Baby Talk 101

No matter how much you talk about people baby talking to their kids when you have one, trust me you will too. I am not talking about those people who do it because they think it's cute (you know what I mean..and trust me it's not) when there are no babies around. Here are just a few I have picked up in the past 3 weeks (he is growing up so fast :( )


Baby Poop- Doodle, Dooky
Baby Pee- Pee Pie
Baby wee wee- Bird, pee-bug
Baby Burp- "that old nasty buhp"
Diaper- Dipey
Snot- Boogies
Nasal Aspirator- Boogie Sucker
Caden Alexander- Sugar Booger, Baby Bear, Turd (pronounced "tuhd")
Chad- Daddy, Papa Bear
Jen- Mommy

Yeah, [Mary] you think I am crazy now but when you have your own "widdle" one you'll see. :) It changes everything.This doesn't even encompass all the made up songs LOL.

Baby Boy

I am a mommy now...even in print it's still a little unbelievable. I thought these days would never come. The feeding every 3 hours and constant diaper changes(pee pies and doodles) are nothing if not a reality check. Still for all the complaining I am sure I have done, I wouldn't trade our little baby for anything. He is a miracle beyond my wildest imaginings. He is mommy's little boy and daddy's little "sugar booger" :) and I can no longer picture my life without him or Chad in it. My very own little family. Chad adores him and it is so sweet to watch and Caden loves his daddy. He sleeps so peacefully in Chad's arms. They say that babies can hear sounds and voices in the womb and I am sure he recognizes Chad's voice from when he was talking to my protruding belly. He is such a good baby. We are very lucky. Hopefully that doesn't change. He's already a little spoiled though. I am going to blame that on Chad *hehe* but that is what daddy's are for. I am still not too great at the diaper changes but I am getting better. Practice makes perfect I guess. I am making up for all the times that Chad had to change them in the hospital. I have somehow managed to avert being peed on Chad wasn't so lucky and he has managed to pee in his own face but I am learning...(when the bird is up watch out lol). I have managed to stick with breasfeeding for over a week but I am getting ready to switch to formula. I feel like such a defeatist but it will make life so much simpler. Maybe that is selfish but three hours comes fast and it would be easier if I wasn't the only one who could feed him and easier to monitor how much he is eating. He is such a beautiful baby too (If I do say so myself :) ) He looks just like Chad's baby pictures. I am going to have to scan them when I get time and get home to my scanner. That is probably the hardest part right now, not being able to go anywhere without asking someone to take me. I am not allowed to drive for 2 weeks and it's killing me to be so dependent. Not that I don't appreciate the help...trust me, I do. I just feel like a burden sometimes. I have lost 13 pounds so far. I guess 8 lbs 3 oz of that was baby.

I started this in the hospital

*Sigh* The last 3 days have been exhausting. I suppose most of you have heard that the baby is finally here. If not, here's the scoop. My water broke between 5:30 and 6:00 am on Wednesday morning (In the middle of writing a letter to Caden of all things). After waiting for Chad to get to Winchester from work we headed for the hospital. By the time I got here and into the triage room I was already dilated a 5. The contractions had progressively gotten worse and it was hard work waiting for the anesthesiologist to get to my room with an epidural...go ahead, call me a wuss, I don't care...I expected to gauge all pain scales afterwards on that but, truth be told, the memory is fleeting. After my epidural I barely felt the contractions- from the waist down, I barely felt anything. Luckily Chad and his family were there for support. I apologize, if at any point I was bossy, snippy or otherwise belligerent. :) We were expecting a baby by noon but after two hours of pushing the doctor attempted to use forceps and decided that the baby was just too big to come out that way. I was so upset when I found out that I had to have a c-section. I could hear Chad's family around me praying and I did praying of my own but I couldn't help the wave of emotion. I tried so hard to bring him into this world and I was frustrated that I couldn't do it or that maybe I hadn't pushed hard enough or correctly or even at the right times. What if I missed some contractions because I couldn't feel them. I felt so defeated and on top of all of that I was afraid for me and the baby. I was afraid that something would go wrong and I would leave Chad all alone to raise the baby (it didn't help when they had me sign a consent form in the event that a transfusion was necessary) and I knew it would be 2 more weeks of work I would have to miss and the vain side of me worried about the scar. There were just too many emotions at once. They didnt give me any general anesthesia but the last things I remember were being laid down with my arms spread out and my neck hurting. They covered my face and I remembered Chad coming in and telling me that he was there with me and kissing me and I remember the baby crying. After that, I guess I was just so exhausted that I fell asleep because the next thing I remember is them moving me from the OR table back to the bed. After that it was uncontrollable shaking. Chad said the baby was crying before he even came out and that he tried to show him to me but I barely opened my eyes. I remember Jodi and Mary being in the labor room when they brought me back in. My first images of our baby boy came via a camera and when they brought him back in the room I couldn't hold him because I was afraid of dropping him I was shaking so bad. They said it was my body's normal reaction to stress. Things have been pretty hectic since then with nurses in and out....

Monday Monday

Here it is, the second "working day" of my leave. As Caden is still intent on staying safe and warm in my tummy- I have decided to unpack my laptop and make another attempt at blogging (just trying to have everything ready for the hospital when the time comes...and St Joe has WIFI in the recovery room :) gotta have it ready to send those first adorable pics...oh and to keep chad occupied). My last Dr's appointment was on Friday. The baby's heartbeat was 140. I have gained another two pounds- which is not surprising since I lost a pound the week prior. Dr Greene guesstimated, by touch, that Caden is around 7 1/2 lbs. I was dilated 2 1/2 centimers (still not enough and, since I wasn't having any contractions at the time, he didn't think it was necessary to send me to the hospital then :( ) I suppose that is all fine and well that he isn't in a hurry to induce me at my whim. I am. however, being a little selfish I suppose. I am very uncomfortable (that's what they teach you to call pain in those childbirth classes LOL) and tired of carrying his fat little butt. I am also anxious to see him - and of course to share him with the rest of the world..but most of all, I am excited at the prospect of seeing his Daddy hold him in his arms for the very first time. My camera is packed, so someone please get a picture of that for me. I am sure I will be too exhausted. Chad is just as anxious/nervous as I am- if not more. It's very sweet actually. I am sure when the time comes I will be wired, but for now I am just ready for some sign that it's time to make our way to the hospital. My next visit is Friday the 12th (haha better than Friday the 13th), my appointed "due date" but the doctor said I should not expect to keep it. He, in his infinite wisdom, seems to think that we will be holding our baby before the week is out. Until then I will just have to occupy myself with cleaning and moaning and groaning. I will try to keep you posted.

Come On Already

My “due date” is a week from tomorrow and the countdown is on. In truth, it has been on for a while. I am so ready to have this baby but he isn’t cooperating. I am beginning to think I am going to be prego forever. YEEHAW. At least I only have to make it 6 and a half more hrs before my leave starts. Not dragging my butt to work every morning will be a plus. I am sure once I start getting my reduced paychecks, I will think differently. Not sure how I am going to manage that. I am the world’s worst at managing money, but I know-somehow, I will survive. Before, when I thought about labor it was a distant scary day looming in the future. Now I think it can’t be as bad as being pregnant any longer. It means that it is almost over and then the real fun can begin. I don’t know how I am going to handle being a mother. Even after 9 months it does not seem real to me. I know Chad will be wonderful but I just don’t know how I am going to do it. Luckily, I will have help.

Oi Vey

Sadly I did not go into labor this weekend as I had hoped, though I thought for sure Saturday would be the day/night. No contractions, yet, but there are other kinds of pain. Thank goodness Chad was there to rub me down and massage me when needed or I might not have made it. Just 18 more days until my due date and there is no way I can make it till then. Chad seems to have faith in me but, after listening to me whine all weekend, I just don’t see how. He didn’t seem to think that they would induce labor if he took me to the hospital last night :(. I go back to the doctor tomorrow so maybe then *crossing fingers*. I was originally hoping to get a week off work before to tie up loose ends (starting September 5th) but, at this point, I just want the waiting to be over. I have my labor bag, suitcase and Caden’s diaper bag packed with all the essentials and the guys at the fire department installed his carrier on Saturday so, in that respect, I am ready. I also had a pre-delivery class on Friday and I have all the consent forms filled out and ready to be signed and witnessed and Pre-patient registration was completed online weeks ago. This coming Friday will be two weeks from my due date but I just don’t see how I am going to make it through the work week without a complete nervous breakdown. I don’t even know if I will make it past Monday :(. In other, closely related, news I am trying to get rid of my cats (see my myspace bulletin). They are driving me beyond the brink of insanity and the stress is too much for me right now. I would like to get rid of them before I strangle them in a fit of rage. Nevermind the normal woes of pregnancy that keep me from sleeping through the night- them waking me up every 2 hrs is more than I can handle. I cannot tell you how badly I need to rest- guess I should get used to that huh….but babies don’t turn over trash cans, shed hair everywhere, puke up hairballs and I am sure diapers cannot be as bad as keeping up with a litter box and eventually the baby will understand what the word no means- I don’t think my cats ever will.

Look At That Beautiful Face!

36 weeks and 4 days today. I will be 37 weeks on Friday, which means that technically I will be considered full term. I went back to the doctor today for an ultrasound and another routine visit. I have gained another 2 lbs which puts me at a whopping 173 lbs. YEEHAW. 6lbs and 7oz of that is all Caden :) YUP…our little boy is growing just fine :) He is already 5 oz bigger than Chad’s newest nephew (Landon) when he was born. It’s all that I could have asked for and more. We are still sticking with the original due date (September 12th) though Dr. Greene says he might even be a little bit early. I am already about 1 centimeter which means that my cervix is starting to thin- just waiting for the contractions. We still have weeks to go but as the time gets closer it gets more exciting. Our little precious baby will be here soon!!! Back to the doctor next week and every week after until he gets here.