Saturday, May 29, 2010

Our Little Chatterbox

Our little man is growing up so fast. He seems like a giant compared to his little sister...especially during diaper changes! He is growing leaps and bounds cognitively as well as physically. The last few weeks he has become quite a chatterbox. Granted, we can't understand a great deal of what he is saying, but he will carry on a "conversation" with you for quite some time. Also, he is identifying more objects and correctly responding to situations without prompting by us. He loves pointing out his little sister's body parts and kissing them. I cannot believe in 5 months he will be two years old!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

One Week Old


* 8.6 lbs
* Nursing like a champ
* Eats every 2 to 4 hours
* Loves to sleep
* Enjoys kisses from her big brother
* Already likes to play dress-up for Mommy and Daddy

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Introducing Carleigh May


Carleigh May
8 lbs 14 oz
20.75 inches


We left for the hospital around 5:15 am on May 14. Once at the hospital, the admission process was fairly smooth and soon vitals were taken, blood drawn and the anesthesiologist was prepping for the C-Section. Before we knew it, Dr. Leonard came back to talk to us to make sure there were no questions before surgery and the nurses had John change into his scrubs. By 7:30 am we were headed back for surgery. John had to wait while the spinal was administered. I said a prayer the entire time and I never felt a single needle. They kept telling me it would sting and burn, and at first I was worried it wasn't taking, but then my legs started to get warm and numb and the nurses were laying me back. Immediately I became sick from the medication and they had to give me something for the nausea. About that time John came back to sit beside me and hold my hand. After a few minutes I asked when they would start and the anesthesiologist said they had been cutting and going at it for a while! John saw them pull out Carleigh's butt and they discovered she was breech, so it was a good thing we didn't try for VBAC. Next he saw her legs and then her head come out and as soon as I heard a little cry I was overjoyed and they quickly brought Carleigh over for us to see. John was able to cut the umblical cord and as soon as we posed for our first family portrait, he went with Carleigh to the nursery. The surgical team finished up with me and when I was wheeled back to recovery, John was there waiting for me. Carleigh scored 9 on her APGAR twice and immediately went to sleep under the warmer

I spent about two hours in recovery waiting to be able to feel and move my legs enough to be sent to the Mother/Baby unit. Labor and Delivery was so busy that morning that it was five hours from the time Carleigh was born till I could hold her in my arms. Unfortunately, I was sick the entire day from the anesthesia (they said it was probably the morphine). Later that afternoon Nanny Judy and Auntie Steph brought Nicolaus to the hospital. The entire family was finally able to be together. Nicolaus seemed very eager to meet his new little sister and was very happy to see his Mommy and Daddy again.





Both mommy and baby were doing well after two days in the hospital, so their doctors cleared everyone for discharge on Sunday rather than Monday. It was so nice to pack up and go home to begin our life as a family of four. Carleigh wore the strawberry hat and was wrapped in the matching blanket mommy made. The nurses all thought she was as cute as could be and her parents had to agree.


Nicolaus loves his baby sister. He doesn't understand why Mommy cannot pick him up and hold him, but he is very curious about Carleigh and constantly wants to give her hugs and kisses.



Thursday, May 13, 2010

Final Baby Belly Pictures

I thought I'd post one last time before tomorrow. Up 32 pounds as opposed to the 46 I gained with Nicolaus. However, this time I am pretty much all belly. I think Carleigh will be a big girl.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Lasts

Amy reminded me that I should blog about my last day(s) as a mother of one so I remember what I was feeling, doing etc. It got me to thinking that while over the last year and a half, this blog has been about "firsts," these couple of days are filled with many "lasts." Today was my last prenatal appointment before Carleigh is born. Nicolaus and I had our last lunch date together (well, at least for a while anyway). I have driven the van for the last time with just one carseat. Tomorrow will be the last morning with Mommy, Daddy, and Nicolaus snuggle time and the last evening with our same old bath, stories, bedtime routine. I have to admit it is a bit bittersweet. I love every second of being Nicolaus' Mommy and we have made out pretty well together since he was born--both of us learning so much about ourselves. At the same time, I am looking forward to all of the Firsts about to take place. The first time John and I see and hold our little girl; the first time Nicolaus sees his little sister; the first time I can hold both my babies; the first time I can call us a family of four...and all the other firsts that will take place the first year of Carleigh's life and for the rest of our lives as a family. So while it is an end to a wonderful part of my life (and I admit to crying about it a few times), it is the beginning of a whole new set of adventures for our family!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

18 Months

* 26 lbs and 33 inches tall
* 11 teeth (the last 3 are molars)
* Presently into puzzles, blocks, and of course trucks
* Learning the motions to "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"
* Eats peanut butter now...thank god for PBJ sandwiches
* Loves story time, but will push the book away when he is ready for sleep
* Says "Hi" to EVERYONE he sees and loves to make others laugh
* Knows what pee pee and poo poo are, but has no interest in potty training quite yet
* Points to anything pink or purple or frilly and says its for the baby
* We just started time-out for discipline

Sunday, May 2, 2010

38 Weeks


I am ready to have this baby girl! In 13 days or less (hopefully less) Carleigh May will make her arrival. In addition to the regular issues common in late pregnancy, Nicolaus and I have both been sick this week. We were quite a pitiful pair and John was so wonderful to take off work to take care of us. I have certainly been spoiled the last couples of days...he won't let me do anything. I do have to say Nicolaus and I have enoyed having him take care of us.


How Far Along: 38 weeks
Total Weight Gain: 29 lbs
Maternity Clothes: I will be in stretchy pants or something similar for the rest of this pregnancy. Everything else is just too uncomfortable.
Stretch Marks: 3...thats right, I have 3 stretch marks to the right of my belly button where Carleigh smooshes her but against me all day
Sleep: Darn near impossible...especially since I have been sick
Movement: When she moves it is a bit painful now...she is running out of room
Other Symptoms: Tired, sore and tons of irregular contractions throughout the day
What I miss: Being able to move and eat like a regular person
Nicolaus' Reaction: He certainly notices all the baby stuff set up around the house, but of course does not grasp what is about to happen in our family!