600 Days

From March 16, 2012, to November 6, 2013.  600 days of nurturing, 600 days of closeness, 600 days of breastfeeding Tavin!

Even though it was a struggle in the beginning--latch problems, dropper feedings, painful nipples--it has been such a beautiful experience.

I am hopeful that I'll be able to do the same with Baby #2.


Update:  Tavin didn't ask for two weeks to "eat" as we call it.  Then he got sick and that's all he wanted to do.  I tried, but from the pregnancy and the time from the last feeding, it was gone.  So now when he asks I tell him "all gone".  He gets pretty upset and it's hard to tell him "no", but it is probably for the best that he is done.

Happy Fall!!

Ready for a picture dump?

I've been horrible at taking pictures.  So lately, I've been making an effort to grab the camera and take a few more shots.

Here's a few from October.

Going on a pumpkin hunt

 

Playing in the leaves

Carving pumpkins

Checking out the carved pumpkin...

And this year we decided to let Tavin experience trick or treating!  We tried is costume on a few weeks prior to Halloween and he was not having it.  So it was hope-it-works-on-Halloween kind of thing and it did!  He did so well!

Shaun's costume-Willy Wonka

And mine which none of my neighbors commented on :( 

15 weeks (11/11 to 11/17)

Baby is the size of:  Orange

Weight Gain:  -2

Sleep:  Still taking Unisom and sleeping well.

Best moment:  Being able to work out again.

Worst moment:  Nothing really.  Overall, it was a decent week!

Food cravings/aversions:   I'm still not "dying" for anything.  This baby is hanging on to the "let's make mama nauseous" phase.

What I miss:   Actually having pregnancy cravings.

What I’m looking forward to:  Seeing my parents over the weekend.

Goals:

• Sew! Sew! Sew!  So many things to sew so the room can be made into Tavin's room.
• Figure out sleeping arrangements (i.e. buy another crib, move Tavin to a toddler bed?)
• Prepare freezer meals
• Prepare lactation bars/cookies

*Post was written during the dates indicated in the title.

14 weeks (11/4 - 11/10)

Baby is the size of:  Lemon

Weight Gain:  -2

Sleep:  Like a rock!  Tried to wean off the unisom but the one day I skipped I almost threw up.  Bleh!

Best moment:  Getting some sewing done!

Worst moment:  Having the nasty taste in my mouth after I eat.  Wasn't this supposed to be done with?

Food cravings/aversions:   Tried bananas---still aren't the greatest.  Other than that, nothing really.

What I miss:   Daylight!  The time change totally sucks.  I think it should be spring forward in the fall and fall back in the spring!

What I’m looking forward to:  Feeling the baby move!  Should be happening soon!

In other news this week, we've been trying to figure out what this baby is!!  Here's a few of the "tests" we've tried:

Chinese Calendar:  The ones I have to enter full dates say girl; the age and month of conception ones say boy.

Mayan Calendar (odd/even numbers):  Both are odd = girl; both were even last time, which would have been girl.
Sleep position:  I favor my right side this time=girl.  With T, I favored my left which says boy.
Morning sickness:  In full effect (but was last time too)! = Girl
Acne:  Not anymore than normal = Boy

Pendulum Test:  Lower stomach said boy; upper stomach said girl...so weird

Baby's Heartbeat:  Was 170 at 12 weeks = girl.  Last time T's was 165 at the first ultrasound.
Dreams:  I've dreamt about having a boy = girl
Breast size:  Right is definitely bigger than left = girl (may be bigger because it is my main breastmilk producer)
Toddler Theory:   Tavin is attached to me all.the.time!  = girl (If a toddler shows interest in you, you are having the opposite sex of the toddler. For example, a girl toddler expresses interest in you means you are having a boy)
Baking Soda:  no fizz=girl
Hairline Theory: When T was first born his hair was definitely a point and to this day it still is = girl!
Angle of Dangle:  Inconclusive.  But to me it looked like girl.
Here's a comparison of the two ultrasound pictures.
T's                                                                                  Baby #2

             

Here's to hoping most of these are right!!

Goals:

• Sew! Sew! Sew!  So many things to sew so the room can be made into Tavin's room.
• Figure out sleeping arrangements (i.e. buy another crib, move Tavin to a toddler bed?)
• Prepare freezer meals
• Prepare lactation cookies/bars

*Post was written during the dates indicated in the title.

13 weeks (10/28 - 11/3)

Baby is the size of:  Peach

Weight Gain:  -2

Sleep:  Sort of crappy, due to a cold-not the pregnancy

Best moment:  Trick or treating with Tavin!

Worst moment:  Getting the cold Tavin had last week.

Food cravings/aversions:   Still can't eat bananas.  I should really try them again...

What I miss:   Breathing normally (again cold related, not pregnancy related)

What I’m looking forward to:  Getting rid of this cold!

Goals:

• Sew! Sew! Sew!  So many things to sew so the room can be made into Tavin's room.
• Figure out sleeping arrangements (i.e. buy another crib, move Tavin to a toddler bed?)

*Post was written during the dates indicated in the title.

12 weeks (10/21 to 10/28)

Baby is the size of:  Plum

Weight Gain:  According to Dr.'s office scale -2

Sleep:  Can't complain!

Best moment:  Seeing the baby and hearing the heartbeat (a healthy 170)!

Worst moment:  Feeling like I'm coming down with a cold :(

Food cravings/aversions:   Ice cream!

What I miss:   Nothing really this week.

What I’m looking forward to:  Going public!

Goals:

• Sew! Sew! Sew!  So many things to sew so the room can be made into Tavin's room.
• Figure out sleeping arrangements (i.e. buy another crib, move Tavin to a toddler bed?)

12 week belly shot!

Ultrasound pics!!

*Post was written during the dates indicated in the title.

11 weeks (10/14 to 10/20)

Baby is the size of:  Lime

Weight Gain:  According to Dr.'s office scale -4; according to home scale -6

Sleep:  Pretty good.  Waking up sometimes early morning unable to fall back asleep.

Best moment:  Getting out of the house with Tavin and Shaun to do some shopping.

Worst moment:  Deciding to stop the Unisom and getting bad nausea.

Food cravings/aversions:   Still the same.

What I miss:   Sweets!

What I’m looking forward to:  Seeing baby at Dr. Appt next week!

Goals:  

• Sew sew sew!  So many things to sew so the room can be made into Tavin's room.
• Figure out sleeping arrangements (i.e. buy another crib, move Tavin to toddler bed?)

*Post was written during the dates indicated in the title.

10 Weeks (10/7 to 10/13)

Baby is the size of:  Prune

Weight Gain:  According to Dr.'s office scale -4; according to home scale -6

Sleep:  Great!

Best moment:  Having my parents over for the weekend and getting stuff done!

Worst moment:  The aching back pain from overdoing it on the weekend.

Food cravings/aversions:   Still can't eat much.  Sits okay the first time, next time it doesn't taste right.

What I miss:  Feeling like a normal human being. 

What I’m looking forward to:  Dr. Appt in a couple weeks!

Goals:  

• Sew sew sew!  So many things to sew so the room can be made into Tavin's room.
• Figure out sleeping arrangements (i.e. buy another crib, move Tavin to toddler bed?)

*Post was written during the dates indicated in the title.

8 weeks (9/23 to 9/29)

Baby is the size of:  Raspberry

Weight gain:  ??

Sleep:  It's my best friend.  I would do it all day if I could.  Daisy has taken to middle of the night wakings.  I like that she's preparing me, but it seriously needs to stop for another month or so!

Best moment:  Telling Shaun's mom :)

Worst moment:  The puking.   Is there anything great about puking?

Food cravings/aversions:  Nothing tastes right.  But I'll eat it.

What I miss:   Normalcy.

What I’m looking forward to:  Meeting with the midwife and seeing the baby.

Goals:  

• Sew sew sew!  So many things to sew so the room can be made into Tavin's room.

8 week pic

*Post was written during the dates indicated in the title.

9 weeks (9/30 to 10/6)

Baby is the size of:  Green olive

Weight Gain:  According to Dr.'s office scale -4

Sleep: Feeling very exhausted.  I've been going to bed shortly after Tavin does!

Best moment:  Being able to cook without "tossing my cookies"

Worst moment:  More throwing up....

Food cravings/aversions:  Still 

What I miss:   Wine

What I’m looking forward to:  Feeling the baby move!

Goals:  

• Sew sew sew!  So many things to sew so the room can be made into Tavin's room.

*Post was written during the dates indicated in the title.

7 weeks (9/16-9/22)

Baby is the size of:  Blueberry

Weight gain:  ??

Sleep: Feeling very exhausted.  I've been going to bed shortly after Tavin does!

Best moment:  Possibly finding a solution to the morning sickness!  And we told my younger brother :)

Worst moment:  Throwing up and not being able to be there for Tavin.  I felt so bad for him.

Food cravings/aversions:  At the point where I can't really look at food, I just have to eat it.

What I miss:   Sweets!  I just haven't had the stomach for them.

What I’m looking forward to:  No more morning sickness....this will be my answer until it's gone.  I really hate it with a passion.

Goals:  

• Sew sew sew!  So many things to sew so the room can be made into Tavin's room.

*Post was written in September 2013

6 weeks (9/9-9/15)

Baby is the size of:  Sweet Pea

Weight gain:  ??

Sleep: Can't get enough

Best moment:  Telling my parents!  Them getting excited made me feel excited!

Worst moment:  The morning sickness that has started.  Hit with a vegance and it's all.the.time!

Food cravings/aversions:  Just eating all the time to keep the nauseousness at bay.

What I miss:   Feeling like a human being.

What I’m looking forward to:  Second trimester!  I'm so done with the morning sickness already!

Goals:  

• Get excited about the pregnancy since this will likely be the last.
• Sew sew sew!  So many things to sew so the room can be made into Tavin's room.

*Post was written in September 2013

5 Weeks (9/2 to 9/8)

I've been contemplating doing weekly recaps or monthly recaps.  With Tavin, I did weekly and it seemed a bit redundant.  But it'd be nice to see the differences, so bear with me as you'll get to see weekly recaps for the next 35+ weeks!

Baby is the size of:  Appleseed

Starting weight:  157 

Sleep: On and off.  Some days I sleep really well.  Other days I feel like I need to get up and do stuff!

Best moment:  Spending extra day with Tavin.  Thank you holiday!

Worst moment:  Trying to deal with the fact that we are pregnant and not at all ready for it.

Food cravings/aversions:  Nothing yet.

What I miss:   Not having so much anxiety.

What I’m looking forward to:  Telling my parents.  Mostly for the support aspect.

Goals:  

• Get excited about the pregnancy since this will likely be the last.
• Sew sew sew!  So many things to sew so the room can be made into Tavin's room.

*Post was written in September 2013

Cinco de Mayo Anyone?

Surprise surprise!!  We are expecting Baby #2!!!  Yes I'm still in shock!  We weren't planning this for another year, so it's definitely been a roller coaster of emotions!  Baby's due date is estimated to be May 5, 2014!

Tests taken August 27 and 28

*Post was written in August 2013

Our Afternoon Hospital Visit

Tavin had a great summer sans illness!  So when he first got sick this winter fall, he made it a doozy!

October 23 started out like any normal day.  Tavin was a little crabby, but nothing unbearable.  He got to daycare and did well until he woke up from his morning nap with a fever of 101.4!!  I picked him up and Shaun and took them both home.  He did well the rest of the day, being his crazy toddler self.  Overnight, he slept well.  Waking up every now and then with a little cough, but nothing we had to go in for.

He was up really early on October 24, and was still running a fever.

So, I stayed home with him and he was overly clingly and didn't eat well.  He managed to sleep fairly well that night again.  His breathing was really congested sounding.

On October 25 (Friday), he still was not much better and was actually wheezing while he was awake.  I called the doctor's office and they suggested bringing him in as it sounded like croup.

Our appointment was at 12:45 and I thought it was going to be a quick in and out.  After the NP checked him over, she said it was indeed croup and he would need to do some treatments.  One which would require him to stay in the hospital for 2-3 hours afterwards!! And if the treatments didn't help, an overnight stay in the hospital!

The first treatment was an oral steroid mixed with some Tylenol which he did not want to take at all.

After that fun struggle, we had an even bigger one, a neubulizer treatment.  T was not happy and I was sobbing right along with him.  But we were all troopers and got through it!  Then the long wait in the waiting room.  Thankfully, he could run a little bit and wear off some energy (even though he should have been napping).

Tired!

After our hours were up, the NP checked him out again and was still suggesting that he needed to stay overnight.  So we asked for a second opinion, and the doctor that was there (and would be in the ER all weekend) came to look at him.  She suggested that once his steroid kick in, he would be fine.  If he would have any problems, she would be the one we would see if we had to go the ER.  PHEW!!

So we made it home around 5 had a little supper and then got him to bed (which took 2 hours!).  Thankfully he slept great and did not wake up with an "episode".

Surprisingly, we got a call from the NP on Saturday checking in with us.  I was extremely surprised that she called on a weekend!  Shaun and I both agreed that if we went to the walk-in on Friday, it would have been a completely different outcome.

The Dells - Part 2

We were in the Dells this year for our anniversary and we ended up there again for an extended family vacation (August 19-21).  There was 11 of us total!  The three of us, my parents, my sister and her husband and son, and my brother and his fiance and her daughter.

We met up on Monday afternoon for a great lunch at the Sand Bar.  Highly recommend this place for casual dining.  The staff was more than accommodating and generous!  And the food was great!

After lunch we went to Tommy Bartlett Exploratory.

I haven't been in this place since I was a child so it was kind of cool to experience it all over again.  Tavin seemed to enjoy it too.  Especially since he could run and explore different areas.

He found a ramp that he LOVED to run up and down

Afterwards, we checked into our hotel, ordered pizza and just relaxed for the evening.

The next day, after Tavin's morning nap we headed out to go swimming

We played from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. (with a break for lunch)!!! Kid did not want to stop!  But the good news is that he passed out for a nap when we got back to the room.

After eating, we went out to explore downtown

Trying hats with Grandma

Walking with Quinton

The next morning we went out for breakfast at Denny's Diner (not the chain restaurant).  It was a pretty cool place!  After that, we headed out for some mini golf

Our last stop was for lunch at Buffalo Phil's.  It was pretty cool watching our drinks/food get delivered on a train!

Much thanks to my family for such an awesome vacation!