Wanted

Tiny castanets.

¡Olé!

Hospital Bag: Redux

As promised, I went back and made notes on my hospital bag post. Nothing earth-shattering, but if you're using it as an actual guide, I figure it should be field-tested. Happy to take questions and comments!

2 Weeks

Obviously I won't be doing weekly posts forever (and nobody would want to read that), but at this point a week makes a big difference so I figure I'll go weekly until switching to monthly in a bit.

Week two was a significant improvement over week one. Part of that was just gaining more confidence, I think. Going to the doctor 3 days in a row for heel pricks was terrible, for example, but now we're pretty seasoned at the doctor-visit routine. Looking on the bright side.

It also helps that we made some definite progress in the nighttime arena. The pediatrician made a few suggestions for helping make the bassinet a more appealing place to sleep, and so far they've been pretty successful (I can go through the tricks in more detail if anyone is interested...). So we get some decent stretches of sleep at night now--waking up every 3 hours to feed except for the last round, which can stretch to 4 hours. The only challenge is that we're not really up and moving until 9 or 10am, which doesn't work if we have to be somewhere or want to get stuff done. I think we'll gradually be able to move earlier. For now, I'll take it.

Firsts

Sunday family dinner at the big house

Breakup: with Stumpy, the umbilical cord stump

Projectile poop (estimated 4-foot distance. Off the changing table and into a basket of clean laundry. Picture available upon request. I'm not even mad. I'm impressed).

Stroller adventure around the neighborhood (trip to Frothy Monkey after about an hour of me and BA trying to figure out how the GD carseat snaps into the MF stroller...engineering degree and marriage counseling recommended)

                 

lunch out with Jules at Taqueria del Sol

dinner out with Grace Ann (and surprise guest appearances by Catherine, Miss Nancy, and Maggie Howell) at 12S Taproom. Concurrent with first adventure in Moby Wrap

Mom's first beer. There wasn't a second. Tolerance is a tricky bugger...gotta get back in form.

brunch out with Kate and Andy at blvd [living in a walkable neighborhood is a huge help...we can get out of the house and get some fresh air and feel sort of like real people, but can be home in 5 minutes if things go sideways]

And a special welcome to CW's friend Oliver, the final installment in the February Babies Club. Wishing mom a speedy recovery and looking forward to playdates soon. And the delayed celebration of National Margarita Day--his mom craved margaritas all throughout pregnancy so it's a date!

Stats

last weigh-in: 7lbs 15oz
diapers: size 1 (that was fast)

"two-week" checkup is tomorrow, so we'll see what they say then.

We're doing ok, making it through, and having a pretty good time! He's just pretty darn sweet.

Hatching Evil Plot

Secret Service

(40 Weeks)

Today was the official due date, so I thought I'd do one last post for that. While it was more than a little stressful that he arrived prior to the due date, I'm glad we've already got almost 2 weeks under our collective belt.


How Far Along: Today was the EDD--40 weeks. This is, at best, an inexact science. As such, he's got 11 days on the outside. 

Total Weight Gain: GAIN SCHMAIN. I haven't hopped on the scale in a few days, but last time I checked I was down about 24 lbs from my weight at delivery. I suspect that the pounds get harder to lose--the first 20 are basically a freebie what with baby, placenta, and fluid--but I'll take it. I don't know what's "typical," but I'll share my experience. I had hoped to start going on walks around now as I feel pretty good physically but it has gotten too cold to really take him out for the time being. But the weather here is a fickle beast, so I am pretty confident that some nicer days aren't too far away. 

Size of Baby: Baby is the size of a jackfruit, a watermelon, or an actual 8-pound human baby.

Maternity Clothes: Yes, still. Mostly leggings and jeans. I'm still wearing the v-neck Mossimo Target tees (non-maternity) that I wore all the way through pregnancy. They work well on this side of the deal as well. The general look has been characterized as "homeless yoga instructor."

I could probably wear non-maternity leggings or larger-than-pre-preg-size Lulu, but no need to push things yet. I would say I left the hospital looking about 6 months pregnant and now look maybe 14-15 weeks pregnant? With clothes on, that is. The belly situation is weird and I'll leave it at that. 

Stretch Marks: Never got any. On the belly, at least. I know I largely have my mother to thank for that, but all future pregnant friends will be receiving this as a gift from me:

Gender: It's a boy. No surprise there. 

Movement: N/A? But I miss that part a little bit. 

Sleep: 
Him: Really good, I think. He's napping in his swing now. Sleeps well and pretty much anywhere during the day, but we are still working toward the goal of having him sleep in the bassinet between feedings at night. We tried this for serious last night and it went...ok. I didn't get less sleep than doing it the other way, and BA got more. The pediatrician suggested a couple tricks so we'll just see what works and know that it won't be magically resolved in a day. I'm going to try to keep him more active for some stretches during the day--looking at stuff, etc.--to hopefully help switch his day/night cycle. Because it's totally backwards at this point. Which is normal. 

Me: see above, I suppose. 

It isn't perfect, but I know a lot of people have it a lot worse. 

Cravings: I don't have any cravings or aversions, but appetite has been weird. I was STARVING during labor, probably because we had rushed through dinner before going in and, once there, I was only allowed a clear liquid diet. I never want to see Hi-C orange Jello again. But after birth, I have struggled to get a normal appetite back. I'm usually hungry for dinner--probably because people keep bringing awesome food--but during the day just have to eat because I know I'm supposed to. Generally the desserts that people have brought, because why not?

Other crazy symptoms: Trouble regulating body temperature; night sweats. General soreness and whole-body achiness a couple days in, but that has largely gone away. Spontaneous displays of emotion. Recovery-wise, I think I'm doing well, but that definitely adds another dimension to trying to take care of a newborn. I would say I feel like I turned a corner in that department about two days ago, which was a welcome change. 

Best Moment this week: They're all best moments...he really is a sweet and easygoing baby. Feeding is going well, the jaundice is resolving, and his weight gain is on track. Watching BA with his little buddy is also particularly sweet and entertaining. 

These hockey games aren't gonna watch themselves...

Deep Thoughts

Shall I poop now, or shall I poop later? Yes.

Smiles

One Week

Well, technically he was still many hours from arrival this time last week, but it's close enough for me. [Ok, so I wrote this in advance but then it took me 2 days to put in the photos. So it goes.] Here we are...all still alive, which is my definition of a raging success. People always talk about how they're terrified to bring home a newborn, but I had no idea how many horrors would lurk around every corner. The mind can invent some truly awful situations, especially in the dark while alone. Fortunately, after a few days, this faded to a manageable anxiety that is within normal limits. I would think.

Overall, we are all still doing well. He is on a fairly predictable pattern (I wouldn't call it a schedule) of eating every 2 hours and sleeping in between. Eating is going really well, for which I am very thankful. Knock on wood. I know that many people really, really struggle with that piece, and I admire their determination. Even though it has been relatively complication-free for us, it's still pretty challenging. And stressful. C has had some jaundice since birth, and eating well is really the only way for him to clear it out (via poops that we now discuss casually and frequently as if that is a totally normal thing to suddenly be discussing). Just in case worrying about sustaining your child's life is not enough, adding in the threat of "irreversible brain damage" (I suggest some addition professional development to that nurse) is pretty motivating. Thankfully, as of yesterday, his bilirubin levels have stabilized and we are just monitoring for now. We are all hoping we're finished with daily doctor visits and heel pricks.

Between feedings--day and night--he really just sleeps. This is pretty easy, except that he does not want to be put down at night. So the bassinet in our bedroom remains empty. BA and I just tag team throughout the night, sleeping in shifts between his feedings. The on-duty party is generally downstairs in the living room, where most of our supplies are. Plus, one can watch tv to stay awake. This is not a long-term solution, but it is ok for now. During the day, he'll usually sleep in the vibrating seat of the Pack N Play, and I have a couple ideas for how we can reconfigure some things to address nighttime that we'll get to if needed. The adrenaline definitely starts to wear off after a week and not sleeping gets harder, but we're still making it through.

Firsts:
Everything's a first in your first week of actually, you know, being alive on the outside, but here are some milestones in addition to getting born.

People C met and loved:

Jules

Miller

Sara

Lil Mary

not pictured: Berna, Kate & Andy, Catherine, Pete & Jules L, Grace Ann, the dogs, Janette

FaceTime: with the Upstate grandparents (ain't technology grand??)

mail: Valentine from his favorite great aunt

holiday: Mardi Gras, Valentine's day

car ride:

Stats:

- weight:
at birth: 8lbs 3oz.
2/13: 7lbs 8 oz
2/14 and 2/15: 7lbs 11 oz
The amount he lost after birth was within normal limits and he's gaining well now.

- length at birth: 21 3/4"

Likes: rootin' & tootin'

Dislikes: diaper changes. Until the fresh one hits that little bottom, and then everything is instantly ok; bilirubin heel pricks; the bassinet

Despite the craziness, we're having a good time just getting to know him. It's all so new, but it also feels like I already knew him.

Thank you to everyone for the visits, meals, calls, texts, and general cheerleading. It would be impossible (and a lot less fun) to do this without your love and support. Cheers to you.

a hospital ice bucket

My First Week

Post (with actual words) to follow.

Moms Are Awesome

Because when they come over to help, they don't just do normal things, like clean out the coffee maker. They do crazy shit like decide to descale it. And they bring pizza.

Unrelated: snug as a bug.

GTL

Baby C hung out in the birth canal for a while before making his grand exit, resulting in a cone head and some swelling. That part is resolving nicely.

Trying to process the extra red blood cells as part of the healing has led to a little jaundice. The prescription for this is sunlight. C is supposed to strip down to the dipey and lie in the sun (indoors) for 15-20 min in the morning and afternoon.

Fortunately, he seems to enjoy this, so it's not a screamy part of our routine.

Tanning time:

Baby Burrito

Roll Out

We're bustin outta this joint.

2.10.13

Sleepy Time

Getting born was exhausting.

He's Here!

Baby C was born at 11:32pm on Saturday, February 9. He weighed in at 8lbs 3oz, and it only took 27 hours of labor. He is being super chill and sweet so far! We are all settling down to try to get some sleep. More to follow.

Decisions (Part 1)

As you likely know if you've been following along, we had our regular 38-week check on February 7. While everything continued to look good with me and baby, the doctor suggested making a plan for induction. I was progressing well and she feels that conditions are favorable. There is minimal additional benefit to keeping him in at this point, given that he's 38 weeks. Also, 38 weeks is generally the endpoint when pregnancy-induced hypertension is involved. So we weren't totally shocked when the conversation took this direction.

That being said, I had spent a lot of time thinking about how I felt about going this route. While I respect everyone's choices and experiences in this arena, I was never aiming for a low- or no-intervention birth. I did my research and am ok with hospitals, most drugs, epidurals, and the like. However, I also know that one intervention often leads to additional interventions, and I did not want to start myself down a road that might end in events (such as an unplanned c-section) that would leave me wondering if they would have been necessary otherwise.

We discussed this with the doctor, and I felt like she was on the same page as me. She said she would like to avoid a c-section if possible, and I don't feel like this is an induction of convenience or has any other reason beyond medical precaution. My blood pressure is still fine (i.e., not consistently above the 140/90 cutoff) and all labs are still normal. Baby also looks fabulous and is growing well. But at this point, it was sort of like we were waiting for something to go awry--the primary concerns being pre-eclampsia and growth restriction. I don't have a crystal ball, so none of us can know whether these less-good-scenarios will come to pass or not. So in order to stay out in front of the situation and even maintain some semblance of control, we've opted for the induction now. Of course, if everything stayed fine, I could presumably go into labor on my own and start the whole process without intervention. However, if one of the higher-risk situations developed, I'd also be looking at induction (in the case of growth restriction) or even an unplanned or emergency c-section (in the case of pre-eclampsia, which can develop very suddenly). I watch Downton Abbey. I have no interest in being the next Lady Sybil. So, in a way, when we weigh all the situations, this route offers me one of the best shots at proceeding relatively slowly and delivering the way I'd like to. And if an urgent situation develops, then we make the best decision we can with the information we have at the time. While I have opinions and preferences and would like to be an active participant in this process, the "birth plan" is and always has been just to get baby out safely. I feel like having a rigid plan is the best way to ensure it all blows up in your face.

So I was prepared for that and am comfortable with the decision to proceed. I also feel like the doctor, BA, and I all came to it together. Here's what we weren't prepared for: after the conversation, the doc stepped out to call labor & delivery to see what the schedule looked like. When she came back, she said "how about tomorrow night at 8:30?" Were we free? Um, yeah, we're free. What might be on the calendar that would be an impediment? "Oh, sorry, we've got dinner with friends..." But I had been thinking maybe Monday or Tuesday. So we sat there, shell-shocked, for a little bit. After some time and some mini-freakouts, I think that on balance it's a good thing that we just go ahead and aren't spending 3 or 4 days anticipating. Really, we'd done pretty much everything and are as ready as one ever is (which is to say, not really), so here we go.

The general timeline: we are to report to the hospital at 8:30pm on Friday. What a way to spend a Friday night, right? I'll be admitted and they'll start the first phase of the induction, but we pretty much hang out and try to get some sleep overnight. Saturday morning they will see how things are progressing, and we'll go from there. My doctor, who will be on call on Saturday, expects baby some time during the day on Saturday. As much as one can predict these things.

That's pretty much long and boring and probably not of much interest to anyone, but I wanted to record the process--thanks for hangin' in. I'm auto-posting this one, so if you're reading, we're already at the hospital and will update when there are things to know. I think it will be a lot of waiting, so you're not missing much.

We will take any and all thoughts, prayers, wishes, good vibes, high fives, karmic vibrations, hugs from the universe or whatever your inclination for a safe and smooth process.

Le Petit Prince

In mid-January, I had a shower hosted by a gaggle of lovely ladies and wanted to share some photos before the next phase begins! This post can truly not do the event justice...it was so clear that so much time, thought, and effort went into the planning and execution and I'm still so touched and grateful. On top of the wonderful theme and details, it was also just a nice size and a wonderful mix of people from different chapters of my life that all blend seamlessly (isn't it great when that happens?). It was fun to visit and I also felt significant relief afterwards, as the gifts--which were overly generous to say the least--really helped me feel like I had finished out what I needed and was, for the most part, really prepared. 

sure, Grace Ann just casually hand-cut some silhouettes the night before. And yes, that's really me. 

hot chocolate bar and sweets (cake pops, cookies, and fruit tarts)

I mean, is that Pinterest-worthy, or what? Whenever I host a shower or wedding party, I always remember a piece of wisdom I was once given (by my dad, of all people)...and that's that while it may not be the biggest deal to you the host, or you may feel stressed during the planning, people always remember their own shower and it's often the only one they have. To be on the receiving end of one that was clearly orchestrated with such love and thoughtfulness and attention to detail--to what I would want and enjoy--was a special experience that I'll remember for a long, long time. The entire family is grateful to all who hosted and attended for helping us feel like baby C is already so loved (and swagged out). You guys are the bestest. 

----

[And if you've read this far and are still frustrated that there's no real info about the actual baby (funny, I noticed traffic is WAY up today), that's because nothing is happening yet. I'm still sitting at home. Washing things and writing blog posts. One or two installments will be auto-posted tonight, starting at about 9pm CST. I know about half of you are probably hunkered down in a blizzard, so I'll do my best to keep the information coming. Stay safe and warm. We love you all and it has already been so fun to hear from people...we really, really appreciate your well wishes and good thoughts. Every single one. xo]

Brunch @ Blvd

This is not the post you're looking for. But I had a couple lined up, so I wanted to get them posted before the new arrival. Otherwise, I strongly suspect they'd never happen.

BA cleared his calendar last Sunday before the game, so we were looking for something fun to do. Within my limits. Which pretty much just means eating. A new restaurant just opened down the street from us, so we thought we'd check it out for brunch. It was their first brunch, but everything went smoothly and was fabulous. It wasn't crowded, though it might be in a few weeks when people get hip to it. 

{ blvd } 

nashville

The restaurant (formerly Cha Chah) was rehabbed and reopened by the same owner, Arnold Myint (of Top Chef..."fame"? "appearance"?) A lot of it feels really similar in that they kept the same basic layout, but the vibe is pretty different. Notably, they have a pretty large market-type area in the front that had interesting snacks to grab, assorted jams and such, and--a very good idea given the proximity to Belmont--a grab-n'-go section with wraps and salads. I was also intrigued by the large display of macarons at the host's check-in table. I must go back to investigate. 

Seriously. And this doesn't even include the fun cocktail side of the menu. Let me just say: mimosas by the carafe.

We started with a breakfast appetizer--an excellent concept--from the a la carte menu. The croissant came with a whipped vanilla butter and apricot jam. Magnifique. 

I went for the waffle. The bacon is chopped and is in the topping with the cinnamon apples (slow clap).

BA's huevos rancheros.

Bottom line: We recommend and will definitely be back. I hope they do well, but I also hope it doesn't get so buzzed-about that it's really crowded. We went at about 12:30 and it was nice to just be able to walk in and sit down, as well as hang around for a bit after the meal. When we go out to eat in the neighborhood, we usually mosey down to the 12th Ave side, rather than the Belmont side. However, this will be a very strong draw. I definitely foresee strolling bebe down that way for Sunday Funday 1/2-price bottles of wine. Just sayin'.

So check it out. 

Mini-Maddie

A while back, I saw a pin on Pinterest that featured a site that makes custom stuffed doggies. I pinned it on one of the baby boards, and checked out the site. Because it was so close to Christmas, they had a long wait, especially for orders that didn't need to be delivered in time for the holidays. So I joined the queue and promptly forgot all about it. 

A few weeks ago, I got an email that Madigan was ready to be created (I had to submit each dog separately; I'm still waiting for Abita to get called up). I entered in her info and uploaded a few pics. Not too long after that, look who showed up in the mail!

I think it's a pretty good likeness! While real Maddie was very interested (probably because it's made of wool), they'll go in the nursery for C to enjoy later. I think it's pretty cool that he'll have toy versions of his puppy playmates. Due to the dogs', shall we say, diverse heritage, it would be impossible to find their lookalikes in a toy store.

You can find more information about custom doggies on their website: Shelter Pups

They're not cheap, especially for a stuffed toy, but each pup comes with a tag that has a code for "rescue points," which you can donate to one of over 5000 authorized SPCA shelters. More on how they work here. Given that both our doggies are rescues, I felt more ok about spending that money on what will hopefully be a special toy and benefits other doggies in the process. 

Just wanted to share an idea that would make a great gift (for yourself or someone who has a special doggie). 

Most Important Part

Just clipped the cup holder to the stroller.



Also, I am posting this from my phone for the first time, as practice for The Hospital Post. Let me know if there seem to be problems.

Book Shower

Earlier in January, some lovely ladies from our research project got together and hosted a little shower. As we are all early childhood people, it only made sense for them to go with a children's book theme, which they executed with creativity and enthusiasm. 

All the guests brought a book for Baby C, and/or a dish to share. All the dishes tied in with a particular book. It was so fun to see everyone's creative ideas, and of course the food was tasty as well!

                                            

These custom cookies were done by the lovely lady who runs Dozen bakery here in Nashville. She makes all sorts of delicious things, and can do almost anything you can imagine for the custom decorated sugar cookies. Check out her website or Facebook page if you're in the market for something good-looking and good-tasting (made with local, organic ingredients to boot)

Obviously I had to eat everything. But the best part was coming home with a basket full of classic books to jump start C's library (and the shelf on which they'll be displayed). When the child turns out to be brilliant, we'll know that we can thank the Peabody team for giving him an early start at geniusing. 

If you want a list of the books that the early childhood experts deem gift-worthy, I can add that in too.