Woot Woot Shutterfly! Holiday Expressions & More

As we expect our first baby this winter we have plenty of cards and announcements to be sending out soon. We are so looking forward to using Shutterfly for our holiday cards, announcements and creating fun gifts for family next year! The holiday card option we like best is http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/pictures-in-red-christmas-card-5x7-flat?fg=384&sortType=1&fa=8&storeNode=93496&fe=1&fb=1&fc=1
This format allows us to show pictures from our maternity shoot, newborn pictures and us as a new family of three all on one card which is great. People love to put pictures like these on their refrigerators and having to send three separate ones can make things crowded. This way we can send all three memories on one card which makes it easier for our loved ones and cheaper on us buying fewer stamps! The different size options for the individual pictures are good so we can easily highlight certain pictures more than others. Definitely want to be able to have many shots of baby boy’s cute little fingers and toes! Next year we can use Shutterfly to send out http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/baby-cards-stationery/baby-boys-1st-birthday-invitations. Plus we can create http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/wall-calendars as gifts this year. Many family and friends live out of state so Shutterfly is a great opportunity for everyone to stay connected through our on-line albums and be able to print their own favorite pictures of our growing family.

7 months & a Birth Plan

Hard to believe but I am 7 months today! It is certainly going fast! I unveiled my birth plan (well the condensed, bullet-point version) to my Dr today & thank God he was totally cool with it :) Here's the bullet-point version for your "reading pleasure" ~

Labor
• I would like to be free to walk around & change my positions throughout labor.
• I would like to be able to have fluids & other nurishment by mouth throughout labor.
• I do not want an IV unless I become dehydrated but I will accept a heparine/saline lock for potential IV purposes.
Monitoring
• I would prefer intermittent to continuous monitoring.
Labor Augmentation/Induction
• I would prefer to be allowed to try changing position and other natural methods (walking, nipple stimulation) before considering medical induction including membrane rupture.
Episiotomy
• I am hoping to protect the perineum by using perineal massage to avoid an episiotomy.
• I would appreciate guidance in when to push so the perineum can stretch.
Delivery & Immediately Following
• I would like to be allowed to choose the position in which I give birth.
• Even if I am fully dilated, and assuming My Son is not in distress, I would like to try to wait until I feel the urge to push before beginning the pushing phase.
• I would like to have My Son placed on my stomach/chest immediately after delivery.
• I would prefer that the umbilical cord stop pulsating before it is cut.
• I plan to keep My Son near me following birth and would appreciate if the evaluation of My Son can be done with him on my abdomen, with both of us covered by a warm blanket, including the need for heat lamps, unless there is an unusual situation.
• I would like to delay the eye medication for My Son until a couple hours after birth.
• The Hep B vaccine will not be administered to My Son.
• After the birth, I would prefer to be given time to urinate on my own.
• My plan is to initiate breast feeding immediately after birth.
Postpartum
• Unless required for health reasons, I do not wish to be separated from my baby.
Breastfeeding
• I do not want My Son to be given a pacifier or any bottles.

We are still unsure which vaccines we will decide to do but we do know we aren't going to be following "protocol". God-willing we will be lead to a pediatrician who will allow us to spread them out & choose the ones we feel comfortable with our son having. I am baffled how big a controversy vaccinations are now! Then again I suppose everything regarding pregnancy & child-rearing are whether it's based on "fact" or simply people's passionate opinions. I'm gradually beginning to not care what others think as long as Jon & I agree on what we choose which I suppose really is the most important thing! We are still interviewing doula's. We have one we like but her schedule may make it difficult to guarantee she will be there. She has a back up which is good but if we can find one who can 100% no doubt be in attendance regardless of when I go into labor that would be the ideal choice. We will keep you posted :)

More Baby Connor Maag

We had a second round of ultrasound pics done because the first time they thought they saw some issues. It wasn't anything too extreme, they were fine waiting a month before another round so we weren't worried either. Second round was great, the tech didn't see anything that looked awry, placenta is right where it should be so yay :) And by the time I saw my Dr they hadn't passed anything on to him of concern either. While we were there, however, reps were doing a demo of a new 3D ultrasound machine! So they offered for us to do some on that one (which of course we definitely agreed to) and although Connor wasn't being overly cooperative at all that day we did get a couple good ones of his little face, hand & foot :)

New Ultrasound=New Bedding, New Name

We are now going with a nautical theme
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3070550
For Connor David's room :)

Whoops!

Well this is what we get for being impatient. Turns out baby girl is actually baby BOY :p So we will be redecorating a bit, needless to say haha Next time we'll wait for the official test for sure!!

So far so good though. Plugging along at 23 weeks & feeling great aside from being kind of tired & starting to feel cumbersome at times. I know this will only get worse! Enjoying baby boy's kicks & twists!

It's a Girl!

We are officially having a girl!



This is the link to her bedding :)
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3540575

I've been super blessed so far. Not much in the way of morning sickness, a few random cravings like left-over spaghetti, nacho cheese doritos, yes pickles lol, Taco Bell, Long John Silvers (which is extremely random), Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies & egg nog... Yeah the latter craving was pretty tricky to indulge! At this point I am 18 weeks along & am slowing going from looking a little pudgy to actually looking pregnant! I'll post a preggo bump pic soon. The last one we took doesn't really show much tummy :) The nursery has begun to be painted & planned. We hope to have it done in a few weeks so we can have the dressers moved in (we already have those) & have somewhere to put the baby things we'll get from the upcoming showers!

10 Things of Me

I'm doing this because a fellow blogger friend nominated me to do so (Momma Amma) and being as that was weeks ago I thought I'd finally follow through and stop being a bum. The idea is to tell 10 things you all might not know about me. That should be relatively easy as there aren't *that* many of you but a few of you may know some of these anyway. I'm not always that creative when these things come along but I'll try :)

1. I detest and I do mean detest flying insects, bugs, whatever. I really do lose it around them especially moths. I don't know why but they creep me out. My husband of course finds this both ridiculous and hilarious.

2. I was born with jet black hair. My current auburn shade came in at 3 months ~ Apparently my black hair gradually fell out and red came in. I think as a parent I'd freak out if my newborn was losing hair like that but Mom never mentioned it if she did.

3. I wanted to be an Olympic ice skater or gymnast when I was little. Part of me still wishes I had been. I think ultimately I preferred having a life instead.

4. I do my best cleaning of the house while blasting old-school music like Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, etc. I dance while I clean~It makes the process more fun.

5. My brother wanted to "send me back" when I was six. He's 10 years older and while he wanted a sister when he was 10 he didn't count on me being liked by his friends/girlfriends & getting in the way later. ha!

6. When I was little I didn't want any of my food touching. At all. My parents were annoyed & I was grossed out when my Dad stirred his corn into his mashed potatoes.

7. My Mom didn't buy *anything with artificial anything* - sweetener, flavors, colorings. IE: I didn't have fruit roll-ups. I had "fruit leather" from the health food store. When I got to college I went to Wal-Mart and stocked up on every unhealthy junky thing of which she "deprived" me.

8. When I get *really* excited about nearly anything my laugh/voice turns into squeaking. I try to talk & I'm squeaking while I talk. A mutual friend informed me only dogs can hear me at that point...

9. I'm already planning on saving up for a "mommy-makeover" when we're done having kids so I can have everything put back to its original location hahaha

10. When I was little I hated how I stood out with my red hair. I would have done *anything* to be blonde. Now I still think I stand out but at some point in high school it became ok & I began to appreciate my *natural* shade more.

There ~ Now you know a little more randomness about me. I'd LOVE if those of you who actually read this little blog of ours would post in return because I think this type of thing is fun but I understand everyone is busy and pressed for time. It took ME weeks and that's really just because I was lazy.

Momma Amma you get out of it cuz you were the one to tag me. Although I love you for thinking of me & wanting to know more about the randomness that is me.

Madness of Ms Katherine I think you should do this in return if for no other reason than in honor of all the talks we have shared over the sorority years.

Chronicles of Family Barr You fascinate me so! I know there are many things I do not know about you & much I could learn!

The Fulkersons I know there is plenty that I didn't learn about you in our short time together in church youth group!

Clare's Contemplations I adore your blog & love hearing about your kids. Therefore I know I'd love learning more about you dear friend. You have inspired me many a time!

For those that read this & I don't realize, thank you!! I have not purposefully left you out but instead focused on those who have commented and therefore occasionally read my rantings. Please participate in all this fun if you'd like I'd love to read it!