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It's Spring and finally an update

I couldn't be worse at blogging if I tried. I am so behind on jotting down my thoughts and the only reason I got on here tonight is that Mike decided to start a blog, which has prompted me to update mine.
He asked if I minded him starting a blog for all those trapped musings in his head and I told him one thing. ``Don't write anything you would be ashamed for Riley to read one day.'' We shall see how this pans out.
So I last posted in November. Well not much has happened. Just kidding. In fact looking back over the other posts, that baby doesn't even look like the little munchkin we currently have living with us.
She is really growing and learning so much every day. Mike and I are so spoiled by how good she is and what a wonderful child she is right now. Erin is (jokingly, I think, I hope) wishing for her to be a terror of a teenager as she is so good. We work out of the house a couple days a week and she just sits with us, watching everything we do, playing on her gym and with her toys. She really loves staring at Erin though more than anything else.
Lately she has been going to sleep and then waking up an hour later for more food. Sometimes she takes 14 oz. in a 2 hour period. For perspective she typically drinks 8 oz. every 4 hours during the day so it has really been throwing us for a loop. She is a really good sleeper usually but the last couple weeks she has been staying up much later. Thankfully she is still sleeping through the night. However, Mike and I were so used to her routine we started questioning everything. Is she OK? Are we doing something wrong? Is she napping too much in the day? (Answer: No. She isn't a big napper.) Finally we came to the realization that she is just growing and maturing and things are going to throw us off what we have become accustomed to and to not let it shake us.
We had a couple big snow storms this winter, which was actually really fun to be snowed in as a family. Riley got to see snow for the first time. It was pretty funny. I wrapped her up in her bunting and she was so snug in her hat and sweater that as soon as we stepped outside she fell asleep. So Riley's first outside snow experience was sleeping through the biggest storm we've had, at least since I have been here.
Christmas was interesting. We spent Christmas Eve at my mom's. Mike read Night Before Christmas. It was a tradition in his house growing up so we picked that one up. We exchanged Christmas Pajamas and Ornaments (traditions I picked up along the way) and called it a night.
Christmas Day was eventful. My stepfather got ill. Now that in itself sucks but when you add to it that he is probably the best chef I know, Christmas dinner started to look in jeopardy. Thankfully the family banded together and made a great feast. Turns out he didn't have the flu, as we initially thought, but he had to eventually have his gallbladder removed. He is on the slow road to recovery though, thankfully.
Mike's football season started a couple weeks ago. I had shirts made for all the Borough Babies. There are currently 3 and half of them as Ryan and Heather didn't waste any time making a playmate for the Parkermeister, who incidentally is Riley's little buddy. Oh, and in a sign of potentially things to come, Parker got in Riley's face, screeched like a dinosaur and made her cry the other day. I told her it's not the last time a boy is going to make her cry in life :)
Back to football. So Riley and Parker had their first park play date and it was great. Parker is getting so big, sitting up on his own and trying to stand.
Riley is nearly sitting up now. I am not into freaking out about her hitting milestones. It isn't a time thing for us. It's an excitement thing. I mean I never met an adult who couldn't sit up, use the bathroom or count to 10. Yes, I WANT her to hit milestones early, who wouldn't? But it isn't really that important when, just that she does.
Alright, now I think we are up to date for the most part. I could promise to update this more frequently but my prediction is not too favorable:)

Playing catchup

Ok, so I am still playing catchup with my blog and my intention is to actually be writing as events happen and not remembering back to 6 weeks ago when we brought Riley home :)

Mike was wonderful and I am not sure how people do this without the support of either a family member of partner. More power to women whose partners leave them high and dry pregnant and they have to learn to navigate this new world alone. I mean you do it and I am sure I would cope but I am blessed and glad I don't have to.

I came to the realization that there are just things that moms don't tell expectant moms or people planning on getting pregnant. The former probably because why burst the bubble and the latter because we still need people to procreate to keep the world moving :)

So no one told me about labor and I already covered that part, but no one tells you that when you get home, sans awesome belly, yes I loved mine, and plus a life you are now responsible for, that your body goes through a more radical emotional change that it did the entire pregnancy. Once the baby leaves your body a ridiculous hormonal shift takes place that messes with you emotionally for anywhere between 1 to 8 weeks. Mine lasted about 3 and all I could think was ``what have I done.'' The scary part is I thought I would think this forever.

Thankfully your body does eventually balance itself out and once you get a routine down it's a pleasurable experience. Sure I feel like my brain cells diminish daily (she's not much of a conversationalist) and sure the highlight of my day now is making a bottle and waiting for an intentional (not gas inspired) smile, but it's MY daughter. A life the love that Mike and I have for each other created and we get to teach her and guide her and share with her all the joys this world has to offer.

On from the mushy stuff, so the last month has brought ups and downs. I enjoy nothing more than reviewing baby stuff online and finding the best diaper deals out there. I get to keep my house in order and cook for Mike and Riley is starting to figure out who we are. She loves to be held and rocked and is overall a very good baby.

We went to a pumpkin carving party with Mike's college buddies when she was 10 days old and she was a perfect angel. She also loves to be in the water. I have always loved being in the water and Mike isn't so keen, so I am very happy about that. Looks like I have my water baby.

She had her 1 month appointment today. She is 11lbs, 7 oz. and is in the 95th percentile for weight. She is 23 inches and is over 100th percentile for height. The doctor said the percentiles are not indicative of adult height and weight, but they do give us a gauge of how well she is growing. Dr. Gwyn is very happy with her overall and said she is doing 2 month old baby things so she is a few weeks ahead. She also got a shot while we were there... one quick scream and she was over it.

Thanksgiving is coming up this week so the holiday season is officially kicking off. It is so exciting to share this time of year with my child now. I don't even care about presents this year, and for anyone that knows me, that is a big deal haha.

Lots to update --- starts with Labor and ends in Baby

Alright. Believe it or not this is the first chance I have had to update the old blog. So there is much to discuss.

First September. My last day at work was the 15Th. Very bittersweet leaving. By the time I was done there were only a couple of us in the office and it was very quiet. I was so ready to be home and nesting and waiting on my little lady. I was convinced she would be early so I figured I had 3 weeks to go, plenty of time. My munchkin had other ideas and decided to test Mummy's patience early on.

So I spent 5 weeks at home waiting and waiting. I got so big at the end there that all I wanted to do was lay around and nothing I did would allow me to be comfortable. I swear your body makes you wake up every hour at the end there so when the baby arrives and wakes you in the middle of the night you are more than ready.

It became apparent that Riley wasn't going to grace us on her own so my induction was scheduled for October 13Th, 6 days after her due date... I wasn't very happy with that. I didn't want a 13Th baby, although Mike was excited and already planning her Friday the 13Th themed birthday parties... oh well, neither of us needed to worry as she didn't want to be born that day.

We got to the hospital at 5 a.m. (I know, damn masochists, I guess they too want to prepare you for the early morning wake up calls of the next few months), apprehensive, excited and ready to get the show on the road. They hooked me up to the pitocin to get the contractions rolling and then we waited... and waited and waited.

Disclaimer... graphic stuff being described so stop reading if you don't want to know all about my ins and outs, literally...By 5 pm still no progress so they stripped away some old scar tissue and things really got moving. I progressed pretty quickly and then nothing...

Unfortunately they told me they would break my water asap and so I got the epidural as the contractions were getting stronger. They didn't break my water until the next morning so I almost felt like getting the epidural that early wasn't necessary, although upon reflection it probably allowed me to sleep that night, and conserve energy for the next day.

By 8 am they broke my water, by 10 am I was at 10 cm and pushing. I was so excited to finally be having Riley... but 3 HOURS LATER my excitement turned to pure exhaustion and when I really didn't think I could push for another second, she emerged. Now, here's where my honesty must take over my want to present this as a glamorous, beautiful experience haha.

So, I have heard wonderful things about the epidural... NOT TRUE for me. I felt everything at the end, and it was not fun. I do get why people say you forget all about it quickly though. I can't say I have forgotten that it hurt REALLY BADLY, however, I cannot remember the exact intensity of it, although I know it was intense. At one point the anaeSNOOZEiologist (yes I have a patent pending on that word haha) upped the drugs, thank you very much, umm, but didn't actually screw the wire back in so it didn't get to me... that was right near the end. Good times.

All in all I was in the hospital Tuesday 5 am to Friday 3pm. In labor for 32 hours. Went through 4 hurse shift changes and ended up with the nurse who checked us in and said ``wow, you're still here... at least I get to meet your little one."

Anne Arundel was amazing. All the staff were incredible. All were patient, kind, understanding and extremely informative. Mike was with us the whole time and was a real trooper. Poor guy did not expect to see his wife like that and both him and my mom insisted they were not going to look ``down there'' at all during delivery. They sure did look down there and I couldn't have cared less. At that time I could have had a tour group come by and I wouldn't have cared.

So 32 hours, one baby later and we got to come home...

Way too long

Wow, I didn't think I'd be THIS bad at blogging. It's been over 2 months, shameful. Just goes to show how quickly life can fly by and you not realize it.

So a quick run down to get us caught up.

Second trimester was great. I have no complaints. I was energized and happy, didn't really put on any weight, ate well, and just enjoyed watching my ever growing belly. I had a weird symptom that despite all my researching and asking at my OB visits, no-one could really explain... a burning belly. I still have it occasionally but it was really intense for a couple months there. The best explanation I got was that it was my skin stretching but there are no stretch marks there and it was in exactly the same spot each time. It's not heartburn, I have been lucky enough to avoid that. I think because I am carrying Riley so low she isn't really interfering up there.

Laying on my back finally got to be uncomfortable and waking every hour or so to shift from sleeping on my left to sleeping on my right is still ongoing and gets a bit old... but if that's all I have to complain about I think I've done quite well.

Third trimester hit and in the beginning was good but now I am slowing down. With only 3 weeks to go and my prediction, or is it wishful thinking, is that she is going to come early. I hope she comes on my nan's birthday, September 21st, but Mike says she can't come until October since the recipe says she won't be ready until October haha. Mike needs directions for everything and falls apart if he doesn't have any so this made his statement even funnier.

In non pregnancy related items, Mike and I signed up to help out a great organization called Island Dog, www.islanddog.org . They rescue dogs abandoned on beaches in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, treat them, and bring them to the states to find forever homes. Learning about this group and the plight of the dogs really touched me and we felt we had to do something.

So along came Roxy... Roxy's story really hit a nerve with Mike and I. She was dumped at a few weeks old on the beach with her brother, who was subsequently killed with a machete, an act of fun or boredom, or both, who knows. So senseless and awful and she watched her brother go through that. We had to help. Katie, Island Dog founder and president, brought her to our house where she took over for a month. It was great to have a puppy in the house again and she definitely lit up the room with her wagging tail and trusting nature. It's so wonderful that she continued to trust in people after all she went through. We toyed with the idea of keeping her and as hard as the decision was, decided she was better off in a home that wasn't about to be turned upside down by the arrival of a little one of the human kind.

It was really tough to say goodbye, not least because she looked so much like London. It was a little like losing her all over again but bittersweet since we knew she was going to a great home with a lovely lady who has 2 other active dogs, perfect for a playful pup.

We had our showed in August. That was great. I can't thank my mom enough for all her great planning. She really pulled off a great event. It was so nice so see everyone and get some great things for Riley. Mike and I have been really blessed to have such great family and friends, who have been so generous.

The shower was at a really cool hotel called aloft. It was very trendy, very modern, very me. I loved it.

My last day of work is Sept. 15th. My company merged with another company and I got laid off. I did work 2 months after finding this all out but it has been hard as every one else I am used to working with went to the new company so it got kind of lonely there for a while. So I have to go on unemployment next week and start looking for my next challenge. Hopefully it won't take too long, although all you hear about now is the economy and bad job market so who knows.

I think that puts us back to date. Mike and the borough started their 8th or 9th or 20th season together yesterday and came away with a win. I can't wait for Riley to see her daddy play and I think it's great that after 8 years as college buddies they still take the time to play sports together.

Well, now it's time to wait and wait and hopefully not wait too long for the arrival of our little girl. I will commit to being much better about updating this blog especially since I'll be off work in a couple days.

Perfect weekend

Mike and I had a great weekend. We relaxed for most of it but actually got things accomplished too.

Friday night we didn't do much and Saturday we went to Babies R Us and met 2 of Mike's brothers in Little Italy to celebrate Matt's birthday. It was a surprise to Matt that we were there, so that was nice.

Today was awesome. We took our sweet time getting up and went to mass. Then we took the dogs to the dog park in Annapolis. Mike and I strongly believe that the dog park is the happiest place around and if we ever feel down, a trip to the dog park will take care of it. We spent longer than usual there today. Rosie was weird initially and jumped on the bench next to me. She wasn't hurt or anything so I wasn't sure what was wrong. And then I felt a raindrop. Nothing came of it but I realized that she was nervous about a possible storm... my smart Sheltie.

When we got home we watched movie and Riley was kicking me all over the place. She is getting stronger with her kicks everyday and spends a good 10 minutes each time she gets active kicking and punching. She kicked so hard today you could see my stomach push out. It was really strange to look at and Mike was shocked to feel her kick so strongly.

Tonight Mike must have been nesting haha. He got up and started on projects around the house we've been needing to do forever. I love that man.  All in all a great weekend.