Baby Names

Well, thankfully we haven't had our baby yet. Because today our friend Amanda Meeks informed me of the initials our son would have with one of our chosen names. Let's just say we are no longer going back and forth between our two options!

If we have a girl, she will be named Evangeline Claire.
If we have a boy, he will be named Elliott Ross.

Can't wait to see if we have an Evangeline or an Elliott!

Tonight we are going out on what could be our last date night out for quite some time. I scored a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate for Giordanno's for $2 right before bedrest started. I will bravely face a night of heartburn for the chance to have amazing pizza with my still more amazing husband. Our last date before Creed was born was a night out to Beef O' Brady's. Fun times! I went into labor about 24 hours later.

Free at Last!

First day of freedom! :o) I can't wait for my chiropractor appointment this afternoon; it's time for some relief.

I am looking forward to an increase in activity, though we have gotten a lot done around here recently and I don't feel as far behind as I could.

I have dreamed about having Sib the past two nights. The first night we had a girl and last night we had a boy. I so cannot wait to see who our Little One is!

Going to iron the curtains in the nursery today. :o)

T minus 2 more days

Partial bedrest is almost over! I have today, tomorrow and Monday left. I'm looking forward to getting to do what I want, though I'm so much more pregnant now than I was at the beginning of this ordeal that I have new, baby-imposed limitations. Still, it's nice to know if I start contracting I can keep going till Sib comes!

We've had a slight alteration to our boy name. We're teetering back and forth and may not land till we see if Sib is a boy and, if so, which name suites him the best.

Our home is much more baby-ready. Bri, Jared and Kaz brought by a baby swing for us to borrow. I love having it in the living room as another reminder of what lies ahead. I added some to the tree in Sib's room and like how the nursery has come together. A bit more to do in there. All the clothes are washed and sorted by gender and size. We bought a backpack diaper bag with some of Sib's Christmas money and it is packed and ready for the first trip to the pediatrician.

Starting to get antsy! :o)

Wild Ride

It's been kind of wild around here. Sib is getting antsy to be in our arms and it's a bit too early. About a week and a half ago (a day before 33 weeks) we think Sib tried to start the grand appearance. I was having a lot of contractions. My midwife told me to get into a tub of Epsom salts and take a bath to see if they would subside. It was just Creed and me at home so it was kind of nutty/funny. He wanted to get in the tub with me; I told him if he could get all his clothes off he could jump in and he decided to forget about the whole idea. For almost 20 minutes he took his rinsing cup and poured warm water over me. It was such a sweet blessing--he really comforted me a lot. He did get a little annoyed that I wouldn't let him wash my hair. :o)

Things didn't stop and we went to Labor of Love. They checked our heartbeats, my blood pressure and sent us on to University Community Hospital. I spent a little over an hour in triage by myself until the Wilsons picked Creed up and Kyle was allowed to join me. I feel like every reason we chose to be at a birthing center this time around only became more clear during our brief hospital visit. They gave me a shot to stop the contractions and we got to go home about 6.5 hours after we arrived.

My parents came over for a few days to take care of us all. I was on bed rest until the following Monday and will be on partial bed rest until Jan 11th. We are hoping/praying/trying to keep Sib put until that day.

So, it's been interesting. I can't wait to meet my baby and I hope I get to wait until at least the 11th!

Hiccups Galore

Sib has started getting the hiccups at least once a day. Each one momentarily morphs my entire stomach into other-worldly shapes. Creed was loving on Sib the other day and got a swift kick to the face. He laughed and tried to get me to do it again.

Creed got ahold of Kyle's cell phone charger this week and led me to the couch where he had me sit down. He then lifted my shirt and proceeded to put the outlet end of the charger in my bellybutton and the cell-side of the charger in his ear. I made fake heartbeat sounds and he started cheering. I can't wait to see him interact with his little Sibling once Baby is born.

I am starting to feel very pregnant. Officially in the third trimester now, I am hit with difficulty sleeping, heartburn no matter what I do, and big feet. :) I am thankful that Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas are all right around the corner. They are welcome distractions for the last few months of pregnancy. Everything goes by faster when there is fun to be had!

More Baby Pics!

We had our second ultrasound today (the first was at the very beginning to date the pregnancy). Baby is 23 weeks... except for Baby's legs which are about 25 weeks, according to the sonographer. :) They "decide" how far along you are by doing some main body measurements and everything measured on target at 23 weeks except for two very long legs! The technician said the legs are due in Jan and the rest of the baby has to wait until Feb. :)

The pics aren't that good, but during the exam it was clear that Sib looks even more like Kyle than Creed did at this point. Baby has a very pronounced chin, Kyle's long, regal nose, and a long face with a prominent forehead. Those must be some strong Truman genes!

Little Mover

Sib is increasingly busy (and big) in my belly. Creed hasn't been feeling well and has taken a few naps in my arms recently so he can sit up and breathe, and Sib has gone to town kicking Big Brother. :) There is something incredibly precious about having both of my children so close in my arms.

We moved our ultrasound back two weeks--it's now scheduled for Oct 8th. Our insurance year restarts in Oct, so we decided to postpone the sonogram until Oct so that we are paying into the birth year's deductible. Cha-ching!

I am starting to feel better. Kyle commented yesterday that he had forgotten what it's like to have me around happy/not in pain. I got some super sexy support shorts that I will be wearing 24/7 (yes, Amanda, I can take them off for showers and I will wash them every 3 days as directed). They help support my hips, belly and pelvic floor.

My 'manda came over this past weekend and kicked butt in Sib's room. We now have a strong tree growing (in paint) over the place where the crib will be. It looks awesome; I can't wait to finish up the nursery now.

PSD Update

The more Kyle and I find out about pubic symphisis disorder (PSD), the more discouraged we become. Please keep us in your prayers!

My midwife said that a lot of women with PSD end up in a wheelchair before their baby is born (PSD usually goes away after birth). It generally gets worse throughout the pregnancy and increases in subsequent pregnancies.

My sweet Amanda is going to come paint the nursery for me. Yay for friends!

ouch :(

Today I had my 19-week appointment. Baby's heartbeat was strong (in the 150's). Sib is a squirmer--the midwife had a task keeping the monitor in place with that little stinker dashing across my uterus. We go back in 2 weeks for a sonogram. We're excited to see this little one!

I have been in a lot of pain over the past few weeks. I was diagnosed with pubic symphisis disorder (PSD) which, from everything I am reading on the subject, is absolutely no fun. I am concerned about the 21 weeks ahead and glad that we are as settled as we are since I may not be able to do much more around the house. I'm praying that seeing the chiropractor will keep me from getting worse than I am. At this point, the only other thing I can try are some shorts made specifically to support the areas where my ligaments are too relaxed (PSD is caused by too much relaxin making the ligaments in the pelvic region very "loose" and allowing the bones to slip out of their regular positions).

Hungry!

I have been so hungry recently, it's wild! I feel like I'm eating 8 meals a day. :) No wonder the baby is doubling in size and weight this week. I'm guessing at my next appointment I will weigh more. So far, I haven't gained anything (actually lost 8lbs my first trimester).

I felt the baby move (externally) on Thursday for the first time. Kyle got to feel it for a while when we went to bed that night. I love being able to share our baby with him in new ways.

We're kind of wishy-washy on our baby names. We need to have more kids to use these names up!

16 weeks!

We're 16 weeks today. Right now Sib is about 4.5 inches long (head to booty--leg length isn't added until the baby is much bigger and stretching out more). Over the next few weeks Sib should DOUBLE in size and weight, so if you think I'm "popping" now, just wait. :) I feel like my belly is getting so big. So far, though, I haven't gained any baby weight. This is mostly due to the fact that I don't live close to Rachel Wilson anymore and she's not stuffing me like a pig for luau.

We've been watching our friend Kaz this week. Having 2 kids is almost easier than just one. I hope Creed and Sib will get along as well as Creed and Kaz. They're so fun!

My friend Debbie is letting me borrow her maternity clothes. They are awesome! I feel super cute and love having so many options. I did a bit of work in the nursery this week--just re-organizing boxes, etc. We're getting ready for family from NC so it's double duty to get the room a bit more settled. My friend Lisa gave us some great stuff for the nursery (cute little shelves, a lamp) so I'm getting antsy to get painting in there. I think the office will win out first as the next priority.

Exciting!

I'm getting super excited about birthing this baby. It's funny since I was worried about that the first time around. I feel like if I labored without pain meds on pitocin, I can now conquer anything. My midwives have said this baby will be a piece of cake after Creed's birth.

I finished reading through the Labor of Love book. It sounds funny to me to think that I will want to listen to music, have candles, etc. while I'm in labor. I really think this experience is going to be radically different and it pumps me up. :)

I also started reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. I'm currently in the first section which is story after story of natural births.

Sorry this post is so boring. But this is what's going on! :)

15 weeks and flying!

I can't believe we're already at week 15. It seems to be going so quickly this time around.

Sib, as the new baby has been nicknamed, has started moving around quite a bit. Usually at night before bed. Sib's heartbeat is strong and Sib is growing fast. I'm doing pretty well. Lots of heartburn (got some papaya pills today to try to prevent that) and lots of problems w/ my back and sciatica (sp?). I have an appointment tomorrow with a chiropractor that specializes in pregers women. Should be fun!

Today I had my 2nd true appointment at Labor of Love. I got to meet Bea-I had only seen 2/3 of the midwives previously, so now I've seem them all. I borrowed some books from the LOL library and I'm looking forward to getting into those. Also going to look for a book on breastfeeding the lactation consultant recommended. It should help me sort out if it's going to work this time or not and give me some ideas of things I can try (did you know drinking a beer a day can improve milk production? Why didn't someone tell me that before!?!?!). AND we're signed up for the child-birthing classes that are mandatory in the state of Florida if you haven't previously delivered at a birthing center. When the midwife was trying to find the heartbeat, Creed seemed rather concerned about what was happening to his baby. He started clapping as soon as he heard Sib's pitter-patter. :)

Going back in 4 weeks for another check-up, then a few weeks after that we're having a sono to make sure all major body parts/systems are present and accounted for. :)

WEEK NINE: Baby has a Home

It's been an intense ride these past few weeks. We have gotten and lost the house we were trying to buy numerous times. Last night we officially closed and walked away with keys in hand. I can't wait to get our home ready for all of us and for this new wee one. I'm very ready to be settling in instead of unsettling my life (e.g., unpacking is a whole lot more fun than packing!).

This is week nine and it hasn't been the most pleasant. I am getting increasingly "sick." It's quite exhausting. Kyle continues to be sweet as you can imagine to me. Creed has SIX teeth coming in so he's out of sorts, but he has been extra snugly and extra sleepy so that's working in my favor. :)

Last night at church I'm told he was going up to the tiny baby and gently rubbing her leg and saying "bebe." :) He continues to kiss my tummy, though he has to pull my shirt up first and kiss my skin. We asked him the other night if he wants a brother or a sister, and he said "sis!" What a sweet big brother! We'll see if he's got his grandpa's gift of "knowing these things."

The Switch

Well, I have officially requested all my prenatal records be transferred to Labor of Love, our local birthing center. Kyle and I both feel this is the best decision for this new little one--or at least the direction we should head in. We have our first appointment there in about a month. I am excited about the potential differences in the experience with Baby.

I bought a changing table from craigslist! I have wanted a "real" changing table since Creed was born. It's fun to plan for this next arrival. With the possibility of us getting our house, I'm once again dreaming of nursery wall paint! ;) I have big ideas of making Creed's room "day" and the baby's room "night." We'll see how that goes.

Having good and bad moments/days. I just put 10 DVDs on hold at our library so I will have some distraction from the monotony of laying on the couch feeling disgusting. :)

Kyle is phenomenal. He has kept up with the dishes I deem "too gross to deal with." And he is a super-duper carrier of laundry baskets.

6 weeks and counting!

We had our sonogram today to see how old Baby is. Just 6 weeks! Which means my symptoms are showing a lot earlier than they did with Creed. I think I may be in for a rough go of it.

Baby is 0.35cm long. We got to see and hear the tiny heartbeat--precious! Creed started clapping. ;) You can see the sound waves for the heartbeat at the bottom of this next pic:


Estimated Due Date: February 3, 2011!

Labor of Love

We had our orientation at Labor of Love (LOL) and really enjoyed it. I had been feeling a check in my spirit about the whole birthing center bit (not sure why since I've always been a fan) but I felt like it was lifted during our meeting. We're going to be praying a lot about this over the next few days to see what God would have for us.

Kyle is more excited about the birthing center than I am. He is so cute. I love how involved and supportive he is in my life and the things that are important to me.

Tomorrow morning we will find out how much LOL will cost with our insurance (yes, our insurance now covers birthing centers and home births!).

Take II

Woo hoo! We are super excited that a new Little Baby Truman is en route.

A few weeks ago I was thinking about how bad Kyle's breath had been for a few days and wondering what was going on with him. Then I thought about the cup of coffee he had made me the previous Sunday morning and how gross it was. I had thought the cream had gone bad, but he tasted it and insisted it tasted normal. And then I thought... hmm, I should take a pregnancy test.

The two times in my life that I have taken a pregnancy test and then forgotten about it before the 5 min needed to get the results are up, it has been positive. :)

Little Baby, you were discovered on May 25th. We're not sure how old you are yet--we went to our first doctor visit and the sonographer was out so we're going back this week. We are so excited about you and can't wait to hold you in our arms!

Not so little!

My baby boy is 6 months and one week old today. Time is flying--as everyone promised us it would be.

Little Baby Truman is not so little anymore. Creed had his 6 mo. check up yesterday and came in at 17 lbs. 15 oz. and 27 in. Chunker!

He sits very well now unless he is handicapped by a giant cloth diaper. :) I am convinced he would crawl if he realized he can do it. He is very proficient at making his way around... and around... and around in circles on the living room floor. And in his crib. I have known he would be an on-the-move sleeper ever since I felt him in my belly.

Creed has been eating solid food for a little over 2 months now. He currently has 3 tbsp. of oatmeal and 2.5 oz of a veggie for breakfast, 2.5 oz of a veggie for lunch, and 1/4 c of mixed cereal and another 2.5 oz for dinner. That's all on top of 24-32 oz of milk.

He likes almost everything. His favorites are avocado and sweet potatoes. His least favorites are peas, carrots and chicken. That leaves us with apples, bananas, pears, squash and green beans. He loves fruit but he always spits it up later on so we are stuck in veggie land right now. Tomorrow we are going to try peaches for the first time.

Swinging Along

PHOTO: All dressed up for church on Mother's Day. Kyle brought Creed in to wake me up and Creed and I both had breakfast in bed. Kyle made a cheese ball and brought it to me on a tray with crackers, chocolate covered almonds, a Mother's Day balloon and a framed photo of my two favorite men. And, Creed made me a card! :) We had a great, relaxing day and then Kyle made me dinner while I watched the season finale of The Amazing Race. It was a perfect first Mother's Day!

Creed is asleep in his swing right now--the only place I can get him to nap during the day (besides in my arms or next to me in bed). It's funny because at night we lay him in his bed while he is still awake and he coos himself to sleep in a matter of minutes, but during the day he won't have it. I think he just wants to hang out with me.

Speaking of bed, Creed has been sleeping more than through the night for a week now. 8-10 hours of continuous nighttime sleep. I'm not sure who decided that sleeping through the night is technically 6 hours for babies (he had done that for a long time), but I'm glad we have exceeded that amount. I was thinking this would give me time to get some stuff done around the house, but it mostly has given me time to catch up on my own Zzzzs. :)

Creed is growing. I'm not sure exactly how tall he is because at his 2 month appointment they said he was 19.5 inches--which was definitely off since he was 21 at his 1 month check-up! He is weighing in at 8lbs and 2oz. The doc will continue to track Creed's weight since he is lighter-than-the-average-bear, but he said there is absolutely no reason to be concerned. After seeing Kyle, the doc marked down in Creed's chart that he is tall and skinny like his dad. :) I now have a laundry basket full of clothes that he has out grown.

Besides getting bigger, Creed is changing almost daily. His eyelashes are darker now and are long and curly. His hair color is almost exactly the same as mine and looks almost red in the sunlight. We have been bathing him nightly before tucking him in and he LOVES it. He took a shower with me the other night and kept sticking his tongue out and trying to get some of the water in his mouth. Creed talks a lot more; especially when he is alone in his swing or bouncy chair. His favorite jabber is "A-goo!" He is also irrupting into brilliant smiles and I've gotten two laughs so far. When he is in the mood, you can tickle him and get him going. Last night I had him on his tummy on the floor and he not only held his head up steady, but pushed his whole chest off the floor with his arms. He looked like he was doing girl push-ups. :)

Creed also got baby-sat for the first time. Last week we left him with our friend Rachel for 2 hours while we played tennis, got smoothies, picked up some groceries, and generally rejoiced to be alone together without interruption.

I must away to get somethings done before it's time to feed my little man again. Here are some pics of smile time in his swing.