Fit Friday?

or maybe losin' Weight Wednesdays? Skinny Saturdays?

I gotta figure out a day of the week to keep track of my progress....any of those have a good ring to them? 

Today, though, I'm down another 2 pounds!  Yessssssss

And, because I have so much free time right now (insert sarcasm) I found this cool little movitator on pinterest.

Here's mine ;-)

I had my 6-week followup appointment today and I'm officially healed ;-)  I asked about the pains on either end of the incision and she said that was normal.  I guess the facia is a huge sheet of sinewy fibrous material that holds up all your internal organs and is pretty important structurally.  She said I would feel that for a while now.

I will start walking and wogging now ;-) and I'll have to listen to my body to make sure I don't over do it.  I'm almost 5 months to the day from when I want to do that half marathon in Dallas - really hoping to be able to do that (and that will aid in the weight loss!)

And just because everyone reading this just really wants a picture - here is Cohen getting ready for his afternoon nap yesterday.  So sweet! (disregard the laundry folded by his playmat....gotta multi-task around here!)

Blessings,

5 weeks!

Cohen,

Yesterday, we went to the pediatrician for your one-month appointment and check-up.  You did great and only needed a little lovin' after the Hep B shot!  So far, you've been fussy last night and again this afternoon, but I'm not sure if its from the shot or your failure to take naps!!

(Look at the cute bandaid)

Here are your stats at 5 weeks:

Height: 21.5 inches
Weight: 9 lbs 15 oz
Head circum: 15 cm

All of these are in the 50% but mommy freaked out with the knowledge that you are almost a 10 POUND baby!! No wonder my back hurts by the end of the day..... It seems that you are a pretty happy and content baby now that we have figured out the over-active let-down breastfeeding thing.  You are only fussy when you pass gas or hershey squirts ;-) and have really started to smart during your alert times.

You've been sleeping in the pack in play in our room (sorry for the bad pic below).  We had to change your direction to lengthwise last night because your legs are too long and get squished by the end of your sleep cycle.  Such a big boy!

We do have to start turning your head to your right because you are favoring your left.  Our Dr. isn't concerned yet, but she said this could misshapen your pretty head or cause some muscular deficiency so we will do our best.  Notice most of the pics you are facing your left...

In the past week we have started cloth diapering and like it alot.  I started doing cloth wipes this morning, and love the way they clean in one fell swoop.  We couldn't do a lot of cloth diapers earlier because your little tush was too small.  I am hoping to do a full cloth diaper update soon....all we know right now is that we need more of them.  You go through our small size stash plus 6 prefolds in a 24-hour period!  Yikes! Lots of laundry right now!

You have outgrown the newborn clothes that aren't carters brand.  (And now that I know you are so tall, it would seem logical!) Carters is long and lean like you, and so far fit nicely even over the fluffy diapers.  We have put you in a few Target and Gymboree 0-3 month clothes and those seem ok, they are just really wide and but a bit short in length.  The target CIRCO brand zip up PJ's are fabulous and make diaper changes a snap!  You can see them here.


And just cuz you're cute with that bandaid on your leg... happy 5 week birthday! (He's excited, can you tell?)

Blessings!

Quick Mommy Update

Hi all ;-)  Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.  I thought I would just give you a bit of an update and also ask for some accountability.  We are officially in lose-the-baby-weight mode!

First off, the pain of my section has really decreased.  I'm on ibprofen at random times to help with the pain, but its usually because I have over done it that day.  Most days in Maui I had to upgrade to the higher octane drugs because I over did it...all the time...but it was worth it. :0)  Most of the painful things around the house include things using my waist.  I've gotten good at picking things up off the floor with my feet because bending is still pretty uncomfortable.  Also, getting things out of the dryer and bending to put dishes in the dishwasher are things that Patrick helps me with...and I love his support for sure!  Most other things I am doing ok at now.  Finally!

My swelling is way down, but I still have pitting in my lower extremities.  I only notice it when I cross my legs or have something sitting on them because they leave a mark.  Grossness.  However, my pretty feet are back to normal and I saw my ankles for the first time since MAY!  I missed those feet...now if the rest of me would just shrink down as quickly.

I have graduated from extremely elevated (using 5 pillows to sleep at night) to sleeping on my side!  I still can't sleep flat, but most people I talk to said to be patient and it will come.

On food....I'm loving coffee again and hating gluten.  I really thought I was over it, and just got really sick the weekend we came back from Maui.  So...its back to GF and I feel SOOOO much better.  Thank you to my friends and family for bringing us gluten free meals this week.  I can't tell you how much its appreciated.

And finally, I am beginning the process of getting my pre-baby body back into shape.  Although I haven't been cleared to exercise yet, I am watching my calories to see how much I am eating.  I won't cut back too much as we are still working on breastfeeding, but its a start!  I'm thinking about blogging on Friday's for weight update.  Oh, and I just signed up for my first race in February - a 15K. Anyone want to join me???

Blessings,

One Month Old!

Cohen,

You are one month old.  Stop it.  I'm serious.

While driving in Maui, your daddy and I made a list of things you did/do this month.  In my opinion you have done way too much just what we expected.

First of all, you are a world traveler and have taken your first ride in a car, plane, bus, and boat.  Transportation lulls you to sleep but you hate traffic and red stop lights.  You are like your momma and like faster speeds ;-)  I don't know any other one month olds that have visited Hawaii (your parents are the crazies that thought this was sane).

Some other fun facts.
 - You are more alert and awake for more hours of the day and interact with mommy and daddy.  We are beginning to see you smile and its not just for gas anymore.

-  You are impatient and chill at the same time.  I guess its a good mix of both of your parents.
-  You hate changing your clothes and/or getting your diaper changed.
- You like nakey-baby time and laying on our bed by your self.  I think you like your personal space - many times you get over-handled and held and just want to be left alone.
-  You sleep with your mouth open and when you wake up you sound like a billygoat.  Its pretty cute.

-  This is your pee face.  Every. Single. Time.

- You are a very gassy newborn although I think we have some solutions to the problem (see mom's update later on) This may include using Gripe Water, adjusting your breastfeeding schedule and feedings, and mommy not eating Gluten.
- You always sneeze in pairs...and we discovered one night you 'yell' sneeze like your dad.  If you've never heard Patrick sneeze, it is hilarious.  He just yells the Ah in Ah-Choo of a sneeze.  Cohen did the same thing one night right before bed and we were doubled over in laughter.  So.  Funny.
- You have one long sleep period...usually 3 to 3.5 hours but most of the time are on a 2 hour schedule. This makes mommy very tired at night.  We are working at getting a pumping schedule after your doctors appointment this week so Daddy can feed you once at night.

We love you more now than yesterday ;-)

Blessings,

3 weeks and 3 days old!

They say time always goes too fast...and it does. Mommy has a breakdown at least once a day because you are growing too fast, getting bigger, and filling out those newborn features.  I do love the chubby cheeks and am sure I will enjoy the next phase just as much as this one. Minus Maui I guess :)...

How are you less than a week a way from being a MONTH old. I mean, A MONTH, Cohen.  Seriously, make time stop please! Our newborn is almost not a newborn but a certifiable baby...luckily a friend took your newborn pictures so I could cry over the memories. (One of our Sunday school class members is an awesome friend and photographer...she sent us some pics as previews before we purchase the files.  Isn't this amazing??? She should seriously do this full time!!! Thanks Dyan!)  A sneak peek here:

Cohen, things we have learned about you this week:
Real Tears- As if you crying wasn't bad enough, now your little peepers get wet when you scream. I have a feeling that you might have your daddy and I wrapped around your fingers.
Hot and heat- Its no wonder that I kept the house at 68 degrees when I was pregnant. You HATE being hot. That has served us quite a few challenges in Maui where there is no A/C except in the car. The aiden and anais blankets are your favorite because they are so thin and you sleep the most soundly in just a diaper.
Growing Eyelashes- We first noticed a few lashes around week 2 and think you finally have them all the way across your upper lid. They catch your tears by the way....can you tell I have a really hard time with that?
Peeling- We put coconut oil on you to help, but mostly your face is left in the newborn skin peeling process. It's cute- you look like you are peeling from a sunburn here in Maui.
Sound sensitive- You love love love music and being sung too (you are my son after all) and are really sensitive to sounds in general. You can take sun in your eyes or a crowded restaurant, but a loud noise and you startle really easily.
Tummy is gassy- Mylocon and no diary or fried foods for momma keep the pain down a bit. Please get over this phase soon!
Know momma means groceries- yep, my voice equals rooting and a boob for a pacifier. But I'm ok with that because you know who I am :-)
Began pumping-you've had 3 bottles. One at home and two in Maui.  I've got to figure out a schedule for this when we get back to Dallas time zone.
You don't like your carseat- Le sigh...

Here's how you sleep in a pack-n-play in our room.  Yes, there are blankets in there.  This was your nap and I was in the room.  At night we only use a swaddled (the blue thing) and two rolled up burp clothes to keep you from rolling.  

Heres you sleeping on daddy's knee during a nighttime feeding in Maui.

Things we have learned about us:
We are not a cry it out family- I know there are two sides to this part of parenting, and for us we refuse to let a wee one cry it out.  First, I can't handle it :-) and second, this is your way of communicating that something isn't right.  When you have needs we solve it.  Now, later on when you have a voice and can let us know the difference between I'm high-maintenance and I'm in pain, then yes, you'll have your fair share of crying.  But until then, I get pretty frustrated with people telling us its good for your lungs. Who started that wives tale anyway?
My gluten allergy may have come back- the jury is still out but I've not been well the past few days until I stopped eating gluten.  Hmmmm.
I need to pack more clothes- when going out of the house, I always have extra clothes for you.  No one mentioned that I should pack a pair since you seem to like peeing and puking on me, too.


After all that, I'm still not really relating as a Mom, yet.  I mean, I love Cohen, and taking care of him comes really naturally to me, but I don't feel like he's MINE really.  Patrick immediately related as a proud papa and I'm loving watching them together...maybe I'm just a late bloomer?

And because he's just THIS cute....

Who does he look like?  I see lots of his cousin Finley in this one.

Blessings!

Aloha from Maui

Yes, yes, I am aware that I haven't updated in a while. Things are great-busy- but great. I have been trying to update Facebook but I know I have readers that aren't on my Facebook (I'm a bit weird about separating work and personal life- I want to make sure I don't mix boundaries.)

Here's the view from where I am typing on my iPad :-)

We are on day six of our Maui vacation. It has been exactly what we expected and Cohen has been a real trooper. The time difference of 5 hours has been harder on us than him. He still sleeps and eats every two hours or so, with a couple of 1 hour or 4 hour longer 'naps' in between.  Breastfeeding has really been the best thing so far.  Its portable, painless, and easy for us both.  I am looking forward to getting back home and pumping some so that Patrick or a babysitter! can take over a feeding or two for me.  To all you would-be moms, breastfeeding is the way to go! I am curious how to transition when I go back to work and how to pump enough milk without getting a huge supply boost.  Anyone have a good way?

I'll do a seperate post on Cohen coming up....lots of things we've learning in a short three weeks! Here is his cuteness in his favorite position...sleeping!

(We are sleeping on a pull out couch because it is MUY comfortable for my c-section angle.  Never thought I would enjoy sleeping on a 3 inch mattress as much as I have this week.  Oh, and thank to the Grafs for our co-sleeper for Cohen - he loves it!)

My sister's wedding was perfect here on 10-11-12.

The weather was a bit breezy but it kept the temperature down so we couldn't complain!  Cohen was the impromtu ring bearer and carried them up to the alter in his pocket.  Isn't he adorable?

Here's us at the ceremony.

And us at the reception/dinner cruise.  It was unbelievably windy, not that it looks that way in this picture at all)

So far he has braved his first airplane flight, a luau, a boat ride (reception and it was CRAZY windy), several dinner dates, walks on the beach, and time in family's arms.  I'd say the trip was worth the stress ;-)

For those of you that asked, I am doing better every day from the C-section.  I have now gone almost 48 hours without any pain medication.   The internal stitches still catch my breath sometimes and I really notice the outside insicion pain by the end of the day.  I thought maybe I'd been lucky and kept my ability to eat gluten but I've felt pretty crummy the last couple of days.  I am already limiting dairy because it gives Cohen a rash on his cute little butt, so the thought of no wheat and no dairy is pretty depressing.  TMI alert if you don't want to read further...  My deflating belly hangs over the incision spot and rubs it -Yowch!  I keep finding more stretch marks on my thighs, UGH, and my belly button is looking back to its old self.  I can honestly say I hate the way I look most hours of the day, but I know Cohen was worth it and I'll just have to be patient while I heal before I exercise again.  Plus, the body image thing is compounded when you are at the beach in a maternity bathing suit :-/

Oh, and daddy finally got to give Cohen a real-not-sponge-but-running-water-bath.  He did a great job and Cohen enjoyed getting scrubbed all clean!

How's that for a random update!  Blessings!

Hospital Pictures and update

Because I promised :-)

The hospital pictures are a little more advanced than when I was born.  A nice lady came in and made a photo studio out of our bed linens.  To be honest, it was a bit too time intensive for me, but we did have a couple of good pictures.  And because we are first time parents, we were suckers and paid for them.  I think they turned out pretty good!

Cohen had his 2-week appointment today and he is doing so great. He is back up past his birth weight at 7 pounds 9 ounces and has grown an inch to 20.5! Even though our pediatrician isn't into the percentile thing (as long as he is growing and healthy) but its fun to know them. Cohen is in the 25% in head circumference and height, and 50% in weight.  We'll go back in two week for another follow up.

So far things have been a bit crazy here with learning this parent thing and visits from family.  We have loved every minute of it!!  Cohen has been pretty content with us and is a lovely baby.  He is easy to feed, loves his 2-3 hour naps and generally is good-natured. We have had a couple nights with gassy fussing, but so far are feeling pretty lucky.  I am healing....getting better every day....and rejoicing in the little things (like being able to take my own shower, laying down in my bed, etc!)  I have not loved the recovery - c sections are rough people- but I guess he's worth it. See pictures below :-)

I'd appreciate prayers for my followup appointment tomorrow.  I'm pretty nervous about the pain on my incision and them taking the steri-strips off.  Also, we are going to talk about the chances of going to Maui and how I'm feeling and if its safe for us to make the trip.

Blessings,