Its been two months...

I have been trying to write this for weeks now but as you know there is a new love in my life that has taken over my being.  My house has been full lately. Lily is 2 months old today and it has been a blur since I first laid teary eyes on the sweet baby girl we had prayed so hard for. Grammys and Grampas coming to meet the newest addition to the family, friends and loved ones coming to greet her with hugs and soft kisses. She is indeed a very sweet, mild mannered baby and is everything I dreamt of. People have been telling me that now we have the ‘perfect family’, not sure if that is because I have one child of each sex now but I tend to agree, I am beyond happy with our new family.

A quick birth story: During the cesarean the anesthesiologist tapped Mike on the shoulder and told him to stand up and to watch Lily being born on the other side of the blue sheet separating me from shock as my insides were out. We had talked about him seeing me that way, he wasn’t sure he could handle seeing me like that, but when he was tapped he stood right up and I was able to watch through his eyes the birth of our daughter that we had waited 3+ years for. The joy in his eyes is something I will always remember. Then I heard her cry for the first time and the doctors told me that she had a ton of hair, Mike verified that she was indeed a girl and I took a deep breath for the first time since being strapped down to the operating table. Mike was summoned over to the table to help clean her off (of pollen as my brother says), measure and weigh her and they stamped her feet right on his scrubs. Within minutes she was swaddled and in his arms and he was back sitting by my side with our newest love as the doctors completed the surgery. Looking at her in his arms is a joy I cannot fully describe.  Soon he was ushered out of the OR and the dr’s finished me up and I was scooted back into the recovery room where I was able to hold her for the first time and tears just overcame me. I held her skin to skin and she nursed immediately which was amazing.

Matthew meeting Lily for the first time was overwhelmingly sweet. So much love for each child swelling inside, and watching Matthew rub her head and ask permission to kiss her just shows his sweet nature. We stayed in the hospital for just two days, we had the most amazing nurse staff and beside the sweltering heat I experienced from all the meds I was on, I has zero pain and was able to get up and move around a lot easier than my first cesarean.

These last two months have been a joy and a blessing, sleepless nights and all. Thank you to everyone for the well wishes and who knows, maybe we will add a third next year...

minutes before

minutes after

less than 1 hour old

1 day old

1 week

Week by Week: 30-38

Week 30: I will no longer discuss my weight.  You are moving around like you are already a prima ballerina. Your heart rate was 140 this doctor visit. She said we were right on track. We finished your nursery this week which makes me extremely happy, now all that is missing is you!

Week 31: You are the size of a pineapple. You move so much! My belly is so tight. Said you are supposed to grow in inch this week. It’s been over 100 degrees outside which does not lend itself to a happy momma. But we have been busy inside getting ready for you.

31 Weeks

Week 32: You are the size of a squash. I haven’t gained weight this week which is fine by me. I feel stretched to capacity already. You move SO much. I feel like I have to pee a gallon and when I go a little trickle comes out. It’s estimated that you are 15” long already. Matthew is getting more excited to meet you since he can see all the changes in me. He has become clingier as of late and there has been a lot of ‘softing’ my hair. I am relishing every last moment as a mom to one child and snuggling him every night before bed. I’ve already teared at the idea of Mike walking you down the aisle.

I’m starting to realize that it’s been over 2 years since I have changed a diaper.

Week 33: You are the size of a Durian, whatever that is. Sleep is long gone, I just cannot get comfortable, except of course those 15 minutes before I have to get up, I find the most glorious position and feel as though I could sleep for hours but alas I must get up and start the day, there is no way Matthew is letting me sleep late anyhow (unless he thinks it’s a school day in which case he will snuggle as long as he can).

 Week 34: You are the size of a butternut squash, measuring well and heartbeat was strong in the 130’s. My weight is staying strong at +38lbs.  Matthew got to hear your heartbeat at the doctors this week and had a huge smile on his face. I am feeling just overly full and finding even sitting up straight to be uncomfortable. You are very high still but you are indeed head down. Matthew felt you kick really hard twice this week and I think it all finally clicked with him.

34 weeks

Week 35: You are the size of a coconut, I am at +39lbs. I am having lots of trouble sleeping, so I have been staying up later just to get as tired as possible so I might have a chance at 5 hours of sleep, interrupted by the constant bathroom trips of course, before my alarm goes off for work. Dr said we looked good, no progress down there but that is okay. I signed a waiver for a VBAC just in case you do decide to come early.

Week 36: You are the size of a honeydew. I stupidly read something about child birth that said a normal person’s pain threshold is 47 (in whatever the measurement for pain is) which is like fracturing 7 bones at once, giving birth is at a 52. I made sure Mike knew that his normal make light of things by using jokes is not going to fly if we do go into ‘spontaneous’ labor. I know he will be there for me at go time, it’s the leading up to that point that I am concerned about. Still not sleeping well and really am just having a hard time finding any sort of comfortable position to be in be it laying down, sitting up or standing.

Week 37:  You are the size of a winter melon. This is my last week at work. Sleep at night is a distant thought, but after the alarm hits I could snooze for two hours. You are still kicking hard but not as often, I know there isn’t much room left in there for you. There is not progression down there so no concern for an early arrival although I am ready for you.

Week 38: You are the size of a pumpkin! I am staying strong at a +39 weight gain, which isn’t so bad considering I gained close to 60lbs with Matthew. Your heartbeat was strong at 140 this week; your head is still high so again they are not worried about early delivery. I have one more doctor visit before the big C next week. I am absolutely exhausted, I just cannot sleep. Even though I have quiet time now throughout the day sleep eludes me. Anything and everything causes me heartburn/ indigestion- I am talking graham crackers and plain yogurt here. I am betting that you are very long and have a head of hair just like Matthew did. One more week!!!!

38 weeks

Things That Inspire

About a month ago Mike and I went on a quick trip to Asheville, NC just to have some time to ourselves before Lily arrives and also to celebrate 15 years together. Mike was very sweet to go antiquing with me, which actually he liked more than I thought, or at least he did not complain once about it so same thing in my book. I snapped a lot of photos of things I found that I liked but since we didn’t bring a trailer and I didn’t want to spike my credit card, I only bought two things during our trip. So here is a photographic journey of our window shopping excursion.  

I was on a journey for a wire basket  (to photograph Lily in). This was in the first store, the first thing I saw, but it wasn't right.

Mike loves an eagle. I thought this lamp was really great but TOO expensive.

Loved the idea of this, not necessarily the cow, but making something out of old pallets.

My mom has an old crate that I had been trying to heist for some time. Then while browsing I saw these but again, I couldn't bring myself to spend the money on one.

Found some great old cameras....

Adding a little burlap tacking to a hurricane vase or candle holder is a great addition to add just a little something

When Mike and I started out, I said make sure to keep your eyes out for bamboo frames. The BAM here they were, a pair of perfect bamboo frames, great condition but wholy crap they were $350! I am not sure if it was the print or the combo but nonetheless these stayed at the store.

This was just a cute little chair, with a cute print for a cute little princess.

Lots of great furniture pieces

Table made of twigs

I love a glass door knob!

Since watching Sara's House on HGTV and seeing what she can do with a corbel I have been looking for one that was unique and made a statement

This was perfect but again, my purse strings got the best of me

Thought this lamp was fantastic

My brother had one of these when he was little, it is now Matthew's, his is in better shape then this.

Me needy this table. It was magnificent

Another great piece that would be amazing re-done.

I love me some teal.

This was Mikes pick

I have been seeing these all over the place, in Pottery Barn, on various blogs and used in a bunch of different ways. Again, I am not sure that I needed it badly enough to cough up $150

MMM teal

Another store, a pile of crates. Not a special as I thought

I want this so badly, it was ready to use with the sink properly drained and everything

So here is what I did buy

Beautiful teal beaded necklace with a wooden clasp- LOVE!

Yellow egg basket- you will see Lily in this soon

And a few more photos from our visit in Asheville.

This was a stop on our way to Asheville, called Pretty Place. It is indeed beautiful but it was a rainy overcast day so you can't see the mountains behind the cross.

Just a cool sculpture on our lunch pit stop

Drum circle downtown Asheville

Peace FULL

A chicken on Chicken St

I stocked up with a macaroon, a coconut brownie and some other delightful dessert. It was heavenly.

Dont recall the name of the building but it was more the sky that I was shooting

Water spout that wasn't working

Blue Ridge Mountains

We ate great, walked a lot, I got a lot of those 'oh honey' looks being nine months preggo and walking around town got a few sympathy stares. It was a nice trip and thanks to my mom for watching Matthew while we took off a day.

Monica

Countdown to Lily

Weekly doctors visit

Sibling class- learning how to hold a baby

Awesome surprise waiting for Lily- Thanks EMMIE

Mike playing with Matthew's toys

Matthew's reaction to daddy

Another sweet gift waiting for Lily- hello cute boots! Thanks Julie!