April 2008

April 01

Note to Self:

Never ever talk about your child's sleep habits.  It jinxes everything and you end up spending two and half hours fighting a 2 year old to take a freakin' nap.  All the while knowing that the angrier you get the less likely your toddler will go to sleep.  Now you are faced with a choice... wake a child up after only a one hour nap so that hopefully sleep will come easier tonight, but deal with a grumpy PITA kid all afternoon...or let him sleep now and possibly miss part of AI tonight because he's just not tired?  sigh...

NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER talk about your kid's sleep on your blog... or anywhere else for that matter.

April 05

Still knocked up...

Though I feel like it's not going to be much longer.  Mom will be here on Thursday and I think that I will breathe a little easier... or harder if labor starts.

This past week was a good one though I'm over the rain.  I know we need the rain, but man I am sick of being stuck inside.  Twice I sent Elijah out into the back yard with his raincoat and galoshes on to just get out of my hair.  On Tuesday I went a little insane with the cleaning.  I mean, I was cleaning the inside of drawers...can we say nesting?  Wednesday we went to meet a friend at Fit For Fun and totally made fun of some of the moms there whose outfits cost more than all the clothes in my closet... it was just too much.  More power to 'em though I guess.  On Thursday we went to Monkey Joe's.  I've always been a little nervous about going there.  I was scared that an older kid would trample my kid, but it's set up really well and well run.  Elijah spent a good half hour sitting on this little fire engine thingy, but got into the bouncy-jumpy things for a while.  We were there for a birthday party, which was good, because this kiddo worked up a huge appetite.  He ate two pieces of pizza (sans cheese) and a  box of juice and wanted more... He had a lot of fun though!

Oh yeah, on Wednesday we went over and hung out with Rachel.  I got to hold the babies.  They are so freaking cute and tiny!!!

Yesterday we went over to Angela's to drop off a canopy for her yard sale today.  That was fun.  She has a good play area and K.Lo and Elijah played whilst we talked.  It was nice.

Last night though...sigh... First off, the temperature outside didn't go below 70 until this morning.  Our house was sooo hot, so I wasn't sleeping well.  At 1:11 a.m. the fire alarm went off.  We have an electric system that if one goes off they all go off... ummmm, no one else in the house woke up.  It only beeped 3 times, but still.  Fire is one of my bigger fears.  So I got up and checked all the rooms and what not.  Nothing was on fire.  So I got back in bed and then I couldn't sleep... all I could think of was that maybe there was a fire in the attic, what would I do, blah blah blah... So when Elijah walked into my room at 1:30 a.m. I wasn't really sleeping.  I took him in to Jerry and went to the bathroom (big surprise there!) and started feeling a little sick, so I just stayed up and turned on the TV.  When I left Elijah with Jerry, I thought he felt a little hot, but I just thought that it ws just the temp of the house.  At 2 I hear Elijah's little voice calling me, so I tell him to come on out and sit with me.  Jerry brings him in and he's still really hot, I take his temp...101.5...sigh... so out comes the IB.  I tell Jerry to sleep in the back room, since I'm already up and I go lie down with Elijah in the big room.  I take off his shirt to help him cool down...sigh... The child was driving me nuts.  He didn't act sick.  He was figitity and playing with a doll, so I finally took him to his room.  That didn't go over well.  I compromise with rocking him.  By this time it's 3.  I turn on Step Up and Dance and rock the boy child.  He doses on and off, but is still awake.  Finally at 4, I'm about beat and am finally tired.  So I put him bed with me and turn my back on him.  At 4:30, I look over and he's finally asleep.  THEN... I realize I am starving, so I eat a banana and lie down to sleep, except that Grace gets the hiccups...sigh.  She is so far down in my pelvis that my whole hip bone shakes with each hiccup.  I get out of bed and decide that I'll go on and eat some cereal and that way I won't be too hungry in the morning and maybe I can sleep in a bit (Fool that I am!) She finally gets over the hiccups at around 5:30.  I FINALLY sleep.  At 7:30 on the nose, Elijah wakes right up and is UP!  Sigh...  His fever didn't come back until later in the day.  Again, he didn't act sick, just had a fever.  Sigh... I never know what to do in these situations.  Go to the doc?  Wait and see if he develops any more symptoms... let the fever runs it's course?  Isn't it the body fighting something?  he didn't take a much longer nap than usual, and I didn't really get a nap, so I'm pretty tired.  I hope that I can sleep tonight.  Mary the midwife offered to write me a script the last time for something to help me sleep and I'm wondering if maybe I should have taken her up on it.  My hip hurts so bad most nights, that I don't sleep well.  I can only sleep on my right side with some relief or sitting straight up, but that makes it a little harder to breathe...

Not much longer, I know... but I just don't remember being this uncomfortable with Elijah.  Though I carried him farther back and Grace is really right up front.  I shouldn't complain.  I've had a really easy pregnancy.   I'll just be happier once my mom is here.

Okay, enough for now.

April 11

soon?

soooo.... i'm still pregnant, but things are looking positive.  i'm effacing and a little dilated and grace's head is down...way down... mary the midwife said that i would probably be 3 cm by next friday and that i'm effacing nicely... next friday i'll 37.5 weeks which is where i was when elijah was born, so we'll see.  my contractions are sporadic at best, but when i have them i actually feel them, so i guess they are doing something.

my mom is here, so i feel better about the possibility of going into labor.   already i feel more relaxed.  not having to run after a 2 year old constantly is great!

that's it for now i guess.  i know there was more, but i can't remember.... okay... now for some rest!

April 14

Grace's Room -- check

I have finished all but two pictures on Grace's room.  Once again, I used an opaque projector to draw some characters from kid's books on the wall and then painted them in.  Overall I think they have turned out well.

Ollie

Doggies

Nim's Island

Russel The Sheep

The Belly Button Book

I Love My Mommy

Dog's Busy Day

The Peace Book

Happy To Be Nappy

Llama Llama Mad At Mama

 

So there they are.  I have a gorilla from Goodnight Gorilla to do and the green Powerpuff Girl left to do.

Elijah is sick.  He has gotten progressively yuckier over the weekend, so I broke down and took him to the doctor today.  If I wasn't thinking that I'm going to have this baby any day, then I would've waited it out, but I really don't want it on my mind.  But, yeah, he just has a cold.  Oh well, they were super nice.  We so rarely go to the doc.  We hadn't seen this PA since Elijah was 2 months old!  My mom has been great helping out with Elijah and around the house and yard.

Have I mentioned that we got a new mower?  We had an electric one with a cord and that made mowing the outside of the fence really difficult.  We were going to go battery powered, but the price doubled within the past couple of months.  So Jerry went and got us a reel mower.  I have to say that our yard looks really good.  It's lowest cut is only 1 inch, so it leaves a nice carpet of grass on the ground.  It's also the best cut for grass.  I'm just happy that we are reducing our carbon footprint a little bit.  Jerry did most of the back yard and all the front in a little over an hour, not too bad.  If we lived on more than .5 acre, I'm sure we would've been less likely to buy this, but we don't, so there.

Jerry came home to work today, and he did so from bed.  He also has a cold or really bad allergies or something.  These sickies need to not get the mama bear sick.  I'm having enough issues with little feet trying to push through my skin and contractions...I do not want a cold... I might cough and a baby may come out...

Okay, I'm going to add a couple of pics to the album and then go to bed.

April 17

This week

I just want to thank my town.  Thank you for not giving me dirty looks for using the handicap stall since that's the only one I can fit into.  Thank you for not commenting on my size and instead asking when I am due.  Thank you for not giving me a hard time since my belly hangs out over my maternity pants and my shirts don't cover all the belly either.  Thank you lady at The Fresh Market who said that she couldn't tell I was pregnant from the back, though I know it was a lie.  Thank you shoppers for not staring too hard at the mom that is hanging on to the buggy to get through a contraction while her toddler sings an unknown song at the top of his lungs.  Thank you mom for helping out with said toddler and allowing him to play at playgroup, while I sit on my butt and eat yummy snacks and talk to my mom friends.  Thank you Jerry for dealing with the toddler boy at night, even though I am the one that is not sleeping and so would be the better parent to get up if need be... I mean I'm on the way to the bathroom anyway right?  Thank you playgroup moms for bringing the perfect mix of yummy fruit and healthy foods and brownies and cookies this morning and for coming over and chatting to me.

I have needed this this week.  I am feeling very pregnant and huge and sad that NOTHING fits.  I have not needed to be reminded that I am indeed the size of a beached whale that needs to pee every five seconds.  I have needed to take a three hour nap.  I have needed to see my friends.  I have needed to pretend to sleep a little bit.

Tomorrow we go for another check...please please please, at least let there be something happening in this area.  I seriously may cry...

To Grace... my birthday is on Sunday.  There is a full moon on Sunday.  And while I am not one to share my birthday well, and I'm not too sure how much I believe the whole full moon thing... I will happily make an exception for you.  You are welcome to make an appearance at anytime.  I promise to call Mary the Midwife and make sure you are born in a warm and safe environment.  Your dad will be there and your Oma will bring your older brother to come and pat you on the head.  I bet your Opa will even jump in the car and drive down immediately.  I promise that you will like it just as much on the outside as you did on the inside... Love, mom.

Here it is folks.  Hopefully the last of the belly pics.  37 weeks and 2 days:

April 19

she's still in there...

Mary the midwife says sooner rather than later.  Grace's head is farther down (though don't know how that is possible as she already feels like she's halfway out!)  i'm still thinning, but not much more dilating.  I need to relax and not stress about this.  Mary says more than likely before May.  I'm going to go on a walk...

April 20

The big 3-2

Wahoo!  It's my birthday!  No Grace yet...hopefully soon.  Jerry and I got to go see Leatherheads (quite good...) and out for a walk and early dinner.  My mom made me a Boston Creme Pie and babysat for us.  Over all a very nice day.  I gotta say that my kiddo has stolen my thunder though.   Over the past few days Elijah has acquired three new skills.  First, he suddenly has gotten the idea of matching pictures to the pieces of a puzzle without help.  Honestly, it went from him being frustrated that things weren't fitting to putting the whole puzzle together by himself!  Second, he can consistently turn flips.  He's been trying for days and would occasionally get over, but now it's consistent and he uses it as a ploy to not brush his teeth and get ready for bed.   But it's really cool, so maybe we aren't as hard on him as we should be to stay on task.  And third he learned to ride his trike all by himself!!!!!  My boy is growing up!

April 23

When you want a hurricane to come through...

It doesn't.  I guess it isn't hurricane season and all... A really strong low pressure front could be helpful.  The moon's force didn't pull this kiddo out.  I am only 38 weeks pregnant and I could feasibly go the full 40.  I guess I am really paranoid about trying to birth a 10 pound baby.  Last weeks estimate was over 8 pounds...

I have been walking a bit more, though it is not comfy.  Every night I am awakened by contractions that are, how id Jerry put it?... oh yeah, more substantial.  I almost don't want Mary to check me on Friday.  Why is it that the last trimester seems the absolute longest.  Everyday, I wake up and think today could be the day.  I try visualizing the birth, relaxing, walking... Each night, I think oh maybe this contraction will lead to another....and it does...2 hours later!

Okay, enough whining.  She will come out soon... she has too!

Elijah is now a master of the trike.  It's really cool to watch him.  Now he'll talk or sing while he's riding.  At first it was just this total look of concentration on his little face.  He almost looked mad.  But he's really good at it now.  I'm a very proud momma!

My mom has been weedwacking and mowing up a storm.  Our yard will look very pretty while she is here!

We went over earlier this week to hang out with Rachel and the kiddos.  Her mom was there and so my mom got to talk to someone closer to her age and practice holding babies.  It was a good visit.  Elijah did have a bit of a meltdown before going because he wanted to ride his trike.  So we threw it in the car and took it with us.  MR and Elijah had the best time playing together outside.  Elijah pulled MR around on the trike, very freakin' cute!  Erin is almost done with his semester in school and finishes his clinical rounds tomorrow.  I know that Rachel will be happy to have him home a little more.   She is so lucky to have her mom live in town!  I feel really lucky to have my mom here now.  There is no way that Elijah would be out on his trike if it was just me.  He's really good about staying in the cul-de-sac.  He knows he can only go down to the stop sign if Oma, Opa, Momma, or Dado is with him and tells you this 23984987 times on the way to the stop sign.  But it's a good lesson and I'm glad he understands it!

I voted yesterday!  We have early voting set up since our primary isn't until May 6th (one of my projected due dates) I figured I had better get in there and do it.  So voting - check!  I am an Obama Momma all the way.  I'm a little perturbed that Hillary won last night actually.  It freaks me out that if she wins, gets elected twice over, then our country will have been run by 2 families for over 30 years.  It's just odd.  On a mom's board I belong too, someone said they wouldn't vote for Obama because they were scared he'd get killed and it would start a whole black versus white thing.  WHAT?!?!?  Anyone could get killed for any number of reasons.  It would be devastating regardless.  It's just odd.  I never thought about murder as a reason to vote or not vote for someone.  I'm more about politics than I am about color, religion, sex, etc.  I want a candidate that shares some of my political beliefs and one that can, HOPEFULLY, bring change to this country.

This has been a lot of little tangents.  Sorry.  Please send laboring thoughts my way.  Hopefully the next blog will be a birth announcement!

April 28

still here...still preggo

i'm hoping this cold front will do something though.  friday i was 3 cm and 60% effaced... i've been having contractions all weekend that have gotten progressively more uncomfortable.  we'll see.  i've given up holding my breath.

so i'm here.  i'm going to go walk the mall after elijah wakes up from nap and hope that'll do something!  send birthing vibes please!

February 2007

February 10

You Got a What? Where?

Sorry it's been so long.  I can't even remember what I've been doing.  My folks have been in town this week for a visit.  That's been really nice.  Let's see... We went to a b-day party for one of Elijah's friends on the 1st, the 2nd was Erin's b-day, the 3rd was the opening of Carmen's store, and the 4th was super bowl (and me trying to get the house ready for company.)  Then the folks arrived...soooo, I guess that's what I've been doing....
Anyway, the story that fits the title.
To preface...My child was wearing a bib, a long sleeved onesie, and jeans when this happened...
So after lunch, Elijah pooped...Jerry went to change his diaper and called me.  I thought maybe something was wrong (I mean once you have had to deal with gross poop, you live in constant fear it will come back...) but then he said..."Bring a camera...."hmmmmm.  So I grab the camera and go into the nursery.  There on the table is Elijah grinning like a mad hatter, his diaper down, his pants off, his onesie un snapped, and in his belly button....a single green pea.  It's like he ate too much and it came out from the inside.  It was rather funny.  So the pics are at the bottom of this post...  Leave it to my kid to figure out how to get a pea perfectly in his belly button while fully dressed..My KID IS MAGIC!!!!
Oh, yeah, this week a woman I know from a web site I have joined brought over 3 trash bags full of yarn that her mother in law was getting rid of!  I'm so excited!  I have just about finished my newest addition to my line....knitted bunny slippers.  I have one finished and it is too freaking cute!  I would let Elijah keep them, but since most of our house is hard wood, he slips in them too much.  However, I will get him to model them.  I also have the pattern for bears, dogs, and kittens.  They are really cute.  I also am going to do some washcloths with animals knitted into them.  I hope they turn out.  I will start making sunhats soon too, but those will be out of fabric.  Mom and I figured out a way to make a pattern we found reversible.  Hopefully it won't be too hard.
Elijah also got his sandbox (and sand) this week.  He's not to sure about it, but we think it's because it's freaking cold here!  This summer it should be a blast!  We are also getting a kiddie pool soon!  That should be fun too.  Dad was making fun of the whole thing.   ... living at the beach and owning a sandbox and a pool...but you have to pay to park at the closest beach, so we won't be going EVERY day this summer...
Okay, the pics and then I need to go to bed.  I'll try to be more consistent.  It's just hard when you have a little one running around.  He's in to freaking EVERYTHING!!!!  sigh... my big walker...this time last year, he was barely keeping his eyes open long enough to look at you!
sleep well everyone!


February 16

big sigh

First off I'm really tired and so this will probably not be the most positive entry.  (Just a little disclaimer...)
So we are almost finished weaning Elijah...let me just say that this weaning thing is for the birds.   We have done this really gradually, only removing one nursing a week.  So we were down to the 5 in the morning feeding and I knew it was going to be rough... but DANG!!!  Jerry was off today since they are painting at his work, so we thought this weekend would be as good as time as any...sigh..Last night SUCKED!!!!!!  Elijah was fine until about 12:30 when he rolled out of his bed and landed on the rocker of the rocking chair...not so bad, I just brought him to bed with me and he went back to sleep (his mattress is on the floor by the way, so it's not like he fell far...) anyway, he slept until 3:45 and I woke up to him grabbing my breast... I picked him up and hugged him close and said mama's milk all gone...that didn't go over too well.  I walked with him, I rocked with him, I bounced with him, I sang to him, I sat down with him and watched bad Disney cartoons (not a norm...but at 4:15 in the morning, I'm willing to try anything to get my kid back to sleep...)he would almost get to sleep and then start screaming...sigh...at 4:45 I went to go get Jerry and he was already up, so we traded places.  I went to sleep and he stayed with EJ.  Apparently he didn't really go back to sleep.  I woke up to the microwave closing at 7:30 this morning.  So I thought, well, we'll just tough it out until 1 when it will be nap time. We met Rachel, Erin, and MR for lunch and EJ fell asleep on the way home.  Jerry brought him in and put him down for a nap...thought we would get a nap too...WRONG!!!  The little punk woke up 15 minutes later and we tried for TWO HOURS to get him back down...didn't happen.  SUPER SIGH!!!  He is finally asleep and I am hoping it is for a bit.  We, I am sure will be going to bed early tonight.  We have a play date tomorrow morning, so it would nice to actually function whilst playing at the park.
To top all this off, 2 of EJ's molars are cutting in... This makes me feel a bit guilty about the weaning, but I can't deal with the pain anymore on me.  I'm also SOOO ready to have my body back.  Don't get me wrong, I have REALLY enjoyed breast feeding and I am excited about nursing the next one...IN THE FUTURE.  But since he's had teeth and his latch is so strong and his mouth is so small....let's just say it's not so comfy anymore.  He's sorta been weaning himself anyway.  This last week, I'm pretty sure I was producing very little to none, I felt the let down, but barely, and he's only been nursing for about 5 minutes at the 5:00 feeding...sooo, I guess I had a small hope that this might be easier than it has been.  There is no magic that I can find to the weaning, it just sucks.  I also (falsely) hoped that the Motrin we've been giving him to help with the molar cutting would help him sleep...sigh....
Anyway. that's my blog entry today.  I have pics to add, but I haven't uploaded them and the camera is farther away than I am willing to walk.  I'll take some pics at our play date tomorrow and maybe I'll post tomorrow evening...depends on how functional I am tomorrow.  Wish us luck!
February 20

Weaning is for the birds

But it is done.  He hasn't nursed since last Thursday night.  The sleeping has not improved and so there are two sleepy parents in the house.  Elijah is up for the day at 5:30 and that really isn't great for me... However, he has been taking a 3 hour nap in the afternoon and is going to bed at 7:30 at night...so I guess it's okay for him...sigh.
Anyway, this weekend we tilled the garden.  This year our garden is a bit smaller and then we made a separate one for Elijah.  I'm waiting for the video I took of him to upload to Soapbox right now.  I hope this video thing works.  It's kinda a long movie, but it's so freaking cute.  He signs more and plane in the movie and he's helping me plant some flowers.  ANYWAY, we are starting all our plants inside this year.  Some we'll transplant in the next couple of weeks pending this fab-o weather staying.
I went by Carmen's shop today and found that I need to get busy making some more slings.  I am also going to try to get some sunhats in as well.  Oh yeah, and bunny slippers in time for Easter would be nice too.  I'll post the pic of the slippers at the bottom of this entry.
It seems that there was something else to write about, but I can't think of what it is...
Oh well, must not be too important!  Happy Mardi Gras!!!!


February 26

Okay, better now

So Elijah is officially weaned!  Things are going much better now.  Our next goal is for him to stay in his bed all night.  So I have a mattress next to his on the floor and last night he stayed on his bed until 5:30 with only 2 wakings.  So that's good.
Friday afternoon I went to put something in the microwave and I guess I moved the wrong way or something, but a muscle in my neck went in spasm and I lost much of the range of motion in my neck.  That sucked since it was supposed to be a painting and sewing weekend.  That didn't happen.  I guess we'll paint this weekend.  We're doing the bathrooms.  We did get some more paint supplies...like an edger...I HATE painter's tape...it takes way to long and really doesn't work that well.
My neck is feeling better, just sore.  I really need to make an appointment with a chiropractor...it's just time and stuff...oh well.
This evening we are going to a wedding and Jerry will be doing the photographs.  It's sort of a last minute thing, but I think it will be fun.  It'll be good for Jerry too. He hasn't done lots of pics lately and he really has a good eye.
Our garden is all ready for the plants and that's a good thing.  We started everything inside last week and the green beans pushed the top off the little green house box-y thing we have.  I'll post pics when I'm finished here.  I'm hardening everything but the peppers, tomatoes, and onions.  So hopefully they will get in the ground by the end of this week.  It's supposed to rain on Friday and Saturday, so it would be good if we got them in by then, but we'll see.
We did work on the front flower gardens and the flower boxes this weekend.  I hope they do well.  I've also started some rosemary and lavender.  I was going to put those in Elijah's garden, but I think they will take over his little garden, so I think I'll put them outside his window and his playroom window (as that will be the nursery for baby number 2 WHEN WE DECIDE TO HAVE ANOTHER...this is not an announcement...)
Anyway, we are definitely getting more sleep.  Elijah is sleeping until at least 7 now which, while still early, is much better than 5.  If he's really tired he'll sleep until 8 or 8:30!!!!!  But usually Jerry has to have him for the night...
Okay, I'm posting new pics of the boy and of the garden...
Hope you are having fab-o weather as we are!!!!!

November 2006

November 01

Wednesday...random stuff

We've had a good week I guess.  Stupid DST has us all messed up.  Elijah is now getting up at 6:30 (as opposed to 8 or 9).  His sleeping habits are all messed up too, but that's my fault really.  sigh...
I totally thought we would have a ton of trick or treaters last night, but we really only got about 15.  I think that it's because our street doesn't have any street lights.
We officially have new neighbors.  They seem really nice, so we're excited about them.  I met a woman in our development that has a little boy (whose name I would butcher so I won't even try) who is 4 1/2 months old.  And it turns out that the woman next to her is preggers due in January.  It'll be nice to have a few new friends for Elijah in the neighborhood.
We went to have Elijah's portraits made today.  I wanted to get them done to put in Christmas cards and stuff.  It took much longer than we anticipated so Jerry stayed at work fairly late.  However, I got Elijah to sleep without nursing him down!!!  That's a big step in the sleeping issue I think.  Now I just have to suck it up and get through a few nights.  At first this night nursing didn't really bother me, but it's taking a toll on me.  Jerry asked me last night if two nights of uninterrupted sleep was worth a week of dealing with Elijah all by myself...YES!!!!  It totally is!!!!  I hadn't had a full nights sleep since, I'd say sometime in the second trimester.  It was GREAT to sleep for more than 8 hours!!!!!  Even if Elijah started sleeping through on his own during the week, I'd still be in that light sleeping state where I am listening to the monitor.  So I'll get over being tired.  I usually curl up in Elijah's nursery with a blanket and lie on the floor while he plays.
I got sunburned today.  I stopped to talk to this mom and I guess my back was to the sun.  Sigh...It's November 1st and I have a sunburn...I guess it could be worse...but I really do miss actual seasons...double sigh...
Okay, I added more pics.  We had fun at Jerry's folks.  The girls are getting sooooo big!!!  It was good to see them.  Elijah loved being around them and wanted to be where ever they were, it was very cute...
Alright I'm off to surf the web and then to bed...
November 07

VOTE!

I voted this morning.  Elijah went with me. Of course, everyone oohed and ahhed over him...he got my sticker.... Then we came home to wait for the punch people.  We sent in our new punch list before our warranty ran out and they were supposed to be here at 2:30...sigh...  Though Jerry took half a day, so that's nice to have him home.
So my new favorite book is The No Cry Sleep Solution.  Elijah is already sleeping better and I don't feel like a horrible parent for not letting my kid cry it out.  I read several other books and every one of them made me feel like I was damaging my child by not forcing him to self soothe.  We tried one night and everyone ended up upset and un-rested.  This one is not a one night fix, but we've been doing it for a few days and already there is a HUGE change.  I'm really excited about it.
There's also some other things going on that I will write about later (no we are NOT pregnant!) but until things are for sure I don't want to say anything, though I am SUPER excited!!!!!
Tracey launched a project today.  It looks awesome!  Check it out!!!  I think it sounds fabulous.  She is such a go-getter!  Good luck TJ!!!
We went to a birthday party on Sunday.  It was a child from play group's 1st b-day.  I can't believe that in just a few short months EJ is going to be 1.  It's INSANE!  He's getting brave.  He'll pull himself up and then get something in his hands and totally just stand there and play without holding on to anything....sigh.... I'm not ready for him to start walking.
Okay, I guess that's it!  GO VOTE!!!!
November 16

soooo much

I feel like so much has been going on, though I couldn't tell you one thing.  Elijah is keeping me as busy as ever.  He gets into EVERYTHING!  But that's cool. I've been hanging out with Rachel and Maya Rose lots lately it seems witch is also very cool and lots of fun.  We have been trying to establish a bit more of a routine around here for Elijah as well.  We are back to 2 naps a day and once he's out he sleeps for about 2 hours each time.  This is sorta making him sleep better at night.  We got rid of the crib and his mattress is on the floor.  Jerry's been in there with him this week.  Elijah has become very active in his sleep again.  We put him down and he sleeps, but then in his sleep he crawls into the middle of the floor.  This in turn wakes him up.  But he goes back down without nursing.  In fact, he is down to one nurse a night and that's at 4:30-ish!  Jerry says that Elijah sometimes crawls over to him and snuggles...very cute!
We had CRAZY weather today!  Tornadoes were in neighboring counties and the wind and rain we insane here!  People were killed.  I guess since we had only one tropical storm...hmmm....
It seems that other things happened.... Elijah is now 10 months!  I can't believe it!  My cousin had her baby...very cute!  Elijah's one year molars are coming in...
Oh...well, this is sort of a rant!  I got a petition from Planned Parenthood yesterday.  They want my signature (and they will get it!) to let Target, Winn Dixie, and Walgreens know that it is NOT okay to not fill birth control prescriptions.  Apparently some pharmacists feel that it is their moral duty to play God and not fill prescriptions for birth control because they don't believe it's right.  This is the STUPIDIST thing I have EVER heard.  Women acting responsibly, not wanting to get pregnant, (or maybe even needing the pill to help with medical issues) and not being able to get said meds?!?!?!  Frankly if you feel that you can't fill a prescrip for B.C. then maybe you don't like the town jerk who needs heart meds....WHAT?!?!?!  Also at our drug store they have the morning after pill behind the pharmacy counter.  Women who need this (and it is available without prescription) have to go ask, and be judged,  While I am not a fan of this as a form of B.C. I KNOW there are women out there that need this.  What if they were raped?  I think all this gives a pharmacy too much control, when it's not their place to do so. In fact the ONLY time I think that a pharmacist has the right to deny meds, is hen they realize that a prescribed med will react in a dangerous way with another med the patient is already taking.  I am so sick of people that think they have the right to play God and judge people based on their beliefs and apparently better moral standards.  Apparently they only read certain parts of their Bible at night...I believe there is a certain phrase in there...something like "judge not lest ye be judged"? GRRRR....
So that consumed me yesterday....
Okay, Elijah wants to go play....mama mama mama....gotta love it!!!!!
November 21

ahhh, rain

stupid cold weather and rain...  sigh.... i guess it IS novemeber....but i really hate cold rain.  sigh... we have to go out in it today too.  we have to get the oil changed in the camry for our trip.  yuck!
we are excited about seeing the fam for turkey/tofu day!  i am so excited for elijah to have his first thanksgiving.  i know he won't remember any of this, but it's so fun!
I'm almost done with christmas presents.  i'm making everything except for jerry and elijah.  it's kind of fun!
this past weekend i changed the air filter and while i was throwing the old one, Elijah went and started pushing the chair i was standing on back to the kitchen.  we thought he would get tired (it's a fairly heavy chair) but he pushed it all the way to the table.  he's also figured out how to turn the walker when he runs into things.  i'm so glad that cora let us borrow the walker.  it would kill my back to be running around with him hanging on to my hands all day.  he's definitely learning though.  his balance is getting better and better!  uhoh...i hear a yawning baby.... time for a nap (and my new addiction...gilmore girls!!!!)  hope your weather is better than ours!!!

October 2006

October 12

Sorry!

Sorry to have disappeared.  (Thanks for checking on us Amy!!!)  We went on vacation.  We are back now and I will write more later...I promise!  I didn't realize how long it had been.  Right now I am going to eat dindin, but tonight or tomorrow I will update and load pics....
Congrats Megan on your BABY!!!!!
Okay...more later....

Vacation

We left last Friday (the 6th) and went to pick up a van.   We went with Rachel, Erin, and Maya Rose and we all decided it would be much more fun if we could all ride together.  So I called to confirm the reservation the Monday before and the people at Hertz assured me there would be a van waiting.  So we get to the airport to pick up the van and Hertz doesn't have it!  I was really mad...I mean to the point I was shaking.  The woman at the desk offered us two cars...well we could have just driven our two cars...then offered us a Grand Marquis...That would mean three adults in the front seat, two car seats and an adult on the back seat..I don't think so...So she went around to the other rental car companies and found out that National had a van.  We went down to their desk and the woman there hooked us up with a van and actually beat the price from Hertz.  The Hertz lady was really apologetic and gave us a 100 dollars off our next rental.  I was just so pissed at her...NEVERTHELESS, we got our van.  It was a Saturn Relay and while it was great for the trip, I wouldn't recommend this van to anyone.  The seats with the car seats behind them had to be all the way pushed up and straight up and down.  So we put the kids behind each other.  The passenger front seat just had to be sitting really straight.  The person riding in the back seat had to wait to get out so the seat would fold down.  It had a DVD system, but if you wanted sound the people up front had to listen to a movie they couldn't watch.  (Not that I would buy a car with a DVD system in it anyway...)  We jammed packed everything into the trunk, but I really don't see how we could have fit anything else in there.  We did take one umbrella stroller...but that meant the other baby had to be carried all week (not that that was a problem...)  Over all it felt really crowded, but still comfortable.  We really liked the ability for all of us to ride together and surprisingly we only spent about 100 dollars in gas the whole week.  Much less than I thought we would.  But I didn't fall into lust with the van like I thought I would.  Maybe if it had been a Toyota or Honda....
ANYWAY, we got to Black Mountain Friday evening and mom and dad fixed dinner for us and we hung out.  Saturday we went over to WWC and watched the girls soccer game and saw some old friends!  It was a great day weather wise and the girls won!  After the game we walked down to the farm and took the kids to see the piggies.  By that time, it was time to go home, so we stopped and picked up dinner and coffee and called it a day.  Sunday Rachel, Erin, and Maya Rose went to see Rachel's family over in Franklin (her parents just bought a house there) and we went to the mall...I know that sounds cheesy, but I love the the Asheville mall and besides it's where Jerry proposed to me!  Then we just relaxed for the day.  Monday we went into downtown Asheville.  I could have spent days there just wandering around, but we went had babies and stuff, so we did the shortened tour.  We went to Downtown Books and News, then went to Table (run by some WWC alum) and had a yummy lunch.  We checked our this really cool toy store!!!  Then we went on a tour of Highlands Brewery.   We finished the day with dinner at Barley's pizza and Taproom.  Very nice day indeed!  Tuesday we walked into Black Mountain and had lunch at a really yummy Mexican place and walked around for a bit.  And Wednesday my aunt Mavis came for a visit bearing gifts and Pie!!!
Overall it was a really good vacation.  We weren't ready to kill each other and are all still friends.  I wish we had been able to stay longer, but we'll know for next time.
Okay, we are off to brunch and then recover from vacation.  Jerry has off until Monday so I think we'll try to get some yard work done!
October 13

The Kite Runner -- a review

The Kite Runner has got to be one of my top ten favorites now.  I finished the book a couple of weeks ago and it is still sticking with me.  The book is shocking and beautiful.  It is a tale of youth and adulthood.  It deals with religion or lack thereof.  It is a tale of stolen innocence and the guilt that can be carried over decades.  The story telling is very pointed and easy to read.  The writing almost puts me in the mind of The Life of Pi.  This book is both heartbreaking and uplifting and for an author to do this and throw in the history of a suffering nation without boring the reader is nothing short of incredible.  I highly recommend this book.
October 17

Does it bother anyone else?

I cannot STAND the Lamisil ad!  I refresh whatever page it appears on.  The thought of anything crawling up under my toenail gives me the heebie geebies.  EEEEWWWWW!!!!!!  Anyway....
So we are back to "normal" life.  sigh... It was so nice having Jerry around all day...Monday was sad for me.  But we did just fine.  We went on a walk and played all day.  Today it was rainy, but we went to the library.  It's not too bad, I just miss having him around...double sigh...
We cleaned up the room across from Elijah's and are making it a play room-ish room.  Tomorrow we will get a gate and put it in the hallway so he can play in either his room or the one across the way.  We think it'll be better than him having the whole living room, especially since he has learned to navigate our very complicated blockage system (some boxes...) to get to the chords behind the TV.  He's becoming so independent!  It's crazy!  He has taken a few steps behind his walker, but mostly he likes to just push it back and forth...I'm seriously considering giving him the vacuum so he can clean whilst he pushes....lol....
Okay, that's it for now...Mr. EJ is getting cranky and I think that Jerry will get him to sleep if I let him sit here and listen to music...
October 18

Halloween...

So I made Elijah's Halloween costume...he was going to a Ninja...but alas alack, I made them a few months ago and now the pants are to small...sigh...so I was out at the Bargain Box today and I found the cutest little frog costume for 3 bucks!!!  So he's going to be a frog...
We bought a safety gate today and now Elijah has two rooms to crawl between and play in... Jerry is in there with him now.
Okay, that's really it...Just wanted to explain the cute frog pics that were added today.
October 24

Only Tuesday?

This week seems to already be dragging...sigh... Oh well...
We have anew arrangement in our house.  Jerry is keeping Elijah all night Friday and Saturday and I am keeping him all night Sunday- Thursday.  It's not really fair to Jerry to be up all hours of the night and then go to work.  At least if I want to I can stay in my PJs all day (yeah right...)  It is nice though to get more sleep on the weekends for me.  Elijah has been going through this phase (for lack of better word.)  He goes to sleep fine and stays in his crib until about midnight.  Last night I was up with him from midnight to 1:30...not a happy person.  We have tried the crying it out (but staying in the room with him) thing.  That was the worst night ever!!!   First off, the let them cry for 15 minutes thing...not so much.  He wouldn't calm down.  So for half an hour both Jerry and I were trying to calm him down (we had removed him from the crib by now) and then it took another half hour just to resettle him.  Not only was Elijah in tears (not to mention a snotty mess) I was too.  So we decided that was not something that would work for us.  I have checked out books and most of them are some form of let 'em cry.  I went to check out the Dr. Sear's Baby Sleep book, but I couldn't find it...I did find a really cool baby yoga book and we are doing that.  It has yoga for babies birth to 24 months.  It's called Itsy Bitsy Yoga.  The author designs movements based on development rather than age.  It's really cool.  She breaks everything down and then gives you routines for different times of the day and magic poses that are supposed to work anywhere!  We did some this morning and then some right before I put him down for the night.  I think I will try to incorporate this into his nighttime routine.
So going back to the sleeping thing.  I have made a pallet for myself in Elijah's room and I am trying my damndest not to nurse him when he wakes in the middle of the night.  It's really hard because that's what he wants  And after an hour and half of fighting him in the middle of the night, I'm too exhausted to not give in.  It's odd, if Jerry has him then of course Elijah's not rooting around for anything.  He still wakes up, but Jerry can get him back down.  Last night I think gas was an issue with his little tummy...  We think it's just a stage.  He was doing really well for a bit.  But I think he is cutting a couple more teeth and he learned today how to stand up without pulling on something...instead he pushed with his legs, still holding on to whatever for balance.  So now he walks around behind his little walker and if he falls down he's figured out how to get back up without pulling the walker over...sigh...I'm not ready for my little man to be so mobile yet!!!  But he's just as sweet as can be.
ANYWAY, last weekend was really nice.  We didn't really do anything.  Saturday we spent the afternoon hanging out with Rachel, Erin, and MR.   And that was about the most exciting thing we did.
This weekend we will be going to a Halloween party and then possibly to see Jerry's folks and his nieces.  That should be fun.
The weather here suddenly got cold!!!  (Well, relatively speaking...)  It was in the 30's last night and there's a freeze warning out tonight.  I still slept with the window open though...
Okay, my mom and dad called me to reprimand me for not putting up pics of the kiddo...so I shall do that and then turn in....
October 29

Halloween party and DLST

Yawn!  But not really....  We went to a Halloween party last night.  My plan was to keep EJ up until 9 in hopes that he would readjust to the Day Light Savings Time stuff with ease.  Yeah, he feel asleep in the car and slept through getting out of the car and being put down... poor guy, I'm sure the super fun party was too much for him.  There were lots of kids there and we all had tons of fun!  (Not to mention the yummy food....)  So I was totally prepared to be up at 5 o'clock with him.  He also took a three hour nap yesterday morning...he NEVER does that!!! But SURPRISE!!!  I feel asleep last night around 10 and woke up totally engorged at 7 DLST and had to wake EJ up to eat.  Jerry said he had slept all night!!!!  That's 2 nights in a row I got at least 8 hours!  I feel GREAT!!!!!  This week I am working on EJ not eating all night.  He's been comfort nursing lots during the night, so we are trying to end that.  These past 2 nights have been a step in that direction.  Of course, Jerry has kept him these past two nights, so we'll see.  But at least, I'm refreshed and ready to try this.
So we were outside the other day for me to plant some spring flower seeds and I look over at EJ and he's doing this funny bear walk thing.  I don't think he wanted his knees to touch the ground.  I added a pic of it.  It was sooo funny!  He's got a new thing where he like to pull up between my legs and hold on to my pants and walk around wherever I go.  Very cute, but when the timer is going off for dinner or I am waiting in line at a party for food, it's a bit constraining.  Of course with the dinner timer, I un-grip his little hands...The dinner line was just amusing to the other guests.
Did I mention that our playgroup is now meeting at a park?  I really like this much better.  I don't have to worry about making sure my house is perfect and that everything is safe for all the  babies or that I have enough room.
Okay, I'm gonna run b/c a little boy I know is trying to type for me.....gonna go see the grandparents and cousins today!!!

February 2006

February 01

first real trip

we went to visit jerry's parents yesterday.  they got to see the baby for the first time.  sorry we missed you carry...i hear that you think i'm lazy for not updating everyday...hmmmm.... anyway, it was a good trip and Elijah was a very good baby!  jerry and i were exhausted upon arriving back home.  our poor little guy still has a stuffy nose.  today it was really bothering him.  jerry gave him another dose of saline and gross yellow goop came out of his nose.  this seemed to make him feel better at least!
anyway, needless to say i got very little sleep last night (it was my night.) but i caught up today.  i really slept when the munchkin slept from about 2:00 til about 6 today.  tonight is jerry's night.  i hope that it goes better for him.
maybe someone can help me out with the new MSN stuff.  i'm so frustrated.  we went through and made sure everything was marked public, but in internet explorer my profile will not show.  if we go through netscape it will...not that i care that much, it's just frustrating.
now, back to our adorable little boy.  we are really getting used to the cloth diaper thing.  though i have never seen a baby that didn't care if his diaper was wet or not.  unless we hear him poop or just change him after a feeding, we would never know that he is wet or dirty.  he seems content to sit in whatever he has made...and he really hates getting his diaper changed.  nevertheless, we are really pleased with the cloth diapers and will stick with it.  jerry is so on top of getting things ready.  he prepares a bag of cloth wipes and has them ready by the changing area and then we both try to have a diaper and wrap prepared for the next changing.  it's a little extra work, but not too much.  we are doing laundry about every other day.   i think if we had a bigger diaper pail and more wraps it would be less often.  water here is cheap though and eventually we will have a clothes line set up and we have a front loader, so it will get better, laundry wise.
okay, time to eat...

February 04

this is the life i would never give up!

so while breast feeding is going well, it's really hard and i am rather sore.  we have a good supply started in storage so that maybe when my parents come back jerry and i can go out to dinner or something.  our little guy is getting bigger by the minute it seems.  i never thought i would care so much about laundry.  doing diapers every other day is not as hard as i thought it would be.  i am really glad we have a front loader.  no matter how much elijah cries i can't help loving him more and more...of course it helps that his cries sound a little like daffy duck, which makes them kinda funny.  i am constantly amazed at how much closer i feel to my husband.  he works hard and is a fantastic father and partner.  i can't believe there was a time that i thought i wanted twins --
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!  that would really test my sanity.  to those out there with twins...my hat is off to you!  this morning after jerry brought me elijah for something to eat, i didn't take him back to jerry. (it was his night) the little guy threw up in my bed as i was changing his clothes and so we came out to the living room and chilled together watching three men and a little lady.  it's really hard to stop watching him.  last night we went to a birthday party for our friend erin and his sister was there with her almost 1year old.  it amazes me that in 11 months our little boy will be trying to walk and so interactive...wow!  i know that there is no real complete thought in this and i am sorry, but i am tired.   jerry's sister lisa got us this cute little robe and slippers for the baby and i just have to show them off....that's all for now...

February 08

home alone

jerry has gone back to work and we are both sad about the whole thing.  our little boy is getting so freaking big!  i can't believe that he has grown so quick.  i called the le leche people yesterday because i was so sore and all the books say that's not normal.  but the lady was super nice and we decided that if he's going through a growth spurt and eating almost every hour (which he is) then it's no wonder i would be sore.  i'm also completely exhausted.  but what else do i have to do but take care of the sweetest boy ib the world?  he's lying on my lap right now so it's making it a little hard to type.  anyway, i think the growth spurt has passed and he is on his way back to every two-ish hours feeding.  he's awake much more during the day now, which makes catching up on sleep for me a little harder, but jerry takes over the minute he comes home.  i have got a GREAT hubby!
anyway, that's really all for now...eat sleep and poop...they forgot to add spitting up in that...hehehehe...i'm off to change my shirt...again!  but who can be mad a a cutie like we have?
February 10

big yawn

the other night i was so tired when i went to change elijah that i put his onesie on inside out...and then didn't notice it until half way through the next day.    while sleeping is getting easier ironically breast feeding is getting harder.  i have an e-mail out to the le leche people and i think i will go to a meeting at the end of the month.  he's making this clicking noise and when ever he does that he slides farther off the breast.  i unlatch him (which makes for a grumpy baby let me tell you!) and then re-latch, but he doesn't seem to get it.  i don't know.  i refuse to give up, but my boobs are sore!
ANYWAY, because i am sure you all care so much about my boobs...i will simply talk about how strong this little guy is.  he has got some powerful little legs that fly about and the strongest little arms ever.  we had tummy time today and he pushed himself up off the floor to turn his head to the other side.  of course i am now convinced our baby is a genius.  if he had something to push off off i think he would crawl...but i don't want to rush that.  i hear once they become mobile, there is no stopping them.  right now i am perfectly content taking naps on the couch while we're waiting for dad to come home from work!
i need to go try to eat before he starts crying to be held... he's just to cute to refuse!

February 13

the best boy ever!

so i went to the doc today to get my boobs checked out.  they think maybe bacterial infection...eewww!  but they've given me meds so hopefully feedings will not hurt as much now.  my friend rachel and i are going to a le leche meeting at the end of the month and i will make sure little dude's latch is okay.
rachel and i went to the mall today and i took elijah with us.  it takes me off guard how many people want to look at the baby and talk to you.  i don't think i would ever go up to a complete stranger and talk to them about their baby.  i might looka t someone else's baby, but that's about it.  anyway, it was weird.  but i felt good about being out in public with him.  it, of course, helped to have someone with me.  rachel's baby is due in march and i can't wait!  our little one's will grow up together.  then there's our friends cora and bill with their one year old and then bonnie and dean are due in may!  i am so happy that elijah has built in friends!
we got lots of stuff in the mail today.  mom and dad sent us a valentine's day yummy pack.  our friends karen and chris who just moved away from here sent us a huge package of baby stuff!  it was fun to come home to all this stuff on the porch!  all very nice to open ...i left the cable bill for jerry
anyway, that's bout all the excitement and our little man was so good through the whole thing!  he's such a good baby!  okay, off to fold clothes while he's napping!  lata!
February 20

sorry

i've just been adding pics.  it's rather hard to type with one hand...the other one is holding the sleepin' boy.  anyway, we're all good.  i can't believe that elijah is over 5 weeks now.  it's simply amazing to me...it's even more amazing that we haven't screwed him up yet!
that's really all for now.  hopefully i'll write more later...
February 23

while he sleeps

i thought i would update while the little guy sleeps.  jerry had the baby last night and i freaked out this morning because elijah slept for 6 hours straight.  of course i was very rested upon waking this morning and have gotten so much done!  i made dinner for tonight, have done 2 loads of laundry, put up the clean clothes (from three days ago) and unloaded/reloaded the dishwasher!  last night before elijah went to bed was crazy.  he wanted to eat every 45 minutes and nothing would calm him until he ate.  he would fall asleep while he was eating and we would let him chill out on my lap for a bit and then try to move him and he'd wake up and want to eat again.
of course this morning, my boobs were so full they hurt, but i have become a master at expelling mil so HA!
anyway, this morning he ate and went back to sleep.  he was awake yesterday for the longest period of time yet.  this is all well and good, but the night before last i had gotten all of 2 hours of sleep... ahh motherhood!  i still wouldn't trade it for anything.
Tracey brought up a good point about the pictures.  i've just been adding them to one file.  S I think I will delete some from the current album or start another one.  I can't believe that our little guy is going to be six weeks old tomorrow!  it doesn't seem that long.  we measured him the other night...he's 23 inches long!!!  i can't believe it!  we think he's probably about 11 pounds.  he's already outgrown clothes!
my parents are coming next saturday and bringing my aunt mavis with them!  very exciting.  i hope the weather is good and we can go out and do stuff.  i have asked jerry to get us a clothes line.  i want one for two reasons.  1 because now we are doing laundry every other day because of the cloth diapers and while water is super cheap, electricity...not so much.  and 2 becaseu ti will force me to get outside.  since elijah likes the snuggli carrier so much i can put him in that and go out and hang out clothes.  and now that spring is around the corner...
i must say that breast feeding...albeit trying...really is good for the weight loss!  we don't own a scale, but at the doctors last week i had already lost about 23 pounds.  granted about 16 were baby, placenta, fluid and what not, but my tummy is getting smaller.  i go back to the doctor in two weeks to hopefully get the oaky to go back to normal stuff...like exercise.  i have never missed my ab muscles so much as i have in the passed few weeks.  it really is rather difficult to sit up from a lying down position without using hands when you have no muscles.  but i am starting to feel then back to their normal place in my tummy, so as soon as i get the go ahead i can start really working on strengthening them again.  i must say though that carrying the little guy so much has totally buffed out my arms!  i guess if you carry around two bags of sugar all day you would have good muscles... (this is how i weigh our little one...compare him to 5 pound bags of sugar...hehehe!)
well, i think i will go read for a bit before elijah wakes up...sorry this is so random...but you know how it is...
February 24

six weeks old

and we haven't screwed him up too bad.  i have started a new photo album that will be Elijah at six weeks and on.  Maybe another will start at two months.  i am sure there are some who are over looking at the baby pics, but this is a great way for family and friends to see him as he grows.  i can't believe how freaking big he is now!
tonight is jerry's night with the little guy, so hopefully i will get some shut eye.  i slept a bit last night, but i just don't sleep as well when it's my night...i am sure this will pass eventually.  tomorrow i am going to my friend rachel's baby shower.  there are supposed to be lots of kids there, i am sure it will be fun.  i am so excited that rachel's baby is going to be so close in age to our little elijah. the rest of the weekend is unplanned.  maybe i will have a chance to clean some and get the garage cleaned out/organized...this may be very wishful thinking!
okay, i'm off to the showers while jerry's playing with our strong little guy...  when he fights me at feeding time i swear i get a crazy workout with my arms...
February 25

most expensive baby shower gift ever

So we went out this morning so I could buy this book for Rachel.  On the way home we decided on the spur of the moment to stop by the Toyota store to see what they had.  We knew we were going to buy a car in the next year...probably within the next few months (when you start thinking about renting a car to go 250 miles, it's time...) and we thought that it couldn't hurt to see what was available.  So we saw a Camry we liked.  We knew the car seat could fit in the back and someone could still sit in the front seat without eating their knees.  So Jerry drove it while I fed the little guy and we ended up buying the car!  I can't believe it!  We just checked out the Kelly Blue Book value and we only paid 1500 more than that.  So we feel good about the whole thing.  We are keeping that Saturn as no one in their right mind would give us anything for it.  The Saturn will be Jerry's drive to work car and I will have the Camry here with me...not that we go that many places.
So anyway, this happens often when we buy a car.  Last time we bought a car we had originally gone to buy a gecko at the pet store and ended up with the station wagon...
Oh well...
The shower was really nice.  Rachel got lots of very nice gifts for her baby.  Their were a lot of people there.  I decided I didn't know that many people on a first name basis that well...
But it was really nice!  Very interesting day to say the least...

February 28

le leche meeting

Rachel and I went to Le Leche yesterday.  It was really nice.  I decided it was a little bit of organized chaos because everyone there had children except one of the leaders.  Elijah was the youngest (unless you count Rachel's unborn baby) and the kids went up to three years of age.  I felt it was a good meeting.  We talked about trouble shooting problems (which was perfect!)  I really wish I had gone to a meeting before he was born.  I think I would have felt better about things...but maybe not.  I am just glad we are sticking with it.  I was in Target the other day and formula is like 20 bucks for a can.  There is no way!  Anyway, we talked about over production of milk, which helped a lot.  I definitely want to go back.  Elijah was really good (as usual) and so alert.
All the women were impressed that I fed him in public the other day.  We were at Lowe's and he was screaming and so I just sat down on a swinging chair and fed him.  Jerry was there to help and cover his head and stuff, but it worked fine...much more comfortable than squeezing into the back seat of the car.  Not that I'm a pro by any means...he was really cooperative, for once.  Anyway, it was a good meeting and I'm thinking about going back.
After the meeting I hung out with Rachel for a bit and she is letting me test drive a baby gym before we buy one.  Elijah really likes it.  I put several rattles and this morning a toy on it and he was smiling and laughing as he kicked away.  It's nice to be able to put him down for a few minutes while he's awake.  Normally he just wants to be held (or fed) if he's awake, which makes it hard for me to do anything else.
We are loving the car.  It's hard to get used something that isn't constantly rattling...
The weather here is supposed to really nice until Sunday, so hopefully we'll get outside some!
Okay, I think the little guy is done with work out....

January 2006

January 01

happy new year!

I did not stay up until midnight (though I did have to get up and pee shortly after) and I really didn't think I would.  We left this morning to visit Jerrys parents.  They are only an hour away and we figured that if something did happen we could get back here in plenty of time.  I only had minor Braxton Hicks today and one contraction that hurt for like two seconds.  But we did go on and pack bags in case something does happen soon.  Jerry has tomorrow off and is going to finish the changing table, although the weather is supposed to be rainy!  At least he can open the garage door and take a fan out to help with the fumes.  I wish I could help, but that stuff is really dangerous for me.  I am going to make a new play list for the MP3 player that has nothing but relaxing music on it to take with me to the hospital.  It'll be soooo much easier than lugging around a CD player.  The only thing our bag is missing is the camera, MP3 player, and extra batteries for both.  Oh yeah and I need flip-flops for the shower...may be more difficult to find as it is January.  Though this weather we're having is more like late March.  I can't believe that we have had two thunder storms in the past week.

ANYWAY, we went to Jerry's folks and his mom had made this huge amount of yummy food!  I ate way too much!  The banana pudding just kept calling my name.... what are you going to do?  We got lots of goodies and it was really good to see everyone.  I wish Jerry's sister and our nieces had been there, but they have longer to drive.  It was a good day though.

The baby has either moved a little further down or has turned sideways because his foot has gone from being right next to my rib to sorta the middle of my tummy.  But I think his head is still down as I am still having lots of pressure on the bladder.  I'm trying so hard not to get my hopes up.  I really don't want to be induced, but I know that they would only induce me to make sure I don't have a toddler instead of an infant... still...we'll see.  If I haven't given birth by the 12th they will schedule another ultrasound to see how big he is (well estimate..but he is pretty big.)

Okay, that's it for now.  I'm beat....

January 04

yep, still knocked up

this is a  total exercise in patience...something i'm not all that good at. yesterday i woke up feeling gross, like i was going to throw up, so i went back to bed.  my friend rachel called later on and came over with her hubby erin and brought me some books to read.  they are so nice.  jerry took me to the mall to walk last night.  it totally started me having mild contractions.  we decided to come home and time them.  there is no pain when i have them...it's just like doing a crunch you can't release on command.  so a bit uncomfortable.  it's weird though.  after each on the baby kicks me as if to say, " hey that's not fun!"  believe me I KNOW kiddo.  anyway, they lasted about 2-4 minutes and were 5- 10 minutes apart.  no where near regular and no where near calling the doctor....sigh...i know it will happen when it's supposed to happen, but it could be any day!   i called jerry at work to tell him that rachel and erin were coming over.  he has caller ID at work.  he answered the phone on the second ring and was all come and said, "hey baby".  after i talked to him for a minute and he realized this wasn't "THE CALL" he said, "did you like how calm I was when I answered the phone?"  i think he is more nervous and excited that he lets on.  he's my rock for sure!

anyway, the baby has dropped so all night i wake up every hour to pee.  if i drink a sip of water if some how quadruples in volume... look at that a hard tummy, the fact that i can type this blog and have a contraction is saying something, but i'm to the point where i would rather it stop me in my tracks...soon enough i guess.

two of my friends and former co-workers are taking me to lunch today so i am off to shower and try to look like a normal pregnant lady...

jerry wants to put the bag in the car incase i go into labor while we are out... we'll see....

send thoughts of baby's entering the world to me please!

January 05

even the spicy food

didn't work.  we went to this place called mayfaire last night to walk around.  we went to Qdoba and i ordered the spiciest thing i could handle.  i really don't do the spicy thing that often.  i got the 3 queso nachos.  we walked for a while, but nothing...well that's not true i was having regular no painful contractions even when we got home.  but as soon as i got in bed they became more sporadic and then stopped.  a week from today and we find out if and when they will induce.  the fact that the contractions are just uncomfortable and not painful makes me think i'm in false labor.

we'll see.  i think i'll work on cleaning the house today.  anyway, jerry is under instructions to post when the baby is born and send out the mass e-mails...but don't hold your breath!  i'm not!

January 06

resigning oneself

to the fact that I am just going to be pregnant forever.  sigh.  i cleaned and fixed the nursery.  i've washed the clothes and I have the guest bedroom ready for my parents arrival.  Today I will vacuum.  I'm still having contractions.  They are a little stronger.  One woke me up this morning.  But otherwise nothing.  I'm uncomfortable and I have to pee all the time.  Ruckus' kicks are so hard that I feel like they are going to come right through my skin.  It has finally turned cold...but only for today and tomorrow.  Then by Monday it is supposed to be almost 70 degrees...

Okay, enough ranting.  I shouldn't complain.  There are worse things that could be happening.  My new favorite thing is my fitness ball.  It's a little under inflated and my new best friend.  I sit on it all the time.  It take pressure off of everywhere...it's totally going to the hospital with me.  You may think I am crazy, but don't knock it 'til you try it.  It's just like floating...ahhhh floating....  If the sun ever comes out today, I'll walk around the neighborhood.  But it's supposed to be windy and cold and cloudy all day....vacuuming will have to be the exercise I get I guess.

My mom's birthday was yesterday!  Happy Birthday mom!  I will call later to see what all they did to celebrate.  Jerry's mom think's with the next full moon I will have the baby...that's not until the 14th...but who can say.  Maybe the tides and stars will all do their thing and it'll get this baby out.  Do you think this is indicative of how he will be later in life?  Never leaving home?  I will be interesting to find out.  I just don't see how he can even move.  Supposedly he is about 8 pounds now...who knows how long he is...

Okay vacuuming...I'm off to do some of that....

January 07

really could i get any bigger?

i really didn't think i was that much bigger than i was at 33 weeks when we took the picture this morning.  but holy moly stromboli!  one can really see how i am soooo ready to have this baby. that's all ...no baby yet....

January 10

stupid msn

no we haven't had the baby. this is the first time in three days i've been able to access my site. i don't know if their server is overloaded or what. i can access other web sites unless it is an msn website and then it sometimes loads. ANYWAY, i'm still pregnant.  my skin on my belly stings it is stretched so tight.  i can't even see my belly button unless i look in a mirror.  i took a walk today and i have been doing squats, but nothing!  so i am just waiting.  we ahve a doctor's appointment on thursday.  maybe that will trigger something.  at least the weather is super nice!  i can't believe that it is mid- january and the temp is close to 70 degrees.  i hope this doesn't mean that spring will take forever to get here.

jerry's mom and one of my friends from the library think the baby will come with the next full moon, which is saturday.  that would be just fine with me.  jerry finished staining the changing table this weekend.  once it's in the room i can fill it with diapers and set up the area for wipes and stuff.  we're using cloth of both so we need water around for the wipes.  jerry's clothes barely fit me anymore.  i swear ruckus is going to kick straight through my skin any minute.  i can almost count his toes when he pushes with his little feet.  there is no way he is going to fit into newborn clothes at all...oh well...good thing we have many sizes.  we've been really lucky in so many people giving us clothes.  i really don't think we had to buy any.

i am trying to sleep as much as possible, but that's hard when i have to pee every ten minutes and my hips are killing me.  i'm just uncomfortable.  but once again my new best friend is my fitness ball.  ahhhhh....i highly recommend spending the money on one of those bad boys.  and get one that's bigger than they say.  i got one according to my height and it was so tiny.  i exchanged it for the biggest one they had at Target and it is much better and oh so comfy.  it'll be great during the birth and then after i can use it to starrt getting back into shape.  it's always been my favorite thing to play on at the gym!

so anyway, if i don't update as often as i would like, it's because i can't log on.  jerry said he can get onto his without too much trouble, so maybe i will make him update his page (we'll see...) i'll continue to try to keep updating though....it only took me since about 9:30 this morning to finally get here...not that i have a whole lot to do these days....

think baby!

January 11

ho hum

this waiting game is killing me!   maybe i should have said i would work longer.  we put the baby seat in the car the other day.  however sits in front of the car seat has to have the front seat all the way up....which means i'll be sitting in front of the car seat.  not that i can fit behind the wheel of the car.  jerry and i are both really anxious to hear what the doc is going to say tomorrow.  i'm trying not to get my hopes up too much.  i've been having really bizarre cravings though.  yesterday all i wanted was chicken ramen....what's that about?  then i wanted french fries...didn't get those.  i am loving blueberry waffles too...though that's not that weird.

i can't believe i got on MSN so quickly this morning.  i don't know what the problem was/is.  i need a project i think.  maybe jerry will finish the changing table today and i can load it up.  that would be fun.

okay that's it for now...blueberry waffles sound yummy for lunch! send good wishes for the appointment tomorrow...

January 12

doctor's appointment

SOOOOOO... the appointment went really well.  We are 3 centimeters dilated (out of 10), my cervix is 50% effaced, and the baby is at station zero.  Unless you've had a baby this probably means  nothing.  To me it means that the baby is just about to come on down.  Today I've been having a few contractions that were a little more than uncomfortable, but nothing regular.  The doc we saw today is on call this weekend and she says she expects to see us at the hospital!  We went on and made an appointment for next week, but we are hopeful!  I will probably go on a walk soon and enjoy the outdoors (it's 72 degrees here if you can believe it!)  Jerry had called the 13th.  His mom has called the 14th.  I called the 18th...we'll see.  It's all very exciting.  Everything is organized by the door and ready to go.  I just can't believe how far down he is.  Station zero is right at the cervix!  The doctor actually felt his head today!!!  I think that's so cool!!!!!!

Anyway, keep sending those thoughts.  I'm going to go sit on my ball and walk and stuff!!!!  WAHOO!

January 13

*smile*

Erin and I would like to announce that we are now the proud parents of 8 lb. 6oz. Elijah Jacob Jones. He was born at 6:00 AM on January 13 after 35 minutes of pushing. I haven't yet collected my thoughts and set down my memory of the birth, but when I do I'll be sure to post the narrative here on and my site. *cheer* He's a sweet baby boy. He's a little nonchalant about eating right now, but he's had a long day too. I think he would rather sleep than eat. He appears to be hale and hearty and is awfully curious about the goings on around him. Let's see...his official stats are weight 8 lbs. 6oz. height 20 inches head 14 inches (diameter) chest 14 inches toes = fingers = 10 That's it for now. papa = mama = exhausted. :p

January 14

an a-typical birth story...now we are home...

Jerry was so sweet to update my page for me.  What a past few days.  It still hasn't set in that we really made this being and he's going to be around for a long time.  When we got home, it startled me when he started to cry.

He's so good!  Last night Elijah and I had a little talk and he is now nursing regularly and loves it (while I am glad he is such a good little latch and sucker...my breasts are not so happy...but this too shall pass.)  I am sore, but healing well.  I had a small tear (who wouldn't pushing a 14 inch head through a 10 CENTIMENTER space....I mean something had to give...) so I am a bit uncomfortable, but it was all worth it.

My version of what happened...

After our doc appt on Thursday I had non-painful, non-regular contractions.  I went to bed at 11:00 pm Thursday night.  MY water broke at 12:50 am Friday morning.  We called the doc on call and she said we could go to the hospital or stay home.  We decided the hospital just to be on the safe side.  We didn't rush.  I really thought they would tell us we were maybe 5 centimeters.  My contractions were still not regular, but did hurt a bit more.  We got to the hospital around 2 am and checked in.  (Note to those who are planning on this pregnancy thing...take a trash bag in the car to sit on.  I was saturated when we got to the hospital!  But we saved the seats!)  On the way up to the labor and delivery ward I stopped to throw up...it made me feel better.  After checking in, I changed clothes and the nurse did a pelvic exam.  I was wound up and bracing for a long night/day in labor.  She stepped back from me and said she was going to page our doc because we were 7 centimeters and 90% effaced!!!  This was amazing to me.  Labor picked up.  The pain SUCKS!!!!  I was having back labor and NOTHING helped.  But Jerry was there and supported me and answered questions.  The hospital ad our doc were awesome at following our birthing plan.  Though I never left our room to walk and never used any of the things I took except the birthing ball.  I did sit in the shower for a while...this helped lots!  (By the way, my husband had not yet gone to bed when my water broke...how awesome is he?!)  When I reached transition (the hardest part of labor...usually the shortest and always right before birth) I thought I was going to die!  The nurse came in and asked if I wanted another pelvic exam.  I told her only if it was good news...she found this humorous...anyway we had the pelvic and I was at 9 centimeters and 100% effaced.  Regardless that I knew it would be over soon, I was begging Jerry for drugs anything to stop this pain!  I finally got comfortable (understand this is does not mean that there was not anymore pain...it was just the only way I could deal with the pain.)  I was flat on my back at the end of the bed with Jerry supporting my shoulders and head.  Jerry knew that when I said I felt like I needed to poo, that it was time and called the nurse.  We were almost at 10 centimeters with just a little lip.  At the next contraction the nurse pushed the lip over the baby's head and it was time to start pushing.

I want to stop here for a minute and say that I have read and heard that pushing is a great experience and that it feels awesome...these women must have had little itty-bitty babies....

Pushing was not only the hardest thing I have EVER had to do in my life, I was the most painful thing.  In Bradley class our teacher told us not to be on our backs when we push.  Our doc said we could be in any position...I honestly was so tired that I couldn't have turned over or been in any other position and still have pushed.  So there I was on my back with my feet in stirrups and waiting for the next contraction.  I looked at the clock at 5:25 and asked if we could have the baby by 6a.m.  Everyone in the room said I could if I pushed hard and well.  I was determined.  I was also determined to not see anything that would freak me out.  So I kept my eyes closed while I pushed and only opened them briefly to glace at the clock.  I was given oxygen because the babies heart rate was dipping (Jerry told me later that it went down to 82 beats/minute) I also accepted a topical numbing drug because they knew I was going to tear (only one stitch...no episiotomy!!)  this was the only drug I accepted during the whole labor and delivery.   I will say that after the baby's head came out, things felt a bit better and after that the shoulders came out and that felt GREAT!!!!!  After Elijah was born they put him on my tummy because this is as far as the cord would go.  The cord was apparently the thickest they had ever seen.  When I delivered the placenta they were amazed again.  It weighed almost as much as the baby!  I won't bore you with the cleaning up details and hospital stay.  We had an interesting night last night.  Jerry came home to sleep (he snores really loud, so I wanted him home so Elijah and I could try to sleep.)  Elijah and I bonded and slept for about 3 hours straight and cat napped on and off.  We were treated VERY well at the hospital and I think we had an ideal birth.  I don't think it was typical at all.  In all reality we were in painful labor for less than 4 hours and I pushed for only 35 minutes before giving birth.  I really don't think this is typical, but I am glad it was my a-typical birth.

I am still in awe that he is here and so absolutely beautiful and so good.  He had his first dirty diaper yesterday and Jerry went to change him and got peed on...it was pretty funny...

Elijah and Jerry are watching football right now...well Jerry is.  Elijah does not like to be put down alone at all, so we take turns holding him through naps...or napping with him...

we are so happy to be home!  thanks for all the well wishing!!!

January 19

a rough 48 hours

To start off...we are all doing well.  Now what happened.  Little Elijah had his first doctor's appointment on Monday the 16th.  The doc was a little concerned at his coloring and sent us to have blood work done.  His bilirubin count was a bit high and we repeated the test.  What is bilirubin?  It's the stuff that causes babies to be jaundice.  It happens to all babies, but if the count gets to high it could be really dangerous.  The second test was higher than the first so we were sent to the hospital's pediatric ward.  Here they gave Elijah phototreatment.  This was the most traumatic for me.  He had to be in a little isolette and had these things on over his eyes to protect them and all these lights were on him.  He was very unhappy as he is such a cuddly baby.  I was allowed to take him out to breast feed, but he was so upset he stopped taking my breast.  His count kept going up and we were allowed to take him out at all.  We could still touch him and whatnot.  The staff brought me a pump (it was hardcore and rather painful, but at least I got to pump...my pump was at home, and I refused to leave my little guy) I was terrified he would never go back on the breast.  But at least he was eating and this seemed to calm him down.  He was also hooked up to an IV push to help him process stopped faster.  Last night his count really started coming down and staying down so we got to have him out again.  He took immediately to the breast again!  He slept with either me or Jerry waking up only to feed.  He had to stay on a biliblanket (it's a blanket with these lights in it) but that was very manageable.  We were able to come home today without any extraneous things.  He has to be put in direct sunlight 3 times a day for 30 minutes at a time and we have to make sure he eats well and is having several dirty and wet diapers daily.

We are glad that no transfusion was involved (if the count had gone higher, this would have had to happen.)  We think that his liver had just not finished developing all the way.  But he is doing great now!

He has learned to latch on in the cradle position (he would only latch on earlier on the side and now he latches on to the front...like most pictures of nursing women...it's much more comfy to me and hopefully to  him.)  And while he still latches on very well, it's not nearly as painful as it was.  Either he got just a little lazy from the bottle or my breasts got toughened up from that pump or maybe a bit of both.  While he is still a very cuddly baby and prefers to be held, he will take a nap and sleep independently of us. So while it was traumatic, good things have come out of it.  My parents are THANKFULLY here to help.  So Jerry and I can finally get some rest.  They bring Elijah in for feedings and have done a crazy amount of cooking.  We were not brought food as we weren't the the patients, so mom and dad came to the rescue.  Jerry even got a chocolate pie for his birthday yesterday... it just sucked we had to be in the hospital for his day.

Okay, I need to go sleep a bit more while Elijah's knocked out.  I'll try to keep this updated as thing progress...you'll understand why I have taken no pics in the past couple days, but I sure we'll have more soon!

January 22

cloth diaper humor!

So we want to use cloth diapers.  We waited until Elijah's cord fell off and we decided to give it a try.  We had bought these covers that said they were good for 22 pounds and under.  I guess I didn't stop to think that maybe what could fit a 22 pound baby might be a smidge big on a 8 pound baby.  So then we decided to try with just the diaper, using pins.  Also didn't work very well, as neither of us could get the diapers tight enough with our little soccer players legs kicking so much.  We thought it was hilarious.  So we are still using the diapers people have given us and ordered cover specifically for his weight.  Hopefully those will arrive before we run out of disposable.  It's amazing to me how many diapers this little guy can go through!  I'm glad we don't have to buy any more!  We did this calculator that showed us that we would break even using cloth diapers by the time he is five months.  Not to mention that we will never have to buy any more diapers for the next kids.  It may take some getting used too, but so does breastfeeding!

Okay, I think my guy is about to fall asleep and I think I would like to nap before his next feeding...boy is my milk in and it shows when I put on a tank top!!!

By the way, we are all doing well.  Eli has a dr.'s appointment on Friday!  Hopefully it will be all good news!

January 25

just a quick note

just wanted to let everyone know that all is well.  we are just tired and totally engrossed with our cutie!  i'll write more later!

 

January 28

so sleepy

we went to the doctor's yesterday and got a clean bill of health!  our little guy now weighs in at 9 pounds 2 ounces!  i thought he felt heavier!  he has a little bit of a stuffy nose.  let me tell you how fun putting saline drops into an infants nose is...

jerry and i have been trading nights off.  jerry will stay with Elijah one night and bring him in just for feedings and then i will stay with him the next night.  it's nice, because we both end up getting some sleep.  regardless i usually take over at 6 in the morning just because i'm up by then anyway.

we finally have success with the cloth diapers.  we got the right sized covers the other day and while the are bulky, they are snug.  we've really only had one leak and it was just pee (thank goodness!)  hopefully these will last until he is big enough to fit in the others, otherwise we'll have to get the next size up.  we'll see.

so how long ago did they change the format here?  i totally haven't been paying attention.

mom and dad left this morning.    they'll be back in march sometime.  but this is a chance for me and jerry to do this on our own...it had to happen eventually.  i think we are ready.  it's not like the little guy does a whole lot...though you wouldn't know it from the way we constantly stare at him.  he has these expressions that he goes through in his sleep that just crack us up...not to mention the little noises he makes...speaking of which....