One Month!

It's nuts and it's what every other parent on this planet says but WOW this has gone so FAST! What's the saying? The days are long but the weeks are short? Yes when he's crying or when Jon's at work for 12 hrs and I'm totally on my own for a day and a half (since he has to sleep the next day) the days feel *very* long. But to know that we've already had him for a month it seems pretty fast. Funny how life is :)

He had his one month check up and is a growing healthy boy at 9lbs 9oz and 22 inches~mommy's little butterball ;) His gas and "colic" are getting better. Little Tummy's Gas Drops are *amazing* things! We thought maybe something I was eating was making all of it worse so I started with eliminating dairy because I've heard that is the most common problem causer. Well it has helped immensely! SO grateful because now everyone is happier lol He still gets gassy of course but not so upset like before. Unfortunately for *me* dairy is pretty much my favorite food group. I've been able to still eat yogurt but everything else is off limits. I wank milk and cheese and ice cream so badly! The Dr said Thursday that usually by their two month check up foods can begin to be fazed back in since their digestive systems are more developed at that point. I hope she's right! But even if she's not the sacrifice is more than worth it especially thinking about how he cried before!

Still working on finding a better fitting job for after maternity leave is over so please pray I find a good fit sooner rather than later! I'm still really quite tired and while I try to sleep when he sleeps I can't always (sometimes you're just not sleepy!) but I'm trying to find a balance because I'd still like to have my house not a wreck :p I know it will happen eventually it just takes time. I'll leave you today with a couple more super cute pictures of my puddin' pop :)


He was hanging out in our (clean) laundry basket while we got ready one day. Seemed a little confused but content


"Oh look, a hand!"


Contemplating... Not sure what but certainly contemplating :p

Meeting the Great-Grandparents

Connor is blessed enough to have not only both sets of grandparents but both sets of *great* grandparents! He met his paternal set last week~




And because he's just so gosh darn cute :)


~So sweet when he's asleep


~Not sure *where* this look came from but how much bigger can his eyes get??


~Insert a variety of thoughts that could be appropriate here :p

The Many Faces of Connor

Well not that it's a surprise to anyone who knows either of us, our child is quite expressive lol We've caught some of his looks on camera to share although there are a few we just can't quite get him to duplicate when we have the camera (of course). He's a whole 15 days old today and it's still a little surreal that we have this little guy. Not quite as surreal when I'm up in the middle of the night to I must admit :p He's totally perfect though and we're so blessed he's been healthy since day one. Not too much to report but that's why we have pictures! :)

Our Son is Here!

Connor David Maag was born 12/30 at 4:45 am, 9lbs 5 oz at 20.5 inches


I began early labor on Tuesday the 28th. I spoke w/ my doula and she confirmed yes I was in early labor, to get some rest, eat & she'd probably see me that night. Jon and I enjoyed the day together. So far the contractions weren't bad, especially compared to the cramps I've had since I was 11. They were getting progressively worse and closer together although irregular. Around 4:30/5:00 they went up a notch in severity and we knew we were making progress which was both exciting and scary! We called our doula in around 7:30 that night as I was having a hard time working through them on my own. She came and we all worked through them using different positions, counter pressure, breathing, a hot shower, etc. Around 1am they had been that magic 5+1+1 equation for over an hour so we headed to the hospital sure that I was far enough along to be admitted. We were all shocked and baffled to find out I was only dilated to a 1... I cried. Of course we got sent home and at this point it was around 3:30am. I already had my 40 wk appointment scheduled that morning so we were just hoping to get some good news at that appointment. Meanwhile, Jon's swearing in for the Gladstone Police Department was *that morning* at 10... I ended up getting sleep in 5 minute increments as my contractions continued to come 5 minutes apart the rest of the night.

Fortunately we found out at my appointment I was dilated to a 4 (thank God) so they kept me. Jon wasn't able to get there till mid-afternoon due to all the police stuff he had to attend to but our doula was with me so we both were comfortable with him finishing what he needed to do that day. The contractions kept changing pattern. I'd have a cluster of them being just a few minutes apart but then have a 20 minute span where I didn't have any. It was weird but they certainly didn't hurt any less! Around 7 we broke my water because I'd only made it to a 6 after laboring all day with consistently intense contractions just not a regular pattern. Well that definitely upped the severity and brought them closer together so we all thought for sure this would be what was needed. Nope... They checked me 2 hours later and no progress. Being as I hadn't slept in 2 days we were becoming concerned about my epilepsy and sleep deprivation at this point. By this point I'd been in labor for over 30 hrs and hadn't actually slept since I'd begun early labor. We decided I should get the epidural so I could have a shot at sleeping. After the epidural we started the lowest level (a 1) but Connor wasn't handling it well. They had to come in and put me on oxygen for him which fortunately was all he needed but that also mean we couldn't use a higher level and I still hadn't progressed past a 6! They had also put in an internal monitor on my uterine wall (no contact w/ him) to see if my contractions were even productive and they weren't.

At this point it was 2-something in the morning and we were all so tired. The Dr's came in and said being as we exhausted pretty much every option they would have to recommend a c-section. Obviously that's the last thing, esp a first time mom, wants to do. However there really wasn't any other option at that point. They rolled me in to prep and then brought in Jon. I had a fabulous anesthesiologist through the whole thing and really all the dr's & nurses were amazing. The Dr's had actually looked at my birth plan! They had all been very cooperative since we got there which was a true blessing. They got Connor out and took him to for evaluation and suction, etc. Jon and I were waiting for that all important cry... As soon as he cried we cried haha Jon spent the next few minutes wiping away my tears and then went over to check on Connor. Jon brought him over to me all wrapped up so I could at least see and nuzzle him. Then Jon headed off w/ him to the nursery and I got stitched and stapled up. I later found out, when Jon joined me in the recover room, took me to recovery and Jon joined me later telling me he was over 9 lbs - quite a shock! They finally brought him in and we were able to at least initiate nursing. It wasn't entirely effective but when they brought him back after his bath he latched right on which was very exciting!

At the end of it all, 40 hrs from its beginning, we had a beautiful baby boy, absolutely perfect and healthy. It's cliche and I never fully believed the mom's who said it but, it was all so completely worth it! I got my staples out yesterday and he got a clean bill of health from the pediatrician (it was a big day!). So far the healing process on my end has gone amazingly well and I'm so grateful. I made myself get up and walk around the room, take a shower, etc. the day after and I know that has helped. Jon was able to not officially start his new job till the following Monday evening so he was at the hospital with me the whole time and then we came home together Saturday evening. I'm so grateful, I can't imagine not having him all that time! So far we're adjusting to the whole "parenthood" thing, working on nightly feedings and such. He's completely precious especially when he's not crying ;) For the most part he's a pretty good baby. He definitely doesn't have an "infant cry" so when he cries it's a pretty good volume already! Sorry for not updating this for a while~things were fairly boring for a bit there but not so much anymore! We weren't able to get a lot of pictures at the hospital but I do have a few we've taken. I've got to get in a better habit of taking pictures of him every day!

Jon all suite up for my c-section


First pictures~




Possibly one of my favorite pics so far-We were still at the hospital and Connor was just inconsolable. We happened to lay him on the bed and Jon squatted down next to him. Well Connor got a *death grip* on Jon's fingers and would not let go~He held on to Jon, stopped crying, and just laid there like that for a long time. Sweetest thing he'd done yet :)


Heading home from the hospital!


A couple random shots at home enjoying his random facial expressions (of which he has * a lot *

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 :)