Norah is no longer a newborn. (Sniff!) She's now in size 1 diapers and has moved up to 0-3 month clothes.
Last night we got a 6-hour stretch of sleep out of her, but she is most often giving us 4-hour stretches at night before she's hungry again. Now I just need to figure out how to adjust my sleep schedule to match hers! (If only that were possible, right?)
So I have to say that I will definitely miss the squishiness of holding a newborn all the time, but I will not miss the sleep deprivation. I don't even want to think about what it will be like to go back to work feeling like this. Ugh. ::pushing that thought out of my head for a few more months::
March 31, 2012
March 28, 2012
6-week stats
Weight: 10 lb 8 oz (70th%)
Height: 21.5 inches (50th%)
Head circumference: 15 inches (70th%)
She's a growing girl, healthy and doing well. Typically babies at the 6-week visit will get one shot, and then another shot at 8 weeks. But I talked about it with our pedi and we decided to do both today so she wouldn't have to come back until 2 months.
So she got 2 shots and I have never in my life heard such an ear-piercing little scream. It was awful! :( She got all red in the face (but no tears) and just screamed until I nursed her. Yikes. At least I know she's never been in pain like that before! I sure do hope future vaccinations aren't quite so traumatic for her. Fortunately, she slept a lot after the appointment and was only a little grumpy when she woke up later.
Height: 21.5 inches (50th%)
Head circumference: 15 inches (70th%)
She's a growing girl, healthy and doing well. Typically babies at the 6-week visit will get one shot, and then another shot at 8 weeks. But I talked about it with our pedi and we decided to do both today so she wouldn't have to come back until 2 months.
So she got 2 shots and I have never in my life heard such an ear-piercing little scream. It was awful! :( She got all red in the face (but no tears) and just screamed until I nursed her. Yikes. At least I know she's never been in pain like that before! I sure do hope future vaccinations aren't quite so traumatic for her. Fortunately, she slept a lot after the appointment and was only a little grumpy when she woke up later.
March 25, 2012
Bye bye pacifier
We have been debating Cameron's use of the pacifier for awhile now, thinking about when would be the best time to get rid of it, and how to make it the least traumatic for him.
With his move to the big boy bed, the paci falls on the floor more often into spots where he can't necessarily see it or reach it. He'll occasionally call out for one of us, asking for help to find it.
So awhile ago this happened, and I went in looking for it. I looked and looked and honestly couldn't find it, and told him so. (Eventually I did spy it after poking around a bit more, but I didn't tell him this.)
He accepted the fact that we couldn't find it, and went back to sleep without it. Over the next few days of naps and nights of sleep, we stuck with the story that we couldn't find it and he was able to fall asleep and stay asleep without it. Success! Though, he did still ask for it periodically and question why we couldn't find it.
Realistically, I do feel a bit of mommy guilt over the way it happened, and in hindsight, I don't know if it was the best way to get rid of it. Should it have been more his choice, etc.? I have friends who told their kids about the paci fairy and when the fairy would come the kid would get a toy in exchange for all the pacis. Or, friends who took their kids to the build-a-bear workshop and had the paci dropped inside the bear's foot before it was filled with stuffing so the kid could still feel it, but not suck on it.
But, it is what it is, and even though I found the thing, I don't want to give it back and go through this withdrawal all over again.
It'll be interesting once he knows that Norah can have one and he can't, but I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it?
With his move to the big boy bed, the paci falls on the floor more often into spots where he can't necessarily see it or reach it. He'll occasionally call out for one of us, asking for help to find it.
So awhile ago this happened, and I went in looking for it. I looked and looked and honestly couldn't find it, and told him so. (Eventually I did spy it after poking around a bit more, but I didn't tell him this.)
He accepted the fact that we couldn't find it, and went back to sleep without it. Over the next few days of naps and nights of sleep, we stuck with the story that we couldn't find it and he was able to fall asleep and stay asleep without it. Success! Though, he did still ask for it periodically and question why we couldn't find it.
Realistically, I do feel a bit of mommy guilt over the way it happened, and in hindsight, I don't know if it was the best way to get rid of it. Should it have been more his choice, etc.? I have friends who told their kids about the paci fairy and when the fairy would come the kid would get a toy in exchange for all the pacis. Or, friends who took their kids to the build-a-bear workshop and had the paci dropped inside the bear's foot before it was filled with stuffing so the kid could still feel it, but not suck on it.
But, it is what it is, and even though I found the thing, I don't want to give it back and go through this withdrawal all over again.
It'll be interesting once he knows that Norah can have one and he can't, but I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it?
March 14, 2012
March 10, 2012
Big boy bed
Last night was Cameron's first night in his big boy bed. It's been set up for about a month now and he's been able to climb, sit, and bounce in it. Basically get comfortable. And since he's had a few successful naps in it, we figured he was ready for his first overnight.
We all gathered for his bedtime stories, and then it was lights out. Well, almost out. The crib is still in his room since Norah's room is still Cairo's room. So I hung his waterfall crib soother on the outside of the crib rails instead of the inside so he can reach over from his bed and push the button to get a little bit of light and music if he wants. We pushed the button for him before leaving the room.
Just like with all his other transitions lately, he did great. I'm so proud of him!
We all gathered for his bedtime stories, and then it was lights out. Well, almost out. The crib is still in his room since Norah's room is still Cairo's room. So I hung his waterfall crib soother on the outside of the crib rails instead of the inside so he can reach over from his bed and push the button to get a little bit of light and music if he wants. We pushed the button for him before leaving the room.
Just like with all his other transitions lately, he did great. I'm so proud of him!
March 2, 2012
2-week stats
Norah made her first trip to the pedi's office when she was 1 week old. We learned that though she had lost about 5% of her body weight after birth, she was already gaining weight well and was up to 7 lb 3 oz. We got the all clear to not wake her up at night to feed (which I wasn't doing anyway since she was waking regularly enough on her own) since she had already surpassed her birth weight. Hooray for that, because I remember the torture of setting my alarm and trying to wake a sleepy Cameron in the middle of the night just to eat. I am so glad we didn't have to repeat that process!
It wasn't until this 2-week visit that we learned how she was growing in other ways:
Weight: 8 lb (25th%)
Height: 20 inches (30th%)
And I don't remember her exact head circumference, but we were told it was in the 50th%.
A little big for her proportionally, but not big like Cameron. :)
It wasn't until this 2-week visit that we learned how she was growing in other ways:
Weight: 8 lb (25th%)
Height: 20 inches (30th%)
And I don't remember her exact head circumference, but we were told it was in the 50th%.
A little big for her proportionally, but not big like Cameron. :)
February 20, 2012
Cairo's plight
We've been home from the hospital for a few days now. In the evenings, after Cameron has gone to bed, Chris and I have been trading off holding a sleeping Norah until I take her down to bed with me. A few nights ago, I was holding her when Chris and I heard this weird "thuh-thunk, thuh-thunk" sound and Chris went to investigate.
One of our cats, Cairo, is limping up the stairs with what seems like a broken leg. S@(&%;*#$! Seriously?!?
Earlier in the evening, both cats had gotten all riled up when a neighbor cat had been spotted outside the house. In situations like that, they tend to take out their aggression on each other, and this time, Leo went tearing after Cairo (honestly more viciously than I've ever seen before) and chased him downstairs.
We humans were all downstairs putting Cameron to bed at the time it happened. We heard the ruckus start, and came out of Cameron's room in time to see the cats tear down the hall and into our bedroom. I tried to stop Leo, but he jumped over my leg and continued to pursue Cairo. They both disappeared under our bed, and got quiet, so we considered the matter over.
Until later, when Chris had to take Cairo to the emergency vet and pay for x-rays. Yep, broken rear leg. Pretty severe break, too. Our vet says they he will do surgery and put pins in. For less than $2,000. :-/ Juuuust what we needed!
And now I can't put Norah's nursery together because it has to be used as a post-surgery recuperation room for the dang cat. We're supposed to keep him isolated for several weeks so he doesn't jump on anything, and Norah's room is the only place we have that fits the bill. Poor cat. Heal quickly, Cairo!!
One of our cats, Cairo, is limping up the stairs with what seems like a broken leg. S@(&%;*#$! Seriously?!?
Earlier in the evening, both cats had gotten all riled up when a neighbor cat had been spotted outside the house. In situations like that, they tend to take out their aggression on each other, and this time, Leo went tearing after Cairo (honestly more viciously than I've ever seen before) and chased him downstairs.
We humans were all downstairs putting Cameron to bed at the time it happened. We heard the ruckus start, and came out of Cameron's room in time to see the cats tear down the hall and into our bedroom. I tried to stop Leo, but he jumped over my leg and continued to pursue Cairo. They both disappeared under our bed, and got quiet, so we considered the matter over.
Until later, when Chris had to take Cairo to the emergency vet and pay for x-rays. Yep, broken rear leg. Pretty severe break, too. Our vet says they he will do surgery and put pins in. For less than $2,000. :-/ Juuuust what we needed!
And now I can't put Norah's nursery together because it has to be used as a post-surgery recuperation room for the dang cat. We're supposed to keep him isolated for several weeks so he doesn't jump on anything, and Norah's room is the only place we have that fits the bill. Poor cat. Heal quickly, Cairo!!
February 16, 2012
Thoughts on labor
I won't go into details, but all-in-all, this labor and delivery was SO much better and easier than the first time.
Due to having GD, my doc told me that he wasn't comfortable with me going overdue this time around. I thought that meant an induction on my due date of February 11th if nothing had started on its own, but as that day approached, he told me that if I had a non-stress test (NST) and everything still looked okay, that he would let me go a few days overdue.
My NST on my due date was fine, and so I was allowed to wait. I really didn't want another induction and so I tried everything under the sun to get things moving, but apparently my body just doesn't know how to kick the babies out in a timely manner! So, I was told to report to the hospital in the early morning hours of the 14th.
The pitocin was started at 7:30 a.m., and she arrived just 10 hours later. I opted for an epidural again, and earlier in the process this time than with Cameron. I still didn't really want meds, but I left that door open and told the nurses I wanted to "see how I felt". And in hindsight, I'm glad I did it. It allowed me to relax and I progressed REALLY rapidly after the fact.
She was delivered in a matter of minutes instead of over an hour. (My doc didn't even make it there in time! He walked in about 3 minutes after she was born. I really liked the on-call doc, though, so it was fine.) My recovery this time has been significantly faster and easier too, thank goodness. I'm not sure how I would have been able to take care of a toddler and a newborn feeling like I did when I got home after having Cameron!
Norah checked out great; her APGAR scores were perfect as was her blood glucose level (it was 39, and they said they wouldn't have to test her again if her number was under 50). Though I knew I had been doing well controlling my sugars during pregnancy, to get confirmation that she was functioning well on her own was a big relief for me!
Due to having GD, my doc told me that he wasn't comfortable with me going overdue this time around. I thought that meant an induction on my due date of February 11th if nothing had started on its own, but as that day approached, he told me that if I had a non-stress test (NST) and everything still looked okay, that he would let me go a few days overdue.
My NST on my due date was fine, and so I was allowed to wait. I really didn't want another induction and so I tried everything under the sun to get things moving, but apparently my body just doesn't know how to kick the babies out in a timely manner! So, I was told to report to the hospital in the early morning hours of the 14th.
The pitocin was started at 7:30 a.m., and she arrived just 10 hours later. I opted for an epidural again, and earlier in the process this time than with Cameron. I still didn't really want meds, but I left that door open and told the nurses I wanted to "see how I felt". And in hindsight, I'm glad I did it. It allowed me to relax and I progressed REALLY rapidly after the fact.
She was delivered in a matter of minutes instead of over an hour. (My doc didn't even make it there in time! He walked in about 3 minutes after she was born. I really liked the on-call doc, though, so it was fine.) My recovery this time has been significantly faster and easier too, thank goodness. I'm not sure how I would have been able to take care of a toddler and a newborn feeling like I did when I got home after having Cameron!
Norah checked out great; her APGAR scores were perfect as was her blood glucose level (it was 39, and they said they wouldn't have to test her again if her number was under 50). Though I knew I had been doing well controlling my sugars during pregnancy, to get confirmation that she was functioning well on her own was a big relief for me!
February 14, 2012
Welcoming Norah Kathleen
Our little lady arrived today at 5:29 p.m.. She weighed 6 lb 15 oz and was 18.5 inches long. I'm so in love with my tiny peanut.
Welcome baby girl! We can't wait to get to know you.
Welcome baby girl! We can't wait to get to know you.
January 23, 2012
Moving day
Of course, the one day it decides to rain in a two-week time span is the day we've chosen to move to the new house. Never fails!
But I have to say how amazing our friends and family are...they all came out yesterday, braved the water, and moved us out and in in record time. We are so, so grateful!
I got to play director and point to where things should go in the new house; that's one of the benefits to being 38 weeks pregnant! (One of the very few.) I even got chastised for carrying little things, like an empty diaper pail. Um, okay guys, this weighs less than my toddler, and no one offers to carry him for me! :)
I was worried how Cameron would do sleeping in a strange place, but before everyone departed we made sure that his room was the first to get set up and I tried to make it as much like home as possible for him. What do you know, he did GREAT last night. I'm so pleased that he seems to be transitioning well.
Now to unpack the rest of this stuff! Hooray for maternity leave!
But I have to say how amazing our friends and family are...they all came out yesterday, braved the water, and moved us out and in in record time. We are so, so grateful!
I got to play director and point to where things should go in the new house; that's one of the benefits to being 38 weeks pregnant! (One of the very few.) I even got chastised for carrying little things, like an empty diaper pail. Um, okay guys, this weighs less than my toddler, and no one offers to carry him for me! :)
I was worried how Cameron would do sleeping in a strange place, but before everyone departed we made sure that his room was the first to get set up and I tried to make it as much like home as possible for him. What do you know, he did GREAT last night. I'm so pleased that he seems to be transitioning well.
Now to unpack the rest of this stuff! Hooray for maternity leave!
January 17, 2012
I love you
Yesterday morning I was making pancakes with Cameron. Chris came downstairs while we were working in the kitchen and asked what we were doing, to which Cameron happily replied "making pancakes, Dada!"
And then later, when he was taste testing them, he said to Chris "I love Mama, Dada." It was the first 'I love you' that I've heard directed at me; before it's been Wendell or Rabies, or other belongings of his.
And then this morning, Chris was leaving for work and my mom was getting Cam dressed. Chris went in to say goodbye, and Cam said "Bye Dada, I love you!"
So sweet!
And then later, when he was taste testing them, he said to Chris "I love Mama, Dada." It was the first 'I love you' that I've heard directed at me; before it's been Wendell or Rabies, or other belongings of his.
And then this morning, Chris was leaving for work and my mom was getting Cam dressed. Chris went in to say goodbye, and Cam said "Bye Dada, I love you!"
So sweet!
January 3, 2012
Thoughts on pregnancy
The early part of this pregnancy was so similar to my first, I suppose I expected everything to be the same. However, I found out that I failed my 1-hour glucose screening test that I had taken on October 29th. I was bummed, but figured okay, whatever, I'll suffer through the 3-hour glucose tolerance test (GTT) and did so on November 4th. But then I found out that I failed that one too! My fasting number was fine, but because my first draw number was over 200, that meant an automatic diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes (GD). GD!
I was pretty broken up about it at first, and the two weeks between the diagnosis and meeting with the nutritionist were hard because I didn't know how bad things were or if I was eating appropriate things. My doc told me that until I saw the nutritionist, to just try to just spread out my carbs throughout the day and "not go crazy". But I still wasn't sure how much I had to restrict myself or what size portions to eat.
So on November 22nd, (the day before Thanksgiving), I went to see the nutritionist and have a growth ultrasound. I met with the nutritionist and got a glucometer, and instructions to test my blood sugar 4 times per day (fasting, and then 1 hour after every meal) by pricking my finger. The ultrasound was great, and everything looked normal. With GD there is a risk that the baby can grow too large too fast, but she measured at around the 43rd percentile (and has a proportional-sized head!).
I also met with a MFM who told me that if my fundal height measurements and glucose readings were consistently normal and I could manage the GD with diet alone, that I probably wouldn't need to return for any further ultrasounds.
And fortunately, I really haven't had to adjust my diet all that much. During those two weeks I was actually restricting myself way more than I had to. Now I just make sure I eat protein with every carb, and pay attention to spacing out my carbs throughout the day. Almost all my numbers have been great, so after 2 weeks of keeping a food/glucose log and sending it to the nutritionist, I was allowed to drop the fasting test and just do it once per week instead of every day. So, it's annoying, but I've really learned what doesn't work for me (like cereal with milk for breakfast) and it's not so bad. I was even able to have dessert on Thanksgiving and indulge in some of those Christmas cookies we made with no problems. I'm sure looking forward to the day I'm done with this daily finger pricking, though. The bummer is that I'm now supposed to repeat the GTT every 3 years for the rest of my life. :-\
The other thing that has been occupying all my time lately is getting the Sausalito house ready to move into. We've been spending all our free time lately painting and doing small repairs. We had the floors refinished and they look wonderful--I wish I had before/after pictures! Our contractor is currently working on replacing rotting doors and windows, and hopefully will be finished by the time we move in mid-January.
I plan to work until January 20th, and then go on leave at 37 weeks. Hopefully the little miss will be content to stay put for a few weeks past then so I can get the house unpacked and organized! At least we finally have a name for her. :)
I was pretty broken up about it at first, and the two weeks between the diagnosis and meeting with the nutritionist were hard because I didn't know how bad things were or if I was eating appropriate things. My doc told me that until I saw the nutritionist, to just try to just spread out my carbs throughout the day and "not go crazy". But I still wasn't sure how much I had to restrict myself or what size portions to eat.
So on November 22nd, (the day before Thanksgiving), I went to see the nutritionist and have a growth ultrasound. I met with the nutritionist and got a glucometer, and instructions to test my blood sugar 4 times per day (fasting, and then 1 hour after every meal) by pricking my finger. The ultrasound was great, and everything looked normal. With GD there is a risk that the baby can grow too large too fast, but she measured at around the 43rd percentile (and has a proportional-sized head!).
I also met with a MFM who told me that if my fundal height measurements and glucose readings were consistently normal and I could manage the GD with diet alone, that I probably wouldn't need to return for any further ultrasounds.
And fortunately, I really haven't had to adjust my diet all that much. During those two weeks I was actually restricting myself way more than I had to. Now I just make sure I eat protein with every carb, and pay attention to spacing out my carbs throughout the day. Almost all my numbers have been great, so after 2 weeks of keeping a food/glucose log and sending it to the nutritionist, I was allowed to drop the fasting test and just do it once per week instead of every day. So, it's annoying, but I've really learned what doesn't work for me (like cereal with milk for breakfast) and it's not so bad. I was even able to have dessert on Thanksgiving and indulge in some of those Christmas cookies we made with no problems. I'm sure looking forward to the day I'm done with this daily finger pricking, though. The bummer is that I'm now supposed to repeat the GTT every 3 years for the rest of my life. :-\
The other thing that has been occupying all my time lately is getting the Sausalito house ready to move into. We've been spending all our free time lately painting and doing small repairs. We had the floors refinished and they look wonderful--I wish I had before/after pictures! Our contractor is currently working on replacing rotting doors and windows, and hopefully will be finished by the time we move in mid-January.
I plan to work until January 20th, and then go on leave at 37 weeks. Hopefully the little miss will be content to stay put for a few weeks past then so I can get the house unpacked and organized! At least we finally have a name for her. :)
December 24, 2011
Christmas cookies
When they were finally done and cooled, he ate quite a few. "Mmm, yum!" he said. Lucky boy then got to go take a nap while someone else cleaned up the mess. :)
December 10, 2011
Rainy day gear
Well, now that he's discovered splashing in puddles, he's singing another tune. I'm as happy about it as he is!
November 15, 2011
Hello again!
I realize that I have neglected this blog for far, far too long. Almost a year!
Along the way, I have been keeping notes for some of the things about which I wanted to blog, but just never got around to writing the actual posts. It seems like something (or someone) else was always commanding my attention...and then when I did actually have free time, updating a whole year's worth of information seemed too daunting and I would procrastinate.
So, here I sit on September 4th, 2012, writing this post. I am going to date it mid-November, 2011 just so that it precedes the myriad of posts that are to follow, (which are each appropriately dated, I hope). I know I have inevitably left some things out, but I tried to capture the big moments and share some of the photos that we at least managed to snap.
I do apologize for my absence. Now that I'm caught up, I hope not to slip so far behind again. Yell at me if I do!
Along the way, I have been keeping notes for some of the things about which I wanted to blog, but just never got around to writing the actual posts. It seems like something (or someone) else was always commanding my attention...and then when I did actually have free time, updating a whole year's worth of information seemed too daunting and I would procrastinate.
So, here I sit on September 4th, 2012, writing this post. I am going to date it mid-November, 2011 just so that it precedes the myriad of posts that are to follow, (which are each appropriately dated, I hope). I know I have inevitably left some things out, but I tried to capture the big moments and share some of the photos that we at least managed to snap.
I do apologize for my absence. Now that I'm caught up, I hope not to slip so far behind again. Yell at me if I do!
November 1, 2011
Happy Halloween!
One of the moms in my group hosted a little Halloween get-together, and it was really nice. We hung out, ate some food, and then tried trick-or-treating, which we skipped last year because Cameron was still going to bed so early. We only went to about 4 houses and Cameron picked out pieces of candy that he's not able to eat, but it was fun anyway!
Cameron was a baseball player this year, and my belly was the baseball.
Chris was going to be the baseball bat, but we didn't quite find the time to get his costume together. Such is life. We'll try to do better next year!
Cameron was a baseball player this year, and my belly was the baseball.
Chris was going to be the baseball bat, but we didn't quite find the time to get his costume together. Such is life. We'll try to do better next year!
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