Celebrate the Good

It's been a heart heavy week.  It's unbelievable that Monday's bombing was just the first of several devastating tragedies to rock our country.  Then came the Senate's blatant refusal to represent the people who elected them as they struck down the gun bill.  Then came the explosion in West, TX, an entire town rocked.  Then came the massive manhunt for the bombers in Boston that started last night and continues as I type this.

Heart heavy.

In response to the entire city of Boston being on lockdown this morning, Kelly Oxford tweeted, "This week has been so shitty. Hearts out to those directly affected by everything. Can we all be on lockdown today? In our beds?"

I feel you.  I locked myself down Monday afternoon and all day Tuesday.  Lately, Owen has fallen into the habit of falling asleep on me immediately after eating. Early this week, instead of putting him down so I could get a few things done, I sat with him.  And just held him.  Sometimes dozing off myself but always feeling grateful that I could hold him close.

I was thinking of Martin Richard.  I couldn't stop thinking about that sweet boy and so I held my boy closer.  I was thinking about Krystle Campbell and Lingzi Lu.  I thought about how my parents would feel if my name took the place of one of theirs.  I never fully grasped how much my parents loved me until I became a parent myself.  My heart aches for all of their families and loved ones.  And for those injured, physically and emotionally by the day's events.

Nope.  I wasn't putting my boy down earlier this week. Everything else could wait.

Owen's at the stage in his life where he's starting to really notice things.  The Wonder Weeks describes it as going from seeing the world as a bowl of soup where everything blends together to noticing that things are separate.  For example, he notices that he has hands or that there is a toy dangling above his head as he lays on his play mat.  It's fascinating to watch him make new discoveries as he finally "sees" the world.

And the world is a scary place.  Especially this week.  I want to protect him from all of the sadness and I know that is impossible.  He's a part of the world now and all that entails.  But where there is darkness, there is also light.  In response to the way the news is reported in the media - all doom and gloom - my husband always says, "I've got 'news' for you:  The world is 95% good."  This week he decided to change the percentage.  Now he says, "The world is 99% good."  He upped the percentage. Because any time there's a tragedy like this week's bombing there is an immediate retaliation of hope.  People show us just how good they can be.  There were countless stories of the bravery of the first responders and the kindness of strangers, offering a place to stay or the coat off their back to cold runners or even just a hand to hold as they passed by.  So I agree with my husband.  The world is 99% good.  And that's what I'll remind Owen of as inevitable tough conversations arise in the future.

There was a quote from Mr. Rogers that made the rounds on social media after Monday that has a similar sentiment:

As we go into the weekend, uncertain of how all will play out, I celebrate the helpers.

And hold the ones I love tight.

6 Weeks: Must-Haves So Far

Guys. Owen slept from 10:30pm to 5:30am last night.  LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!  He'll be seven weeks old tomorrow and I'm hoping this new sleep thing continues.  If not, I'm still going to revel in the glory that was last night (she says, skipping and whistling through her morning).

In the meantime, I've taken stock and thought about our "must haves" that have gotten us through the first six weeks.  Here's what worked for us and I would love to hear what works for you!  I know I have a few expecting mommies that read this blog that might find a list like this helpful.  Disclaimer though:  what works for one baby may not work for another.  It's nice to have ideas of what to check out but there's always room for customization!

In no particular order:

1.  Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets.  We got home from the hospital and realized we didn't bring any of the swaddle blankets with us.  Panic set in.  For the first few days of Owen's life, there wasn't much time that went by that he wasn't swaddled.  All the nurses would wrap him up like a little burrito and he seemed to love it.  How would we get him to sleep if we couldn't do the same??  Enter Aden + Anais blankets.  I remembered that we had registered for them and after a little trial and error we figured out how to use them to swaddle.  For the first five weeks, we'd swaddle him before bed religiously.  Now we use them as little lap blankets in his rocker.  We used one as a shield over his car seat to protect him from germs when we had to go to urgent care (that's another story). They are really versatile and will surely be used long beyond these first six weeks!

2.  Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack.  I registered for this little rack because I thought it was cute.  Turns out it's cute AND functional.  I thought I'd just be putting pump stuff out to dry but, as we know, breastfeeding didn't go as planned. This rack is perfect for keeping all of O's feeding needs separate and sanitary.  Also, this bottle brush has played a role in that as well.

(*One thing I didn't think I needed was bottles.  If I could do things differently, I would have a few on hand just in case.  Same goes for formula.  I'd have a small amount on hand, just in case.  The hospital gave us some Enfamil nursette bottles to help supplement but it left Owen a little constipated.  Our pediatrician recommended Gerber Good Start to help with digestion and his tummy seems to handle it better.)

3.  Breast Pump.  I rented a hospital grade pump for the first month and when I turned it in all I had was this manual pump.  A friend let me borrow her electric one to try out but I wasn't able to pick it up until a few days after returning the hospital one.  I used the manual pump to relieve engorgement in the meantime...and loved it.  For some reason, I can get a lot more, a lot more efficiently, with my manual.  So this is what I've been using.  I originally got it to use when traveling and a plug wasn't near by. But now I like the convenience of not having to be plugged in. I can use it watching tv, sitting in bed, at the table while eating breakfast...you pretty much don't want to show up at my place unannounced these days.

4.  Rock-n-Play Sleeper.  I've already talked about my love for this rocker but it's worth repeating.  I love how it cradles him and how it is so lightweight and portable.  I'll be sad when he officially outgrows it.

5.  Zip-front Onesie Sleepers.  Whoever decided button snaps were a good idea on infant clothing must have been way more patient than I.  I love his footed PJs that I can zip him in and out of.  Beats snapping and unsnapping and realizing you missed a snap when trying to get a baby back to sleep as quickly as possible during a middle-of-the-night diaper change.  I can't get enough of these.

6.  Honest Diapers.  The amount of diapers this one goes through makes me really aware of waste.  If I had my own washer and dryer in my place, I might have tried cloth diapering. But since don't, we've opted to use Honest Diapers.  I love them!  They are made of plant-based material, making them more eco-friendly, have no harsh chemicals or dyes and they work great.  Plus, they deliver a monthly supply to you, along with wipes, and the designs are adorable.

7.  Boppy.  It's so much easier to hold him while feeding or just while hanging out when I have the Boppy in my lap.  I also have a Brest Friend. Both are good but I find that I use this pillow more.

8. Pacifiers.  I didn't want to use them before I had the baby.  I didn't want any "nipple confusion" or for him to get hooked on his "passy."  But when he wouldn't stop crying after we got home from the hospital (and since he wasn't really breastfeeding at that point anyway), I remembered that we were given a few pacifiers as shower gifts and I dug them out.  They were a lifesaver that first night.  And when we took him to the doctor three days later and had him using a pacifier, the doc commended us saying, "A lot of parents are hesitant to use pacifiers but the truth is, babies like to suck.  It soothes them.  If they don't have a pacifier, they'll find their fingers.  And it's a lot easier to wean them off a pacifier than it is their thumb."  Good enough for me.

9.  Rocker/Recliner.  I know a lot of people opt for the sleek gliders that can fit in their baby's nursery.  Our nursery has no room for a rocker so we decided to get a rocker/recliner that we can keep downstairs in our living space.  Thank goodness we did.  And not for rocking the baby, like you may think.  I slept in this bad boy for the first two weeks after getting home.  With the c-section, I didn't feel comfortable laying flat in a bed.  It hurt for some reason.  Plus, it was difficult to get out of bed without using abdominal muscles and I was paranoid about busting a stitch.  So Dan brought the chair upstairs and I convalesced there.  Now it's back downstairs and I hold and rock and feed Owen in it. I've never loved a chair so much.

10. Activity Mat.  He loves his activity mat. He'll lay there and look around, cooing at the animals. And tummy time is easier with the little pillow that comes with this mat.  That way his face isn't smashed into the floor.  And he holds up his head pretty well now, which I attribute to time hanging out face down.

11.  Fingernail Clippers.  I swear, I think my water broke because this kid scratched his way out.  He's had long, sharp nails since he was born and I have to trim them every couple of days.  I keep these clippers next to my rocker so that they're handy.  I only clip when he's in a deep nap mode...otherwise he squirms too much!







12. Thermometer.  We use the one the hospital gave us. Why?  We check his temperature to ease our minds.  He's sleeping too much or too little.  Or he's eating too much or too little.  Or he's crying too much or too little.  Does he feel a little too cool or a little too warm?  There are plenty of times to feel worried with an infant. If he's in normal range, we're just being paranoid.  If he's not, it's time to call the doctor.  And get comfortable using it rectally - that's the temperature that counts.

13.  Bassinet Pad.  A friend recommended these and I bought three. I love them!  Since Owen's been sleeping in our room, we use one of these on our bed to change him in the night and avoid any accidents.  We also have one downstairs that we use on this oversized chair so we don't have to go upstairs to his changing table every time.



The same friend who recommended the bassinet pads sent me a comprehensive list of her must-haves when I was pregnant.  It was a great jumping off point for us so I thought I'd share the love and pay it forward.  Big thanks to Michaela for inspiring this post!  And, as Owen gets older, I'll continue making must-have lists for each different stage.

Happy Weekend, All!

A Thank You, Milestones and A Haircut

Happy Friday All!

First, I want to give a big thank you to all of you beautiful women who commented on here, on Facebook and sent a messages after my last post.  Your words of encouragement and hearing about your experiences mean more than you know.  Actually, you probably do.  These first days of motherhood can feel very isolating and it's reassuring that that feeling is not as lonely as it masks itself as.  I feel so blessed to be a part of this motherhood-sisterhood and sharing with you all makes my personal experience more manageable.  So, THANK YOU.

More milestones!  Tomorrow marks Owen's sixth week in the world which also marks the end of my convalescence.  There's a strict six week recovery period after a c-section where activity is kept to a minimum: no lifting anything heavier than my baby, no exercising - especially abdominal exercises - and no sex (ha).  I have my check-up with the doctor next Wednesday and I can't wait to get the all clear.  I've been feeling pretty good physically.  The pain from the surgery has been gone for a few weeks now.  And my daily (or every-other-day) walks have gotten easier and longer.  I can't wait to get back into some sort of workout routine!  Which is a phrase I never thought I'd utter.  But here I am, jonesing to get back out there and go for a run.  And I really want to do some plank exercises to tone the tummy.  And lunges.  This booty is taking on a life of its own...  I'm researching stroller workouts to try! Any suggestions?

Another milestone:  Owen is smiling now!  He did his first social smile on his fifth week birthday and it was a couple minutes of smiles and awesomeness.  Then he didn't smile again for a few days.  And then he did.  And now even he seems to smile when I change his diaper - which is quite a difference from him screaming whenever I changed him in the early days!  Also, I'm pretty sure he's giggling in his sleep.  No giggles in awake life yet but it's the cutest darn thing when he seems to be dreaming happy dreams.

Also, this is a thing, right?  A major life change happens and you chop all your hair off?  I feel like a lot of women do this after getting married, divorced, or, in my case, after having a baby.  It's actually something I've been wanting to do for awhile now but changing your look in my line of work can sometimes be costly.  A major haircut means getting new headshots (which are expensive) and sometimes means you're now a different 'type.'  But since I needed to get new headshots done after having a baby anyway, I figured now was the time to go under the scissors.  It's a little shorter than I expected but it's growing on me (pun intended).  Here's a recent family photo.  My boys are so handsome!

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

One Month: What I've Learned

Cake!

Owen celebrated his one month birthday this past Saturday...already.  A month has gone by and it has been the longest and quickest month of my life.  It feels like an important milestone.  We made it through!  Here are a few things I learned...

1. When people say that "Being a mom is the hardest job," they're not just saying it.  I'm going to admit to a bit of cynicism here: I always figured people just said that as a way to feel better about not working or about not having a "real" job.  And for that naivete, I apologize.  Profusely.  Motherhood is no joke, y'all.  And from what I've heard from fellow moms since becoming a mom, this first month is one of the hardest periods of all.  I can say without hyperbole that this has been the hardest time of my life.  I'll delve into it more in a separate post but between the hormones,  the sleep deprivation, the pain from c-section recovery and the feelings of incompetence and helplessness, this adjustment period has knocked me sideways. I don't think I would have believed it could be this hard before I had Owen.  In fact, when I asked one of my good friends who has two daughters, "Why didn't you tell me it was this hard??" She said emphatically, "Because you never would have believed me."  And it's true.

2.  Having help CANNOT be underestimated.  It's tough.  Our family is all on the east coast.  So figuring out the best time for them come out was difficult.  I wanted my family to be able to come as soon as they wanted to but since we had no idea if Owen would come early/on time/late, it was difficult to plan. We finally decided that since he was due on 2/20, my parents would book their flights for the first week of March.  That way if he was a few days early or late, they'd still be here when he was new.  Plus, that would give my husband and I a little time to ourselves so we could figure out a routine.  At least, that is the way the thinking went.  INSERT LAUGHTER HERE.  We got home on a Tuesday.  My mom, dad and sister were scheduled to arrive on that following Saturday.  I called my mom hysterical on Wednesday and told her I don't care what she needed to do or what it costs - we'll pay it - but she needed to get on the first flight possible. I needed her.  Desperately.  Maybe it would have been different if I had delivered vaginally.  Maybe we would have been better able to manage during those first days.  But I didn't. And things were dire here.  Babies don't like change.  Guess who didn't sleep that first night home?  If you guessed all three of us, you'd be correct.  Owen would scream if we weren't holding him.  I wasn't able to get up to pick him up.  I couldn't get up to change a diaper.  I couldn't walk down the stairs to make food.  I couldn't nurse my baby because my milk wasn't coming in.  Factor in being an emotional wreck from the swinging hormones, it wasn't pretty here.  Dan was basically a single parent and my caretaker, and it was too much for one person.  My mom was a saint and rearranged her life, dropped everything and was here by Thursday morning.  Just knowing she was on her way helped us breathe easier.  She was here for two weeks, we had three days alone and then Dan's parents arrived.  They left on Tuesday.  And we are in a much better place to be on our own.  Which leads me to the next thing I learned...

3.  It does get better.  During the first week, when people said it would get better, I just cried.  I didn't see how it would.  I didn't see an end to the feeding/sleeping/crying.  And when I say "crying," I'm talking more about me than Owen.  But somehow, three-hour interval by three-hour interval, things started improving.  We started finding routines.  I stopped being so hard on myself to do everything "right."  My hormones started balancing out.  The pain from surgery started to wane.  Owen and I started to figure each other out.  I started recognizing his cries - hungry versus tired versus dirty diaper.  And everything started to feel a little more manageable.

4.  There is no tomorrow.  At least, at first. It's three-hour-interval to three-hour-interval...initially.  That first week, Owen lost a pound and he was already small to begin with.  This meant we had a strict feeding schedule of every three hours.  And this boy never woke up to tell us he was hungry.  I had to set an alarm, wake him up by changing his diaper and then keep him awake as he nursed by tickling him or putting my hand in cold water and then on his skin (doctor's orders!).  And when nursing was a struggle, those three-hour-intervals involved more wrestling to get him to eat than it did rest.  So days and nights just blended together.  This past month has felt like one long day.  But we got his weight up!  He's around nine pounds now and is feeding on demand...he actually lets me know when he's hungry.  Days are starting to feel a little more delineated.  Of course, last night he decided he wanted to hang out and party from 3:30am to 5:30am...so there is always something new.  But the alarm system is a little more lax now.

5. Breastfeeding is hard.  And that's ok.  I touched on this a bit before but we really struggled with breastfeeding.  And that was a tough mental hurdle for me.  I wanted to breastfeed exclusively.  I wanted to breastfeed for a year. But that wasn't in the cards for us.  And I beat myself up about it initially.  But the more moms I talk to, the more I realize how common this is.  And I started to be a little more forgiving with myself.  I still pump.  He gets about half breast milk, half formula at this point. And oddly enough, he started latching on as "snacks" between mealtimes when he went through a growth spurt last week.  So it seems like feeding from the source is still a possibility.  I never would have thought that after thirty days we'd get back to where I had hoped we started...but here we are.  However, I'm not giving up bottle feeding on the overnight feedings!  That has been the secret to my sanity.  Instead of fighting for the better part of an hour to get him to latch, feed, burp, etc., I put together a bottle and we're done in fifteen minutes.  And we're back to bed.  And we get much needed rest.  I'm sure there are purists out there that will tell me I'm doing it wrong but this works for us.  And we're all happier for it.  And that counts for A LOT.

6.  Paper plates are bad for the environment...but great for new moms.  Soon-to-be moms, stock up now.  Using paper plates for your meals will save you a lot of grief.  There will be plenty of other things to clean up.  If the environmental impact bothers you (as it does me) I just remind myself that this is a temporary fix and I'll get back to friendlier eco habits soon enough.

7.  Make lists.  I never know how long Owen will nap but I do know my chore list just keeps growing now that we're on our own again.  The laundry is piling up, the bathroom needs cleaned, the bottles need boiled, I need to shower or brush my teeth...you know, all the tedious but necessary things around the house.  And yes, while sometimes I'll nap with him, sometimes I need to get a few things done.  And it's really easy to do things that aren't as high on the priority list first (ahem, surfing Twitter and Facebook) and then run out of time to do the bigger things because he's awake again and I'm on baby duty.  I'm still working on this one.  But the goal is to write down all that I need to do and then rank them.  And do them by importance.  Ugh.  Like laundry.

8. You can't have too many newborn clothes (especially with a boy).  I don't know how he does it but during the first three weeks, every time he peed, he managed to escape his diaper and soak whatever he was wearing and whoever was holding him.  We tried three different brands of diapers but nothing could contain this boy.  He has Houdini pee.  We were going through nearly ten outfits a day, it seemed.  His pee is a little more under control now but every once in awhile, it makes a break for it.  He's already on his third outfit today.  Hence the need to prioritize laundry.  And have lots of itty-bitty clothes around the house.

9.  This Rock-n-Play Sleeper is the bomb.  We tried a lot of different ways to get this boy comfortable enough to fall asleep.  He doesn't like to sleep.  He fights it like he doesn't want to miss out on anything.  We were having him sleep in his pack-n-play.  Then we tried his crib.  And a little co-sleeper that went in the bed.  He was swaddled and warm but it didn't matter.  Then we tried the Rock-n-Play and it rocked our world.  He loves it.  He's on an incline, which helps with digestion and congestion but it also lets him look out for awhile.  He'll contently sit in it and watch us eat dinner or watch me clean up the living room.  Then...he'll fall asleep!  It cradles him just right so he doesn't feel like he's laying in the middle of nowhere.  And it's so lightweight we can take it upstairs and downstairs easily.  It's a major must-have for us.  The link above takes you to Target's site, which is where I got it from.

10.  Trust your instincts. We have them for a reason.  Everyone has an opinion or a story or a thought on how you should do things.  And all the advice can get overwhelming.  So here's the one piece of advice I did listen to:  Take a deep breath, take a step back, and listen to yourself.  We're finding what's right for me and my baby.  And what's right for us may be different than what's right for others.  But we made it through this first month.  And I'm listening to him grunt and coo in his swing right now as he fights sleep. Life is good.

I'm Sara Haley's "March Fit & Healthy Mommy-to-Be"!

First!  I am flattered and honored to be featured this month as Sara Haley's "Fit & Healthy Mommy-to-Be of the Month"!  Sara interviewed me before Owen was born and I really hope you'll jump over to her site to read her write up. If you've been reading along on here, you know that Sara's workout DVD "Expecting More" was my main exercise routine while I was pregnant and I highly recommend it.  She has a new workout DVD called "Sweat Unlimited" that I can't wait to check out.  It's for anyone with a busy schedule but was designed with the new mom in mind with five different workouts that vary in time commitment, from 5 minutes to 45 minutes.  Only two and half more weeks until I can start working out again and I can't wait!  Thanks for the great fitness tools, Sara!  And thank you for featuring me on your blog!

*****

PJ Party today...and everyday

It's been almost a month since Owen was born and I think I'm starting to find our rhythm.  Starting.  I still have my backslide moments of bursting into tears because I'm so-tired-and-he-won't-sleep-and-all-I-want-to-do-is-brush-my-teeth but we're getting there.  We're finding our new normal together.  His new normal this week has been to feed constantly.  He's just constantly hungry.  He's being fed every three hours with either a bottle of breastmilk or a bottle of formula (I still need to fill you in on my breastfeeding woes) but it seems like every hour on the hour he wants to eat again.  I figured this out because he'll start screaming and no amount of rocking/shushing/singing/swaying does the trick.  So in a revelatory moment, I popped a boob in his mouth and ta-da!  He stopped squawking.  And this has continued to work. Which is a miracle in itself, given our breastfeeding woes:  Basically, he didn't know how to suck initially in the hospital so the lactation nurses had me start pumping to make sure my milk came in.  But then my milk didn't come in until Day 10.  So prior to that, his pediatrician had us start supplementing with formula.  And now that my milk is here, it's in low production - I've never felt engorged or experienced leaking or anything.  And even if he nurses for the recommended 15 minutes per side, he's still hungry.  But getting him to nurse for that long is a struggle.  I think he gets frustrated because he isn't getting enough.  So...yeah. We've been figuring things out.  But all of a sudden he wants to nurse.  All. The. Time.  Which will be an interesting thing to juggle starting tomorrow because my in-laws get into town and it's like an issue of National Geographic in my living room.  I'll have to learn to be a bit more modest for a few days.

Also!  I started writing out the birth story but it is a long one and since I only get snippets of time to write it's been a slow trudge. But hopefully I'll get it up soon.  Now that we're finding our rhythm maybe I'll find more opportunities to write.  Eh, who am I kidding?  I'm sure the beat will change again before I know it.  Until then...

Owen is Here!

First Family Photo

Proud mama

That face!

Owen Daniel, born on February 23, 2013...

It's been seventeen days since Owen came into the world.  Right now he's sleeping and has only fifteen more minutes before I need to feed him again so this post will be brief.  Hoping to get a few more minutes to write during his next nap.  This nap-time-round I also took a nap and then went for a walk.  The walks are part of my c-section recovery - doctor's orders to take a little walk every day, a little further every day.  Thankfully it's gorgeous here today.  LA has its perks.

I'm anxious to tell you about the past two and half weeks, starting with the labor.  I had certain expectations...none of which happened.  I've also been knocked backwards by the recovery process and the adjustment period of taking care of a newborn.  From breast feeding struggles to getting any sort of rest, there has been a major learning curve.  I was particularly surprised by the post-partum depression that snuck up on me.  I expected some sort of form of the "baby blues" but this was more than expected.  Basically "expectations" have been shattered and taken on a whole new meaning in the past weeks.  I'm learning.  We're learning from each other.  And this project is worth it.

But for now, nap time is over and it's time to feed this little guy...

More at the next "break"...

Still Pregnant

February 20th was the day we'd been looking forward to since the summer.  You know, circled in red and anticipated wildly by not just us, according to the amount of texts I received yesterday.  But here we are at 2/21 and this baby is still in my belly...with no signs of wanting to come out anytime soon.

We had a doctor appointment yesterday that included an ultrasound, non stress test and an internal exam.  Good news is, Baby Boy is healthy and doing well.  Fluid levels are good, his heart rate is great, he's a good size and I'm dilating slightly, so these are all things to be thankful for.  But we thought for sure he'd be here by now.  Not just me and my husband but my doctor thought it too!  Baby is "really long" so we thought he'd be out of room. Turns out my "really long" torso is a little too accommodating.

So yesterday, after the doctor appointment, I came home, sat on my yoga ball, baked cookies, went for a long walk and put a ton of red pepper flakes on my pizza.  And besides a bit of heartburn, I'm still pregnant.  Did you know that only 34% of women go past their due date?  This is according to my BabyCenter app.  It seems like the number would be higher.  I need the stats for first time moms going over their due dates.  My mom was overdue with all three of her kids though so maybe it's another trait I've inherited.  I'm the oldest and I was two days overdue.  And I was also due on the 20th (of June).  Maybe Baby Boy will take after his mama and show up tomorrow.  Send good vibes, folks.  I'm excited to meet this little guy!

Prep: Freezer Meals Before Baby Arrives

Two more days until my due date and it looks like this little guy is quite comfy where he is at.  Not really experiencing any early labor.  The contractions I was having a few weeks ago seem to have all but disappeared.  I had a bit of mild cramping last night and the key word there is "mild."  I thought for sure he was going to come early - at least a week before his due date.  Then I had a premonition about the number 17 so I thought he'd come yesterday.  Turns out I just have a lot of wishful thinking going on.

While we wait, I feel like I'm crawling the walls.  I don't want to go too far from home "just in case." My long walks are becoming shorter because, even with my maternity belt, my belly feels so heavy and uncomfortable and I have to pee pretty much as soon as I start walking.  We've cleaned out our DVR and are caught up on all of our shows.  I watched some terrible movies that were on TV over the weekend (Knight and Day and When In Rome - save yourself and never watch them).  I'm thinking of baking some more muffins this morning, this time pumpkin chocolate chip.  And after that I guess I'll read a book?  And do more laundry. I realize this down time will seem luxurious soon enough but still...

Over the weekend, to cope with some of this wall-crawling, I prepared 8 Slow Cooker Freezer Meals that I found over at Six Sisters' Stuff.  My mom got us a crock pot for Christmas and I knew it would come in handy once baby arrived.  The recipes that the Six Sisters blog has all sounded good, which is a rarity for me.  Usually I like a couple of recipes when they come listed in large batches but this was different.  We're talking French Dip Sandwiches and Beef Stew and Chicken Alfredo, to name a few.  Also, this list is great because not only does it have the recipes but it has a shopping list to make all the recipes too.  So hubby and I went on an epic grocery store trip and then I prepared these meals all afternoon.

Sexy freezer shot. 8 bags of meals, waffles, hoagie rolls for
French Dip Sandwiches plus a frozen pizza and Bagel Bites.
Now you know how I roll.

Their blog says it takes only one hour to prepare these meals but it took me two hours.  I cleaned up between each meal prep because I don't have a ton of room or a ton of utensils that I could've used prepping each meal.  So that probably contributed to the extra time.  I was also on the phone, hearing about my cousin's wedding in Florida that happened over the weekend, which I obviously could not make it too.  So the chatting probably contributed to the extra time as well!  But I think it will all be worth it when I can just throw a meal in a pot and have it ready to go without thinking about it!  It looks like each meal will serve at least four people, which will be great when my family is visiting and it will also be great for leftovers when it's just our little family of three here.

I also made a large batch of waffles and grilled up some burgers and threw them in the freezer.  Now there are a hearty breakfast and lunch choices to choose from too.

Murphy's Law is in play here, no doubt.  The more prepared I get, the more likely this kid is going to want to stay in my womb forever...

Maybe I should slack off on the laundry today.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Guess we won't be forced to make our son's middle name Romeo.
He seems to be staying put...through today at least!

I'm not a big Valentine's Day person.  Never have been. My husband and I don't exchange gifts or cards on this day.  We don't go out to dinner or treat it any differently than any other day.  It's never been a "romantic" holiday to me.  Flowers die (or make me sneeze), chocolates aren't really my thing and I don't wear much jewelry so all the cliches are out the window for me.  Bah humbug.  However.  I do like the idea of a day to celebrate LOVE.  In all of it's forms.  Love for family and friends and pets and homes and sunshine and health and faith.  Love for the people that make me happy.  So today I celebrate love.  Love for this little man who has the hiccups right now and is making my belly jump all around.  I can't wait to meet him because I know that this idea of love that I have for him is nothing compared to what I'll feel on his birth day.  Love for my family, who are all too far away and who I miss terribly - now more than ever.  Love for my husband who brings such joy and life to my life.  I'm not sure it's possible for him to ever truly understand how much he means to me.  Love for my friends who are checking up on me and stopping by and sending texts and seeing how I'm doing.  If they are near, we've met up.  If they are far, we've skyped or talked in some way.  The abundance of love I've felt during these past few weeks is overwhelming and I am beyond grateful.

So Happy Valentine's Day.  May it be full of all the love that matters.  The love that lasts beyond these twenty-four hours.  The love that fills you up and makes you whole.

Hospital Bag: What I Packed

One more week until due date...!  I had a strong contraction this morning and got excited...but nothing since.  Le sigh.  At least my body is gearing up, I guess.  In the meantime, I've been gearing up and went ahead and packed my hospital bag.  Ok, so I packed it a couple weeks ago.  I'm excited!  And a little bored with the waiting around, hence my preparedness.

So here are the things, after looking through and checking the lists I've found, that I decided to bring with me.

First of all, I've packed two bags. One is a carry-on size duffle bag that holds all my clothes and the other is a shoulder bag with all of my toiletries.  This way I don't have to dig through my carry-on looking for my toothbrush.  I can just take the small bag into the bathroom and it has all that I need.

Inside the carry-on:

• Two nursing tanks
• 6 pack of Hanes undies (one size larger than I normally wear)
• Depends (1 pkg, size small)
• One nursing bra
• One robe
• Two button-down PJ tops
• Two pairs of PJ pants
• Two pairs fuzzy/warm socks
• Slippers (for walking the hospital halls)
• One pair of flip flops (for shower)
• Going home outfit for me: button down top, nursing tank, loose/comfy pants
• Going home outfit for Baby (in a separate bag, within carry-on):
• One kimono-buttoned onesie with soft pants and socks OR
• One footie pajama set (will choose between the two)
• Little knit cap
• One muslin swaddle blanket, if needed

Inside the toiletries bag:

• Two bright towels (not white so they don't get confused with the hospital ones)
• Four bright washclothes
• Baby nail clippers
• Makeup wipes (so I don't actually have to get out of bed to wash my face)
• Clips
• Headbands
• Lip Balm
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Sample of Udder Cream (that I randomly had)
• Body Wash
• Shampoo & Conditioner
• Moisturizer
• Contact Solution
• Contact Case
• Extra pairs of contacts
• Lavender Mint Lotion that smells like a spa day
• Hand sanitizer

My sister-in-law also sent me (in addition to the makeup wipes, hair ties and lip balm) an assortment of snacks:

• Large bag of M&Ms
• Box of granola bars
• Box of Special K breakfast bars

Those are tucked into the side pockets so I know just where to find them!

I think I'm pretty set!  I also think that I'll end up wearing the hospital issued gowns and undies most of the time I'm there, just for the ease of check-ups and such.  But I'm glad I have options in case I'm like, "I must put on pants!"  And I think having my own toiletries is going to make me feel much better.  I know I feel better traveling anywhere when I have familiar things to groom with.  There are, of course, a few things that I will need to throw in the bag the day of:

• My glasses
• A brush
• A makeup bag (even though I probably won't use any)

And I have a separate backpack that Dan is bringing with our other necessities:

• Our Canon Rebel camera
• Camera charger
• Phone charger
• Laptop (for sending announcement emails)
• Baby Book (for recording his stats)
• Magazines
• Skip-Bo and/or Phase 10
• Portable speakers

Again, some of these "time passers" will surely go untouched but it'll be nice to know we have them.

And, of course, Dan is throwing some clothes into the carry-on for himself and he has a little toiletry bag ready to through in the other bag.  And I am also bringing my birth ball and my playlist of songs on iTunes, ready to go.

After delivery, I'll revisit this post and make a finalized list of things I used versus things that I didn't touch and things I wish I had.  But I'd love to hear what you "been there, done that" mamas think.  Anything I've missed??