A Baby Story

After Thursday I couldn’t stop thinking and waiting for the first signs of labor to begin.  I spent most of my Friday distracted and wondering when things were going to happen.  I felt uncomfortable all day – but nothing that felt like labor.  We even canceled our plans for Friday night because we thought for sure we were going to be having a baby. 

Friday came and went.  Saturday morning I had a carpet cleaner reserved and we went to town cleaning all our carpets.  We finished all the carpets around 12:30 and I went to take a shower.  After my shower I came and sat on the couch next to Jesse and closed my eyes for a quick nap before Mallory woke up from hers.  I sat there and I sent mental vibes to baby boy and told him I was ready – he could come at any time.  1:45pm I felt a twinge… and they continued and got stronger and closer together.  : ) 

Mally woke up from her nap and I sent the message to my parents that they should start their way here (they live an hour away).  Jesse flew around and finished up some last minute things.  Mally and I sat on the couch and attempted to read library books. 

I was trying to time the contractions but every time I would get one I forgot the time of the last one.  So I really had no idea how far apart they were.  I just knew they were getting stronger. 

My parents showed up and Mally was so excited to go somewhere.  She instantly said, “Momma go to doctor” and she was ready to go do something fun with Grandma & Grandpa.  She didn’t hesitate at all.  Meanwhile, Jesse keeps asking me how far apart they are and I have no idea.  He throws his phone at me with a timer on it and I time a couple and they are 4 minutes.  When I told him that – he almost went into panic mode and starting saying “we gotta go NOW.”  And I kept saying, I’m okay.  I promise.  I’m okay.  We are fine.  (We were suppose to leave at 5 minutes apart.)  Don’t get me wrong – the contractions hurt!  They hurt bad!  But I felt like they didn’t hurt as much as when I was in labor with Mallory.  I was afraid we were going to get to the hospital and I was still going to be at 3cm dilated and they were going to send me home.  And I didn’t want to be sent home.

We get to the hospital about 4:45 and we get checked into our room and the nurses check me and she now goes into panic mode and says “Oh my gosh girl!  You are a good 7cm and 100% and little guy is extremely low!  We need to move!”  I said to her “how about epideral man?”  She said, I’m going to get him now!  One nurse set up the room and the other went to get epideral man.

Well epideral man had to take a woman back for a c-section so he couldn’t get to me.  I think the nurses felt bad, but I told them that is perfectly fine – c-section is way more important then this.  My mid-wife comes in and sees me for the first time and she says “you are 7cm and you are just sitting here like this?”  : )  It made me feel really good.  I was just sitting in bed watching the nurses fly around waiting for the next contraction to hit.  I felt like I dealt so much better with contractions this time around.  I could breathe threw them, focus and “relax” a bit more this time.

Epideral man was really taking forever and I was starting to get nervous that he wasn’t going to make it in time.  And I think everyone else was thinking the same thing because I was starting to receive pep talks about how I could do this and I have been doing great so far.  However, delivery freaks me out and I really wanted the epideral.

Epideral man finally came and this time around my epideral was so much different.  I could still move one of my legs (they had me on my left side and I completely lost my left leg) and I could still feel when I was having a contraction… and some of them I could still feel the pain!

After I received my epideral I was at 8cm, but my water still had not broken.  We decided to go ahead and break it and make things move faster.  Before we know it it was time to push.  I was so afraid I was going to have to push for two hours again (I had two hours of pushing with Mallory) but my mid-wife kept telling me… bar of soap.  He is going to come out like a bar of soap – quick! 

A couple big pushes and 11 minutes later (8:31pm) – baby boy was here!!  It was so fast and “easy”.  It was so calm this time around too.  It was just my mid-wife and one nurse.  They gave me Maxwell and we just snuggled.  He didn’t cry much – he just snuggled in and looked so relaxed.  He even started nursing right away.  And the rest is history.  : )

Mallory meeting Maxwell for the first time.  Do you see that Goofy had to come too?  This girl is addicted to that Goofy – he has to go every where!

If she puts Goofy down for a bit she runs around saying “Where’s Goofy?”  or “Goofeeee where are youuu?” and she searches for him.

Holding Maxwell.

Family picture!

Here is a picture of Mally when she was born.  I wanted to see if they looked alike.  I think they have the same mouth.

Before we left the hospital we got a celebration breakfast that they brought in for Jesse and I.  Then I got to go have a free 30 minute massage!!!  It was so fantastic!  We left the hospital ready to start this new chapter!  We even joked about how it felt like we were on vacation.  : )  The hospital we go to is so awesome – they take such good care of us.

We are all adjusting to a family of four so quickly and easily.  We had a few rough nights with Maxwell, but I quickly figured out that gas drops are my (and Maxwell’s) best friend.  He slept so much better last night and we all woke up feeling refreshed.

Maxwell David

He is here!  Maxwell David Frey!  He was born last night at 8:31pm; 7 pounds 10 ounces; 20 inches long.

This is a mean post because I forgot my camera cable so I can’t upload any pictures – however my Mom was here today and if Mally lets her have the computer tonight for a split second you should see some pictures on her blog.

We are all doing fabulous.  Labor was quick, easy and calm!  Maxwell seems to be a very content calm baby so far – we are loving it.  He is a sleepy one – like I have to wake him up to eat and it is a big job to wake him up.  : )

Mallory loves to hold her “baby brodder”.  I put him in her lap and she flops her arms over top of him and pats him.  If I take him away she says “hold baby brodder” and reaches for him.  Mallory is also doing a fantastic job spending some time with her grandparents and letting Mommy and Daddy stay at the doctors.  : )  Mommy on the other hand cries when she leaves – thank you hormones. 

Cousin Garrett thinks Baby Max is “my Max” and has a very hard time sharing him.  : )  Like he melts down when someone else wants to snuggle him.

I’m off to watch little baby twitches and hear little baby grunts.  : )  I’ll be back with plenty more pictures and stories when we get home.

Belly Status–HUGE & DONE!

I had an appointment late this afternoon and decided to take a couple last belly pictures… just in case.  : )

Jesse is having dreams that we have a 10 pound baby.  My belly button is almost nonexistent and it hurts from all the stretching.  However, so far, no stretch marks!  Very thankful for that!

Well, at my appointment I got some very good news!  I’m 3cm dilated and 80% effaced.  I’m going to get graphic – so hold on – she then decided to strip my membranes and make things move a little quicker!  She tells me within 24-72 hours I should have a baby!!!

We (my mid-wife and I) screamed and giggled and hugged!  Seriously – we did!  I am so excited for little man to come and for my back to stop hurting that I’m wishing more pain (labor) on myself.  : )

Our bags our packed.  The Grandmas have been notified.  Now we just try to enjoy the moment, get some sleep, stop thinking about it and wait…

P.S. Watch my Mom’s blog for pictures – she’ll most likely have the first ones and be able to post them for y’all to see. 

Dip ‘em in the water

Mallory and I did Easter Eggs this week.  Whenever I tell Mallory I have a project to do – she gets really excited.  She loves projects.  Granted, her attention span only lasts about 10 minutes and then she is done and destroying things.

She would color on them with a crayon and then I would put them in the water.  When she was done coloring she would hand it to me and say “dip ‘em in the water”. 

Then she got to put stickers on them.

Then she figured out that they roll…

And then they fell on the floor!

Then they became squishy (from falling and cracking) and she started squishing them!

Then I was done with this project and we packed up!  : )

Is She 2 or 16?

Right now it is lunch time – however Mally has decided she wants Marshmallow Bunnies for lunch and I told her no, she had to eat a real lunch first and then she could have bunnies afterwards. 

She then took herself to her room, closed the door, and climbed into bed.  I went in there and asked her if she was going to come eat lunch and she told me no. 

Guess I’m going to go enjoy my peaceful lunch today while Mally plays Teenage Mally.

I’m afraid we hit the terrible twos this week and this 9 month prego momma doesn’t have a lot of patience for terrible twos.

P.S. I just went to look in at her and she is laying on her back with her legs crossed reading a book.  What a kid! 

Listening to Baby Brother

I have had to take Mallory to a couple of my appointments.  The first one she cried and wanted me to hold her when we listened to baby brother.  The second time I told her we were going to listen to baby brother and I couldn’t hold her, but she could stand on the chair and hold my hand.  AND if she was really good we would go play on the slides.  (I had to go to the mall afterwards and was going to let her play on the little play land inside the mall.)  She was excellent and I let her play on the slide for an hour! 

This time I took her and I tell her we are going to listen to baby brother and she says “momma can’t hold you.” and “play on slides”.  Hahaha.  Oops, look what I started. 

I brought my camera along this time to try to catch her on video listening to baby brother.  She was a little shy, but I am still glad I caught it.

When we were done – she forgot all about the slides and we went straight home.  : )

Belly Status–37 Weeks

About three weeks and counting!  I find myself getting very organized and having to have everything in order – because at this point he could come at any time.  Friday, I organized totes of clothes.  Saturday & Sunday I did extreme bedroom makeover on my room (more on that later).  Today I (some how) got baby boy clothes AND Mally clothes in ONE dresser!  I also raised the crib back up to newborn position and picked out a few outfits and got blankets for the hospital for baby boy.

All I have left is to order a new nursing wrap – I’ve got my eye on a few on Etsy and I just need to order one.  Then get a list together for hospital bags and for Mallory’s bag. 

I’m feeling fine.  I’m getting more and more ready for the end.  When I go to my appointments the Dr. always says something to the effect that he is already down.  Then they proceed to tell me about labor and when I can call them – which I always have them tell me because I never remember when I can call.  When the contractions are 5 minutes apart?  Or when they are 3 minutes?  And then I tell them I live an hour away – so I will try not to jump the gun and call too early.  : )  I keep being told that the second one is going to come faster… and I was afraid I was going to have Mallory on the interstate and I ended up having a 13 hour labor… so now I am really concerned!

Sleep is very hard.  I can’t get comfortable.  And when I do find a comfy spot – either my hip or my shoulder or my arm will fall asleep and then I feel the need to flip sides. 

My lap is pretty much nonexistent and Mally insists on sitting on my lap and she wiggles and wiggles because she just can’t get comfy.

Anyway – enough pregnancy talk!  Let’s talk about my extreme bedroom makeover.  : )

For my birthday Jesse took me to the Twin Cities for the weekend so that I could shop at Ikea.  I shopped for a new bedroom and found just about everything I needed… and then some.  : )  My Mom offered to come help me paint the room as my birthday present – which I was so thrilled about because I really wanted it done before baby boy arrived.

This weekend My Mom came over (and my Sister!) to help me paint the room.  I think I can say that we all had fun bonding together while painting… at least I did.  And the kids (Elly, Garrett and Mallory) had so much fun playing together.  Mallory is getting to the social stage – and she loves to play with other kids. 

I did not take any before pictures of the room, and I really wish I would have because then you would really get a grasp of how extreme it was for us.  But I hated that room and couldn’t stomach taking a picture of it.  Just picture dark dark dark wood paneling on 2.5 of the walls.  Picture very mismatch furniture.  Picture furniture that was left in a college apartment when I moved in and then took it with me because I didn’t have a dresser.  Picture yuck.  : )

And now…

I bought this “headboard” when we were living in Appleton.  It was at a second hand place – it is a fireplace mantel.  When I saw it – I thought I could turn  it into a headboard and my day finally came (3 years later).  It was originally white and Jesse spray painted it black and mounted it to the wall and it fit perfectly around our bed.

I have some black sheer curtains to put behind the green ones – but I had to order them and they won’t be here until the end of the month.  Then I need to get a bed skirt and some artwork for the walls.

Now for the belly pictures… I’m going to warn you – I’M HUGE!!!

I am to the point where strangers are not concerned at all to ask when I am due.  They clearly know that I am pregnant and about to pop at any moment. 

I am very lucky that I am 90% all belly!

Then again – In 6 months I might not be so happy about being all belly when I am trying to get rid of that belly.  ; )

Water & Mud Season

We are finally starting to see Spring here.  Everyone is loving it.  Especially this little girl, Mallory!  : )

She loves to go for walks at night after supper.  She calls it “walk on da road”.  She stops every 5 steps and looks for rocks or needs to make a snow ball to throw at Maggie so Maggie eats it.  Or she is looking for birds.  The other night she was picking single pieces of grass blades and caring those around.  Then one of the neighbors up the street taught her how to pick handfuls and shove them in her pockets!  Except she was shoving handfuls down her jacket and not in her pockets!  Thank you neighbor John!  : )

She also loves to splash in the water and I didn’t have boots for her until this weekend.  It was a must – she was ruining her new shoes I got her for the summer.  She loves her water boots!  She seriously wears them all the time – all day long – in the house even!  When I tried them on her in the store – she wouldn’t let me take them off.  She had to wear them immediately!  Thank goodness my check out lady had a scissors and cut the tags off for me!  When we got home with them she knew exactly what to do – she bee-lined it right for a puddle and started splashing.

The other day we went outside and I was doing some work in the garage just letting her explore outside.  She was in the mud with sticks!  Then all of sudden I hear “stuck!”  I go to find her completely stuck in mud and she pulled so hard that her foot came out of the boot and she was now standing with her sock foot in the mud!  I couldn’t get her boots out either!  So I picked her up by the waist (upside down) grabbed her boots from the mud and then had to have Jesse help me get her boots back on because I was still holding her upside down.  The neighbor saw the whole thing and came out laughing and said she wished she would have had a camera for that one.  : )  Her boots then weighed 10 pounds a piece with all the mud on them.  That didn’t stop her though!!  She went back in there AGAIN!  I told Jesse… do we have a little girl or a little boy?  : ) 

After I was done working in the garage I went and grabbed my camera and took a couple pictures of her splashing and loving the new weather!

Playing in the rocks.  The kid loves rocks!  She brings them into the house.  She puts them in her pockets.  She tries to grab one every time we are outside and if I make her put them back she says “hold it” and tries to snuggle it as if it is her new best friend.

She piled rocks, “make a tower”, on the patio ledge.

See that patio behind Mallory in the above picture.  We put that in so late last year that I didn’t even get a chance to really see it or enjoy it.  Well… I really like it!  However Jesse has different words for it.  It is a nightmare for him.  When the snow was melting and then it decided to rain – that entire patio was filled with water!  It was literally a wadding pool!  The water was even coming in the (house) garage and starting to make its way down the steps and into the basement!  Thank goodness we had a sand bag to stop it from going into the basement!  There has been talk of ripping this patio out and doing something different this summer.

Heading for the mud, yet again!

Stuck!

I redirected her to some puddles instead – this way she can’t get stuck.

Yes, I dress Mallory like a ragga-muffin when we are not going anywhere.  Pink, Red and Green.  : )  I just throw on what ever is convenient at the time.  But look at how muddy she is – she has ruined more clothes – she is one girl who is rough on clothes and shoes.

I am not sure what this look is all about…

Happy Spring Everyone!!  : ) 

Fun Maternity Pictures

It has been awhile since I did this photo session – but I wanted to share the pictures anyway.  My Mom and I did some maternity shots.  We did this with Mallory too… see here.

I only have a few weeks left.  I’m very ready for baby boy to come… physically.  This pregnancy is starting to take a toll on my back.  I’m going to the chiropractor weekly and I think I could go daily.  I’ve been putting heat packs on my back at night and sometime I do it multiple times a day.

Baby boy has made a nice little nest right atop of my bladder!   I feel like I live in the bathroom these days with having pregnancy bladder and trying to teach Mally about the potty.

At my last appointment I was told I need to try to get baby boy to flip.  His back was facing my right side and his back needs to be center for good delivery.  She told me to get on my hands and knees and rock.  I did it.  I’m pretty sure he flipped on Sunday night/Monday morning while I was sleeping.  I woke up feeling different… and I am pretty sure I waddled out of our bedroom and the waddle hasn’t left since!  The kicks are different and he feels really super low now.  He has always felt low, but now it is really low.

Pickles and Ice Cream!  : )

Mally thought it was pretty fantastic.  She loves pickles and loves “ice cream cone”.

I know she is crying in this picture, but I thought it was still cute.

And this is why I think baby boy is so low – Mally sits on him!  : )

She points to baby brother all the time.  However, I am pretty sure she has no idea what a baby brother is.  : )  She’ll be so surprised when she finally gets to meet him!

Potty Training

One of my goals before baby boy showed up was to have Mallory potty trained.  Well… I think I have about 4 weeks to accomplish this and I feel clueless on where to begin.  We have had a potty chair for over a month and every once in awhile she will randomly tell me she “has to go potty” and takes off running for the bathroom.  However, she just likes to sit there and point at all the Sesame Street characters on her seat and rip up toilet paper.  : )  Then the real fun is washing her hands and getting soap.  Oh the things that are so special to these little bitty kids.

Anyway – If you have any, and I mean any, tips to offer me please tell me!  I’m going to attempt potty training on Tuesday.  I know, why Tuesday?  LOL.  I’ve been working like a manic the last week and half and I still have to work on Monday – so Tuesday I go back to my normal “schedule” and I’ll be ready… I think… I hope.

My plan is this… I made her a potty chart – A big sheet of paper that says “Mally’s Potty Chart” and she gets to put a sticker on the chart when she goes.  She is totally into stickers right now and I think that will be something fun and special for her… I think… I hope.  : )

Tips please!  Leave me your tips and tricks!  Thank you!  : ) 

L..M..N..N..N..N..P

For the last two days I have heard a lot of ABC singing.  I tried to get her to sing for the camera this morning but she got distracted half way in.