Unintended Compliments

I try not to brag here, at least not about myself, but I can't contain just how flattered I was the other day when a friend unintentionally paid me an enormous compliment. I happen to think that the unintended compliments are the best, so natural and just wonderful in their nature.

I was at a the baby shower I was co-hosting and a friend who had her second baby in July just looked at me and asked "how did you lose the weight"?

Might not seem like a compliment to you, but to me it was a HUGE compliment! I worked really hard to drop as much baby weight as I could before my brother's wedding and before I had to go back to work. And even though I'm still carrying an extra 10lbs (which I've decided to not try to lose until we're finished nursing), I feel pretty good about the shape I'm in. (sometimes I get down on my pudge, I can't help it)

I was so flattered to be asked the question because the question assumes that I have lost most of the weight.

Once I gave my answer (Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred), my friend said "now, I gained 50 lbs with this baby" and I laughed and said "I gained 46 - it works, I promise"!

The best part was that this conversation was had over the most delicious apple cup-pies I've ever had. And that is how I'm going to hang onto those last 10lbs.

The Arrival

Our little one breezed past his due date with comfortable ease, leaving me a little sad and quite tired of being pregnant. So, at my appointment the following Tuesday I signed up for an induction on Wednesday morning at 8am.

Frank and I arrived at the hospital, almost on time, and were sent straight up to Labor and Delivery. It was a little surreal being there since I was not in labor, but knowing that we wouldn't be leaving without our baby on the outside anyway.

Here is the final picture of me before our little one arrived. I'm not sure how I was able to stand upright...

They started me on a saline IV at 8:30, then started the pitocin shortly thereafter. The contractions got stronger and closer together, but as of 10:30 I hadn't made much progress.

I asked for the epidural (part of the plan all along) around 12/12:30 as the contractions were getting too strong and close together for me to catch my breath. The first attempt only took on my right side, but the anesthesiologist came back quickly and redid it, and the second time worked like a charm.

I was then able to take a good nap from about 2-4pm. We dimmed the lights, closed the blinds, and I really got some great rest.

At 4pm I woke up to let the nurse know that while I had never given birth before I was pretty sure the kid was trying to come out. She did a quick check and said, "Yep, I'll call the doctor!"

Thats right, I went from 3-4cm to 10cm in two hours WHILE I SLEPT. sweet!

Dr. Elliott arrived, did a quick check and let me know that I was ready to start pushing. After a couple of practice pushes we were ready, and so was our little one! I pushed hard through three or four contractions and out came Little Man!

I'm not kidding, this was the shortest labor I've ever heard of, we started pushing at 5pm and he was born at 5:11pm.

So, without further ado, here he is!

Status Update

35 weeks pregnant, 35 days until my due date, 35lbs gained as of my last appointment, and that is all of the 35s I have going on right now.

I'm still on half days at work, and will be for two more weeks. It is hard to balance all of the things that need to be done with all of the rest my body needs, but I'm trying. As for the 4 hour days at work, I really feel like I'm getting more accomplished in those 4 hours than I usually do in my normal 7.5, so at least there is that! I try to consolodate tasks that require walking around so that I'm spending most of my time seated - I figure that plays into the 'rest' requirements of my day just a little.

Pictures are from our maternity shoot in Old Town Alexandria last weekend. More to come!

I'm Excited About: Birthday Parties

Frank and I have two birthday parties to attend this weekend - one is for a little one's first birthday, and the other is a birthday party for a soon to be mom who is about my age!


I love birthday parties because I love birthdays! I really enjoy the opportunity to celebrate a loved one on their special day.


I'm also looking forward to the hilarity that is a 1 year old's party. I love the parents of this child, and knowing them this event will be a fantastic combination of baby chaos and adult fun times! Frank has asked if bringing the gift of bourbon would be appropriate....I'm not entirely sure, but seeing as the birthday girl's daddy is from Alabama, it might be the favorite gift of the day.


The other neat thing about this little one's birthday party is that I so clearly recall the day she was born. It was two days after the baby shower for her mom, two weeks ahead of schedule! She decided to come in the midst of last year's crazy winter storms, setting up what is likely to be a dramatic life from day 1.

Happy birthday to both birthday girls! We're looking forward to celebrating with you this weekend!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for my enormous belly and for women on the Metro bus.
It seems that in the last week I became large enough that people feel safe assuming that I am pregnant. This is an excellent development, especially since I am still on partial rest and I'm pretty sure that balancing on the bus is on my list of 'don'ts'.

The one thing that does bug me is that in the 5 or so times that someone has given up their seat for me, no man has ever been the one to volunteer. I understand that we aren't in the south, but come on! Surely there are at least a few gentlemen that take the bus...right?

Anyway, thank you to the women who allow me to sit on over-crowded buses and to Baby Webb for being big enough to notice, even under a winter coat!

Status Update

33 weeks pregnant, 5 to 8 weeks to go!

According to thebump.com, the average baby is 17-19 inches long and weighs between 4 and 6 pounds.

I've been on partial rest for the last week and a half, but I'm still experiencing somewhat frequent contractions. We'll visit the doctor again soon for an update. I'm not really worried about anything serious, I just wish these dang contractions would stop hurting!

More and more baby stuff is making its way into our home, which is making this all feel more and more real! I think it is time to start making plans - packing a hospital bag, washing clothes and blankets, making room for things in closets and cabinets, etc. And maybe I'll hire a maid to come clean the house while I'm in labor....hmmm, that sounds lovely!

Status Update

31 weeks, 1 day; 7-10 weeks to go.


We set up the swing in the living room so the hounds would begin to get used to it. I turn it on now and then, sometimes with sound so that they (hopefully) won't be super intrigued by it later. We also managed to sell the second diaper bag that I bought, and even made an $8 profit after shipping!

Next up for us is baby showers and maternity pictures! I'm super excited about both, and they are both making this whole thing seem more and more real.

I'm completely out of room in my abdomen, even sitting up straight doesn't seem to give the two of us enough room! I've started yawning more often, but I don't think it is because I'm tired (I am) I think it is because my lungs are so rarely expanding beyond a shallow breath!

Status Update

30 weeks, 4 days - anywhere from 8-11 weeks to go!


Can you tell that I didn't really want to take this picture? Cause I didn't!

I am no longer sleeping for more than 5-6 hours a night. The good news is that Rutledge is doing a better job of sleeping through the night! And even when he does wake up at 5:15, I am usually already awake.

I have an appointment this afternoon, so I'll update any relevant info this evening.

Happy Thursday!

**WELL! THAT WAS QUITE AN APPOINTMENT**
So, after listing my various symptoms my doctor wanted us to hang out and have a sonogram to make sure I wasn't experiencing pre-term labor. I'M NOT. But it still made the afternoon a bit more 'exciting' than we had anticipated!

It seems that the soreness and menstrual-like cramps I've been experiencing are just over-exertion and braxton-hicks contractions, not PTL. I'm glad that we confirmed that, and now I'll try harder to walk slower so that the soreness will go away.

As for weight gain, I'm up another handful of pounds but I'm still within the 'average' range for a healthy pre-pregnancy weight person. AND the baby's tummy is measuring at 32 weeks, which is 2 weeks ahead so I'm going to go ahead and blame at least one full pound on the baby. So there.

Status Update

Not the most flattering shot, but it was worth a laugh. Earlier this week I was told that when standing facing forward, one could forget that I am pregnant (granted, I was wearing a hoodie at the time)


But then I would turn to walk away and POW, there it is!


I'm 29 weeks pregnant, 11 weeks until our due date.

We've decided that we're staying put in our house until the end of our original lease, so we'll be here for about a month with the new kid. We've started to clean the house, part in preparation for the realtor's showings and part in preparation for our own packing ordeal and eventual move. The second bedroom will be our guest room/nursery for a month so I have started the process of getting that ready. So far, the walls have been primed, the bookshelves emptied and moved, and I've come to the (slightly painful) realization that I will not be the one doing the painting. My husband has been called in from the bullpen to put the (boring) paint on the walls so that I can then get the room ready for guests, and ultimately, baby Webb.

It has been nice to come to a decision about our living situation, though we will have to start looking for a new place in March. It is nice to know what our timeline is, and it is even nicer to have something to direct all of this cleaning energy toward! While all of the other moms-to-be are setting up their nurseries, I'm cleaning out the basement and purging our unused and underused belongings - lucky for me, I love that kind of stuff!

But, Where?!

Just back from the doctor's office and not only did I get an intra-muscular shot in my rear end that hurts like hell, but I gained another 9 lbs since my last visit! 9 pounds in 4 weeks.

Ugh.

I'm now 1 lb shy of my weight goal for the ENTIRE pregnancy, and I still have 12 weeks to go.

My new goal is to only gain 2 lbs by my next appointment, which is in three weeks. If it were tomorrow then maybe I'd have a shot at achieving my goal.

I'm not going to go nuts about this, but it is pretty frustrating when I really feel like I did a lot to watch what I ate over the last 4 weeks.

My belly is pretty large, but all of my clothes still fit, I still wear my rings with no problems, my shoes and socks are fine - where is the weight going?! I'm going to be really upset if we find out I'm carrying a 12lb baby already. At this rate, I'll be giving birth to a 4 year old in March.

On the bright side, I confirmed with my doctor today that they will not let me go more than 7 days past my due date should the little one decide to be late. Hooray!

Status Update

As of Saturday, December 25th I am 27 weeks pregnant. Just under 13 weeks to go!

Lots of fetal movement, especially in the early morning and late at night. Luckily, it isn't strong enough to wake me up or keep me from sleeping but it is getting stronger so that may soon change. I'm hungry often, but it doesn't take much to fill me up - makes for frequent small meals throughout the day.

I lucked into a great sale at a Motherhood outlet store and scored two new sweaters and a dress - big win for me!

Happy Birthday, Frank!

Today is Frank's 30th birthday - happy birthday!

This time last year we were having dinner at Rays the Steaks and I told him, "By this time next year, we'll need to at least be talking about our plan for kids. We don't have to have one, but we need to know when we'll start trying." He agreed, and we had a lovely dinner.


This year when we go to dinner we'll be accompanied by our little one, riding safely in my belly.


Happy birthday, darling husband! Just think, this time next year you'll be getting your first birthday present from your first child!

We both love you so much, I hope you have a wonderful day

Status Update

25 weeks, 2 days pregnant. 14 weeks, 5 days to go to due date.


Not much news to report. I'm getting bigger and I seem to tire easily. Frank has been very helpful when I have the urge to clean - we spent hours cleaning the basement, sorting through stuff and getting rid of stuff we don't need. I'm such a lucky woman!

We painted the bathroom back to "boring" since we know we're moving out. I figured it was the easiest place to start, I knew I had enough primer and the right paint color on hand to tackle the task without having to hit Home Depot. It is nice to have that task finished, and we only had a disorganized bathroom for about 24 hours.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

24 weeks, 2 days

Forgot to give this one a title

1. I started to clean yesterday (inspired by my husband who cleaned his side of the room on Friday!) and ended up taking pictures off of walls, patching holes with spackle, doing touch-up painting in the dining room/living room, and cleaning out space in the basement.

Two full trash bags and three trips out to the recycling bin later...I wasn't near finished. I vacuumed, resisted the urge to clean out the coat closet (might do that today), and did my laundry. The combination of house guests coming and being pregnant has hit - it took all of my strength not to paint the stairwell and REpaint the bathroom. Not kidding.

2. The Colts lost to the Patriots last night. Not only that, but they lost because Manning threw 3 picks in the game - that is for a season total of 7...he almost doubled his season total during this game. Not fun, especially when your husband is a Patriot fan. Ick.

There is always next year - yes, I'm writing this year off already - and maybe Manning should take it easy for the rest of the year and we'll come back 110% next year when half of the team isn't hurt.

3. My smaller hound is having issues, which is causing me to have issue. R wakes up at 6:56am every day, no matter what and begins to FREAK OUT as if someone is stabbing him in the face. Then, once let out to 'do his business' he won't go back to sleep. If he keeps this up, someone might give him a reason to FREAK OUT...

The amount of exercise he gets is more than the average hound, and it doesn't matter how much water he drinks, or what time he goes to bed. There aren't even any noises that we can pinpoint that would wake him up. THERE ARE ALSO TWO OTHER DOGS SLEEPING PEACEFULLY BESIDE HIM WHO SEEM TO BE FULLY CAPABLE OF SLEEPING PAST 7AM.

4. I am hungry all of the time. We need to finalize our Thanksgiving menu, we then need to go to the store to purchase the necessary items. This could be disastrous. I may have to send Frank all by himself for fear that I'll forget to buy a turkey but remember to buy cookie dough.

5. I've never been one to have dry skin issues or use lotion on a regular basis. This has changed, and now I am applying generous amounts of lotion to my belly every night before bed and every morning after I shower. My legs and hands have also decided that they thirst for lotion, so that is a fun new routine for me.

6. That is all for now, maybe there will be more insanity later...stay tuned.

Status: 22 weeks, 2 days pregnant. 17 weeks, 5 days to due date.

Status Update

A week or so ago I began to notice a new feeling in my abdomen that was happening somewhat regularly. It took a while to figure out what it was because 1)I've never been pregnant before 2)It didn't feel like 'flutters' 3)pregnant women are gassy so I kind of wrote it off as gas 4)It felt like little muscle spasms so I sort of thought my uterus was having small growing pains/spasms

Anyway, turns out it is the kid! I can't say if it is kicks, punches, or flips but I do know that it is fetal movement. It happens most often mid morning, around dinner time, and when I lay down to go to sleep.

The coolest part, in my opinion, is that Frank can feel it now, too! It took a few days of trying before he felt it, but earlier this week it happened! It was neat to see him react to the feeling - it is still faint like a small misplaced heartbeat.

I'm doing my best to enjoy it now when it is small and only occasional. I know later I'll be begging the little person to stop so I can go to sleep!

Another milestone, passed.

I am 21 weeks pregnant, 19 weeks until the due date.

Status Update

WOOOOOOAAAAAAH We're half way there! OOOOOOOOOOH livin' on a prayer!

We had our 20 week scan yesterday and everything looks great! We counted fingers and toes, and even saw the baby's brain (already his/her daddy's boy/girl!). The technician told us that the baby is measuring 1 day ahead of schedule, which works for me.


baby toes!


I am 20 weeks pregnant.
20 weeks until our due date.

I'm starting to feel the baby ( I think ) move around a little. Tends to be when I have a full bladder...though that may be unfair because it seems I always have a full bladder these days.

They didn't weigh me so I don't know if I've gained any more.

And the fun pregnancy activity of the week is......wait for it......teenage style breakouts on my face! Yay! Combine that with my awesome head cold and therefore super dry nose (due to all of nose blowing) and I'm your every day 14 year old boy! My face is oily, dry, broken out, and red all at once - awesome! It will pass, it will pass, it will pass.

Wordless Wednesday

Status Update

18 weeks pregnant
22 weeks until due date

Baby is approximately 5.5 inches long and weighs more than 6.5 ounces.

As for me, I'm nearly 100% in maternity clothes now. I've started to pack away my pre-preggo clothes as I do my laundry, which is making my closet and dresser drawers look very sad! I managed to wear normal pants yesterday, but they are a size up and low slung on my hips. I'm hoping to turn them into maternity pants with an elastic band (they were a score from the clothes swap, so if it fails I won't have wasted any money). I really like them though, so I hope it works!

I'm Excited About: Baby Stuff

This weekend I'm attending a baby shower for some friends of ours, then on Monday I'm going in for my 2nd trimester screenings appointment and hopefully another sonogram (or at least a doppler).

The baby shower rush that hit me during the last 12-18 months slowed down a few months ago so it has been a while since I've attended one. I'm really looking forward to this shower as it is a different group of people than usual - not that I don't love the 'usual' crowd, I'm just excited to see and meet new friends, too!

Speaking of the 'usual' crowd, I just have to mention that they are some of the coolest and kindest ladies you could ever hope to call your friends. As the news of our pregnancy made the rounds, I got calls, emails, and even cards from many of the women whose babies we've celebrated in this past year and a half. And the advice is priceless! They are all too sweet to offer advice, and they are right there for me with my endless list of questions and concerns.

I'll let you know how the next appointment goes, but don't hold your breath hoping to find out if we're having a boy or a girl - we're waiting for the birth to find out ourselves!