Oklahoma

Luckily, we weren't affected by the tornado & neither were our friends & family but I've been sending lots of thoughts & prayers to those in my home state.  I've grown up with tornadoes & unfortunately, I've become a little complacent.  I've been operating under the concept that as long as you take cover & get into an interior room, you'll be ok.  I forget there are tornadoes that destroy everything.  After we built our new house, Michael told me he wanted to get a tornado shelter sometime in the next couple of years.  I didn't think it was a bad idea but I wasn't that motivated.  I remember telling him - you just have to get into a closet - and him telling me - if an F5 comes through, no closet is going to save you.  I kind of shrugged it off.  It's unfortunate to have such a grim reminder but I can tell you a storm shelter has been moved up higher on my list of priorities.

My heart is heavy with my state's losses.  Tragedies like this always make me emotional but even more with it so near.

If you feel so inclined to offer assistance, there are many organizations taking donations.  The one I know of the most offhand is the Red Cross.

Hug your loved ones a little extra this week.  I know I have been.

Four Months Old

Wow, I'm posting this less than a week after Ethan turned four months old.  That may be a record for me!

It feels like I was just posting about Ethan being three months old & now he's four months old.  Wait, I was just posting about three months because I was several weeks late...  Ha.

Ethan is growing & developing every day!  He can now roll easily from his stomach to his back.  He's very close to rolling from his back to his stomach.  I don't think it will be long.  He's also started to do what I call the inch worm.  When he's on his stomach, he pulls his legs under him & pushes forward.  If he has the right kind of traction, he can scoot.  I don't know if he'll be an army crawler like Alex was but I think this little guy may be mobile soon.  He's gotten good at grabbing things & can grab the toys hanging on his play mat.  I'm amazed his hand eye coordination is already so good.  Genius school! 

He's still a happy baby & seems to have adjusted well to daycare.  I still miss him a lot but at least I know he's not missing me too much & he isn't miserable.  He's been sleeping longer stretches again at night but he'll throw a shorter one in every few nights just to keep us on our toes.  He actually slept 11 hours once!  Wouldn't you know it was the night before we planned to transition him to his crib...  And we talked ourselves out of doing it because it just seems wrong to change something when it's going that well.  At this point it's hard for me to care that he's still sleeping in the bouncer chair.  He's happy, we're more rested, so whatever!

One of my favorite things to do is to try to get giggles from the little guy.  He's pretty ticklish, so it's usually not too hard.  He's getting more interactive every day & it's a lot of fun.  I remember loving this age with Alex, too.  Speaking of Alex, Ethan loves to watch his big brother.  Since Alex is always on the move, jumping & running & yelling, I can see how it's pretty entertaining.  Alex is really sweet to Ethan, too.  We'll see if that continues once Ethan is mobile & can get to Alex's toys but so far they both seem pretty happy to be brothers.

Oh & I couldn't resist posting this picture from our four month photo shoot.  Little stinker!

Looking forward to all the next month has to bring!

Coming Home

When I was going through our pictures for Ethan's birth story, I came across these pictures Michael took when we came home from the hospital. 

It was a very happy reunion.  J

Ethan's Birth Story

As I mentioned in my Bumpdates, I had been very uncomfortable for weeks so when my doctor asked if I wanted to be induced at 39 weeks, I gladly said yes.  I was already a little dilated & effaced & the doctor didn't think I'd have any problem being induced.

My doctor scheduled me to be induced on Monday, January 14th at 5 am.  Michael & I spent the weekend preparing & enjoying the last moments as a family of three.  We went to dinner on Sunday evening knowing it would probably be awhile before we'd have the chance to go out again.  Right before we left the restaurant, I noticed I had a missed call on my phone.  I had a voicemail from my doctor telling me I was actually scheduled to be induced on Tuesday, not Monday.  Sunday had been a little nerve racking for us - I think the anticipation was starting to get to us.  When I told Michael, he said - I can't take another day of this!  My doctor called again on the way home to make sure I got the message & explained she had gotten sick on Friday.  Even though she was feeling better, she called the hospital to see if she could move my induction to Tuesday to be safe.  The hospital told her I wasn't scheduled for Monday.  Apparently I had been scheduled for Tuesday all along.  Not that I wish illness on anyone, but thank goodness she had gotten sick or else we would have shown up on Monday morning & been sent home!

Monday ended up not being too bad.  We kept busy with some projects & I didn't start to get nervous until Monday night before bed.  I was induced with Alex & it went really well but every birth is different.  I was worried this experience would be less than stellar since no one gets two great birth stories! 

Michael & I got up ridiculously early since we had to be at the hospital by 5:00.  My sister spent the night so she could get up with Alex in the morning & take him to daycare.  I went in Alex's room before we left so I could see him one more time before we became a family of four.  I also took one last belly picture.

We got to the hospital without any problems & got checked in.  My friend Ashley bought me a pretty pusher to wear instead of a hospital gown.  It's a disposable delivery dress.  It's not something I think I would have bought for myself but I really liked it.  It was a big hit - the nurses, my doctor & family members all commented on it.  Anyway, back to that morning...  The nurse started my IV.  Ouch.  Then she hooked me up to the belly monitor.  I was already contracting on my own.  I had felt a little discomfort during the night but I wasn't sure if it was nerves.  She started the Pitocin & antibiotics for Group B Strep.  My doctor came in to check me & told me she wanted to wait a little longer to break my water to give the antibiotic time to get in my system.  Then we waited.  My contractions picked up but they were manageable.  My parents, Michael's parents & my sister arrived.  My doctor came back around 10 am to break my water.  With Alex, my contractions really got painful after my water broke so I told my nurse I was ready for the epidural.  The anesthesiologist arrived about 30 minutes later & by that time, I was ready for some relief.  I decided to just have the nurse (and the anesthesiologist) in the room.  That's how I did it with Alex since Michael is way too squeamish.  My mom was willing to stay but I felt comfortable with my nurse.  (By the way, my nurse with Alex was pregnant & my nurse this time was too!  I took it as a good omen.)  The epidural went fine - the IV hurt more than the epidural.  It didn't take long & I was nice & comfortable.  I continued to progress while we all hung out in my room.  Please note, I did not eat any purple popsicles this time!

I can't remember exactly when but sometime around lunchtime, I started feeling the tightening of the contractions.  They weren't painful but I could tell when I was having one.  With Alex, my epidural couldn't keep up with my progression & I ended up having to get a stronger medicine.  I was worried that would be the case with this baby, too (and especially worried the epidural would stop working during delivery).  Everyone decided to grab some lunch at the cafeteria.  Michael was going to stay with me but I sent him with the others.  I didn't mind being alone.  Fashion Police was on TV - ha.  While they were gone, I started feeling pain during the contractions.  It started out being very mild but slowly got more painful with each one.  I called my nurse - she had me push more medicine through my IV twice & wait 15 minutes each time.  It didn't provide any relief, so she called the anesthesiologist.  He came back & gave me the stronger medicine.  About 10 minutes later, I was all good & very numb.  It's a good thing I didn't wait long to ask for the stronger medicine because about 15 minutes after, my doctor checked me & said it was time to push.  Everyone but Michael & my mom cleared the room while my nurse & my doctor got the room ready.

There were supposed to be several nurses & techs in the room but it ended up being just my doctor & my nurse.  Apparently all the pregnant women decided to deliver at the same time!  We waited for a contraction & the doctor told me to push while she counted.  We were all a little surprised when he was almost out by the time she got to ten.  One more quick push & Ethan was here!  I pushed for nineteen minutes with Alex, which I thought was pretty good, but Ethan shattered that record with less than a minute of pushing!  The doctor held him up & Ethan immediately peed all over me.  Little stinker!  They wrapped him up & put him on my chest.  I was so relieved everything went well.  Michael went to tell everyone in the waiting room - they couldn't believe Ethan was born so fast.  Soon they all got to come in & meet him.

The rest of the day was a blur - finishing up in the labor & deliver room, moving to my post partum room, Ethan getting cleaned up...  As you probably remember, flu season was really bad this winter so no one was allowed in the nursery area for the baby's first bath.  Michael had to watch behind the window like the rest of the family.  I don't think he minded, though, and it was obviously to protect our little guy & the other babies. 

My dad went to pick up Alex.  I got a little emotional when he came in the room.  I was still hooked up to my IV & I think he was a little overwhelmed by the surroundings.  He was just a little quiet.  I sure was glad to see him, though.  Then we brought Ethan in the room.  Alex did a good job holding him (it lasted about 10 seconds but what else do you expect from a two year old - ha). 

It was an amazing day & we couldn't have asked for a better experience!

I already posted some pictures from the day, but here are a few more.

Last belly pics...

In my pretty pusher

Meeting the family

 

With Mommy & Daddy

In love with him already

 

First shampoo

Not sure what to think but doing a good job

Alex playing with my mom's camera :)



Melt my heart...

Three Months Old

Our little roly poly is three months old!  I'm not sure how much he weighs, but he's a chunk.  I love it!  We'll see what the scale says at his four month check up.  He's very close to being too big for his 0-3 months clothes.  I need to get out the 3-6 months clothes from storage.  I can hardly believe it's already time!  I already had pangs of sadness when I packed up his newborn clothes & put them in storage.  I may never use those clothes again!  Well, other than to sell or donate them.  And now I have to pack up the 0-3 months clothes - wah!  I don't think it bothered me this much with Alex, but that's probably because we knew we'd like to have another baby.  Baby #3 isn't impossible but we aren't planning on having another.  We'll see how we feel in a few years, though.

One reason this post is several weeks late (and why I haven't posted anything lately) is because I'm back at work.  My maternity leave is over - wah again!  It was a harder transition than I anticipated.  I thought it would be easier the second time around & in some ways it is.  But other ways, not so much.  Ethan goes to the same daycare as Alex (a lady who operates a small daycare in her house) & it's been going fine.  Alex has been going to her house since he was three months old & loves it.  That makes it easier on me.  Ethan doesn't seem bothered at all.  I'm the one who misses him all day!  But I'm starting to get into a routine & it's ok.  Still an adjustment, though.

Ethan was sleeping really well before he hit three months (9-10 hours most nights) but decided to mix it up about a week before I went back to work & he averages about 7-8 hours now.  Occasionally we'll get a 10 hour stretch but not consistently like before.  7-8 hours is still good but it's a little frustrating knowing he can go 9-10 hours.  Plus, 7-8 hours usually means he wakes up around 4 or 5 & by the time I get him back to sleep, it's not that long until I have to get up to get ready for work so sometimes I can't fall back asleep.  So I've been functioning on less sleep than I have since the first month, which is challenging since I have to work all day.  No naps for me.  Boo.  I try to go to bed earlier than usual but it's hard since I have to get everything ready for the next day (and shower consistently - ha).  I'm surviving. 

And where is Ethan sleeping these days?  Still the bouncer chair.  Sigh.  I don't have any good excuses for why we haven't transitioned him to his crib yet other than I'm too tired.  I wanted to do it this weekend but Michael wanted to wait for a few more weeks.  The timing wasn't great this weekend.  But honestly I don't think the timing is ever going to be great!  Let's just not dwell on it & move on to more fun things...

Ethan has rolled over from tummy to back a few times!  I don't think he's figured out he can do it on purpose but it probably won't be long.  And it looks like he's close to rolling from back to tummy.  He's strong - he can really lift his head up high during tummy time & tries to scoot around.  I wonder if he'll be an early crawler like Alex.

He's still a laid back, happy baby.  He loves baths.  He likes to have face to face contact & will smile at just about anyone.  He gets a little grumpy if he's left to play on his own for too long on his play mat or on a blanket.  And he loves watching his big brother play.  He's started grabbing toys & they go straight in the mouth.  He also loves sucking on his hands.

Big brother had to jump in the chair for a photo

We sure love our little guys!

Ethan's Birth Story in Pictures

I'm over halfway done writing about Ethan's birth but I never quite seem to get it finished.  In the meantime, I thought I'd steal an idea from a friend's blog & tell the story first in pictures.

 

 

Two Months Old

This post is two weeks late, but Ethan is two months old!  He's getting big.  He weighed 13 pounds at his two month check up.  His cheeks are nice & chubby, he has a great double chin & his upper arms & legs are fattening up.  I love it!  I love roly poly babies.  Alex was always pretty lean, so I'm hoping Ethan will be my chubster.

Ethan started smiling around five to six weeks & it's not hard to get a grin out of him.  He loves when you touch his nose, cheeks or chin or dab his mouth with a burp cloth.  He's a happy baby most of the time but he can be very vocal if he's not getting what he wants. 

We've started putting him in his crib during the day for some naps with mixed results.  Sometimes he'll sleep the full hour & a half but most of the time, he only makes it for 30 or 45 minutes.  We haven't even tried putting him in the crib at night.  He's still in the bouncer chair...  He usually sleeps 8-9 hours in it (sometimes even 10!), so it's hard to want to move him to the crib.  I like sleeping too much!  I feel like I need to make the transition before I go back to work in a few weeks but I haven't been able to convince myself to just do it.  You know, it's just never a good time to miss out on sleep while your baby wakes up every 30 minutes.  It's frustrating enough during the day - much less at night when all you want to do is stay in bed!  I go back & forth between being really upset & feeling like I'm failing as a mom vs. not really caring at all & feeling like it will eventually work itself out.  It just depends on how I'm feeling at that particular moment.  I think every mom has probably felt like that at least once - at least I hope I'm not alone!

Even though he's a little picky about where he likes to sleep, he's pretty much a perfect baby in every other way.  He loves to nap in his car seat, so it's easy to run errands.  He doesn't cry much & it's usually pretty easy to figure out what he wants when he does cry.

We still think of Ethan as being a tiny newborn.  That is, until we saw him next to another newborn!  My friend came over last week with her three week old & Ethan looked so big compared to him.  I texted this picture to Michael - he said he thought Ethan was on the right at first & then couldn't get over how big Ethan has gotten.  I'm trying not to be sad that my baby isn't teeny tiny anymore.  They grow fast! 

Hard to believe that he'll be three months old soon!