Obviously I have been pre-occupied with all things baby lately...and rightly so...10 days from today is the C-section! My husband just asked me last night: "What are we doing this weekend? Do we have anything going on?" I told him no, we'll both be around and I'm not working at all...which was on purpose since I'm again...10 days away from having another baby. To which he responded, "Good. We have a lot we need to get done!"
Clearly. Though I have been quite productive (I must say) in my nesting phase, there is still a lot that could save us some headaches if we got it done now as opposed to when I'm in the hospital or just getting home from the hospital. Rumor has it recovery from a C-section is slightly more difficult than a vaginal delivery. We shall see. So far, all the baby clothes have been washed and put in their rightful drawers. The house is on it's way to very clean. I'd give it a 85% right now. But between ultrasounds (to see if the boys has moved), regular doctors appointments and taking care of Josh, I am pooped beyond belief and there is still at least 1 more trip to Babies R Us that needs to happen before this boy gets here.
Here's what I'm hoping to accomplish this weekend:
Babies R Us run:
- pacifers
- Lansinoh
- Soothies (they saved me last time!)
- Tommy Tippee bottle nipples
- breast pads
- nipple shields (we'll see how breastfeeding goes without them, but I hear they can make all the difference in the world)
- pack n play sheets
- changing table cover
- breast milk storage bags
Things I need hubby to get out of storage:
- nursing cover
- infant bather chair
- baby car seat bases installed in both cars
- cradle (awww!)
- lamb swing (we called it the "silence of the lamb" with Joshua...is that bad? inappropriate? possibly. Regardless, it was the truth! He loved that thing!
To do:
- put away green activity table (to make room for lamb swing in living room)
- figure out where cradle will go in bedroom
- pack hospital bag for Matt & I
- finish cleaning house
- charge camera
- wash lamb swing cover
- mani/pedi with my friend :)
WHEW. I'll let you know how it all goes. But here's to a productive baby-preparation weekend!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
The Second Time Around
I really don't know what to say right now except...in 18 days I will be the mother of not one, but TWO boys! I am excited and nervous and just full of wonder. What is the second time around going to be like? Before, I had nothing to compare anything to...now I find myself wondering all the time - will this boy look like his big brother? Will he be as good-natured? Will he sleep through the night at 6 weeks like his brother did? (Please, God, say yes!!).
I don't know how the boys will differ from each other, but I do know there are some things I intend to do differently this time around. Hindsight, is they say, 20/20. With Joshua, the nurses told me I was "slacking" when I didn't wake him up like clockwork every 2-3 hours to nurse him...but oh my goodness I was TIRED! And he was sleeping. And it just seemed really horrible when I was exhausted (and he was apparently also!) to wake him up and try to feed him (when in reality, that wasn't such a smooth process at the beginning either!). This time, I will be feeding my boy when he is hungry and letting him sleep if he's sleepy. Come on, babies for generations have been raised that way and have all done FINE! Obviously, if he starts to lose too much weight or something I will do what I have to do, but I think those nurses made me think he was going to die if I didn't put him to the breast every 2.5 hours on the dot. Geez didn't they think I had enough worries going through my mind already!?
Also, I feel I have more confidence about keeping a baby alive and well this time. It may have been some baby blues in the first two weeks last time, but I seriously remember thinking: Can I really do this? Did I bite off more than I can chew here? I know it's going to be a lot of work this time around as well (DOUBLE the work, really), but I will have lots of help and I know in my heart I can do this. And if, after a few days at home I should start to forget this fact, I will report directly back to this blog post and take a deep breath and affirm what I do know is true in my heart: These boys are my gifts from God, whom He entrusted to me, and He doesn't make mistakes!
I don't know how the boys will differ from each other, but I do know there are some things I intend to do differently this time around. Hindsight, is they say, 20/20. With Joshua, the nurses told me I was "slacking" when I didn't wake him up like clockwork every 2-3 hours to nurse him...but oh my goodness I was TIRED! And he was sleeping. And it just seemed really horrible when I was exhausted (and he was apparently also!) to wake him up and try to feed him (when in reality, that wasn't such a smooth process at the beginning either!). This time, I will be feeding my boy when he is hungry and letting him sleep if he's sleepy. Come on, babies for generations have been raised that way and have all done FINE! Obviously, if he starts to lose too much weight or something I will do what I have to do, but I think those nurses made me think he was going to die if I didn't put him to the breast every 2.5 hours on the dot. Geez didn't they think I had enough worries going through my mind already!?
Also, I feel I have more confidence about keeping a baby alive and well this time. It may have been some baby blues in the first two weeks last time, but I seriously remember thinking: Can I really do this? Did I bite off more than I can chew here? I know it's going to be a lot of work this time around as well (DOUBLE the work, really), but I will have lots of help and I know in my heart I can do this. And if, after a few days at home I should start to forget this fact, I will report directly back to this blog post and take a deep breath and affirm what I do know is true in my heart: These boys are my gifts from God, whom He entrusted to me, and He doesn't make mistakes!
Friday, October 5, 2012
My Next 30 Years
Tomorrow I turn 30 years old...the big 3-0! And while I may at present be quite the opposite of "thirty, flirty, and thriving," I have no qualms whatsoever about leaving my 20's behind and entering a new era of my life.
Many people have asked me recently "How do you feel about turning 30?" and "Are you OK with it?" I find it funny because I guess it never occurred to me not to be OK with it. First of all, getting another year older is something that's going to happen whether I like it or not. I can spend a lot of wasted mental energy "fighting" to stay young or pretending I'm not turning 30, but at the end of the day...I am. And I think with all the craziness out there in the world today and all the bad things that could happen but don't...I'm feeling pretty blessed to be here.
Another reason I'm super OK with turning 30? My life is beyond awesome. Everything I wanted my life to look like at 30...it does. I have a beautiful marriage with a husband who is my best friend and who I love more every day. I have an amazing son who fills each of my days with joy and wonder. I have another son who will be here in about 3 weeks...and the miracle of that experience and what he will be like keeps me up at night and giddy with excitement. I have a family who loves and supports me. I have a Master's degree, my own business, and a house. I have friends who bless my life in ways I could never thank them enough for. And although money is sometimes tight, God has always provided for every single one of our needs. Yes, life is good.
In my next 30 years, I know there will be good times and bad times. I don't know exactly what the future holds. But I do know one thing: The first three decades of my life have been so amazingly blessed that I welcome the future with open arms.
Thank you, God for the gift of life, the gift of love, and all the precious gifts You give me every day.
Many people have asked me recently "How do you feel about turning 30?" and "Are you OK with it?" I find it funny because I guess it never occurred to me not to be OK with it. First of all, getting another year older is something that's going to happen whether I like it or not. I can spend a lot of wasted mental energy "fighting" to stay young or pretending I'm not turning 30, but at the end of the day...I am. And I think with all the craziness out there in the world today and all the bad things that could happen but don't...I'm feeling pretty blessed to be here.
Another reason I'm super OK with turning 30? My life is beyond awesome. Everything I wanted my life to look like at 30...it does. I have a beautiful marriage with a husband who is my best friend and who I love more every day. I have an amazing son who fills each of my days with joy and wonder. I have another son who will be here in about 3 weeks...and the miracle of that experience and what he will be like keeps me up at night and giddy with excitement. I have a family who loves and supports me. I have a Master's degree, my own business, and a house. I have friends who bless my life in ways I could never thank them enough for. And although money is sometimes tight, God has always provided for every single one of our needs. Yes, life is good.
In my next 30 years, I know there will be good times and bad times. I don't know exactly what the future holds. But I do know one thing: The first three decades of my life have been so amazingly blessed that I welcome the future with open arms.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Nesting, Nesting 1, 2, 3...
Well it's official - my C-section is scheduled for October 29. Which isn't to say this boy still couldn't surprise us and turn around to a nice head-down position before then. And it isn't to say he could surprise us all and come early...but so far all signs are pointing to October 29 as the date when this boy makes his arrival!
And there's just something about seeing the phrase "C-section Day" on the calendar in less than four weeks that is making me want to purge my house of every unnecessary thing and clean like crazy. And that's exactly what I've been doing.
Today, for instance, I de-cluttered the books on our huge bookshelf in the living room. I now have an overflowing box PLUS some other books to be donated to the library this weekend. I'm hoping while my husband's there dropping them off (what, it's not like I can LIFT the things at this stage of life!) he will also get a library card so he has a fun place to take Josh and get new books once Mommy is otherwise occupado with his baby brother. Killing to birds with one stone...lovely!
Yesterday, I cleaned like crazy until my back was KILLING ME and I was sweating...unfortunately it didn't take long (about an hour) for both of these to occur simultaneously. My mind wants to go, go, go, but my body just isn't being as cooperative as I would like it to be. Still, I have to hand it to my body...by all indications it is growing a very healthy baby boy at the moment...I feel I can't ask for much more than that from it being 4 weeks away from delivery.
I also got all the newborn clothes out and washed and put away (HOLY COW are they small!) and I am just praying every day to be ready when this little one arrives. Well, as ready as I'll ever be! Until then, I'm doing as much as I can every day to make this house a home sweet home for my (soon to be) three boys and me!
And there's just something about seeing the phrase "C-section Day" on the calendar in less than four weeks that is making me want to purge my house of every unnecessary thing and clean like crazy. And that's exactly what I've been doing.
Today, for instance, I de-cluttered the books on our huge bookshelf in the living room. I now have an overflowing box PLUS some other books to be donated to the library this weekend. I'm hoping while my husband's there dropping them off (what, it's not like I can LIFT the things at this stage of life!) he will also get a library card so he has a fun place to take Josh and get new books once Mommy is otherwise occupado with his baby brother. Killing to birds with one stone...lovely!
Yesterday, I cleaned like crazy until my back was KILLING ME and I was sweating...unfortunately it didn't take long (about an hour) for both of these to occur simultaneously. My mind wants to go, go, go, but my body just isn't being as cooperative as I would like it to be. Still, I have to hand it to my body...by all indications it is growing a very healthy baby boy at the moment...I feel I can't ask for much more than that from it being 4 weeks away from delivery.
I also got all the newborn clothes out and washed and put away (HOLY COW are they small!) and I am just praying every day to be ready when this little one arrives. Well, as ready as I'll ever be! Until then, I'm doing as much as I can every day to make this house a home sweet home for my (soon to be) three boys and me!
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