Roly Poly

YEAH!!! Nathan rolled over on his own! One month and 2 days old... what a big boy he's becoming.

Yesterday Todd and Nathan had some quality "daddy & me" time in the early hours (thank you). Just moments after Todd left for work, I walked into Nathan's nursery to find the Peanut on his back. As some of y'all may know, Nathan is a tummy sleeper. (Yes, I admit it, I don't listen to all the professionals, but that's another story for another blog entry.), My first thought (a/k/a mother's intuition) is that he had rolled over. I tell my mom the story and she's in disbelief. No way could he have done this amazing feat so soon. I called Todd to ask about belly v. back, and he confirms that he had placed the Peanut on his belly. YEAH!!! What an amazing little man we have.

Nathan, we are sooooo proud of you!

My Men

Todd's First Father's Day

How adorable are these photos?

I'm a growing boy!

So Nathan had his one month appointment yesterday. He is growing so fast. He now weighs 8 lbs. 5 oz. and is 21" long. He's gained 2 lbs. and grew 2 inches in a month! This boy is a weed!

Seriously, he has changed so much in a month. My mom and I comment on it every day. He can hold his head up for extended periods of time, he smiles at us (and no, it's not gas or him peeing on himself!), he is such a big helper with his feedings (he holds the bib up to his chin with his hands), and he sleeps in his nursery.

Nathan also loves visiting new people and places, and especially loves when others visit him. (He likes the car rides, but hates getting in & out of the car seat!) His favorite person other than Mommy & Daddy is MeMe (my mom), and he already has a few "girlfriends" (Nikki, Stephanie & Lorrie). He loves his Grandma & Grandpa (they always bring him gifts), and his Granddaddy (my dad) stops by just to hold him. He also has a PopPop (my stepdad) who cannot wait to take him fishing. He has met almost all of his great grandparents, some who came from as far away as Florida. He still needs to meet Pop, so hopefully that trip will happen in the near future. Uncle Brian, Aunt Jennifer & Uncle Jeff love the sweet boy. Aunt Jennifer can make the fussies go away like magic!

We had a in-home photo shoot the other day... me & Nathan. I am working on finding the perfect picture for his birth announcements. I have the perfect idea, now I just need his help in executing it! He can be a wiggle worm, so most of my shots have some action blur in them. I am posting photos to FaceBook and to this blog, so check both places often!

Speaking of the wiggle worm, he has a few nicknames... The Peanut & Mr. Wiggley (as in wiggle worm). We call burps "the burpies", and it's called a "milkshake" when he spits up after a round of trying to get the burpies out. The boy is too stinkin' cute!!

There are so many other things to remember about our sweet boy. I plan on writing them in his baby book so I won't forget. It's amazing how much he has changed in one month. My mom said he'll grow up fast. It's so true!

Happy One Month Birthday, Nathan! Mommy loves you!

Mr. Photogenic

Our Little Man

As everyone can imagine, I have been busy loving on and taking care of Nathan. Time gets away from me... for days. Just ask friends and family that I have promised I'd call right back, only to finally find the time to do so a few days later. (Sorry about that.)

And even now, I am typing this post with one hand. The Peanut (his new nickname) sleeps in my left arm. Talk about multi-tasking. It took an hour the other day to type a five sentence e-mail. It was a work e-mail, so it had to be done. But Nathan wasn't giving me the five minutes for those five lines, so instead it took me the entire hour. Talk about exhausting!

I am doing well though. I take naps when naps, so that is making up for sleep I am losing at night. We are working on establishing a schedule (we = Todd and me), while Nathan is working on his own schedule. Smile. I am almost back to pre-pregnancy weight (only 3 lbs. to go), and I am even wearing pre-baby clothes most days. Sunday was a good day... khaki capris and an Ann Taylor Loft shirt. YEAH me!!

OK, he's almost asleep... or is he faking it again?! He's been known to do that. Fake stuff. Hunger and sleep especially. Speaking of hunger, my bagel is in the toaster ready for its smear of cream cheese. It's been there for 25 minutes now. Just when it "popped" telling me it was ready, the Peanut popped his eyes open and wanted (demanded) to be held. I happily obliged. I LOVE holding & napping with him in my arms. I suspect he loves it too!

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

So this past Friday evening was spent at Piedmont's Labor & Delivery unit. LDR #10 to be exact. Yep, we thought he was making his entrance. Nope. He was just making me uncomfortable. This is how it all started.

Last Friday I had to work 7 hours. Yes, had. My boss sometimes thinks he is a doctor as well as a lawyer. So he thought it would be OK if I worked 3 hours longer than the doctor ordered. So this extra 3 hours really tired me out.

As soon as I made it to my car, my back started killing me. I was doubled over in pain, crying, couldn't lift the key to put it in the ignition... not that I would have tried to drive anyway, but still. I am talking some serious pain. Anyway, after the pain subsided, I called Todd crying and carrying on about the pain. He told me to call the doctor, so I called... and waited for the return phone call.

I thought about driving to my grandmother's house just 2 miles down the street, but thought I needed to be at home instead. You know... take care of the furry babies, make sure Todd gathers everything we need for the hospital, etc. So, I drove home. No sooner did I get on the Interstate did the contractions start. For the entire hour drive home I had contractions.

Meanwhile the doctor calls me back and tells me to lie down for an hour, drink lots of fluids, take a Tylenol, monitor the contractions, and call him back in an hour. I do just as the doctor ordered. The contractions didn't stop. They were averaging 4 minutes apart, coming every 2 to 6 minutes. Doctor tells me to come on in.

We arrive at the hospital where I am hooked up to a fetal monitor and we begin our Friday evening. Yes, the nurses are seeing that I am having contractions, and yes, they are averaging every 4 minutes, but there is no progress on the dilation, so we wait. Todd and I watch Dateline and Farrah's Story in the meantime. Lindsay, the cutest nurse ever, comes in periodically to check on my and my cervix. Still no dilation, and apparently the contractions are slowing (or rather, not progressing). My doctor has offered me the option to spend the night, but I decided to go to sleep in my own bed. They send me home at 10:00 with 10 mg of Ambien, and needless to say I was passed out until the next morning. Nice. Very nice.

Keep your fingers crossed that the next time he decides to "cry wolf" he means it!

Put a Fork in Me!

I. Am. Done.

OK, more like He. Is. Done.

Yep! He is officially full-term! Today ends the "done cooking" week (as Toni calls it), and it could not have come at a better time. Here's why..

Yesterday was a bad, bad day for me. I felt heavy all day, and I don't mean weight-wise. I cannot explain it well, but trust me, I felt heavy. I also felt miserable because I am sick with a cold. No fun.

I slept until 10:30 Wednesday morning just so I wouldn't feel anything. When I finally got up, I moved so... so... so... slow. I was like that all day, too. No fun.

I am also on restricted duty at this time, so I work 4 hour days and then lie down for two hours when I get home. OK, this part is fun. Doctor-ordered 1/2 days and 2 hour naps each day, what more could a pregnant woman ask for?!?!

Except yesterday was different. I laid down at 6:00 and didn't get up until 9:30 this morning! Well, I did get up to go to the bathroom (once every 45 minutes or so) and to eat dinner (Wendy's fast food... not my idea of a meal, but what else could I do?), but aside from those few moments, I was either on the sofa or in bed. Poor Todd. Poor furry babies. They are being ignored. I am so sorry.

Anyway, back to Nathan. At our last ultrasound (May 4), he weighed 5 lbs. 9 oz. So he should be just over 6 lbs. now. His heartbeat this past Monday (May 11) was 147 bpm. He's also ready to get out!

I am 80% effaced and 1/2 cm dilated, or at least I was Monday. I'll know more at my next doctor appointment (May 18). I actually have 2 appointments next week... Monday & Thursday. That's unusual, but considering it is a holiday weekend, my doctor doesn't want to chance me going into labor over the Memorial Day weekend. Obviously I'll know more at next Thursday's appointment, but who knows... we may just be parents by this time next week!!!

Now I just need to tell my boss. He's so busy, we haven't had a chance to talk! Boy will he be surprised!!!

Never thought I would say these words, but...

I will be making Nathan's baby food. There. I said it.

At Saturday's baby shower, Jennifer handed us each a spoon. A beautiful chocolate brown spoon. The color was to die for. But I digress.

She then proceeded to walk around my living room asking us each to taste whatever nasty concoction was in the baby food jar sans label. Let me tell you... that stuff was NASTY. Yuck. As a self-proclaimed Foodie, my son will not be fed that stuff unless it is an absolute necessity. Again, that stuff was NASTY.

My friend Nolan (pregnant with twin girls... hopefully Nathan & the girls will have their first play date at Piedmont's nursery!!!) tells me that her sister-in-law makes her son's baby food and that it is super easy, so we shall see.

I know Jerry Seinfeld's wife Jessica has a cookbook about such things, so I'll be sure to check that out.

My neighbor Sarah makes Molly Beth's baby food, so I'll be sure to pick her brain as well.

Has anyone else made their own baby food? Any suggestions or combinations to stay away from?

Random

Just random things & thoughts...

My mom is having major surgery tomorrow, April 17th. Please keep her in your thoughts & prayers.

Todd & I have Childbirth Education Class all day Saturday. ALL DAY!!! Yikes!

My 34th birthday is in 8 days... April 24th.

My best friend Toni is hosting a baby shower for Nathan & me the following day, April 25th. I cannot wait to see all my friends, some who I have not seen in months! (It was winter. I hibernated.)

Nathan is due in 48 days, give or take. That's six weeks and six days, give or take. It's going FAST!!!

His room is 95% ready. All it's missing is the wonderful artwork that my friend Gray is painting for him. She also promises to hand feed me when she comes to deliver the art. I'm looking forward to both!

My sister-in-law Jennifer hosted a beautiful baby shower this past weekend. Our families showered Nathan with lots of love & gifts. He is one blessed baby boy! And we are blessed to have such special people in our lives!

I had a belly photo shoot on Easter Sunday. The proofs will be on-line in a few days. Let me know if you'd like me to send you the link & password.

Bob (my boss) told me yesterday that Nathan can come to work with me. Of course the details have to be worked out, and of course it all depends on how both of us feel (mommy & baby), but I am happy knowing that the option is available & that Bob thinks the world of me. (It doesn't hurt that he knows he cannot survive without me, too. That's a great feeling!)

Is there anything else you want to know? Just ask!

It's a Small World

So I just ran into a woman in the restroom here at work who is also pregnant. That means there are THREE pregnant women on my floor!

I have not spoken with her before, but today I learned that we have due dates close to each other as well. She is due in seven weeks, Aruna (the other woman) is due in eight, and I am due in nine! Talk about a small world. Wonder what was in the water all those months ago!