Snack Happy

well, the doctor's advice about Micah was to feed him more often and to see a lactation consultant. I started his new feeding schedule immediately yesterday and while it is tough to get him to wake up, he is eating much better!! The consultant is coming in an hour now and I am really hoping that she will be able to tell me how to make the feedings go even better. Thanks you for your prayers.... it's SO MUCH better!

I know that the benefits of breastfeeding should make it totally worth it and keep me from wanting to quit... but it's hard and time consuming and less convenient than formula and I'll admit, I've thought (not seriously yet) about giving up. Then, a friend of mine with a 4 month old dropped off dinner last night and told me she spends $240 a month on formula!! Holey Moley!! Now THERE is some serious motivation to stick with it!!!

New Pics

I got concerned about whether or not Micah was gaining weight, so my mom brought over her kitchen scale and we checked on his progress :)




Micah likes to make lots of random facial expressions while he sleeps, and here is one of my favorites.

This will likely come as no surprise to those of you who know me, but I have no filter. If something is bothering me, it is difficult for me not to share it. Well, while the first two pics are adorable, they hit at the heart of something serious. At the time they were taken, his eating habits weren't bad, he just wasn't eating as often as the "experts" say he should have been. Since then, his feedings have become shorter and shorter and now he is spitting up more and more each time he eats. It is also getting increasingly more difficult to get him to nurse.... he won't even take breastmilk from a bottle right now. Sooooooo, fewer feedings getting shorter with more coming up afterwards is a bad combination. I am really worried, and we go to see his doctor this morning. Please be praying that the doctor will know what is bothering him and that the Lord will keep him safe during this time and restore him quickly. What's particularly worrisome about this is that he shows no sign of being hungry even though he is getting less and less to eat. Anyway, I'm going to wrap this up before I cry... please be praying for whatever is going on and that even if we have to use formula, that we can get him to eat and keep something down.

My Kind of Fairy

This last Sunday morning and then again today I was visited by someone very special. Someone who spreads joy wherever they go. Someone with impeccable taste.... the Bagel Fairy. The Bagel Fairy knows her stuff. She knows that Panera makes the best bagels. She knows that the best thing to compliment a Panera bagel is Panera Hazelnut cream cheese. And she knows that the best way to any one's heart (in my family) is through their stomach. That is why I say, she's my kind of fairy!!

(Thanks Mom :)

Mad Props

I didn't realize when Nate and I decided to go to church yesterday that we would get quite the reaction we did. We brought Micah into class with us in his car seat and he stayed quiet and perfect throughout the lesson. Now, I expected people to fawn over him a bit.... I mean, what's not to love?? What I didn't expect was the number of "I can't believe you are already back!!"s that we got. I guess I have forgotten how exceptional Micah is. I've forgotten that not all newborns are on a 4-5 hour cycle and that some babies even make noise that might be distracting. Anyhoo, taking Micah to church was easy and as I discovered, a really good way to impress a lot of people :)

Now, based on some conversations I have had with people, I've realized that I have made labor and motherhood sound easy-peasy and maybe even could be accused of downplaying it too much. Let me say this.... everybody struggles differently. I did have a short labor with very little pushing involved, and that was a blessing! However, because of the speed of the labor, I had to be cut and also had multiple tears from my body not having enough time to stretch. I do have an amazing baby who sleeps well and has a good overall mood most of the time, but we struggle with feedings which seem to be getting more difficult instead of easier. Anyhoo, all this to say that I am blessed, but I don't want anyone to think that I am saying that everything is perfect. When I stop being honest about my struggles, I will lose a bit of who I am and more importantly, I will lose the opportunity to be prayed for by the people I love. I hope I never start to gloss over my difficulties in order to maintain a certain image.

I have NO IDEA why I decided to mention this, especially on my first day back, but there you go :) In case you are new to my blog, you may not be used to my random blogs of randomness.... just know that if you stick with me, I will try to keep life as interesting as possible :)

A break

Hey friends!!

I know I have been absent for a few days now and I have a gooooooooood excuse :) Today is the first day since last Thursday that I have been capable of semi-coherent thought :P As such, I have decided to take a 1 week hiatus from my blog and return next Monday, fresh as a spring daisy :) For now you can entertain yourselves with Micah pics from one of the following websites~

http://www.theelkinsadventures.shutterfly.com/action/

http://ezellfamilypictures.shutterfly.com/action/

p.s.- I blogged this all with one hand while holding Micah.... already I have developed some pretty wicked parenting skills.... wouldn't you say?

Nuff Said

Much Anticipated.....

Micah is here!! I went into labor between midnight and 1 am and we got to meet our son at 5:45 this morning!! Labor went as smoothly as we ever could have asked, and by God's grace there were no drugs or emergency interventions needed! He is 7 pounds, 2 ounces and 19 inches long. He has a full head of dark hair (with sideburns, of course) and as of birth had dark blue eyes (they can change any time during the next 9 months though, so I am not holding my breath :)

For those of you who enjoyed the every day is a holiday portion of recent posts, you'll be happy to know that today is the ONLY day in July that doesn't have a weird holiday. That's right folks, my son wanted his own day and he waited until after midnight to make sure he got it :) I am declaring it National Burrito Day since Micah looked decidedly burrito-ish when wrapped in two receiving blankets at once and laid on my chest. :)

Like Riding a Bike in a Nascar Race....

A blog is, among other things, a place to express your random pet peeves and admit to some of your random quirks that make you so lovable, huggable, and weird :) Or at least, for me it is :P

Before I was pregnant, I never really paid attention to the Hollywood pregnancy phenomenon. What is this, you ask? This is where Hollywood starlets announce that they are pregnant, and 2-3 months later, they have a baby! Because they fight SO HARD to hide it and wait SO LONG to officially announce it, they end up being really far along before the public has a confirmation of the pregnancy. As a non-pregnant person, this never stuck out to me or bothered me.... now it drives me NUTS!! I feel like I am getting lapped!! Here are these women who announced their pregnancies in April or May and they already have a baby! As for me? I announced it in NOVEMBER! Do you have any idea how many actresses/singers/whatevers have announced and then had a baby since then?? I'll give you a clue.... it's A LOT. :P

Anyhoo, today is one of my absolute favorite options for Micah's birthday. If he was born today, Micah would have the privilege of being born on Tapioca Pudding Day and more importantly, Cow Appreciation Day. Who wouldn't love to be born on Cow Appreciation Day?!!

Use It Before You Lose It

Now, maybe this is a little too practical for some people, but in my opinion, one of the absolute best things about being pregnant is that you get to use the expectant mother spaces at the store. Inside the loop, this little privilege would very rarely come into play, but out here in the 'burbs it is a HUGE advantage!! Whether you are at the mall, Babies R Us, pretty much any grocery store in the greater Katy area or, as I added to the list today, the local CVS you get special parking spaces. It's fabulous :) I now make it a point to take advantage of as many of these spaces as possible before Micah makes his appearance. Watch out Katy.... I'm fat and ready for some goooooooood parking :P

Today, July 14th, is Bastille Day (France), Pandemonium Day, and National Nude Day. So today would be an, um... interesting, one for Micah to come on :)

Standstill

Weeeeelllllll.... the doctor examined me yesterday and, nothing. Still 3cm, 80% effaced. You could say I didn't take it so well :P Well, I guess that depends on whether you think crying off and on the entire day is "taking it well". I did make it out of the hospital and to my car before break down number 1. I guess I have been feeling so sick and contracting SO MUCH this past week that to find out that it was all for nothing was very frustrating. My doctor was very surprised to see me yesterday as, in her words, she really thought she'd see me in Labor and Delivery last week. Oh well :P

I feel better this morning (it'd be hard to feel worse :P) and I am going to get a pedicure to improve my mood even further :) Should Micah decide to come today, he would not only be born on "Cheer up the Lonely Day", but it is also "World Population Day". Seeing as how we are still in Nude Recreation Week, I'm not sure a kid could ask for a better birthday :)

Dreaming...

So, I was having the recurring dream about Micah being taken out of me for every doctor's appointment and them declaring him "not done yet" and then placing him back inside until he was ready. Wellll, apparently my pre-appointment dreams have changed as the pregnancy has gone on....

Two nights ago I dreamt about something called a "cellulite baby". In the dream, my mom told me that the reason I wasn't going into labor was that I might be carrying a cellulite baby. This is a collection of fat that moves and is shaped like a baby, but then you just never go into labor. This is, of course, not a real thing... but in the dream it felt real :P

Last night I had my second occurrence of the dream in which my doctor examines me and then tells me that I've made no progress since last week and there is a good chance I will go overdue. Now, this one is TOTALLY possible. I have an appointment this morning, so we'll see what she says :P

Growth Chart

This pic is me at 37 weeks and as of today, I am 38 weeks pregnant!


How big is your baby?

Babies size vary around the last several weeks of pregnancy, but most likely your baby is between 17 and 20 inches long and weighs 6.25 to 7.5 pounds.

What is happening with your baby?

Your baby is continuing to grow, but the vast majority of his organs are mature and fully functioning. The only exceptions are his brain and lungs. These two organs are at a point that they will function outside of the womb, but will also continue to mature during childhood.
You may have an idea of what your baby will look like. Maybe you want your baby to have Aunt Ellen's red hair, your partner's green eyes, or your father's long legs. You most likely will not be able to tell right away what color of eyes your baby will have unless they are brown. If they are brown there is a good chance they will stay that way. However, if your baby's eyes are gray or blue, they can stay that way or turn green, hazel, or brown. Normally this occurs by the time your baby is nine months old.


To keep up with our birthday calendar.... if Micah were to decide to come today, he would be born on National Sugar Cookie Day... mmmm, not a bad one :)

Hmmm

I feel yuck today. Or blah, maybe it's blah. Funny thing about waiting to give birth, it's like going back to trying to get pregnant. It used to be that every time I felt a little weird I would think "Hmm, maybe I'm pregnant!". Now with every new symptom or experience outside my norm I think, "Hmmm, maybe this is what it feels like right before you go into labor!" Of course, I have no idea if this is the case or if I just feel blah, but at least it puts a positive possibility on the situation :)

Today, by the way, is Video Games Day. Appropriate, I think, for a little boy :) Oh, and I forgot to mention, July 7th-14th is Nude Recreation Week which is appropriate, I think, for a birth :P

Every Day Can Be a Fun Day :)

My mom sent me an email at the end of my Dad's birthday that details all of the fun, random holidays in the month of July. The idea is that Micah may have missed his chance to share his Grandpa's birthday, but it doesn't mean he won't have something to celebrate :) So pretty much this was the best email ever :) Today, for example, not only would he have an 07/07 birthday, which is cool, but it is also Chocolate Day and National Strawberry Sundae Day..... mmmm, sounds delicious. It definitely beats the heck outta my birthday which is National Battery Day (go Energizer!!) and this year was also President's Day.. which was a lot more fun when I used to get off of school :P


Happy Chocolate Day ya'll!!

Happy 4th guys :)

p.s.- I went to the doctor yesterday and I am 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced, so things are still progressing!!

Pregnancy Makes the Filter Fall Off.....

I find it amusing to regularly regale you with the tales of what people will say or to do those of us who are fat with baby :) It truly is quite amazing.

My mom and I were at Target on Tuesday morning and I was waiting for her to finish up in the bathroom. A woman walked out ahead of her and spotted me. She grimaced while looking at my stomach and said to me, "Ooooo, it's too hot for THAT!". She then looked at me expectantly as though I should find this endlessly amusing. I forced a small laugh which seemed to appease her and she walked away.

I have to say, I have liked being pregnant and there are a lot of fun things about it but I am not going to miss the endless barrage of stupid things that people ask you, say to you, or do to you..... although it does make for some fun stories :)

For those of you checking your calendars, today IS the day I want Micah to come... what are the odds? I guess we'll see, but it is pretty darn likely that I will be back here tomorrow morning still preggers and I'm ok with that. Speaking of which.. Happy Birthday Dad!!! My dad is freaking awesome and I can't wait to hang out with him this weekend!!

Growth Chart

This pic is me at 36 weeks.... As of today, I am 37 weeks pregnant. Guess what? That's full term! I know what you're thinking... aren't pregnancies 40 weeks long?? Yes, they are.. but the baby is considered full term at 37 weeks which basically means that the vast majority of children that are born at 37 weeks or later require no special medical attention and come out functioning normally.... It's a great place to be :)

How big is your baby?

Your baby is most likely between 16.5 to 19.5 inches long and weighs 6 to 7 pounds.


There wasn't anything in the email about what was happening with the baby cause.... well, pretty much nothing is :P The basic high points of what they had to say though was that now I am in a holding pattern until Micah decides to come. Ummm, yup.. I knew that :) We finished up our childbirth classes last night and it was such a great experience! I feel relieved to have finished those and be "set to go". Now we just get to see if Micah decides to come today or three weeks from now.... hmmmmmm, I wonder if bribing with candy works while they are still in the womb.....

I'm looking forward to sleeping through the night again.... I've got what, a year or so? Hopefully Micah will live up to the legacy of his namesake and he'll be sleeping through the night in no time at all :) Who knows, maybe he'll let me get a full night before he comes.... what are the odds?