Owen's Birth Story...Birth Novel...whatever.

Just over a week ago my Little Stinker was born.  He is perfect.  He is beautiful.  He is yummy.  Just scrumptious.  But man, oh man! He did not make things easy for me!
With Owen, my contractions started on a Saturday morning, and just like my experience with Oliver, they disappeared when I got out of bed.  HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT!  I was really thinking that wouldn't happen to me again.  And this time it went on even longer!  It wasn't until Thursday morning that we went to the hospital.  And I rolled out of bed and into some clothes, hair a mess, no makeup, no pictures... from the start Owen was getting different treatment than Oliver.  I was sent home, even though I was insisting that even the first time around my contractions got no closer, I had needed pitocin, and the contractions were extremely painful (gee...sorry I can handle them well I guess).

When we got home I figured I'd take a nap before breaking out the breast pump to get things moving.  As soon as I lay down I felt a contraction that made me cry out, bang on the headboard, then jump because I felt a strange pop...I had a feeling of what had happened, but when the contraction was over I dozed 10 minutes until the next extremely painful one.  By my third contraction I got up to use the bathroom and...SURPRISE my water was broken!  Back to the hospital we go, where they gave me a room right away.

I told them I had an epidural last time and would want one again (and I considered going natural this time...ha!).  The nurse told me to stand in the shower with Nate holding the water to my back to move the baby...for an hour! Then she'd come do my IV started so I could get one bag of fluid down and then I could get the epidural.  After 20 minutes I was about to send Nate to tell my mom to get that damn nurse in immediately with the IV...but my momma is on the ball and had done so on her own.

My contractions were getting closer and really intense.  I was so ashamed of myself for crying out during them.  I had been looking forward to my labor and delivery thinking everything would go as smoothly and wonderfully as Oliver's had.  I was so relaxed when I had Oliver, pushed only 25 minutes and my epidural had been absolutely magical.  Not the case this time! 

Since being admitted I had not been checked to see if there had been any change in my cervix.  The last time I had been checked was when they sent me home 3 hours earlier and I was about 3cm and almost fully effaced.  Well I was feeling pressure that had me thinking I was close to pushing so the nurse finally called in the midwife to check me.  I was at 7cm.  And then she asked where the water was...like I faked it breaking just to get the room.  "Oh there it is, must be a leak."  She seemed so disinterested.  And I had thought that I liked this midwife.  I saw her for the first prenatal appointments for each boy... after that I saw other doctors and midwives as the scheduling of my appointments happened to play out.  I had even seen an episode of a Baby Story where this midwife delivered and I was impressed by how things went.  I was so upset with her but too exhausted to let that register.  My mom, however, made it clear.

I delivered at Yale-New Haven Hospital.  I love that place... for the most part.  I know that if anything were to happen to my or the baby, we would be at the right hospital. It's a teaching hospital, and I have no problem with that, I will always allow for my care to be a teaching opportunity... but I expect that to be explained to me.  When the anesthesiologists finally came in, one took the lead and another seemed very quiet, so I figured that's what was going on.  Then another came in and spoke over the one that had initially seemed in charge.  Ok so she's learning too.  But nothing was said to me.  In the past there's always been an introduction and a question if it's ok.  Not this time.  Well they failed to help me out. 

I could see Nate getting more and more concerned and angry from the chair they stuck him in during this sterile procedure.  My mom had to leave the room and was panicking seeing more and more doctors enter.  Then Nate had told her to come back in when the epidural was in... but as soon as she was in the door he had to tell her to leave again because they had to re-do it. 

Someone else finally came in and announced it's very few people that don't feel any change, and I could tell he was proving his skill to the others who had failed.  So he re-did the epidural and doubled it up with a spinal block. 

All of a sudden I was having contractions that were pushing me up off the bed while I was sitting up to get the pain meds.  When I lied down I couldn't stop pushing and felt huge gushes of water coming out.  I was panicking "I'm pushing...I can't stop...I need him out now!" because I had been told not to and seriously had no control over it.  So the nurse calls the midwife back in, and from what Nate reports she rolled her eyes at me saying "She THINKS she has to push".  Bitch.  "I'd be surprised" says the midwife.  Well guess what... I KNOW that I AM pushing and that I can't stop no matter how I try to relax my now completely numb body.

I was at 9cm and was allowed to push.  "If she wants to push, I'll let her try".  Ugh, again...bitch!  And now thanks to that lovely spinal pushing was incredibly difficult.  I couldn't feel anything other than the pressure letting me know I was having a contraction.  I had the hardest time finding my muscles and using them to effectively push.  I had basically gone natural through the entire labor and finally got relief...but it made things harder.  Well at least it didn't hurt... I even dozed between pushes.  An hour later... Owen made his entrance.  Sunny side up.  Because that made things easier for me!

Mother Duck said "quack quack quack"....

... But only one little duck came back.

Yeah, still just one baby duck here. The other one just doesn't want to hatch! This is me on our way out the door to do the labor waddle at the mall.

Don't I look oh so rested and happy? Because I'm exhausted! And upset at being wrong about my body! I really was not expecting the dissappearing contractions this time around. Well at least I was right about him being about a week ahead of his brother's schedule.

So this makes morning #3 of contractions. Hard, uncomfortable, zone-out and occasionally whimper contractions. As soon as I get up to pee or get myself more comfortable they dissappear. So upsetting! So I try to stay flat in bedw with a full bladder as long as possible, but really- that's not the right thing to do and the last thing I need is an even weaker bladder (Oliver did enough damage there)!

Nate stayed home to deal with Oliver this morning which is lovely. I got to stay in bed and rest a bit. My head hurts, my lips feel swollen, and my socks left a deep impression on my ankles yesterday so we'll see what happens today. 39 weeks tomorrow, I say by Wednesday he's out... But let's face it- I don't know jack!

Here's hoping a few laps around the mall get things moving again. Really, I don't get how my contractions go away when I get up and active. Anyone who's been there knows this defies everything you read about going for walks and moving around to get labor going.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Happy Birthday Nana

Yesterday was Nana's birthday.  It was not Owen's birthday.  Tricky kid. 

I didn't expect another 3 days of contractions like I had with Oliver... but it looks like that's the direction we are going in.  So far we are on two consecutive early, sleepless mornings of intense contractions lasting 1.5+min and getting as close as 8 min apart that dissappear the moment I get out of bed.  Isn't moving around supposed to HELP contractions?  Well if it's going to be like Oliver, Owen should be here by Wednesday.  I was really hoping to just go into labor and not have this on and off thing again.  Bummer.

It would have been so convenient to go into labor yesterday with my mom dad and sister visiting so we could spend mom's birthday together.  Kids can never be convenient can they?  I've been at this "mom" thing less than 2 years and I already know nothing is easy!

 

Cake was yummy. For realz.

Baby Shower

It's been over a week since I promised a post about my baby shower.  Sorry.  Between exhaustion, laundry, baby "necessity" sorting and assembling...not to mention this preview of terrible twos Oliver is showing off... I haven't had the energy to blog.

So about the baby shower...

My mother planned it as a surprise.  They had me going, too. They were playing it off as a family and friends preview type party for a bar and lounge my dad is opening. My mom insisted Nate make sure he gets that weekend off because it's very important to my dad that we be there.  We bought that story without thinking about it much. 

Then, the day Hurricane Irene hit NJ, NY and CT my mom insisted I call my grandfather (dad's dad) who lives in Manhattan and hadn't evacuated. It seemed a little strange that my mom was telling me to call and check in on him and not my dad, but I did what she asked.  And after chatting a few minutes he apologized that he couldn't see us, wasn't sure when he'd be able to see us, not able to make it to the baby shower on the 17th.  It sounded a little something like this:

"You have the baby shower on, what, the 17th?"

"...I...don't know....."

"Yeah.  You don't know? Ooooh. You don't know.... well, you didn't talk to me."

So Nate and I had fun for a while acting like we had no idea what was going on and listening to my family discuss the cover story.  Of course it DID happen to be Nate's work weekend that he had to switch so we had my mom sweat it out a little that we might not be able to make it.  I had also been really uncomfortable and having some painful B-H Contractions so I was having fun telling my mom I couldn't make it down to NJ.

So maybe it was a little evil of us to lead them on like that, thinking they had us surprised...but we did feel bad about it.  We considered not telling them we knew, but right away someone asked if I was surprised and my response was "uuuuuuh" and I let them know about the little birdie named Grandpa.

It's all in the bag!

Little Owen Maxwell is almost here.  He can come any time he wants now and we will welcome him.  Another week or two is all I ask to finish getting ready.  But momma's not sure she can hold out almost 4 weeks until the due date.  It sounds wimpy now, actually and I guess it's not too bad...but I want my baby!

Well whenever he comes we need to be ready, and that means.... packing for the hospital!

Today we received an unexpected package from my brother and sister in law.  It really was perfect timing because along with several other very practical gift items (practicality is very much appreciated the second time around) was the most amazing diaper bag.  This thing is intense!  I'm so excited to organize it! It's going to get packed up for the hospital and after that there should be a pocket for just about everything two boys could possibly need.

For any first time moms wondering how to pack for the hospital my advice is to consider what you would use at home.  You're most likely to be in the hospital only 2-3 days.  In that short time do you need this particular item.  For example, with Oliver we brought our laptop with us.  We did use it but I think it will stay home this time.  As much time as I spend on my laptop I think I can survive two days.  If you choose not to bring something and find yourself wanting it you can always have someone bring it to you, since chances are you will have lots of people in and out to visit.

Pack light.  You won't be in the same room the entire time.  The book I read to prepare for Oliver recommended a smaller bag for labor and delivery, and sending for a second bag once you're moved to your own room.  We did decide not to carry Nate's stuff with us while we were in L&D and recovery, but I don't know if a separate bag is necessary even for mom.  I had a small duffel bag that made the entire trip with me.  Then there was Nate's bag and the baby bag.  This time it looks like baby and I will share a bag and Nate will have his small bag. 

I didn't need a single thing out of my bag in L&D.  I had packed a book but it never left the bag,  (I do think I will bring my nook this time anyway.  I was so wrapped up in what was going on- staying calm, trying to rest, and..o yeah! laboring!... that I never opened that bag.  Hardly even watched TV.

As conscious as I am attempting to be NOT to over pack...it's what I do, I'm sure I'm bringing more than I'll need for the baby in 2 days.

*not quite everything is in here yet...but that's most of it.

 

Here's what's in my bag this time:
*Two nursing bras (one comfy one with no support so I don't now why even bother with it, and one that's more bra-like to wear to move around and come home)
*Big momma panties (it's all about comfy, not so much fashion! you want something you won't mind being ruined too)
*Burp cloths (but now that I think about it these probably aren't necessary because baby will most likely be on a colostrum diet and have very little milk to dribble or spit)
*Two nursing gowns (this time I just got two cheap nightgowns from Sears that have buttons instead of the maternity nursing gowns that are more expensive and didn't survive long last time anyway)
*Coming home outfits for mom and baby (remember socks and a hat for baby, and for mom I recommend yoga pants and a nice shirt for pictures- any dressier than that is your own choice, comfort is my #1 priority)
*Baby clothes and socks (really a coming home outfit is all that's necessary but you may want to dress your little one in something other than the too-big hospital onesie)
*Boppy pillow (brought a body pillow instead for Oliver, a regular pillow works just as well to prop up your arm and the baby while nursing so this isn't completely necessary either but the boppys are good to prop baby up for pictures)
*Blanket (I'm not bothering with a swaddling blanket because you will have hospital ones to use, but a heavier fleece lined blanket is nice to have to help baby regulate his body temperature and stay warm on the trip home)
*Camera & camcorder (remember extra batteries and/or charger unless you plan on having everything freshly juiced ahead of time...I'd probably still pack extra because all the pictures you'll take may drain it faster than normal)
*Nook (already mentioned how this probably is one of those things I won't need, but I'd like to have it with me anyway)
*Toiletries and make-up (you don't need your full arsenal, but keep in mind there will be lots of cameras and lots of pictures and you will want to like them...so look nice or at least nice-ish)
*Cell phones and chargers

Other things to consider:
*Extra pillows or blankets for hubby (he won't get the best sleep in the hospital so if he's picky to begin with these might be worth bringing in once you're settled down)
*Extra bags for gifts/ stuff you'll take from the hospital (the nurses will most likely give you plastic drawstring bags if you really need it, plus you can send things home slowly with visitors).
*Snacks/cash (the hospital I was in had really yummy food, but you will most likely be up and hungry before breakfast service starts...Nate doesn't think it is totally necessary to pack stuff because there is a dunkin donuts, a subway, and a walgreens just outside our hospital... ok by me!)
*A bathing suit for dad if you plan on a water birth or standing in the shower while laboring.

Things you'll take from the hospital: (pretty much whatever you can!)
*As many diapers and wipes as they'll bring you
*Formula samples
*Aspirator
*Some sexy gauze underwear  (you probaly won't need them by the time your home but take them just in case...I still have like 8 pairs from when I came home with Oliver)
*Nipple cream
*Gauze pads and petroleum jelly (for circumcized boys)
*Squirt bottle (it's for cleansing yourself "down there" and is pretty soothing when you're swollen and afraid of even wiping believe me! plus it's great later to use on laundry to almost to powerwash baby's poo leaks off the onesies)
*Swaddling blanket (you probably have cute ones at home, but for sentimental reasons you will want at least one of the hospital ones to come home with you)

Tuesday Tummy Time!

36weeks down! 28 days till baby's due date!

I honestly don't know how this kid is going to stay up in there 4 more weeks BUT you just never know with these buggers do ya? 

Now let's all pretend we have X-Ray vision and can take a peek at little Baby Owen:

Courtesy of BabyCenter.com

"Your baby is gaining about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Next week, your baby will be considered full-term. Most likely she's in a head-down position, but if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version, where she'll try to turn your baby by manipulating her from the outside of your belly."

I don't think there's any need for that manipulation BabyCenter is talking about.  This kid is riding loooooow and good to go.  Seriously.  There is so much weight on my pubic bone I feel bruised most of the time and have had to break out the ice pack.  Sorry...TMI?  There's no such thing with pregnancy!

My BH contractions are getting PAINFUL! and low and I've even had back contractions when I switch positions at night.  Not fun.  Scary....yet exciting.  After next week it will be mostly exciting knowing that at 37 weeks Owen will be considered full term and any labor would hopefuly not be stopped at that point.  With Oliver at home and family out of state I can't play around with the whole going-to-the-hospital/going-back-home thing. 

Feeling the way I've been feeling I really see this kid coming a week early at least, but I'm pretty sure almost every pregnant woman has had the same thought and been wrong.  I have an appointment tomorrow (the lovely strepB swab) so hopefully we'll learn what's going on down there in Babylandia. 

In the meantime- we are working on planning for what will go down at go time, making out instructions for Oliver's care, and packing the hospital bag!  It's time to get serious with this baby prep!

Bringing Home Baby

Not even two years ago we were leaving the hospital with the most precious souvenire ever... our baby boy Oliver.  I can't believe the big monkey next to me with scraped knees was once this little bundle. 

It was kind of sad leaving the hospital.  It was like we had been in our own little bubble, our own private world.  Nate had stayed the whole time with me and the baby was in our room the whole time too, only being taken out when they weighed him and checked stats each night.  Leaving the hospital was like going back out into the real world were we had to take care of ourselves and protect this precious baby from everything out there. (Not to mention I was going to miss the room service!)

Getting close to Baby Owen's due date has us thinking about how things went the first time as we make plans for the hospital and coming home.  Nate mentioned getting Owen's coming home outfit and I had him get Oliver's out of the basement where it was put away with other outgrown clothes.  I had always figured each kid would get his own, but for some reason I automatically answered Nate that I had to wash Oliver's for Owen.  Which led to last nights yo-yo decision:  Reuse? Get a new one?  We see positives in both.  Very close friends of ours used the same outfit for all three of their kids.  But there's was neutral so having a girl after two boys wasn't a problem for them reusing it.  In our case, if the next baby (YEARS down the road!!!) were to be a girl, there is no way we would bring her home in a blue outfit, so is it fair that she would get her own?  And wouldn't it be nice to one day give each kid their outfit to use or not use as they build there own families?  But the emotional impact of seeing both of our boys in the same beautiful outfit calls to me too.  Plus, it took forever to find this outfit that we liked for Oliver to come home in. 

One more thing-  we got this outfit at a consignment store.  Does the fact that a stranger-baby wore it once make it less special?  Sometimes I feel like I can't really say "This is Oliver's special outfit," because they are second-hand (even though I don't know whose hand came first).

I think we've made our decision, but what's your opinion on the matter?

Happy Birthday to My Old Man

I tease my husband that he's old.  He falls asleep on the couch and being awake past 10:30 is difficult.  Not to mention the noises that come with sitting down and getting up.  Truth is...I'm exactly the same way!  Sad right?  We are two peas in a pod...soul mates...made for each other.  And I would like to take a minute to wish my Baby Daddy Natey Poo a very Happy 26th! (side note- Choo Choo Soul just played on Disney Jr. and I just realized as it was ending it was a birthday song...cute, Oliver will have to dance to it for Nate later.)

Nate is so amazing I want to make his day special...but with my SAHM budget and achy pregnant body I'm already off to a bad start.  I couldn't even pull myself out of bed to make him breakfast, good thing he loves cereal.  It may take me all day, but I WILL make him dinner tonight! I WILL I WILL I WILL!!!!  Even though I just want to lie down with pillows propped under various body parts and read.  Dinner tonight will be Aji de Gallina... when I was pregnant with Oliver for whatever reason I wanted spicy Peruvian food and learned how to make this.  It's a hit with Nate, so...I will make it for him because he deserves it! 

The Little Stinker inside my belly doesn't seem to understand that on Daddy's birthday we need to get things done.  He is literally weighing me down!  Since Tuesday it has been sooooooooo hard for me to move, and his movements are getting really uncomfortable and painful.  I thought I'd go early with Oliver, but that was more wishful thinking.  I really feel this time there's more of a chance I go early...but what do I know, I may snap out of it in a few days.  I'm actually kind of nervous to go early this time.  I'm 35 weeks 2 days and I really want to make it to 37 weeks before I say, "OK baby, get out here!"  I'm sure I will, but I've been miserable so the thought's crossed my mind.  We've still got quite of bit of getting ready to do.  Take it easy on me Baby, so I can finish getting ready for you!

BDNP Birthday FlashBack Time!!!!

Tuesday Tummy Time!

Sorry I missed last weeks Belly Update.  Not my fault...you can totally blame AT&T for losing service after Irene passed through CT.  Instead of backtracking I'm moving right along to this week.  This kid makes my stomach move in the funniest most amazing ways! I am definitely starting to feel the weight of baby getting into "go" position.

Here's what it looks like at 35 weeks:

Courtesy of BabyCenter.com

"Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight."

I got dressed pretty decently to go out for breakfast so I had my mom take advantage of the opportunity to take pictures. 

I think this is my favorite one.

Oliver wasn't in a picture taking mood I guess. 

O well.



Tuesday Tummy Time!

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Saving Face

Before running out to Oliver's 18 month checkup I want to take a minute to save face...a little damage control if you will.  I think I painted a really bad picture of myself with last nights post.  BDNP couldn't believe I actually posted that (I usually have to OK a picture of myself and am hypercritical).  Well, I don't take it back.  Real is real.  But every once in a while there are days like today.  Feel free to compare (the bed's even made this time!).  This is an example of what I look like when there are places to be and people to see.  See, I can pull it together sometimes ;) 

...and check out the earrings! http://www.rockstarhairfeathers.com/

I'm Just THAT Fabulous

I make no pretenses- I am a bum.  If I have no plans to go out...I don't get dressed.  My hair has been TERRIBLE since about 4 months postpartum with Oliver when it started falling out around my hairline and grew back in like a friggin circus clown. 

I admit there's truth to the "look good, feel good" train of thought.  Sometimes I need to get dressed to force myself to think up some errand to run.  But today I looked like hell and still felt good. 

I thought my belly looked fabulous in my husbands BoSox tee (from the 2004 ALCS, the series during which we met).  And my frizzy hair was perfect for spending the day uncluttering the bedroom and doing some laundry... I even washed the morning and afternoon dishes at lunch time instead of waiting to pile dinner dishes in my ridiculously shallow sink and forcing myself to get to it before bed. 

I spent today barefoot and pregnant and loving every second of it.

It doesn't get any REAL-er than this! 

I decided to cheese it up and take some selfies like any good pregnant lady would do. 

32 weeks...Don't I look great!? (no answer necessary)

Tuesday Tummy Time!

Today marks 32 weeks!

I can't believe how fast this has gone by!  It's so amazing that I've grown another person in my body.  A human-friggin-being! Crazy! And I'm not the only one busy gestating... my sister in law is due two weeks after I am with her first baby.  I'm getting a niece!  Sooooo excited to have a little girl in the family to love and spoil and accessorize.  We are headin up to New Hampshire this weekend for the baby shower.  Can't wait to celebrate baby Arabella Marie!

Here is what things are looking like on the inside:

 Courtesy of BabyCenter.com:

"By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth."



Tuesday Tummy Time!

It's the Final Countdown!

(I hope you all read that the way I heard it in my head- a la Europe 1986... not that I know ANY other part of that song)

Aaaaanyway... we are down to single digits in our week countdown! 9 weeks to go!

Courtesy of BabyCenter.com

"This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy."

This baby is so loved already!  I can't wait to see him.  Since the 3D ultrasound I feel like we've been introduced.  I feel like I know his personality already- easy going and cuddly.  And he's strong.  Did I mention cute?

It's time to break out the free and clear detergent.  I fished through Oliver's old clothes and I am super excited to dress Owen in them.  AND last OB visit went great.  Got an ultrasound... baby measures 50th percentile and placenta moved up so it's not too close to my cervix at all (aways a good thing).  Also...passed my GTT! Yippeeee!  (FYI- I celebrated that news with lunch from Wendys.)

Get Ready to be AMAZED!

   I MADE THIS! ok BDNP helped...but I did (am doing) the baking!

3D Ultrasound of the Little Stinker at 29weeks 6days



MUCH better than the 3D Ultrasound of Little Monkey at 34 weeks!

 What a difference right?!  We paid $200 for the 3D session with Oliver at A Stork's Studio in Orange...and look at the quality compared to the 3D scan we got free! My mom works in a hospital and hooked us up!  We wanted to go to them with Oliver too (they had just gotten the machine and where installing it around the same time we went to have it done) but the scheduling didn't work out to go down to NJ for it. 

Tuesday Tummy Time! and West Haven Beach

First things first- Belly Baby at 28 weeks:

Courtesy of Babycenter.com

"By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world"



It's a little too late now to wonder....WHAT THE F WHERE WE THINKING?!?!?!  We PLANNED babies this close!  20 months?!?!?! Good thing I don't think that too often....but there are definitely moments.  Like when I realize the nursery is the perfect size....for Oliver.  That I get almost enough sleep...to last me through a day of Oliver.  That I love the budding independance... at Oliver's age.  A newborn is a whole 'nother barrel of monkeys!  Can I do this? And with BDNP's crazy work schedule...can I do this solo for a good portion of the day?  Will I be myself at the end of the day? 

I am so looking forward to doing more and more with Oliver...will a new baby get in the way of that?  And at the same time... I am so looking forward to loving on a newborn.  Will Oliver get in the way of that?  Oliver spent hours asleep on my chest in the recliner.  Owen will likely spend a good chunk of that time asleep in a swing or cradle.  That's kind of sad for him.

It's getting pretty close to baby time.  October will be here before we know it.  And October will bring our 2nd baby and our 2nd wedding anniversary...in that order!!! crazy! Two babes before we're married two years! That's true love!

****
So here is how we wrapped up our weekend.  A Sunday afternoon trip to West Haven to get a milkshake and corn dog at Chicks, then walk it off on the boardwalk.

Yeah I'm kind of a whale these days.

And THIS ONE...seemed to forget how old she was and wanted to swim deeper and play with other dogs.  She certainly felt her age trying to walk back to the car and was very stiff the next day.

Tuesday Tummy Time!

Here's whats going on inside my belly at 23 weeks with my mango sized baby!

Courtesy of Babycenter.com

"Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb."

Evil round ligament pain this weekend!  I was really feeling the stretching as we walked around on Sunday especially.  Oh AND...everyone please note in the picture where the baby is and where the bladder is...now add a cough.  Yeah having a cold while pregnant makes for a lot of leaks and extra laundry!  O man!  But I guess Oliver gets some of the blame too.  First of all, he shared the germs via slobbery kisses, and he did some damage to my bladder control during his stay and exit from my body.

At my ultrasound last Thursday we cought a glimpse of some cheek chub already!  He's going to look just like his big brother!  They also said I will be needing another u/sound around 28 weeks to check on my placenta, which I guess is on the low side as of right now.  It should move up with the baby's growth, and it gives me another peek at the little cutie!  They also pointed out a small fibroid that could cause extra cramping at the most but is nothing to worry about.  It could be why I've felt a few good strong Braxton-Hicks contractions already. 

This air mattress thing is starting to get old...but I'm holding up pretty well.  With both pregnancies I've carried so low that sleeping hasn't been uncomfortable or painful.  Yet anyway.  Towards the end rolling over does become quite the challenge- so much effort shifting that weight!

Tuesday Tummy Time!

It's time for the weekly update on what's going on inside my belly at 22 weeks.

I love forwarding the e-mails from Baby Center to my husband, and we get a kick out of the produce comparison for sizing our child.  My brother in law always enjoyed the fruit/veg of the week when we were having Oliver because he is a produce manager at Shaws.  This week: spaghetti squash!

Courtesy of BabyCenter.com



  At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

I really need to take another picture of what my belly is looking like these days but I haven't mastered the selfie belly shot and I don't have a full lenth mirror to snap a pic in either.  Plus things have been prettttty messy around here living off the floor and out of boxes and I haven't wanted to get that in the background! 

We have an appointment for another u/sound on Thursday since baby didn't move off his back and show off that beautiful spine.  I'll have to ask about round ligament pain for a second pregnancy.... I'm assuming it's normal to have it again but I would have thought I would already have been stretched out, especially with the two so close.  They haven't been bad or frequent like with Oliver, but with Oliver I had them bad around my wedding (24 weeks) so we'll see.  I think I've felt some B-H contractions too.  That's much earlier that the last time, but I did't know what they were the first time.  I thought it was the baby arching against the outside of my stomach or sliding a knee or elbow or hiney across or something.  Well NOW I know what that feeling was and I had a pretty hard one this morning.  It was weird.  I read you actually get them the entire time you're pregnant but just don't feel them early.  Someone remind me to ask about that.  I always forget/blow things off so I never remember to ask questions and then get all my info from the internet!

I'm so glad my pregnancy gives me an automatic post topic on Tuesdays.  I've been feeling the need to blog but not the energy or the motivation.  No offense to my14 followers, but I kind of feel like "what's the point?" sometimes.  But don't worry (because I know you'd lose sleep!) I'm not going anywhere.  I love doing this if for no one but myself.



21 weeks

This litle boy moves quite a bit! I'm a little nervous of what's to come!  Oliver is always on the move and ALREADY it feels like Owen has him beat (compared to what I was feeling at this point with the last pregnancy).  Oh yeah, Owen will be our baby's name.  Owen Maxwell, little brother to Oliver Mason.  

Courtesy of BabyCenter.com

"Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot"

It's a BOY!!!

So here is the U/S picture I couldn't post or tease my family with since it's quite obvious-

Boy parts!  To the left side you can see a leg on the top, a leg on the bottom and a weenie in the middle pointing to the right.

So I was wrong in thinking this was our girl.  When I first got pregnant I wanted it to be a boy very much, but once I thought that this pregnancy felt different than with Oliver, and the midwife put in my head that the fast heartbeat meant girl...well, my heart was set on girl.  Once I started feeling movement I began to change my mind and think "hmmmm...this one feels like it's moving more than Oliver did.  Has to be a boy!"   I've also been thinking that Oliver would enjoy a brother much more with such a small age difference, and it would make room sharing easier. And boy it is! Yippeeee!

Baby-Daddy-Natey-Poo has been very much looking forward to announcing the baby's gender the same way we announced Oliver's: with cake!

I made this cake around midnight last night and was tempted to throw it out the window!  I didn't have enough frosting and blue crumbs were starting to get all over the white frosting.  And then I remembered the box of Trix we bought (2/$4 with a $.55 coupon that doubled at Stop and Shop...Hollaaaa!) and used it to hide my cake's imperfections.  Not like I'm trying to impress anyone, just surprise them.  And it worked...with the help of some pink frosted cookies as a decoy.  tee hee heee.  I made sure the cookies were on the counter and when my sister said "Oh Pink! It's a girl," I acted surprised and upset that I had left stuff out by accident.  I guess my acting was so convincing that my sister picked up a girly onesie when she ran back out for a minute. 

 

Today was so wonderful!  Oliver was soooo adorable in music class this morning, our BFF's came over with their 3 young'uns, my mom made us a delicious baked ziti with eggplant, the "boy cake" surprised everyone, we got some packing and moving done, AND we got to see Oliver take interest in a newborn for the first time.  And boy was he interested! He looooved her!  He knew to be gentle and wanted to kiss her again and again.  It was so sweet.

Still limited to BlackBerry pictures, but here are some more of the moments that made today special:

Is that not the most adorable "Just tooted on daddy's arm" smile you've ever seen!?

Flashback: Oliver's gender reveal day :)