September 15, 2014 by Stephanie

Talks with Tom #28

In recent weeks, there have been so many new parent conversations with Tom that have left me dying laughing or with my jaw on the floor. Unfortunately, I always think I am going to remember them to post, but then soon forget before I have time to write a post.

Just know, we are having lots of extra giggles due to our sleep deprivation and new parentdom.

This particular one happened late at night after George wet the bed.

I was changing the sheets, and Tom was holding a fussy George. (I mean who wouldn’t be fussy after wetting the bed?)

We had just fed him, but he wasn’t really settling down.

Me-Maybe he is still hungry.

Tom-Uh, yea I am going to guess he is still hungry since he just latched on to my nipple.

George will latch on to anything when he is hungry…collarbones, bibs, his own hand, my hair, the inside of my elbow…

Tom has resorted to letting this happen fairly often now to keep the fussiness at bay while we are trying to get bottles and milk ready for him.

The things we do as parents.

But seriously, I would do anything for this face.

On a related note, George’s due date was today. Crazy to think we were supposed to be just meeting him now, but he has been on the outside now for 3 weeks.

He also got to meet one of his cousins this week.

They were seriously adorable together. Ava was so sweet with him. She has volunteered to be his babysitter and teach him all the words. George of course was perfectly content being dotted on all weekend.

I can’t wait to watch them grow up together!

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September 11, 2014 by Stephanie

How You Doin’?

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Everyone is asking how we are doing now that we are all home and figuring out how to be a family of 3, well 5 with the dogs.

Here are some of my thoughts on being home with the little munchkin.

I admit to taking a shower every couple days, and I have only worn make-up once in the past two weeks. Also I haven’t worn a real bra since George was born. And I am perfectly content with these grooming standards.
Tom and I had every intention of never letting George have a pacifier. However, his time in the NICU kind of thwarted that. They gave him one on several occasions before he could be held to calm him down. Once coming home, we lasted about 24 hours before we caved and gave him one when he was restless. He doesn’t need it all the time, but sometimes at 3 in the morning, it’s the only thing that will put him to sleep. Also it means that he isn’t chewing off his hands…

I don’t know how I would get through nightly feedings without Netflix. It has brought my binge watching to a whole new level…I would love to read, but I haven’t figured out how to breastfeed with one hand yet, so I can’t hold a book easily.
I am healing quite nicely from giving birth. There are days where I can feel the stitches, but for the most part I feel pretty normal. I did have to go on blood pressure medicine, but hopefully I will be off that after a month out.
George HATES being naked. I am sad by this because it means that we won’t have any cute naked newborn pictures. This is as close I could get, and he still is wearing a diaper. Otherwise the pictures look like I am torturing him and should be turned in for neglect. On the plus side, I didn’t have to deal with any poop shooting pictures.

On the peeing and pooping note, I have already been pissed and pooped on. Tom has evaded it so far (punk). The projectile range is ridiculous for such a tiny body. Also I swear his thingy is like one of those garden hoses you see in the movies that has gone wild and flipping water uncontrollably everywhere. Except it is pee going uncontrollably everywhere. Yesterday I seriously was trying to catch it with a diaper whilst trying to keep a wiggling baby from coming off the changing pad.
Watching his umbilical cord fall off was disgusting. I wouldn’t touch it, and was horrified that it fell off my baby.
Adjusting to the new sleep schedule has really been the only difficult part. He feeds every 3 hours, so that is pretty much my life right now. Unfortunately, I still can sleep like a log. I always miss the 2:30am feeding, and EVERY night I have turned off my alarm in my sleep. Tom has to wake me up later to say I missed the feeding. Whoops. Luckily, we have milk galore, so Tom has graciously taken over that feeding.
I miss my morning radio show, but by the time I remember to tune in, it’s already past 9 am. Womp womp.
I have managed to make homemade meals every night for dinner. #wearenteatingcerealforeverymeal
George has only had one bad night where he didn’t sleep. He is a really good baby for the most part. Really he only cries when I am not fast enough with the boob milk or his changing is taking longer than he would like.
He does spit up a lot. People who say breastfeeding babies don’t do this lie. The first time it shot out of his nose I was about 2 seconds away from taking him to the ER. Luckily my mom was still here and calmed my frantic overreaction.
I don’t miss work yet, but I am sure here in a few weeks that will come.
Sometimes I just sit and stare at George. I am still overwhelmed at times that he is actually my son. Saying “my son” is overwhelming…
I am ecstatic to say that I am officially 3 pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight, AND I can fit into all my pre-prego clothes again. It took me exactly a week to do so. Success! I am pretty proud of my body especially since I was on bed rest pretty much for the last month. (Although I will admit, I haven’t worn much outside of pajama pants and tshirts…)
All in all, I don’t think this is such a bad gig. We don’t feel like our life is over like the world likes to make you think. Quite the contrary, our life has a whole new meaning now. I am pretty content hanging out with little G all day.

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September 10, 2014 by Stephanie

35 Before 35 Update

Here we are, another month passed. I didn’t do too bad considering I was on bedrest for most of the month and had a baby, which coincidentally checks one of the list.

1. Crochet something else besides blankets or scarves at least once a year

I made a tie and beanie for George to do some pictures with. The beanie is bigger than his whole head, but the tie worked well!

The last one makes my heart giddy.

2. Do a photography challenge

My goal is to do at least one mini session with George each week for a year. I have done well so far! Granted it has only been two weeks, but you have to start somewhere. It will be fun to practice different techniques and props with him and not worry about messing it up for a client. I intend to try different angles, locations, lighting, equipment, or props each time to stretch what I can do with a camera. Also selfishly, this challenge will document the growth of the most adorable little boy.

3. ~~Visit 5 cities I have never been to before~~ (5/5)

4. Tour at least one of the distilleries in the KY/TN area

5. Send at least 5 snail mail a month

Done.

6. Become a “professional” photographer

Now that George has made it out into the world, I am hoping to get back into things with this.

7. Run at least 10 races (any distance) (1/10)

8. Go camping with Tom

9. Pay for the car behind me in a drive through

10. See Tyrone Wells live as many times as possible

11. ~~Tour Fort Defiance here in Clarksville~~

12. Water ski with my dad

13. Do a 5K with my mom

14. Take a swing dance class with Tom

15. Read at least one fun book a month and one professional development book every three months

Unfortunately, I keep picking books that aren’t that great so I stall out. I swear I am working on it.

16. Take a pottery or stained glass class

17. Do one new recipe each month

I really rocked this out this month. I made a taco casserole, sloppy joes, and I even made up my own crockpot recipe of chicken and broccoli mac and cheese.

18. See both a Clemson and UCM football game live

19. Find a place to volunteer on a regular basis

20. Go hiking

21. Ride in a hot air balloon

22. Go to at least 20 “new to me” restaurants. (16/20)

23. Stay at a bed and breakfast

24. Spend a day without electronics (phone, t.v. and computer)

25. Have a Kentucky Derby themed 30th birthday party.

26. Explore Nashville while we live here

27. Watch at least 10 movies that I have not seen before that won Best Picture at the Oscars and at least 20 documentaries (not necessarily Oscar winning) Movies (1/10); Documentaries (5/20)

28. Sew an item of clothing from scratch

29. Do a personal devotional/bible study on my own

30. Be a mascot for an event

31. Go on our honeymoon (preferably somewhere tropical)

32. Host an annual NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game party

33. Go on a mission trip

34. Be on a recreation volleyball team

35. Become a mom

What I am a mom?!? We made a pretty cute kid.

September 9, 2014 by Stephanie

George-Two Weeks

It has been two weeks since our life changed forever, and our little bundle was born. He has been home for one week, and we couldn’t be happier!

Since this blog is meant to document our life, I am planning on doing monthly updates on George’s growth and his overall cuteness. You’re welcome.

Weight: On Friday, he was 5 lbs 10 oz. That is 4 oz less than his birth weight. It is normal for babies to lose weight in their first few weeks, so nothing to worry about yet. Even though he is so little, it is still mind-boggling that he fit in my stomach.

Health: Friday we got the all-clear on his billy report. I am very happy to no longer have to worry about that jaundice. Also maybe his feet will heal. He has prick marks all over his heels where they drew blood daily. All of our doctor’s visits last week went very well, and the doctor was very positive about how far he has come.

Diet: He exclusively is on breastmilk. We are trading between breastfeeding and bottle feeding though. I feel like my life is dictated by his eating schedule and having to pump for him since he needs to eat every 3 hours.

Clothes: He is barely fitting into newborn clothes, and even some NB clothes he is drowning in.

Sleeping: When he isn’t eating, he is sleeping. Actually sometimes he is sleeping while he is eating. He is a fairly good sleeper, and it doesn’t take much coaxing from us to get him to dream land. Except last night. He cried from 10pm until 5:30am…and then as soon as Tom left for PT he was my sweet little baby again.

Likes: It’s hard to say what he likes at this point besides eating and being held. He does love sucking on his fingers and hands.

Dislikes: Getting changed and being naked. Screams bloody murder when he is naked.

Milestones: Breaking out of the NICU and increasing our breastfeeding sessions.

Quirks: When we give him his pacifier, he will shake his head violently back in forth as if he can’t find it before he latches on to it. He also grunts all the time. He still gets the hiccups a few times a day like he did in the womb. However, now they look so painful when he has them.

Worst moment of the month: Obviously everything about the NICU.

Best moment of the month: Bringing George home.

September 8, 2014 by Stephanie

The Elephant in the Room

When we started thinking about how to decorate George’s room, I knew that I wanted something simple but also unique and personal to us. Most of our art in our house is homemade, and I wanted the same for George’s nursery.

I saw a few things on Pinterest, and then thought about our wedding guest book and combined the ideas.

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We thought it would be cute to do something similar with our kids and the baby showers.

So I tried my hand at drawing and painting.

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I made a stencil for the elephant.

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I tried doing the potato stamp for the balloons, but it did not work. I resorted to making an oval stencil and traced balloons all over. As I painted in the ovals, I added the little balloon knot with the paint brush. I kind of randomly alternated the blue and orange.

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My mom then helped with the strings. We just used a thin point sharpie to make the strings and the features on the elephant.

We had silver and black sharpies for the shower guests to sign a little note for George. In hindsight, I wish we would have only used one color of sharpie, but it still is great none the less.