3 Months Old

Can't believe it!! My baby girl is 3 months old! She's growing so big so fast. She is "talking" a lot now and loves to smile and laugh. She's not rolling over yet, but she is certainly moving. If you place her in one spot while she's sleeping, she will end up in a completely different spot and position.  She still doesn't really like the car seat. She will take it for awhile but if she's in any way shape or form tired, it is not a pleasant thing. She's fully sleeping through the night which is WONDERFUL. She has been napping a lot less and for shorter periods of time. I haven't weighed her in awhile but I would guesstimate she's around 13 pounds. She still fits in some 0-3 month clothing but can also fit in some 3 month and some 3-6 month. She's crazy long with long limbs. Her feet are super skinny but LONG!

So in love with my angel baby! We decided to put on a fancy dress to celebrate our "birthday." As you can see, she had quite a time with the tulle. I love you, miss Audrey!! Happy 3 months!

Labor & Delivery

My baby girl is one week old!!! Everything seems so surreal. I guess as time goes on, it will sink in, but for now, I'm just living in a dream; the most amazing dream I've ever had.

As promised, here is the fabulous tale of Ms. Audrey's arrival. 

Last Monday was a really rough day for me. There had been a lot of back and forth regarding what exactly was going to take place on induction day with regards to the care of my dog, the arrival and departure of family and friends, etc. All of it was quite overwhelming and I found myself stressed to the MAX. Earlier in my pregnancy, my doctor told me that in my last trimester I could have a glass of red wine every now and then if I wanted and that night was definitely a night for a glass. So, I called my good friend and she brought over a bottle (yes, I only had one glass) and we sat and talked for about two hours. After she left, I decided to take a hot bath to finish off the evening and go to bed.

Around midnight I started having contractions. They were very spaced apart and nothing that I hadn't experienced before, so I thought nothing of it. Then around 1:00 am, I started noticing they were happening more frequently, so I decided to time them. I timed them for about 2 hours. They came every 20 minutes and lasted about a minute and a half. Around 3:00 am I decided to call the hospital and see what they thought and to see if/when I was supposed to come in based on contractions. The nurse that I spoke with told me that 20 minutes was way too far apart to go in and that based on the fact that I wasn't dilated at my last appointment (which was earlier that morning) she thought it was false labor. As the night went on the contractions got stronger and stronger. I continued to time them, but the times were all over the place. 4 minutes, 6, 9, 12, 14, 30 seconds....it was nuts. The pain was such, however, that I could not sleep. Just as I would doze off I would have another one and it would jar me awake. As the night turned into early morning, the pain became unbearable unless I was in a tub of hot water. I got in and out of the bathtub goodness knows how many times. I was talking out loud to try and ease the pain. I would try breathing and beating the tub (don't judge) but nothing really helped.  Finally at 7:30 am I called my doctor's answering service and asked to be connected to him.  He told me to go to the hospital just to be sure that I wasn't in labor.

So, I called my mom and asked her to come get me. By this time the contractions were getting closer together and I was struggling to even get dressed. Mom arrived around 8:30 am and away we went. Upon arrival at the hospital, they wheeled me up to labor and delivery to check whether or not I was actually in labor. I've never wanted to be the woman that cried "wolf" and knew I would be mortified if it was, in fact, false labor. Imagine my surprise when the nurse said, "She's at a 4-5."

I was immediately added to the epidural list and received one about an hour or so after arriving. They checked me again about 20 minutes after the epidural took. I was at an 8. An hour or so later I was at a 10, however I was BEYOND exhausted and starving which combined with the epidural caused for a great amount of shaking. The nurse thought it best to let me "labor down" for a couple of hours to avoid tiring out during pushing. It was discovered during that time, that Audrey was head down, but face up. They had me lay a certain way for about an hour so that she would turn over and like a good girl, she did. Around 2:45 pm the nurse suggested that we do some practice pushes so she could see how well I would do at pushing. After 3 practice pushes she said "Oh I see hair." They called my doctor to come over. He arrived at 2:54 pm and at 2:59 pm, Audrey Emeline entered this world.

I was completely exhausted and still shaking profusely so I opted to rest for a bit before holding her but when I did, it was love at first sight. She is my angel, my perfect baby, my reason for living. I cannot wait to share my life with her.

Seeing my Audrey girl for the first time. 

Later that night, talking to my girl. 

Napping the next night with my angel. 

She was/is such a good baby and sleeps almost entirely through the night. 

This is the exactly how she used to curl up in the womb. 

Ready to go home!!

Our first car seat ride. She did FAB! Slept the entire time. 

28 Days!

Officially 4 weeks from my due date!! I'm getting really nervous, but mainly just about when it will happen. The waiting game is a tough one for me and in this particular instance, it's more difficult than usual!! I go to the doctor every week now. He said today that I'm not dilated at all but that she has really dropped. She had already dropped at my last appointment but he said she was way more dropped today. And according to him, that's a good sign in a first-timer. He said he pays more attention to that than to dilating to gauge a possible early delivery. 

I haven't had any massive pains. I'm uncomfortable in general and get a good strong back pain every now and then but for the most part, it's just discomfort. At my last doctor's appointment, he told me to expect "knife-like stabbing pains" soon. I did have three of those last night. They were....interesting. Very sudden and sharp, but they left about it as soon as they came. It was like "OUCH!" and then they were gone. I have Braxton Hicks about every time I turn around, but no full force contractions yet. The Braxton Hicks are not painful at all. They're just highly uncomfortable. My stomach and back muscles are working overtime for sure though. My back does hurt almost 24/7 however, having lived with chronic back pain for years, it's nothing I'm not used to and can't handle. I keep my heating pad and Icy Hot nearby and just shift around in my chair a lot. Ha! Evenings are the worst, of course. After having been up and about all day, by 8:00 PM I am exhausted and in a good amount of discomfort. Luckily that's when I usually soak in the tub and then proceed to my bed wrapped up in blankets with my heating pad and puppy. 

On the home-front, everything is completed!! I have everything I need for baby girl's arrival. My car seat is installed, my stroller is in the trunk, I have formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, onesies, etc. etc. etc.  That takes a TON of stress off of me and I don't have to sit around wondering, "What am I forgetting?!" I have baby's "going home from the hospital" outfit prepped and ready. I'm not packed for the hospital but my bestie (who will be in the delivery room with me) has informed me that I am NOT to pack a bag. Her exact words were, "Unless you think I don't know you very well, don't pack a bag." I've been instructed to just bring pj's, my contact solution, phone charger and makeup. Good thing I trust her fully! 

Well I guess that's all for now! Should anything exciting happen, I will let you know!! 

36 Weeks!!!! 

Mosaic Monday: Bitter End.

We are approaching the end and the closer we get the more miserable I become. I've been hyping myself up for this last bit and clearly it didn't work. Ha! I am soooooo tired. I do get random bursts of energy but they are short lived and almost not worth taking advantage of because after exerting the energy, I'm doubly exhausted.

Luckily I've accomplished almost everything on my "to-do" list before Audrey's arrival. I detailed my car last weekend (notice I said "I" detailed.) Spent 4 hours on it at least. It turned out awesome though and the next day I successfully put in baby girl's car seat. I love it!!! Shortly thereafter, Charlie and I went on a test drive. I've got to see how she will be in the backseat with the car seat there. So far she's been nothing but a doll. She got a little aggressive when someone walked next to the window while the car was parked, but I know she's crazy protective already, so pretty sure that's all that was. I'll make the final decision on whether or not to let her ride next to Audrey after I see how she responds to her.

The other biggie on my to-do list was/is to finish my apartment. I'm not quite there but I'm so very close. Nonni came over this weekend and helped me finish Audrey's area. I think it is sooooo cute. I'm still waiting on one more piece to pull it together, but once I get that I'll post a picture. Now all that's left is my vanity/dresser and I have NO clue what to put there. It may just end up staying barren like it is now. I will try my best to put my OCD aside and just let it be. Hehe.  Other than that, the only thing I need to do is give the house a good cleaning....and soon. I am just guessing but I highly doubt that I'm going to feel like doing much besides surviving after the next 2-4 weeks! 

On a personal note, if you read one of my latest posts, you know that I was considering cutting all my hair off. Well, I did it. So glad that I did. It's super easy and just really fits my lifestyle at the moment. 

I am looking really pregnant these days. I went to my fertility clinic's annual baby shower this weekend and my doctor said, "Wow! That is a bump!" Indeed it is. And becoming bumpier every day!. I'm to the point that if I drop something on the floor I have to seriously consider how badly I need it before attempting to pick it up.  I can also feel her dropping and I've had several Braxton Hicks.

My shower is in 3 weeks! Very excited about that. I now wish I had opted to have it at 7 months pregnant vs. 8 months pregnant, but hindsight is 20/20. As long as they prop me up on a couple of pillows I should be okay.

Well, I guess that's all the news I have for today! Hope everyone has a great week!

31 Weeks!


~ I'm linking to Mary's Mosaic Monday. ~ 

Is a "System" a Necessity?

As the days and weeks fly by until Peanut gets here, I have recently done some serious thinking as to what I intend to purchase in the way of necessities for my little one. Of course the previously mentioned co-sleeper,  a changing table and perhaps a bouncer. I'll also need a car seat and stroller, but that purchase is creating somewhat of an internal conflict.

Originally I had planned on getting a travel system. I've had several friends who have used them and recommended them. However, I'm now leaning more towards just getting a convertible car seat and a stroller and completely exing-out the infant car seat.  I can't tell you how many times I have seen moms struggle with the ups and downs and ins and outs of an infant car seat. And while I understand the concept of carrying the child in the car seat (i.e. if the baby falls asleep, if you're shopping you can put the car seat in the buggy, etc.) I just don't think it's going to be the best option for me.

For one, I have an incredibly hard time carrying them. I've lifted several, with and without children in them and I can barely pick them up much less carry them for an extended period of time or up and down flights of stairs. Which leads me to, I live on the second floor of my complex. Parking is iffy and can sometimes be a beast causing me to have to park on the opposite side of the complex. There is no way I could even almost carry a car seat, a diaper bag and possibly other various items at one time across the parking lot and up the stairs. Call me a weakling, but that's just the truth.

Second, other than the baby possibly falling asleep and me not wanting to wake them in order to move them,  (Granted, if I were the one carrying them in the car seat, they will most likely be woken up anyway from the struggle.)  I can't see the purpose. I live in an apartment complex that has a concierge service and does all of my grocery shopping for me, so I won't be going to the grocery store with the child. I work all day, so in the evenings, I HIGHLY doubt I will want to get out anyway, but would much prefer to stay at home with my Peanut. And if I absolutely have to have something at say, a retail store, I will have a nanny during the day and can easily go during my lunch break. Or I can go on a Saturday and either make a day of it or grandma can watch Peanut while I shop (She may balk at that now, but I have a feeling she'll be begging to keep him/her.)

Third, it will be much cheaper this way. Okay maybe not MUCH, but cheaper is cheaper. The car seat that I'm looking at is good up until the child weighs 50 pounds, so that should last me up until at least age four or five. Whereas, if I get an infant car seat they're only good up until 30 pounds.

All of those things combined just leave me thinking that a travel system is not going to be the way to go for me. I guess should I try it without and decide I need one, I can always get one.

Thoughts? Any moms tried it without?