{Tuesday Truths} Real Life with Baby

Hey everyone!!

I know its been a while since I last popped in, because real life with a baby is dang busy! I had no idea that just keeping myself, hubby and our little human fed, clean, and well rested would be so time consuming! But here we are, just a few days into Henryk's second month of life and we are all doing great.

 A little selfie comparison for you... 8 weeks on the left, and newborn on the right...

 

 We are preparing to take our first road trip to Portland and Hood River for a couple days, so that will be an adventure to say the least. If you have any sage travel advice, please leave it in the comments.

When Henryk was almost 2 weeks old, we had some newborn photos taken. Of course, he displayed his stubborn side and didn't cooperate as we planned. Luckily, the photographer is a friend of mine, Elena at Golden Trail Photography here in Bend, so we had a beer and caught up while waiting for Henryk to play along. As expected, I got peed on #lifeofaboymom, but I love the photos Elena captured and her style of editing. I can't believe this was already almost two months ago and he is 9 weeks old today.

 

This is my favorite photo Elena captured. My baby looks so tiny, especially compared to the giant baby he is now! 

So, you maybe be wondering... how is it all going? Really?

The truth is... Being a new momma is not easy. It is frustrating, messy, tiring, and often a bit lonely. But its also unbelievably fulfilling, joyous, and revealing. I say revealing in that you uncover a new side of yourself that you had no idea existed. I spend my days desparately trying to meet the needs of a human who can't communicate, and to see him thriving fills me with a joy and love that cannot be expressed in words. I would die for him. Sometimes, when he is in his car seat sleeping and we are out, my body literally aches to be cuddling him. Its borderline scary, but now I understand  my own mother so much better, and I appreciate every little thing she ever did for my brother and I, and continues to do for our little sister.

Another question we get asked a lot, is how the dogs are handling the new being in the house.
The truth is... they are doing much better than we expected, and our expectations were high to begin with. We have a lot of friends with kids, so they have been around children of all ages and are generally comfortable with them. If they could talk, they would say the hardest change has been not getting as many walks or adventures. But I have to commend hubs and myself, as we have been doing pretty well about getting them out a few times a week, and not totally neglecting them. They still get lots of cuddles and treats too.
They are good about giving Henryk his space, and I don't worry about them stepping on him or nipping at him. I wouldn't say they are overly protective of him, but I do feel comfortable leaving him napping in his crib to take a shower while we are home alone. They would definitely protect him if necessary.

Breastfeeding is a huge part of our lives, and I feel blessed to be able to provide the healthy nourishment our baby needs. But...
The truth is, breast feeding is a journey, and not an easy or natural one. The first week or so was ROUGH. Between nipple chapping and then engorgment once my milk came in, I was in some pain! But, with advice from a lactation consultant, a bag of frozen peas, and lots of lanolin, we pulled through and have found our stride in breast feeding. I produce LOTS of milk, which is great, since I will be going back to work in three weeks (sob). I generally wake up before the baby to pump one side each morning, then we are usually caught up for the day. Since the beginning, he has had a great latch and can nurse anywhere, even with a cover over his head. He has nursed in numerous restaurants, at friends houses, in the back of our car, in the Ergo while I wear him, and of course at  home. We are still working on a bottle with him, he likes a wide nipple with a slow flow, so we have tried a few different brands, looking for the magic bottle. But hubs has fed him successfully a few times, so I'm not too concerned about that when I go to work.

Having a new baby throws a major wrench into hobbies and adult time...
And the truth is... I am going on my first mountain bike ride in 9 months TODAY! Hubs has gotten a couple rides in since baby arrived, but I have stuck to walks and some short jogs. Its going to be tiring and probably a little frustrating, but I'm looking forward to spending some adult time with hubs, and the mind release that biking is for me. We are leaving Henryk with our good friend Ash, who has a 10  month old and will be watching Henryk a few hours a week when I return to work. I'm so thankful to have friends with babies who can trade childcare!

Ashleys son Anders, and Henryk

 Which leads me to... The truth about friends and babies! I feel so blessed to have a group of friends here that I've known for years who have happened to have babes around the same time we did. We spend a ton of time with them, and its so nice to be able to not worry about the kiddo making a fuss, because your friends understand.
I've also been blessed to become a part of an awesome mommy group (What up BAM's!). What started as a small group of mommies getting together weekly has grown into a larger group of mommies who go on walks, swap childcare and clothes, and support each other through this crazy journey of motherhood! We all connect through a private group Facebook page, and each mommy can add other moms they know, so the web is ever expanding! Its been an awesome support system, and I look forward to watching all of our kids grow up together.

This photo was from our Valentine's Day mommy group... and this was only half the babies there that day!! It was our biggest group yet!

I will finish off with the most FAQ about new mommy life, are you getting any sleep?
The truth is... yes. Henryk is an awesome sleeper and has been pretty much since the beginning. I don't want to sound like I'm gloating, so I will stop there.

The truth is, Hubs and I won the baby lottery and we are head over heels in love with our son. No, we aren't even considering #2, so please remove the thought from your head. : )

Any other real life questions you have? Leave em in the comments! And if you need more cuteness in the form of my son, follow us on Instagram (@lololalala)

January 7th, 2014

The day when life changed forever.

After much anticipation, we welcomed our perfect son, Henryk to the world at 8:57pm, on January 7th.

He was born weighing 8lbs 1oz, and 22" long. Long and skinny, just as I predicted.

(WARNING: Birth story follows and is somewhat graphic in description.)

I was starting to get VERY tired of being pregnant, and had decided to get acupuncture the day before (the 6th) to see if I could encourage him to get the labor train moving. I enjoyed my treatment, and went about  my day per usual, meeting some friends from out of town for a beer (yes I enjoyed a 10oz glass. Like I said, I was over it), and then getting some dinner with the hubby. I complained to him that my lower back was really sore, but didn't think anything of it.

This was my last bump photo, taken two days before Henryk was born

We went to bed on the 6th at our normal time, and I got up around 2am, again as usual, to use the bathroom and let the dog out. Once I laid back down, I felt a small burst of fluid and thought, "well there is no way I peed my pants, I just used the bathroom!"
So I got up, and the gush became gushier. Holy shit, I thought. This is it! I went back to the bathroom and put on a maxi pad, and examined the fluid, which was pinkish in color. This confirmed it, my water had definitely broken.
I wasn't having an contractions yet, so I went into the living room and called my Doctor. She said, yep thats it, come down to the hospital whenever you are ready. I went back into the bedroom to wake James and he was already stirring.
"Is it time?" he said groggily. I responded yes, and started gathering all the final things we would need for the hospital, toothbrushes, champagne glasses, you know, the important stuff.

We got to the hospital around 3:30am, and went right into triage. A nurse came in and asked a bunch of questions, and began monitoring my contractions and the baby's heart rate. She also checked my cervix, and we were bummed to find I was still around a 1, as had been the case for the last few weeks. Nonetheless, when your water breaks, they don't wait to admit you due to the risk of infection so we were put into a room within an hour of arrival. The Doctor shift change was at 7am, and we were pleased to see Dr. Carlson who would ultimately deliver our baby, was on call. A very nice coincidence, as we had seen him once during our prenatal appointments and liked him quite a bit.

Once in our room, we rested and Dr. Ahmed came in to check my and see if anything was happening. I hadn't dilated and my contractions were still very mild, so we discussed started pitocin around mid morning to get things going. Like I said, with a water break, they don't waste any time. James and I got up and walked a few laps around the hospital, and that really started my contractions. I was happy that we might finally be getting somewhere, without the synthetic hormones. Once we got back to the room, my normal OB stopped by on his way into the office for the day - I was scheduled to see him that morning and had cancelled, obviously. I was shocked to see him, it made me very happy since he is a busy man.

We started pitocin around 11am, and at that point I had dilated to a 2. Of course, I had heard all about pitocin horror stories and asked about an epidural at this time. I wanted to make sure I was on the 'list' and that when the time came for one, I wouldn't be waiting hours for the anesthesiologist. The drugs definitely got my contractions going, and by 2pm I was begging for the epidural. The contractions were so strong that I could barely breathe through them, I felt like the undead. I couldn't control the sounds I was making as I worked through them. My labor nurse checked me and I was only at 3. I think I was so tense from the pain, I was preventing my progress. Within 15 minutes of asking, the anesthesiologist was there and got me started. The pain relief was immediate and amazing. James and I both napped for about 2 hours, and when we got checked again around 4:30, I was at a 7! Finally some progress!

My contractions were coming very close together in groups of two or three, then a longer break. The nurse upped the pitocin again to try and regulate them, and check me again about 45 minutes later and I was at a 9.
"Its almost time to push!" she said, and I couldn't believe it was almost time to meet my baby. As my contractions strengthened, I could feel them more and more and the pain and pressure in my hips told me he was moving into the birth canal.
Dr. Carlson came in about 20 minutes later as they finished getting the room ready. We did a couple rounds of pushes and he said the baby was still very high and I had some work to do. He left, and the nurse and James and I continued pushing. I'm not sure if my epidural was turned down or didn't totally worl, but I had pretty decent control of my legs, and could lift them almost totally on my own. I pushed with all my might for another hour, until Dr. Carlson came back to check again. Baby had moved some, but not nearly as much as needed to use the vacuum extractor to help ease him out. He told me to push for another half an hour, and we would see where I was at. He also mentioned a C section, if I wasn't able to get him any lower. I had been pushing for almost two hour at this point.

The nurse and James helped maneuver me into several different positions to push, and none seemed to help. I was exhausted, and in pain and I could feel the baby wedged into my pelvis, not moving even though I was giving it everything I had. When Dr. Carlson returned, I caved. A C section it was, and I felt so defeated. I couldn't deliver our baby naturally, I felt like a failure.

The nurses flew into action, and a new anesthesiologist was called and turned my epidural way up. Unfortunately, all this was happening around 8pm, after the night shift of nurses came. So my wonderful nurse who I had labored with all day (and also happens to be the mother of one of my co-workers), was done. She offered to stay, off the clock - bless her-, until I was out of surgery. As much as I wanted her to stay, I said no, and I didn't see her again through our stay.

I was off to surgery within a half hour of caving. Once in the OR, James was suited  up in scrubs and waited in the hall until I was prepped. They put a tent over my midsection and strapped my arms down to boards so I couldn't reach into the surgery area. Then James came in, and it was go time. I was aware the whole time, and could feel some pulling on my stomach, but that was it. The anesthesiologist kept a commentary going, and within a couple minutes he said, ok its almost baby time! About 90 seconds later, at 8:57pm on that wonderful Tuesday, I heard the first cry from my sweet boy and that was it! Ten fingers, ten toes, a full head of brown hair and one big boy!

They took him with James to tidy him up and cut the cord, while I was stitched up. Our first photos of him are all with James, as I was prone on the table. After they got us both put back together, they brought him over to me and laid him by my head on the table. It was so awkward as I had to look totally 90 degrees to see him, but I still wept with joy that he was here and healthy and it was finally over.

 We headed back to our room and things quieted down. I was finally able to hold him and nurse and have my skin to skin. He was so perfect and I was absolutely in love, so was his papa. I was just beside myself with joy watching James with our son. I have a whole new level of love and attraction to my husband, as I watch him. He is everything and more than I could have wanted in a life partner.

Dr. Carlson came back to discuss the surgery and my recovery. It turns out, Henryk had been pushing against a membrane that was acting as sort of a vacuum. So every time I pushed, he would move down and when I released pressure he would move back up. There was pretty much no way I would have been able to push him out. That made me feel a little better about saying yes to the surgery. I guess Mothers intuition is right, I knew I wouldn't be able to do it when I gave the go-ahead for the C section. 

I was trapped in the bed until the next morning, with a catheter and these pumps on my legs that kept blood circulating. They pretty much prevented me from sleeping at all, and every time I needed the baby to feed or change a diaper, I had to ask James. I didn't change one diaper until almost 48 hours after Henryk was born.

We stayed in the hospital until Friday the 10th, my actual due date. Henryk passed all his tests and I was gaining my strength and awareness steadily, so we were able to head home and begin our new life as a family of three!

Its been three weeks now and I feel like we are hitting our stride. I will save all that for another post, but it has been an incredible journey so far, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us!

In the car seat for the first time, to go home! 

Everyone says he looks more like Daddy!

Henryk has a lot of personality for such a little guy 

37 Weeks!

Whew. Home stretch people and I am feeling it. Yikes. I finished up work last week, two weeks earlier than I planned,  after an eventful prenatal appointment. I went in for my regular checkup, feeling just as I do now, totally fine. My blood pressure has been really low and steady for my whole pregnancy, but for some reason it just went through the roof (for me), last week. My Doc was concerned, as he should be, and after making me lie on my left side and measuring it a couple more times, he sent me to a non-stress test, which BTW is the most inaccurately named test ever. So stressful! They hook up two monitors to your stomach, one measures baby's heart rate and prints it out, the other measures any contractions you may be having. They give you a little button to push each time baby kicks.

So I laid there and tried to relax for about a half an hour, then the nurse came back and said, "Well this isn't going to get you out of here!" Henryk's heart rate was lower than average, around 135 b/pm. She gave me a juice box to sip on to see if the acidity and sugar would ramp it up at all. It didn't. So Dr. Clark comes back in and I'm off to a blood draw, to check for kidney or liver problems, and an ultrasound, to measure the amniotic fluid and make sure he is looking good in there.

Long story short, all came back just fine, thank goodness. All those tests and concerns after such an easy pregnancy did nothing to make me less stressed or lower my blood pressure at all I'm sure. It was really cool to see our babe again though, he is huge and active, and passed all the tests in less than 10 minutes, the time allotment is 30. My Doctor asked me to come back a couple days later to re-check my blood pressure, which was still up. He suggested I go on light duty, aka no work. Since I work on my feet in a restaurant, and this just happens to be the busiest time of year, he decided it would be too stressful and didn't want to risk a blood pressure spike which could put Henryk at risk. Luckily, I work for an amazing company that offers disability, which is actually separate from the disability I will get for the first six weeks of maternity leave. So hubs and I aren't totally screwed when it comes to income lol.

And with that... on to bumpdate!!

This is one of my longest friends, Becca, who will be welcoming a little girl to her family at the end of February! Its so cool to be pregnant at the same time as a close friend. We compare lots of notes lol.

How far along: 37  weeks + 4 days. So close. Any time now little man.

Total weight gain/loss: I have started doing that weird thing at the end of pregnancy where you lose weight. I was down a whole lb at my last appt, so that puts me at 27 lbs gained total. So weird. I did make a batch of my fave cookies, Snickerdoodles, using this BOMB recipe from the Cake Boss. So I will probably be back up on Thursday.

Maternity clothes: Now that I'm not working, its pretty much leggings and yoga pants and my hubbys hoodies on the regular. I'm trying not to leave the house for many errands, because that equals spending money, which we are a little tighter on now that I'm not working. Some of my maternity clothes still fit, but on shorter shirts I am getting that 'cute' (not) gap between a low waist and my shirt. Yikes.

Stretch Marks: No new ones, since the 4 tinys appeared below my belly. I must have had one good growth spurt, and that was it for now.

Sleep: Since we bought the tempurpedic bed topper, it has been a lot better! I still wake up several times a night to use the bathroom and let the dog out, but when I finally wake up for the day, my hips aren't achingly sore! Woot! So if any other prego mommies are suffering out there, go to Costco and buy a mattress topper for $150. Two words, WORTH IT.

Best moment this week: Well it was actually last week, but seeing the baby again on the ultrasound was so awesome. Also being reassured that he is healthy, seeing those four heart chambers and fingers and toes. Very good. We also could see his HAIR waving around in the amniotic fluid, which was so awesome. I was born with a ton of hair and James had a pretty good mop too, so I've been hoping for a hairy babe. 

Miss anything: A good nights sleep, wine, beer, etc etc... Minor things in the grand scheme of pregnancy. As strange as it sounds, I also miss work. I find lots of things to fill my days, but I love my work family and I miss seeing them daily. Love you guys!

Movement: Oh yeah. Now its so strong that it takes my breath away when he kicks a lung, or wakes me from a dead sleep when he decides to roll to the other side of my belly. Crazy boy. But lots of movement = healthy babe, so no complaints!

Food cravings: Nope. Just food, and all the time. The hunger that couldn't be satisfied has left, but now I feel hungry all the time, but nothing sounds good. My poor belly doesn't know what to think!

Anything making you queasy or sick?: Not too bad, but random things make me feel nauseous, which I hear is kind of common in late pregnancy?

Have you started to show yet?: Good joke. I might be visible from space at this point.

Gender: Henryk, our baby BOY!

Labor signs: Still a few good Braxton Hicks here and there, and I feel like I can definitely tell what a 'contraction' feels like. I was slightly effaced at the last appointment, so lets hope progress continues!

Belly button in or out: Innie, but it is going through some major changes, and I am starting to think it might just pop out!

Wedding ring on or off: On, but only the band. My engagement ring is a little too tight. Boo.

Mood: Overall... pretty dang good! Just tired tired tired. I had to take a nap today around 2pm, which lasted until 5pm when I forced myself to get up. I easily could have slept for the rest of the night. The warm, snuggly pitty pup in my arms didn't make it much easier to motivate.

Looking forward to: Meeting this baby! So soon! Hopefully he decides to make his appearance a little early, preferably before the new year. We shall see. And Christmas is just around the corner, my hubs is such a great Santa, I can't wait to open our gifts! And funny as it sounds, there are just as many presents for Henryk under our tree as for James or I. Spoiled baby. His grandparents are too good to him.

Whew! Long post, forgive me. So, any crazy pregnancy stories or scares for me? I feel like this is my payback for having such an easy pregnancy so far. Share in the comments!

36 Week Bumpdate!!!

I'm baaaacccckkkk!!!! Hahaha, bear with me people, I am so bad at keeping up on these things! In fact, our big chalkboard door in our kitchen STILL says 30 weeks... yep that was from back in October. Ooops. We just get so busy with life sometimes, taking photos in front of a door falls to the side. That being said, I have some new belly shots and lots of info for your reading pleasure! Onward!

 

It appears I really am growing a human in there! And he is getting huge! 

 How far along: 36 weeks! We've hit the 'pre-term' mark! Woot for small victories!

Total weight gain/loss: So far, so good I think. I've gained around 28lbs, with 4 of them coming during the Thanksgiving holiday. Sorry I'm not sorry, but if people could stop bringing us homemade toffee and if my errands could stop being near the most amazing chocolate shop in the world, it would be a LOT easier to gain at a normal rate.

Maternity clothes: Ah Maternity clothes... I never knew you could actually outgrow them?! Yep, some of my pants just aren't comfy anymore, I have three pairs that work wonderfully still, and three others that are on their way to the next prego lady.

Stretch Marks: Yesterday, we entered uncharted waters with 4 tiny stretch marks appearing below my belly button and on the sides of my stomach. At first I thought they were just indentions from wearing too tight pants... then I remembered I live in yoga pants. Definitely not the case. But can't fight nature I guess! I recently switched from using Palmers Cocoa butter to Bella B Tummy Honey Butter, and I'm not sure if that's the culprit or if Henryk is just getting huge. (I prefer to blame him, as I'm feeling the hugeness in other areas)

Sleep: Meh. That's all I can really say. If I exercise (i.e. yoga or a long walk), I sleep much better. We are buying a temperpedic bed topper today, so I think that might help with my pressure points.

Best moment this week: We celebrated my company's annual Holiday party yesterday at the beautiful Sunriver Resort, and even though I couldn't get tipsy and act a fool on the dance floor like years past, it was still a wonderful time! Besides the below zero temps outside... yikes!

Miss anything: A good nights sleep, wine, beer, etc etc... Minor things in the grand scheme of pregnancy.

Movement: Non-stop, but it has changed into sharp nudges and long, slow continuous pressure on the ribcage. OUCH. Pretty sure baby boy has super long, strong legs like his papa.

Food cravings: Nope. Just food, and all the time. The hunger that couldn't be satisfied has left, but now I feel hungry all the time, but nothing sounds good. My poor belly doesn't know what to think!

Anything making you queasy or sick?: Not too bad, but random things make me feel nauseous, which I hear is kind of common in late pregnancy?

Have you started to show yet?: The new game is... how big can she get? Strangers love to talk about my belly... Its actually pretty annoying. Luckily, the waddle hasn't kicked in quite yet, so I feel blessed there.

Gender: Henryk, our baby BOY!

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks are increasing, and I definitely feel some changes happening. He hasn't 'dropped' yet, but I have my first cervix check on Tuesday, so that will answer some questions.

Belly button in or out: Innie, but it is going through some major changes, and I am starting to think it might just pop out!

Wedding ring on or off: On, but only the band. My engagement ring is a little too tight. Boo.

Mood: Overall... pretty dang good! Its a little shocking. I do get really tired at night, and head to bed around 9:30 if I can.  

Looking forward to: Meeting this baby! So soon! Hopefully he decides to make his appearance a little early, preferably before the new year. We shall see. I'm also looking forward to finishing up with work, my last day is the 29th, only 12 shifts to go!!! 

{Tuesday Truths} Marrying a Chef

A couple days ago, I came across yet another list of life facts on Facebook. This one was from the always clever Huffington Post, titled, '5 Things No One Tells You About Marrying a Chef'. Obviously I couldn't resist clicking through, marrying a chef is definitely not for the faint of heart, nor is it what you'd expect, so I was interested in their take on it.
Sometimes internet articles are grossly disappointing, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this one was spot on. However, some areas deserve a little expansion, so today I will tell you the truth about my experience being married to a Chef.

The truth is, their mind is never truly away from work. Its 5am and you're both sound asleep and brrrrriiiinnggggg! Phone rings, and its a prep cook wanting to discuss some assinine problem that probably could have waited until Chef rolled in around 8am.
Or you're on vacation, and restaurant choices are based solely on menu items Chef is intrigued by. He might even start a list on his phone of new ideas he could work into specials at his own restaurant. Or perhaps he will forget his phone, and you'll wind up with photos of recipes or menu items on yours, so he can recall them later.

I'm terribly sorry but I can't recall what magazine this recipe was in. Maybe Coastal Living? If someone knows the original source, please email me or leave a comment and let me know!

The truth is, when they cook at home, it is a masterpiece. My family now really looks forward to James cooking because they know it will be gourmet, starting with homemade demiglace and ending with profiteroles, fresh out of the oven drizzled with homemade chocolate ganache. The truth that comes hand in hand with this is that, they cook like they have a paid dishwasher on staff at home. This is by no means a complaint like it sounds, but when James cooks dinner, I have to be in the kitchen at every gap in cooking to wash any dishes I can get my hands on. He will use almost all the pots and pans we have, numerous bowls and utensils, and pile ingredients on the counter even after he is done with them. Again, I am not complaining, because when I cook, he cleans up. Its kind of our unspoken agreement.

Beef Bourguignon... Epic

The truth is, get ready for an unusual schedule. Restaurants are busiest on weekends and holidays, so that's of course when Chef will be working. Lucky for us, I also work at a restaurant, so this has been a benefit rather than inconvenience for us. We typically have Monday and Tuesday off as our weekends, which is actually a blessing. We can get to the doctor or other weekday only businesses without a problem or schedule interference. The hardest part is passing up on holiday trips and family events due to work, but once baby gets here, hopefully that can become more a priority. Hand in hand with this, is the truth about taking vacations in the off season. It may sound like a pain, but travel is so much more affordable and painless when the standard vacation season crowds are back at work or school. September is our big travel month, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The truth is, being married to a chef will show you  a new level of passion that you didn't imagine possible until you got roped into this lifestyle. I am so proud of my husband and the hard work he puts in for his restaurant and staff, the love he has for what he does, and the fact that it shows in the product you receive when you visit his place of employment.

So spill... whats mealtime and lifestyle like for your family? Have you ever dreamed of having a personal Chef? Me too... Oh wait.

30 Week Bumpdate

Hey there people! We have finally crossed the 3/4's of the way line, 30 weeks!!! Woot! On with the sharing and bump date!

Yep... Look at that damn thing! I am huge! I am also slouching, so that makes it look like an extra large bump, instead of the pretty average one that it is in reality. I am still in shock that we only have 10 weeks to go, but I am so excited to meet our little man!

How far along: 30 weeks + 4 days

Total weight gain/loss: Gaining steadily at the 1lb a week since 14 weeks, so I am up 16 lbs. In my Doctors words, "right on track" and "I wish all my patients were as healthy as you". Thanks Dr. Clark.

Maternity clothes: Oh yes... I am reaching the point where I want to burn all my maternity clothes, but most of them are borrowed. Having a limited wardrobe really starts to grate on the nerves. Also, I am anxious to buy a new pair of fall/winter boots, but I don't want to for fear my feet will swell and change sizes and my new boots won't fit! Irrational much?

Stretch Marks: Still the same ones on my boobs, one new one on the side of one boob, and I have this tight, pulling feeling right below my belly button that I worry might stretch into one. I've been massaging lotion into the spot religiously but... like I said before, you can't fight growth spurts!

Sleep: I feel like just as I head into this final stretch of pregnancy, I am figuring out how to sleep comfortably. I build a little fortress of pillows, nestle inside, and pretty much don't move until Cash wakes up to go outside around 2am. I've learned that propping up my belly with a little pillow works wonders for easing the pain I was feeling in my hip joints!

Best moment this week: Had a steller round of interviews for a new job within my company that I really want! Also, gifts have started pouring in from our shower registry, so thats been really fun to open and get excited about!

Miss anything: A good nights sleep, wine, beer, etc etc... Minor things in the grand scheme of pregnancy. I also miss my family, even though they are close, it still seems so far away!

Movement: Non-stop! This baby is a busy boy, just like his parents!

Food cravings: No new cravings, but I have been STARVING constantly. I feel like there is no way I can consume enough calories to meet this boy's demands without making myself literally sick. A few nights now, I've woken up around 3am with my stomach growling, and had to eat a bowl of oatmeal or a banana, just so I can fall back asleep! This is not boding well for 14 years from now and my grocery bill...

Anything making you queasy or sick?: Not too bad, I am definitely thinking the worst of those symptoms are over.

Have you started to show yet?: The new game is... how big can she get? Strangers love to talk about my belly... Its actually pretty annoying.

Gender: Henryk, our baby BOY!

Labor signs: Nope! Braxton Hicks every now and then, but we are doing well!

Belly button in or out: Innie, but it is going through some major changes, and I am starting to think it might just pop out!

Wedding ring on or off: On! Always!

Mood: Overall... pretty dang good! Its a little shocking. 

Looking forward to: Two things...
One - Our baby shower is next weekend! I can't believe it! So I am really looking forward to spending time with friends and family celebrating our little man.
Two - Finishing up this nursery! We've got paint on the walls, trim and chair rail and the new light fixture will go up this weekend, then we can assemble the furniture and start decorating! I can't wait! It already looks so great in there with the new paint.. I'll update with photos soon!!!

{Tuesday Truths} The Truth about being a Pitbull Owner

Hey hey everyone!

So in a small effort to get myself posting a bit more, I've decided to start a little weekly series called Tuesday Truths. Eventually, I'd like to open up a linky for these, but for now while I have minimal followers, if you'd like to join in, please link to your post in the comments!

Please note, these are truths from my experiences and perspectives. Due to the innate differences of every human on this planet, what I take as truth  may not be what you do! The point of this is not to judge others or criticize what they believe to be true, but to see something through another's eyes.

On that note, I will kick things off with probably one of the most controversial topics in my life, being a Pitbull owner.

This breed, or shall I say mix of breeds, is one of the most sensationalized around. Its seems as though every week there is a new article about the dangers of Pitbulls and Breed Specific Legislation that is being put in place to help 'protect' people from these misunderstood animals.

The truth about 'Pitbulls', is that most of them aren't actually a true pitbull at all! Many dogs are lumped into this category due to physical features, such as a blocky head or a strong, full chest. Many different breeds also possess these characteristics, thus the term, 'Pitbull Type Dog' or PTD for future reference in this post.  Our dog, Cash is a PTD. We rescued him at 8 weeks old from a local group called Saving Grace, in Roseburg, Oregon. Rescues make an attempt to label breeds, for adoption purposes, but often the dogs are an oops litter from mixed breed parents, so its a roll of the dice. Cash was labeled a Rottweiler/Pitbull mix, which was fine with us. Now that a couple years have passed, we are pretty convinced that he is Boxer/Pitbull/Heeler of some sort. In all honesty, who cares?

The truth is, a breed is a label, just like race. He is a dog, and he is loved, that's what matters to us.Sure, some people will cross to the other side of the street when they see us out walking, due to the fact that he has a blocky head. That's fine.

But the truth is, Cash loves people, especially children, and I trust him almost limitlessly with them. Nothing makes my heart smile more than looking outside and seeing Cash following my sister Sophia (age 7) around the yard, her little companion and protector.

The group of dogs commonly referred to as Pitbull, actually encompasses more than one AKC recognized breed, the Staffordshire terrier, and the American Staffordshire terrier. The American Pitbull terrier is recognized by the UKC, but the breed traits are mostly the same.

The truth about PTD's is they are excellent family dogs WHEN THEY ARE RAISED CORRECTLY, which means with love, discipline, exercise, patience and routine. Cash is at his best when he is walked daily, preferably for at least an hour. It puts his mind at peace, and allows him to socialize in a controlled environment. This temperment description is from the UKC, and I believe it to be nearly correct from my experiences:
             'The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength, confidence, and zest for life. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children. Because most APBTs exhibit some level of dog aggression and because of its powerful physique, the APBT requires an owner who will carefully socialize and obedience train the dog. The breed’s natural agility makes it one of the most capable canine climbers so good fencing is a must for this breed. The APBT is not the best choice for a guard dog since they are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and highly undesirable. This breed does very well in performance events because of its high level of intelligence and its willingness to work.'

The truth about PTD's is that some, like any other breed of dog, may have some level of dog aggression. It is up to the owner to be responsible about managing this. Cash is not a dominant dog in general, but when he first meets another dog, he has a tendency towards dominance. It generally comes out initially as an attempt to hump, followed by some growls and hackle raising. However, James and I know this about him, and have learned the correct way for him to meet other dogs, which results in better peace of mind for all of us.

Instead of face to face meetings, we prefer to walk with the new dogs and their people, on leash in a human controlled environment. This puts us as owners in the dominant position, and allows the dogs to get to know one another through smell, while exercising and moving as a pack, which is natural to them. I have no problem asking people I meet during our walks to just walk with us for a block or two instead of standing around awkwardly while our dogs attempt to meet in an unnatural way. I have never had a dog owner say no to this situation, and it allows for a moment of conversation between us as owners as well.

The truth about PTD's, is that they are the worlds best snugglers, and most believe they are lap dogs and will do their best to convince you as well.

 

To my dismay, Cash sleeps most nights in bed with us, under the covers. As much as I try to resist, he is so warm and cuddly that its hard to send him to his bed on the floor. He is usually the first to crash at night and the last to crawl out from under the covers. He also runs the couch, but is happy to share. 

The truth about PTD's is they love to work, play, exercise, whatever the activity maybe be, they are happiest when pleasing their master. 

Cash loves this green toy, which has no squeaker, but still works well. He loves to fetch, play hide and seek, or just carry it around on our walks. We enrolled him in a 4 week agility course when he was 5 months old, and he came out on top as champion of his class, which included a goldendoodle, golden retriever, german shorthair, and blue heeler. He loves to run behind the bike on trail rides, and will hike for miles with no complaints. He is truely an ideal companion.

The truth is, we are lucky to live in a beautiful city where PTD's are accepted as part of the community of dogs with no questions asked. They are all over town, in all shapes and sizes and nearly all are a perfect representation of what the breed has to offer. Just yesterday, after I had initially written this post, I was enjoying lunch at one of our many local brew pubs. On the patio, there was a couple with two beautiful PTD's who were quietly lying under the table, just enjoying a day out with their people. 

The truth is, now that I've owned a pitbull type dog, I don't think I will ever have another breed. Cash, and all the other pit-mixes I know, have opened my eyes to the bigger picture of being a dog owner, which is to enrich their lives and your own.

The truth is, PTD's are the most euthanized breed in the country, according to Don'tBullyMyBreed.org, due to being misunderstood and grossly overbred, whether on purpose or oops litters. Next time you're looking for a new family dog, I highly encourage you to check out your local shelter, and just take a PTD for a walk. You may find your new best friend in the most unlikely form.

Please link your Tuesday Truth in the comments, and let me know how you feel about Pitties! Please be constructive in your comments, disrespectful ones will be deleted. Thank you!

27 Week Bumpdate

 I know, I'm a terrible blogger! I have a hard time delegating specific time each week to sit down and prepare a post, so please forgive me for being WAY behind in bumpdates. As I mentioned before, not a lot changes from week to week for me, so these every 4-6 week updates or so... They work for me! On that note, lets check out some curves eh?

 Lucky for you all, I do actually take somewhat regular photos of my bump. And its growing... boy is it ever growing! If you follow me on Instagram, you'll be able to see real time bump updates, as that's where I snagged all of these photos from. My husband has also been taking some on his camera, and I will do a montage, probably set to some sweet BMM (that's baby making music for those who don't know), so we can watch an evolution of growth around my midsection.

How far along: 27 weeks + 4 days

Total weight gain/loss: Up 14 lbs from pre-baby, which the doctor keeps saying is right on track. If I continue at this 1 lb a week gain I've been having since I actually started gaining, I will end up around 27 lbs, which would be great. But honestly, as long as he's healthy and getting what he needs, I could gain an extra 10 and be fine with it.

Maternity clothes: E'ry damn day! Love em! Pregnant women of the world, do no resist maternity clothes. They will save your sanity. And I get compliments too, example: "Oh those cords are super cute!" Me: "Thanks, they're hand me down maternity!" Snaps waistband for effect. You can easily find cute and comfortable maternity wear, just ask your recently pregnant friends and family!

Stretch Marks: I've come to terms with this a little bit more but... I got my first stretch marks. They are on the underside of my boobs, so I guess in terms of stretch marks overall, I can't complain much. Still using cocoa butter religiously, but you can't fight growth spurts.

Sleep: Oh sleep, that elusive concept that I will never experience at its most glorious again. Sleep is okay. Some nights are decent, others I toss and turn and its a battle. Between the dog that my hubs lets sleep under the covers on his side every night, being pregnant, and the two cats that like to make bread on your butt cheek at 2am... well I am ready for a bed of my own right about now. Rant over.

Best moment this week: Last night as hubs and I were falling asleep, baby Henryk was having a little dance party in the womb, and daddy got to feel some of the biggest kicks and rolls and twitches yet! That was pretty exciting, I love being able to share those moments with him.

Miss anything: A good nights sleep, wine, beer, etc etc... Minor things in the grand scheme of pregnancy.

Movement: Non-stop! I think Henryk has a future in break dancing, he can seriously throw down in there!

Food cravings: Nothing too weird, just food, and lots of it! Desserts of course!

Anything making you queasy or sick?: Not too bad, I am definitely thinking the worst of those symptoms are over.

Have you started to show yet?: HA. Good joke, Yes, if you can't tell I'm pregnant, well maybe you need your eyes checked.

Gender: Henryk, our baby BOY!

Labor signs: Nope! Have had  a couple interesting things happen, but no major cause for concern. Lets just say pregnancy is a leaky process. Bleh.

Belly button in or out: Innie, and if it ever pops out I will be super impressed. I have the deepest belly button ever!

Wedding ring on or off: On! Always!

Mood: Cheerful and happy, I have been experiencing mood swings and MAJOR nesting. Cleaning and cooking are my favorite hobbies. And dessert eating.

Looking forward to: January!!! The holidays are also quickly approaching, so I am looking forward to relaxing and eating lots of yummy homemade treats!!!

Maternity photos and Gender Reveal!!!

Its the post you've all been waiting for!!!
Last week we met up with our dear friend Kaylee of Kaylee B Photography at a beautiful park near the Deschutes River for some fun photos to reveal the sex of our sweet baby! Without further ado...

 

Its A Boy!!!!! 

Hubs and I couldn't be more thrilled! When we were trying, and in the early stages of pregnancy we didn't really care what the sex of our baby way. I was on team Girl up until I started feeling movement around 16 weeks, and I immediately KNEW it was a boy. Like father like son, the kid is crazy active and definitely lets me know when he is ready for some food! I feel like I'm getting to know his personality already too, like if we poke and prod at my belly, he reacts. Almost as if to say, "leave me alone mama!" I'm so in love with this babe already, its sick. 

The next most FAQ after sex is a name... so do you want to know?! 

 

Yep, baby Henryk will be joining the family, come January! Hubs and I both have a strong polish background, and the captain of our Detroit Red Wings happens to be Henrik Zetterberg, so that was a small piece of our inspiration for the name. The meaning of the name Henryk is Lord of the House, so we thought it was rather fitting as well. We actually chose names for both sexes before we knew what we were having, so it has been pretty easy. However, if he comes out and doesn't look like a Henryk, we have a backup name as well.

How about some more adorableness of my hubs and I and our bump?

Bless Old Navy and their maternity department. I have to give props to those skinny jeans, the fit is great and they are so comfy!! Do yourself a favor a grab a pair if you're prego... you won't regret it! I imagine I'll wear them a few weeks postpartum as well. Comfort beats cute for me, and these are literally one step above maxi skirts and yoga pants.

I know I've mentioned a few times that one of my closest friends, Kendall and her man Chuck are expecting as well. As of today she hasn't delivered, but we are talking any day now! Come on baby!

She joined us for a few fun shots as well. Love this lady, and I can't wait to meet her little man!

Well that sums it up folks! Baby boy for hubs and I and we couldn't be any happier! So tell me, did you, or will you do maternity photos? What did you do for gender reveal, if you did it at all?! How bout future BBF shots?  We couldn't resist after this Pinterest inspiration... 

21 Week Bump Date

 Happy Labor Day weekend everyone! Its so hard to believe that its the end of Summer already, although I have been jonesing for Fall for a few weeks now. I've been noticing subtle leaf changes around town, our nights are definitely cooling off, which means we are getting closer to meeting the Miniwicki!! Today I'm going to include a little Friday letter after my update, which I'll  be linking up to The Sweet Season, a lovely little blog run by Mrs. Ashley Slater, who just welcomed a sweet baby of her own! Be sure to stop  by and say hi and fall in love with her precious bundle!
Without further ado...

Umm... hello Baby bump!!!!! This thing is in a massive growth spurt. Check out my last update for a little comparison, hard to believe that was only two weeks ago!!

 How far along: 21 weeks + 5 days
Total weight gain/loss: Not sure, I was up 6 lbs at my last checkup. Next one is the 9th, and I bet I gain at least 5 this round. Lets just say dessert and I have become very good friends...
Maternity clothes: Pretty much on the daily. This belly can't be restrained any more. Old Navy is having 30% off this weekend, so just today I bought some skinny jeans, a skirt and a new tank top. Woot for cute and comfy!!
Stretch Marks: Still nope!
Sleep: This has been a ROUGH week for sleep. Baby is growing a lot right now and its making sleep very hard! I just can't get comfortable! I woke up a few days ago and was literally sore internally from the stretching. Ugh.
Best moment this week: Finishing a major landscaping project at our house (post on monday about that), and my darling friend Kendall will be delivering her baby boy soon!! So excited! Also... Will Ferrell came and ate dinner at our pub on Wednesday. I didn't wait on him or meet him, but seeing him as a normal guy with his family, not Ron Burgandy or Ricky Bobby or anyone else silly was pretty cool. You stay classy Central Oregon.
Miss anything: Usually at this time of year we're getting ready to head North to Whistler for a couple weeks, which we aren't doing this year. Sniff, tear. But I'm looking forward to our Michigan trip instead!
Movement: Oh yeah. And Papa hubs has been able to feel it a few times now, so that is super exciting!
Food cravings: Nothing too weird, just heaps of desserts! 
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Just gross smells. My gag reflex is high, if I'm gagging I'll probably lose it. Yuck.
Have you started to show yet?: Definitely showing now! Even strangers can finally tell I'm expecting!
Gender: Known but not shared!!! Soon, I promise!
Labor signs: Hell no! But I think I'm having a teensy bit of Braxton Hicks? Going to ask about it at our next appt.
Belly button in or out: Innie, and if it ever pops out I will be super impressed. I have the deepest belly button ever!
Wedding ring on or off: On! Always!
Mood: Cheerful and happy, I have been experiencing mood swings and MAJOR nesting. Cleaning and cooking are my favorite hobbies. And dessert eating.
Looking forward to: January!!! Really looking forward to our MI trip too, and the Detroit Red Wings game we will be catching while we are there! Woot! Go Wings!

On to my letters...
Dear Husband: You are already the most incredible papa and hubby out there. I don't know how its possible but every day you get more attractive to me and I am so blessed to be your wife and baby mama. FLU boo.
Dear Baby: I feel like I am getting to know you so much already! Your personality is already shining through, you are wild and pushy and really don't like it when I mess with you in the womb. And you already seem to have good taste in music. Your papa and I love you soo much already and we can't wait for you to get here! Don't rush, but come Janaury we will be ready for you!
Dear Cash and Sammy: You boys are such good dogs and I know you will be the best brothers ever to your new sibling! Cash, I am especially proud of you for not needing to go in the crate anymore when we are gone.

I think that's about it for now! Be back Monday with a major update to our yard!! Curb appeal baby!!!

19 Week Bumpdate

 Hey friends! So I am ashamed at how bad I am doing with weekly updates. To be honest though, not a lot changes from one week to the next, so I am okay with only updating every two or three. Lots of new and exciting things happening here though, we finally got an ultrasound, and the MiniWicki is doing amazing in there! I'll tell you what, the word 'Normal' never sounded so good.

Here I am rocking that bump!! Its finally looking like a pregnant belly and I am very pleased about that. Also, we did find out the sex at our ultrasound, but I'm going to make you all wait a tiny bit longer. We are having some photos taken next week for the big reveal!

 

Here is our sweet little babe. It was so surreal to see it swimming all around in there! Active little Mini, just like it's parents! 

How far along: 19 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I'm up six lbs so far, which is on track for an average pregnancy! Feeling super pleased about that, considering White Cheddar Cheez-Its and ice cream are among my fave foods at the moment.
Maternity clothes: Still haven't bought any more. My gracious friend Ashley has loaned me quite a bit, and I am figuring out how to make my wardrobe work for my changing curves.
Stretch Marks: Still nope!
Sleep: Almost back to normal. Its so nice to be well rested again!
Best moment this week: Seeing our baby for the first time on ultrasound AND finding out the sex in the same visit! We are overjoyed, and now I am just really anxious to meet him/her!
Miss anything: Our local Brewfest is this weekend and I am jealous I will be missing that for the first time since I've lived in Bend. So yes, I miss beer. A lot.
Movement: We've got a little party animal in there!
Food cravings: Nothing too weird, I like food a lot though. Nom.
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Just gross smells. My gag reflex is high, if I'm gagging I'll probably lose it. Yuck.
Have you started to show yet?: The round belly is here!
Gender: Known but not shared!!!
Labor signs: Hell no!
Belly button in or out: Innie, and if it ever pops out I will be super impressed. I have the deepest belly button ever!
Wedding ring on or off: On! Always!
Mood: Cheerful and happy, I have been experiencing mood swings and MAJOR nesting. Cleaning is my new hobby.
Looking forward to: January!!!! I am also looking forward to our trip to Michigan next month, and just feeling our baby grow and taking good care of it and myself in the meantime!

So lets hear your guesses for the sex!! No spilling the beans if you already know!

16 Week Bumpdate!!

Holy moly, time is flying! How can I be 16 weeks already?! Sorry we missed week 15, I will admit not much has changed since week 14, which I posted last week while I was 15 weeks pregs. Confused much? Hahaha, just thought I'd inflict you with a tiny dose of the pregnant brain I am suffering from.
On with the bump update!

Don't mind the dog food bowls... lazy momma.

How far along: 16 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: It was 3lbs at my last check up, and for my personal sanity I don't own a scale. I'm eating healthy and not much more than when I wasn't with child, so I'm hoping to keep the weight gain in check!
Maternity clothes: Same as before, although I am loving leggings and tunics more than ever! I hate to say it, but I am so looking forward to fall because its dang hot out and I don't want to buy maternity shorts!
Stretch Marks: Nope! and hoping its nope the whole way through!
Sleep: getting better, I am figuring out the safest/most comfortable positions, and not forcing myself to sleep only on my sides.
Best moment this week: I felt the baby move, like FOR SURE yesterday!! I was holding my friend Ashley's sweet baby Anders on my chest while he slept and very distinctly I felt a movement go across my lower stomach! It felt like knuckles being dragged! So incredible! James happened to be standing right there and I was so happy to be able to share that moment with him, although he couldn't see or feel it.
Miss anything: I am really missing mountain biking. Our local ski area is in the process of building lift access downhill bike trails, and you all know how much we love Whistler, so I am wicked jealous I won't  be able to ride when they open this fall.
Movement: Yep, first little flutters are here!
Food cravings: Chicken strips. Need them like, yesterday I want some so bad! And figures, I work at the only restaurant in the world it seems that doesn't have them! Prob a blessing in disguise...
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Not too much, I get random nauseous spells but they pass pretty quickly. Heartburn is another story. 
Have you started to show yet?: Still pretty small, but round. If you know me, yes I'm showing, if not I just look kind of fat. : /
Gender: Unknown, we find out August 13th! I have a strong feeling its a girl, but we shall see!
Labor signs: Hell no!
Belly button in or out: Innie, and if it ever pops out I will be super impressed. I have the deepest belly button ever!
Wedding ring on or off: On! Always!
Mood: Cheerful and happy, but around 5:30pm, I am in need of a nap!
Looking forward to: Finding out the gender in a few short weeks! And our friends Kendall and Chuck's baby shower in a couple weeks as well!