Merry Christmas!

This is our first Christmas as a family instead of a couple.  It's not a whole lot different since Calvin isn't aware of "Santa" or "presents" yet, except for the fun with babies Christmas shenanigans...

and some other pictures from the day...

 

week 3

We are into week 3 with Calvin and I completely missed week 2.  Days are going by in a blur.  Chris went back to work on Monday and my mom left on Tuesday, so Wednesday was my first day alone.

It's been a little bit of a challenge since Calvin decided he needed to start eating every hour.  This has limited my ability to just about anything else.  I'm glad he's eating a bit more.  He was just shy of his birth weight on Tuesday and is still working on getting rid of the extra bilirubin.  He's eased off a bit today to eating every 2 hours, which has freed me up to eat and do laundry.   Of course, he doesn't want to be put down, so I have to eat and do laundry when he is too asleep to notice or while wearing him.  The baby carrier is the best thing we have bought since he arrived.

Here are some pictures from the past few days.

being held by Granna

playing with Daddy

a blissful moment for both of us today...

followed by a few minutes of fun before he realized he wasn't being held

A quick trip to the doctor today confirmed that he is gaining weight as he should and the bilirubin is trending down - still not normal, but moving in the right direction.  Unfortunately, not low enough for us to be done with the heel sticks.  This poor little guy will need yet another one next Tuesday.

I'm doing great - almost back to normal except for a bit of lingering abdominal tenderness.  I've also developed some sudden onset carpel tunnel, probably nursing related.  I'm hoping it will resolve, but I am going to see if my chiropractor can help out (if I can find the time to make it over there).

Week 1

It's been a crazy week that has gone by in a flash.  It was Thursday before I knew it (and now the following week).  We are all learning new things: diapering, how to put on a onesie, how to take off a onesie (still not good at either of those - I think I need a video) and most of all breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding has been the biggest challenge since I'm not the only one on a learning curve.  Calvin has to figure it out too.  We're catching on, some feedings go better than others but progress is being made.

So without further ado, the week in pictures:

37 weeks

Happy Birthday Calvin Hart VanZant!

Calvin was born at 9:46 on 28Nov11 weighing in at 7.7 lbs and 20.5 inches.  Thank goodness Chris has some energy left after labor to remember these things.  I was a bit out of it.

After a productive nesting session on Friday, I was eager to continue through the weekend to prep for SM's arrival and decorate for Christmas the rest of the weekend.  My body had other plans.  The same ligament that caused me trouble a few weeks ago had a revolt on Saturday that lasted through the night and into Sunday - most likely triggered when Calvin dropped.  After very little sleep on Saturday night and a pain scale shattering bout on Sunday we went to the ER to be assessed, where I got checked into L&D because ER wants nothing to do with a 37 week pregnant lady.

Right before I was getting ready to be released, my water spontaneously broke.  Despite what you see in TV and movies I've been told this is not the way labor typically begins.  I was so happy because I had been  in pain for 2 days and terrified that would last until he was ready.  Then I realized that it totally changed the game plan.  I was now officially on the clock.

So off we went to the birthing center to be evaluated.  I wasn't in active labor and was hoping I could go home to get some sleep before the ordeal ahead.  Nope.  The midwife wasn't happy with Calvin's heart rate after my mild contractions, so she transferred us to another hospital where he could be monitored continuously.  This was way out of my birth plan. I was sad and nervous.

No rest for me and my second night without sleep was about to begin.  A much harder night.  Natural childbirth quickly went out the window.  Pitocin, pain medication and a final, last minute epidural so I could rest for an hour during the final stage of pushing.  I just didn't have anything left.  All this time Calvin was monitored and was doing fine.

After a 30 minute nap, it was time to get back to work.  I had one more hour to push.  The nurses and I worked really hard to ensure progress was made, but I knew that I was at risk to be rolled into the OR for a c-section when the doctor came back.  A vaginal delivery was all I had left of my original plan and it was the most important to me.   Luckily that part worked out just fine.

In the end, the final goal of any birth plan is to delivery a healthy baby, which is exactly what we got.  Chris was a fabulous coach and support during labor and our current challenge - breastfeeding.  But that's a tale for a different day.

I was wondering what my first words would be when I saw my son for the first time.  As it turns out I was too stunned for words.  I just cried.  I think Chris did do :)

36 weeks

The magic date has arrived.  After Sunday 20Nov11, if I should happen to go into labor early (or pre-term rather) I don't have to go to the hospital.  I can deliver at the birthing center as planned.  Yea!

We have anywhere from 2 - 6 weeks left.  New aches and pains are popping up every day and my feet are often like little tanks.  and don't even get me started on the scary varicosities (let's hope those are temporary).   I want his lungs to be fully developed but I am ready to push him out at any time. Just say the word, baby and we will get right on that getting you to breath air thing.

Chris and I are learning new things everyday.  He's reading the natural childbirth book and his new daddy handbook and we've both been attending birthing classes.  Yesterday we both learned all about breastfeeding.  We are definitely all educated and ready to forget it all as soon as we need it.

Now let's see what I can do to make this happen by December 5th.  Pretty sure I can make it happen.  This "bump" is still measuring 2 weeks ahead.

35 weeks

There are 5 weeks to go, but I'm saying 3.  Chris thinks I'm crazy but he marked the calendar with my prediction just the same.  It probably is wishful thinking, but a girl can dream.

This early prediction in no way indicates that I am ready.  I have just finally reached a point where I don't think I can hold out for over a month.  My body has reached the limit of weight it can carry.  On some level it knows I'm not suppose to weigh more than Chris at any time in my life, even now.  I'm tired and achy.

On Monday I took my first pregnancy related sick day due to a pain in my side.  Don't worry, it's nothing serious,  just the the pregnant version of a stitch in my side, but it hurt enough that I needed to lay around for most of the day.  That day got me thinking about what I would do if SM decided to come right NOW.

I know what is left to do at home to prepare SM.  It's mostly organizational and sorting out the initial sleeping situation.  Taking that day off made me realize that I am in no way prepared for maternity leave at work either.  There are several tasks that only I know about and documents stored locally on my computer (or worse - on my desk, including stuff sent to me from the last woman to go on leave).  So great, now I need to nest in two places.

One of the things we've had to do at home to prepare is get the cats ready.  I'm not worried about what Russell will do.  I'm sure that poor old guy will find a closet corner to make his own, but Skeeter is a different story.  As soon as we put the crib together, she was in it.  Our short term solution was to prop the mattress on it's side, but since SM can't sleep on it that way we needed another way to discourage Skeeter from getting in there to play or worse sleep with SM (she tried to sleep on my face the other night).  So we layered it with looped packing tape.

Kitten trap 1, kitten 0.  

Chris has some video of the poor thing before he took pity on her and got the tape off of her feet.  If I can figure out how to post it I will.  It's cruel and hilarious.

34 weeks

Before we get to the baby stuff there are two more important items this week.

First, Sunday was our 2nd anniversary.  I'm excited to start this next chapter of our relationship as parents and I'm mourning our couple-dom at the same time.  We will never again be two independent people who chose to spend our time together.  We will be parents with bigger obligations than either of us have ever had before.  To celebrate, we decided to spend a day together with breakfast and some easy errands followed by time spent walking around Pedernales Falls.

Then
June 2006 (I caught the bouquet at this wedding)

Now
November 2011 Pedernales Falls

I saw my first breathing armadillo.  I may be officially a Texan now.

Second, I know everyone is focused on the brand new baby boy to come, but this week we are celebrating the birthday of my first baby boy...

Russell and his baby

Happy 14th Birthday, Russell!  (you're going to live forever)

Now on to baby news.  There are just 2 more weeks until SM can make an appearance at any time, regardless of how unlikely it is that he will decide to show up "early".  Due dates are estimates at best so who knows...

I have been lucky to have perhaps the easiest pregnancy ever, but it has finally happened.  SM has found my bladder and decided it makes a great pillow.  Peeing is now my new hobby.  It had to happen sooner or later.  I'm glad it happened later.

THE BUMP

still not twins

It's like a basketball for giants

33 Weeks

This week started off with my baby shower hosted by 3 lovely friends: Christie, Claire, and Colleen.

The shower was beautiful.  Here are a couple of pictures I took before I got scolded for taking pictures of my own shower.  I saw Claire snapping away so there should be more to come.  I hope she has a picture of the food table.  The flower arrangements and grass bunnies were fabulous.

I know it's not like me to be sappy, but I am truly blessed with a great group of friends who made me and SM feel loved.  I appreciate them all!  I'm also lucky to have an awesome husband who did the grocery shopping while I was away.  He gets all some of the caramel pumpkin bars as a prize.

My task for this week/weekend is to take stock of all of the generous gifts we received and inventory the last few items we need to be ready for SM's arrival.  There are still a few weeks until Thanksgiving so I have plenty of time to be 100% prepared on my schedule.  

Here is the week 33 bump pic.  However it was taken at the end of the day so I'm a bit tired and my hair is not quite the same as it was 5 hours before.  Note to self: buy hair spray!

So yep, I'm pretty big and there is still plenty of time to go.  Just the other day, the sweet young cashier at  the taco place said, "Wow, you have some time to fill out yet.  Where is it going to go?  You are already so big!" Many pregnant ladies wouldn't appreciate such a comment, but since I stare at this undulating bulge every day and wonder the same thing, I just laughed and agreed with her.  Plus I was about to get migas and that always puts me in a good mood.

Hope you all had as great of a weekend as I did.  I'm off to read more of my natural childbirth book and to terrify Chris with pictures of naked ladies giving birth circa 1985.  

32 weeks

8 weeks to go!

Actually, I've recently learned that a baby really takes about 41 1/7 weeks, so 8 days beyond the official 40 week due date, so we are back to about 9 weeks to go.  But let's hope this boy is an overachiever.  

I've also learned that Sundays are a bad day for photos in the 3rd trimester.  By the time Sunday rolls around Chris and I are tired and a little grumpy (I know, logically it should be the other way around), plus  I've been sitting around in yoga pants and no make up for several days (don't ask me how this is different from any other day of the week.  I'm not sure).  My normal routine is to sit around for a few hours with the paper, get dressed, run some errands and do the grocery shopping.  By the time I make it back from the store I have used my energy allotment for the day and nap for 3 hours.  After that it just seems silly to get dressed and pretty just to get ready for bed again.  We really need to start taking pictures on Friday.  I often look good on Friday.  

Still excited about SM, still working on decorating the nursery, still feeling well except for occasional heartburn, blah, blah, blah.  But let's get real here for a minute.  I am really excited about the prospect of being able to move about unencumbered again.  There is just no getting around the fact that my midsection is a rock hard beach ball.  It doesn't twist, bend, or in any other way move with ease.  at this point I'm getting a little tired of that.  and even though I know there is a baby in there, most of the time I just feel big.  

Before I was pregnant, if I felt big I could do something about it.  I could eat better or run around the lake or put on more flattering pants and instantly feel better.  I can still do those things - sort of - but guess what, there is still a boulder around my waist.  There is nothing I can do but wait (I've mentioned that I'm impatient right?). I know I'll still be bigger after SM arrives, but I'm hoping that my enlarged mid-section will be softer then and at least I'll be able to bend over without remembering to spread my legs (and maybe run around the lake again). 

nursery sneak peak

31 weeks

9 weeks to go!

I don't know about you, but I find it much more interesting to count down then keep counting up at this point in the game.  I essentially have 2 months left of this pregnancy adventure and we are really in no way prepared.  We haven't even learned how to have a baby yet.  Good thing I was never one for studying or preparation of any kind.  

I do have several books on hold from the library.  I have no doubt SM will know what to do, but I don't want us leaving the birth center thinking about what we would do better next time.  There is no next time.  

The nursery is coming along nicely.  Chris finished putting the dresser together and I scored some awesome orange and green button drawer pulls.  It makes it look super cute.  We've also decided on a bookshelf.  So once we decide on some wall decor it should be bright and cheery in there.  Chris mentioned yesterday what a change that room has gone through.  It used to be a place neither of us wanted to go.  Now I could sit in my green chair all day and the couch (newly moved to the office) is getting much more use as well as a favorite reading spot for both of us.

While we are trying to slowly but surely prepare, I have limited energy stores on most days.  I used my energy on Sunday to run around shopping.  I came home and napped for several hours and was still able to get to sleep by 10.  On Friday I think I slept 10 hours straight (with a brief potty break at 7am).  I started taking an iron supplement last week, which I think has helped with a general fog I was experiencing, but nothing but sleep can overcome the hard work of fattening this turkey.  

On a separate, last note, I'm about to share one of the worst pictures ever taken of me; however it demonstrates a very important milestone.  Many of you know that my sole motivation to get pregnant was to have a convenient place to put my drink.  Well it has taken over 6 months, but I am officially my own table.

Look ma, no hands!

30 Weeks

Only 10 more weeks to go!

Chris and I took one last weekend trip with some good friends to Big Bend National Park.  This is one of our favorite places.  Probably because it's one of the few places we can drive to living in the great state of Texas, but also because it is a little magical.  There is no cell phone service and very little light pollution so you can often see the milky way (not this time due to a spotlight-esque moon.  Thanks, moon)

There were a couple of challenges in thinking about this trip when 7 months pregnant.  a) How many pillows would I need to ensure I could sleep somewhat comfortably on a camp mat?  b) Would I be up to hiking that often involves changes in elevation (massive ups and unbalanced downs)? c) Would I have to stop every 30 minutes on this 8 hour drive to pee? d) What would I wear?  I only knew two things: 

1. I would try my best and do what felt comfortable
2. I promised not to complain.

After getting there on Friday afternoon, I had elephant ankles, Flintstone feet and sausage toes.  I wish I had taken a picture - it was pretty comical.  I shoved those feet in my boots and took off for our easy hour long hike.  The hike shook off the hours sitting in the car and my feet emerged from the boots squished back into their normal size, albeit with some mushrooming over my socks.

Saturday we had planned a 3 hour hike with a break and another 3 hour hike in the afternoon.  I'm glad we started with the Window Trail as it had the least change in elevation.  I enjoyed going, but it was pretty clear by the end that I was done for the day.  An afternoon lounging around in the hammock reading was just fine with me and it gave my mushroomed calves time to return to normal like my feet.  

Then Sunday we left after breakfast and headed straight home.  I was definitely sorry to leave.  It's probably the last "mini-break" we'll take before the baby comes and the last time our family trip will be for 2.  We are excited to make trips like this work with 3 (we will have to hone our packing skills since we can't pile crap on the baby) but I'm not going to lie about enjoying the ease with which we can just pick up and go.

So now that we took a well deserved weekend off, it's time to finish preparing for the baby in the next few weeks.  I still want to be completely ready for his arrival before Thanksgiving as I am encouraging him to come as soon as possible after 36 weeks.  If he is ready, of course.  

Answers: a) 3; b) not really.  A 3-4 mile hike per day was my limit.  I probably could have done one with more elevation but would have had to take a lot of breaks; c) nope.  Baby is still high enough that he really isn't messing with my bladder too much.  I count myself lucky; d) I'd walk around 1/2 dressed.  I have loose knit pants from Target that are about 4 years old that have become my best friend recently (pictured above) and a pair of button fly shorts (below) that stay up with 1 button done and my belly sticking out.  Yea for long shirts.

Us at the end of the Window Trail

P.S.  I have to add that I am a completely spoiled pregnant lady.  Chris did all of the driving.  He said my belly was too close to the steering wheel and he felt better if I wasn't driving in case anything went wrong.  Honestly I think he just feels safer driving in general (though there is nothing wrong with the way I drive), but I did enjoy the charter bus service to and from the park.  

29 weeks

This week I'm thinking more about exercise.  I haven't been doing it as routinely as I would like.  In my defense, I was traveling a lot in September to finish the last of my known business trips and my exercise plan always suffers when I'm away from home for a couple of days.  My days at home get crazy with all of the personal and professional things I need to do before I leave.

But it's October now and if I'm lucky the last of my work trips are behind me.  To celebrate I went to yoga on Saturday and took a 3 mile walk on Sunday with plans for the rest of the week that aren't quite busted yet.

Let's talk about this walk for a minute.  I am SLOW!  I've said this before but usually in reference to my 1/2 or full marathon time, not a walk around the neighborhood.  There was a time not long ago - a few months ago - that I wouldn't have considered a walk exercise for me.  Now it suits me just fine.

After hitting a personal record in my half marathon time during my first trimester, I knew I would end up doing the couch to 5k plan by the time I got the OK to exercise again after SM arrives.  What I didn't expect was that this 3 mile stroll during pregnancy would be tough and take so long - about 47 minutes actually.  Honestly and I was going about as fast as I could without causing back pain.  My big accomplishment for the day?  Passing a group of older people out for their morning constitutional.  I almost didn't do it, but I reached deep inside and victory!  Maybe I need a shirt that says "you got lapped by a pregnant lady" on the back.

While I was struggling with my walk and recovering afterward, Chris had his own struggles with a ceiling fan that came without instructions.  We both won on Sunday and enjoyed a little nap and then put the crib together.  It was a good day.

I swear there are not twins in there.  Don't even ask.

28 weeks

HELLO 3RD TRIMESTER!

28 weeks is the official start of the 3rd trimester.  I am both looking forward to and dreading this last phase of my pregnancy.  Looking forward to it because in 3 short months (or less) I can have a diet Pepsi again.  Just kidding.  Our baby will be here and how exciting is that?  

I'm dreading it because my "bump" is already so big and only getting bigger.  I'm starting to become uncomfortable and I know that is only going to get worse.  I'm sick of my waist bands rolling down (should have said shove it to "cool" Alison and went ahead and bought full "granny" panel everything) and spend most of my day trying to tug low rise maternity leggings up over my swelling abdomen.  I feel like "socks" - the developmentally delayed man who was often on the bus with me 15 years ago. He had a tick where he obsessively tugged up his sports socks, like every 10 seconds.  I hated getting on the bus with socks.  I don't know why it bothered me so much, but now I'm him.  What comes around, goes around.  Lesson learned, universe.

I'm also dreading it because... well have any of you been around me while I'm trying to wait for Christmas or my birthday?  I'm a 3 year old.  Yea,  it will probably be like that only maybe a little worse...  

BIG NEWS THIS WEEK:

I passed my glucose tolerance test!  I can continue eating tons of sugar so I can give birth to a 10 lb sugar-crack addicted hellion.  


I'm also ever so slightly anemic which is the norm for me so I'm not really concerned.

The carpet was put in on Monday, so we can clean up the mess of tape, paint, and carpet and padding bits.  Next we will finally look at baby  furniture and Chris' next task is putting up the ceiling fan.  Let the IKEA shopping spree begin!

I would like to note that I'm sitting in the "green" patch of our lawn

27 weeks

Depending on which books you read either this week or next is the beginning of the 3rd trimester.  It's marked as next week on my calendar but big bellies can't tell time.  I can feel the changes happening.

It is getting much harder to move around.  I can still walk just fine.  Point me in any direction and I'm off.  It's the up and down and maybe rolling over that is getting tough.  Just last night I had to have Chris pull me out of a low camp chair.  I could have gotten up on my own, but I'm not going to say it wouldn't have involved rolling myself onto the ground first.

To prove that I can still move around just fine, we went to the ACL Festival this past weekend and I definitely walked plenty Fri, Sat and Sun.

I saw a few other preggos hanging around and one that I would say was around 8 months or with twins, suffice it to say her belly was bigger to mine and rocking out.

I also used this weekend to window shop for strollers.  We saw plenty of BOBs, which we are considering and a few City Elites, which we weren't looking at, but no B-Agiles or City Minis.  Who knew I'd be so fascinated.

I found something to wear!

I had to go on site to work with a team member today.  The challenge was that I haven't bought any work appropriate maternity clothes.   Happily, I managed to find something to find to wear.  These are my normal work pants with the help of a fabulous Bella Band.  I don't really like walking around all day with my pants unzipped.  I won't tell if you don't.  Shhh...

But I'm hoping the dress I ordered shows up before I have to head out again next Tuesday.

26 weeks

Remember that cute little bump I had at 23 weeks... just 3 weeks ago?  I do.   The waist band of my skirt could still go around and I could get up from a supine position without flailing around like a beached whale.  Those were the days.  I can still wear the skirt, but the waist band now goes under my belly and all of my non-maternity shirts (like the one I'm wearing on week 23) - which still fit and I still insist on wearing - I'm wearing one right now - eventually ride up so I look like Baby Huey

It's new territory for us and while I'm sure everything is normal, we both can't help but ask "Am I suppose to be this big, really?!"

With marathon baseboard painting, Spanish studying, and Chris' birthday, we have yet to take a weekly bump pic.  One is coming soon.  As soon as I can bend over to pick up the camera.  This may take a while.  Talk amongst yourselves...

26 week-ish

25 weeks

Time keeps passing by.  Each week SM's kicks get a little stronger and we get a little closer to my deadline for finishing the nursery and it still looks like this:

We have made progress, but it's not the type you can see.  The carpet has been picked out and we will have it installed in the next 2-3 weeks. In the meantime, we need to paint some baseboards.  Chris spent the better part of the day replacing some short baseboards in the hallway that looked funny.

 So yes progress, but the kind that ends up with a Mess... and I look like this:

So the baby is only the size of an eggplant, but I'm the size of a watermelon.  Makes me wonder what size I will be when SM is the size of a watermelon.

We opened the envelope...

24 weeks

Chris is out of town this weekend and after a brief evening of feeling sorry for myself and actually just feeling sick, I've had a great time.  I think he has too.  It's good to reacquaint yourself with yourself from time to time, especially now.

As I think about how my life with change and all the new responsibilities I will have, it was great to have the time to indulge in doing exactly what I wanted to do for a few days.  I had lunch with some friends, dinner and a movie with another, did a little shopping and just sat around and read.  Now Sunday evening is looming and I'm dreading the thought of having to go back to work tomorrow.  But I'll try to put that aside and pretend I'm a lady of leisure for a few more hours.  At least I'll get a few minutes at the airport to catch up with Chris as he returns and I head out of town for the week.  So that is something to look forward to on Monday.

Since I'm solo this week, I'll give you my view of the growing bump:

The bump continues to grow, but at least I can still see my toes...

...and Skeeter.  She has a way of sneaking up on you.

Getting back to that illness business.  I've had my first experience with unbearable indigestion.  After 2 days of feeling like my lunch is in my throat, I am feeling better.  I'm armed with papaya/peppermint lozenges, ginger tea and the thought that maybe I should show a little more restraint the next time I go to the Indian buffet (in all fairness, it started before the trip to the Indian buffet, but I'm sure it didn't help.  It was, however, tasty).

big night out

Chris and I went to La Condesa last night for dinner.  The food was great and we enjoyed a fabulous baby free night out.  I also noted a couple complete with baby in a stroller on the other side of the room, so I have some hope for our future. (and then we ran home to watch True Blood on DVD and eat popsicles)

carefree, kid-free couple

But I wanted to take a minute to acknowledge the awesome people who have sent early gifts for SM. So Cute!

Thank you Auntie Claire, Auntie Brenda, Aunt Katie and Tori