Happy Fathers Day....

6 months

I am playing catch up this month. Connor is thriving. He was 16 pounds at his 6 month check up on the ninth. He had a huge growth spurt from his four month checkup, especially in length. He was 26 3/4 inches. This puts him in the 16th percentile for weight and the 51st percentile for length. We are working hard at getting back to California, we hope by September. We are sooooooo excited. Arizona has been good to us but it's not our home and Tom and I have both felt very lonely out here. It's time to come home(please if you have facebook, do not mention me coming back to CA until I have given my notice at work, thanks). I have a job lined up, but moving out of state takes time and planning, so there you go. Tom is doing great with Connor and they seem to have a great time while I am at work. I miss him like crazy but he doesn't leave my side when I am home. I also know my weaknesses and I think if I were a stay at home mother, I would go a little batty and have a lot less patience. Surprisingly enough, Tom has more patience for the crankiness than I do. I did no expect that and it is wonderful to see your husband become a great father. The following are some of Connor's milestones.
At 6 months he is....

1. Eating about the equivalent of 3 mini jars of baby food a day and 4- 8 oz bottles a day
2. Rolling and scooting all over the living room.
3.Working on sitting up without support, but only lasts about a minute.
4. In 6-9 clothes just this week, finally!
5. On the verge of moving on to size 3 diapers.
6. Sleeping 10-12 hours at night
7. Taking three naps a day(1-2 hours)
8. Loving the pool with mama
9. Still the easiest baby ever, I can take him anywhere.
10 Just starting to cry at strangers if they are too loud or get to close, but only on rare occasion.
11. Looking a LOT like his dad.

I have decided to make Connor's baby food. So far I have had success at applesauce, blueberry applesauce, squash, yams, pears, blackberry pear, green beans, and carrots. He likes it all so far. I freeze the pureed food into silicone ice cube trays and then put them in freezer bags. I posted a picture above. Sorry this update took a while. I promise to do better. If anyone wants to come see us in Arizona we welcome visitors and you only have a few months to do it!

5 months

This is just a catch up blog for Connor's five month picture, here he is in all his cuteness. Taken just after my first Mother's day.

4 months!

I waited too long to post this one. Connor was 4 months on the 9th. His 4 month appointment was on the 13th. He weighed 12 lbs and 12 ounces and 23.8 inches long. He is in the 49th percentile for height and the 10th percentile for weight but he is climbing the charts slowly. He is perfectly healthy which I could not be more grateful for. We experimented with cereal today, but I don't believe in pushing solids too early, so we are taking it very slow. He did seem to enjoy the new experience and it looks like he will like solids which is great. I plan to make our own baby food so we shall see how that goes. Work is going well, I miss him like crazy but Tom is a great dad and three days a week is not bad if you have to work full time. Tom and I are getting away this weekend, I am meeting up with family and he is seeing some good friends of ours we don't see often enough. Connor is laughing, babbling, and sleeping 6 hours his first stretch, then another three or so. We love him to pieces and he is the best form of entertainment ever! Enjoy the pics from his first cereal feeding today..too cute!

3 months!

This is a few weeks late, but what can I say, babies keep you busy! Connor turned three months on the ninth. We happened to be in CA for his blessing that weekend. It was a very beautiful day and I know it was a very special day for Tom. Connor was such a trooper being passed around like a football. We got to visit with most of our family and friends who we have missed so much. Connor got so loved on he came back with a little cold, nothing serious, but we are all battling it now. His doctor visit is not until next month but I got on the scale with him and am guesstimating he is 11.5 pounds. He just moved up to size 2 diapers today, is still in 0-3 month clothes but fits in to 1 or two things from his 3-6 wardrobe. His sleeping is still not regular. Some nights he does six, night before last he did seven and scared me to death. But I would say four in the first stretch is about average, then he is good about going down for another 2-3, sometimes twice. He is growing and changing so much. He can sit up with support and is grasping at his toys. He laughs and coos and mimics. He is a GREAT baby. We couldn't have asked for better. P.S. He LOVES his BUMPO chair, doesn't he look like such a big boy sitting up?

2 months old!

Connor is the joy we knew he would be. Not a completely content baby, but I wouldn't call him fussy either. Tom and I work great as a team, since I like to go to bed early and get up early and he likes to stay up late and sleep in. Because of this, we both get at least six to eight hours each night. Nursing Connor has finally become like clockwork. But I have found I do not like to nurse all day long, so I pump and bottle feed half the time, this gives Tom a chance to bond with him too. His two month checkup was today and he was 9 pounds 5 ounces and 22 inches long. The doctor called him petite, but growing well and hitting all his milestones. The only little hiccup is that he favors sleeping with his head turned to the right, causing a slight misshape to the back of his head, The doctor says if we are persistent in putting him on his left, it should self correct in a matter of weeks. Their little skulls are still so soft. I go back to work Thursday and I am sooo sad. But nine weeks was a great chunk of time to be at home with my baby and I am so glad I got to do it. Tom is a GREAT dad. Even better than I knew he would be. He is so patient and loves his son so much. He will be a great stay at home dad. The picture above was Sunday all dolled up for church.

Connor's Birth

So the big day came on December 9th, 7:34 PM and not at all like I had hoped, but we are all well and healthy and for that I am grateful. We had checked in on the 8th at 9 PM to be induced. I was in my room by 10:00 PM. After getting hooked up to monitors, the doctor placed the cervadil around 11:00. PM. I was pre warned some women go into labor with cervadil, but the majority do not and I was encouraged to sleep while I could. Well, that was not in the cards. By midnight I was in labor. It was tolerable like most early labor is, but enough discomfort to keep me awake all night. By 7 AM I was vomiting and wanting an epidural. I tried to hold out, but I was only dilated to a 2-3 and I knew I had a long way to go and the pain was going to get worse before it got better. So by 9 AM after two attempts, my epidural was placed and they broke my water. The epidural was heaven. The only problem was it wore off by 1 PM. Just as it was wearing off, I also started having an excruciating headache which after a visit from anaesthesia was determined to be a spinal headache from the epidural. The anaesthesiologist tried several times injecting more medicine in my epidural to get me some relief, but nothing worked and the pain from the spinal headache made it hard to stay on top of my contractions. All of this led to IV pain medication mostly to control the headache which made me drowsy but very much aware of the contractions. By 4:30 PM I was dilated to a 6 and although in a lot a pain, the progress I had made encouraged me to keep going. At 6:30 the doctor came back and checked me again. I was still a 6, and Connor's head was a minus one station still. He felt that his head was not going to descend and recommended a C-section I was in so much pain and was vomiting off and on that by that point it did not take much convincing, I was so done. From there it was fast and kind of hazy. Once in the OR it took a while to get me numb due to the crappy epidural. But I was able to watch the birth in the reflection of the OR lights. Connor came easily and screamed before they even pulled him out. I cried and Tom rushed over to see him. They brought him to me and let me kiss him and Tom held him, then it was off to nursery to get weighed and measured. He weighed in at 5 lbs 13 oz. and 17 3/4 inches, such a little peanut! I stayed an extra day in the hospital for a fever, but my recovery since has been remarkably fast. I was up and about the day after with minimal pain. It was definitely not the birth experience I had dreamed of and I am still kind of dealing with that. But once I look at my sweet boy who is so healthy it is hard to find much to be sad about. A little update from the last three weeks. Connor is now 6 lbs 13 ounces and thriving. He is a great sleeper and has a very sweet temperament. Below are pictures from the birth and the last one is from Christmas Day. He is our miracle boy and we are thrilled to have him!

7

Christmas Day!

Week 38

My last prego pose! We check in on Tuesday night for our induction. In the meantime I am doing everything I can to help nature along so I can possibly avoid being induced. I am already 1 centimeter dilated and 60 percent effaced, so that's better than nothing. Long walks, warm baths, etc. My emotions are a little out of control. I mean with my baby coming any day and Christmas music and commercials, forget it! I cry often and for no reason whatsoever. I am really enjoying pregnancy this last week, but I am ready. I can't wait to hold my little man in my arms. Tom is getting pumped too. He picked out Connor's first stocking today, and can't wait to put him in this Christmas onesie he found(skull in a Santa hat:) There will be no more posts for a little while probably. Once we get settled with our new family member, I will post pictures. My coworkers threw me an impromptu shower which was beyond generous. Those of you who haven't gotten thank yous yet, you are not forgotten, they ARE coming. I am a facebook junkie, so if you are not in my family phone call tree, you can keep up with when Connor arrives that way. This 6 year journey is coming to a close and we couldn't be more thrilled and grateful.

Week 36 and 37

Sorry for skipping a week. It has as you can imagine been busy here getting ready for the baby. Everything is set up and ready to go. Last minute tidying is the only chore left. The baby has graduated from a crenshaw melon in week 36 to a watermelon this week. My ultrasound last week measured Connor at 5 pounds 7 ounces, so he should be pushing six pounds this week. We completed our birthing classes and got to tour the rooms. Every appointment passes with Connor looking great. My appointment today was quite exciting. I have an induction date scheduled for the 8th of December. Only 2 weeks from today:) That being said we almost headed to the hospital last night. I had contractions for about 4 hours that got to be 5 minutes apart, just as I was considering heading in, they started getting further apart and then eventually went away. The Dr. today said that was a good sign this late in the game and that I could quite possibly have him before the eighth. They didn't check me today for dilation, they tend to be conservative with cervical checks due to increased infection risk. For a Dr.'s office, they do like to let things run their natural course as much as safely possible, which I like. Anyhow, I will post a belly shot next week, and it will probably be the last:(

Week 35 and getting ready for baby.

Baby boy is about the size of a honeydew melon this week. This was a busy week for us. We picked a pediatrician, installed our car seat, assembled our pack 'n' play, assembled both strollers(travel system and umbrella), had two doctors appointments, and we are going to our second birthing class tonight. A few weeks ago I washed all the clothes and hung them up. The only thing really left to do is pack a hospital bag and wait :) I thought it would be more crowded in our one bedroom apartment, but everything seems to have a place. Still I can't wait to put up the crib in February when we move to our two bedroom. For now we have a beautiful bassinet in the bedroom handed down from my cousin and the pack 'n' play for the living room. The doctor did my beta strep test today and checked for dilation. The baby definitely dropped last week, his head was very low, but my cervix is still high and closed, which is good. We don't want him coming too early :) About 3 more weeks of work and I am off the hook!

Week 34

The baby is the size of a cantaloupe and boy howdy can I feel it. I am very short waisted, so he spends his time under my ribcage making it hard to sit and especially lean forward. I only have 4-6 weeks left!. Most likely no more than 5 though because my doctor told me today she would like to see me deliver by 40 weeks and not a day over. Although my blood pressure has been perfect throughout, keeping me pregnant past 39 weeks she feels would only be tempting fate with my history of high blood pressure. I had another perfect non stress test today. Tonight is our first birthing class. Next week is my beta strep test and first dilation check. It''s going to fly now! We feel so blessed with how well everything has gone so far and we can't wait to hold him in our arms.

Week 32 and 33

Wowie, sorry for the delay in posting but It has been a busy few weeks. Last week the baby was this the size of a jicima and this week he is over 4 pounds and the size of a pineapple. Tom and I were in CA for a week and everyday was packed with activities. My shower was the 17th and thank you to my family for making it such a great day. My sister Becky threw it for me at her sister in law's house but it was truly a family effort that made it so nice and relaxing. Below are pictures from the day I never thought I would have :) My cake was awesome and so yummy, it was chocolate with bavarian cream/chocolate chip filling. We hit pay dirt and got lots of really nice and generous things. Thank yous will be arriving soon.

I had my doctors appointment today and the doctor was really impressed with how well everything looked. My urine was perfect(gross I know but I have had ketones in the past so I am always a bit nervous about that). My blood pressure was good. Today was my first non-stress test. The baby looked awesome. He was sleeping when I first got hooked up, but they woke him up with this little buzzer held to my belly and then he couldn't settle down. I almost felt sorry for the little guy. Anyway the tracing was perfect. The doctor actually sat down with me for about ten minutes while I was on the monitor and just kept saying how great the baby looked. I am now on twice a week monitoring, so I go back Friday. We started organizing the apartment today, but it will take a few weeks. Nesting has definitely kicked in and I am anxious to be all ready for his arrival. Any how, I will see ya next week, 5-7 weeks left!!!!

Week 31

The baby is about the size of four navel oranges this week. A lot of the same. Tired, nauseous, but I love feeling him move and talking to him. I am starting to feel huge. My shower is Saturday and I can't wait to visit with my family and friends in person instead of the internet and phone. I am taking about 8 days off work and relaxing. I really need the break. Next weeks blog should contain baby shower pics!!