There's a monster in our house!!!

Grrrr Arrr!! That's right. It's me. Mommas little monster!
Boy, being a monster is tiring!!

First time at the park!

What an unexpected surprise I got today!

Mommy got a phone call from her friend asking if we wanted to meet her and her two kids at the park today! It was such a nice day, mommy wanted to see her friend, and I wanted to meet Daniel and Olivia! So mommy put me down for a quick morning nap and hopped in the shower and we were on our way.

It was wonderful! Lots of trees and shade (it was 67 degrees out there today!). I watched the kids play on slides and swing and run all around! I can't wait til I'm old enough to play in the Fun Forest too (that is the name of the park)







After spending time in the beautiful weather we headed home to get ready for our 3 month pictures. This time we went to Olan Mills. Mommy was not impressed by the service nor the lady taking my picture. The sales lady was very pushy and mommy doesn't like that at all!! I on the other hand was out cold taking a much deserved nap!!!

1/4 of the first year is over!!

In honor of me turning 3 months, I thought I'd give you 12 facts about me!!

1.I have now began to notice my puppy dogs
2.I burp like my papa
3.I’m not fat, I’m cute
4.Still not sure about getting my picture taken
5.I wake up happy and with a smile in the morning
6.I go to bed between 9:15pm-9:45pm
7.I wake up between 5:45am-6:45am
8.I enjoy watching Big Cat Diaries on animal planet at 3pm
9.I LOVE it when papa plays with my toes
10. My favorite part of the day is bath time (and food of course!)
11.I have found my GLORIOUS hands and fingers
12.I LOVE watching mommy sing and sign (and dance)to me


That’s right! I am 3 months today! I can’t believe how fast the time as gone by and how much I love learning new things. The weather is getting so nice that I can even go out and play in the sunlight!

We are not sure how much I weigh but mommy is pretty sure I’m at least 12 lbs. We will go to see Dr. D next week, when I say “we” I mean papa and I. Mommy is too scared to go!

oh-what are Big Cat Diaries, you ask? It is a really super neat show that comes on at 3:00pm all about big kitty cats! There are lions, cheetahs, and leopards. I enjoy watching them run across the screen and it’s a nice quiet time I enjoy with my puppies, and mommy too. Sometimes she pretends to be the lion and I be the gazelle….but we all know it’s the other way around! ;)

What will my favorite toy be?

Toys are fun, flashy, noisey, bright, and EXPENSIVE!!! I have jumpers, bouncers, rattles, bunnies, balls, rainsticks, etc. Out of all these at my beckoning call- there is just one type of toy I love the best, and those are my books!

Mommy tells me that books should be every child's favorite toy. You work on hand-eye coordination, words and language skills (even sentence structure!), cause and effect (turning the page), as well as auditory stimulation (hearing the pages turn, or even ripping them...ooppss), I even work on sign language as we go through the pages talking about the animals we see. Sometimes when mommy can't find the book, she'll just read to me from her memory!!!

So now that I am finally in bed and sleeping; mommy is wide awake searching for some of her favorite books from when she was a little girl and from when she worked with all of her kids. I (with mommy's help of course) created a wish list (right hand side of screen), what was your favorite book?

The weeks are rolling on by!

I can't believe it! Today I am 12 weeks (no quite 3 months yet though!) and I am doing so much. I can hold my head up with little wobbling now. I can even hold my balance if mommy sits me up on the couch (leaning against the back cushion of course!). Everyday I am getting better at tummy time and can lift my head up completely for a few minutes! Mommy is so proud!

With everything I am learning and doing, mommy tells me that her favorite part is that I am sleeping longer at night, giggling, and needing less diaper changes (her all time favorite!). All of those are exciting, but even more so it that mommy loves to dress me up and take lots of pictures. She even started making me bows and headbands to match my outfits. She even plans on using old bed sheets she is no longer using to make me some summer dresses for me! I just hope I am as clever as mommy when I grow up!

More Pictures?!?!

Everyone is asking where mommy gets all the pictures of me from. To answer that question, she gets them from EVERYWHERE!

Now that she is staying home with me (which I LOVE!) she knows she has to do everything she came to save money. Now she has cut out a lot of extras she did for herself and putting them toward other things. Such as me!

She takes home photos of me everyday, all day. However, she also wants to get a ton of professional photos too. Now these do not come cheap! Mommy has taken me to Sears and JCPenneys for pictures. She is not so much a fan of Sears, but since she became a member there she gets a free 8x10 each time we go (so she gets me all fancy and takes pictures and mommy picks out her favorite and we get a free photo!). JCPenneys is a different story. We really like them and their prices (of course with the coupon!). We will be trying out Olan Mills next week and the following month we will try one more place too.

Here are some outtakes from the last time we went to Sears:

Night Shift is over!

Now I am not sure what to do with myself... Normally my puppies and I have to stay quiet during the day so papa can sleep. He has been working the night shift for the past two months. Now papa is back working during the day and mommy puts on a show all day long. Well, now if only I can stay awake for half of it!!!

She sings and dances for me. My favorite songs so far are The Ants Go Marching, Getty Up Horsie, Up and Down in My Little Red Wagon, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and I Have a Little Bicycle. But I think mommy's favorite songs are ANYTHING by Rod Stewart. She keeps telling me that he is the best thing since sliced bread...whatever that is. We dance around the rooms, she dips me, and spins me. She even does these weird things with her hands, I am sure I will pick it up soon!

Mommy and I wash dishes together, fold clothes together, AND the weather has been nice the past few days so I get to go outside and watch my puppies play in the yard. Life is good and I am really enjoying it.

But I have to say the thing both mommy and I enjoy the most is having my papa home more often and to be able to see him and hear his voice. I've got him wrapped around my fingers already!

Well Baby Check Up 2.10.10

This morning mommy had to rush around to get ready to see my doctor. I had fallen asleep and didn't want to wake up and mommy was only half awake herself. As she rushed us out the door she realized it was snowing (again!) and super windy!!!

When we finally arrived at CHKD's Pediatric Specialists I saw my favorite doctor, Dr. de Triquet. Mommy really likes him too, and he agreed with mommy when she wanted to spread out my immunizations. However, I was still not a fan of the Rotavirus vaccine. The nurse came in and stuck a tube in my mouth and I wanted nothing to do with it. Poor mommy had to watch me get more and more upset and the silly nurse wouldn't give up!!! Next came the DTaP vaccine. Mommy even had to turn away as the nurse lady came at me with that long needle.

OH BOY did I let them have it, I screamed and cried and tear after tear came pouring out. The nurse probably thought my mommy was crazy for swooping me up in her arms and crying right next to me. Thankfully mommy knows just the right songs to sing to make me feel better.

Mommy learned two things today- #1 Watch the time, #2 Send Papa next time I have to get vaccines.

On the plus side, I am in the 75th percentile for height and weight. I am 23 inches long and 11lbs. 13oz. Today I am also 9 weeks, and even though I had a rough morning I can still pose pretty for mommy's camera!

Photo Shoot at 2 months 2/9/10

Happy 2 months to me!!! WOW this is going by fast! Today I turned two months and mommy took me to go get my pictures taken again! It was wet and cold outside and by the time mommy made it through traffic I was dead asleep at the portrait studio.

No worries! I woke up just intime for my close up!

Who's That Baby in the Mirror!?

Today I finally noticed the baby in the mirror. For the past few weeks mommy has pulled out a mirror and magically a baby appeared as soon as I looked. Wow, what a pretty baby! I smile and she smiles! I raise my hand, she raises her hand! I kick, and she kicks! She is such a copy cat but I enjoy watching her!

Mommy also introduced me to the best toy in the world! An empty bag of chips. Oh how I love the crinkle sound it makes and how it feels againist my tummy and cheeks. What an awesome day today was!

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

January 30th 2010

So for the past few days the news and meteorologist have been urging the people in Hampton Roads to go out and get milk, eggs, bread, etc. for we'd be "snowed" in for the next few days! Mommy didn't believe the news because she said they always get it wrong and that it hasn't snowed in years! Well, come Saturday morning Mommy was WRONG. And BOY was she wrong! There was snow up past mommy's ankles and still falling! The road was covered and it was white everywhere!

My puppies ever very excited to get to play in all the cold cold white stuff, and I even put on a (really) thick and heavy snow suit and headed out myself to make my very first snow angel. I could have stayed out there forever but mommy brought me back inside quickly and changed me out of my wet snow suit.

Today (Sunday Jan 31) there is still snow everywhere! Sadly there is also a lot of ice and so mommy and papa are going to stay inside all day today and wait for the roads to clear up. Does that mean we get to play all day too? I LOVE attention!

blog?! Who has time to write in a blog!?

Okay, so I have been keeping mommy's attention. Changing diapers, feedings, play time, OH and even when I am sleeping too! I am just that entertaining I suppose. I am now almost 7 weeks, and BOY has the time flown by!

I am growing so fast, as you can see- and learning a great deal too. Not a fan of tummy time, but mommy and I are both working on it. My neck is getting so strong and I can hold my own head up so well. I am SO BIG! :)

I can't wait to get moving! My uncle bought me a kickn' coaster and I just LOVE it. Still trying to figure out how I bounce up and down whenever I kick my little legs...hmmm.

Photo Shoot!! 1/9/10

Well, This past Saturday I turned one month and so it was time to take some "professional" pictures. So she went ahead and booked an appointment. She told me she didnt expect anything- knowing it was the first time trying, but boy did I surprise her(and papa too)!

Aren't I cute?! Oh I know! Now mommy has to clip coupons to make up for the money she spent on pictures! She loved every pose!

Grandma's Visit

Last Monday, December 28 2009 I met my Grandma for the first time! She flew all the way from California to see me! Of course she was happy to see Mommy and Papa too, but I was the center of attention :). She would sing to me and rock me and even took me on my first "hike" in the "woods". No no, I am not walking yet! We went down to the Dismal Swamp hiking grounds and I stayed in my stroller while Mommy pushed me. We made it a whole 3 miles before I needed to eat!!!

I love my grandma and we had a blast together. Well, until she decided to give me a bath! Oh my gosh was I cold!!! Mommy had to walk out of the room while Papa took a video of my first bath. Boy was I angry!

2 weeks

Wow, this is going by fast!!! Today I am two weeks old and I even surprised momma and papa by sleeping for a whole 3 hours and 15 minutes at one time! Momma said it felt so good to be able to sleep the extra hour. Not a problem momma, you've earned it!

I also had a check up today. I am now 7 lbs 5 oz, and 20 inches long! Dr said I am doing great and looking good! He even suggested momma start giving me a bottle (of course with mommy's milk) if the evening feedings were getting too much. BUT momma tried to give me that silly bottle and I only wanted the real thing!!!

A week already!

So here I am!! Has it really been a week already!?!? I love my new home and of course my pups Leena and Fenton. I am sure they like me too, they are just a little shy at first.

Mommy and Papa are trying to adjust with all the changes, but me- I just do what I want. If I'm hungry mommy feeds me, if I have a diaper, papa changes me, and if I'm tired I go to sleep. Life is easy for me, not sure why everyone keeps saying baby's are hard work!

Mommy and Papa are very tired now. They take turns napping during the day because I am awake most of the evening. I feed every 2 hours and sleep for 2 hours. I am pretty set on my schedule- even if mommy doesn't like the routine :)

A true birthing story

On December 9th 2009, 6:30am

Mommy wakes up, looks out the the rain drops on the window and rubs her tummy to say hello to me. Hello mommy! Today was the day. Mommy and Papa were getting ready to head into the hospital for an induction. Mommy is so nervous, and I bet Papa is too- but he is better at hiding it. After taking care of a few things around the house, Papa packs up the car with mommy's bag and mine too and we head into Chesapeake General Hospital.

At 8:30 we arrive and head up to the 3rd floor. Checking in I can tell mommy was getting scared. She said she hated hospitals and didn't like the idea of being "tied" to a bed. I kicked her a few times to let her know I understood. So off we headed, straight to a room.

Mommy's doctor came in shortly after and at 9:30 he broke mommy's water and started her on a drug called pitocin. At the point the nurses asked if mommy wanted and epidural. She declined at the moment but as smart enough to stay "on the list".

Immediately contractions started. I was handling them very well and so was mommy. Papa was doing great to, talking mommy through each one and keeping her mind off of the pain. They weren't too bad! At least not at that moment.

Once the doctors came back to check up on us, mommy was still only 3 cm and 50% effaced. So up goes the pitocin, and up goes the pain. It had been almost 4 hours now. At this point the contractions were coming one after the other and mommy didn't have much of a break in between. Papa was doing great, counting mommy through each one and letting mommy almost pull his arm out of socket.

It wasn't long before mommy started losing awareness of what was going on. She was tired!!! The nurse came in again to check up on my pain. Mommy really wanted to keep going, but knew she didn't have much energy and was fearful she wouldn't have the strength when it came time to push. Papa was worried too so she went ahead and got the epidural.

Sadly, no one ever took mommy's blood when she first came in and so it took much lower than expected to actually get the epidural. Papa continued to help mommy through the pain, and while getting the actual epidural, she went through 3 contractions!!!

Finally when mommy could lay back down, she was having a lot of pressure much lower than before. The nurse went ahead and checked us again. Now mommy was almost 9 cm dilated and 100% effaced. There wasn't even time to put a cath. in!!! The nurse called in another nurse to get things ready and called in for the doctor.

Mommy was still having contractions, and while the pain wasn't as long, they were just as painful. For some reason the left side never went "numb". Now it was time to push. I had been waiting long enough and I really wanted o meet my mommy and papa.

Papa was there coaching mommy. Breath in, and push, push, push, push, push. Again, and push, push, push, push. Again and push, push, push!!! Papa said mommy was doing great, but mommy felt she wasn't doing enough. After pushing for about 30 minutes, the doctor still wasn't in and so they told mommy to take a break and not to push for the next few contractions. NOT TO PUSH??? I want out!!!

Sadly mommy's pelvis was 'small' and so it was a little harder. Finally the doctor comes in and encouraged mommy to push harder by telling her that he might have to use a vacuum since my head was turned in the wrong direction. A vacuum?? OH MOMMY PUSH HARDER!!!

Mommy wasn't going to let that happen so for the next few pushed she pushed harder, and harder. And finally, after an hour and a half, I was ready to come out!!!

The bed went up, the bottom part went down and Papa was there holding mommy's hand. Here we go!!!

Push! Push! One more! Okay, big push!!...okay stop, and pant, pant, pant..... Mommy had to have an episiotomy. OUCH! Why hadn't the epidural kicked in yet! Mommy felt every second of the cutting and said that was probably the worst part.

Ok, again. Push, Push......

And at 5:06 on December 9th 2009, I came into the world!!!



6 lbs. 10 oz.
It's cold out there and people kept touching me and taking my picture!!!
I see my Papa, and he watches over me while mommy is being "fixed" up. It doesn't take too long and finally, after a long long 9 months, mommy got to hold me in her arms!

Today is the day!

Morning world!!! Well, that's morning to you, mommy and I have been up all night long! It's going to be a long day, but mommy sang to me all night and told me how much she loved me and couldn't wait to meet me.

It's almost 7am and at 7:30 we will be calling the hospital to make sure everything is still a go. Arriving at the hospital at 8:30am and hoping to just get started right away. If I am anything like my mom, I will NOT like waiting around.

Mommy feels terrible about having to take medicine to get me to come out. She is scared it will lead to more serious interventions such as a c-section. Papa is trying to keep mommy calm and even my puppies have been very "loving" this morning.

So I shall see you soon- better yet you'll be seeing me! Wish mommy and I luck, and a safe, easy, and healthy delivery

Induction!?

Today mommy and I had yet ANOTHER appointment. Everything looked good and the doctor even said he'd let us go to 41 weeks before scheduling an induction. However before leaving the office he wanted to do a stress test just to make sure everything looked good.

So for 20 minutes mommy and I laid there, with one monitor on my heartbeat and one on mommy's tummy to see if there were any contractions. Mommy said she wasn't having any, but after the doctor took a look at the chart, it showed she was having a few. Contractions?? Really?? She said she didn't feel a thing!

The doctor was concerned however because I wasn't moving much. Moving much!? There isn't any room to move, what do you expect!?

So into another room we go where the doctor wanted to check out my fluid level. He said that sometimes if the fluid gets too low that the baby no longer moves as much, this of course would be a red flag.

During the check, the doctor notices that there isn't much fluid around me. Looking back at the last ultrasound (just 6 days before) I had 15 (mm? oz? no sure of the measurement they are using) and today there was only 6. WHAT? Now that is a red flag!

Doctor said that at 4 there is grave need for concern and that he would send me to the hospital to deliver at that moment. However, he said that my bladder looked full and so the number should go up. But since the fluid is lower then what is ideal- if mommy doesn't go into labor before Wednesday the 9th of December that she will have to be induced.

Now this comes to a disappointment to mommy. She really wanted to go naturally and labor at home without drugs as much as possible. However, she knows my health is much more important then her feelings on the matter.

So come hell or high water, I will arrive and make myself known by the end of my actual due date...cross your fingers it will be a easy and fast delivery for mommy's sake!!! :)

One week to go!

Today mommy and I are 39 weeks! We were both every excited to go to the doctor today to see how things are coming along. After a check, mommy is 2 cm dilated and 25% effacted. The doctor was concerned about allowing mommy and I to go past our due date. He is worried that because we had complete previa earlier in the pregnancy and there may be blood vessels too low lying. Allowing me to grow too big or having mommy's water break on her own might cause these vessels to rupture which could cause a lot more problems that neither mommy or I want.

Mommy really wants to see if her and I can go into labor on our own. She really wants to try to go natural because she feels that since she couldn't conceive naturally, this is the least she could do. OH mommy, in the end it really doesn't matter- just as long as you love me :)

So right now mommy has turned down an induction. However, the doctor wants to schedule a date this coming Monday if we have not already gone into labor. Mommy said she is going to take these next four days and try everything to see if she can help move the process along!!!

21 days and the count down begins!

Mommy and I are now 37 weeks and I am getting ready to make my grand entrance into the world! Some people have commented that mommy looks like she has "dropped" and mommy always has noticed that she can finally breath normally again! We were waiting in line at walmart today and I gave her some horrible Braxton Hicks contractions. She had to focus for a few seconds and even debated if something more was going to come. Nope, not quite read just yet!

Doctors say I am around 6 pounds now (a little smaller than average, but mommy thinks it's just fine!) and I am almost 19 inches long. My quarters are getting smaller and smaller by the day and I let mommy know by pushing and kicking her liver, stomach, and ribs out of my way!

Time is ticking down and mommy is just a little stressed. She has been hoping for a fence before I come so my four legged siblings wouldn't need to go out on a leash. I am hoping for that as well!

Still growing strong!

Man, these last few weeks have been tough! I mean all the extra strength I have yet NO room to move around. Papa is calling me his ninja because I kick mommy all day long! Hey- I am just working on my muscle control! We have been going to the Doctor every week now and I am just about ready to let the world see me. Just putting on a few more pound so everyone can see my figure. BUT here are some more preview pictures. I was looking right at the ultrasound tech as she was "taking" my picture.

The Dr. said I weigh approx. 5 lbs 12 oz and that I will most likely be around 7lbs. 12 oz at birth. Mommy is hoping I wont be any bigger!

Bring on the gifts and fun!

Sunday, October 4th I had my very first party! I thought about many different outfits, but ended up in my birthday suit! That's right! It was baby shower time! Two very sweet ladies and a good friend from Mommy's work got together and threw mommy and me a party! We had lots of good food, the ladies who came decorated some onesies for me, the grown ups were wearing diapers, and Mommy even smelled "dirty" (chocolate filled) diapers! It was a blast and mommy felt very special and honored to have such kind people in her life! I can't wait to meet them- grown ups wearing diapers?!?! They sound like a lively bunch!

We also had cake! OH yummmy! Boy oh boy was that the best cake we have ever tasted! I can't wait to get some more. Everything was perfect, and although I could see what was going on, it sure sounded like a lot of fun!

Mommy opened lots of gifts she said were for me. I'll have to wait two more months til I get to see them but I know it's worth the wait! Thank you everyone who came- you all have been such a wonderful part of my Mommy's life! A special thank you to Miss Megan, Miss Beth, and Miss Diana! I can't wait to meet you all!

My first photo shoot

Here are some more pictures from Fun Fetal Photos. I am so cozy in mommy's tummy that you can only see half of my face. BUT oh what a beautiful half it is :) And don't forget my beautiful toes!

Fun Fetal Photos!

Tonight Mommy and Papa took my grandparents and aunt to see what I look like. I of course wasn't in the mood. I was tired and hungry and I didn't feel like getting my picture taken. PLUS the lady put some cold gel on me and was pressing down on me. WELL I showed her!



Mommy says I have my papa's lips and the ultrasound lady agreed! Mommy also think I look a lot like Papa... but he isn't so sure. COME ON Papa you would have been beautiful as a girl ;)