Home alone with the baby…. Wednesday, Aug 13 2008

Today James went back to work and Ethan and I were home alone for the first time.  I have to say it feels totally strange.  I feel like I’m playing hooky from school or work or something.  I guess its because today I’m not dead tired and the pain is pretty much gone.  And here I am, at home, staring at my baby and feeling like I should be getting something done around the house.  I have been working on finalizing stuff for our move which has been more stressful than it should be, but I guess nothing about buying a new home and moving 700 miles away is particularly easy- especially when you are a hormonal postpartum new mom.  Anyway, I ramble….

Last week we had two sets of professional pics of Ethan taken.  One by a photography student who is looking to expand her portfolio and the other by our wedding photographers.  Ethan was NOT a huge fan of being all nudie-pudie in front of the camera, but between yells we got some good shots until I couldn’t stand it any longer.  You can be sure that I will be posting up these pics for you to see soon, but in the meantime here is a sneak peak shot of James holding Ethan that just melts my heart.  These were taken by the photography student- I give her an A+!

Enjoy!

Daddy holds his son - 10 days old

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Week one of being a parent Friday, Aug 8 2008

 

They say nothing can ever prepare you for becoming a parent and truer words have never been spoken.  The past week has been the biggest physical and emotional challenge we have ever experienced.  Nothing can ever prepare you for how much you will immediately love your newborn: as you stare at every body part, comment on every movement, every expression.  He is utterly fascinating and infinitely amusing. 

Simultaneously, it is impossible to explain how this tiny 6 lb 4 oz bundle of human potential can utterly flip your life upside down.  As you all know, I am a big planner.  And I thought I had everything we could possibly need for his first couple of months.  Boy was I wrong.  Within minutes of getting home from the hospital we had a long list of things we needed to keep going in the upcoming days.  I am SO thankful that we are currently living with my parents as they been handling everything from buying nursing pads to doing laundry to cooking us dinner.  Don’t try to do this alone kids.  I have no idea how James and I would have made it through the past week without the help of my family and of his family and friends bringing by food and giving us some time sleep, shower, etc.  So far we have managed the feeding every 2-3 hours, but I know that as the weeks go by it will wear on us more and more.

Personally, I underestimated the pain and recovery from the C-section, and I know recovery from a vaginal delivery is no picnic either.  So short of feeding the baby, I haven’t been able to do much since we brought him home.  However, each day I feel a bit better and get a bit more mobile and I’m slowly starting to be able to help out with changing diapers and doing stuff that requires me to be out of bed or off the couch.

That said, when his little cry wakes me up at 2:37AM, I find that I’m not annoyed or upset, I’m excited to pick him up and spend this time with him.  In just a week he has already changed.  Seeing him next to his cousin Will, who is only 4 weeks older and he seems SO much bigger! Its amazing how much they can grow in 4 weeks!  I find myself wishing he would stay just like he is - all tiny and warm.  But I know that is impossible.  So we try to enjoy each moment, no matter how sleep deprived we are.  Every day he is a little different, doing something new.  I’m also proud to say that when he was 5 days old we officially got the hang of breastfeeding and have been doing that for every feeding.  Its really a pretty cool thing!

Anyway, I’ll stop rambling, but here are some new pics of our little man, since we all know you are here to see him anyway!

2 days old

  

4 days old

 

His post-eating face - he conks out, its so cute!

 

Quality time with daddy

All clean after his first bath

Mama, whatcha doin'?

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I would like to introduce you to: Ethan James Saturday, Aug 2 2008

Everyone, I would like you to meet someone very special and precious to James and I.  Our son, Ethan James, was born on Wednesday, July 30 at 5:01pm.  He weighed 6 lbs, 8 oz and was 20 inches long.  He is healthy and absolutely perfect!!!  He was born 3.5 weeks early, but is a great weight for when he arrived.

 

Daddy James and Ethan

  

 I will post a full birth story below, but for those of you who don’t want to read all the gory details (which I understand, I really do…) a brief summary is that my water broke at 36.5 weeks.   I labored for 24 hours trying to dilate enough to deliver him vaginally, but after 24 hrs I was still only 1 cm.  So he was delivered via C-section.  I have been recovering quickly (so they tell me) though it has not been a picnic. 

Ethan is very healthy - his pediatrician said he would never have guessed he was a 36 weeker.  He has passed all his tests with flying colors.  James, Ethan and I have been learning about each other and getting into our new rhythm as a family.  We are both completely in love with him.  We hope you can meet him soon!

Here is the full birth story for those of you who want the details:

My water broke at 36w3d at about 5:30pm on Tues. We had planned to labor at home for awhile, but since my water had broken I was a bit anxious so we went in to the hospital. When I got there I was still only 1/2 cm dilated. We had studied Hypnobirthing and were hoping for a natural-ish birth, so we started walking the halls and walked until about midnight. When I got checked again I was still only 1/2 cm. Doc was a bit concerned since I was 1) early and 2) my membranes had ruptured - she said that since I was still early a lot of times your body hadn’t quite built up the hormones necessary to thin your cervix. So I agreed to some cervadil while I slept to see if we could get some progress and good contractions.

At 4AM I went to the bathroom and lost the cervadil. They wouldn’t put another one in for risk of infection. When I got checked at 7AM (14 hrs since water broke) I was only 1cm. At this point, doc explained that they really are uncomfortable letting someone whose water has broken go much longer than 24 hours, due to some risk of infection, and esp. since EJ was early. So, I agreed to a low dose of pitocin to try to get things moving.

I did start to get some contractions, but they weren’t great ones. An interesting point to note here regarding the Hypnobirthing. ONce I started the pitocin the contractions were getting stronger and more painful, so DH and I started doing some of our hypnobirthing stuff. It was VERY effective and helped with managing the pain - so much so that my contractions actually lessened - the nurse even commented. The MINUTE we stopped my contractions increased again. At the time we decided not to continue with it, since we needed the contractions to get stronger, but it was pretty neat to see how effective it was on the pain.

Anyway, 23.5 hrs after my water had broken, contractions, cervadil and pitocin, I was still only 1cm dilated.

At that point we talked with the doc and while she said we could go longer it just didn’t seem like my body knew what to do since I was early. We made the tough decision to go ahead and get the C-setion. I have to say it was pretty tough and I was not thrilled about it at all, but we knew that since he was a bit early and my risk of infection was increasing by the hour, it was best for our son to go ahead and deliver.

This hospital really has it together, from the time we said, “OK” the anesthesiologist was in here like 5 minutes later and I was wheeled into the OR within 20 minutes. I have to say I was TERRIFIED. I have never had major (or minor) surgery before and it was not something I was even remotely prepared for, but it was like hopping on a speeding train.

But - I got in there, James came in and about 5-10 min later after some tugging out came our son!! He didn’t have any trouble breathing and once I was stitched back up they brought me into the recovery room where DH and his mom (who is an admitting nurse at our hospital) were doing all the tests and giving him his bath. I felt like it took FOREVER - he was like 5 feet away from me but I couldn’t touch or hold him. FINALLY they brought him to me - and he is just the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

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We’re in labor!!! Tuesday, Jul 29 2008

 I suppose I should have suspected that something was up…. on Thursday I had some cramping and contractions.  Nothing major, but enough to scare James into flying home early.  Over the weekend I was definitely “nesting.”  Got lots of shopping done and bought most of the rest of the stuff we “needed.”  Monday was eventful - woke up to some strong contractions that were about 10 minutes apart.  We thought we were in labor but as the day went on they got further and further apart until they went away altogether by the afternoon.  By that point I was pretty tired and REALLY grumpy.  I thought I was ready to have this baby and not be pregnant anymore!!

So, today I went to work.  Got a lot of work done, had some good meetings and so on.  And then drove home.  I stopped at the ATM on the way home to deposit some checks and then I felt….a gush.  And another one.  And I was like - hmmmm, that’s something new.  Sure enough - my water broke.  I’m 36.5 weeks- just shy of “full term” at 37 weeks.

I quickly called James and our families and we rushed home and finished packing our bag.  James loaded up the car and we got in and…..the car wouldn’t start - yes, like a scene from the movie.  He opens up the hood and starts messing with the battery.  After a minute or two I’m like, “Honey - JUST MOVE OUR STUFF TO THE OTHER CAR.”  LOL - so we moved everything to my car and headed off to the hospital.

I got checked in and I’m still only 1/2 cm dilated.  So, we’ve been walking to try to get the contractions really going and make some more progress, but it looks like it will be a long night. 

So - our son will be a July baby!! Never expected that.  Here is my last pregnant picture!

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Stay put EJ!! Thursday, Jul 24 2008

Last Tuesday (July 15) I had a growth ultrasound to see how big EJ was getting bc of my gestational diabetes.  They estimated he was about 5 lbs 11 oz, which is right on track for where I am in my pregnancy, so that was very good news.  This past Monday (July 21) I had another ultrasound for this research study that I am taking part of and he was up to 6 lbs 6 oz!!  So - he’s growing fast.

Here is the latest picture of our son

 

EJ at 34 weeks

I won’t go into the gory details, but the past few days I have been having some signs that labor might be starting sooner than we expected.  Of course nothing is certain.  This would probably be very exciting for me if James wasn’t in New Jersey until next Friday!!  He can obviously hop on the first plane home if things really get started, but needless to say we thought we had a bit more time and I’ve been getting a bit freaked out at the possibility of delivering early. 

So, if you are reading this, please say, “EJ, STAY PUT!” I’d like to make it to at least 37 weeks (Aug 2) (38 would be even better - Aug 9).  So, please keep us in your thoughts and help me remind EJ that it would be best for him to bake just a bit longer!

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Baby shower - 7-12-08 Tuesday, Jul 22 2008

Last weekend I had my baby shower with my friends.  My best friend and sisters hosted a wonderful shower for me and I was so thrilled to have so many people who mean so much to me come to celebrate the impending birth of my son!  Two friends even flew in, which was very special.  I really enjoyed seeing everyone and spending some time with them before EJ joins us and we move to NJ!

Anyway, here are a few pics from the shower, if you have more, please send them to me!!

Lots more pics can be found here!

My girls and I

 

My sisters

With some of my best friends from high school

 

With Jayna

 

Melissa, Heidi, me and Amber

 

With my mommy!

 

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Guess EJ’s birthday!! Saturday, Jul 19 2008

I’m a dork, but I thought this would be fun - take a guess at when EJ will join us! Let’s see who is the closest. I may even come up with a prize Just click on the graphic below to put in your guess!

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I’m an aunt…. again! Saturday, Jul 19 2008

While we were househunting in NJ, my sister was induced and brought my BEAUTIFUL nephew into this world.  Meet Wilburn Andrew Jackson, born July 1, 2008, 7 lbs 3 oz, 21 inches.

Wilburn "Will" Andrew Jackson, my nephew

 

I finally got home and got to hold him when he was 6 days old - he is SUCH a cutie!

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The nursery is almost done! Saturday, Jul 19 2008

3 showers down, 1 to go (yeah, we are spoiled and we know it).  I spent some time working on our temporary nursery today.  We are living in my parents basement right now, we moved here to help our house sell (and it worked!) and will live here until October when we officially move up to our new house in NJ.  So here are some pics of our interim nursery.  As you can see, there is a frog theme :)  (What?? You are SHOCKED??)

Crib and rocking chair

 

Changing table

Close up of the crib (don't worry, I'll take the bumpers off and stuffed animals out!)

 

Shelves with lots of goodies and supplies

This is what I have done so far - will continue with the nesting over the next few weeks before EJ arrives.

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We have a place to live!!!! Saturday, Jul 19 2008

So I just got back from a fun week and a half “up North” seeing our new home, taking a mini “babymoon” and going to James’ cousin’s wedding on Long Island, NY. 

I flew up on Thursday and James picked me up from the Newark airport and drove me down my first trip on the Turnpike.  I have to say, its not exactly the BEST first impression of New Jersey…. smoke stacks and factories and smoke and smells…..we drive the same way Tony Soprano does in the opening sequence.  However, the industry quickly gives way to greenery and by the time we get off the turnpike I see that New Jersey lives up to its title as the Garden State.

We spent a night in E. Brunswick and the next day got on the road and headed to the Joisey Sho-ah - Wildwood Crest.  Interestingly, this is RIGHT NEXT to Cape May, which is the site of my boot camp for the Coast Guard.  I hear Cape May is nice, but it gives me the heebie jeebies and makes me feel like I should be doing pushups or something.  But - Wildwood Crest was actually quite nice - reminded us a lot of Destin in many ways.  The beach wasn’t quite as white, but it was VERY LONG (as in distance from hotels to ocean, at least 3 times longer than the beaches in Florida.)  Lots of people.  There was a fun boardwalk which we strolled down and watched all the teenagers getting into and out of trouble.  Spent the day by the pool (the beach just wasn’t working for me and my poor back and tiny bladder at this point) but got some good relaxation in.  Before we knew it, it was Sunday and time to drive back to our soon-to-be home.

The next 3 days were a whirlwind of househunting.  New houses, old houses, big houses, small houses.  All in all we probably saw around 30 houses.  We finally narrowed it down to our top 4 and put an offer on the first - a very large house that was slightly out of our price range with “desperate” sellers.  Well we decided to test how desperate they were by putting in a SUPER low offer - hoping they would go for it.  Unfortunately, they weren’t as desperate as we had heard, so we went to our 2nd choice house.  However, this house, while a little smaller (though still quite big for us!) was in much better shape and was very cute.  It just needed a master bath put into it.  Well - after intense negotiations, we all agreed and we are under contract!!

Our new home in Sayreville, New Jersey

If you want to see more pics of our new home, click here.

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