps are more expensive than most but also have the highest retail value. They are available in many blends (cotton, silk, wool), weaves (indios, stripes, jacquards), and thickness – something for everyone. Didymos releases limited edition wraps on a regular basis in addition to their regular line.

Girasol – Girasols are a medium thin wrap available with or without fringe; they have a more blanket like feel than some brands. In addition to the standard line, many shops carry their own exclusive colorways. Girasols are soft and easy to wrap with without any breaking in.

BBslen – Sturdy and wide, BB Slens are great wraps for older babies and toddlers (but they work great for newborns too!). Most are on the thinner side (solids tend to be thinner than stripes). BB Slens are also the least expensive woven and make for a nice wrap for beginners.

Ellevill - Ellevills are currently offered in two main lines, Zara and Jade (mostly cotton with some silks; wool and bamboo blend wraps are coming soon). They are on the thin side (Zaras are thinner while Jades have more bounce) and come in a beautiful array of colors. Ellevill wraps have longer tapers than most brands.

Natibaby – Natibaby wraps come in a variety blends and patterns – cotton, bamboo, silk and wool. They range from thin to medium thick depending on the pattern and blend.

Vatanai – Vatanais are among the thinnest wraps, so a great choice for summer or warm climates. They are also very soft and easy to wrap with – nice for learning to wrap. Vatanais come in jaquards and stripes; the stripes tend to be a bit thinner. Vatanais have longer tapers than most brands.

Storchenweige – A workhorse wrap, Storchs are known for durability and support. Most are medium thick (the Louise Bio wraps are thin). Storchs do require a lot of breaking in when purchased new as they can be very stiff right out of the box!

Choosing a wrap can be overwhelming but the best advice is to browse the available options and choose a colorway that is beautiful to you; if you love the way your wrap looks, you are more likely to learn to use it! There really is no “best brand;” each brand has its fans. That said, you may also want to take in to consideration things like the climate you are in (you would likely want to avoid something thick if you live in a hot region). Some wraps take some work to “break-in”; if you don’t want to deal with this stage, buy a used wrap or a brand that it “soft out of the box.” All wraps will wrap more easily after a few washes and some use.

I just purchased my first woven wrap today (used as I didn't want to take the time to break it in!)and I am so so so excited about it! I purchased a Didymos Colbalt Rouge in a size 6! Here is a great action shot of the wrap:

I love love love the color! :)

SIZING:

When looking for woven wraps, you will notice they come in many different sizes ranging from size 2 (2.7 meters) all the way up to size 7 (5.1 meters). The sizes usually work out like this:

size 2 - 2.7 meters
size 3 - 3.1 meters
size 4 - 3.6 meters
size 5 - 4.1 meters
size 6 - 4.6 meters
size 7 - 5.1 meters

While the size of the wearer is a factor in choosing a wrap size, it has more to do with what carries you are looking to do. If you are beginner, you want a wrap size that will allow you to do a lot of different carries so that you can test them out and find your favorites. For most average sized people, this is a size 6 wrap. If you are plus sized, then you would likely want a size 7, and if you are petite, a size 5 would most likely be enough. Most wrappers go shorter as they get better at wrapping and figure out which type of carries they like to do!

CARRIES:

Now on to the fun part!! There are MANY different types of carries so I'm just going to pull a few of the most popular ones such as the: Front Wrap Cross Carry, Pocket Wrap Cross Carry, Back Wrap Cross Carry, Double Hammock, Rucksack/Ruck Under Bum Carry, and the Kangaroo Carry.

Front Wrap Cross Carry (FWCC) - The FWCC is probably the easiest one to start with for a beginner, mostly because it’s the one carry that you can tie first before you put the baby in (and then adjust, obviously). This carry is great for newborns and uses a long length of wrap.

Here is a great video showing you how to wrap a FWCC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0bfAIy8SJQ

Pocket Wrap Cross Carry (PWCC) - PWCC is the most commonly used stretchy wrap carry (can be pre-tied with a stretchy). It is the same thing as a FWCC except the pocket will be on the outside. This carry doesn’t work as well with woven wraps as it is harder to tighten. This is the carry that we almost always use with Harper in her Moby! :)

PWCC Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44snbbszTps&feature=related

Back Wrap Cross Carry (BWCC) - BWCC is a good starter back carry because it uses the same mechanics as front wrap cross carry. There are three variations: chest belt, crossed in front, and ruck straps. The chest belt and crossed in front versions generally use a long wrap. The ruck straps version can be done with a size or so shorter. BWCC is good for all ages and can be done legs in for newborns.

BWCC Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2RKIICc-CY

Double Hammock (DH) - Many wrappers find the DH (also known as the Chunei Back Carry) to be the most supportive carry and most comfortable for long term wearing. It’s a bit trickier to learn though, so probably not the best for beginners. Once you get the Rucksack down pat, you should be good to go for trying this one DH will take slightly more length than you will need for a FWCC. There is also a “tied under the bum” version that can be done with a mid-length wrap. DH can be done with all ages and can be done legs in for newborns.

Video showing how to wrap a Double Hammock:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMW_GUkMdZw

Rucksack/Ruck Under Bum Carry (RUB) - This is probably the best back carry for beginners as it’s the easiest and quickest to learn when you are just starting. It can be used with babies who have good head and neck control (usually around the three month mark and older). Ruck is easiest to get high on your back. RUB is a great toddler carry since it allows for easy ups and downs.

Rucksack Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc2F2oyDqns

Kangaroo Carry - Kangaroo is a single layer front carry and is great with shorter wraps (size 4s). It can be a little trickier but it is nice to only cart around a small wrap sometimes! :) This is the carry that is being done in the action shot of my Didymos!

Kangaroo Carry Video (sorry it's in German but you get the point!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfuoWaK9I7Q&feature=related

You can find more carries with photos and video instructions here:

http://www.thebabywearer.com/index.php?page=WrapInstructionsChart

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

• As with any carrier, you want the wrap to support baby out to his knees. Knees should be slightly higher than baby’s bum. Newborns can be wrapped with their legs froggied. There is no rule as to when you can wrap legs out – follow your baby’s cues as to which way he’d rather have his legs. The good thing about wraps is that the seat can be made as narrow as need be so that even small babies can be legs out.


• Babies should be wrapped arms in until they have good head and trunk control. This will keep them well supported. You can also use the wrap to support a sleeping baby’s head. Older babies may prefer arms out; if they fall asleep, re-wrapping arms in will provide them more head support.


• Make sure that baby’s airway is always clear (the wrap should never cover the face).


• Tightening is key. If you take the time to work the slack out of the wrap, you will be rewarded with a more comfortable carry. Stretchy wraps will stretch more than you think – pull them tight!
  Spreading the wrap carefully is also key. Tightening and spreading will help you avoid pressure points from the wrap and will more evenly distribute the weight.


• If you are wrapping a small baby, you may find it easier to fold the wrap in half before wrapping (the side where the rails meet should be up so that you have a pocket for baby).


• Babies should be worn nice and high in front carries. For newborns and small babies, a good rule of thumb is “high enough to easily kiss baby’s head.” Older babies and toddlers will be more face to face with you in front carries. Carrying too low is a common beginners mistake that can lead to back pain.


• It is best to master a front wrap or two before attempting back wrapping.


• You can back wrap even very small babies; however, it is recommended that you not do so unless you are an experienced wrapper or have an experienced wrapper to assist you. Babies who have good head control are easier to back wrap. There is also tricky stage when babies learn to roll and crawl that can make learning back wrapping challenging. 3-5 months is probably the easiest stage to learn back wrapping as baby has enough head control to be stable but isn’t so wiggly that he will try to escape. Of course, you should always use your best judgment.


• When learning to back wrap, it is best if you can do so over a soft surface like a bed (or have a spotter). Wrapping in front of a mirror is also helpful. A car window makes a great mirror on the go once you are ready to take your wrapping on the road.


• When you are ready to learn a new carry, watch several videos. There are different techniques and pointers that different wrappers will use/give, so watching multiple sources will help you find the method that will click for you.


• Practice makes perfect! It may take multiple attempts to get a carry just right so keep working at it.

I think that is about it! Whew! Hopefully this helps answer some questions about using wraps to baby wear! Feel free to ask any other questions you have. I love wrapping Harper and plan to do it until she won't let me anymore (usually around 2-3yrs old). I am really excited to use them on our trips to Europe! So much easier than a stroller! :)

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A Whole New World

My oh my how life has changed!

Updating this blog is getting pretty hard since I have an adorable bundle that is constantly filling up my arms! :) Luckily right now she is cuddled into my side so I'm going to attempt to write something!


Mommyhood is amazing...simply amazing! I love every minute of it (I even told Dan I was ready for more kiddos! Don't worry he talked me down pretty quick! haha). It can be exhausting at times but I haven't felt the "sleep torture" that everyone was warning me of! Harper typically eats around 11pm, I head to bed shortly after, and she wakes every 3 hours to eat. The hardest part is getting her back to bed after her 5am feed! She is often wide awake & wanting to party! I honestly don't mind the frequent wakings and kinda dread the day she STTN (sleeps through the night). I love our middle night cuddles! If she has a rough night and I feel too tired then Dan will usually get up and give the morning feed by bottle while I pump and catch a few more hours of Zzzzzs!

One thing that seems crazy to me is that she hates, hates, HATES all of her baby gear! If you attempt to get her into her swing or bouncer she will completely freak out. Crazy to me since those items are the only way NICU nurses remain sane some nights! I am so glad that we recieved all those things from a friend for free....I would hate to have wasted all that money! For now my sweet little girl is only content when she is in someone's arms (usually mine!). While it does make getting ready pretty hard, I wouldn't change it for anything! I used to laugh when I heard moms talk about how they couldn't find time for a shower....well now I completely understand! If Dan is working and not able to help out then the shower is a pretty hard accomplishment! ;) Thankfully I'm still able to get stuff done around the house with my Moby wrap! I couldn't imagine life without it! She is slowly getting too heavy for the stretchy wrap so I am on the lookout for a German woven wrap! There are so many gorgeous ones to choose from that I am having the hardest time (I see a new hobby coming up!). I also want one that is used so I don't have to spend the huge amount of time breaking it in! (hopefully I will be doing a post about babywearing soon!!).

What is so amazing to me is seeing her little personality slowly start to show (and I'm afraid I have a bit of a diva!). The first 3-4 weeks were pretty much just eat, sleep, poop.....but once she hit 1 month her eyes flew open and she started noticing the world. I think the most stressful part of being a mommy so far is trying to figure out if I'm doing everything I should be for her developmentally! We do tummy time everyday (and she is getting really good at it!) as well as read books and play the "look at mommy making funny faces" game. Entertaining a one month old is not an easy job! So far her favorite thing to do is be held where she can look over my shoulder and walked around. This girl loves seeing everything! If she is wide awake and we are not walking then she gets pretty upset! I am really looking forward to when the weather cools down so we can go on long outdoor walks...I think she will love them! :) It also looks like she is going to start smiling soon! She will randomly give smiles (started at about 3wks) and always does them in her sleep but I am waiting for one that isn't just a reflex!

Other big things that have happened this month are:

* She gained 2 lbs and grew 1 1/2 inches! Her one month stats were 8lbs 15.5ozs and 21.5 inches!! Breastmilk does the body good!
* She got her first cold :( We both were down for a few days and hearing her little coughs and hoarse cry were heartbreaking for me!
* She went on her first plane trip!

We flew home to TX when she was 3 wks old to see my grandfather who isn't doing too well. He was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer a few months ago and has been given a terminal prognosis. He attempted one dose of chemo which almost killed him (the reason we flew home in a hurry!). Luckily he pulled through (thanks HUGELY to my AMAZING nurse husband!! I will never forget how incredible he was!) and was able to meet the great-granddaughter he had been so excited about. The trip was incredibly hard as I have never seen my grandfather as anything but a strong amazing man but I will forever be grateful that he got the chance to see my daughter. At times he didn't know who anyone was...but he could always tell us who the pretty baby was! Sadly he was disappointed that he couldn't really hold her (too weak) or take her out to the country to show her off to all his family/friends. My hope is that as he gets stronger he will be able to go back out there, and we have promised to take her back to TX so he will get the chance too. I know that I don't have much time left with him.....and my heart breaks at that. I've never lost someone close to me....and my grandparents (who basically raised me) are the most important people in my life besides Dan & Harper. I just hope I have the strength to say goodbye and survive losing him.

Proud Great-Grandfather!

Great-Grandma (otherwise known as the baby whisperer!)

Other than that sad note and some crazy family drama (not blog-worthy!) this has been the most incredible month of my life! I still can't believe how much I love this tiny little thing! I loved her the minute I saw her face but the real connection and LOVE seems to grow everyday as I really get to know her. So far I cannot stand to be apart from her! Dan took her to run errands without me last week for a few hours and it was the first and only time we have been seperated! I couldn't wait to get her back! I am so so so thankful that I get to be a stay at home mommy right now! I couldn't imagine going back to a full time job in the next week or so!

Here are a few more pictures!

My "monkey" giving her monkey kisses!

The cutest little Red Raider working on her gun's up!

Her Daddy's little mini-me!

Loved our newborn pictures!!

Happy 4th of July!

My favorite pair of baby blues!

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Life after delivery...

During the last few months of pregnancy I found myself wondering (like most women) how in the heck I would ever look like myself again! You look down at the massive bump you used to call your abs and fear for what they will look like when there is no longer a baby underneath them!

I tried hard during my pregnancy to remain as healthy as possible and only gained 15lbs. Now before everyone starts hating me I have to give the disclaimer that I was sick sick sick for the first 20+ weeks and lost a good amount of weight so once I started to gain I had a decent ways to go before actually "adding" the lbs! I didn't actually get into the positive numbers until I hit 26-27wks. That aside I did still try to eat healthy and not allow myself the excuse of "eating for two". I let myself enjoy some pregnancy cravings (ice cream & donuts in the last month!)....though I limited it to only a few times a week and kept it to one scoop (instead of the whole gallon) or just 2 donuts (vs. the dozen I wanted!!) ;)

The one thing I was pretty bad about was excercising during these last 9 months. I did a little prenatal yoga but most of my exercise was walking and lots of pelvic tilts (great for back pain and keeping abs in function!). Everytime I thought about increasing the excercise something would start hurting and keep me from really doing it!

Once Harper was born I was a little grossed out with how my midsection felt. The best way to describe it is "jelly belly". The entire abdominal region literally feels like jelly to the touch! Yuck! I expected to still be pregnant looking.....but the feeling of the "jelly" was unexpected! It is honestly a feeling you can't really explain or imagine until you have it!

Since all the "bumpies" always ask for postpartum pics I decided to swallow my pride and take some. It will be nice to look back and see what I've accomplished (once excercise is allowed!). I'm actually pretty happy with how I look BUT looks are deceiving and it is totally still jello to the touch!! :( I am able to do sit-ups though (although my OB said not to for another 2 weeks) so that suprised me. I guess my abs didn't take as bad of a beating as I thought!

Here is my belly at 13wks (my first belly picture):

Here is my belly at 38wks 3days (2 days before I delivered):

And the front view (scary huh?! No stretch marks though!)

Here is my belly pics 1 week after delivery:

At 1 week I was actually down to the exact weight I was when I found out I was pregnant.....but as you can see it definately doesn't look the same!! I wasn't able to fit into any pre-pg jeans at this point! My hips have definitly spread out a bit! haha!

Here is my belly at 2 weeks after delivery:

At this point I can actually fit into my jeans but the shape of me has changed. I'm actually kinda liking my new hips......give me a little more of a curvy figure! ;) We shall see if it stays that way! Thanks to breastfeeding I am actually about 3lbs under my pre-pg weight! I would love to go down a little more since I was about 6lbs over what I wanted to be when I got pregnant.....we had just gotten back from a month of vacation so what do you expect?! ;)

This week I am going to start adding in daily walks (if it is cool enough!) and my OB has ok'd light excercise after the 3wk mark so hopefully I can add in some yoga or pilates. We shall see how it goes!

Time to get rid of the jello!!!! ;)

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1 week already?!

Wow! Time has flown! I cannot believe my sweet little baby has already been in our lives for a whole week. I know it is mostly hormones but I broke down crying about it this morning.....she is going to grow up way too fast! :*(

This past week has been absolutely amazing. Everyone always tells you how hard it is with a newborn....how you will be in "survival" mode...well I hate to disagree but honestly this past week hasn't been bad at all! Most of this is probably because I knew exactly what to expect with a newborn (one plus of being a NICU nurse!) ;) It also helps that so far Harper has been a pretty laid-back kiddo. She only really cries when she wants to eat, which is every 2.5 - 3hrs!

The hardest part of the week has definately been breastfeeding. I am very lucky to have a baby that had a great latch from day one and my milk came in on day 4....but that still doesn't make it easy! I've assisted many moms with breastfeeding, but now that it is me & my baby all my knowledge has flown out the window! Trying to figure out when to feed, which side to feed on (both or just one....), when to pump, when not to pump............it will make your head spin!! So far we have had no real problems and I am making MORE than enough milk so hopefully I can build up my freezer stash soon!

Luckily Dan has been able to be home for almost the whole week (he worked 2 nights) so we have had plenty of time to just relax and enjoy being a new family! We also had our first "outing" on Monday to Harper's newborn photoshoot. The studio was about 2 hrs away so I was pretty nervous but it went great! I nursed her before we left and she slept the entire way. She also did pretty good during the actual photo session....we didn't get all the shots we were hoping for because she woke up towards the end and NOTHING we tried got her back to sleep! Hopefully we got a few great shots though! We should see the proofs in another week or two and I cannot wait! :)

We also got to celebrate Dan’s first Father’s Day!! J It was pretty low-key since Harper was only 4 days old but Dan got to enjoy extra cuddles/kisses before he headed to the lake for some kayaking time (he has been dying to go! I wouldn’t let him the last few weeks of the pregnancy due to him being hard to reach out on the water!). When he got home we surprised him with a homemade cake and a card/picture from Harper. It was a great day!

Here are some photos we have gotten throughout the week:

My gorgeous 1 week old!!

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

That smile melts my heart!

Sleeping princess!

Her favorite nap spot...right on Daddy!

We are only 1 week into this parenthood thing.....and I am LOVING it!!

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Harper Jane's Birth Story

If talk about labor, blood, or other bodily fluids disgust you…..this might not be the post for you! ;) It is pretty long but I didn’t want to forget anything!

Our story begins on Tuesday June 15th when I woke with major cramps & contractions. I had been having both for the past 2 weeks, but something felt a little different that morning. Throughout the day they continued though nothing was time able or showed any sort of pattern…..they weren’t even really painful, just annoying! I also started bleeding and passing small clots which were a completely new thing. I told Dan it looked like things might be coming soon.

I was awake all night on Tuesday having some anxiety attacks about being home alone while Dan was at work. It has never bothered me before & we had talked about what we should do if I went into labor while he was working but I just couldn’t calm down. I think my mind had an idea something was about to start!

At 4:15am Wednesday, June 16th I went to roll over in bed and felt a very distinctive “pop”. I automatically leaped from the bed and into the bathroom…..sure enough my water had broken!! I was also having contractions but they were small and sporadic. I called Dan to let him know what was going on – pretty sure it was the longest 3 ½ hours he has ever spent at work!! While I waited on him to get off I decided to get all the little items packed that weren’t yet & throw in a load of laundry. The contractions finally started getting into a pattern so I started timing them at 5-6 min apart, 30-40 sec long. We had long decided that we wanted to labor at home as long as possible since I really wanted to go med/intervention free. I called my OB to let her know that my water had broken and she advised me to stay at home until the pain became too much or they were 3 min apart lasting for over a min each. Dan finally arrived home and we decided to take a walk around the neighborhood to see if I could get the contractions to increase in time/duration. Unfortunately the opposite seemed to happen…..they stopped!!!

I had a big fear of labor stalling and Dan thought that maybe I was stressing myself out (causing the contractions to disappear) so while he laid down for a quick nap around 10:30 I decided to sit in the rocking chair (which usually made me contract) and listen to one of my hypnobabies CDs to relax. I ended up falling asleep and waking up to my OB calling around 11:30 to see how I was progressing. Once I admitted that the contractions had pretty much gone away she told me to give it another hour and then head to the hospital (it had been 7hrs since my water broke) so they could examine me & we could discuss options.

I can honestly say I felt so defeated at that point! I just knew I was going to show up at the hospital, get strapped to the bed, and started on pitocin. I was terrified of the pitocin because it usually makes contractions much much more intense than natural contractions and most women end up needing the epidural to get through them.

At noon I woke Dan up and we grabbed our bags to start heading out. On the way to the hospital we joked about just jolting the kiddo out (it is pothole season in Chicago)….but weirdly enough hitting the holes actually started my contractions back up! We headed into triage where they verified that it was my bag of waters that had broken and the monitor showed small contractions every 6-7 minutes (most of which I wasn’t feeling). I was officially admitted and headed upstairs to the delivery room around 1:30pm! Once there I was started on an IV (originally I was only going to allow a hep-lock for emergencies but decided to go ahead and allow fluids since I was having a hard time drinking water without getting nauseous! I then met with the nurse midwife that was on call (the OB on call was busy) and we discussed allowing me to try a little longer to get things going without the pitocin. So Dan and I started pacing the hallways. Around 2pm the OB on call came to get us and started pushing the pitocin….exactly like I expected! I wasn’t comfortable with that yet because my contractions had started to intensify though they were still 5-6 min. apart. Luckily my nurse was amazing and sided with us! ;) I asked the OB to check me first and see if any progress had been made. She wasn’t happy about it but decided to go ahead and we were all surprised to find out I was at 5cm! I had been 3+ just a few days before so something was working! She also discovered that my bag of waters had resealed and we agreed to let her re-pop it if we could continue to labor without pitocin.

As soon as she popped the membranes my contractions started getting extremely intense! Wow! Major difference! We continued to walk the halls until they got to the point where I was having trouble standing through them. We headed back to the room and requested a birthing ball so I could sit and bounce. The ball felt amazing BUT it always seemed to slow the contractions down. Grrr!! I knew the clock was ticking so we decided to pace the room (me leaning on Dan when the contractions started) and do short stints on the ball when I got shaky from the pain. We did this for about 2 hrs and my contractions started getting extremely strong and close together (1-2 minutes lasting around a minute). The pain was completely different than I expected and it was hard to figure out what helped me get through it! Sitting on the ball was nice but it was hard to balance when the pain hit. I was getting extremely tired and just wanted to lean against something….but that made the pain 10X worse!! I wanted so badly to lie in bed and close my eyes but that made things unbearable (I think that was the only time I actually screamed out! We got me up from there quickly!!) ;) Poor Dan was running around trying everything: massage, counter pressure (back pain had started), swaying. Etc….A few times I broke down and started panicking that I couldn’t handle it and luckily each time he was there to calm me down, refocus me, and let me know how proud he was.

I had prepared for labor using the hypnobabies technique (which I highly recommend!) and the plan had been for me to listen to the CDs during labor….but it ended up that I couldn’t handle any type of sound during contractions so that idea flew out the window! I still feel that they helped me through much of my active labor because I used the techniques to make sure I relaxed my muscles during the contractions and not fight the pain. Each time I felt a contraction hit I would try to relax all my muscles (not easy!) and would close my eyes whispering deeper & deeper or just counting down 5 to 1. For some reason counting down helped me a lot! I would just keep doing it until the contraction passed.

Around 5:30 the pain got extremely intense and I kept feeling like I had to go to the bathroom. The OB came back in to check me (a little shame faced I might add!) and I was just over 7cm! We had hit transition!!!! I knew that while this was usually the shortest part of labor it was also the hardest/most intense. I’m not going to lie….the next hour and a half was the longest and hardest of my entire life. My contractions were coming back to back and extremely strong. I kept thinking I had to go to the bathroom because of the pressure (once again the pressure was totally different than what I had been expecting!! There was no vaginal pressure…..all rectal!). My nurse got me a chair that has the middle of the seat cut out (similar to a toilet) to sit on which helped greatly (allowed the baby to push down without meeting resistance). The pain was still incredible and I was so tired I kept nodding off during the few seconds I had between contractions. I had been told my other mom’s who had done a natural birth that this was the point when I would want to give up and get some drugs. That is 100% true. Around 6:30pm I panicked and broke down to Dan telling him that I couldn’t do this. I know it was extremely hard for him to see me like this and we cried together several times. It if hadn’t been for him and my amazing nurse coaching me on I know I would not have been able to persevere. Around 7pm my nurse decided to check me since I was having so much pressure and we were at 9cm! One side of my cervix was almost at 10 so we were extremely close!

About 30 minutes later I started moaning that I had to push, I NEEDED to push. I got back in bed & my nurse checked again. I still had a small lip of cervix but she thought I could probably push around it so the OB was paged (luckily a new one had just come on shift!!). At 7:30 I started pushing (yep I was “that patient” that started at change of shift….haha!). Once again, the pain of pushing was much different than I expected!! Everyone told me it would be a relief to push…..I did not feel that at ALL! I wanted to push because I knew it was the only way for the pain to end (and my body was pushing whether I wanted it to or not!) but I didn’t feel the “relief”.

I had planned to not do the “red-faced” pushing (you know the type….push down hard, count to 10….) and was hoping to “breathe the baby out” as taught in the hypnobabies course. My body on the other hand had other ideas! Each time a contraction hit I would bear down hard automatically. Red-faced 100%! I kept trying to hold back (especially when the baby was crowning since that is the best way not to tear!) but I couldn’t stop it! After an hour of pushing my beautiful baby girl was born!!! The OB had me catch the baby and pull her up to my chest. Amazing! Everything was so crazy that for a minute I forgot that we didn’t even know if it was a boy or girl!! I had asked that Dan be the one to announce it but my OB had to remind him and grab her leg so he could see!! Considering that EVERYONE had predicted a boy I was shocked to see that she was definitely a little girl!!! I started laughing and Dan started crying. It was the most amazing moment of my life.

Harper Jane weighed in at 6lbs 15ozs and 19 inches long. I was expecting a much bigger baby and can’t believe how small she is! We did some skin to skin right away and she latched on automatically (she is awesome at breastfeeding!). I ended up having a small maternal hemorrhage which was scary for both Dan and I and the next few hours were a little struggle between the hormone changes, blood loss, and shock. Luckily they managed to get the bleeding to stop (I had to get a LR bolus, 2X the normal dose of pitocin, cytotec, AND a shot of something I didn’t catch the name of! I am so thankful that I had an IV placed!!) but the first 2 hours are kind of hazy to me! Much to everyone’s shock I only had a small 1st degree tear that needed a few stitches. The OB was amazed! With how I was pushing she thought I would be pretty messed up!

Even though I felt like I lost control several times during labor (especially at the end), everyone kept talking about how they had never seen a labor like it! Going natural is NOT common at my hospital and none of the staff had even heard of hypnobabies! People kept popping in to get a glimpse of the “quiet hypno” mom. Kind of funny! The OB kept commenting on how I was quieter than many of their moms with epidurals – especially during pushing. I guess looking back I was pretty quiet 95% of the time!

So far recovery is going well! Sore and exhausted (running on about 3 ½ hrs of sleep at this point) but I can’t stop staring at my amazing little girl! I still don’t think it has sunk in yet that she is mine!! She looks just like her daddy and is the most gorgeous baby I’ve ever seen! Pure love!

Going natural was the hardest and most intense thing I have ever done, and I would do it again 100%! Being confined to a bed and immobile (for the most part) terrifies me and I’ve witnessed too many times where the epidural didn’t take or caused severe spinal headaches. For me it just wasn’t an option I wanted to consider. I spent the last 9 months mentally preparing myself for labor and birth. Our bodies were created to have children and it is amazing what it can do if you allow it. There is no medal given for having natural childbirth, and it is not for everyone, but I feel like I won a gold medal that I get to keep deep inside my heart. I set out to see what my body could do (and I am a wuss with pain!) and it did so much more than I ever imagined! I’m sure my body will never look the same as it did before my daughter (although I did manage to get NO stretch marks!! Crazy!) but I have a whole new respect for it.

That is all I have for now! I’m going to go back to holding and loving on my gorgeous little girl!! I am a mommy!!!!!

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Baby? What baby?

Well so much for "mommy intuition"! My guess of June 11th came and went...with no baby to show for it! We are officially in the "could happen any minute" phase and it is driving me NUTS! According to my OB my body is 100% ready to go (3+cm dilated, more effaced, baby at station 0), it is just up to kiddo to make the move!

Other than the normal issues of pregnancy (nausea, hip/back pain...) I've have been incredibly lucky to have had a complication free "easy" time. A part of me is a little sad that this time is almost over. I am going to miss my big 'ol belly (I can't even remember not having it!), the little kicks/punches/rolls, and having "monkey" all to myself. I'm selfish but I've loved this time I had with kiddo, something only other mommies could start to understand.

The other parts of me are ready to go!! I am a total type "A" personality and need to plan everything. Not having any idea when I will go into labor is driving me crazy! I want to know if I have a son or daughter coming my way....whose nose/lips/eyes kiddo has....what his/her cry sounds like....the list goes on & on. I am ready to have my outside baby!

Weekly Update:

• How far along? 38wks, 2 days
• How big is baby? 19-22 inches and 7lbs! We have upgraded from the small round watermelon to the large long one! Eek!
• Total weight gain/loss: approx (+) 14 lbs! Water weight is crazy though! I can weigh myself & then a few hours later be up 5-7lbs!
• Stretch marks? Nope. I cannot express how shocked I am to have made it this far!
• Sleep: Hahahaha!
• Best moment this week: Getting out and enjoying the gorgeous days with Dan! Last ones without a kiddo to bring along!
• Movement: Definately slowing down, kiddo has no more room!! Nighttime is still the favorite though!
• Food cravings: Donuts :( I have only let myself have a few but I could easily sit and eat dozens! Hoping my willpower holds up!
• Gender: I have no freaking clue...mommy intuition - FAIL
• Labor Signs: Body is ready to go & having tons of pressure/cramping/contractions....but nothing with a pattern yet! Come on baby!!
• Belly Button in or out? We are pretty much all the way out. Very very weird!
• What I miss: Being able to get up off the couch/chair/bed without it taking 3+ tries! ;)
• What I am looking forward to: Labor!!
• Weekly Wisdom: I am going to have a stuborn baby....I have accepted it!
• Milestones: Getting the hospital bags packed, getting the nursery complete (more below!), and being ready to pop at any moment!!!

I haven't taken my belly pic for this week yet (will do tomorrow morning!) but it is huge! I decided to measure around to see how big it was and it was 40cm!! WOW! I won't say what I started out with (hehe!) but lets just say holy cow that is bigger than what I thought it would be! It is still strange/amazing to see myself with this big belly! Everytime I get ready I always just stop and stare at it in the mirror. I still can't believe it is me I'm seeing!

The best thing about today was that we have finished the nursery and gotten everything washed/folded for LO! I love how the room ended up turning out! We wanted something understated (ie - not really babyish) and I think we achieved it! The room is pretty small so we had to pay attention to where we put things and the size of all the furniture! Here are some pics:

(sorry some are blurry/hard to read....blogger screws up all my photos!)

After:

For some reason the photo above won't go bigger so you can read it! Dan built the gorgeous bookshelf by hand...my favorite piece in the room! We got 4 adorable decals to put on the wall above the bookshelf. We put the decals on their own individual canvas instead of the wall so we can take them with us when we move! :) The other photos are details on the bookcase (wooden blocks for LO's name, Sophie the giraffe (teething toy...I love it!) and the infant fork/spoon my grandfather bought the baby!

I love it!! Clean, classic, & neutral...exactly what we were going for!! Now we are just missing the main ingredient - THE BABY!!!

Come on out kiddo! Mom & Dad are more than ready to meet you!! :)~

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A great day of news!!

Yesterday was a day full of news!!!

The day started with a quick trip to the OB. I'm at the point of weekly check-ups, which are annoying, but I was actually anxious for this one since I had been awake all night with very intense cramping & contractions. Cramping in the last month or so of pregnancy is completely normal (things are "waking up"), but this was the first time they were strong enough to keep me awake & force me to really breathe through them. While there were definate peaks to the pain I wasn't really able to time them due to the pain never really going away. My OB did the GBS swab (hoping it comes back negative so I can labor at home!!) and decided to check my progress. Having "progress" in no way means ANYTHING about when you will go into labor (some women are dilated for weeks and some go from nothing to full labor in hours) but it is nice to know what is going on in there! I was really hoping to hear "fingertip dilated" or maybe even 1cm but was shocked when she said 3cm!!! WOW! Guess all those cramping/contractions are doing something! Dan's eyes got as big as saucers when she said that....I think he was ready to wheel me over to L&D right there! Haha!

While I know I can remain this way for many more weeks it is nice knowing that I only have to go from 3-10cm now instead of 0-10! My OB feels though that it will probably be sometime in the next week or two. They haven't even scheduled me for my 40wk appt because they don't feel that I will make it that far (they better not be jinxing me!!). Since we officially hit full term tomorrow I can say that I am READY!

As if that wasn't enough fun news for one day we got the call late last night that we have been waiting for since February! Dan's Air Force (AF) recruiter called to inform him that his board results are back and he was officially accepted into the United States Air Force Nursing Corps!!! Woo-hoo!!!!

We had given up hearing anything this month since the results were supposed to come out May 21st, but I guess they have just been slow getting the news to the recruiters! Dan will officially go in as an O2E with a few months credited towards his O3! He is pretty excited about being an officer in the military....much different than his enlisted days in the Navy! :) The best part was that they also had his COT (training) date set and duty station for after COTs. We had heard that it might be a few more months before we got that information. His official COT date is in March and he will head to Alabama for 4wks for officer training. We were really really hoping he could get in the October class, but are glad that he doesn't have to wait until next August like many new officers! The military has so many new recruits that they don't have enough training dates/spaces to accommodate (gotta love the crappy economy driving everyone to the military!).

Once he is done with COTs he has a little over a week to report to his duty station. This was the news I had been waiting impatiently for! We had given our list of places that we hoped to go with a mixture of overseas and stateside. Our first choice for overseas was Germany and our first choice for stateside was San Antonio. Our official duty station is: SAN ANTONIO!! :) I am kinda bummed about not going overseas but not really shocked. The military rarely lets new officers go overseas right away (we had hoped to skirt that issue since Dan is prior military and has already done overseas assignments).

Truthfully though the assignment works out to be better in the long run. My grandparent's have been having health issues and my grandfather just got some devestating health news. Everyone who knows me knows how close my grandparents are to me (no one means more to me than them except my husband and child). I am happy that this move puts me closer to them and love that they can get more quality time with their new great-grandbaby. The news we recieved on my grandfather made me realize that they may not be around much longer and I want to take advantage of every minute/day I have left. Now they will only be 5hrs away and can easily visit!!

It is also great that we will once again be back in the great state of Texas and close to our friends!! Having friends in Texas and California when you live in Illinois is annoying and hard!! Now we will be close enough for football game parties, river weekends, etc!! :) That makes me very very happy! Plus I can now focus my trips to visit friends on heading to Cali! No more splitting between the states!

We will be stationed there for 2-3 yrs (not sure yet...) and then can put in a request for Germany! Dan will have rank and AF experience by then so there shouldn't be a problem getting over there or somewhere else in Europe (they also have hospitals in Italy and England). Another positive to this is that kiddo will be getting old enough to start school. We are not happy with the TX education system (google the changes the State Board of Edu made to textbooks.....pathetic) and were not looking forward to paying for private school. Honestly we pretty much hate the way the majority of the US goes about education, but now we can hopefully put our kiddo in the Euroean school system! yay! I also love that "monkey" can learn another language easily through immersion and school!

I just have to remind myself that while my dreams of LIVING overseas have been pushed back a few years, it in no way changes our TRAVELING overseas! If anything we will be traveling more due to Dan getting more paid vacation each year (30 days a year!) and the ability to take cheap military flights (umm $12/person to go from San Antonio to Germany.....hell yeah!). Plus we have our anniversary coming up in October so I get to have some fun planning this year's trip!

I will say though that it is soooooooooo nice knowing when/where we are going!! Plans can be made now!! 9 more months to enjoy Chicago and then we are headed out! Time to figure out if we are going to rent or sell our place up here....look for a new car (we only have one for the city)....and explore the parts of the northeast we haven't hit yet! Then comes the fun part of moving! Anyone interested in visiting Chicago needs to hurry up and come! ;)

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It's June!!!

June 1st! Aggghh!

We are having a baby this month (well it better be this month kiddo...momma does NOT want to head in to July feeling like a swollen elephant!). In October when we found out we were pregnant it felt like June would never come, but it finally showed up! :)

People are starting to make bets on when the baby is going to come and what the sex will be. My cousin guesses June 5th/Boy (that is scary because that is just DAYS away!!), Dan says June 15th/Boy (though he wants it to be known that he doesn't care either way!!), and my vote is June 11th/Girl (what the heck I'm going to go against the grain!). Leave me a message with your guess! :)

Here are some "clues" to help base your guess:

- I have been carrying extremely low all pregnancy
- Baby's heartrate has been in the 130-140 range
- Contractions have started late at night/early morning but nothing timeable or with a pattern
- I've had periods of heartburn, but nothing too terrible
- My face has been broken out like a 15yr old since I took the pg test
- My hair is limp, lifeless, and disgusting!
- The Chinese Gender Chart predicts a boy
- Our official due date is June 25th and all ultrasounds have been right on!!
The anticipation is crazy! I think poor Dan is about to have a heart attack from it all ;) Last night I came out of the bathroom & made a comment about a possible stretch mark appearing (it went away though by morning...yay!) and in his 1/2 asleep mind he thought I was telling him that it was time. The look on his face was priceless!! Hmm.....thinking I should grab the camera for when I really do say that to him! He is now begging to pack the hospital bag so that is the agend for tonight.

Other preperations have been getting freezer meals ready for the first week or two after the baby! This way I can take it out & bake it for a great homemade meal with no stress.....especially on nights that Dan has to work & sleep all day! I've already made almost 36 breakfast burritos and red beans/rice so today I'm going to finish up with the lasagna, enchiladas, macaroni/cheese, and rhubarb bread! I don't think anything else will fit in our freezer!

The decals/frames for the baby's room should arrive this week so then everything will be ready! Poor Holly can't figure out what the heck is going on in that room! She loves the rug we bought...but gets really anxious when we hang out there for too long. I also think she can tell that I'm getting close (the vet said it has something to do with the changing hormones) because she is EXTREMELY clingy to me these days! I can't go more than 4 ft away from her at any time! She has always loved her mommy but she is 110% a daddy's girl....until now! ;)

Weekly Update:

• How far along? 36wks, 4 days
• How big is baby? 19-22 inches and 6.5lbs! The size of a watermelon.....yes a watermelon! That is terrifying!!!!
• Total weight gain/loss: approx (+) 12 lbs!
• Stretch marks? Thought I had a few last night...but they randomly disappeared! Hoping it stays that way ;)
• Sleep: I've forgotten the word
• Best moment this week: This past week has actually been really hard as we got some devestating news about my grandfather. Can't think of a "good" moment unfortunately :(
• Movement: 11pm-3am seems to be "party time" in the uterus! Kiddo is running out of room but loves to hook it's toes under my right rib & push hard......I have to push back! Feels like it is going to snap!
• Food cravings: Still loving the pineapple! The fact that it softens & ripens the cervix is an added bonus!
• Gender: What is your guess?!
• Labor Signs: Increase in amount & intensity of contractions but that is about it! Should find out tomorrow if I'm dilated anything! :)
• Belly Button in or out? I'm going to say 75% out and 25% flat
• What I miss: Sleeping on my tummy & being able to go 30 minutes without peeing!
• What I am looking forward to: Hitting full term (Only 3 more days!)
• Weekly Wisdom: Contractions feel totally different than I expected!
• Milestones: Making it to June! Our birth month!!! Yay!

I haven't really felt like my tummy grew anymore (I've actually felt a little better the last week or so), but the picture says otherwise! The watermelon size suddenly really looks right! Yikes!

(I cannot believe I'm still posting bare belly pics!! Yikes! Oh well I started so now I've got to finish!)

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Becoming Crunchy!

The term makes me giggle everytime I hear it, but I've been informed that I am becoming just that! :)

Everyone used to joke that I would become a "tofu eating, natural remedy, health freak" when we moved to California. Typical stereotype. That definately didn't happen (though I did enjoy the vegan restraunts and having options that weren't ALWAYS deep fried or "chicken fried!). Seems like my bigger transformation began when we moved to Chicago though!

We started changing small things to become greener after moving last year but when we found out we were expecting we really started looking more into what we use/eat/buy. I should probably say "I" started looking and Dan is more along for the ride! ;) Hehe! Guess this is what happens when you have too much time on your hands during the day! Google, blogs, & online communities give you tons of info quickly!

The first two things we started were cutting out canned foods & our cleaning products with chemicals. All the research on BPA found in plastics & cans is really eye-opening! I really feel that many of these perservatives are the reason cancer & other diseases continue to increase with each generation. We mangaged to cut this out by throwing away all tupperware (we now use glass pyrex with snapping lids to store foods or for lunches), buying reusable water bottles (no more plastic!), and getting rid of canned foods. The hardest part was the canned foods! We typically didn't use much but canned tomatoes & beans were used in a LOT of our recipes. I'm still struggling with the tomatoes (I have heard they have them in glass at Trader Joes...but I can't seem to find them!). I'm still experimenting with cooking/storing dried beans for future recipes...any tips would be great! At this point the only canned item we keep in the house is canned pumpkin as an occassional treat for the dog!

As far as cleaning goes we have removed most of our chemical cleaners. We now use a vinegar/water mixture for cleaning our hardwood, dusting, showers, tubs, and windows. It can't be used on granite (vinegar pH is too acidic) so we try to use basic soap/water most of the time....still use special granite cleaner with sealer occasionally. We've also cut out dryer sheets (1/2 cup vinegar works great & I'm looking into getting wool dryer balls) and will be switching to a "greener" detergent this month since we are finally running out of our Tide! We still keep bleach around since our couch, sheets, and towels are white! We don't use it a lot...but sometimes it becomes necessary! ;)

Other steps we are slowly attempting with our food intake is to get rid of processed foods (most!). We really try to stick to the outer edge of the grocery store...and we love our Trader Joes! Our local farmers market starts up in 2 weeks and I cannot wait to buy fresh local produce! We are attempting to make the full switch to organic, no hormones milk (it is hard since we drink about 2-3 gallons a week! That adds up quick!). I'm going to look into almond milk next month since it seems to be a healthier alternative! We also want to switch to local grain-fed meat but haven't found a way to (1) work it in our budget and (2) store it! I'm hoping there are some local farmers at the market to talk about buying some chickens or part of a cow from! I wish we had the room for a deep freeze but we don't so storage will be a major issue. To fit it into the budget I am slowly trying to limit the amount of meat we typically eat each week. I don't care for red meat on most occassions so we typically fill our meals with chicken (lots & lots of chicken!) & ground turkey. My goal is to get us down to 3 days of meat a week (1 day of eating out). The other days I'm attempting to cook veggie dishes or experiment with tofu. Anytime I get annoyed at all this effort I watch Food, Inc. again (highly highly recommend EVERYONE watch this...it is on netflix) and I'm reminded how screwed up our food industry is in this nation! The only processed food we haven't figured out how to cut out/ cut down has been cereal! We looooooove cereal & go through a disgusting amount each week. I don't care for eggs and pancakes definately aren't healthy everyday so cereal is our fall back! We have substituted a little with oatmeal (Irish oats...so yummy...reminds me of those gorgeous mornings in Ireland!), but our cereal intake is still way too high! Any tips for how you've managed to cut out processed cereal?! I'm thinking of attempting to make our own granola.....

I can say that Dan & I have already noticed a major improvement in how we feel since we have been cutting out all the "crap" from our diet. It definately takes more effort but hopefully soon it will be just routine.

Our last step has been to do everything we can to not use our car! We walk or take public transport almost everywhere (thankfully this is much easier in Chicago!). We can usually get away with only using our car once a week or every other week! Usually only when we want to go to the suburbs for something (that is where all the large baby stores are!) or we are heading to Madison to visit the in-laws. This month we managed to only spend $40 on gas! Yay! It is getting harder & harder for me to walk any distance but I'm still trying! Hopefully it keeps me in shape for labor & losing the baby weight! :)

Becoming "crunchy" hasn't stopped there! It has also taken over our plans for baby! I'll save that for the next blog post, but it seems I have officially become a "crunchy mamma"! hehe! :) Get ready for a post on cloth diapers, cloth wipes, breastfeeding, baby-led weaning, and babywearing! Oh aren't you excited?! ;)

And any recipes for veggie dishes would be great! I'm still needing help with this!

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35/35

This past Friday we hit another milestone! 35 weeks! What is even more fun is that once you hit that point you only have 35 days to go! WOW! Just over a month (or less) until we meet our little monkey!

I think at this point the nerves are starting to hit both Dan and I. I'm not really worried about taking care of a newborn (I have had pretty good practice the last 4 years..), but I am nervous about the 24/7 aspect of it! Mostly though I'm nervous/sad/excited about the change this is going to bring to my marriage. A baby changes everything and I am 100% sure that it will bring Dan & I closer.....but it is sad to realize that it is no longer going to be just about us! We have had a good thing going for almost 3 years (5 years together total..) and it makes you nervous to realize that it is all about to change! I know deep down though that it will definately be for the better!

Dan's nerves are a mixture of those above AND taking care of a newborn! He hasn't had much practice so the closer we get the more worried he becomes. It is pretty cute! I remember watching him in the newborn nursery the day we had clinicals there.....he will be fine! He can change a diaper like a champ (though he needs more practice for the cloth diapers!) and he is definately NOT going to be one of those "hands-off" dads! Anyone who knows him knows that will not be a problem! :) I'm also lucky in that he is great at housework, laundry, and cooking and has no problem doing it all if needed. That will be a huge relief the first week or two while I'm healing and getting breastfeeding down! I can't imagine being married to a guy who didn't help out!

All in all we are just at the annoying part of pregnancy where you are just waiting (anxiously) for the baby! The room is ready (except for a few pictures that need to go up), we will be packing the hospital bag this coming weekend, hypnobabies lessons are over (just in maintenance mode now), and contractions are starting! The contractions are starting to build up which is both exciting and worrisome (I don't want LO to come for at least another 2 1/2 weeks!!). I get my GBS test at my OB appt this Thursday so we will find out then if anything is "going-on". We start weekly appts this week (which I have been dreading...too much work to get to the office!) so frequent updates should be coming!

My 35/35 photo! (blurry but oh well!) ;)

Weekly Update:

• How far along? 35wks, 2 days
• How big is baby? 19-22 inches and 6lbs! The size of a very large cantaloupe
• Total weight gain/loss: approx (+) 10.5 lbs! It is hard to get an accurate number since some days I'm swollen & others I'm not! I try to weigh early in the morning before I start puffing up!
• Stretch marks? Nope - It is crazy to me!
• Sleep: I've given up
• Best moment this week: Getting to hang out with friends at the dock! Haven't seen most of them since the start of winter!
• Movement: Never ending! It is pretty painful at times! :( Kiddo gets the hiccups all the time too! Used to be cute...now kinda annoying!
• Food cravings: Pineapple and ice cream (not together!). Luckily pineapple is in season but I'm trying hard to limit my ice cream! Once or twice a week & that is it! (and for the record I never did eat the Luther Burger!)
• Gender: No idea but I'm getting impatient!!
• Labor Signs: Increase in contractions & LO has definately dropped but that is it! I hope things start slooowly moving (but don't come out until at LEAST 37 weeks kiddo!).
• Belly Button in or out? Still a half & half! I'm terrified of what it will look like after this is all over!
• What I miss: Wine and being able to cuddle with my husband! Belly gets in the way!
• What I am looking forward to: Hitting full term (37wks!)
• Weekly Wisdom: Can't think of anything!
• Milestones: Officially entering my 9th month!

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Photographer Picked!

We are booked for newborn photos!!! :)

I have spent the last 2 months looking for a newborn photographer that fit our tastes & budget. I honestly thought it would be easy.....boy was I wrong!! I got spoiled in California with a group of amazing photographers that I loved and had used for various things. I thought a city as large as Chicago would have tons of options for amazing photography, but apparently the northeast has different tastes than I do!

I kept a list of every photographer I looked into (so I could remember) and I'm scared to count it up! Lets just say it is several pages! I even began looking out of state (Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana...) with no luck. Out of all those photographers I found 3 that I liked and 1 that I absolutely loved. Next step was to get price lists....

Ouch! Those that know me know that I will gladly pay good money for photos that I love, but these prices were crazy! The photographer that I loved wanted almost $600 just to schedule a session! After that fee you have to buy each individual print and at $40 for one 5X7 (or $75 for one 8X10) that added up quick! I asked about buying a high-res CD of all photos and it was $2800!! OMG! Considering they ususally only get 30-35 photos from the session that was CRAZY!

Out of the 3 photographers that I liked one never emailed me back (after 3 emails from me), one is on maternity leave and couldn't do the photos, and one was overpriced for the quality of photos (they were nice but for a few hundred more we could go for the photographer I loved!).

At that point I pretty much gave up! I figured it just wasn't going to happen......then I happened to stumble on a blog of gorgeous newborn photos and realized that the photographer was located only 2 hrs away! I almost didn't email because I was frustrated with the whole process but decided to go ahead.

Aaaannnndd.......she is (almost) in our budget!!! Woo-hoo!!! I convinced Dan that the extra $ was worth it, they only stay in that "newborn" stage for 2 weeks and I wanted pro photos to document it!

Here is her website for a preview:

http://www.heatherwoodwardphotography.com/

We are scheduled in for July 2nd, though that could change based on when this kiddo makes it's appearance!

Although she has all the props needed I can't resist buying these two hats for the photos (will give away the one that is the wrong gender!). I have been obsessed about these since we first found out we were pg!

Aaahhh I love them! I can't wait to see our LO ready for his/her photoshoot! :)

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Boy...Girl....Alien?

I know I promised that my next blog would be over the nursery, but we still have a few things to put up on the walls! The room won't be completely finished until after baby arrives because 2 walls will have pictures/prints that are specific to our LO (little one)! Our chair did arrive though & I love it!!! So comfy & perfect for long nights with an awake baby! ;) So glad we opted out of the overpriced glider from the baby stores & went with the leather rocker/recliner!

While we wait for the room to be finished I thought I would update from our ultrasound last week. We weren't expecting another u/s after our 20wk anatomy scan since my OB doesn't routinely do 3rd trimester scan (really there is not medical point to them!). The only reason we got one was because I had been diagnosed with placenta previa after my 20wk scan (that my OB somehow forgot to inform me of!! Hmph!) and they had to make sure that everything had moved up so I could be cleared for a natural delivery.

To be honest I really wasn't looking forward to the ultrasound. I loved getting a quick glance at LO but I was terrified that the gender would be revealed!! Can you imagine making it 8 months without finding out, only to have a slip at the last minute?!?! I'm sure Dan and I drove our tech crazy telling her over & over that we didn't know & didn't want to know! We kept our eyes closed at the very beginning so she could get babies position (I've heard that some techs put the wand on and the first shot is a perfect "money" shot!). It was hard to relax during the entire scan, though she later told us that the baby was in a position where she couldn't have told us if we begged her to! Good modest baby!! hehe!

We did ask if she could take time to try & get a profile shot for us. Poor lady tried her hardest but this kiddo was not having it! It was face planted into the side of my pelvis and no matter how hard she pushed with the wand it did not want to turn toward the camera!! Stubborn kid! She turned on the 3D viewing to see what type of picture she could get (she was soooo much nicer than the tech at our 20wk scan!) and we got a few facial shots. Our print outs are not very good because the baby was moving so much (blurry) trying to push away the wand, but we could make out some chubby little cheeks and crazy full lips! Neither one of us can figure out where those lips came from! We only tried for a cute shot for a few minutes because LO started getting mad at being pushed around and started crying. :( So sad (but kinda cute!).

Here comes my "bad mommy" confession: I kinda wish she wouldn't have done the 3D viewing! I have never liked the 3D/4D ultrasound pics and always think the baby looks like some deformed alien in them. While I know that our picture is horrible due to positioning and movement (plus the normal weird 3D look...), I can't get it out of my head that my baby is going to come out looking like some deformed alien! Gotta love hormones! I know that I am going to think my kiddo is the most gorgeous kid on the planet no matter what.....but until then I do not have the best mental pictures (or dreams!). Sometimes a little mystery is a good thing!!!!

Here is our "best" facial photo:

So what do you think? Boy, girl, or alien?!

Poor little thing isn't even out yet & I'm already winning the "bad mommy" award! I am just ready for it to make it's appearance so I can stop dreaming funky dreams & just love on my adorable baby! :)

Other than that the ultrasound went great & I was cleared for delivery! Yay!!! Kiddo is measuring in the 60th percentile (meaning it is bigger than 60% of babies at this gestation) so everything is right on track! It is also extremely low and already head down & engaged! Yikes! That explains the intense pressure I've been having along with the severe hip/back pain. The tech kept saying she felt sorry for me having seen what position it was in! Now I feel validated and not like just a whiney baby! :) I've also been having TONS of braxton hicks contractions and a few real ones thrown in for fun ::cough cough::. While realistically I know that this means diddly-squat about when I will go into labor a small part of me hopes this means we will be closer to 38wks and not head towards 42!

Only 2 1/2 weeks until we are "full term"! 5 1/2 weeks until our due date!

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Household Changes

One large adjustment in our household lately has been me becoming a SAHM (stay at home mom). I always hoped that I would be able to stay at home when my kiddos were little...but I honestly never thought it would be possible. I consider myself very fortunate to be given this opportunity!

This transition hasn't been completely easy though! One challange I've been facing lately is the feeling like I'm losing a large part of my identity. For so long my profession was a huge part of who I am. At times I felt burned out at my job...and I loved to complain about the long 12 hour shifts...but I honestly loved being a NICU nurse!! I got to make a difference every single time I went to work. I got to have nights where I cuddled adorable newborns that were almost ready to go home as well as nights where I was running nonstop trying to keep that tiny 23 weeker from spiraling downhill. The ups & downs of ICU work is exhausting and exhilarating.

I've been told that this feeling will fade away once my sweet baby arrives. I really hope so, but at the same time I am determined NOT to let my entire identity be "mommy"! :) Luckily I will be able to start back up with my graduate classes in August (had to take the semester off due to travel restrictions) so I will still be in the nursing world, just in a different aspect! If I miss the babies too much I can always try to find a Per Diem job and work one night a week! I must say it is nice to have options and not worry about childcare since Dan only works 3 nights a week!

Another thing that has had to adjust since staying at home is the family budget! It is very strange not bringing home a paycheck and I have to battle feelings of guilt sometimes (brought on by me NOT Dan!!). These feelings are completely unfounded since our options for childcare if I did work were:

- Hire a nanny (our work hours don't work with daycare) which runs about $1500+ a month. Daycare is only about $150 cheaper anyways...talk about sticker shock!
- Work opposite days, which means we would only have one day together as a family. No way!
- Work the same days but opposite shifts. We would have more time as a family but would always be exhausted!! Working 12 hrs and then having to do all care for the baby before going back to work - No way! I have total respect for single mother nurses...don't know how they do it!

With those choices it became obvious that the best option was to have one of us SAH and we decided it should be me since Dan will soon be back in the military and I might not be able to work where we are stationed anyways! So now I have taken it to be my job to save money every way I can (helps lessen the guilt!). We have never really budgeted for anything so it has been really interesting to track our spending! Lets just say our food budget was horrifying for just 2 people! We eat out waaaay too much!

Now that I'm home all day I have been trying to cook much more (pause for your laughter at me cooking...). It has been going pretty well and we definately cut down on eating out but our grocery bill was still pretty outrageous for a family of 2 (and 1/2).

Everyone has been telling me that I really need to do a weekly/biweekly menu plan and use that to shop (only going to the store twice a month) and that it would cut our grocery bill drastically. I was pretty skeptic...I mean really how could it save that much? Well I am now in my 2nd month of menu planning and WOW does it save a ton!! No more impulse buys, no more food going bad, and I am able to look for deals to see which grocery store I should go to! Our food bill has already gone down by almost 50% and we are eating sooo much better! I am a believer now!

Here is our menu for this upcoming week: (I plan 7 meals though we only cook 6 and save the 7th day for eating out. The 7th meal either gets bumped to the following week or made as something to use for packed lunches)

1: Apricot Cumin Chicken with Grilled Asparagus and Carrots

2. Chicken Enchiladas with Mexican Rice

3. Turkey Chili with Cornbread

4. Chicken Lasagna Florentine with Side Salad

5. Guacamole Turkey Burgers and Baked Fries (so healthy but feels so unhealthy!)

6. Homemade Pizzas

7. Pasta with Asparagus, Pancetta, and Pine Nuts


This menu will give us plenty for dinner, lunch, and something for Dan to take to work his 3 nights! The only other things I have to purchase at the store are staples (bread, milk, yogurt, fruit) and cereals & oatmeal for breakfast. I always have the supplies on hand for baking something should a sweet tooth arise! ;) Luckily our local farmers market should be starting up in the next week or two so we will be able to get cheap, fresh, local produce! Can't wait!!

Now that I'm getting a good hold on our food budget I'm looking for more way to save some moolah! Every dime saved is another dime in our travel savings! Just because we lost a paycheck does not mean I'm giving up my traveling!!! Hehe! 5 more months until our 3rd anniversary (wow!) and we won't let the tradition stop! I haven't been anywhere (other than home to TX) in 6 months due to the pregnancy and I am starting to go nuts! I think this might be the longest stretch in our married life without a trip! Must remedy that soon! This kiddo is going to learn to love planes, trains, & automobiles! ;)

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