Reid is here!

Please forgive my recent absence. I've been busy having a BABY!

Reid William Vaughan joined our little family on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 5:59 am. Weighing in at 6 lbs 9 oz and measuring 19.5 inches long, he was and is pure newborn perfection, and such a little love. As he was born a little bit early (37 weeks 1 day gestation) and aspirated fluid during his cesarian birth, he spent 6 days in the NICU before we got to bring him home. There were two nights where we had to come home without him, and I can't even tell you how hard that was. But now we are all home, and our sweet boy is doing so well. He is nursing like a champ, too, which is a huge deal and a big relief to me, as you may remember the difficulty I had with nursing Colin.

So there you have it. I have two sons, and my heart overflows.

More to come. ♥  

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State of the Uterus: 37 Weeks!

How far along?  37 weeks, also known as full term. Whoa.

Due Date: January 6, 2013, with a c-section scheduled for 12/31.

Total weight gain/loss: I haven't weighed this morning, but I'm still up roughly 20 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Duh. :)

Sleep: Still waking up pretty often to use the bathroom, and getting restless. Justin also says I've been snoring lately. Sorry, babe.

Best moment this week: Date night on Saturday night! Hubby and I went to see The Life of Pi, which we both thoroughly enjoyed.

Movement: Yep, my little ninja is always on the move.

Food cravings: Chocolate, and sweets in general.

Food aversions: Raw meat is still kind of grossing me out, so I haven't done much cooking lately other than stuff I can easily throw together.

Gender: It's a boy! Reid William Vaughan.

Labor Signs: Having daily contractions, but not regularly enough to time them.

Belly button in or out? It has kind of flattened out, but it is still technically an innie.

What I miss: Being able to sleep in after a sleepless night (thanks, Colin!). Parenting a toddler has definitely made this pregnancy much different than the first time.

What I am looking forward to: Being on Christmas break, which will bleed right into maternity leave. Just four more work days! 

Milestones: I'm officially full term! My next prenatal checkup is on Wednesday, so we'll see if Reid shows any signs of trying to come early, like his big brother did. I'm really hoping he holds out long enough for my family to be here for the birth. They will all be here by the 28th!

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Preparations

Earlier in the week, I had started to compose a blog post about "rants and raves," in which I was going to complain about the things that haven't gone right, and share my excitement over the things that have, or that I'm looking forward to. However, after yesterday's incomprehensible tragedy in Connecticut, I just can't bring myself to whine about a bunch of really insignificant things. Even though this is a crazy time in my life, I am so blessed in so many ways, and I'm happy to have been reminded of that. So rather than spreading any negativity, I'm going to skip that part and share my happiness with you!

The obvious fact is that Christmas is coming. And soon! We have made it to the 10 day countdown, people, which means that my parents and sister will be here in just 9 days, and my brother will come all the way from California to join us in 13 days! He will be spending Christmas with his fiancee and her family, but wanted to be here with us in time for Reid's birth, which is scheduled a mere 16 days from now! Oh, and have I mentioned I only have 4 days left until I'm off for Christmas break and maternity leave? That's some pretty exciting stuff right there!

In light of how quickly things seem to be moving forward, we've accomplished quite a bit on our pre-baby "to do" list. Other than affixing a changing pad to the dresser and putting up some curtains, Reid's room is done. We've washed, folded and put away a ton of teeny newborn-sized clothing, and we've packed Reid's little bag for the hospital. I still have to pack my bag, but that shouldn't take long because as I learned the first time, the majority of things I will need to bring for myself are things that I use often and will have to pack last minute.

Really, our main focuses right now are to try and keep this family healthy until the new baby comes, and to relax as much as we can. Colin is still coughing, and he's had a little sinus drainage, but otherwise he's doing well. I think he's still working on cutting a couple new teeth, which doesn't help that situation, so we've been caving and giving him his paci when he asks for it, and the occasional dose of Tylenol or Motrin as needed.

And as for the relaxation, Justin and I are finally getting out of the house for date night tonight! I'm pretty pumped, as this will probably be the last time we'll go out alone until we become a family of four. Our beloved babysitter is coming over at 5 and will be hanging out with Colin and putting him to bed for us so that we can take our time going out to dinner and a movie.

So, there you have it. What we've been up to, and the reason why I haven't been very good at writing new posts lately. Tomorrow I will be 37 weeks pregnant, and Wednesday morning I'll know if Reid shows any indication of trying to come early. Keep in mind, Colin was born at 37 weeks 4 days, although he was a bigger baby, and was apparently ready to make his exit earlier than we expected. I'm really hoping my sweet Reid stays in there at least until the 28th so that my whole family can be here for the birth this time.

More to come as soon as I have more to share! ♥  

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The Haircut from Hell

Why is it that toddlers turn into rabid wild animals when you take them for a haircut? Or at least, why does mine? Colin's curly locks are so handsome, if I do say so myself. We are constantly getting compliments on how great his hair is. But recently, it was starting to get a little out of control and frizzy, and I was constantly bugging him with detangler and a brush to try to tame it. Hubby and I decided he was long overdue for a trim, so we scheduled an appointment with a local kids' salon and took him in on Sunday afternoon.

Well. Initially, he loved the place. There were toys to play with, cartoons playing on little TVs, and other kids to look at. Nothing too scary. Colin's name was called, and he happily climbed into the Lightning McQueen car where he'd sit for the haircut. The stylist sprayed his little head with water... and then all hell broke loose. Throughout the entire haircut, he was screaming, crying, arching his back, trying to slap the lady away, standing up, and generally making a huge scene. It took both hubby and me to hold him still long enough for the lady to finish cutting his hair.

When it was all over, he was given a dum dum sucker and a balloon, and just like that, he was fine again. Whew. It's a good thing this kid is cute, because after that, hubs and I were both exhausted.

Oh hey Mom, sorry about that crazy tantrum earlier.

And of course, this morning, Colin woke up with an awful sounding, croupy cough, which I'm really, really hoping doesn't turn into something worse. Can we catch a break, please? I just have to get through 8 days of work until Christmas break, and after that I'll be on maternity leave. If we can just make it until then, we'll be golden.

More to come!

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State of the Uterus: 36 Weeks!

How far along? 36 weeks! Umm, you guys? We're into the 9th month now. How is that possible?!

Due Date: January 6, 2013, with a c-section scheduled for 12/31.
 

Total weight gain/loss: +20. I think I'm starting to plateau.
 

Maternity clothes? This question is kind of a joke at this point, haha.
 

Sleep: Not so great. Once I finally get some good sleep, my crazy toddler wakes me up at the crack of dawn. Yesterday, he thought 5:40 would be an appropriate time to get up on a Saturday.

Best moment this week: Having the opportunity to sleep in a little this morning, thanks to my hubby who got up with Colin.
 

Movement: Still feeling tons of movement! How does he have enough room to move around so much in there?
 

Food cravings: Spicy foods and sweets, which is ironic because both have been giving me heartburn.
 

Food aversions: The smell of meat cooking has been a turn off for me this week.
 

Gender: It's a boy! Reid William Vaughan.

Labor Signs: Still having Braxton Hicks contractions a few times a day, but nothing excessive.
 

Belly Button in or out? Still barely in.

What I miss: Sleeping comfortably and having a wider variety of clothing to wear.

What I am looking forward to: Where do I begin? From this point on I'll be seeing the OB once a week, so that's pretty exciting. Also, I only have 9 work days left until Christmas break / maternity leave! Can I get a hallelujah? 

Milestones: From this point on, Reid is pretty much just gaining weight and body fat. I can't wait to kiss those squishy cheeks!

 

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35 Week Appointment Update

This morning, I had my 35 week prenatal checkup with Dr. Davis, who is scheduled to perform my c-section on 12/31. Here's the breakdown:

Weight: 169 lbs (up 20 lbs according to the doctor's scale)

BP: 96/65. Low, but still in the normal range.

Baby's heartbeat: 147 bpm.

Cervix: 70% effaced, but still closed and high (that's a good thing!)

Fundal height (belly measurement): 37 cm, so measuring about 2 weeks ahead

As always, my urine was tested for all kinds of good stuff, and the only thing the doctor mentioned was that there were trace amounts of protein, but not enough to worry. I'm honestly not even sure what that means (although I'm sure I could google), but as long as the doctor is happy, I'm happy. We're still on track for a New Year's Eve baby, unless Reid decides to come early! Gosh, I still have so much to do. Here's hoping we can check a few more things off the list this week!

And, just because, here's a random picture of Colin hauling oranges in his truck last night.

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State of the Uterus: 35 Weeks!

How far along? Yesterday marked the 35/35 milestone: 35 weeks along, with 35 days remaining. In my case, though, we're counting down to a scheduled c-section at 39 weeks, so it's even less than that! 29 days remaining now. Wow.

Due Date: January 6, 2013, but Reid will be evicted by December 31. :)

Total weight gain/loss: I actually lost a pound this week, so about 19 lbs gained so far.

Maternity clothes? Today I made the mistake of wearing a non-maternity shirt because it seemed roomy enough, but I'm going to be tugging at the bottom all day to make sure I don't flash anyone the bottom of my belly! LOL.

Sleep: I haven't been sleeping so great lately, between the frequent potty breaks and this little boy who kicks me constantly! I've also started getting muscle cramps in my calf muscles at night. OUCH!

Best moment this week: This past week has been pretty uneventful, which I will count as a good thing. For once we haven't had any sickness in the house, I'm not having many Braxton Hicks contractions, and we're enjoying the Christmas decorations around the house. I think this may be the calm before the storm. Although, yesterday was a tough parenting day that exhausted both the hubs and myself. Colin was more "tantrum-y" than usual and we barely made it through the flu shot clinic at the pediatrician's office.

Movement: All the time. You'd think he'd be running out of space in there by now, but this baby is still doing some sort of yoga in there, I think.

Food cravings: Hot chocolate has really hit the spot lately. 'Tis the season!

Food aversions: Nothing in particular.

Gender: It's a boy! Reid William Vaughan.

Labor Signs: Still having Braxton Hicks contractions, but less often this week.

Belly Button in or out? It's still an innie, y'all! It looks pretty funky though.

What I miss: Being able to keep up with my very active toddler. Colin has been climbing everything lately and regressing a little with his tantrums, and it's more than a little exhausting sometimes!

What I am looking forward to: In the immediate future, I look forward to my OB appointment Wednesday. I'll get to hear Reid's heartbeat, which is always wonderful, and I'll have a quick internal exam and be tested for Group B Strep.

Of course, I am also looking forward to Christmas, and seeing my family again! They will arrive here on Christmas Eve, stay for Reid's birth, and my mom will stay a few weeks after that to help out. She's so awesome!

Milestones: Reid should weigh between 5 and 6 pounds now, and his circulatory and immune systems should be complete at this point. There are still a few finishing touches to go, but he's making progress in there! I wonder if I'll get to see him on ultrasound again before he's born? We got to see Colin at 36 weeks, but that was because my belly was measuring several weeks ahead. So far, I've been measuring right on track this time! Hopefully I'll know more after my appointment Wednesday. More to come!

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Thoughts on our Impending Arrival

Confession time: I'm really nervous about becoming the mother of two boys in the next five weeks or less. Somehow, this pregnancy has managed to sneak by me, and all of a sudden I'm 34 weeks pregnant. The c-section is scheduled for December 31st. That's only 34 days away. At this point, I'm really hoping Reid doesn't come any earlier than that, because I do not feel prepared for this at all! We are so not organized this time around. Reid's room is full of baby shower gifts and piles of baby clothes that need to be washed and put away, and there's no curtain on his window yet. I keep reminding myself that he won't be sleeping in there immediately, that he'll be in our room for a few months before we transition him to his own room, so it's okay if the nursery isn't picture perfect right now. However, those clothes do eventually need to be washed. If my newborn goes around wearing nothing but diapers in the middle of December, people might give us strange looks.

I will say that I'm not as concerned about caring for a newborn as I was with my first pregnancy. After experiencing motherhood for nearly two years, I feel like I've got this. I know what to do. So, what am I nervous about? Well... I'm not blissfully ignorant anymore. I know what to expect. For example...

C-section recoveries suck.

The first time I was pregnant, I anticipated as natural a birth experience as possible. So of course, I ended up with a long labor, Pitocin, IV antibiotics and fluids, an epidural, having my water broken by the doctor, an epidural, more Pitocin, and finally a c-section. And the worst part of it all? Recovering from surgery. I've never been in that much pain in my life, and I don't relish the idea of doing it again (hopefully minus the labor part this time).

Breastfeeding is hard.

At least for me it was. Colin ended up getting about four weeks worth of breast milk before I made the decision to switch to formula. My first experience with breastfeeding was painful, frustrating, and not at all the sweet, comfortable, bonding experience I thought it would be. I do plan to give it another shot this time, though, and I'm bringing a lactation consultant on board from the very beginning.

It may be years before I sleep again.

We've all heard the stories: "My baby slept through the night from the time he came home from the hospital! Motherhood is so amazingly wonderful and I'm not tired at all!" I call BS. Colin didn't sleep through the night for a very long time, and he still wakes up as early as 5:30 some mornings. Since this pregnancy was a surprise, I am only planning on taking 8 weeks off for maternity leave. Add to that a cranky toddler and a newborn who will surely not be sleeping through the night, and I can tell you right now that I'm going to be a walking zombie once I go back to work.

Oh, and there's the toddler.

The biggest difference between these two pregnancies? I have a toddler at home this time. Colin is a very sweet boy who gives his mama kisses and hugs, but he can also throw some epic tantrums. He is easily the most persistent almost-two year old I've ever met, and if, God forbid, you take something away from him or tell him no, he will kick, scream and cry as if his whole world has just come crashing down. How I am going to handle these toddler outbursts while tending to a newborn? I have no idea. And what if he's jealous of the new baby? Will it kill him to know that his mommy can't focus all her attention on him anymore? Will it kill me to not pick him up, change his diaper, give him a bath, or prepare his meals while I'm recovering from surgery? Does Colin even have a clue that our whole family dynamic is about to change?

What do you mean when you say I'm getting a little brother, Mom?

 

There are more concerns floating around in my head than just the few I've mentioned, but those are the ones that are currently taking up the most space in my brain. I think my life verse is quickly becoming Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." This will be my mantra from here on out. Honestly, even this pregnancy has drained me more than I've expected it to, because there is just so much going on right now, and I haven't had a whole lot of time to think about what it will mean to have two little ones. Sorry if this post has gotten a little depressing. You wouldn't know it from everything I've just said, but I really am excited about our new arrival! The thought of being able to hold my little Reid William in my arms warms this mama's heart. Will there be tough moments? Yes, of course there will be. But will it all work out? I know it will. Hopefully I'm overthinking all of this, and once Reid is here, everything will fall into place. But in the meantime, say a prayer for us, won't you? :)

 

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State of the Uterus: 34 Weeks

How far along? 34 weeks, or 8 1/2 months.

Due Date: January 6, 2013, with a c-section scheduled for December 31.

Total weight gain/loss: +20 lbs total.

Maternity clothes? Even some of my maternity tops are starting to get a bit too short. I am carrying lower this time, I think, and my clothes fit differently than they did the first time around.

Sleep: Not so great lately, and it's only partially pregnancy related. My crazy toddler has had some bizarre habits lately, including waking up for the day around 5:30 am. I think it has to do with teething, as he is cutting his upper eye teeth right now.

Best moment this week: Celebrating Thanksgiving with Justin's family, getting a couple days off work, and putting up our Christmas tree!

Movement: Our little boy is still very active in there. He gets the hiccups quite often, too.

Food cravings: After satisfying my craving for Thanksgiving dinner (several times over, thanks to all the yummy leftovers), I have been in the mood for hot tea in the evenings. I am sipping a cup of peppermint tea at the moment, actually.

Food aversions: I hate the smell of spaghetti-os, which sucks because Colin loves them and eats them for dinner a couple times a week!

Gender: It's a boy! Reid William Vaughan.

Labor Signs: Still having some contractions here and there. The OB I saw this week said that as long as I'm not having more than 4-6 per hour, it's totally normal. When I do have them, drinking water and lying on my left side (as recommended) seems to help.

Belly Button in or out? It's really starting to flatten out more, but it's still in.

What I miss: Sleep. And it doesn't look like I'm going to get it anytime soon.

What I am looking forward to: Christmas! I really hope Reid decides to wait until after Christmas to be born. While I'm excited to be able to hold him in my arms, I just don't feel ready to be a mom of two yet. I have such mixed emotions about everything right now.

Milestones: My little guy should be about as tall as he's going to be when he's born. From this point on, he is mostly just accumulating fat. He should weigh somewhere around five pounds now, although we haven't seen him on ultrasound since the anatomy scan at 20 weeks, so there's no way to tell for sure. My belly was measuring right on track at my last appointment, though, which is good! My next visit is scheduled for December 5th.

 

Click here to see my 34 week update from my pregnancy with Colin!

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