1 Week Already

I had to start with a little teaser. Look at that precious face.

Alexander is over a week old already. The week has really flown by. We are all still adjusting to having a newborn in the house. I wanted to do question form for this post. Here goes.

How is the feeding going?

Better. He started latching better. Still with the shield but that works for now. We actually started giving a bottle. It seemed easier than the finger tube feed thing. However I think it has disrupted his latching. So we may need to lay off the bottles for a bit longer yet. However, it was nice because Joe could do some night feeding and I would pump. It goes much quicker than feeding him. He likes to fall asleep during feeding and then as soon as I put him down he is awake again and wants to eat. So it can take me an hour to feed him in the middle of the night. It's exhausting. But the kid needs to eat.

Milk is in full swing. We had him weighed at 1 week and he was only 3 oz under his birth weight. Yahoo!!

What kind of baby is Alexander?

He is so sweet. He loves to snuggle and be held. It's easy just to sit and hold him. I get nothing done. But I decided to cherish this time because once Joe's back at work. I won't be sitting any longer.

He loves to sleep. Which is super nice. He is such a chill baby. I sure hope it stays that way.

He does really well just laying awake on his own for 20 mintues or so. And he spent a whole night in his bassinet without sleeping on one of us.

How is Nicholas handling his little brother?

Oh, my spirited child. He is very good with Alexander. He brings him toys when he cries. He thinks mom should pick him up when he cries. Alexander's feet were hanging out the other day and Nicholas thought he needed socks. He's been helpful in small ways too. Getting things for us on occasion. We aren't pushing that. He's not the parent.

He has done some acting out. Fit throwing over the small stuff. We expected some of this. We just weren't prepared for how to handle it. But can you really prepare? We are all working through this together. And I can only hope it gets better with time.

He has done some good things. Peeing on the potty...once. But it's a start. And sleeping in his toddler bed for nap today. He has never been interested in the big boy bed.

It goes to show you that you just never know.

Okay I won't bore you anymore and get on with the pictures.

Big Brother helping to feed

Leaving the house, feeling good

After my first bath.

Mom's men

There's those eyes.

Squishy face

Home from the hospital

A little more alert at the end of week 1

I love to have my hands up by my face to sleep

My favorite place to sleep...on Mom

Sleeping, burrito style

Alexander's Entrance

I have been meaning to write this post all week. It has rolled around in my head and taken many shapes. So now with Alexander one week old and snuggled up on my chest and my two older "boys" wrestling in the living room, I will write the entrance of Sir Alexander into our world.
It will probably sound uneventful here in these words but if you have ever had a child or attended a labor/delivery or adopted a child, you know that it is not uneventful to you. It is your story. Of your child.
So it began on Valentine's Day morning. The only day I told this baby growing inside of me it couldn't be born. Well "he" had other plans. The contractions started around 8:30 am and were very mild, 15 minutes apart. I called Joe after this went on for an hour.
"honey, I am having contractions. They are 15 min apart so I will see if they develop into anything. Just so you know."
Now I knew these weren't Braxton Hicks. But with 10 days to go I just wasn't sure if they would progress.
Well they didn't.
They started stretching further apart to every 20-25 minutes. I was becoming disappointed. Joe too. I emailed him with an update.
However, I did start to lose the mucous plug with some bloody show. After a quick reference on the www I discovered this could happen days or even weeks before labor. Ugh!
I was feeling a lot of preessure and had to pee every 15 minutes.
Around 2 pm I put Nicholas down for nap and continued to let the contractions roll when they so desired. I laid down for my own nap thinking it could be a long night ahead.
Well I couldn't sleep. Are you serious? I might be having a baby.
The contractions began to pick up around 3 pm. They were 10-15 minutes apart and growing in strength. But totally manageable. I called Joe around 4pm encouraging him not to be late tonight. He said he was leaving very soon and would call from the car.
At 4:15, I redialed my husband.
He answered with a " i'm leaving soon."
I answered with a "you need to leave now."
It would take him 30 min plus to get home.
Contractions kept flowing. Now coming 7-10 minutes apart.
Nicholas woke up. Joe rushed in the door to find: me and Nicholas chillin' on the couch watching tv.
The contractions were manageable, coming 7-8 minutes apart.
I called my dr around 5:30 pm. Telling her they were averaging 6 minutes apart. She didn't seem concerned and said if they were manageable then stay home and call the on call dr later when needed.
Joe's parents were on their way from MA to stay with Nicholas. I took a shower. Joe and Nicholas ate supper. We were getting ready but doing good.
By the time joe's parents arrived after 7 pm I was ready to go to the hospital and have my epidural. That was the plan. I don't like pain. I did not want to be a hero.
The contractions were 5 min apart. We called the on call dr to say we were coming in. He seemed a little more "ready". So we left the house at 8 pm. It is a 30-40 min drive to the hospital.
About half way there the contractions came 2 minutes apart. Yikes! They hurt.
We made it to the hospital. 8:30 pm. A nurse brought me in with a wheelchair. She said get in the gown and she'd check dilation. She gave us our first verbal lashing for waiting. Second baby and all.
She checked. I was soft and 8-9 cm. What?!?
Nurse rushed out to get the team. A hord of people flooded the room preparing pans and instruments and the dr in his gown and goggles and cap.
They were starting the IV in my arm, no time to find the vein in my hand.
It was while all this was happening that I realized I would be receiving no pain meds. The contractions were still coming on strong, mind you. I think I may have squeezed some blood out of Joe's hand. My head just kept saying, "I can't do this. No meds? Oh my gosh!"
my dr rushes in. I was relieved to see her. I like her. It took her 2.5 min to get to the hospital. She had just moved. Otherwise her 12 min drive might have made her late.
Contraction coming. I wanted to push. I said so. She checked, 10 cm! Okay, next one push.
Contraction came on ( I think I was clawing my husband's chest at this time) and I pushed. I could feel the baby's head enter the birth canal. Weird. Okay stop pushing. Breathe, relax.
Here comes another one. Push! Baby slides a bit further.
Water has not broke. Dr comes in with a hook to break my water.
Another contraction. Push! With the membranes out of the way I could really feel baby just right there, ready to pop out. I just kept pushing. I wanted baby out. Then pop! Baby's head came out. Checked for cord. All good. Push, and out slid my new baby. It is quite a feeling. It was now 9:14 pm. Only 45 min after arriving at the hospital.
I hear Joe say, "it's a boy". My new baby boy was then placed on my chest and Joe and I just stared at him. He was here. Finally, here. And I had done it. I birthed this son with no drugs. I will wear my badge of honor, thank you very much.
The nurse asked his name. And funny enough, we didn't know. We had picked a girl and boy name probably in the second month of pregnancy and it never changed...until. Until I threw a curve ball on Saturday saying I didn't know if I liked Alexander. So I thought and came up with another name. So now we had two boys names. And we had a little baby boy in need of a name.
It only took a few minutes and I just started talking to my son and out came Alexander. I immediately looked at Joe and said, it's Alexander. Alexander Thomas.
This is how Alexander came into the world. And this is his story as much as mine.

Pictures as Promised

Big Brother Nicholas
With Grandma and Grandpa

Sleepy Boy

Daddy and Alexander
His ear is the size of my thumb. So adorable.
A happy Mommy and Daddy
Chillin' on the scale
All snuggled up. Look at the scrunchy face.

Day 5

And it begins...the fatigue, the hormones, the impatience with all those in the household (even the cat, yes, she's a real Bit#@, can I say that on the Internet.) It might not be so bad if Alexander were latching well, but he is not. So we are battling feeding issues and weight gain and sore nipples and tired frustrated Mommy. Alexander is actually doing great. He's such a chill baby.
So after meeting with the office lactation consultant and a doctor ( not ours), Alexander had a frenotomy (with another dr in another office). That's where they take scissors and cut the little frenulum that holds our tongue down. And the dr cut the part under the upper lip too. Run your tongue up there you'll feel it.
It was a rush decision because the dr doing it was going away for weeks. So Joe and I aren't feeling the most comfortable with it but what is done is done. He bled quite a bit. I didn't watch. I do not like blood. And when it is your 4 day old son, it is hard.
The reason for doing it? To get him a better latch for breastfeeding. That is the main reason. He isn't moving his tongue forward and opening his mouth wide enough. Causing him to bite down, sore nipples and not nursing well. The poor latch also does not stimulate the breast enough to allow good milk production. So I am also pumping. It is a lot. It is overwhelming.
Sorry for all the details. But here we are. Still trying. Working through it.
He is such a sweetie though.
The hubby is fantastic. Dealing with all this and pitching in PLUS dealing with an outward acting 2 1/2 year old.
Yes, Nicholas is working through his own issues with all this. Funny though, he actually used his potty for THE VERY FIRST TIME the other night. Crazy.
Pictures soon, I promise.

It's hard

Breastfeeding that is. And if anyone tells you it's not...they are lying.

Sweet Baby Boy

Alexander has the sweetest perfectly round head. I think it is more like mine. Joe and Nicholas have the same head but it is more square at the crown. I hope Alexander's head stays like this.
And it is so ridiculously soft. I love to just stroke it and kiss it.

My Baby Valentine

Sorry to keep anyone in suspense.
Alexander Thomas was born on February 14, 2011 at 9:14 pm. He weighed 6 lbs 14 oz and is 18.5 inches long.
He is perfect and healthy and cute as a button.
He's a sleeper. Please let this continue. However he is sleeping and won't wake to eat. We are working on breast feeding. He's having latching issues and my nipples are quickly getting torn to shreds. Ah what we do for our babies.
I'll try to get a post out about the birth soon and some pictures.
You'll be hearing a lot more about this little guy and of course my Big Crazy Man.
Joe is fabulous! What a guy. He held Alexander for 3 hours last night so I could sleep. Lovely.

Still going

Still having contractions. They've picked up in frequency and strength. We will most likely be heading to the hospital sometime tonight. Hopefully tomorrow we can introduce our newest addition.

Waiting

I started some contractions this morning. But they are really far apart. So we'll see if they develop into anything.
I'll keep you posted.

Prepping

My body is getting prepped for birth. I've been having contractions everyday. They are just Braxton Hicks but every time I wonder if it's for real. I feel nervous and excited at the same time. But alas it's all been false alarms. But we are getting close to meeting this baby girl or baby boy.

Addendum

I do have something to add to my last post. I was thinking about the growing baby. It will never cease to amaze me. The creation of life. The growth of life. For 38 weeks this life has been growing inside of me. And soon it will be here to hold. And it will continue to grow and to change. Nobody teaches this or makes this happen. It just does, all on its own. Although women get pregnant every day and babies are born every day, It truly is amazing.
We were looking at Nicholas' newborn pictures. The day he was born and the weeks after. I don't even remember who that baby was. I don't remember him being so swollen and puffy looking. He just looked perfect to me. And he still looks perfect to me today. I guess that is part of being a mom. Your child is always perfect in your eyes.
So.even though this baby isn't even born yet, it is still perfect in my eyes right now. Growing, developing just as it should, perfectly.

38 Weeks

I think I say this every week, but I can't believe it! Only 2 weeks to go. Every day I wonder If today is going to be the day. It could be. But I have a feeling this baby is holding on for next week,39 weeks. I am ready. But not as anxious as I was a few weeks ago. I know it's coming soon so we'll wait and be ready for when it happens. The room is ready, as it is going to get. Things are washed. Bag is packed. Friends and family are set up to jump in with Nicholas. So when the baby says so, it's go time.
I'm tired tonight so I don't have much to say tonight.

Week 37

Still hanging in there. Saw the dr today and all is good. She just delivered a baby this morning so she is all ready for this one. We decided Baby could come on the 15th. Both our schedules are free. Hee hee
I've been feeling some Braxton Hicks. Which probably means nothing. Just more uncomfortable for me. Baby gained another pound and a half this week. It was probably the brownies Baby was eating.
Okay all for now.

In the quiet

It's in the moments when I am rocking my son to sleep and he goes still. Or when we are snuggling on the couch watching t.v. It is in these moments I don't want things to change. I want it to be me and him and our family of 3 forever. I like knowing I can just be wih him and all the other million and one things that should be done can just wait. They will still be there waiting for me. And for now we are enjoying this fleeting moment. For someday he won't want to be rocked or held or even want me in the same room. And as ready as I am for this baby to join our family, I'll miss this.

Food budgets

If you have a family to feed, you spend a lot on groceries. I was emailing a friend some tips for cutting your food costs. I thought I would share them with the world.

1. Make a menu every week. Try to include all meals so you don't miss anything. Also this keeps from over buying things. If you can plan them around what is on sale that way you aren't buying pricey items. Start simply with recipes you know and are easy. Then it won't be so overwhelming. It takes some time in the beginning but it will save time throughout the week because you aren't thinking about what to fix every day and not be prepared. I'll do it once I sit down at night and watch some tv (if you get this time).

2. Take advantage of sales and stock up on things. Especially canned goods.

3. Buy in bulk and buy meat only when it is on sale. Freeze the extra. I break up the packages In freezer bags so I am not thawing too much and then wasting it because it doesn't get cooked. Don't buy pricey cuts, go for the cheaper ones. They can be just as good. Meats can really drive-up the bill so stretch the amount you use in the dishes you make, soups and casseroles are good for this.

4. Be creative and substitute with what you have on hand, don't Always buy what the recipe calls for. You can typically substitute and it is just as good. This is also a good way to use up little amounts of things you have leftover in the fridge. If you can't use it right away, freeze it.

5. Check unit prices. Sale items are not always cheaper because they are name brands. The larger package is not always cheaper than something that is on sale. So always compare.

6. Join a wholesale club. The savings pays for the membership.

7. Clip coupons. You can print online, but I have found this tedious. I don't buy a paper because it would be a waste. I found my local paper will deliver a small section of ads and coupons on Sundays.

8. Make a list and don't impulse buy.

9. We don't like to eat the end slices of bread. So I throw them in the freezer. When they pile up, I grind them for bread crumbs and store them back in the freezer. I don't have to buy bread crumbs. I also throw overripe bananas in the freezer and make banana bread from them.
10. You can always go without something until it goes on sale so just improvise.

11. Try some budget recipes from websites such as, kraftfoods.com, all recipes.com, etc.

12. Plan. Plan. Plan.

I am always open to new ideas. So please share. I want to hear them.

It's here

February has arrived. The month this baby should be born. It can come any day now. Well, except the 14th. I feel this baby needs it's own special day and not have to share it with the whole entire society.
Nicholas came only 2 days before his due date. So we'll see how comfortable this wee one is in it's current home. Mommy is quite uncomfortable.
But baby if you are listening, you come whenever you are ready. Preferably this month though.

The injustice

I'm watching this movie with Ashley Judd. I think she's adorable. But she's wearing all these cute little skinny clothes. I sit here almost 37 weeks pregnant. I have about 5 pieces of clothing that actually fit. I'm wondering if I'll ever be able to wear those skinny clothes again. Ah, time will tell.

Oops, missed it

Apparently, this is my 101st post. I totally missed the big 100 in the blogging world. Thank you to my readers for tuning in and listening to my babble and my life. I hope to keep posting even with two kids.