The Santa Progression

Harrison's First Christmas :)

3 Months!

Wow time has flown by!

I have been a little slack with my updates, but things are going well!

Let's see...Harrison started sleeping through the night at 10 weeks (3 weeks ago). We are elated, as we are starting to feel "normal" again. That being said, I'm still up early enough to see that traffic in Atlanta is still moving (a little early for my liking, but I'll take it!). I started working a few days a week this December, and it's going really well. Granted, I'm not doing much, but I really have enjoyed getting back into physical therapy. I'm going to be working more regular hours in January doing home health pediatrics as well as working in the hospital. My mom is watching Harrison for now- we're trying to keep him home as long as possible. I'm not breast feeding him anymore (didn't make it very long), which I feel guilty about, but it is what it is.

I've decided to do a little monthly survey so I can keep track of things that are happening with little guy (because I'll forget if I don't write it down).

Weight: Little buddy is 15 pounds- he is huge and my arms are sore all the time! ...not that anyone probably cares, but mine is finally back down to normal-- I am very excited about this! I've worked really hard and am very proud of myself :) ....also, Chris appreciates that I'm not buying anymore clothes

Length: As of 8 weeks he was 25 inches-- not sure what has transpired in the last 5 weeks, but he is wearing 6 month clothes (and they fit perfectly!).

Pediatrician Visit: We went at 8 weeks and got a bunch of shots. It wasn't too terrible at the time, but the 2-3 days following were miserable. Dr. Weiss says everything looks good and he's growing nice and strong (and that he'll probably be pretty tall!). We go to see him again in 3 more weeks...for more shots :(

Milestones:  He's been holding his head up for a few weeks, and is "talking" to me a lot during the day...Lots of "O" sounds. He is also starting to chuckle a little bit. He kind of laughed a few days ago for our friend Jill, but I have yet to hear a full on baby giggle. I can't wait :) He can roll from his stomach to his back, but not the other way yet (supposedly this will be around 5 months). I started putting him in his little jumpy chair for a few minutes- he loves it, but his feet can't reach. I prop them up with a pillow and he tries to bear weight a little bit. I am hesitant to do this a lot, even though he likes it, because I don't know that it's a good idea for his little knee joints....and I'm a bit of a hypochondriac?! :) Maybe??


Here's a few pictures from the past  few weeks...

8 weeks

10 weeks

10 weeks

13 weeks

13 weeks

1 Month Old!

Wow, this has been the longest day month of my life. The days and nights seemed to have blurred together with all the feedings, changings, laundry, and not sleeping, but everyone keeps saying "it gets easier."

What does that REALLY mean?

I suppose it's sort of like when you get pregnant and everyone tells you "your life is going to change forever."

No one really tells you HOW.

Everyone also says that the first few months are hard, but that they are "worth it" and become "funny stories and memories" before you know it. I am starting to see this now and feel it's already worth it, but it's still a long road before these times will be "funny."

I would like to document what exactly my life has become so that anyone planning to welcome a little miracle into their life (or me in a few years) can know what they are getting themselves into.

First off, I would like to say that I am completely in love with my little boy and could stare at him all day. Babies blow my mind...such an incredible miracle. I can't believe we are so lucky to have our very own beautiful, perfect little boy.

That being said, the first four weeks of his life have been, at the risk of being vague, "life changing."

I had anticipated less sleep, less showers, and less going out.

Some of the "life changes" I wasn't expecting...
1. taking a shower has become a luxury
2. drying my hair has become flat out fancy (I have done it 4 times in the last 4 weeks)
3. wearing makeup/ perfume has lost its glamour as the perfume makes H sneeze and who the hell is going to see my makeup? Instead I smell like sour milk all the time and look ridiculously tired-- always :)
4. going somewhere like Target or the grocery store is not only terrifying, it's nearly impossible
5. my diaper bag is bigger (and infinitely more important) than my purse
6. 3 hours of sleep in a row is not only enough to get by, it's actually refreshing.
7. "sleeping when he sleeps" is a cruel thing to say as it is almost impossible
8. doing laundry every day is necessary...and somehow ends up being the same things every day that get washed (burp clothes, onesies, and the 3 things that fit me)
9. nursing bras and tops are awesome and all I wear...if I wear clothes. I have a bit of a nudist thing happening.
10. the baby blues are real!!! the first week was so intimidating and filled with anxiety for me I barely slept a wink or ate anything (kind of a positive- I lost 20 pounds in the first few days of being home...but not a pound more since then!).
11. the linea negra doesn't go away immediately- I read up and it can last up to a year! mine is starting to fade, but it's weird to still have this little stripe on my tummy.
12. I really, really miss Chris and the first two weeks I cried when he went to work.
13. 9pm feedings
14. 11pm feedings
15. 1am feedings
16. 3am feedings
17. 5am feedings
18. 7am feedings...just get up at this point.
19. poopy diapers have actually been something I've been excited about.
20. the DVR is my best friend :)
21. A new born baby can fart like a grown man! hehehe

There are some other little gems, but that pretty much summed up my life for the first 4 weeks.

Now we're onto 5 weeks and things are getting a little better. I'm much more emotionally stable (which everyone appreciates). We went to Jon and Ally's wedding this past weekend and had to leave Harrison overnight with my mom and Pete. It was nerve racking for all, but little man survived and I didn't have a stroke like I thought I was going to :) AAAAAAAND it was VERY nice to go out with my husband for a grown up night out.

Here's a few pix...a lot changes in a month!!

3 days old
"Has his Daddy's Jeans"

First Game Day- 1 week

1 week old
"Baby Bear"

With Uncle Justin after my first doctor's apt
7#14oz

2 weeks old
"At the Office"

With Aunt Sammy, 3 weeks old.

With Carlie- 3 weeks old

Big Yawn

Ridin' in the stroller

1 month old!

Hangin' out

Eyeing my Pacifier

Tummy Time

He's Here!!

So this post is a couple weeks late, but I've had my hands full to say the least!

The Birth

The night before our little one was born :)

Chris and I went to the hospital Sunday September 18th around 4pm for our induction "prep." For whatever reason, I imagined Sunday night as being a relaxing, comfortable evening complete with cozy pajamas and walking around the hospital followed by a good night's sleep in preparation for a leisurely induction Monday morning (whenever I woke up).

...I was a little off.

We got there and were immediately put in a room where I had to wear a "one size fits all" gown that really fits no one. My ties weren't even all there! I was put in a delivery bed that encourages you to lay on your back (a position that I HATED being 9 months pregnant). So, being stubborn, I layed on my sides and made Chris put on my cute, fuzzy socks for me (a task that had become impossible for me to do on my own). I couldn't really walk around because the baby and I were hooked up to all kinds of monitors. Going to the bathroom was more than an ordeal.

By 6pm I had cervidil applied (something that is supposed to soften the cervix). You're really not supposed to move at all once this is applied, so needless to say, I was REALLY comfortable after that...I felt like quarantined orca.

In my cantankerous state, I was letting my hormones get the best of me and I became a bit emotional: Chris got me ice chips and I got all choked up because I was so thankful. He apparently had been talking to my sister (who lives in Nashville) all weekend without me knowing and convinced her to come into town to be there for me.When she showed up a few hours after we got to the hospital, I had another nice crying session. They were both incredible all weekend, and made the whole experience so much better!

The nurses gave me ambien around 9pm to get some sleep in preparation for the next day. I was reluctant to take it, but knew I would never sleep on my own with all the dings, IV machines, BP cuffs going off every 15 minutes (my right arm was sore for three days!), and other miscellaneous sounds. I slept like a champ from 10-1, at which point I woke up with some pretty solid contractions- about every 5 minutes. I had only gained 1cm over night (in addition to the 2cm I started with), and was pretty miserable. I think they gave me the pitocin around 5am, but I am not the best historian concerning this night. Shortly after I got the pitocin, the pain was so intense, I asked for pain medicine. They gave me a shot of something (heroin?!?), and I felt MUCH better. I channeled Christopher from the Sopranos during his best shooting up scenes, and melted right into my bed. I fully comprehend drug addiction now.

The heroin-shot wore off by 10ish, at which point the contractions were so intense, I was shushing all the people in the room.  They called the epidural guy and he swept in with his magical needle around 11am. By 11:05, I was feeling pretty good again!

I have to say, I did feel guilty about taking the meds. I didn't drink carbonated beverages or eat deli meat for nearly 10 months, so a shot of heroin seemed like a bit of a cop out. However, I think my delivery would have encouraged me to entertain sterilization had I not had the meds.

At around 1pm I felt as though I needed to push (strange feeling). I can't really explain what this even felt like, and it could have just been me being tired of not having this baby, but I kept calling my nurse to tell her it was time to go! Also, I could hear other women nearby having their babies and I was jealous that they were done being pregnant.

She came every time I called, but kept telling me I wasn't quite ready... I must have called her every 10 minutes until she told me it was really time. Chris, Dr. Ayres, Staci our nurse were all in the room at this point, and Dr. Ayres kicked all the family out (my sister, mom, and mother in law). Once they left, he said "it's better with less people, unless you really want them here." I didn't care about anything at that point except getting this little boy OUT.

A few moments later, a random woman who was a pediatric nurse came in and stood by my head. While everyone else was very helpful and was encouraging, this crazy woman kept screaming into my ear "shoot him to the ceiling!! push him out like he's a bowel movement!" I LOATHED her!!! First of all, babies are NOT bowel movements and it's NOT the same kind of action. She was a broken record and it was all I could do not to swear at her. I didn't want Harrison's first moments on earth to be me cussing out the delivery team, so I refrained, but I did shush her to no avail though.

Also, the woman across the hall was also in labor and was too late for her epidural. She didn't speak English and kept screaming obscenities in Spanish. She screamed bloody murder the entire time I was pushing. I felt awful for her, and incredibly thankful for my epidural. I started to get upset about how much pain I could tell she was in, but Chris was my saving grace. He was incredible the whole time, always saying how much he loved me and saying a bunch of crap about how great I was doing (I didn't think so at the time). He was a good coach :)

I couldn't be more appreciative to have him as a husband and as the father of our baby boy.

FINALLY by 2:31pm (after about 30 minutes of active labor), our little buddy made it out into the world! I have never felt love the way I did the moment I saw my son. The intense love I have for my son and my husband moves me to tears on a daily basis.

...Though I do love them both so incredibly much,  I would like the crying to stop :) Damn hormones!

I have to say the labor wasn't as bad as I imagined. I think people like to tell first time mom's all their horror stories about how awful it is. Please don't be mistaken, it was no walk in the park, and I had my amazing epidural, but it was really only the last 5 minutes that were hellacious and miserable. It was still traumatic enough that Chris and I will be waiting a while before we embark on this type of life adventure again, but I'm not scared of SOMEDAY giving this little boy a baby brother or sister (by someday I mean YEARS from now).

Harrison Everett Maxwell
7 pounds 11 ounces
20.5 inches in length

Chris meeting his son for the first time <3

There isn't a great family picture that doesn't include my naked chest,
so this is my first pic with my baby boy :)

...I was pretty exhausted and Chris and I were having a moment.

I LOVE my boys!!!

Week 39/ Early Week 40

Week 39

*Total weight gain?: 163..32 total. 

* Pregnancy Symptoms:  I look like a beached whale?? Ummm...let's see the newer ones: Well, I've had the same 'heavy' feeling in my lower abdomen, I've had 3 ultrasounds since last visit. My amniotic fluid levels have been low and I've had to be on bed rest for a full week and "take it easy" precautions since Monday. According to the all-knowing google, normal ranges of amniotic fluid go from 5-25cm depending on what week you are. Apparently, after 34 weeks it naturally gets less due to the baby is bigger than there is space for it. Mine was 6cm the first US, 7cm the second one and 8+ on the third one. The 3rd one is what got me my "take it easy" precautions, in which I'm allowed to go do simple things like get manicures and get a couple things from the grocery store, but nothing more intense than that. Still a bazillion times better than bed rest!

*How big is baby?:  According to ultrasound #1 (about 10 days ago), he was about 7 pounds +/- 14 ounces. By that rationale, I'm thinking he will be closer to 8 pounds when he is born. I'm also guessing about 21 inches. 

Here's his little face :)

At birth, I was roughly 7 pounds 14 ounces and 20 inches and Chris was 10+ pounds and 24 inches (a freaking toddler!!!).

*Sleep: Lots.

Sex:  a little boy!!

*Movement: Yes, he's still wiggling, though not as many major movements these days. This is good because he is 'in position to make his great escape.'

*Food cravings: TCBY! I've been playing with a business proposition to add a delivery team to said or any other fro yo stores. Ice cream by means of wasting 10 calories or less of effort is EXACTLY what America needs.

*Labor signs: Still 1-2 cm and 60% effaced. Definitely had more Braxton Hicks contractions lately, but nothing super exciting. The MD wants to induce labor on Monday morning (9/19/11), because of the risky amniotic fluid levels. I'm dreading this because I've heard horror stories about pitocin. That being said, I've being trying EVERY wive's tale I've heard of to get this baby a little more motivated to see the outside world! 

Here's my personal research/ lessons learned thus far:

1. spicy food = terrible heart burn

2. eggplant parm from Maggianos = delicious, but didn't work.

3. eggplant parm from Scalinis = Much better than maggianos and more pieces (4 vs 2). We might have had more success here if we didn't leave half of it at the restaurant. So sad!

4. Marital relations....Not helpful. Nough said.

5. Deep squats = REALLY hard, and uneventful.

6. My signature 'shimmy dance' with hamstring curls (per Chris' request)  = laughable.

7. Reflexology: I spent $150 at my favorite nail salon to activate specific pressure points associated with labor: The inner ankles, web space of the hands, and upper trap areas. This did get the baby to kick like crazy, but the only change was that he went from having one foot on my ribs to 2 feet on my ribs. They REALLY hurt. And my doc says he still hasn't dropped, so that's great.

8. Chinese food followed by a specific chain of events per a friend's recommendation: didn't work for me!

*Belly button in or out: I'm usually an outie now. It's a little sensitive to touch, so I cram it back in and cover it with a bandaid so I don't accidentally hit it on things (you'd be surprised!).

*What I miss:: not having to tape my belly button, bending, rolling over, sleeping through the night (I hear this gets better), wearing normal clothes (even the maternity clothes I have are getting a little too tight for me)....you get the idea.

*What I'm looking forward to:  Tuesday!!! The hard part should be over by then?!?!?

*Best Moment of the Week:  Finding out that our little guy is still doing great in there and passed all his ultrasound tests. His heart, lungs, kidneys, and body is all developing normally. He's also practicing breathing- which blew my mind to see. I'm so proud :)

Also, not being on bed rest is pretty awesome!

Week 38...He's the length of a leek!

*Total weight gain?: 159...28 total. Math is hard.

* Pregnancy Symptoms:  Well we had another ultrasound, and yes I'm STILL pregnant. We had the ultrasound to ensure that this baby wouldn't be as big as Chris (which thankfully he's not). During the ultrasound they took measures of his head, spine, heart, kidneys, liver and amniotic fluid. Although the nurse told us the baby looks great, she sent the doctor in the reevaluate the amniotic fluid levels. They are low (I'm not sure how low), and require me to be on partial bed rest. This means I get to be home, but I'm really only allowed to get up for food/ bathroom needs. I've been trying to lump them in the same time frames, and have created a "nest" around my area of the couch. Chris came home from work and commented that I was really settling into the couch over here. I have to admit, I do have probably too many empty glasses, cans of coconut juice (thanks Justin!), and plates around me, but I am not supposed to be up doing anything unnecessary, like cleaning dishes! (I'm milking this!).

*How big is baby?:  I have something more exact for the first time this week: according to his measurements, they are guessing (+/- 14 ounces) that he is roughly 7 pounds. They really want me to stay pregnant for another 7-10 days, so he might get closer to 8. We shall see! I'm happy with 7 though :)

*Sleep: Better- I actually took not one but TWO naps today. They were both glorious. I am so bored.

*Movement: Yes, but he's slowing down. Today I realized I hadn't felt him in a while and he didn't get his 11:30 hiccups (he really gets them every day at 11:30!), so I freaked out. I tried everything I could think of to make him kick, and he wouldn't budge. I called Chris and told him I was giving this little guy 30 more minutes before I marched into the hospital and demanded some fetal monitoring. I took a shower and then he decided he would wake up a little bit. Then he kicked like a maniac for 2.5 hours straight and got a nice case of the hiccups, making his mommy very happy :)

*Food cravings: Not really. Chris did bring me some eggplant parmesan from Maggianos today. I thought it was just a wives tale that if you eat eggplant parm you go into labor, but apparently eggplant has pitocin in it which can induce labor. I figure its a long shot, but why not? I love the stuff!

*Labor signs: We went to the doc Tues, and saw the midwife, Barbara. She did my exam and found that I have made no progress since last week. This is probably not a bad thing, as he could stand to cook a little longer (as long as he has enough fluid in there!). That means we're still 1-2 cm dilated and 60% effaced.

*Belly button in or out: it can be flat, or if he wants to the baby can kick it way out and I hate it. I wonder if it will ever look like a belly button again??

*What I miss: everything.

*What I'm looking forward to:  Seeing this little guy come out healthy!

*Best Moment of the Week:  Finding out that our baby is practicing breathing in utero, and, according to the docs,  will likely do well when he gets out. I'm getting anxious about delivery though!


Oh, and it feels good to be done with work for now!

Week 37: He's as big as a watermelon! (and it feels like it!!!)

*Total weight gain?: 159...29 total. 

* Pregnancy Symptoms:  I have a very 'heavy' sensation in my lower abdomen....some Braxton-Hicks, but as of late it's getting a little more uncomfortable. Also a little back pain on the right, and he's definitely more on the right side too.

*How big is baby?:  The size of a  watermelon! So now he is roughly 19-20 inches and a little over 6 pounds. We are actually gonna have an ultrasound next week to get a more accurate estimation because Chris was such a big baby (10+ pounds!), and because his delivery was complicated (he had shoulder dystocia). The doctor says that because I was 7#11oz, our baby will likely be smaller than Chris was. Apparently, baby sizes at birth are more reflective of the mothers size at her birth. This makes me feel MUCH better.

Baby M is the size of a watermelon! I found this pic on the internet- thought it was funny!

*Sleep: I'm doing some serious work in my sleep- treating patients, cleaning the house, and doing a lot of odds and ends. Maybe it's my way of nesting, since I'm too tired to do it when I'm awake. I haven't even packed a labor and delivery bag yet! I should probably get on that one...

Sex:  a little boy!!

*Maternity clothes: This question is now stupid, and I think I shall delete it :)

*Movement: Yes-and I think he's starting to drop! I took this picture a couple days ago and he's already lower. Next week's pic should be a bit different.

*Food cravings: Nah, acid reflux kind of takes the fun out of food.

*Labor signs: I went for my weekly check up today and my Doc says I'm 1-2cm dilated and 60% effaced. That means the whole process of getting Baby M out has officially begun! She actually gave me a high five and said that this is good news for how my labor should go. She also says I have about 2-3 weeks left tops. I hope she's right! (by the way, that would make my first due date correct....HA!).

37 weeks

*Belly button in or out: ridiculous.

*What I miss:: my body. bending. rolling over at night. being a GREAT dancer (hehehe)

*What I'm looking forward to:  Rocking my little baby in his glider and reading him books...and dressing him in all his CUTE clothes :)

*Best Moment of the Week:  Coming home to find that Chris put together ALL the baby stuff (car seat, pack n play, the jumper, etc). Also, finding out that we are a little bit closer to meeting our little buckaroo! 

...not for anything, but I'm VERY excited to be done with work in 3 more days :)

Week 36: Crenshaw Melon!

*Total weight gain?: 156...25 total. I've had some heart burn, so it's fluctuating a lot from day to day.
* Pregnancy Symptoms:  Little buddy is kicking like a good boy! I would say heart burn is the biggest 'symptom' ....aside, of course, from my especially large stomach, butt and legs.

*How big is baby?:  The size of a  crenshaw melon! This means he is roughly 19 inches and just under 6 pounds.

A Crenshaw Melon

*Sleep: Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. I would say I'm sleeping harder, but I'm having really weird dreams. I'm actually doing quite a bit of work in my sleep, which makes for frustrating mornings in getting ready for work. Oh well!

Sex:  a little boy!!

The baby at 36 weeks!

*Maternity clothes: Yes, yes, yes. They are getting a little snug. I'm hot all the time, so wearing pants that encase my legs like two sausages has made working a little more difficult (let alone the fact that I can't really move very well).

*Stretch marks: Not that I can see, but that's not saying a whole lot. I have no idea what my situation is below my belly button.

*Movement: Yes- little buddy is a good kicker these days, but he's moving around much slower and less than in previous weeks. I think what he's doing is more snuggling than kicking actually. I'm waiting for him to drop...I have a feeling he is very comfy and might hang in here for a while.

*Food cravings: Sandwhiches. Totally hate Asian food right now. Guess that craving/ food crush is done!

*Labor signs: Just braxton-hicks contractions. Nothing serious.

*Belly button in or out: Depends on what the baby is doing. Sometimes it's way out and sometimes it's in. So still 'screwy.'

*What I miss:: my body. 

*What I'm looking forward to:  Rocking my little baby in his glider and reading him books...and dressing him in all his CUTE clothes :)

*Best Moment of the Week:  Chris went to feel him moving the other day and they 'high fived.' It was really cute :)

Week 35: A Honey Dew Melon

35 weeks

*Total weight gain?: 157.5...26 total.
* Pregnancy Symptoms:  crazy-like.

*  Sleep: Lately, not so great. Chris went to Montreal for a bachelor party this past weekend, and I couldn't sleep at ALL. I don't think I like to be alone?? The house makes too many noises for me when Chris isn't here. I have decided he needs to not go out of town any more until I have this baby.

How big is baby?: About 18 inches and 5 ish pounds. The doctor won't guess beyond that.

Sex:  a little boy!!

*Maternity clothes: yup. BIG ones.

*Stretch marks: so far so good...

*Movement: Yes- a little more than I appreciate from the hours of 230 and 7am. Out of desperation, I ate some jalepenos the other night to get him all wild so he would be tired when he was supposed to sleep (when I do!). Thankfully, it worked! He let me sleep :) I wonder if this will work with breast milk??

 

He gets the hiccups a lot

...this video is REALLY hard to see, but if you blow it up you can see some hiccups.

 

...and he has been VERY busy at night

*Food cravings: I think I'm tired of Japanese food (much to Chris' delight, as it has become a very expensive source of food). Now we're moving back to cheeseburgers. Unfortunately, my stomach is smashed into my lungs, so I can't eat as much as I would like (or try) at one time due to heart burn and reflux. This means I eat more or less constantly throughout the day.

*Labor signs: Braxton Hicks like CRAZY at night.

*Belly button in or out: I guess it's out now.

*What I miss: being able to pick things up off the floor without it being a big ordeal.

*What I'm looking forward to:  Rocking this baby in our new glider 

*Best Moment of the Week:  Recording the heart beat at our doctor's visit for Chris to hear since he can't make it that often. I never get tired of it! For some reason I can't post this, but also I've really enjoyed having his nursery finished! Laney pup thinks it's her room :)

Just missing a baby!

* Chris' advice: This is actually a week late, but Chris decided (after a cocktail) that he would go ahead and clear up any confusion our baby might have about reverse triangular mergers. Useful. I've been reading him books about colors, shapes, and baby farm animals. I'm sure he's absorbing all of this and will come out a genius.