Christmas Time is Here!

It really is! I would have written sooner, but between the boy and I both being in the hospital (We are fine... a case of ALTI for him and Pneumonia for me) the season has been shorter than usual.

But I love the Christmas season, so the past week has been Christmas overload. We almost finished shopping.... we have a couple of gift cards left. The house smells of Christmas trees and cookies and we brought the boy to see Santa. We even dressed him like Santa.

So as you can see... he looks so cute. So we pack him up and take him to the mall the SATURDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!!! We were crazy. But it worked for us. We got in the long line with everyone else with an infant wanting to see the big man. The line was an hour or so long and when we got up there I thought he was going to lose it because he was hungry and tired.

Instead... he looked at Santa, looked at me and took this picture.

It made my holiday season. I love the Monkey!

When we got home, I noticed something.... his bottom front teeth are working on making an appearance.

Apparently all he wants for Christmas is his two front teeth.

Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanzaa!

Monkey - a like list for Month 5

So I am going to start a list of the things my son loves and update it every once in a while....

This month Monkey Loves:

*The Kipper theme song
*Caillou
* Thomas the Train
* Christmas songs
* His new Mater Stuffed animal
*Rasberrys on his belly
*Rasberrys in general
*The Giant Mommy game
*Rolling around on the floor
*The Good Night Book
*Food
*His rubber ducky in the bath.

Mommy's Night Out....

Last night was the first time that I was away from the Monkey all day and by the time I got home he was in bed.

I wasn't a overly huge fan.

Now don't get me wrong, I had a blast. But once I was on my way home... I just wanted to see, hug and kiss my little guy. And he was asleep, so I didn't want to shake the apple cart. So I just watched him sleep.

That being said, I returned home from game night rejuvinated and I know that is something that I sorely needed. A break (somewhat) from being Mommy and a chance to be a geek.

Just because....

Just because I love it so much... A picture a co-worker grabbed at the Employee BBQ in September!

Merry Grinchmas!

See... I love this time of year. The family holidays are coming fast, and I barely have time to breathe before another one is upon us. Christmas season is always super hectic for us (although I am taking steps to change that) so I demand to start the celebrating early as far as one thing is concerned...

The Grinch.

You see I am a huge fan of the cartoon about the big green menace that steals the Who's pudding and steals the roast beast. And it always saddened me that I only had 30 days to watch the hell out of it. Then I realized if I was planning for a holiday, holiday themed entertainment is appropriate.

So I created Grinchmas. Grinchmas is the first somewhat acceptable day that I can watch the Grinch. I placed it on November 1st, and Mr. was not allowed to overly complain.

So last night with childlike glee, I removed the Blu Ray from the shelf and turned to my 5 month old. "Wanna watch the Grinch?" I said excitedly.

As if he understood he started talking his baby speak. I took this as a yes. A diaper/pj change later and we were cuddled together in our rocker, and listening to the familiar chimes of the opening Welcome. From the moment the snow appeared on the screen, my Monkey was entranced. The Grinch came on and he smiled at him and then Max appeared and he was pointing at the screen and getting exited about the doggie. It was too adorable for words.

He loved it. I chalk it up to the general awesomeness, but really, it is probably the music.

My husband, who is a staunch "no Christmas until after Thanksgiving" guy, felt the same glow of happiness that I did. As we were going to bed he said, "Christmas is going to be so much more awesome now that we have the boy!" His enthusiasm made me smile.

That moment.... Me and my son in the rocker, my husband on the couch and the Grinch on tv will live in my memory as long as I live.

Happy Halloween!!!

We got dressed up and went to my hometown Halloween parade. It was fun and our little jedi master was adorable and extremely well behaved!

The cute is strong with this one!



How cute is he???

Tonight we break out the Batman costume, and I am sure I will share the pictures here.

So from our family to yours, have a wonderful, safe and happy Halloween!

And so the transition begins!

Yep. That is my boy with food on his face.....

That means, Saturday I am making (and freezing) some baby food!!! I will be doing posts of all my favorite recipes I am sure!

For the begining though, the doctor wants us to do rice cereal, and next week, oatmeal.

He has taken it like a champ. He even tries to feed himself. I think we will be good at the whole eating thing.

Every day in Every Way, it's Getting Better and Better....

This is a little bit of a sentimental post, but I was thinking about this today on my ride to work from daycare.

John Lennon wrote a song for his son that I sing to mine all the time. It is called "Beautiful Boy". I played the song all the way to my PT appointment the day I found out that Monkey was a boy. It was the song that I hushed him to sleep with while we were in recovery after he was born. It is a song with many memories. I do change the words a tiny bit to fit a mommy and I take out Lennon's son's name, but the sentiment is the same.

The Lyrics are:

Close your eyes,
Have no fear,
The monsters gone,
He's on the run and your daddy's here,

Beautiful, Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Before you go to sleep,
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way,
It's getting better and better,

Beautiful, Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Out on the ocean sailing away,
I can hardly wait,
To see you to come of age,
But I guess we'll both,
Just have to be patient,

Yes it's a long way to go,
A hard row to hoe,
Yes it's a long way to go,
But in the meantime,

Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is just what happens to you,
While your busy making other plans,

Beautiful,Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Darling,
Darling,
Darling Sean.

I don't know how it happened, but it feels like just a blink and my little guy is growing up. It is true, every sentiment in Lennon's song. I can't wait to see what my little man grows into. If I do my job right, he will be a man who is loving, kind, respectful and understanding of all people.

But for now, I get to watch him grow. I have watched and continue to watch him explore and learn. I have shared his excitement and enthusiasm for life. It is amazing what a baby can teach a grown up. I try to take time to just exist with him and try to take pleasure in the little things. He is incredible and every day he teaches me more.

But every day, he and I are also forming a bond, a close bond, that I hope will continue as he grows from my little boy into a handsome young man. Every time he smiles, every time he cries, everytime he needs me.... he knows I am there from him...

It is the awesomest feeling in the world.

Meeting Thomas the Train

So early on in our bonding, Monkey and I were home alone a lot. I was recovering from my c-section so I was worn out a ton. About 3 weeks in, the doctor encouraged a lot of stories to be told to Monkey. Well I told as many as I could, but sometimes even I needed a break. So knowing my child couldn't see the screen, I put him in his bouncy seat and put on an episode of Thomas the Tank engine.

(I know most parents may crucify me for putting my child down and used the TV as a means to soothe a child, but it was what worked for me. My parents let me watch TV early too and I turned out fine. I refuse to buy into the hype. Too early for Spongebob, definitely. But not Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sesame Street or Thomas. Also... I love Sprout TV. )

It is a show that is read like a story, and there have been several narrators. The most notable of the narrators are George Carlin and Alec Baldwin. Monkey loved it, and he loved the train noises. Not only that, but it was a good way to calm down the colic, which seemed to arrive when I was at home and on my own.

As Monkey grew bigger and could see the screen I could tell he loved to watch the trains! At the beginning of every episode they ask "Who's that puffing down the track? It's Thomas", and my son starts beaming and talking to me and looking at the screen as if to say "Look Mommy! Look at the train!"

It was about this time that I heard of the Ediville Railroad Grand Re-Opening. The first two weekends were days when you could "Spend the day with Thomas". The wheels in my head started to turn. My Sister in Law began to make plans to take our kids to see Thomas. That plan was enacted this weekend with much success.

It was a cloudy overcast day Saturday, but the sun managed to peek out from time to time! We met up with my Sister in Law, Brother in Law, the Bean, and the Peanut just inside the gate. We had a little bit until our ride, so we fed the Monkey a bottle and then took him on his first carousel ride.... which he loved. (I think the horses moving up and down plus the lights makes it really fun for him. )

Above: Here is Monkey with Daddy on the Carousel.

Below: The lights just went on.

Then it was time for our Train Ride. We were so excited and ready to go! Although Monkey is not yet sure of what we are doing.

The ride was great! We went around the park and Monkey was super curious at what was going on. After the ride was lunch and then a change and then we went to the playground and tried the swings. Monkey loved his fist... not sure how he feels about the swing though.

The best part... no matter where we were, we could always find Thomas puffing around the property.

Honestly for $40 for two adults (Monkey was free!), the day out with Thomas was perfect! The park was small and we were able to do it in a half a day. (Plenty of time to nap.) The only downside... No ATM's and almost everywhere took cash. So that kind of stunk.

But those family memories... those will last a lifetime.

Has it really been 16 weeks?

It seems like just yesterday, I was feeling my little Monkey kick around in utero.

Now, everyday we reach new Milestones. One day, he was rolling on his side. The next he was rolling on his tummy.... with one hand stuck underneath him.

These days he is rolling over, freeing his arm and raising his whole body to move. He scooted across the floor last night. Not crawling, but scooting.... Away from the saftey of his play mat.

It freaked me out a little. Not so much because he was reaching a milestone, but rather, because he was mobile and out of the newborn stage.

He looked like this just 3 months ago.....

Now he looks like this....

My little guy is growing up... and while I miss my itty bitty baby, I can't wait for everything that is going to come our way!

Next up for Family Nacho..... A ride on Thomas the Tank Engine this weekend!

Happy Fall!

Ok. I know that most people out there love the summer, and technically that doesn't end until next week. However, I love fall. So when mother nature gave us a bunch of fall weather, it was time to dress the boy as such. This was his daycare outfit today....

For the record, I also love overalls on babies... they are a PITA to put on but the end result is fabulous. He looked so cute and seemed to scream "HAPPY FALL WORLD"!

I am so looking forward to showing Mikey fall... I know he will really like the colors and pumpkins. But we are taking him for a train ride on Thomas, apple picking, and his first Halloween! It is all so exciting to me. I am really looking forward to the road ahead.

We have also chosen the fall to baptize him, then there is Thanksgiving. Fall will be busy...

But I wouldn't change a thing.

First illnesses...

First illnesses for the record.... suck pretty badly.

I breastfeed, so the risk is less for some bugs, ear infections and other stuff.

But the common cold... not so much. So as my son is battling congestion and a stuffy nose, I do what I can to make him comfy. This includes steamy bathrooms and lots of cuddles. It turns out that all his little friends at daycare had the cold too, which now I know where it came from.

But for the record, it kills me that he is sick and I really can't do too much for him... I would take it away from him if I could...

But unfortunately all I can do is share it.

Memories!

So the Monkey started school this week. It is daycare, but it is also a school. They learn stuff. And he loves it. I do too, but that is another post for another day.

Today is about excitement... over book orders.

He got a Scholastic Book order today. It still has the book order smell and the thin paper. Remember that?

It brought back all those memories. I wanted every book in the small flier and I always got the new Babysitters club books or some sort of mystery. I devoured the thing four or five times before deciding what to get. And it was like Christmas when they came in. I got caught reading under my desk quite a lot as a kid. I LOVE to read.

Now I get to experience book orders with my son. I went through the fliers a couple of times and carefully picked out some books for the Monkey.

The difference is that now they have online ordering and the classroom gets free books if you order. Huzzah!

Happy School Week!

Monkey started School/Daycare this week on the campus where I went to school. Drop off went fine, although I completely lost it when I went back to my car. I love our day care. It has a pre-school there, so he will be able to go there for years! Even the infants have a curriculum. This month is all about the bugs! (Mikey is the spider! It is like they knew I am afraid of spiders!)

Now I know the teachers, but it still makes me sad having to leave him to have fun with someone else all day. Especially after the weekend!

So to those parents dropping off their kids for their first day of either day care or school today, good luck and may your kids have a wonderful and happy school year!

Baby Afterglow...

So the next four days were a flurry of excitement, most of the time good... some times really bad. We were in the NICU for a day and night for trouble breathing and under the lights for almost 2 days for jaundice. We had a flurry of friends, family and nurses visiting and making sure we were comfortable. Brigham and Women's was amazing. I can not imagine having my children anywhere else now.

Finally we were all cleared to go home and spend time as a family.

It was the greatest feeling ever.

This is what I was always destined to be.... a Mommy. One time in my life I focused on a career because I thought that that was what was important. Now, I look at my family and swell with pride. This is what I have always wanted, even if I didn't acknowledge it for a while.

I love getting to know my son. I love that the Thomas the Tank engine show makes him smile. I love that he bitches to the lion on his bouncy seat when he gets all angry. I love the look he has when he is full and content right after eating. I love the little sigh he does when we are cuddling. I love watching his daddy and him interact, because they have this amazing unconditional love that blows my freaking mind.

Breastfeeding has gone better than I expected. The pumping can sometimes be a challenge, and I feel like a cow, but I am getting used to it! Monkey has become a little bit of a milk snob though. I have to alternate for feedings during the day for him (my pumping production is low), and he makes a horrible faces when presented with the formula bottles. I have determined that this is because... as a nacho, Mexican food is better than the horribly smelly formula.

Unfortunately, I can't be a stay at home mom... so I am back to work. The 11 weeks I had at home full time with him were amazing and I will never forget what it felt like to be able to be fully devoted to my child 24/7. (Mind you I was also recovering from the surgery so we spent a ton of time in bed playing peek a boo and checking out Thomas.)

This week he is with family while we wait for daycare to open. I miss him terribly, but just thinking about getting home to my boys makes the day easier.

Also, YAY three day weekend!

Labor Part 3: The part where all plans are thrown out the window...

In the morning, after being in labor for about 18 hours or so... I knew what was going to end up happening. Monkey was not responding well to the epidural lowering my blood pressure, so they had to continue to drive it up with medicine.

But epidurals = win. I am not going to pretend to be brave about it. Labor hurt. Like A TON.

So at about 8:30-9ish my doctor (who is amazing) came in and checked me and I could tell by her facial expressions that we were done.

"We need to get him out now!" She said and she was gone to get her scrubs.

There was something completely surreal about the 10 minutes that followed. My doctor left, put on her scrubs and came back in in a manner of a minute. They handed Mr. scrubs and the lovely pain meds people talked to me. I gave my consent for the procedure and off we went.

At the OR, I was separated from Mr., and prepared for surgery. It was nerve wracking and exciting all at once. We made sure the cord blood was going to be donated to Dana Farber. (Our son gave a second chance at life to some one and I am so proud of that!)

Then they laid me down and laid out my hands, they put up the blue sheet and brought Mr. in. After about a minute and a half of the the violent tugging and pressure, my little Monkey was born screaming even before the suction. Mr. got to see him pretty much right away.

And then I was by myself on the table while the doctors were working on me, and it felt like forever.

They forgot to raise his head to show me, so all I saw were his boy parts. I got the doctors laughing by proclaiming that "All I saw were his balls!" I couldn't wait to see his face and meet the little boy that I had gotten to know over the last 9 months.

Then Mr. came around the corner, sat down and said "This is Monkey". My heart melted... it still does thinking about it.

But finally both my boys were in my sight, and it made life feel a little sweeter.

We finally got moved back to our labor room, where Monkey and I got to bond over milk and snuggles, and we got to spend our first moments as a family.

Life is good.

Labor Part 2: We are the 5%...

So we went in for the first part of the induction process... We went armed with Netflix on our phones and yahtzee. We showed up, got checked in and they put me on the monitor. Everything looked excelent so they started the gel treatment.

The doctor said "There is no way you will go into full labor or have your labor progress from this. There is a 5% chance of labor starting or progressing from this. There will be some cramping, but it will get better." Then they monitored us and they sent us home.

After a nice lunch with my mom, the cramping began to really get intense.... Then it never ended....

So Mr. called the Dr.

Dr: Do the pains come in waves or is it constant?

Mr.: They come in waves.

Dr.: How often do you think the waves happen?

Mr. : I don't know... every 2-3 minutes or so.

Dr.: I think you need to bring your wife to the hospital...

Mr.: What do you think is wrong?

Dr.: I think your wife is in labor.


That's right folks... I am the five percent that went into full labor from the gel treatment.

We got in and settled down. It was going to be a long night. But at least I had a late night Sox/Yankees game to keep me company while the epidural kicked in!

Labor Part One: Bedrest....

So on Mother's Day I got home from our running around, and happily went to go take a bath. I was in the Tub reading when the first real pangs hit. It hurt y'all. Then 16 minutes later another one. I started to time them but they got no closer together.

I called the doctor the next morning and she had us come in for a visit. They checked me and I wasn't softened and all that stuff, but my blood pressure was high so they sent me for monitoring. All looked good...

So the next day I went to work.

That's right... I went to work and worked - all the time in pain. A week later though, I couldn't take it and my doctor put me on bedrest. Driving with heavy contractions every 16 Minutes was not the best thing to do in hindsight.

Bedrest sounds nice doesn't it? It is not all fun. Think of having to stay in bed all day and having to entertain yourself. Now think of doing that for 3 weeks. I was going crazy by the end of it. I had read a ton and watched enough cheesy tv on our crappy bedroom tv than I would care to think about. I felt isolated from the world. It completely sucked.

The worst was the Sunday of our niece's first dance recital. Mr. went and I stayed home and watched ESPN all day feeling miserable. When Mr. came home, he had funny stories of her dancing which made me even more upset I missed it!

Monkey's lungs weren't completely developed so we didn't induce when we thought we would. Every week we were on pins and needles... Could this week be it? Every monitoring trip was filled with "Ok so if you have to stay... what do I need to grab?"

Finally, my doctor set the date, June 9th we would start the induction.

Eviction Notice had been given and we were waiting for D-Day!

Welcome Little Monkey!

Mr and I are happy to announce the birth of our son, "Monkey" Michienzi. He arrived by emergency C-Section on June 10th at 10:19 a.m. here in Boston. We have spent the summer getting to know each other and I was instantly smitten with him. To his mommy, he can do no wrong.

The story is coming, but I did want to let those who pay attention to the blog that 1) I am here, and 2) everyone is happy and healthy!

Things I would like to teach my Son

Now that the day is rapidly approaching that I get the chance to meet my little buddy, I am thinking about things I want him to learn from his Dad and I. Some thing I hope that he learns:

• Take risks.... You never know how something will go until you try it.


• If you love someone, let them know. They may not realize it unless you tell them


• Celebrate every day, because it is a great gift.


• Just because something seems impossible, doesn't mean it is.


• Don't sweat the small stuff and don't pet the sweaty stuff.


• Live life to the fullest, and always try things you want to do at least once. (I have yet to try my hand at mechanical bull riding.)


• Don't be afraid to be who you are.


• Jar Jar Binks does not exist. Han shot first.


• Always take the time to laugh. Be silly, sing loudly, dance wildly, as though no one notices.


• When you find someone and you marry them, slow dancing in the kitchen for no reason is perfectly acceptable. There doesn't even need to be music.

I know he is a great kid, and he will be an amazing man. All it takes is one look at Mr. and I can tell that.

Springtime in Boston....

I love springtime in Boston. When that first 65 degree day comes everyone's mood begins to lift. That is what this week represents. Sure there is some rain, but yesterday it was almost 70, and I was able to drive home with the windows down and the radio up. It was definately lovely. Hopefully this means gorgeous flowers are right around the corner! Happy spring everyone!

Choices and Non Choices

There is something I learned this pregnancy.... everyone has an opinion on something. Even if they have never held a baby before. Some of the best have been about the fact I can not be a stay at home mom. (From people in my work building!) We need the two incomes, and I carry the health insurance. Many assume that I don't want to, but trust me, I would if I could! Some of the advice I have gotten from friends and family have been super helpful. There has been encouragement at every turn for everything. Some things I can't control, but some things I can. It is those choices that will shape the life of myself, my family and my baby. There is one choice that has heavy opposition on either side. Breastfeeding. Now, I made the decision to breastfeed, and a lot of people I know are not or are not fans of it. I am cool if you don't want to, and that is your own thing, but you would be surprised at the anti breast feeding movement. (Note: not so much from the people I know.) Last night, I attended Breastfeeding class, and it was very apparent that the instructor was extremely pro breastfeeding and anti pumping (meaning full time stay at home mom/breast feeder). The anti pumping bit did not sit well with me because I have no choice, but it was an extremely liberating and exciting class, because you learned about all the ways that breast feeding helps you and your baby and how your body is trained to feed the baby. Some benefits I had heard of ( bonding experience, less chance of SIDS, Better immune system for baby, faster weight loss) and some were new to me (less chance of cancers in breast feeding moms, better immune system for mom). I am more excited and beginning to really feel ready for the boy! The whole point though.... is that we are making the decisions about how we raise our children. This is much like our mothers and their mothers before them and so on. Times have changed, and there is a lot more to think about. Do we cloth diaper? Do we breast feed? Do we make our own baby food? We should respect and understand each others decisions and encourage each other as moms.

Know What is Wonderful....

When you go to the diabetes doctor, and she suggests peanut butter ice cream for a bedtime snack. I totally can't wait for my food order to come in tonight!

Starting to Feel Overwhelmed... Why Doesn't Anyone Just Feel Whelmed?

So reaching my third trimester and knowing the little guy is making his grand entrance in 12 weeks or less is starting to freak me out a little. We still have so much to do, but with the weekends filling up and the downtime sparse, we are really going to have to work hard to get things ready. So I figured a little To Do List would be helpful, and I figured I would keep it here.

1. Prepare the Nursery - The Nursery used to be the stuff room, so there is an odd collection of things, not to mention all of my craft stuff and Mr.'s business stuff, that need to be packaged up and stored down in our basement. That is proving to be a project of epic proportions, but it is coming along. Our crib and dresser/changing table are en route to our house in the coming weeks and as soon as everything is out, we will start setting up and putting up artwork. We will be calling for able bodied peoples to help with the moving stuff around. (Murforelli, we are totally taking you up on your offer!) We pay in beer and pizza.

2. Paperwork! - It seems like all of a sudden I have a bunch to fill out. I need to fill out insurance stuff, maternity leave stuff and more recently we received the paperwork to fill out for the hospital. Not to mention I am trying to get together a list of numbers of people who should be notified of Monkey's arrival and other important things.

3. Washing clothes & toys and sterilizing the baby bottle/breast pump stuffs - This one is self explanatory. We already have a lot to wash and put away, and I am anticipating that we will have more as the months wear on. (Which is awesome!) Also toys need to be washed, pacifiers need to be washed and all my feeding stuff needs to be sterilized. That is fast approaching as we may be welcoming the monkey sooner rather than later (if he gets too big, is in too much distress, etc.)

4. Pre-Preparing Meals- I was really hoping that I would have that started by now, with freezing sauce, but I will begin within the next few weeks. Hopefully we aren't sick of pasta by summers end.

Sure it is only a four point list. But each point is filled with time sucking stuff. It seems like everything is never going to get there, but I know it will and hopefully soon we will be close and I can breathe easier.

They call this a non stress test??? Really?

Yesterday was a little scary for my taste... after the Monkey didn't do his usual 11:30 PM to 4 AM kickathon and didn't really react to breakfast ,the doctor (I was there for my 28 week appointment), thought it was important enough to do a non stress test. Mr. came with me, as he always does.

What is a non stress test? Well, you get hooked up to a fetal monitor that monitors the heart rate and movement of the little guy (and contractions if necessary). You sit there for 20 minutes listening to the baby's heart beat, and then in 20 minutes the doctor comes in and checks a sheet of paper that measures the rate/activity.

When the doctor came to check, she asked me about the movement, and when I told her that I wasn't feeling much movement (I had only felt one kick) she told me there was not enough movement. The heart beat was perfect, but with not a lot of movement, my son failed his first test. So the doctor explained that we had to see whether or not he is happy, because if he is not happy in the uterus, then he wouldn't grow and thrive and he would be better on the outside. She ordered me to go to an ultrasound to right away and I thought I was ok... then all the nurses were in with the doctor, checking me out.

Then she started the line of questioning... "Have you taken your childbirth class yet?", "Do you have a pediatrician?" and "have you decided on the circumcision yet?"

That was when I started to freak out a little. I hid it well and Mr. didn't realize it until later when I told him how freaked out I was. We aren't ready. We don't have everything done. If we were to go today we have no clue what to do, we had (I took care of that right away yesterday) no pediatrician, we hadn't gone over my labor wishes (not a "plan" cause I know circumstances change), the room isn't done, and bags aren't packed. I am NOT ready. He is NOT ready. I felt overwhelmed and afraid....and hearing Mr. talking about being nervous did not help, but I was glad to know at that moment I was not alone.

We got to the ultrasound and then had to wait for an hour. But when we got to see him, he was fine (a little stuck and frustrated and kicking my spine) and the biggest wave of relief washed over me. I still worry and wonder what is in store for us these last 12 weeks or so, but as John Lennon said in Beautiful Boy "Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans." So last night, we talked about a new plan.... what happens if he comes early. And today, I feel a bit better knowing that we can handle anything that gets thrown in our way.

But the boy is sooo grounded for the next three months or so.

The Home Stretch!

I can not believe that Thursday I am 27 weeks along with the Monkey. It will be my last week in the second trimester.... a trimester I will miss when I am gone! I could actually do stuff and see people! It was like night and day between the trimesters!

But we are in the homestretch and are preparing for life as a family of three (and a kitty)!

Ok, let's see what this third trimester has in store for me!

Gestational Diabetes & Me...

So it turns out I did have gestational diabetes, which can cause the baby to get too big. I have to watch what I eat, count carbs and make sure I eat 6 times a day.

All in all, I think the only thing that the boy is not pleased about is counting the portions (smaller meals and no Spagetti O's (my signature craving) - obviously the end of the world as he knows it), but it is for his own good, and is not going to change no matter how many times he kicks me in the bladder or the ribs really hard!

This also means I must face my fear of needles head on. I have to test my blood sugar 4 times a day and take insulin at night. Although I must say... I can't really do the insulin every night by myself. Frank helps me on the nights he is not playing.

Of course this also means that they will be monitoring the little guy to make sure he is not getting too big/getting stressed out in there. When they determine he is close to being too big, I get to have the amneo test and they will check his lungs to make sure they are fully developed. Then they will talk induction... and while I want to meet him sooner rather than later... he needs to bake a bit more.

So that's whats new with me!!!

So Cool!

So yesterday, my mom came up and we went to my doctor's appointment. Everything looked great and he allowed the doctor to find his heartbeat easily! I took my Glucose test, so I am on pins and needles waiting for my results, which should be in today!

Then after lunch and a little shopping, we did our elective ultrasound. He showed himself and even performed for us! (Including giving us the finger!) I fell even more in love with my little Monkey!

The infamous finger shot!

I think he heard my crack about him having more hair than his daddy!

Bein' all cute!

There is about 17 weeks until we meet you! I can't wait!

It was totally neat to see what the 4D scan can see. The baby has a head of hair, my nose, his daddy's cheeks and his great-Grampy's feet! (Which skipped me, but his Uncle Mikey totally has my Grampy's feet!) It also looks like he laughs like mommy.

We also have a DVD of his performance. It is just mindblowing to watch him move around and kick and bend. It was a memory I will have of him for the rest of my life. And it was neat to share it with my mom, who had never been to an ultrasound like that before!

I can't wait to see that face up close and in person, but for now I know every day and every kick will bring me closer to meeting him.

Decorating the Nursery!

So we have known before we were having kids what the general theme of the nursery would be for either gender. Now that we officially know we are Team Blue, we have started really focusing on the baby's room.

The theme will be Rockets and Robots!

I have been working hard on some really fun and creative home made projects for it, including (insert gasp here) a thematically appropriate room sign and name letters. Those will not be posted here until the baby is born and the name is no longer a mystery!

It is super fun planning these things, but with the former office about to be turned into a baby's room.... We are going to have to work hard to get some things packed and put down into the cellar for storage. That is one of the things we will need to begin to do this weekend, as our crib will be in our house in a few weeks!

But for now we have the gorgeous Dwell studio for Target sheets we picked up, and some other assorted rocket stuffs for the little one!

Dreaming in ....

We had our anatomy scan yesterday. The anatomy scan is basically two techs do an ultrasound one right after the other, and they look at the baby from head to toe and then they can tell you if they see anything that can lead to birth defects. They can also tell the gender!

The great news is that the baby's heart is pumping strong. The blood is flowing great. No sign of Downs Syndrome, and a perfect kidney.

The even more awesome news is that the baby wasn't shy... We are dreaming in blue!

Meet our son!

We have a great name that will not be revealed until the baby is born.

My beautiful baby boy... I am in love with him already. June seems so far away!

Happy New Year!

We celebrated alone at home with Chinese food and it was AWESOME. It was just the way to ring in what we call:

2011: The year of the Baby

We got a great strawberry cake and just hung out on the couch watching Twilight Zone and the Boston Fireworks.

As far as Monkey goes, everyday I am astonished at the growth of my stomach, the idea that there is a little guy or gal in there. And now I find myself enjoying my pregnancy, but I am counting down the days until we meet him or her. It is incredible how close I am with a little one I have yet to meet.

I found myself this afternoon thinking about what the baby will be like, who he/she will be like, what he/she will be when they grow up.... I don't care. All I want is a happy child.

And I get to be the proud Mommy.

That is the awesomest feeling.