What a Year…

2009 was simply fabulous to us. I had an uncomplicated pregnancy and got a wonderful baby boy. We are all happy and healthy and excited for the New Year and all it has to offer.

Many congratulations to 2 of my high school classmates I have followed through pregnancy on facebook…I think they occasionally read the blog. You guys are going to be GREAT mommies! 

We’re headed to Richmond tomorrow to see Grandpa and Grandma K and for Logan to meet his aunt,  uncle, and cousins. Here are a few new Logan shots!

2009 in Review

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Had a baby!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any last year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yep – a co-worker friend, 2 of Peter’s college friends, 1 of my middle school friends, and 1 of my college friends…and 2 more I think soon!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandpa and Maddy

5. What countries did you visit?
None
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More sleep…ha!
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Jan 10 – Lost our Maddy, Feb 20 – positive pregnancy test, Oct. 26 – Logan!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Becoming a mommy
9. What was your biggest failure?
Keeping the house clean!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really
11. What was the best thing you bought?
the dvr for upstairs when I workout
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Logan when he sleeps 4 – 4.5 hours
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
the girl on Teen Moms
14. Where did most of your money go?
Maternity clothes and baby stuff
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Finding out I was having a baby!
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Poker Face – ugh!
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? oddly, thinner!
c) richer or poorer? poorer – on unpaid leave!
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
relax
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worry
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With Peter , Logan and my parents, and worrying about Logan’s cold
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
With my son, yes. With my hubby – always!
22. What was your favorite TV program?

Biggest Loser
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate? no.
24. What was the best book you read?
I read a lot…was Diane Chamberlain obsessed this year.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
um…that song from the Jon and Kate finale? I dunno…
26. What did you want and get?
A baby…
27. What did you want and not get?
to be a stay at home mom!
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I oddly really liked Role Models…we haven’t seen many!
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 29…and don’t talk about that birthday. I worked and was super emotional.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Winning the lottery.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Maternity
32. What kept you sane?
My family and friends
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
O’Bama
34. What political issue stirred you the most?

nada…

35. Who did you miss?
Maddy and grandpa – and my bestie when she was in Hawaii!

36. Who was the best new person you met?
LOGAN!
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Trust it will all be okay…

2 Month Appointment

Just a quick update from the 2 month appointment. Logan is up to 10lbs. 4oz! He’s around the 20th percentile for length and head circumference, a little lower for weight, but on the chart!

He took his 2 shots like a champ. He did cry, but daddy was able to calm him down. The doctor didn’t hear anything concerning in his lungs or breathing, so it looks like the cold is leaving.

Had to schedule his 4 month appointment around my work schedule…yuck!

Latest Logan

It’s been a while since there have been new pictures! First, Logan’s first blizzard…

We stepped out for 3 seconds. Literally.

We don’t have a ton of pictures from Christmas since he was sick and fussy, but here are my favorites:

Grandma F with Logan

Logan got mom and dad a present…wrapped in a diaper! It was gift cards to Bonefish – complete with babysitting volunteers – guess who? :)

And finally some from today.  Starting to feel better! He looks like such a little man in this outfit!

We go tomorrow for his 2 month check up and shots. I’ll post an update then!

Ick....

Well, it seems Logan has his first cold. He was definitely fussier than usual on Thursday and stuffy on Friday morning. He was pretty fussy all during Christmas and has been sleepy and still stuffy today with an occasional cough. His temp was up to 100.2 yesterday, but has been d0wn since. We called the doctor and they gave us a few tips and told us to watch his temp. We're taking it easy today and are looking forward to him feeling better! It stinks because we have been so careful...oh well, I know it was inevitable...please send good thoughts our way!

Random Stuff...

So I figure it's time for a new post of some sort...so here comes a bunch of random stuff!

Logan is doing great! My parents got us a baby scale for Christmas and gave it to us early to help ease my anxiety over his weight. He's about 9lbs. 10 oz! WOW! I would love for him to be 1o pounds for his doctor visit on Monday...he should be close. He has been sleeping in his crib in his own room since Saturday night and is doing well. We're getting a 4 - 4.5 hour stretch of sleep to start the night and then after a feeding 2 more hours a couple times. We're going to start trying to get him down earlier after Christmas, in an effort to get him on a bit of a schedule for my return to work. He'll have to be up at about 6, so we'll see how that goes. Naps are still a bit harder...lots of napping on us because he stays asleep that way. We'll work more on naps in the crib next week too!

We're getting spoiled this week because Peter is off all week...I'm going to start playing the lottery because there is nothing better than both of us being home with our little guy. I go back to work Feb. 1 - I know I have to and we'll adjust...but I could totally love staying at home if money allowed. I am already so excited about the summer and spending all day with him again!

What else...he gets his first round of vaccines on Monday...I'm sure I will cry more than him! He is growing so fast, talking to us and smiling more. He's a big cluster feeder in the evenings so he can get a little cranky then if he's not being fed. He went to Target for the first time on Monday and was sooooo good! We're hoping for more trips like that.

My mom and dad will be here for Christmas and we'll go down to Peter's parents for New Years, just for the day. Lots of pictures to come, I'm sure!

Morning Fun

Well long story, but with my OB's encouragement, Logan went on his first outing today. While the pediatrician had advised not to take him anywhere until 2 months, the OB said just do it and don't let anybody touch him. We've made it to 7.5 weeks with him going nowhere, but it is very hard on my mood - so we're headed out into the world!

There's a snowstorm coming, so I decided we would go to the grocery store for our first outing...he did okay for about 7 minutes...then bam - crying! I think he got too hot in his carseat and everything I had him bundled in. So I took him out for a minute and all was a little better - except I couldn't push the cart! So back in he went, and he did okay. But I headed straight for the checkout with whatever I had. Needless to say, Peter has to go to the store on his way home from work to get all I did not! But we survived, and we'll get better at it.

So a video to share with a few smiles...on the playmat of course - and all smiles before we headed out!

The Smile...

So, my child does smile. That big whole face smile that makes my heart melt...I get giddy every time. And all I want is to catch it on camera! But as Peter said, it's like taking a car to the mechanic. It never makes the noise while you're there...he never smiles when the camera is out! So, instead you get treated to a photo gallery of Logan faces...and one small smile!

That thing in my face again? Good grief...

Really? You are just going to wait for me to smile?

I can wait all day...that ceiling is pretty exciting.

Still have that camera? All right, I'll think about it...

Fine, a little one...ya happy? I'm saving the big open mouth one for a time that camera is far away!

He's a Giant!

While I was feeding Logan this afternoon I noticed that his sleeper was a little wet. Realized he must have peed out of his diaper. This has happened a few times, so I figured I would just change him, change his clothes. Completed. So, the next time I fed him, about 2 hours later...same thing! i took off the new sleeper and evaluated the situation - and realized our little peanut was ready for size one diapers!!! Well, at least that's what I think is going on. He's been in newborn diapers this whole time. Newborn diapers are supposed to be for up to 10 pounds, but size one diapers go from 8 - 14 pounds, so there is some overlap. When I weighed him today using my very unscientific method (me on the scale then him and I on the scale) he was 9 pounds. He's huge! Well, for him at least. I am so excited that he is growing!!! Of course I had to take pictures of the diaper switch...

Old Diaper...

New Diaper (I know it's still big...we'll see if its too big at the next change I'm sure!)

And some other fun pictures to start your week off right!

Fitting better in his swing!
Smiling at daddy (the closest I've come to catching one!)

Oh, and fyi, I usually am typing one handed now...excuse all my mistakes!

Survey

The After-baby Survey (almost 7 weeks post partum...a little late)

How far along were you when you had your baby? 39 weeks, 2 days

How long was labor? uh...depends on when you start counting...from the contractions that were 5 min. apart consistently - 13 hours. About 10 at the hospital.

Total weight gain: 26 pounds

Total weight loss since: 22 pounds.

Back into your own clothes yet? Yes, not all my pants though...have some extra tummy to lose still...

Did you get stretch marks? Just a couple

Did you deliver vaginally or by c-section? Vaginally

Best moment this week: Getting some Logan smiles!

What I miss about being pregnant: Feeling him move

How big is baby: At 5 weeks he was 7lbs, 13oz

Baby's temperament? He's usually happy unless he's hungry or tired.

What I am looking forward to: more smiles and giggles from him

Hi from the sleepless wonder! He is still not sleeping much - at night or ootherwise. 2 days ago he slept 1.5 hours in the afternoon in the pack n play and I freaked out I was so excited. His naps usually last no more than 30 minutes when he's not in our arms. Yesterday he took a couple of good naps during the day but last night was up a ton. Today just cat naps here and there so who knows what tonight will bring. He's eating every 2 hours like clockwork, if not sooner...growth spurt perhaps?

I keep telling myself he is just now, at 6 weeks, getting to the weight most babies are at birth. So, perhaps with more weight on him we'll get some more space between feedings. Some of his newborn clothes are starting to be too small lengthwise...our peanut is getting bigger!

Feeding

*No worries, I've left pictures out of this post!* :)
So, it appears (in 6 hours) that we met our second breastfeeding goal of 6 weeks...I honestly did not know if we would make it this far! I know a lot of people have such a hard time with it, and let me first say that in no way am I opposed to formula or do I think anything at all about people who do not or could not breastfeed. Feeding your baby, however you do it, that's all that matters, as my husband told me when I was having a hard time.

That being said, I do think that we have just been blessed to have made it this far (knock on lots of wood). According to the lactation consultant and a nurse I just happen to have really good "tools" for breastfeeding - if you know what I mean. I will say that it made a huge difference for us to see a lactation consultant a few times early on. It also has been extremely helpful that our pediatricians office is very pro-breastfeeding (that's where our lc is). The first 3 weeks were definitely rough - it required all 3 of us (Logan, Peter, and I) for each feeding. Because Logan was a bit of a lazy nurser at first, the lc showed Peter how to massage things (while Logan was nursing - it was a crowded mess!) so that it helped the milk get to him more. He had to do that for about a week, and I literally had bruises. I will never forget Peter trying so hard to stay awake at 3am (and 1am and 5am!) each day - it made such a big difference for us. It is so sweet because even now if he wakes up when Logan does in the middle of the night he'll say "Do you need my help?" which we haven't in about 4 weeks, but it is so nice of him to say. Logan was also a VERY sleepy baby for the first 3 or 4 weeks, so we had to do a TON to keep him awake while nursing, including stripping him down to just his diaper for each feeding (which the grandmas both thought was so crazy!). Luckily we don't have to do that much at all anymore, maybe once every 3 days or so when he is especially sleepy.

We're now getting to that good part where I actually enjoy nursing. The only negatives right now for me are the timing of things, as in if I run out to the store I have to be back in 2 hours or so. I do have about 30 oz. of milk frozen now so Peter could give him that if he really needed to, but that stuff is like gold so I hate to use it unless it's really necessary (like for our date this coming weekend when my parents are going to watch him!). The other issue is that it still is pretty time consuming. It's not unusual for a nursing session to take 35 - 40 minutes still, but then sometimes it's only 20 which was unheard of before. It is still hard for me to not know exactly how much he is getting, to trust that I have plenty of milk, and to trust that he is not hungry. I asked for a baby scale for Christmas. Not so I could become obsessed, but so I can reassure myself when these doctor's appointments start being 2 months apart! Peter is okay with it, which means it's not too obsessively crazy to have one!

So, now our next goal will be to bf until I go back to work Feb. 1. In early January I'm really going to have to look at how much I'm able to pump when I miss a feed to see if I'll be able to keep up with him. If it doesn't look like I'll be able to then we'll have to start trying formula to make sure that we have one that works for him by the time I go back to work. Teaching is definitely not the most convenient job for pumping! If I am able to pump then we'll try to go to 6 months, then start solids and bfing together up to 1 year - but I really don't know how likely that is!

Thanks to everyone who has helped me with bfing this far - I cannot tell you how helpful all your advice has been! Again, I don't want anyone to think this post is in anyway looking down on anyone who didn't or couldn't breastfeed - I know we have been very lucky and pray it will keep working for us!

Bath time

Bath time went a lot better last night - it has been quite a screamfest the past few times! I think we were not getting the water warm enough. In our attempt to make sure it was not too hot I think we got it too cool. We finally remembered to use our bath thermometer and it was a great success! Much more fun when he's calm!

However, major parenting fail...I have not been getting between his toes very well when he gets a bath. I thought I had, but the nastiness that was between them said otherwise. I'm sure I'll be extra diligent about them now!

Doctor's Appointment

Well, simply fabulous news! Our little guys is up to 7lbs. 13 oz...that's 25 oz. in 22 days. The goal is 1/2 to 1 oz. per day, so he is doing spectacularly! I am so relieved, it makes me feel a lot better about breastfeeding. Apparently it's working! We don't have to wake him anymore to feed, but it is still suggested that we don't let him go more than 3 hours without eating during the day, just so he sleeps better at night...at this point we're definitely going for anything that will help him sleep better at night!

Taking him to the doctor by myself was certainly a different experience. First there was the whole having him in the carseat while I was driving, haven't even done that before, I've always sat in the back with him. So, that was a little hard...he did okay, but red lights certainly seem a lot longer when you have a baby who is not wanting the motion of the car to stop! He was a little fussy the ride there and when we first got there, then took a little cat nap while I talked to the doctor. But then when she started looking him over - he was quite unhappy! We did the whole checkout process with him crying in the carseat, and of course I felt like the whole waiting room was looking at me - and of course he stopped crying as soon as we walked out the door!

So, I am still trying to relax and realize that he is doing really well. I was elated when I saw the scale today. We go back to the doctor right after Christmas for his 2 month check up and shots :( We'll see how much he's grown then!

The Sleepless Wonder

My child does not sleep. I think in the past twenty four hours he's slept for 8 hours total...not a lot for a baby. I'm not sure what's up, he just isn't really taking naps during the day, only 2 30 minute naps today...so I think in the last 24 hours (including night) he's slept about 9 hours...not a lot at all for a baby as little as him! We're going to try some new things tonight including putting him in his crib, and we go to the doctor tomorrow for a weight check so I'm going to talk to her then too. He's also SUPER gassy...loads of farting, quite entertaining!

Here's two new videos...one is fun during tummy time, the other is him with the hiccups in one of his bouncy seats...not the most exciting, but hey, that's the thrilling life we lead right now! I'll try to update after the doctor tomorrow. I'm taking him by myself, our first outing alone. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

1 Month Old!

Our little monkey is 1 month old today! Such a big day, a birthday and Thanksgiving all in one! He was not very happy when we took these pictures, but wanted to get them done before we changed his clothes...hopefully the next months pictures will be a little better!

We made it a whole month! He's starting to be more vocal (not just crying!) and is giving us lots of smiles...but I know they might just be gas still. He's still a little thing, but he is long! We go for a weight check on Tuesday, so we'll see then how he's doing! He's still not sleeping a lot at night, but we're working on it. He LOVES when we sing to him (She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain is the popular tune right now) and is not fond of baths...but we're hoping a space heater will help that a bit. He is starting to have more head control and is doing better with tummy time. He's still eating every 2 - 2 1/2 hours, and it's still taking a while...but we are still exclusively breastfeeding, although I'm pumping so he can get used to the bottle a few nights a week. We only have one more month of confinement to the house, then watch out world! He is such a good baby...and his mommy needs to relax and not worry...I'm trying! :)

Thanks everyone for all of your encouragement, good thoughts, and kind words over the past month. We sincerely appreciate it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Z's! We hope you had a great day. Here's our little turkey, then the torture that followed dinner - the bath. Check out that thumb sucking!

Playing with Grandma K

Hanging out with Grandpa K


Our little family...

Just Pictures...

Looking bigger in his bouncy chair now! :)

Getting ready to drive...he's growing up so fast!



With his bear from grandpa F.




All my favorite things in one spot! :)