Post Christmas Wrap-Up

Christmas has come and gone and I couldn't be more sad :( It seems like the time passed and we didn't really get to enjoy it! I mean, we did enjoy it, but it was obviously different from Christmas' past. Lauren seemed to enjoy herself when we had family over on Christmas Eve day, at church on Christmas Eve and then the entire Christmas Day. I just can't believe it was her first Christmas! All these firsts are wonderful to enjoy, but they do pass far too quickly!

In addition to Christmas, Lauren also hit her 2 month mark! I can't believe it! It seems like it was only yesterday that she was born, but at the same time, it feels like she has always been with us! Here is her 2 month picture, do you see any difference from her 1 month?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

And I couldn't be more excited! We are in the process of decorating the house and getting everything ready for Santa! And the snow fell yesterday! Here's hoping for a white Christmas!

For Thanksgiving, we spent the day in Indiana and had a great time! Everyone got to meet Lauren and Ann took some wonderful pictures and she has them posted on her blog. We really did luck out with a good kid, the entire 3 and a half hour trip there, she only woke up once and didn't wake up at all on the trip home. At this point I was afraid she wasn't going to sleep when we got home, but guess what, she did :)

Not much has happened since Thanksgiving, but Lauren really is starting to come into her own. She has created her own schedule and it has been pretty easy. We really are just hanging out at home, decorating for Christmas and taking pictures.

A House Divided?

Yep, and always will be ;) Aaron is now outnumbered with two for Michigan and one for Ohio State, though, I am sure if Aaron could claim the dog and cat as Ohio State fans he would, just to win, obviously :)

It has always been said - even before Lauren came into our lives - that if we were to have a girl, she would be a Michigan fan and if we were to have a boy, he would be an Ohio State fan. This scenario seemed to be fair enough... until the time came for Lauren to wear her little Michigan cheerleader dress to the "Big Game" at a house where we would be outnumbered and Aaron wanted to renege on our agreement. This was a debate I was not going to back down from and after all was said and done, I won and Lolo got to wear her outfit and was the hit of the party!

And we even took a picture to document the occasion :)

Just Because...

When I do find a moment and I there isn't enough time in that moment to type something clever to accompany it, I take to scrapblogging. Here is an example of my scrapblog enjoy!

(Some of) Lauren's Loveable Moments...

I am going to try and keep a continuous list of the little things only a mother could love about her child. I want to do this to preserve the small memories that can slip through the cracks and forgotten about. So these posts are more for me than they are for you, but please enjoy them anyway!

1.) The "I'm poopin face."

2.) I just pee'd on dad incident.

3.) I jut pooped on mom incident.

4.) I'm not smilin', I'm a fartin', also known as Gas Smiles.

5.) The good morning face. Though it has only happened a few times, I fall in love with it over and over.

6.) Baby feet - which I have always loved, but love them even more now that they are my child's.

7.) Baby hiccups! Lauren always had them in utero (honestly, 2 or 3 times a day) and now I get to see them instead of feel them, but it is still the same loveable feeling!

8.) Let's just say Butt Rockets have a whole new meaning!

9.) Letting her get away with napping on my chest for I know she's only a newborn once, she can get away with it for a few weeks.

10.) Baby snores :)

Photo-Ville Friday!

As most of you can imagine, the free time I once had is now dictated by Miss Lauren. While this is an expected change and one we love, it means the other things we once loved doing are now sitting on the back burner. So, what I have decided to do is, every Friday I will proudly display the random photos of Lolo that were taken throughout the week, because those are more fun than anything I would have to say anyway, Enjoy!

Lauren's Grand Appearance!

Finally... at 4:43 p.m. on October 24, 2008, Lauren Brynn made her entrance into the world! She is absolutely perfect and the cutest little thing to boot!

I don't really want to bore you with all the details, but here is how it went down, er, came out ;) For those of you who are interested... if you aren't, enjoy the photos :)

We went to the hospital at 7 p.m. on Thursday evening to be induced. I didn't really know what to expect, other than the end result of course, but I didn't know I was going right to Labor & Delivery! We get to our room, get settled and then a couple of hours later, the doctor comes in to start the induction process. Balloon in, check. Contractions intensified, check. Progress? Not so much! Around midnight, the nurse comes in and suggests that I get a dose of Nubain so I can get some sleep, so I take it with open arms. Let me tell you how great of a drug that is! Within seconds of it entering my bloodstream, I feel as if I am drunk! Drunk and in labor, what?! Really though, it was great. I instantly fell asleep and would stay that way until 7:30 in the morning. Other than the hour on the hour blood pressure checks, it was nice to get some rest...

Over night, my blood sugar level dropped, so nausea set in...it was so bad that my blood sugar dropped and I was allowed solid food. At this point, Pitocin was started, contractions still in action and was nauseous, such a lovely combination. This is the way I would stay until noon when the wonderful anesthesiologist by the name of Frank came in and did his work with my epidural - which I was afraid to get (Heather, let's talk about this)! I got the epidural at this point not because I couldn't handle the contractions I was already having, but if I didn't get it then I wouldn't be able to get it at all and I wasn't going to have any part of feeling all that pain!

Finally, it was time to call the family and have them come to the hospital for the show was really on the road! So from 12:15 to 4:00 Aaron and I sat and chatted with family and enjoyed the labor process. The only thing I really remember in that time frame was the wonderful experience of my water spontaneously breaking... I couldn't wait a few more minutes for the doctor to come and do it, and that wouldn't be the only time I couldn't wait for her... We were all just sitting and chatting away, Aaron and my mom watching T.V. and Mark just minding his business and there I am, feeling like I just got into a huge squirt gun fight and I was the only contender!

After that, everything happened SO fast... I don't know if it really did happen fast, but it did feel like it. Around 4, I was checked and was told "it's time to push!" Oh what? Come again? Push? So there it started and lasted for roughly 20 minutes... Yes, only 20 minutes... I was lucky enough to not feel any pain, only the urge to push. My nurse was WONDERFUL with helping me along and getting me set up for the doctor... the doctor who wasn't even back to the hospital yet. Yep, you got it, I was one of those lucky women who gets to push, then wait for the doctor! Good thing I wasn't pushing for long, I can only imagine what those women feel, oh man! Finally, the doctor shows up, does her magic, we go through 2 more rounds of pushing and the rest is history!

It wasn't...

The day has come and gone... I know it's just an "estimated" date, but seriously, they should just say "you'll deliver sometime at the end of October." It just makes more sense.

Due Date...Or is it?

It's here... today... right now... Will anything happen? We will just have to wait and see and I will keep you posted.

Part 2 of 2: Attempt to Evacuate Lauren...

Obviously, the park walk did not work, neither did the cleaning of the house yesterday, or the 45 minute walk we took Dakota on. Therefore, I told Aaron that if Lauren did not make her debut by today, we were going to the Zoo. Here are some shots from today...

Part 1 of 2: Attempt to Evacuate Lauren...

The first trip we took, last Monday, was to Wildwood Metro Park. We chose the park because of wonderful Columbus day, we would have had to pay to get in to the Toledo Zoo and we weren't going to do that! Here are some snapshots from the park...

Bring IT On!

I am SO ready to have Lauren here! I want her here so I can: put on my own socks, shoes, pants, underwear, bend over to pick something up, sleep without having to heave myself over, not pee a gajillion times in a 24 hour period of time, basically, just have some resemblance of my old self back. While I know I will never have my old self back per say, I just want to have these little things that we take for granted, back.

The entire time I have been pregnant I have not really "enjoyed" any aspect of it. That being said, I did not have a bad pregnancy at all, it's just that I am so darn impatient that I can't handle the waiting, and that's what I find myself doing... again.

An update from the last post.... I went to the doctor on Wednesday for weekly check-up and yet another ultrasound to check her size. She is just fine... she weighed in at 6 lbs. 9 oz. without her head again, I was dilated to 2 cm. and was about 80% effaced, also, the doctor could feel the top of her head. Now, I what I get to worry about is the amniotic fluid. Apparently it is starting to look low. They are not really worried about it, but they want to keep an eye on it until I give birth. OK not bad, I think. I mean, I would like to give birth before my estimated due date and everyone is high optimistic that it will happen, but it is not! Everyday I get to sit in pain and wait for something to happen, and nothing does. Is it possible to never go into labor? I feel as if I know the answer to this...

Will keep you posted :(

October Update!

Well here I am... 38 weeks, 2 days and waiting!

On Monday morning, I started to feel some pains in my belly. I chalked it up the the hot dogs I ate the night before and waited the pains out. Tuesday comes and the pains that feel like gas pains have now started to feel like PMS pains in addition to the gas pains. I decided now was a good time to contact my doctor's office. After about an hour or so, the nurse calls me back and I explain to her my "symptoms." As I am doing this, she is adamant that I must have a UTI. Um, NO! I have had those in the past and this is not a UTI! So she finally decides that I should be seen by the doctor, so I am sent to Labor & Delivery! Insert look of total shock here. So I call Aaron to inform him that when I get home from work, we will be making a trip to the hospital :) As you can bet, he loved that call! So, about 45 minutes later, Aaron and I are on our way to the hospital.

At the hospital, they get me all hooked up to the machines and she has me explain my pain. As I am doing this, I have The Pain. The nurses reaction "yeah, that was a contraction!" At this point, the blood drains from Aaron's face, for the first time. We then sit there for about 2 hours hooked up the the fetal monitors to see what is going on with Lauren.

In the end, I was having contractions 5-6 minutes apart! I was checked and progress had started. They ruled out Braxton Hicks contractions and false labor due to what they discovered. They checked me and found out that I was 1 cm (nothing much) dilated, 40% effaced and that Lauren was at a -1 station. The -1 station means that she was 1 centimeter above the narrowest part of my pelvis. The nurse said that they were going to send me home but they wouldn't be surprised if I were to be back within 12 hours. Blood drained from Aaron's face for the second time :)

Well, the hours passed and nothing happened. It's just a waiting game now.

Finally... an update!

Well here I am... 38 weeks, 2 days and waiting!





On Monday morning, I started to feel some pains in my baby area. I chalked it up the the hot dogs I ate the night before and waited them out. Tuesday comes and they pains that feel like gas pains have now started to feel like PMS pains in addition to the gas pains. I decided now was a good time to contact my doctor's office. After about an hour or so, the nurse calls me back and I explain to her my "symptoms." As I am doing this, she is adamant that I must have a UTI. Um, NO! I have had those in the past and this is not a UTI! So she finally decides that I should be seen by the doctor, so I am sent to Labor & Delivery! Insert look of total shock here. So I call Aaron to inform him that when I get home from work, we will be making a trip to the hospital :) As you can bet, he loved that call! So, about 45 minutes later, Aaron and I are on our way to the hospital.





At the hospital, they get me all hooked up to the machines and she has me explain my pain. As I am doing this, I have The Pain. The nurses reaction "yeah, that was a contraction!" At this point, the blood drains from Aaron's face

Is it October yet?

Hello All! Again, sorry it has been eons since my last posting, but I have been busy (well I like to think so anyway.)

I am officially 33 weeks today, and couldn’t be any more impatient for October to get here. A couple of weeks ago I had an Ultrasound done to measure Lolo’s growth. Let me tell you, the two weeks prior to this u/s I was a nervous wreck thinking something could be wrong. Alas, the u/s showed her growing as she should be and at that time she was 3.5 lbs., right on target for 31 weeks, though they tell me she is a petite baby and only in the 19th percentile for her “age”, she is just fine, it’s just me that is measuring a week behind. Now all I need to do is stop watching TLC and seeing all the commercials for the “little people” and all that!

Aaron and I start Baby Classes September 8th and those go for 6 weeks, ending a week before my estimated due date, let’s hope I don’t go too early! The way I figure it, having the classes will make the last 6 weeks go by faster; I hope J Also, I have my shower to look forward to! September 20th then the wonderful women I work with are throwing my co-worker Deanna (who is due the same day I am) a shower at the office. All this fun stuff makes October seem like it’s knockin’!

Other than that, I have just been working and nesting.

Is it October yet?

What's New?

Well here we are, it’s August and I am two and a half months away from meeting Lolo! Let me tell you how I can’t wait to meet her and at the same time it still does not feel real. I mean, through her constant kicking and my visual ultrasounds of her, I still can’t believe that I am pregnant. Everyone has told me that time would “just fly by” and let me tell you, it has not. I mean, in retrospect it has, but actually living it day to day feels like I still have an eternity to wait and waiting has never been one of my strong suits, I guess I will have to learn to be more patient.

The past few weeks have been somewhat busy. The planning has started for my shower (I guess if I look forward to that, baby will soon follow, baby steps right?). Aaron and I made a little trip to see our friends Matt and Heather in Chicago, and let me tell you, this was not the same Chicago trip as ones past. It was a laid back mini-vacation and we had a great time, minus waiting for a cab for about a half an hour and almost having one taken from us by some random girl. I’m telling you, nothing would stop a selfish person from doing that, not even seeing two obviously pregnant women standing in the sun. The audacity of some people!

After we got back from Chi-Town, Bird and Batty came to visit! I was very excited because I thought she wasn’t going to be able to see me pregnant since she lives in the FL. But alas, a mini summer vacation up-north for her turned into a visit for me! We just hung out and went to dinner, the usual CH(K)rist(i)y stuff! But I miss her already and I think I missed her as soon as I couldn’t see her car anymore. L

Then this past Friday, Aaron and I along with Jake and his parents headed up to the Monroe County Fair to enjoy some people watching and greasy food (oh how I missed the!) It took me back to the old days of my shakin’ of the lemonade J Let me tell you, nothing, I mean nothing has changed about the MCF! The only thing I really enjoyed was seeing people I vaguely remembered from high school and seeing what their offspring looked like, and most of the time, it was not good. Jake had a great time! He loved everything about it, the rides, the animals, the tractors, and the food, namely the elephant ear in which we shared. I will have pictures soon!

Other than that quick synopsis, there really hasn’t been much going on other than staying busy with things around the house getting ready for baby, and as you know, housework is never done (when a man is also living in the same house – I swear I just washed all the dishes?!?!)

I will also try and get an updated “baby bump” picture posted soon! Hope all is well!

100 Days!

Phew! Milestone! I will finally be in the double digits tomorrow, and to me, that is a lot closer to meeting Lauren. Though, I still think counting weeks makes it seem closer to the end. Think about it, saying I only have 14 weeks left sounds a lot better than 99 days left, but I think it's all because the number is smaller. Anyway, I am excited to reach another milestone and I will have another picture to follow as soon as I look different from my last belly shot! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Check and Check!

Mark two more items off of my 'to do' list! I finally got Lauren's letters finished! After a problem with the wrong ribbon color, I found one that matched the wall color (not what I wanted to do, but had to do). The letters are now the focal point on the wall and not the ribbon. I'm still thinking I need to add more brown to the letters, what do you think?

Also, I finished spay painting the baskets I am going to use as storage - to make up for the lack of storage we have in our house! The inside of the baskets are bare because I am going to make liners to go inside them, once I find a fabric! More on those to come....

Busy Weekend!

This weekend was full of activities! Thursday, I worked a half a day, went up to IKEA, the finished the night off at a friend’s house.

Friday, Aaron was golfing for a majority of the day, so I got to clean and spray paint the baskets for little one's room.

Saturday, we got a call from my neighbor who is an ultrasound tech. and was willing to do a 3d ultrasound for me! Fun right? Wrong, Lauren decided to be stubborn (where'd she get that ;) ) and have her arms in front of her face for the whole hour and fifteen minutes we were in there! Though, we did get some great profile shots and body part shots. Also, it is 100% confirmed, she is in fact still a she! After the ultrasound, we were off to my Uncle's for a 4th of July party. The party, though small this year, was great, that is until my Aunt fell and broke her hip! We had the EMS come and take her to the hospital where she has since had surgery and is recovering.

After all that excitement, church was not in the picture for Sunday morning, so we could get things done around the house that was not able to be completed before. Sunday afternoon, we had Jake's 3rd birthday party to attend, and let me tell you, that boy is FULL of energy!

Here are some shots to sum up the weekend!

A Weekend Well Spent :)

Here is the result of my ENTIRE weekend, though I have to say, it was well worth it! I will take better pictures when the lighting is better. Please, tell me what you think!

The Final result!