11 Weeks Old...Lots of pictures!

Mason is 11 weeks old, 2 1/2 months, and growing like a weed! We took him in for his 2 month check-up last week , and the doctor confirmed his "weed-like" growth. He weighs 13lbs. 8oz. (75th percentile) and is 24.5 inches (86th percentile). His large head is growing as well (82nd percentile) which must mean he has lots of brains! He got three shots, and was such a brave little guy only crying a little bit, but I was a big baby and cried a lot! Thankfully, my mom (Grandma) went with us to the appointment to get me through it ;). Mason is cooing all the time now, smiles regularly, and rolls over on occasion. I actually caught him rolling over on video, but I'm lame and don't know how to attach a video to this blog. He has been really good about having only one feeding at night around 3am, but last night he slept from 9:30pm to 6:00am. I was super excited, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up that it will be a nightly occurrence. He sleeps in his bassinet in our room at night, but I'm now trying to get him to nap in his crib during the day. This way the transition won't be as bad when we do move him into his room. I'm guessing that it will be harder on me than on him. What can I say, he has a sensitive mommy! And thankfully, this sensitive mommy will be staying home with Mason until August. I was originally going to go back to work in May, but made the decision to be home with Mason for a few more months! They grow so fast, and this time will be gone before we know it.

Mason also celebrated his first Easter last week. He got a very cute Easter basket from the Easter bunny. He also went to church for the first time, and was wayyyyyyyyyy better than the screaming two year old that was also in the cry room. For Easter we celebrated with Jeff's family on Saturday, where Mason got to meet his Great Grandpa. Then on Sunday we had a nice steak dinner with mom. Don't worry, Mason had milk ;).

I know the update isn't all that exciting, but come on, you would all rather see pictures anyway. Soooooooooo, here they are!

6 Weeks...and I'm a lame blogger!

Mason is 6 1/2 weeks old, and I am the lamest blogger ever. Though, to be fair, I did forewarn you that I wasn't sure how often I would update this thing. In fact, I'm not even sure if anyone comes to read this anymore, you've all probably given up hope on me. I'm really going to try and update this thing more often than I have been, and if you are a reader of this blog, and want to ensure that I actually do update more regularly, then become a follower. If I know there are followers, I will be inclined to update more. Ok, now for the actual update.

In my last post, I commented how Mason is a good baby who doesn't cry often. Well, I jinxed myself. He cries A LOT! I'm talking, all the time people. You hear of babies with colic, but you don't think it could be THAT bad...it is. Poor baby has reflux, which increases his colic, which increases mommy and daddy's frustration. We talked to the pediatrician about it, and have tried two different medicines. The medicine Mason is on now seems to help, but we still have one or two horrible feedings a day. And this makes breast feeding sooooo much fun ::sarcastically::. But, despite the crying, he is gaining weight (12 pounds now, my little porker). Mason also doesn't sleep a whole lot. During the day he takes one good nap, but he is pretty alert the rest of the day. We fill our days with tummy time, activity mats, stories, bouncer seats, etc. You name it, we pretty much do it. He is a very active baby, and likes to be entertained all day long.

Mason is also getting better at holding his head up. It's a big head, so it's a lot of work, but those muscles are certainly getting strong. In fact, he rolled himself over for the first time at five weeks old, and rolled himself over again last night. I think the size of his head helped will him over, but he did it nonetheless. He has also been smiling and gripping onto things! I'm so exciting to see him hitting all of these milestones.

We have also started going to a mommy and me group offered through Kaiser. It is great meeting with other moms, and getting suggestions for the reflux issues we've been having. Mason is one of the younger babies there, yet he is bigger than some of the three month olds. I'm going to be a buff mom!

Well, that's the update from here. And just 'cause he's sooo cute, here are some pics of our precious baby boy! I love the picture of him smiling, and I only had to take about 500 shots to get it!

3 Weeks Already???!!!

Mason is 3 weeks old already! I can't believe how fast the past three weeks have gone by, I guess sheer exhaustion will do that to you! I will try to continue to update the blog with all of the exciting things happening in the "World of Mason" although I can't say how good I'll actually be at updating. It's funny how little time you have with a newborn, and if it comes down to it, a shower will win over a blog update ;).

So, here goes. Jeff and I have been getting settled into our new role as parents. The countless feedings, diaper changes, spit ups, etc. have certainly been keeping us busy. Mason has become quite the fussy baby, and tends to cry a significant portion of the day. He is great, however, whenever we have company, so if anyone would like to come by for a visit, we'd gladly accept your offer ;). I think all of this fussiness may be the result of reflux/gas, so the pediatrician prescribed some medicine that "might" help. It can take one to two weeks to make any improvement and we are keeping our fingers crossed. If not, we'll see what else the pediatrician can suggest, and hope that it's not colic.

At his two week check-up his weight gain was up, tipping the scales at 10 lbs. 2.5 oz. He was in the 85th percentile for weight...yikes! That explains my growing muscles. He is also very alert. He can follow me with his eyes, and he's getting really good at holding his head up, a miraculous feat given his head size! He also does great on car rides, and ventured out with Auntie Kym and myself on a shopping excursion last Sunday. It was our first trip out somewhere besides the doctor's office, and also our first trip lugging the stroller/diaper bag. I felt a little silly pushing the stroller, and by silly I mean it was so surreal to have a real live baby. I felt like I was back in high school, pushing a stroller with the mechanical baby from my health class. I came back to reality while changing his diaper out of the back of the car when he decided to pee all over.

Here are a few pics from the first three weeks, including some pictures from his first bath. He is so stinkin' cute, and no, I'm not biased at all ;)!

Mason is here!!!

Our baby boy, Mason Jeffrey arrived on Sunday, January 24th at 3:15pm. A lot of people have asked about his birth story, so I thought I'd post it here. So, if you don't want to hear anything too "graphic", change the channel now ;).

I woke up at 5:15 Sunday morning to what I thought was my water breaking. It turns out, it wasn't my water, just a loss of bladder control (a pregnancy symptom I won't miss). Since I thought it was my water, I called labor and delivery and they told me to come in, but that I had time to shower and eat breakfast. Contractions hadn't started yet, but Jeff and I proceeded to get ready. Not even five minutes later the contractions started, and they were hard and fast. They were immediately five minutes apart, and they hurt like hell!!! I took a shower while Jeff ate breakfast, and by the time I got out of the shower my contractions were 3-4 minutes apart. I was in so much pain, that Jeff bypassed the shower and we went straight to the hospital.

Once we arrived (6:40am), they checked my water, which hadn't broken, but saw that I was five centimeters dilated and 90% effaced. I was having a baby...today! We got settled into our labor and delivery room, and I got my epidural at 8:10am. It was such a relief considering the amount of pain I was in, but it took four tries for the anesthesiologist to get the epidural in the right place. I dilated to ten centimeters by noon, at which point, they broke the flood gates (my water) and I began to push. The nurse thought it would take about an hour and a half to push him out based on how quickly I dilated, and they estimated he would be 7 1/2 pounds. Three hours later, I was still pushing, and Mason wasn't any closer to joining us. He actually had his head turned sideways, and despite the doctor's efforts to turn him twice, he wouldn't turn. After a daunting three hours, we decided to use the vacuum since I was so tired, and he was not coming. The vacuum delivery was horrible!!!! It was the worst pain I have EVER felt, and Jeff said it was the most horrible thing to watch. He actually had to look away. The vacuum helped and Mason arrived at 3:15pm. I wasn't able to hold him right away since they had to check him quickly due to the vacuum. In the meantime, I was getting stitched up. I tore really bad in EVERY direction. I asked the doctor how many stitches I needed, he said it was too many to count. I asked the doctor what degree tear I had, he said they don't "score" them in these directions because it wasn't a common tear. I was so nauseous from the blood loss, and I just wanted to see and hold our baby.

Mason did great after being born. He weighed in at 9lbs. 3oz. (not the 7 1/2 pounds they thought). He was 20 inches long, and had a head circumference of 14.5 cm. No wonder he couldn't come out. He scored 8 and 9 on his apgars. And, he is the most beautiful baby ever! He looks just like his dad! He has blue eyes, and brown hair with frosted blond tips! When I finally got to hold him, I instantly fell in love! It was so amazing to see this little man that had been in my belly for nine months!

The doctor told us that had we not done the vacuum, I easily would have been pushing for another few hours, and it was doubtful he would've come after that. After Mason arrived, and I was "repaired" they moved us to the recovery room. We had to stay in the hospital for two days because of the severity of my pain, and Mason had a jaundice level they were monitoring. We had to supplement with formula in the hospital to help lower the jaundice level since my milk hadn't come in yet. I was devastated by this because I wanted to breast feed exclusively. But, we gave him the formula, and his level went down enough for us to be released. The day after we were released, we had our first doctor's appointment, and his jaundice level went back up despite supplementing with formula at home as well. Due to the incline in his jaundice, he has had to be on a photo therapy lamp at home for the past five days. We've had to take him back to the hospital everyday to have his blood drawn, and his levels checked. His levels have been going down, and today they were finally low enough for us to take him off the lamp, but we have to get his blood drawn later this week to make sure the jaundice levels continue to drop. We have been breastfeeding at home since my milk finally came in. It has been a rough transition, but it is worth it to be able to nurse our son.

Mason is a very sleepy baby, and we have to wake him up to feed him. He doesn't cry too much, and loves being held. We are so excited to have him here!

Here are some pics of Mason, as well as some postpartum pictures of me (40 week pics to be exact, good thing he came early, or he would've been ten pounds...yikes!) Also, and please don't hate me, but I'm actually back to my pre-pregnancy weight! I haven't been dieting at all. I guess when your baby is a third of your weight gain, it makes it easy to lose those extra pounds. My clothes still don't fit right, and my tummy sticks out, but exercising right now is the last thing on my mind. I need to heal and take care of our baby!

39 Weeks...on Maternity Leave

Yesterday I hit the 39 week mark, and it was my last day of work! Woo Hoo! I originally planned on working up until my due date (the 29th), but upon returning to work after Thanksgiving break, I came to my senses and turned in my leave notice to have my last day be the 22nd. I was actually feeling pretty good at work on Tuesday, but called in sick on Wednesday due to persistent contractions from 2:50am to 6:00am. They weren't painful, just came with some lower back pain. They were ten minutes apart, and after calling the doctor, she recommended I don't go in to work in case they got closer together. They didn't, in fact, as the day went on, they became further and further apart. Aside from being tired (because I was awake since 2:50am) I really feel I could've made it through the day. So, Thursday and Friday I went in to work to finish out my commitment. Those two days were definitely a lot harder physically than my work days have been this entire pregnancy, but I guess that's what happens when you are 39 weeks with a mammoth belly ;)! So, I am now officially on maternity leave until May, when I'll return to work for five weeks, and then Jeff and I will be on summer vacation with our little guy!

I don't have another doctor's appointment until our due date, and since my last scheduled appointment was on the 11th, it was driving me crazy not knowing if I've made any progress from the 2-3cm and 80% effacement. So, last Monday (when we were off work) we went to labor and delivery to be "checked." I normally wouldn't have gone in, but I was having some pretty severe upper abdominal pain that wouldn't go away. I also had some swelling in my hands, which I haven't had the entire pregnancy. So, we went to labor and delivery and got checked. And....NO PROGRESS! I was still 2-3cm and 80% effaced. But, they think the pain in my abdomen is our long legged little man, and all the other tests came out normal. If Mason doesn't make his appearance this week, we will see if those contractions have made any difference this coming Friday! Then Mason will be served his eviction notice! Here is the 39 Week belly shots, and according to the home scale, I'm up 27 pounds (just because you all like to know the weight gain:) ).

38 Weeks...No Baby/Big Belly

I'm 38 Weeks pregnant today, and I still have an inside baby. I know a pregnancy lasts 40 weeks (approx.), and that it could last longer than that, but I was really hoping Mason would arrive this week. That of course was thanks to my doctor who planted the idea in my head that he would "definitely come this week." I had my 38 week appointment this past Monday. My blood pressure looked great, I'm up 25 pounds, and Mason's heart beat was 148 bpm. What got my hopes up though was that the doctor said I was 3 centimeters dilated and 80% effaced. She commented how I was progressing like a mother who was on her second or third baby, and that I would "definitely have the baby this week, if not tonight." So, excitement set in (panic for Jeff ;)), and everyday this week I found myself wondering when he would arrive. I'm still not sure what a contraction feels like, but I'm sure that won't last too much longer.

In light of the "progression" my long term sub came in this week to have her "transition days" into my class. I am so grateful for my sub! She is a fantastic, credentialed teacher that used to teach at my school. It will be so nice to be home with my baby boy, and not have to worry about my 20 other kids! I still have one week left of work, unless Mason decides to make an early appearance, but I'm not going to let anyone else get my hopes up ;).

This past week has also been a time of wonderful baby showers. Last Friday my awesome partner teachers (Jen and Corinne) threw a staff baby shower me. We played games, ate lots of food, and opened such thoughtful gifts. Mason received so many cute outfits, last minute baby items, and a very generous gift card to Babies R Us. Corinne made a delicious cake that looked like a baby, and added a fun play-on-words to the cake that has been a school joke since Jeff and I got married (Brown-Heiny). The shower was wonderful, just like the great people I work with!

Today I had a shower as well! The parents and students in my class gave me a baby shower, and it was a complete surprise! I had no idea they were planning this, and even had to cancel the spelling test to have it. Well, actually one of my parents cancelled the test, but the kids loved it! The shower was complete with baby shower games. Second graders are pretty picky, just like me, but they were good sports about trying the baby food. They also played baby shower bingo, guessed the number of M&M's in the baby bottle, and had treats to enjoy. They made an adorable baby book where they guessed when Mason would arrive, his weight, length, age when crawling, age when walking, career, and if he will laugh or cry. One of my students thinks he will weigh 20 pounds! Yikes! And about 16 of my students think he will be a teacher like his mommy and daddy. Mason also received some great baby clothes, toys, and blankets, and even some student made onsies! It was so touching that my class did this for our baby! We are truly blessed!

Well, that's the update from here! I will try to update shortly after his arrival, or perhaps I will be posting again at 40 weeks while on maternity leave. Only time will tell. Here is the 38 week belly! I'm not sure how much bigger I can get!

36 Weeks...Finally 2010!!!

Happy 2010 Everyone! We are so excited for the New Year, and what an exciting year it promises to be. We never thought January would get here, but it has, and we could have our baby at anytime! I am 36 weeks pregnant today, and I have a lot to update for all you avid readers.

I had my 36 week appointment on Wednesday, and I'm up 20 pounds! So, despite the added goodies during Christmas, I managed to prevent myself from packing on the pounds. Mason's heartbeat was a strong 142 bpm, and my blood pressure was great at 117/67. My doctor also did my first internal exam. Mason is head down, and I'm already 1 centimeter dilated and thinning. I know 1 centimeter doesn't mean much at this point, and he could stay in for another 4-6 weeks, but hearing that my body is already doing what it's supposed to really made things "real." Not to mention that I still can't tell when I'm having a contraction...maybe the real thing won't hurt that bad ::laughs uncontrollably::.

The nursery is also complete! We love the way it turned out, and I often just sit in the glider and think of when Mason will be here. I've washed his clothes, and the car seat is installed. We have also packed the diaper bag, so other than some last minute details, we are about ready to meet our little guy! It's a good thing too because I'm starting to get pretty uncomfortable. I don't sleep well at night, waking many times to go to the bathroom. I think it's funny because people say "It's just preparing you for when he gets here." If he gets here, and I'm able to sneak out of bed, go to the bathroom without turning on any lights, and be back in bed asleep less than two minutes later, I think I'll die of shock! I've also started to get acid reflux (attractive, I know), but I haven't had any heartburn. And, the nausea has come back. I'm usually okay until the late afternoon, but after dinner I tend to feel pretty sick. Thankfully, it's not nearly as bad as it was in the first trimester, and I have yet to get sick ::knocks on woods::.

Well, that is the update from here. Perhaps my next post will include pictures of Mason, and a birth story???!!!! You'll have to check back to find out. In the meantime, here are the 36 week belly pictures, pictures of the nursery, and our family Christmas picture (before Mason, of course!)