Ripped from my loins: Han's birth story.

Of course I had a birth plan. And of course I was super flexible, but one thing I new for certain was that I wanted a drug free, va-jay-jay birth with a good friend as my birthing coach and of course my baby daddy. Funny that no matter how flexible you think you are sometimes even the most hell-bent of us falter. So was my fate. Sigh.

On April 12th around 3:15pm, Danny (my partner in crime and baby daddy) and I were about to leave our humble abode to meet his folks for a pre-birthday din din for his mom. I even put on make-up for the first time in weeks! Well, before we trotted out the door I decided to blow my nose. Now, anyone who knows me knows that when I blow my nose Louis Armstrong's got nothing on me!

So it's no surprise that my trumpeting nose blow broke my water. It wasn't a geyser shooting out my crotch; more like a leak. I cleaned myself up and decided to head to dinner anyway because I read when women have a leak it takes a while for labor to really start. Plus, I really wanted to buy Han a coming home outfit (yeah we waited till the last minute, what?).

This is super long, so click the jump if ya want to keep going...

Allow me to introduce you to my son.

His name is Han. Yes, as in Han Solo. We're huge Star Wars fans. His middle name is Amado after my dad. He was born on the same day as his paternal grandma (different year o' course!): April 13, 2014.

I still plan on doing a "to do (wish) list" update post as well as a birth post. Not sure in what order yet. Probably the latter first since it's been almost 4 months (say what?!) and my memory ain't the best. It's crazy looking back at Han's first-few-days-on-this-Earth photos because he looks so different now! Most notably, he has waaaaaaaaay less hair.

Here's hoping I'll be better at keeping up with this here blog-a-roo since it's really my "baby book" and I want to look back at my lil dude's milestones. Maybe I'll even get another post up before the end of this month - cray cray! However, please don't hold it against me if I don't. Shanks! ;) 

Belly poppin' to rib muscle poppin' - it's the latest craze.

So at 36 (almost 37) weeks I'm feeling mighty huge, but pretty thrilled that the day I get to meet my lil' dude is fast approaching. I find I'm easily overcome with emotion when I think about holding him, watching his little extremities move about, and hanging out with him and his daddy. We are hoping he arrives on time or late since his pops just started a new job, but the anticipation is killing us!

We had our 3 (yes, 3) baby showers. Well, my family's shower we missed because 2 nights before I popped (literally, I heard it POP!) a left side rib muscle. It hurt and I needed assistance with moving around. I couldn't laugh or cry because deep breaths were excruciating. Basically the whole ordeal sucked, but great labor prep for my man. He was great taking care of me and giving me words of encouragement. I don't know what I would have done without him there.

As for the showers we did make it to, we had a blast (my dad and step-mom were kind enough to bring up our gifts the following Saturday). Baby showers are quite exhausting, but good food and lots of laughs. My soon-to-be-in-laws' family shower took place last Saturday and it was fun. Great food too. My hubs-to-be's uncle made a big frame where we would pose with every guest using goofy props. It was tiring, but fun.

The shower on Sunday was hosted by my friend Lauren and she did a fantastic job with decorations, prizes, and food. She made an amazing vegan ranch and spinach dip, vegan cupcakes, and micro mini taco salad bowls with lentils. So super yummy! We had it at our place and it was nice to show off our digs and the man's hard work. It was also the first party we ever hosted at our place, so that was exciting too. Seeing family is nice, but it was I have to admit having friends around to celebrate our soon-to-be-son was pretty special. They were also the group that pretty much stuck to our registries, so mad props to our compadres! 

And not that I'm ungrateful, but the gifts were sub par at best. Barely anyone went off our registries! I can't help but feel annoyed by that. We got tons of clothes! The one thing we didn't need at all since friends have donated a huge amount to us. Oh well. Now it's just about squeezing in time to go through everything and return what we don't need. If I could go back in time, I'd have our hostesses include a "no clothes needed" disclaimer on the invites.

Currently our place is pretty much ready for baby. I plan on taking photos and my next post will include my "to do (wish) list" update (hopefully).     

   

I've been remissly neglectful, but let's get back on the baby bakin' train.

Blogging is tough. I don't know how peeps make money off blogs?! I can barely keep up monthly! I probably should set up a schedule, right? I mean that's gotta be how the professionals do it. Ok, let's hold ME accountable with a couple precise guidelines:

I will write at least 1 post a month. I mean that can't be hard right?
And this post will be posted no later than the first weekend of the month.

Ok, now that that has been established I want to update any reader, but mostly myself on my baby bakin' status - you know, for posterity purposes and well, shits and giggles.

#1 - BABY BUMP PROGRESS

To be honest, both pix are just a few days before I was 30 and 33 weeks (I'll be 33 weeks on Feb. 13th) but close enough. I guess it's pretty clear the bump is growing. My pregnant sister (she's 5 weeks behind me) convinced me to take maternity photos next weekend with her. I feel like the bump photos my man are taking are enough, but then I guess I'm a sucker for outside, woodsy photos. We're going to a town called Knights Ferry. Will showcase photos in a future post.

#2 - PREGGY AILMENTS

Still piddling, still dealing with the bloat, but clothes haven't been too bad since I went thrifting! Finding maternity clothes at a thrift stores can be a little challenging BUT I just shopped in the XL or XXL section and found tons of cute stuff (yellow dress in photo above for instance)! Hopefully I'm set for the remainder of this pregnancy.

One thing that hasn't let up is the mid-back pain. Ugh, it's so annoying. I'm trying to avoid buying yet another pregnancy apparatus, but a maternity support belt may be in my future. After watching this video I think this is the one for me. It looks easy to put on and doesn't take up my whole lower half. I tell ya, some belts look super complicated and I wouldn't be able to wear them under clothes. Hopefully by getting one the pressure I feel on my back will lessen. I can barely drive longer than 10 minutes before I'm in agony!

#3 - THE TO DO (WISH) LIST

We've definitely got a lot done (and by we, I mean my future hubs). I'll do a separate post with updates and photos for each room. I mean my due date is coming up and my partner in crime will be working again come next month. The race is on!

#4 - READING

Like all soon-to-be-moms, I've been reading up on pregnancy, birthing, breastfeeding, vaccinating, and eventually parenting. I sure do miss reading fiction. Here's my list thus far:

Although not a pregnancy or post-pregnancy book, The Fellowship of the Ring is one I'm also trying to squeeze in as a source of escapement. Unfortunately my escapement these days is pretty minimal. I believe I'm less than 100 pages in. *Sigh* I'll fit it in some how! I'm currently trying to read The Nursing Mother's Companion, but my attention just ain't like it used to be. I'll try tackling it again this weekend.

So far my favorite has been The Vaccine Book. It's extremely informative and easy to read. Highly recommend. Next on my list will be parenting books. I should probably start researching which ones will best meet my needs; i.e., the ones that promote easy-peasy sleep plans, how your kid will watch TV with you without really watching it, and raising a quiet, super smart child in 1 easy step. Those exist and truly work, right?

#5 - THE STRESS & THE EXCITEMENT

Money is my number one stress. I've had multiple freak outs regarding the financial side of having this kid. See, I switched jobs and although the end game at my new job is way better than my previous, I had to take a pay cut. This was something not factored into my "knocked up plan" but after weighing the pros and cons taking this path makes more sense. Big picture, folks. It's just going to be super tight until next tax season - ha.

Day care was another scramble and money issue. My friend and neighbor was originally going to watch my boy, but she has since decided to go back to work, so there goes that money-saving plan. Well, after numerous projected budgets and a couple day care tours we found a place that meets ours and our future baby's needs. Unfortunately it comes at a hefty price; however with careful budgeting I think we'll be ok. I hope we'll be ok. Jesus, I hate venturing out into the unknown sometimes. *GULP*

I've found the best thing to do is keep positive because at the end of the day I get to snuggle up with my son. I get to watch him grow. I get to experience being a mom and as sappy as all that may be, I'm pretty fucking excited about it. 

Piggy Bank Image

The to do (wish) list.

I gather all first-time-parents-to-be make one - a prep list for the house at any rate.  I mean, you kinda have to in order to keep up on crap before the wee one forces you to live in a hoarders dream.  Am I right?  Or well that's one of the many "scary realities" I hear about from various sites and human beings even.  I occasionally talk to one or two.

Well, as much as I'd love to say I'm the type who LOVES making lists, I'm so not.  But I'm trying to be that type, so I'm gonna start one here.  I've decided it's probably best to break it down by sections, similar to this blogger.  What can I say, I'm not one to reinvent the wheel.

(All photos are clearly before/in the process photos, so they ain't pretty and all photos were taken with my iPhone, so my apologies for the quality.  Of course I never said I was Annie "effin" Leibovitz now did I?)


NURSERY/OFFICE
(yeah, we rent an ok sized 2 bedroom duplex so we're making do)

Paint walls a more neutral color (I'm leaning toward this color)
Build dual desk along wall (idea from here)
Move elliptical out
Put up wall shelves
Buy crib
Buy mid-century modern dresser and refinish it
Box up and/or discard stuff (my man's gonna have to pack up his Lego collection)
Organize the poop-a-doops outta the closet
Add Rocking/Slider chair (although this may go in our bedroom)
Put up wall art (when we get it - here's our inspiration and theme)
Equip room with proper lighting
Clean and then clean some more

BATHROOM

Clean (or hire someone to do a super deep clean)
Remove shower doors (we're renting, so shhh! don't tell our prop managers - but seems easy enough)
Organize cabinets
Put up towel holders
Paint patchy areas
Fix baseboards (may involve recaulking? although the board has started to chip)
Recaulk tub (looked up tips here)

OUR BEDROOM

Clean
Organize our closets
Fix up vanity area
Cover glass doors of bookcase (now used to store sweaters and other random items)
Finish framed jewelry holder
Paint patchy areas
Hang mirror and other art pieces

LIVING ROOM

Clean
Organize and better decorate media center
Sell chair and get a new sleeker one
Fix up mantle area better
Do something where our fireplace should be

DINING ROOM

Clean
Refinish mid-century dresser to a buffet
Buy chairs
Add tablecloth or decal (I think I'm more in favor of the decal; specifically this one or this one)
Figure out best place for the cats food/water bowls
Hang up art

KITCHEN

Clean
Organize counters and cabinets
Label jars
Fix stove burners
Hang up art

Wow.  Looking at this list it all seems ridiculously DAUNTING.  Thankfully some (a little, really) of the stuff we've already started (hence the crossed out areas).  Still, I think it's best for me to look at this more as "wishlist" than an "actually all gonna happen list."  But my fingers are crossed nonetheless...

The bloat, the zipper battle, & the piddling.

Other than the all day queasiness in my first trimester this here pregnancy has been pretty easy.  But by week 24 the easiness eased up and I started feeling bloated...like all the time.  Come to find out my normal meal portions were filling me up, so I cut back.

Then, my clothes stopped fitting.  I mean, I knew that would happen but ugh, so uncomfortable.  I first did the hair tie method, but that didn't last long.  I invested in some leggings (a size up) + a belly band = lifesavers.  I'm bummed I didn't invest sooner, like before I even thought of having a baby.  Dude, I can wear pants without buttoning them!  Sign me up for LIFE.

And finally, the best for last, I piss my pants.  Ok, maybe not like full blown it's running down my leg piss, but so effin' gross nonetheless.  Well, now I'm buying what I like to call "puppy pads" in the same section as Depends.  Thankfully it's not much, but I was looking forward to NOT wearing sanitary napkins for the next 9 months.

I guess I should sort of consider myself lucky in this pregnancy game - I mean at least I don't have burning nipples like my sister, am I right?!  Or hemorrhoids and rashy boobs.  Yikes.  Although peepee pants ain't anything to be thankful for either.  Oh well, it's all part of the process that I openly signed up for, so I just gotta deal and know there's more uncomfortableness to come...yippee!

Belly watch 2013.

Creative growing belly photos or some other multi-media progression seems to be, like, the thing to do when you're knocked up.  There are loads of jealousy-inducing baby bump tracking methods all over the place (well, specifically on the ol' interwebs)!

I mean something as simple as this to something a little more juiced up like this and then finally something so amazing as THIS that the friggin' Huffington Post does a write up about it - heck no could I compete!  Shit, I barely can keep up with this blog.

Well in an effort to track my belly growth, I had my man take some photos of me and let's just say it's pretty clear I don't have the talent as the badass mommies in the links above do.

I like to call this series: Photo Flub.  Why, well let me tell you...

Here's the first one.  Notice how I'm wearing a loose-fitting shirt and you can't even see my legs to get an idea if there are any changes in my body?  Yeah, my youngest sister (who is also pregnant) gave me such shit for this photo flub and really, I couldn't blame her.  Talk about palm to face, am I right?

So, I tried again at 16 weeks, but she still shook her head in shame.  I mean the photo ain't the best as I should have cleaned up the clutter at my feet first, but that might just be my minor OCD flairing up.  However, my sister informed me that my shirt is still way too loose...?  I thought it was pretty form-fitting though.  She then proceeded to tell me that I need a tight tank that cups my boobs -- uh, what?!  I guess she means it should be so tight that my breasts are more pronounced?  Well at any rate, apparently this too was  a flub.

Again, I feel like the cropping ain't the best.  But who's fault is that really???  My baby's daddy that's who!  That being said, I wore the right shirt - WIN!  I'm not too sure if I'm showing yet or if that's just after dinner gut.

I've yet to take another one because I wanted to actually show and not question whether it's just a bloated belly or actual preggy bump.  Maybe I'll do one tonight because at 22 weeks it's pretty clear I got bump action - FINALLY. 

It's also pretty clear there's no rhyme or reason to when I take these photos.  I mean women usually do it weekly, right?  But I'm just all over the place.  You know what though?  Works for me.

UPDATE PHOTO:

     
So here I am at 23 weeks and FINALLY showing.  I even text messaged this photo to my persnickety sister and she agreed it was a definite win.  The shirt works, the cropping ain't too shabby, and of course HELLO BUMP.  I think (to use business speak) going forward, I'll take just 4 more bump photos and then collage 'em at the end for a post just before the wee one is due.  I think my sister will be happy I'm actually keeping up with the growth of my belly...I guess I am too.