Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a happy and safe new year! John spent new years eve snowboarding and Henry and I had breakfast with the girls and one last workout of 2010 with our favorite trainer; I am convinced he recognizes her voice from working out during pregnancy :)  It was a super fun live dj workout and lots of sweat. Now with the help of Shaneta and Michelle beef stew is on the stove and I am off to get ready for going out to our baby friendly party in a few hours.

Merry Christmas!

In the true from of having a baby we are behind in post; hoping everyone had an enjoyable holiday full of family, friends and food, ours sure was! We had a fun weekend in PDX making the rounds and introducing Henry to great grandmas, aunts, cousins and friends!
He was a whopping 13lbs 13oz and 2ft tall at his two month apt., thats the size of a four month old! We are having a fun holiday week at home, John only has to work two days and is going skiing and a Seahawks game. I am contemplating snow shoeing with the baby and have several lunch dates with friends before the New Years celebrations begin.

Meeting Great Grandma Florence; four generations strong!

Meeting Great Grandma Helen

Time for stockings

Auntie Stacey

a bit over stimulated...

Merry Christmas

Miracle on 121st st.

We got our first full night of sleep in over two months, a whole 8hrs! yes it was a miracle at our house this weekend. Henry has been sleeping better and better, and while 8 hrs is a one time treat 5 & 6 are becoming more frequent. We had a great weekend of holiday cheer, cookie baking, gingerbread houses, friends, gift wrapping, and photos of the cutest little Christmas elf. Henry has his two month apt. tomorrow so curious to see what he weighs in at now but not looking forward to the three shoots...why three, one was bad enough! Looking forward to a long holiday weekend in PDX and excited for Henry to meet friends and family down south.

Tis the Season

After a weekend of parties, Johns holiday party (Henry's first baby sitter, Godmother Shaneta) and a cookie exchange (I made lowfat oatmeal cranberry) we are keeping the momentum going. Had a mini party at mommy and me yesterday and  dinner at the brewery for John's birthday. Today we had lunch with Michelle B. and strolled around the outdoor mall, did not mind the cold just glad the rain has stopped! Tomorrow we are going to our first movie with some ladies from mommy and me, they have a babys day at the movies every Thurs. They turn the lights up a bit and the sound down.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Lunch with auntie Michelle

cookie exchange

babysitting....second pair of pants for the sitter :)

Holiday party

Baptism

What a special day! It was so perfect and such a nice meaningful ceremony and so great to have family and friends able  to be there. I have yet to give Henry a bath as I don't want to wash off the still faint sweet smell of oil on his forehead.....but I think the time has come.

Busy Busy Week!

Last week was a bit of a blur and this week is off to the same start! Christmas shopping got started (I like to be done by Thanksgiving, so this year we are waaaay behind!) had an afternoon off and got my nails done, was really nice for the first few hours then I missed my baby! We ended the week on a high note with Henry's Baptism.

Off to the winery for work dinner 

Grandma visiting

Happy Thanksgiving and Brithday!

My favorite Bday gift yet!

White Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all! We might be a day late but really its the whole weekend right? We have so much to be thankful for this year and feel very blessed. We had a nice relaxing birthday morning yesterday and a great meal with Michelle B and family. Henry slept through the whole day even with all the noise and commotion! Then proceeded to wake up the minute we got home....we decided our house is too quite for him :) He did give me the a birthday gift of a whole 5hrs of sleep last night! the first time in over a month that I got 5hrs straight! I don't expect it to happen again but it was a nice surprise.

weighing in

    What do you think weighs more my son or the 11lb turkey I just bought.......well if you guessed Henry you are right! yes the little man is weighing in at a whopping 11lbs 4oz, he got weighed, and measured (grew an inch as well) yesterday at his one month check up, he also got a shot so that was not fun. He is so strong the Dr. was really impressed with how well he is already holding his head up. Today I put on his 3month sized pjs and while they are a little big, they fit almost too well! His newborn outfits are going to have be put away :(

We have had a real winter wounder land around here the last few days; I keep thinking I am back in Boston with all the snow, really cold tems (high was 24 today!) and the bright sunshine. I love a day when snow is on the ground and the sun is out bright. Henry and I got out for coffee and costco trip today and with all the folks in the northwest afraid of the snow we had the place to ourselves.

Henry's First Snow

Ok so it did not stick but it was pretty coming down; but more is expected tomorrow so we will see if we get a true dusting then. 

Visiting daddy at work

Help from Grandma

Grandma was up to help this week as John headed back to work. It was a great help and Henry is already missing all the singing and stories. We had our first adventure to the Rack, the mall, and visiting daddy at work to have lunch! The nights are hit or miss but I dare say our bodies are getting used to the lack of sleep....

Baby's day at the Museum

Growing Boy!

We went and saw our friends who just had a baby at the hospital today and we could not believe how much bigger Henry looked compared to him! Today is his three week birthday and he is already looking so big. There are other times though when he grabs your finger that you think, wow he is so small.

John goes back to work on Monday so that is good and bad; my mom will be up for the week so don't have to go it alone yet; its is so nice to have someone else around to pass him off to when you need to. He still has his nights and days messed up and I am not thinking that is going to change any time soon....

Last day of sun

Enjoyed an afternoon walk today down at the lake before the rain returns tomorrow. The lack of sleep is really hard and Henry was up every hour last night from 1am on....sleeps like an angel during the day however. I think he has his days and nights confused, heres to hoping tonight is a bit better. Taking naps during the day are just hard to do but we need to make a better effort.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Birthday

Welcome back! What a busy week it has been and there are so many things to talk about. First I wanted to share a short version of Henry's birth story. 

It all started last Thursday morning when I woke John up at 5am after having 'cramps' for the last few hours. He immediately got his stop watch out (and proceeded to were it all day) at that point the contractions were mild and happening every 20 min or so for about 15 sec. We had a regular dr. apt that morning and went into that all excited just for her to tell us that some women have these mild contractions for days even weeks! So we went about our day and went out to breakfast, ran some errands, ect. Then things changed around 7pm; things started to speed up and get stronger, By 10pm we knew it was go time. My goal was to go unmedicated so we wanted to labor at home as long as possible and the doula was a great help for that. We finally went to the hospital at 2am.


Once at the hospital things become bit of a blur for me; I remember checking in and having a contraction at the nurses station and the lady a head of me who had just walked in very calmingly saying she thought she might be in labor looking at me and realizing she had a ways to go!  They checked me in and I could tell the nurse was surprised to see that I was already 8cm. Within an hour I was at 10cm and at that point would have taken drugs but was so far along there was no going back and I am glad there was no options at that point. We had to do many different positions to get him to face the correct way, hence the back labor earlier, and if I would have had an epidural I could not have been up moving around into all the different positions. They worked and I finally felt the urge to push, pushing was hard at first and its more painful so you automatically want to hold back. Once I got the hang of it I felt like it only took several good pushes, but I did push for 2hrs. My water never broke and he was almost born in his sac (which is actually really good for the baby) but part of it came out so the dr. broke the bag. John was telling me he could see the head and I did not believe him, just thought he was trying to be encouraging so I would keep pushing, but then just like that he was out. 


He was immediately placed on my chest and even after 9months of pregnancy I could not believe my eyes; this baby was mine! he was here and he was so perfect! There was a bit of extra bleeding after the birth but was under control quickly, I did not tear and was up walking around and eating within a few hours. 

The entire process was so amazing and its true what other women tell you; you truly forget how bad the pain was once you see your baby and its all over. We are truly blessed and my sons birth is the closes thing to a miracle I have ever participated in.

Hurry up and wait

Week 40! Here we are at the end of this leg of the journey and its just a matter of days now (official due date is the 24th). Feels strange to be just hanging around in such anticipation but am going to  to enjoy the last few days of quite. Have had amazing sunny fall weather and all the leaves are bright with color.

Last day of work was on Friday and felt great to put an out of office message on my email and phone that said I will not be back until spring 2011! I know the time will fly but that sounds like a long ways out.

Everything is ready to go and Henry's room is officially done, even supplied with diapers and wipes...well at least a weeks worth. The bag is packed by the door and everyone is on baby watch! I am feeling pretty good, uncomfortable and lots of growing the last few weeks, but good, its amazing how much they grow at the end. Just laying low this week and taking neighborhood walks; have a hair apt. on Tue. so would like him to wait till after that :)

All the room needs now is a baby!

Happy Monday!

Stacey came up for a visit from PDX and we had a great time just relaxing, trip to the market, cooking, going to the pumpkin patch and getting our nails did!

Mommy and baby pumpkin...daddy had to stay in the wheelbarrow

chefs in the kitchen

Stacy me and the sunflowers on our one nice day outside

On the baby front I am getting more and more uncomfortable every day; but with it being week 39 I don't think you can expect any less. I am getting more and more excited and sacred every day.

We will see if I make it through this last week of work or not; defiantly having some early signs of labor so its anyone's guess. All they say is yeah it could be a matter of hours, days, or weeks still......its anyone's guess, so whats yours?

Week 38

I can not believe we are on a two week count down! We are going to meet Henry this month! So exciting and scary at the same time. Had a good Dr. apt. last Friday; all systems are a go and when she did her exam she said she was touching his head! Cervix is softening and am 3/4 of a centimeter dilated. He is weighing in at 6lbs right now and the consensus was they don't think he will be late....but who really knows.

Had a nice fall weekend of doing stuff around the house and getting some activities in with friends like mini golf and a movie, since we won't be able to any more for a while. I am on borrowed time now and just trying to enjoy it! Lots to do at work as my last day is the 15th but just trying to stay on top of it all. Seems very strange to me now that I am going to just walk away for 4 plus months....

Happy Anniversary!

Sept. 29, 2007  was the best day of my life thus far; I am so blessed to have such a  wonderful husband! 3 years of marriage and 8 together total, going into year 9 with a whole new adventure awaiting.

We are going out to a nice dinner downtown for the last time without needing a baby sitter :)

Week 37

This week means I am now considered full term. Very exciting and while Henry has a few more weeks, he is safe to come any day now. Had a busy week last week of dr's, and doula appointments along with couples  yoga for labor on Friday, John was a good sport and think even learned a thing or two.

Had the nicest weather on Sat. and went downtown to the Italian festival; while it was no North End there was good food and events. Today was back to rain and after church I realized I only had a few more weeks of eating whatever I want so made John stop at my favorite dounut shop (Top pot).  John spent the afternoon building the glider chair and other baby stuff while I took a nap and worked on dinner; all in all a good relaxing Sunday.

October is this week so things are slowing down for us for a few weeks; the calm before the storm if you will :) We have what we can do done and feel ready.

Sunny Saturday at Seattle Italian Festival

Seattle Baby Shower

After thinking the shower started at 12 to then find out at 10:30 (while still in PJ's) that it was at 11,,,,,good thing I pulled out the invite! I had a fun brunch baby shower today with my Seattle crew and and a few special guest from Portland. Was so nice to see everyone and I officially have all the stuff I think we will need baby Henry now; thanks girls, its so wonderful to have such good friends!

Week 35

Been very busy lately and not slowing down anytime soon! This could be a really long post but will try to keep it short. Had Fred up from PDX for labor day weekend and went to the big Seattle music festival, Bumbershoot, had lots of fun and the walking around all day was not too bad for me, knew I could take a break every time I showed the guys a beer garden :) Then had my bro up mid week and had fun just spending some time together and eating are way around town. Had a nice mid week afternoon at the market, made a peach crisp, did some shopping, volunteer park (very cool park, first time going) had Cuban sandwiches, Theos chocolates and top pot donuts.Was fun to see him and the weather actually held out for us.

Am way up north at a resort right now and will be here all week for work, running our annual students in residence week, basically classes just held off site with a lot more logistics. My boss was really nice and got me a pregnancy massage for mid week and Michelle B. is going to come up for a night to hang out so should be a good week; this is the 6th or 7th time doing these so as I still like them I miss by bed and husband at the end of the day.

In baby news all is well and just getting more uncomfortable each day; sleep is over rated and I am starting my lack of sleep routine before the baby is even here, can just not get comfortable and every time I end up on my back I wake up because I can't breath (2-3 times per night). Made it to yoga yesterday so that was nice and signed John and I up for partners yoga for labor. Had Dr. apt. and all is on track, she is going to do another ultra sound on Oct. 1 and holding steady at 15lb weight gain. I can tell he is getting bigger by the stretch marks, and change in movement, its a much deeper duller movement since he is running out of room. I am getting excited to meet him and start the next journey and then there are days where I am like he can't come out yet I am not ready! Well we all know you are never ready and until it happens and that I really have no idea what I am getting into!

Original Starbucks