Well Lil' C went for her first week check up yesterday and I am proud to say she passed with flying colors :) After her appointment, we had to go back to the hospital to see the lactation specialist. I really thought nursing the second time would be like riding a bike...it is in many ways but I still made some of the same rookie mistakes and now my breasts feel like they are going to fall off. After lots of tears and an interesting nursing session coached by S, I decided it was time to give lactation a call (I was so embarrassed, I am suppose to be a vet at this). A prescription for the triple nipple cream (what a funny name) was what they gave me (I had it with Z too) and now life should improve.
It was a bit of a comedy routine trying to get the two of us out of the house for the first time. S was at a funeral and Z was at preschool and so it was just C and I going out into the world. There was a shower to take, a diaper bag to pack, breakfast to eat (for her) and just when I thought I was running on time, I put her in the car seat and....you guessed it......she pooped ALL OVER HER CUTE OUTFIT :) We only have 5 preemie outfits so I scrambled to find another and luckily there was one more clean.
We ended up being only 5 minutes late to her pediatrician and I have to say that I was so comforted to see all of these children and their parents in masks! Why do I have to take my healthy newborn into a place filled with germs??? I wanted to cry (actually may have) and worked so hard to make sure that she and I touched nothing.
The biggest shocker of the visit was Lil' C's weight. When they put her on the scale I was floored to see 6 LBs 6 oz....What??? I did a triple take....that was 5 oz over her birth weight and she wasn't even a week old yet....she had gained 9 oz since Saturday??? When the doctor came in, she looked at the chart and did a double take. "Is this right?" she asked. "She was 5 LBs 13 oz when she left the hospital and now is 6, 6??? This does not happen often. Wow, you must be Super Mom with super milk!" I wanted to kiss this woman......it was so nice to hear this after all of my frustration and feelings of failure around our nursing sessions. I smiled, fought back tears and said, "Well yes I am!"
So my little peanut is on track to keep up with her brother. He was 7 LBS 6 oz when he was born and ended up being 21 LBS at 6 months! He then plateaued for the next year but still, it made carrying around his carrier impossible! Let's hope she isn't quite that large at 6 months, my arms were looking forward to a more petite baby :) We will just have to wait and see.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Super Milk!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
And the Winner Is....
Thank you to everyone who played my "Online Baby Shower Game" of guessing the baby's birth date, sex, size and duration of labor. Here are the baby's real stats....
Date: 10/22/09
Gender: Female
Weight: 6.1 LBS
Length: 19 3/4 in.
Duration of Labor: 3.75 hours (that is what the hospital wrote down for my "active labor")
You all had great guesses but the two closest were my mom and my husband! What fun is that?? I swear they didn't cheat :)
S said:
Date: 10/22/2009
Gender: Female
Weight: 6.75 lbs
Length 20 inches
Duration of labor: 5 hours
My mom said:
Date: 10/23
Gender: Female
Weight: 6.5 lbs
Length: 19 inches
Duration of labor: short and sweet
Minutes after labor, S said to me...."I won!" I looked at him puzzled and he explained that he won the blog guessing game. He is so super proud of himself and has already claimed the gift card.....sorry everyone! Thanks again for playing :)
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Google It :)
**I wrote this before I was required to type with one hand the baby was born and figured I'd post it today. Thank you all so much for your kind words, I am hoping I will be able to visit your blogs again in the next day or so. I also have a lot to share about our first days home :) Thanks again!!!***
What search engine did you use before Google?? I can't even remember....was that back when I had American Online dial up???!!!?? I Google everything now (a major life line) and I'm sorry but this Google girl is not switching over to BING.
So welcome to the Google Game. I got the idea last week from Smell the coffee Lisa :) She is a super fun lady so go and check out her blog if you haven't already.
The rules:
Read the questions and then go to Google, do a search of images, and post the best image you see on the first page of images for these ten things:
Here is mine :)
1. Your Favorite beverage
2. Your hometown
3. Your favorite TV show
4. Your Occupation/You are in school for
5. Your first car
6. Your favorite dish
7. Celebrity you've been told to resemble
8. Celebrity on your "to do" list
9. Favorite Childhood toy
10. Any Random picture
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Welcome Little C
****FYI...this is a labor story, and while it is not graphic in anyway, if things of this nature make you queasy....just skip to the last few paragraphs or breeze over the middle part :) ****
Little C's journey into this world was a whirlwind! As many of you know it all started very early (12:15 AM) on Thursday morning. I awoke to contractions and quietly kept track in the dark. They were about 10 min apart so I decided to go downstairs to watch a little TV and try to relax. At 4 AM they were about 7 min apart so I went upstairs to shower. S woke up at this point and I filled him in on what had been going on. By 7 AM they were 5 min. apart for well over an hour, so I called my sister L, who is a labor and delivery nurse. She suggested I call the office at 7:30 when they opened. I did and they asked me to go straight to the hospital (2nd babies tend to come quickly :)).
My mother met Z, S and I at the hospital at about 9AM. I told Z that I was going to see the doctor and that he would be spending the day with his Neene and Chi Chi....he was so excited about this. S and I walked into the hospital and checked in and at this point my contractions were about 3 min. apart.....I was so hoping to deliver by 1 PM (wishful thinking!!) When she checked my cervix I was only 3 CM :( 3 CM....the exact spot I got stuck at when I was in labor with Z. I was stuck there for hours (as you may recall if you read about my last labor) and I was back here once again. They suggested I walk around the halls of the unit for a few hours and then they would check me again.
S and I spent two and a half hours walking up and down the hall, making small talk and breathing through contractions. When they went to check me again....yup you guessed it, I was 3 CM!!!! I burst into tears and the resident didn't know what to say. She checked with the doctor and said that I could take a jacuzzi tub if I wanted to so that I could relax and then they would check me again. In desperation I took her up on this and S and I headed to one of the empty rooms. They did my blood work while in the tub so that if they did have to send me home, I'd be ready for my epidural when I came back.
After an hour in the tub they checked me again.......3 CM!!!!! It was time to go home and I was crushed. The doctor said I'd probably be back in about 12 hours, when I was in "active labor" and that they would send me home with Ambien to sleep. While waiting for the Ambien (we waited for 45 min), S watched the fetal monitor like it was his new favorite show. "Here comes a big one!" he'd say with so much excitement......and as I waited to be released, they did get bigger and stronger. Little did anyone know that as I left the unit at 3:30 PM, I was in active labor!!!!
The 20 min car ride seemed an eternity as my contractions intensified. Z jumped all over me as I walked through the door and as happy as I was to see him.....I was in so much pain. I just wished that they had let me stay. By 5:30 I had the shakes and very intense contractions. I called my sister in tears and explained what was happening....she said it sounded like the transition phase of labor and told me to call the hospital. I begged S to call from the car and off we went.....back to the hospital during rush hour.
I have never been so uncomfortable in the car and prayed that we would make it back in time for the epidural. At 6:30 PM we arrived back at the hospital and in the hallway I had a HUGE contraction....I felt like the baby's head was sticking out (it was my bag of waters). The staff smiled at me when I walked in and I know they were wondering if there would be any change. My same nurse hooked me back up to the machines, while S went to park the car. As soon as S left my water broke in the most intense contraction....the resident came in to check me just as S came back in the room. Her face said it all....9 CM and almost 100% effaced. "Not again!!!" I screamed and I thought of how many times I told her that day that I didn't want to have to get my epidural at 9 CM like I did with Z. She looked at me with dread on her face and told me that there would be no epidural but they would give a little something to take the edge off. "What????" I cried, I had to do this all on my own??? I have never been so scared, I am so afraid of pain.
S called my sister and told her the news and she jumped in the car. My contractions were now 30 seconds apart and they struggled to get the the IV in me as I contracted. I told my nurse that I had to push and she told me to "blow the contraction away". I did (I loved my nurse) and they worked on getting me a room as quickly as possible. As I was being wheeled down the hall to the closest available room, my contractions were unbearable.
They called NICU on our way to the room (meconium) and wheeled me in. They asked to move me to the bed and I asked if we could wait for one more contraction. The room was filled with people (3 nurses, NICU, a resident, a med student, the doctor and who the heck knows who else...housekeeping??). As I moved to the labor bed, S looked down and saw the head crowning. I was in the bed for 30 seconds, let out one agonizing scream and with one big push out shot Little C....25 minutes after I had arrived back in the hospital!!!! It was like a scene out of a movie....everyone was shocked with how quickly she arrived....the doctor was still fixing her gloves as the baby slid out to meet her.
"It's a girl!" they announced and a tear rolled down my face. I was the mother to a little baby girl....6.1 oz. They cleaned her up and showed her to me while I was being sewn up (I tore my scar from last time).....she was beautiful! I couldn't believe it, we were a family of four. My heart was so full of love, the most powerful kind of love. S leaned down, kissed me and told me how proud he was of me. The nurse said later that she had been really worried about S, his face showed so much pain as he watched me go through the craziness that was C's labor. He was a wonderful labor partner and was bursting at the seems with pride as he looked at his little girl....daddy's little girl (and she already has him wrapped around her little finger!) :)
"What is her name?" everyone asked. S and I looked at each other and smiled. We told them that if it had been a boy, we had a name ready. This little girl had 3 names picked out and we would need some time to name her. My sister ran in during this discussion, shocked that she had missed the birth. My mom came in soon after and both looked completely amazed to see a baby and not a woman in labor :) Late that night, after everyone had gone home....S and I talked about her name. Was it C, M or E??? After looking at her little face, we knew she was C, our sweet little C :)
Z came to the hospital the next morning and was greeted by S in the lobby. I gave my sister K the baby and sat on the couch waiting to give him a big squeeze. He walked into the room very intimidated and quietly checked out the little baby in Auntie K's arms. This was his little sister....he gave a little smile and ran to me for a hug. We were a family of FOUR....it was a magical and emotional moment.
It was a crazy ordeal but so worth it in the end....we love our little one and are so grateful that she is happy and healthy. When we think of all that could have happened if we hadn't left when we did or if traffic had been worse.....we cringe. Can you imagine if my brother in-law (a police officer in the town that the hospital is in) had to deliver me in the car?? I don't think I would have ever been able to look him in the face again :)
Many people have asked me what it was like to get the epidural at 9CM vs going naturally (because in both cases I did most of the hard work without drugs). I would say that the recovery and empowerment of delivering without drugs is wonderful (I thought of a recent post of MommyBrain ) but because this labor experience was so quick, dramatic and not at all what I had expected, the shock and emotion of it all really stayed with me. If we go for a third....I am not sure what I will do.
If you have made it this far, thanks for reading :) I didn't want to shorten this entry because it was important for me to reflect back and have a record of what happened.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
She's Here!!!!
Z has a little baby sister, Baby C! Born 10/22 at 6:55 PM :) 6.1 lbs, 19 3/4 inches. We are all fine (crazy labor story)....more to follow when I have two hands (we just got home and I am feeding her :)). Thanks for all your kind wishes!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Is this It??
Why am I blogging at 2 AM??? Because I woke up at midnight to contractions and have been timing them ever since. They are now about 7 minutes apart. S is still sleeping and has no idea that I am downstairs contracting. I figure that one of us should get some sleep for what might be ahead :)
My little sister is in San Fran (she lives the closest) so I will have to call my parents....they live about 35 minutes away. When do I call them??? I guess I will wait until the contractions get to be 5 minutes apart. Then I will wait until they are 5 minutes apart for an hour before I call the hospital. I hate to bother my parents for a false alarm but I would rather be safe than sorry!
You have got to love late night TV :) I think I will go and take a shower while I still can! If you don't hear from me tomorrow, you know where I will be :)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
"I Don't Like Preschool Momma"
When I pick him up, his teacher assures me that he cries for a bit, calms down and then has a great day! When I ask him about it, he never has too much to say and tells me that he doesn't like school. If someone else asks him about school, he sometimes has good things to share and other times gets all quiet and depressed. He is only 3 (just turned 3)...he is too young for emotional stress!
This whole ordeal has me dreading Wednesday and Fridays. When I wake him up and tell him it is a preschool day, his whole cheery demeanor changes. This has me wondering so many things! Is he too young for school? Should I pull him out and pray that we don't go through the same ordeal next year? Should I continue to be upbeat about school and encourage him to continue? Should I give myself a deadline (January maybe) that if he is not liking it better, then I pull him?? I know it is only going to get worse with the arrival of the baby. Oh what to do???
On a positive note, there is no place (other than home or with close family) that I would rather him be than this preschool. The teacher's are amazing and love each and every child already! They are so quick to scoop Z up and make him feel better. They know all of his interests and even brought in some soft golf balls to help cheer him up. The class only has 13 children and from what I can see, they are all great little kids. I love that there is a parent volunteer in the classroom everyday and that the philosophy of the school is all about friendship and community.
My mother and S like to remind me that I too have a hard time with transition and change. I always had trouble adjusting to new school situations. Z is just like me in so many ways and I like to think that this preschool is a good place for him to explore his world and work on peer interactions. I hope that with time (and lots of patience) Z will learn to love school, just like I did (after all, I became a teacher!).
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Baby Update
I had my ultrasound yesterday and I am so excited to say that all is good! The baby has grown and so they are no longer worried about the size. This means that I will not be induced tomorrow....time to wait for this little bun to be ready :) Over the last few weeks, Z and I have spent time looking over his baby photos, watching his video and checking out his baby book. This has been a lot of fun for both of us. The other day while looking at his baby book, I came across a game that was played at my shower. The guests had to guess the baby's birth date, sex, weight and length. The tie breaker prediction was the length of labor (true labor). It was fun for me to look back on people's predictions (some of them were soooo wrong). So here I go, I'd like to make my own predictions right here and now. I am probably dead wrong but here is what my mommy's intuition is telling me :)
Birth date--10/25 (day late)
Sex--Female
Weight--6.75
Length--19 cm
I refuse to make a guess about the length of labor.....just can't do it ;) So now it is your turn. If you would like to play along, in the comments please make your own predictions and the person who is the closest will get a $10 Starbucks gift card :)
Monday, October 19, 2009
All About MEme Monday--Standing Out in the Crowd
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Carving Pumpkins on a Snowy Day!?!?!?
So what did we do on this snowy day?? We carved our Jack-o-Lantern :) It looked more like Christmas than Halloween but we wanted to take this opportunity to carve our pumpkin before the craziness of the next few days. I have been having contractions all weekend (off and on) so we don't know how much longer we have.
We spent the entire weekend as a family of three, anxious and excited for what is ahead. It might take 2 more weeks for the baby to come (although I really don't think it will be that long) but it was really important for me to have this weekend be all about us. We went to our favorite diner for breakfast, S cooked really great food all weekend, we ran errands together, baked cookies, played board games, watched movies and played. I will always look back on this weekend with such fondness.....it really was a special time!
Here are some photos of our snowy day and our pumpkin :)
Friday, October 16, 2009
Ready, Set....Baby :)
Well we are a week away from our due date and I am scared to admit it but I think we are finally ready :) My bag is packed, the car seat is in the car, the laundry is washed, the nursery is set up, Z's schedule is printed out and on the counter, his big brother gift and his gift to the baby are wrapped, the changing stations are set up......I think we are ready. Now comes the hard part for me.....waiting.
I am a planner, I like to know when things are going to happen. Surprises are nice but they are difficult to pull off when it comes to me......I like to know what is coming next. Z was a day early (god love him) and so I didn't have to go through the "no baby yet?" calls and emails. I am also afraid to be "wrong"....this means that I do not want to go to the hospital and be sent home. They almost sent me home last time and I was very lucky that they didn't (I would have ended up delivering at home). This time around, I do not want to go unless I am sure that I will get to stay, S on the other hand doesn't want to have the baby in the car or at home and so he would rather be safe than sorry!
I have an ultrasound on Monday to once again check the growth of the baby (I am still measuring small and not growing at all now). If the baby is not growing or there is a problem with my fluids, I might be induced this week. If not, the waiting game begins.......I am going to have to find some things to do to keep busy :)
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Z's Sibling Class
I signed him up for the two year old class, thinking that he was a young three and he would not be able to handle a class designed for children ages 3-6....this was a good decision :) There was only one other family in the class and their little girl was 2 1/2, this was nice because the instructor gave us a lot of individual attention and was able to gear the class toward the two children.
The class started with a brief introduction in which Z tried to escape the conference room twice! We then went on the tour....Z hung back and look terrified as the little girl walked the halls like she owned the place. Unfortunately there was no room in the INN so we were not able to see an actual room, but the rest of the tour was nice. I think it was good for Z to see where mommy and daddy would be going to have the baby.
The class was filled with great advice and S and I learned a lot. For instance, the big brother gift should be from us (mom and dad) and not the baby. It should be a token to show him how proud we are of him in and his new role in the family. Our plan was to give it to him from the baby but this makes more sense. She also suggested that we buy Z a doll, preferably one that can get wet (so he can bathe it). When I brought this up after class, S did not think it was necessary. "He has stuffed animals, why does he need a doll?" was his response. I insisted and off we went to TRU for diapers and a doll.
I have to admit, there are a lot of scary dolls out there! Dolls that poop, pee, speak, crawl and others that look just plain creepy!!! S's criteria for Z's new doll was that it could not be scary looking or too expensive. It is hard to find a boy doll and so I settled on a newborn Water Baby dressed in green. This doll could be given a bath, was not too scary looking and was cheap :) When I showed Z his new doll, he could care less....he wanted nothing to do with it and ran off to check out the trucks. S gave me a look like, "I told you so!". I pressed on and bought the doll anyway.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
"Mommy Want to Talk About It?"
This line is Z's latest ploy to get S and I to stay with him a little longer in his room before nap or bed time. After the 4 books in the big bed (our bed), the snuggle time, the filling of the water cup and the turning on of the night light....you hear this little cute voice say, "Mommy (or Daddy) want to talk about it?" He climbs up on his bed, shoots us his toothless grin and then we kneel by the bedside and ask about the topic of discussion. He then says, "Aaaaaaahhhhhh......" and throws out a discussion idea. Here have been some of the latest topics: what we did yesterday, preschool, bacon, apple picking, dinosaur train, Halloween, the baby and Auntie's House. The discussions never last too long and for me, it is one of the highlights of my day. I can't wait to hear what it is we will be talking about that day. He truly is a special little guy!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Tot Soccer Makes Me Smile :)
Z has loved anything sports since he was about 4 months old and discovered his first ball. Since then he has been into hockey, basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer and most importantly to him golf :) I grew up playing many sports but soccer was always my favorite. I was so excited that he was finally 3 and able to play in the local rec league. This past summer I downloaded the application for the 3-4 year old soccer program (in the town next to ours) and was so upset when I found out that Z missed the age cut off by 25 days :(
My dad (a former town athletic club commissioner) begged me not to call them and ask for special permission to get Z into the league. He told me about all of the mothers who would call and harass him to let their younger child into the league because they were so talented. He begged me not to be that mother. Disappointed, I listened to him and tried to find another alternative for Z to be able to experience team sports.
As it turns out our Rec department has a tot soccer program! It was also for 3 and 4 year olds but the cutoff for this league was late September...Z made the cutoff! Tot soccer was only once a week for 4 weeks which this pregnant lady liked a lot better than the 2x per week ( for 2 months) commitment of the other league. Z and I both couldn't wait for the first day. We practiced in the house and yard by passing the ball back and forth and scoring goals in his little soccer net.
After Z's first day of soccer, I am so GLAD I listened to my daddy! Z does have some natural talent when it comes to kicking the ball, "dribbling" it and scoring goals on his own but Z is CLUELESS when it comes to the whole idea of organized sports (he is only 3 after all). His first soccer practice was his first experience without me. It was the day before his first day of preschool and he was so nervous to go out onto the field without me. The coach thought he was doing a "pee pee" dance but it was really just his nervous mannerisms. His name could be heard all throughout the practice as she tried to get him to stay with the group and stay on task. He was a bit in the clouds (like his daddy).....it was so cute! He did score the first goal though!!! Go Z ;)
Each soccer practice he would show a little improvement but for the most part, I would sit on the sidelines and chuckle. Z (and many of the other kids) were each doing their own things. There were probably 2-3 children (the 4 year olds) who had a clue and would actually take the ball, dribble it to the correct goal and shoot. Meanwhile, the other 5-6 children were running each and every way, scoring on the wrong goal or laying down kicking their feet (that was Z) :) At one point Z started running (maybe he was skipping) in the opposite direction as the rest of his team. He was so happy in his own world and seemed bothered when the coach called his name and asked him to run the other way. He looked at her and his face seemed to say, "Lady, there is a cool red tractor mowing the lawn in this direction, way cooler than your soccer ball!"
At the end of the last practice, after I had almost peed my pants from laughing at the whole experience, the coach handed out medals. All of the kids took these medals (cheap plastic) and looked as if they had been given the best present ever. Z was so proud of his little medal and I took 6 pictures of him admiring it proudly. He couldn't wait to show his friends Z and M at our play date that afternoon and when daddy came home he wore it with such pride. It was so great!
So Thanks Dad! It is clear that Z might have some talent in sports but he is clearly not ready for for the organized program in the next town. I am so glad that I didn't call and plead my case that he was ready....it is so clear that he is not. This is why he will not be going to Kindergarten until he is age 6 :)
Monday, October 12, 2009
MEme Monday---Friends Edition
It is Monday once again and Supah Mommy and Mommy Brain are taking us back to one of my all time favorite shows....Friends! The prompt is below the beautiful picture of Supah and Mommy Brain hanging with their Friends :)
This prompt is coming at the perfect time for me :) I had been wanting to do a shout out to my bestest friend for awhile now and I feel this is the perfect opportunity. So I guess I am going with number FOUR :)
Believe it or not my BF L and I met while watching an episode of Friends in our Freshman Dorm Lounge! Isn't that crazy!?!?!? It was during a commercial for the upcoming Ms. America Pageant, when I said to my psycho-crazy roommate, "I know Ms. New Hampshire." to which L cried out, "I live in NH!" It was at that moment, that connection....that we were bonded for life!
Over the past 14 years we have been through so much together.....we roomed together in college for 3 years, have been through way too many boyfriends to count (which led to way too many painful break ups), fought like sisters, took an awesome trip to CA where she ended up on stage with Bob Barker on the Price is Right and days later we ran for our lives from killer Elephant seals, shared an addiction for Friends, the original 90210 and N'Sync (we saw them in concert two times), our weddings (she did the sermon at mine and I did a toast at hers) and now our children are able to grow up together (we only live 35 min. apart). We have had quite a fun ride, thus far and I believe we have helped each other to grow into the people we are today. L is more that my best friend--she is part of my family.
There are so many things to love about L. She is a hopeless romantic, a fabulous decorator, very energetic and enthusiastic (she use to be a cheerleader in college), a great dancer, very smart (she is a pharmacist) and a wonderful mother. The one thing that I love most about her is that she cares so much for her family and close friends. We come first to her and there isn't anything that she wouldn't do for us. I am so blessed to have her as a part of my life.
L, I am so happy that Friends brought us together and that I am able to celebrate you today :) We have 14 years of great memories and I hope that we will spend the next 60 years making many more. I love you and want to thank you for being you!!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
H1N1 Vaccine Update
I want to thank you all or taking the time to share your opinions with me about the H1N1 vaccine. It meant a lot to me and I have taken each opinion into account as I have tried to make this very difficult decision. Then yesterday, I got a phone call from my OB's office saying that the clinic has been canceled because the vaccine has not come in yet. All that worry and I can't even get the vaccine if I wanted it??? They are rescheduling the clinic for November 3rd. When I asked what I should do because I will have delivered by then, the woman on the line hemmed and hawed for a bit. She then asked me to hold on the line. When she came back she said that they didn't have any answers for me and that I might be able to get it in the hospital (if they have it there when I deliver) or I should contact my PCP in November. So a decision that I thought would be over on Tuesday....will continue to haunt me into November. I guess they do say that everything happens for a reason. We shall see.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Thank you!!!
Yesterday was my day.....it was a wonderful day where I was showered with love :) Not only was my little man glued to my side and loving nobody but mommy....but so many other wonderful things happened as well. It was a really great day!
My day started with my mother in-law and her best friend, driving 2 hours to come and reorganize my kitchen. Months ago they offered up to me their fabulous skills in organizing and cleaning. I could pick any space in my house and they would come and make it a clean, organized and usable space. S and I went back and forth between the basement and the nursery. Then one day I opened one of my kitchen cabinets and a box of pancake mix fell on my head. I looked at my crowded and disorganized cabinets and pantry and knew that this was the room that needed attention. Very soon we will have lots of baby stuff filling the cabinets once again and we needed more space.
They worked for 4 hours and did a marvelous job. I now have a space for everything and they got rid of so many things that we didn't use. My kitchen is like a breath of fresh air and I am so thankful to them for coming and doing something that I no longer have the energy to do. It was a wonderful gift!
I wish I had a before picture of this pantry.....it looks amazing now!
I spent the afternoon with my feet up while Z played with our Mother's Helper and then the girls came over at 7:30!!! They brought the party to me and it was wonderful :) Virgin Bellini's, red wine (for them), pumpkin beer (again for them) and apple cider were the beverages of choice. For food they had a gorgeous cheese platter, a yummy focaccia bread with sun dried tomoatoes, mini quiche, spanikopita, a delicious taco dip and for dessert double fudge brownies, rice crispy treats with craisins and pumpkin seeds and a fabulous strawberry cake (which I had for breakfast too). It was all so delicious and I am so glad that I skipped dinner so that I could eat all night :)
The evening was very casual and I sported my yoga pants, a comfy top and my slippers! We chatted about many things, laughed and scared my youngest sister away from ever having children :) It couldn't have been a more perfect night! Thank you so much girls for coming over with food and drink and hanging out with me. And to those who couldn't be there.....we missed you but you were there in spirit.
On another note, today is the 11th anniversary of my first date with S! Can you believe it....11 years!?!?! Time has flown by and I can't remember a time without him in my life. Thanks for 11 great years honey :)
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Girls Night In
Tonight is my night and I can't wait :) It is "Girls Night In" at my house :) I can wear my jammies if I want, put my feet up and my sisters and closest friends are bringing the food and drink (mocktails for me and wine for them) to me!!! I cannot wait :)
After S went off on his yearly camping weekend with his best friend.....I began to think about what my last "hurrah" could be before the baby. My sister L had mentioned doing something for me but there was very little that interests me these days. I did the spa thing with my BF in August and am planning on doing it again after the baby comes (I think I will really need it then). I didn't want to go out for a big meal because I am just too tired these days. Even the thought of going to someone's house for an evening, made me tired. That is when I came up with "Girls Night In". I asked my sisters and close friends to plan a night when they could all come to me. S has promised to take charge of Z that night and help me get the house ready for the event. They all planned the food and drink and they are all coming here to me :) It should be a night of good food, conversation and a chance to relax before the baby comes. I will let you know how it goes :)
**The above picture is from my Bachelorette Party in NYC. Thanks to my BF and the rest of the girls, that was one of the most fabulous nights of my life. I hope that tonight is fun but not nearly as crazy as that night :) **
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
H1N1 Vaccine??
Okay....I am in a bit of a pickle right now and I was hoping to reach out to all of you and ask you for some advice. My OB wants me to get the H1N1 vaccine next week and I don't know what to do. Her reasoning is that 40% of pregnant women who get the disease, DIE. Even though I only have 3 weeks to go (2 at that point) she wants me to get it so that I will be "protected", thus protecting the baby from whatever Z and S bring home. Now I have already gotten the seasonal flu shot (and Z will get his first flu shot this year, S is against this but I am nervous about the baby).....so what do I do?
I have spoken with everyone I know in the medical field (nurses, doctors and pharmacists) and many of my friends who have spoken with their doctor's and the opinions are split down the middle. I have done some reading on the "webs" and watched the news and sources are split there too. I plan to do some more reading but I am so stressed over this that I wanted to reach out to all of you and see what you thought.
If you were pregnant, with only a few more weeks left to go, and had a toddler out at preschool....would you get it??
Monday, October 5, 2009
All About MEme Monday--Sountrack of my Life
This week's "All About MEme Monday" (sponsored by Supah Mommy and Mommy Brain) asks us to think about the Soundtrack of Our Life, the Music that Moves MEme. If my life was a movie, what would the songs be???
I have been thinking long and hard about this post. My soundtrack has not only changed drastically since I became a mama but it also changes on a daily basis! I feel the following 14 songs (it was really hard to narrow it down and 5 would have been impossible) best sum up who I am and the life that I lead :) I hope you enjoy!
- Sunshine Day-by the Brady Bunch-I really try to be as upbeat as possible and those who know me, know that I have a HUGE cheesy side :) I love the Brady Bunch and all things fun and cheesy and so that is why this is the best song to start off my soundtrack :)
- Better Together-by Jack Johnson-I LOVE this song and I often say it is our family's theme song :) As individuals we are special but we are truly fabulous when we come together as a family unit! There is strength in numbers and we compliment each other really well :)
- You've got a Friend In Me--Toy Story-My friends are soooo important to me and I would do anything for them. I have the most wonderful friends and I am so lucky to have them in my life. I can't wait for "Girls Night In" on Thursday!!
- Waiting for Tonight-J LO-S works long hours and has a 90 minute commute each way....this song goes through my head during the "witching hours" when I can't WAIT for him to get HOME!!
- All of Me--Frank Sinatra-This is what I feel I give everyday. There are days I have nothing left to give and want to just lock myself in my room and take a nap :) But then Z will come over and say, "What's the matter momma?" and give me a hug. Then somehow I find the energy to keep on going.
- Everything-Michael Buble-I love this song too!!! My family means EVERYTHING to me! I would be lost without them.
- Vacation-The Go Go's-We love to go on VACATION!!! Whether it is the lake, a far away island or over seas....it is so much fun to leave the everyday and go and have some fun adventures.
- Oops, I did it Again-Brittany Spears-This song is for Z and his Potty Training!!! "Oops I peed (or pooped) my pants again momma" I can't wait for this song to be struck from the play list!!
- Crying-Roy Orbison-I am a big crier (my family had bets about how many times I would cry while planning my wedding....the people in the hundreds won). Crying is therapeutic for me and since I have become a mother, the tears flow even easier.
- Red Red Wine--UB40-This is what I like to sit down with after a good cry or a LONG day :) It has been months since I have been able to enjoy a glass of red wine but I am soooooo looking forward to it ;)
- The Chipmunk Song-Chipmunk Christmas Album-I love holidays!!! I celebrate any occasion I can get my hands on but Christmas is the biggest. I start shopping in the summer and love to decorate my house on Thanksgiving Day.
- No Strings Attached-N'Sync-This is Z's latest song of Independence. He is trying to shake off mommy's puppet strings and do everything on his own! I am so trying to encourage this with love and patience but there are times when it is so much easier, safer and or neater to help him!
- Wannabe--Spice Girls-(I just love this song)....There are so many things I "Wannabe" in life....a good wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister, teacher. I "wannabe" in good shape (can't wait to start running again), healthy and happy.
- We are Family-Sister Sledge-This is the perfect song to end my soundtrack. We are family....we have our highs and lows and our share of faults but through it all we love each other!
