HELLO BABY

It's been a while since I've posted. Most of you know that baby Devlin arrived the afternoon after my last post. Woo hoo! I was so excited to be going into labor! Labor was about 4 hours and I was very happy with my experience with the midwife. I was up laughing and talking not long after labor. The combination of hormones and all that weight gone probably had me doing more before my body was really ready.

The transition has been very smooth. It's like he came out a 2 month old! He latched on perfectly from the start and he has good head control to somewhat be able to do it himself. He is eating like a champ and we don't have any issues with jaundice. He's been such a great baby so far. He loves to sleep and eat and that's about it! God has really answered my prayers. I was concerned about how I could handle the transition with the impending move in a few weeks. Corben loves him already and wants to see everything I'm doing that involves the baby. I didn't sleep for the first few days but I think I've given up on that from now on-- if we have more kids. The adrenaline from natural birth is so strong, I can't sleep the first night.

He's still a little off on his days/nights but it's starting to work itself out and I'm getting 2 to 3 hours stints of sleep at a time. Well I'm going to take advantage of nap time and rest a little before it's time to feed baby again. I'm sure I'll post the official "birth story" soon.

Where are you baby?

So I am one day past my estimated due date. This baby feels sooo heavy. I feel like I'm rolling over with a watermelon on my stomach at night.

I have had a lot more pain, so much so that I find it hard to walk if the baby is in a certain position. It's like someone stabbing me with a knife and twisting it at random times. Sounds lovely huh?

I have another appt tomorrow. I was really hoping I wouldn't be going. We've done everything except caster oil and cohosh to induce labor.

I'm munching on fresh pineapple as I type. Yum. I bought some primrose oil caplets. Chad's rubbed the pressure points to induce labor. Sex, even though it is not real appealing at this point in pregnancy. I've taken a relaxing bath. Walked, walked and walked!!!

Maybe if I jump backwards under a full moon? Any suggestions?

If I don't go into labor tonight. I'm having her strip my membranes tomorrow. Let's get this show on the road!

Preggo update 3,452... just kidding.

Another appt. today. At this rate I'll be going everyday soon, at least it seems like.

I finally have some hard data, more for Chad's sake than anything else. He freaked out when he found out that the midwife doesn't really check me until closer to the birth. He needs numbers, hard evidence. Which most of us that have had children know that dilation doesn't really mean a thing. But I guess it's nice to know my body is somewhat preparing.

So I'm 2-3 cm dilated and she wants to see me again on Monday. So I don't know if she has a hunch that I'm going to go soon or what. Today would be awesome. Chad is off today and tomorrow morning. That would be soo convenient but who knows. Baby will come when he's ready.

That's all I have for you for now! Keep us in your prayers!

Preggo update week 38

I ended up having my drs appt today rather than Monday which has totally thrown me off. My midwife actually wasn't able to be there this morning but they were still able to do my ultrasound.

The tech checked everything and was super nice she even printed out some 3D pics for me and just told me not to show anyone. She was so excited to try and catch his little face and I wasn't opposed to it :) We actually got to see him open and close his little mouth it was so great. I think the ultrasound tech was just as excited as we were! It's so nice to find people that are passionate about what they do. I just love that. Everyone should love their job that much. She said she has been doing this for thirty years now and she still gets excited when she gets to see things like that. How cool is that?

Anyway - back to the info I was waiting for. The baby is weighing in at about 7lbs 9 oz which is what Corben weighed when he was born and we are pretty close to about the same time that Corben was born. So the weight is definitely in the normal range. She said I had upper average fluid (about 18.5). The average is between 5 - 20. So I'm still average and she said it's much better to have more than little. So that could be one of the reasons I was measuring big and she also said that the other tech tends to measure large sometimes. I didn't think about differences from one tech to another. So my mind is at ease. I don't think I'll be birthing a 12 pound baby :) YAY!

Everything is looking great and I went ahead and scheduled my next appt to see Amanda for Friday because Chad is off that day for sure and it's close enough to my usual Monday appts. So I have no info to give on dilation but it not going to tell me anything magical anyway!

My energy levels have been really crazy lately. They go between the two extremes of exhaustion and lots of energy. The other night I couldn't even sleep because I wanted to get up and clean the house! I ended up getting back up and doing little things around the house until 2 in the morning. Even after that I couldn't get comfortable enough to sleep well.

I'm looking forward to labor that is for sure! That's all for now! Maybe the next post will be "Hey we're in labor!" ::crossing fingers:: :)

Preggo update week 37

I just got back from my midwife appointment.

Everything looks great. Blood pressure, weight etc.
I am measuring 40 cm at 37 weeks though! I'm just hoping that the baby was in a weird position or something instead of being really big or having a complication. She scheduled another ultrasound for next week to make sure everything was still okay. I'm trying not to worry about it. Maybe it just means that the due date is off and I should be having the baby soon (crossing my fingers).

She didn't check me. She said that she usually doesn't until 38 - 39 weeks unless I just want her too. So I decided to just wait. It doesn't really mean anything anyway. I could be dilated the same for 3 weeks before I go into labor. So we'll just wait and see.

I've had about 3 or 4 contractions today. So my body is getting ready.

I'm doing my 2 cups of raspberry tea a day and trying to make sure I keep walking (even though I feel huge) to keep my stamina up and to help the baby get into position.

I just finished my new nursing cover and I love it. I tried a different pattern this time and added a little terry cloth pocket to the underside. I think I'm going to make some cloth teething rings now. It looks so easy I just have to try it. Here's the tutorial if you want to take a look.

Keep us in your prayers as we await the delivery of a healthy baby boy!

Are we there yet?

Ok. I feel gigantic! I know I've got to be bigger than I was with Corben at week 37. The baby is definitely dropped and I've been having braxton hicks now and then. I have lots of pressure and it seems like the baby is pushing against my cervix.

I'm so ready to have this baby! I really don't want to go much longer. I can't imagine how big I am going to be if I do! Ahhh!

I have my next appt. Monday and I am anxious to see if I am dilated any. I feel like my body is getting ready but you can never know for sure.

It's so frustrating. Especially because I really didn't have much happen before my water broke with Corben. And now I'm actually experiencing braxton hicks for the first time this time. Sometimes they are somewhat painful too. It's getting me even more anxious. I think I would just rather have my water break and everything just happen all of a sudden. Than have all these little warning signs. Just come already! My midwife is back in town. Chad is a few weeks from starting a new job. This week or next would be perfect! Please? Can you hear me in there?

Celebrating Devlin

I just got back from my baby shower and I can't say enough. It was just perfect! Down to every little detail. I felt like all my favorite things and favorite people were all put together in one place.

The theme was a combination of things - Quotes, chocolate, and coffee with blue and brown as the colors. All some of my most favorite things!

They had beautiful quotes about babies placed around for decorations, a chocolate fountain, cheerwine, and coffee among other delicious treats of fruit, chocolate covered pretzels, cookies, brownies etc.

I think I'm going to have to lay off the sugar and caffeine for the rest of the day because baby had plenty of that today already!

Sometimes I feel like people don't really know me... like really, really. You know what I mean? It's partly my fault because it takes me a while to open up to people. But today I felt fully known and fully loved. For someone to take that much care and time to throw a party for me, just means the world to me.

And to have so many people come to celebrate our new little one and just spend time enjoying each others company. Was so so nice. I can't say much more about it than it was perfect. Just perfect.

Dr. Appt update

It's been so crazy around here. I have at least 5 posts I need to do!

Had another Dr. appointment Monday. Everything is going well. They did another ultrasound and he's supposedly already 6 lbs 14 oz! He doesn't need to get much bigger! The Tech even switched over to the 4-D to try to get a look at the face. I was so excited! But of course my little stinker didn't want to move his hand! So all I got to see was the eyes and nose. But it was beautiful!

I'm really excited to see him soon. My baby shower is this weekend and I am so excited to have some time to relax and enjoy my friend's company!

It seems like all my days are running together already! More Dr.'s appointments, trying to make playdates before the baby comes, organizing everything Corben and I will need once I go in the hospital, and getting the house in order. The list just keeps going! I feel like it's taking forever to get here but yet coming so fast at the same time!

Preggo update week 35

Back by popular demand. My preggo update...

I'm 34 weeks and am into my 35th week. I'm SOOOO uncomfortable!!!!! Okay now that I got that out.

I'm having lots of pelvic and back pain, some acid reflux, and some trouble sleeping well. But no swelling this pregnancy! I do have that to be thankful for. I guess it makes a difference when you aren't spending 8 hours a day in an office chair.

Some days are better than others, especially in regards to energy. We are definitely gearing up for the baby to come. We had a refresher childbirth class. Even though we gave birth only 19 months ago it was still a good thing. I was so excited when I found out that the teacher was actually my lactation consultant from when Corben was born. I loved her! She even answered some of my breastfeeding questions months later and was such a great help. I would love it if she happened to be my labor and deliver nurse! She does a lot now that I think about it. She's a nurse, lactation consultant, and she teaches classes. Her card has so many initials behind it that it goes to the next line. I have no idea what most of them are but it makes me feel like she must be a very capable nurse! She was very encouraging and told me that most moms find it to be much easier to breastfeed the second time because they are not so stressed and tense about it. That made me feel good. When I told her who my Dr. was she also seemed excited about that and told me that I'm in good hands. That made me feel good too since I am using a midwife for the first time.

We really enjoyed the class and I think it helped Chad wrap his brain around the idea that the baby is going to be here soon. We have been dealing with so much lately I think it's sneaking up on both of us. However, those round ligament pains do remind me all too often now! I can definitely feel the baby lower in my pelvis and sitting on anything other than my exercise ball is pretty uncomfortable at times.

I have another Dr. appointment and ultrasound on this coming Monday to make sure everything is going well. I think I go every week after that.

Now we just have to get the house ready and I think we are going to try to make a day trip to the beach before it gets too close. There just aren't enough days in the week to get everything done!

A Day Sent From Up Above

Wow, I didn't know I had that cheesy title in me.

It's what this day has done to me. I think I have a new best friend. I happened to come in contact with the coordinator of the Tuscany spa school of message about six months ago. She's such a fun, sweet person. We haven't gotten to really hang out much because we are both so busy. But the few interactions I've had with her have really made a mark. Anyway. She coordinates the school stuff and it just so happens that they are doing their prenatal message section and they needed some pregnant bodies to facilitate some practice.

Well, you know I am all about furthering someone's education and was happy to donate my body to science and lots of rubbing. Nicole you are awesome!

It was sooo nice! It was free, 90 minutes long (90 minutes!), and ssssssssssoooooo wonderful for a pregnant body. The girls were really sweet and made sure I was comfortable the whole time and made sure I was okay with every part of the message.

Then to top it all off. I came home to relieve my parents from looking after Corben for me and they had cleaned the house. Wow... I was totally pampered today. God you are looking out for me. I am sooo blessed.

Especially after dealing with all the car switching drama the past week. This was a much needed mental and physical break.

Sigh...........

Preggo update week 32

It's probably about time for another preggo update!
I have my next appointment tomorrow morning and am already in my 32nd week! Can you believe it? I think I start going every two weeks now.

I'm getting pretty big and baby Devlend loves to move around. He's going to be a feisty one or maybe just a kick-boxer. He'll move my whole body sometimes.. it's crazy. Corben was a little more subtle in his movements and stretches. Everything is going well, I'm just ready for this summer heat to pass! At least I'm not swelling yet. Thank God for that!

We're starting to think seriously about the birth, who's going to watch Corben, and the fact that we probably need to be prepared for a fast delivery. Baby will be here before we know it!

Finally a Belly Shot!

I finally remembered~!

Spilling the beans. Are you ready?

All right, I'm going to share our name pick...

I've had plenty of time since all the baby naming drama, so I'm ready to spill the beans.

Here it is ... drum roll please...

Devland (or Devlend) Cruz Gammon

I like Devlen better but Chad is insisting on having the "d" on the end. So I'm warming to it. It means "fierce courage" and is very Irish, which is one of the reasons why I love it. We really like it and feel like it is sophisticated and different but not crazy different.

It fits us :)

Have you made someone's day lately?

It's amazing how someone can bless you so much within just a few short minutes of knowing them. Corben and I stopped by a yard sale on our way home this morning and while I was sorting through clothes Corben made friends with the woman having the yard sale's little boy. He was a little older than Corben but so sweet and couldn't wait to show Corben how things worked and what to play with next. I talked with the mom while sorting through clothes and she commented on how beautiful Corben is. What mom doesn't love that? Her daughter even held him in her lap and played with him a few minutes. He was having so much fun. I hated to have to leave.

I noticed on the way in that there was a box of A Beka curriculum for kindergarten that didn't have a price on it. So I asked her about it and she took me over and told me about it and asked if I wanted to homeschool and my response is that I want too :). Same response I gave to breastfeeding and having natural childbirth... I want to. I've never experienced it or tried it... but I want to. She told me I could have it! Really? I thanked her many times over and payed her for the baby clothes I picked up. Then I had to sadly pick Corben up and take him to the car. He was so heartbroken and cried the whole way to the car. He was enjoying himself so much and they were such a sweet family. It was only a few minutes of interaction but it made my day. I was blessed.

I did feel bad for Corben though. It just reiterates the fact that Corben does not get enough socialization. He loves being around other kids. He'll mostly just watch them, but he loves it. I feel so awful every time I think about it. It's hard for me to really play with him these days, now that I am getting bigger. Keeping a boy occupied requires a lot of roughhousing, flips and chasing :). And I just don't have it in me much. Poor guy. So later today I took him to a park with a special toddler playground to make it up to him. And of course I over did it. My back hurts from putting Corben on top of the slide over and over and I am exhausted... but Corben had a good time and got to watch other kids run and play and even go up and stare at a few toddler aged friends :). And I got to see some other moms too.


It was a good day... I'm going to go lie down now! :)

Okay now I'm ready to have this baby!

Woohoo!

We have a name! It's a miracle!

I think we have finally figured out our process. So if we decide to have more kids we'll know what to do. Chad ended up sitting down with the baby name book for hours, yes hours, pouring over every name and making a list that he was comfortable with. It was nice to see him put so much effort into it. Since it's mostly been me pouring over websites and books every free second I get for months now. I think just spouting out names doesn't really let him get a real sense of the name so he just tends to say no to most of them.

Which of course makes me feel like he just shoots down everything I like. The funny thing is, some of the ones he chose were ones I had mentioned before. He just needed his own time to sit down and process them.

Men are so odd and I'm sure I'll spend the rest of my life trying to figure them out. But that's okay, I think we get each other once we really take the time to understand how the other person works.

I'm so glad this is over. It was really affecting how I felt about the new baby. All I was getting was negative responses from everyone - at least it felt that way. So it doesn't make you too happy especially when you are hormonal anyway.

So with that said, I am going to pray about whether or not I want to share the name we picked out. I'm really excited to share, but more than anything I want to be excited about my baby and not let anything get in the way of that.

I don't think most people quite understand how much naming means to me. I have loved names all of my life. Even when I was younger I had a baby name book (which freaked my parents out a little bit) but I was always fascinated by name meanings and origins. It was just fun. Names are so important, its one of the first gifts you will give your child and you want it to be perfect, from your heart and a reflection of both parents.

So for right now we are still telling people we are naming him Beauregard (ha ha).

Pregnancy, work, and letting go

Well the warm weather seems like it is finally here to stay and summer is right around the bend. The pool in our community just opened up and I can't wait for the whole fam to go and enjoy the water. I found a really cute maternity swimsuit. It's strange that I am more comfortable in my pregnant body than I am in my "regular" body. I feel pretty and that's a nice feeling. Even though some days I'm sure I'm not (you know those - I don't have time to shower, baby woke up way earlier than usual, I didn't get a nap, and baby is cranky - kind of exhausting days) but there's just something beautiful about being pregnant that tends to overflow to the outside. Not to mention that God helps us out by making our hair fuller and shinier and our skin glow.

I'm still transitioning out of my "regular" job and God is providing lots of freelance opportunities, which is what I want to focus on from now on. I'm excited to not feel as stressed and to take more time for my son and my pregnant body. I can tell a difference already in Corben's behavior and I'm sure it has a lot to do with me having more patience with him. I want to give Corben more opportunities to socialize and for me to socialize too! It's not only great for him but a life saver for me, it's not just a "want" anymore, it's a necessity. Remember a few posts back I talked about slowing down and focusing on my family etc. Well this is the start. I didn't know if it would feel right not having a "regular" job and wondered if I could let that go. But it does and I'm still going to get to do some design stuff as I designate that I have time for it. That's what I need right now and that's what my family needs right now.

I keep promising that I will post a photo and I keep forgetting! I'll try to do that asap!

Have a great day!

The Cadillac of Strollers

I have had so many posts rolling around in my brain lately. I finally have a chance to sit down and write one! My parents went up to the IKEA Charlotte with us yesterday to pick up a bunk bed for Corben. We had a lot of fun and my mom was in heaven. She loves decorating/interior design.

We were all in the cafe, eating some scrumptious IKEA food when I saw a women put her small newborn in the lower portion of a jogging stroller. I was looking from the front so I couldn't see everything but my first instinct was alarm. You aren't supposed to put little babies in the bottom of that! When she wheeled by I couldn't help but inspect more.

There was a little napper area in the back of the stroller. Her 2 year old was strapped in front and her newborn was cozily snuggled in the napper in the back/bottom. I was immediately in awe of this stroller.

Later we passed by her and I asked her about the stroller. She said it was wonderful, especially if you have your kids close together (her two were 20 months apart). Corben will be about 21 months when our new little one is born. She said it was pretty expensive but her mother-in-law bought it for them and she couldn't be more grateful.

I knew as soon as I got home I would be looking up the specs on a Phil & Ted's stroller. I have been checking out lots of double strollers lately, especially ones that accommodate an infant and a toddler. Most of these stroller weigh anywhere from 35 to 50 pounds. Can you imagine lugging that thing in and out of your car! 50 pounds!!

This stroller is only 24 pounds and is about the footprint of a regular full size single stroller. I'm in love. I don't know if I could see myself spending between $500 and $700 dollars on a stroller. OUCH!

But with as much as I take Corben for walks and like to get out of the house. It may be worth it. I'll be daydreaming about this one for a while...

Drum Roll Please......

Alright everybody! I know you are dying to know the news...

Surprise! It's a B-O-Y!

I think he fooled almost everybody! Chad was a little disappointed we weren't having a girl, especially since he "knew" we were having a girl. Now we just have to figure out a name!

So the one person who voted that it would be a boy... you were so right!

I'll post some sonogram pics as soon as I can. Two boys, wow.

Come on out and vote!

Only a few hours left! Make sure you get out and vote... for my baby that is :) Don't forget to take the poll on the right to predict what we are having!

I'm really nervous actually.

We really don't know how many children we plan to have and are just kind of seeing when our family feels "complete." But who knows... this could be it. We may feel complete after two. What if this is the last time we find out what we are having? Just kind of crazy to think about!

Preggo update week 19

Hello Everybody!
I'm almost half way there. Can you believe it? I'm feeling lots of stretching lately so I'm assuming that's the baby making some room in there. I have my ultrasound next Tuesday. So when we find out I'm sure I'll post here ASAP.

We tried to call everybody the first pregnancy and we were on the phone all day! So we're going to try to be a little more efficient this time.

I'm feeling pretty good overall. My nausea came back for a few days during my second trimester which was really strange but I haven't seen any signs of it lately. I'm starting to want healthier food again. I would have to make myself eat a banana or a veggie. I just wanted bread or chocolate milk etc. Not really healthy stuff. Which is a big difference from Corben. I wanted fruit and milk... I would eat a whole quarter watermelon in one sitting. Yum... that does actually sound pretty good right now :) Publix here I come. So I'm happy I'm getting some healthy cravings. I always feel so guilty if I don't eat well.

I do still have that deep craving for McDonald's sweet tea. This was a tradition when Sara and I were pregnant last time. I can't be out and about without getting one. And for a buck who can resist?

I think it would be fun to do a poll on who thinks it is a boy or a girl. So following in Micah and Melissa blog's footsteps I'm going to do my first poll. Who, by-the-way just had a beautiful little boy a few weeks ago. Little Paul is adorable! Anyway, come on and take the poll! I want to see what you guys think. I'm biting my nails in anticipation.

NOte to self: Kicking the habit of biting my nails needs to go on my 101 list!