Finn's birth

Tomorrow we will be celebrating one year with Finn!

One year ago, when we were getting ready for bed, I started feeling faint contractions.  I knew that with both Molly and Elijah, I was already quite dilated when I started to feel contractions, so I paid attention right away.  When I timed them, the contractions were only 2-3 minutes apart, so we called the doctor.  We went to the hospital about midnight, and spent the rest of the night alternately walking the halls and watching the monitor.  My first two labors started slow, but went REALLY fast at the end, so we were all prepared for things to speed up at any time.  Finn decided to take his time, however.  Later in the afternoon, I got an epidural (my first - I was so scared!) and took a short, much-needed nap.  Finn finally made his appearance at 5:09 pm.  We were so excited to meet him!  He took to nursing right away, and we enjoyed spending some quiet time together.  It was a wonderful day.

Finn Patrick, 7 lbs 12 oz and 19 1/4", July 22nd

It was a very, very hot week.  During the first night it finally dropped below 100 degrees around 2 am.  The monitors around the halls of the hospital reported the temperature outside all night.  We were glad to be inside in the air conditioning!

Knoebels!

Monday was our annual trip to Knoebels amusement park with Patrick's family. This year, Patrick took the kids and let me spend the day sleeping and trying to rest up after a crazy weekend of moving! I was pretty worn out, and we decided that a long day of walking around and being too pregnant to take the kids on any rides wasn't the best idea. (Last year, I took the kids while Patrick had a work conference - maybe next year we'll all get to go together again!)

Baby update - 31 weeks

The weeks seem to be flying by as we wait to know for sure if we are really and truly moving ... in only 9 days. Yikes! Despite the moving question, and potty-training, and the traveling that Patrick has and will be doing this month, and the kids' birthdays coming up, and all the craziness, the wee bairn (aka baby boy) is growing and developing and seems to be well and healthy. I had my glucose test a few weeks ago, which came back normal (hooray!) and the blood tests done again. The Rh antibodies test was negative (yay) but my iron was still low, so they actually increased my dose. I was very much hoping to be able to quit taking the iron, but it isn't the worst thing in the world. It's just a lot to remember - twice a day, not with the prenatal vitamin, but with food, but not with dairy, which inhibits the body's ability to absorb the iron ... Anyway, I got my regularly scheduled RhoGAM shot two weeks ago, and was only sore for a couple of days. Yuck. I think that was my 7th dose over the past 5 pregnancies? Maybe this time the wee bairn will be Rh negative and I won't have to do it again after he is born. =) Now we are back to the quick, boring appointments - every 2 weeks for now.

According to the baby development book, the wee bairn is now approximately 16-17 inches long, 3-4 pounds, and almost a skinny little version of his full-term self! He is still very active whenever I am not, and pretty still during the day while I am busy. Soon he will start to run out room for all this activity, but we are enjoying feeling his big crazy wiggles for now. Molly is not at all sure she wants to be able to feel the baby move, and usually frowns on him if he happens to move when she is snuggled with me. But the rest of us think it's great. =)

Patrick and I went on a tour of the hospital where I'll be delivering, just so we know where to go and what to do when it's time. I think it's crazy that we have had to do this with each baby - learning all over again at a different place with different procedures. I should get a job writing reviews of maternity wards around the country. (Queen size beds in the maternity ward, people. Dads DO NOT like those horrible fold-out chairs!) I'm glad to have that done, though. Now we just have to map out the best route from the new house to the hospital. Of course, we don't want to have to use any of this just yet - hopefully we'll have more than 10 days after the move before the baby comes this time.

Breakfast in bed

While my mom was here, Patrick and I got to spend a night away on our own, courtesy of a gift certificate to the Yorktowne Hotel that he won at work. Patrick arranged for a pregnancy massage for me that afternoon (so wonderful!) and then we drove down to Maryland to a great little outdoor shopping area.


The weather was fantastic that day, and we enjoyed walking around and eating dinner out on the patio. Patrick chose the place because they have a Noodles & Co. - another fantastic treat! (Seriously, that place makes me so happy, especially after a few years of living far away from them.) We had our favorites ... well, Patrick had his favorite (Pad Thai) and I had small bowls of two of my favorites, Tuscan Linguine and Mac & Cheese. I may be eating for two, but I just couldn't get all three of my favorites - that would just be ridiculous. =)

Mmmmm ... mac & cheese.

Back at the hotel, a wonderful day was topped off with chocolate covered strawberries and champagne. (Real for Patrick, faux for me!) We got to sleep in and have room service breakfast in bed. What a wonderful treat for a tired mama! We spent most of the rest of the day enjoying being together and finding some fun local food and even enjoying some appliance and house-related pre-shopping (just to be prepared - not because we know anything yet - don't get too excited).

Breakfast yumminess.

IT'S A BOY!

Patrick and I got to go to my 20-week ultrasound yesterday morning.

The big question was answered right away - we're having another boy! We are thrilled (Patrick actually yelled when we found out) and excited to be able to start thinking of names and designing a quilt. I always feel so much more connected to the little one I'm carrying around once I can feel them kicking and know whether to call them "him" or "her." (I just can't stand calling a baby "it.")

It was amazing to see our baby in all his tiny perfectness - great views of the four chambers of his heart beating and pumping blood, and resting (for a moment - he sure is an active little guy!) with his arms above his head - just like big brother Elijah does when he sleeps. We are so thankful that he is healthy and all is well.

We were a little nervous to tell Molly - she has been quite sure that the baby would be a girl - but she accepted the news without any signs of being upset, and seems to be adjusting to the idea of having a baby brother. Knowing the gender also seems to be helping the kids imagine what having a baby is going to be like, and they both seem much more inclined to love him now. My belly has been rubbed much more often now, and more tenderly, to say hi to little brother.

Baby update - 12 weeks

Well, here we are at 12 weeks! I know we're not actually out of the first trimester yet, but 12 weeks always comes as a welcome relief. Baby is the size of a lime now and moving little fingers and toes.

I just found out that I'm anemic - so iron supplements here we come. Hopefully they aren't as awful as everyone says. I was a little anemic before I got pregnant with Elijah, but some extra spinach and red meat resolved that. I guess it explains my recent taco, hamburger and steak cravings! (Not, however, the chips and queso craving. I can't say that I desperately need some nutrition that is going to provide, as much as I'd like to justify it.)

At the risk of jinxing things, I think I'm starting to feel a little better, generally. I've been able to eat better lately, and a little less often, and the nausea is a little less constant. I did catch Elijah's stomach bug the other night, and have some very beautiful broken capillaries around my eyes to show for it. But I haven't thrown up this week other than that! Yay!

Sorry, I am not going to take regular pictures of the bump for y'all, at least not until I'm looking more pregnant and less just plain chubby.

Random thoughts and quotes

Yesterday at nap time, Elijah threw up. In typical Elijah style, he didn't even tell me for a while. When he did, he said (in a very normal, happy voice), "Mama, I threw up. It's OK. That happens sometimes. Remember a long time ago on the way home from Bobbi's house when I threw up in the van? It just happens sometimes."

I said, "How are you? Do you feel a little better now?"

"Yep, I'm fine."

Nothing ever really bothers him much. He was a little less cavalier after throwing up a few more times, but never lost his cheerfulness. What a funny kid.

The kids are getting used to the idea that we're going to have a baby now, and like to ask questions. At first they were quite concerned that the baby would get wet when I drank water, and that I might throw up the baby when I was sick, but I think they understand now that the baby is quite safe in there.

Crossing the finish line!

New job. Check.

Move to temporary space. Check.

Search for house. Check.

Get pregnant? Check!

Have offer accepted on house. Check.

Successful inspection. _______

Move-in date. Feb. 25-28

Have friends and family help with move. Promising beer and pizza to any takers...

:)

Update: house and moving on hold for now. :(

Number 3

We are having a baby! Our third little Shmuffin is about 8 weeks along, and is due August 8th. Another summer baby. We seem to be continuing several streaks here - each new baby in a different state, moving each time I've been pregnant ... lots of fun stuff. I am feeling pretty sick and miserable (also for the third time) but thankfully only actually puking occasionally. We were pretty excited to have a good ultrasound and see a healthy little heartbeat (right where it is supposed to be!) before Christmas, and to be able to tell both our families when they were all together for Christmas.

We are now especially thankful to be at least in the process of finding and buying a bigger house where there will be enough room for all five of us, plus any of all of you very loved people who might want to come and stay. =) We are in the waiting and hoping stage after putting in an offer on a house - our third in the past couple of months. We're praying that it will all work out, if this really is the house for us.

So, lots of big news.

Last week

So, we had random internet issues last week - very frustrating. Anyway, I'll try to sum up ...

Just a happy boy!

It was a terribly hot, humid week in New England. Before we moved here, everyone said that it never gets that hot this close to the water. Well, it did. We already had the air conditioners up in the bedrooms and last Sunday Patrick got out portable going out in the kitchen to help out in the living area. It was still pretty brutal and I was just generally feeling not well. (Not so unusual at 38 weeks anyway, I guess.) Elijah and I mostly just bunkered down in the apartment for the week, except for doctors appointments and our last gymnastics class.

I also finally decided it was about time to be brave and find someone here to cut my hair. I really needed a haircut, and I figured it's better to do it now than wait until after the baby comes. So ... yeah, it actually was a pretty horrible haircut - it looked like a guy's feathered style from 1982, even after I washed it and let it curl. So I had to go find a new place this Saturday and have them try to fix it. My hair is shorter now than it's ever been, I think, and I still don't really like it, but it's a lot better than it was. I've decided that having it really short will probably be nice for the hot weather, and it'll be nice & easy when I have a newborn and I'm really not taking care of it. So, I'll try to be positive and it'll grow out eventually, right?

Well, we're only 10 days from baby's due date now. I was 1 cm dilated all week last week, but nothing too exciting is happening yet. We go back to the doctor tomorrow. Hopefully we're all ready for this little girl!

Some recent pictures

Here are a few fun pictures we've taken recently:

If he's stuck in his chair he can't run out of the picture! HA!

Sleepy?

And, by special request, just for Kristi:

Belly: 35 weeks

Just trying to learn my way around

Hey there, happy guy!

I have several things that I need to post about, so I'll try to get all caught up in the next few days. We had a great (but fast) weekend visiting Patrick's family, and I have a lot of pictures and video of the cousins to sort through and post, so more about that later.

On Friday Patrick and Elijah joined me for my first visit to my new doctor's office here. I've been a little nervous about switching doctors and all since we first started talking about moving. I loved my doctor in Colorado, and the idea of finding someone new didn't sound fun, and not knowing where to go or thinking I might not being able to find someone quickly enough if I needed it just stressed me right out. So I was glad that the insurance stuff was worked out quickly and we got an appointment right away. The appointment wasn't a real check-up, just a visit with a nurse to get all my records and history and all that so that they would know what's going on with me before I meet the doctor. Everyone was nice, and I am looking forward to my appointment this afternoon to meet the doctor and get back on track with my regularly scheduled care. Getting there on Friday, however, really reinforced my perception of R.I. so far - you just have to know what you're doing. We were late to the appointment because we got lost - neither MapQuest or the street signs around here are very helpful, and we couldn't get anyone on the phone to give us directions until we finally just turned around enough to get there. Really, the street sign situation here is horrible. Even Patrick, who has a great sense of direction and can usually find anything, gets really frustrated and thinks everyone who moves here just has to get GPS.

So when we arrived at the office all flustered and late, the receptionist checked me in and gave me some paperwork to fill out. "The nurse will be calling you in a few minutes," she said. So we filled out the paperwork and waited. And waited. And waited. Elijah ran all over the waiting room with Patrick and read all the books they had in the kid corner. After about 30 minutes, Patrick went back to the receptionist and asked if anything was wrong and they said, "No, we're just waiting to get your paperwork back." OK, thanks for letting me know that I should bring it back to you! Yikes! Anyway, it's not that people here aren't nice, they just assume that you know what you're doing. Even when you tell them you're new and you need help, it just doesn't do much good. Hopefully today when we go, we'll figure out the right way to get there. And now we know we'll have to start practicing getting to the hospital soon so we can get lost trying it a few times. Fun times!

Surprise - it's a girl!

We went for my 20-week ultrasound tonight. We were excited to watch baby move around and see her heart beat and and little fingers and toes move around ... wait, her? Patrick and I were both surprised at the end to hear, "It's a girl!" We were both expecting a boy, but are getting used to the idea of having a girl, and getting excited about it. Hooray! (Sorry about the blurry picture.)

On naps, poop, colds and other fun stuff ...

Elijah and his Nana

I've been trying to blog lately, and mostly starting but not finishing. So here is one huge post about a bunch of random things, combining all of my unfinished musings. =)

Baby, it's cold outside...
It's been pretty chilly here this week, so we have to get all bundled up anytime we go out. We got a few inches of snow here earlier this week, and some more today. And now it's freezing out. But we still have things to do - groceries, doctor appointments, the usual. Elijah has been pretty good about it, but the mittens are a trial. Here are a couple of pictures of his lovely hat hair this evening!


Napping ...
Elijah is a napper. He just sleeps a lot - most kids his age have made the move to one nap a day, but E loves his morning nap and so we stick with two. He's still sleeping 12 hours at night, about 2 hours in the morning and 1 or 1 1/2 in the afternoon. (Yes, I am very thankful!) He usually wakes up happy and ready to run in the morning, but in the afternoon he sometimes needs a little time. The other day he woke up in a funk (yes, a Post-Nap Funk, or PNF for those of you who didn't spend too much time with me in college). Crazy bed head, sleepy eyes, and fussy. (And I was not feeling well at all.) He was grumpy but wanted to be held, so we sat on the couch and watched a couple of minutes of Oprah. (No, we do not generally watch TV. E watches about 10 minutes a week of his very cool Classical Baby DVDs so that I can safely trim his fingernails, toenails and/or hair as necessary. I definitely don't let him watch Oprah normally - give me a break though, I'm sick!) Elijah sat very still on my lap (what!?) and clapped when they applauded on the show and when it was over, he waved and said "bye-bye." He is such a cutie, even (or especially!) with PNF.

Poop, diapers and feeling pukey...
I do not recommend using cloth diapers when you don't feel well. Elijah has been pooping 3-4 times a day (especially smelly and gross, too) since I've been feeling sick. A huge, smelly, poopy diaper is not a good way to kick off a day when you're trying to prevent being sick. It's a great way to trigger a day of feeling miserable. Who can blame me if I want to use disposables sometimes?

The common cold ...
We had a couple of rough nights this week. It reminded me of Elijah's ear infection earlier this year, so I took him to the doctor. No ear infection, thankfully, but he does have a cold - runny nose and all. So, we are to watch him for signs of things getting worse, and push fluids. Elijah loves water, and since he is sick, I've been giving him some juice as well. The kid just drinks and drinks and drinks, and I change a lot of diapers and sometimes wet clothes. Ah, joy! While we were at the doctor, they weighed EJ again. He now weighs 24 lbs 12 oz - another big gain! The doctor said it was great. We'll find out in January at his 18 month appointment how tall he is, and what his percentages are. Hooray, Elijah!

One big day...
Thursday we had a big day. We got up in the morning and rushed around to get to Elijah's appointment with the doctor, and then rushed home in time for his morning nap. When he got up, we ate lunch and ran to the grocery store. Unfortunately, my being sick has not been good for everyone else around here. I haven't felt much like cooking, and food generally grosses me out. Therefore, we were completely out of everything edible. But for the last few days, I've been feeling a little better, so I ambitiously made a list and Elijah and I went on a marathon grocery run. We got home, and while Elijah took his afternoon nap, I carried lots of groceries up three flights of stairs and did some chopping and measuring. Then when Patrick got home, I made an actual, no mixes or boxes involved, dinner. I was pretty tired! I went to bed at 8 pm. It was a big day!

Preggie blues

Not that I want to use this blog to complain, but since many of you all have asked ...
I am still not feeling well. I'm feeling sick most of the time, hungry most of the time (not a good combination!), congested and not sleeping very well. Thankfully, I'm not throwing up too often, as long as I keep eating every half hour or so. Some days are better than others. Basically, I'm looking forward to the second trimester and hopefully feeling better at some point, as well as sleeping better, looking pregnant instead of just chubby, and being able to keep up with Elijah a little better. At least this can't last forever! Thanks for asking and praying.

Some News

Elijah is going to be a big brother! I am 8 weeks pregnant, and we've had two good ultrasounds to confirm that everything is OK and the baby is where he/she belongs (hooray!). I've been feeling sick for a few weeks now (I refuse to call this "morning" sickness - all day every day sick is more applicable), but the doctor says that is a good sign. I am due on June 26th. We are so excited!