Almost 3 months old

4/6/07: Life with Miles is beginning to really jive. We are getting to know each other more and more. I take him along everywhere we or I go. We have been to Cedros, La Jolla, The zoo (twice!), Palm Springs, The Museum, Gallery Openings, cocktail parties and many restaurants. He is a trooper, very mellow, loves to be in his Baby Bjorn, worn be me or Daddy.

We are co-sleeping in the master bedroom. Which works well when the dogs don’t bark, and Keith doesn’t snore, and Miles doesn’t start his nightly running man routine. I guess what I’m trying to say is, we still don’t sleep well. But I love co-sleeping. It makes nursing so much easier, and snuggling with the family is priceless.



Miles will be 12 weeks on Easter Sunday. 3 months on the 15th of April. He is already wearing 6 month baby clothes. He is starting to like his bath time, especially if we do it in the sink. He says “ahgoo, ahgaah” and is focusing hard on starting other noises too. Miles loves the morning time and grins for no reason. He is starting to love his toys and now when he is upset we can distract him with a toy for a while (instead of walking r bouncing him) which is really helpful, especially for Keith. He is finding his fists in his mouth and is just starting to learn to self sooth. He is also sleeping more in his swing for nap time, so I can get stuff like this done.



Anyway, we are loving life with Miles! Everyday he shows more of his little personality and is even starting to laugh now and again. I think the best is yet to come, and every day I wake up (for the 18th time) and think, “What new adventure are we going to have today?”

Time? Sleep? What's that?!

3/16/07: I have a really hard time trying to find time to write. Miles is a little high needs still. I can’t put him down for more than a few minutes at a time, and that’s in the morning. In the afternoon, he demands full contact all the time. My life is so completely different now. It’s truly amazing how much I love him and am willing to do for him. Nature is fascinating that way.

Miles had his 2 month doctor’s visit yesterday and is now 10 pounds 11 ounces. And 23 1/4 inches tall. He is growing so fast! I wish I had more time to write. Maybe in the future. I am including a entry I wrote but never posted. See below. (I tried to upload photos, but the site won't let me for some reason.)

2/19/07; Miles and I pal around pretty well now. He dictates what we can do and for how long, but I instigate the activities. Like right now, I have him in the baby bjorn front pack, but he is getting kinda grunty, so I may have to cut this short. It’s raining outside, so, to me that means, time to bake! Miles and I made some blueberry muffins from scratch with some blueberries that were dying to be eaten. Hopefully the antioxidants will make up for the sugar and butter. Right.

We are still cosleeping in the nursery- but yesterday we went up to USA baby and bought a “co-sleeper”. It is like a bassinet that is missing one side and attaches to the parents bed. I am hoping that I can transition him into the master bedroom and move him from my bed into the co-sleeper…I have to go feed Miles, will write more later.

Life with Miles

2/6/07- Tuesday
Miles was born on 1/15/07. He was 7 pounds 11 ounces and 21 inches long. He has already grown so much. Currently, he is 3 weeks and one day old. It’s taken me some time to be able to sit down and write anything-let alone shower do laundry, make dinner or call friends. I have been totally devoted to Miles care. For the most part it looks like this, picture a loop: Breast feed from one boob for about a half an hour. Then burp for a few minutes and maybe a diaper change is needed. Switch to the other side for more nursing. Burp some more. Settle any crying or play with Miles if he is “quiet alert” (meaning very alert but still, absorbing all around him) We play for about a half hour. Then I carry him around, either in my arms or in a sling or front pack while I clean up, throw some laundry in, make coffee- eat a yogurt, email friends, whatever. He usually falls asleep for a little while and if I’m lucky I can put him down in one of his many baby seats and hop in the shower and change into clothes that aren’t all stained with breast milk. After that it’s time to feed him again- after the second feeding of the day it’s prime time to leave the house if I need to. Take a walk or run to the store. He’s usually in a good mood in mid mornings. Once we get home, it’s back to the same pattern. At night, Keith usually takes him for a little while for some Daddy time while I finish up any projects I may have started during the day and make some dinner.

So- not real exciting. Very rewarding though. It’ll be more so when Miles is more interactive. Right now he only cries and grunts. He is making eye or at least face contact more and more- and some little “ah” sounds are starting to surface. Which is wonderful and fun. I feel like everyday he has grown up more and can do a little something new. Currently it seems he wants to eat every hour. I think he is going through a growth spurt. I have been feeding him on demand- but do try to make sure he is really hungry before I just whip it out.

I wanted to write about the birth and the past few weeks but there hasn’t been time. Hopefully future entries will be more entertaining and less factoid.

Waiting and waiting.

1/5/07- Waiting game.
Well, the full moon came and went and we are still pregnant. I feel like I am expecting company but I have no idea when they are supposed to arrive. I am keeping the house clean and ready and the nursery is heavy with anticipation. Today I put together the pack and play and put out even more baby monitors. The house is conspicuously missing a baby. If someone came in and didn’t know I was pregnant they would think we were crazy. We are very ready.

I have suggested that Keith go golfing this weekend (if Miles is still in hiding) since we don’t know when he will have the time or money to go again. Tonight he is out with a friend, having a beer and playing bar games, under strict orders not to get drunk just in case I happen to go into labor and need him called home at a moments notice. I worry needlessly. (I hope).

We have rearranged the master bedroom to make room for the bassinet and rearranged the office so it’s not horrible to be in here. I did a prego painting of myself. Very droopy and curvy. Not very flattering, but very true to how I feel I look. I sit around and picture myself skipping and jumping and touching my toes. I can’t wait. It’s hard for me now to feel like I will ever be any different. Forever with a huge, hard, swollen belly. I long for “normal” clothes. Meanwhile, I spend time wondering how Miles could ever possible wear all the clothes he has. I’m sure we’ll figure it out. I have always felt like I am in a perpetual state of laundry, why do I have a feeling that that that wasn’t nothin’?

37 weeks and ready to go!

12/27/06- 37 weeks! I made it!
We have a new due date confirmed by Miles size via ultrasound. They say he could arrive on 1/17/07. Which makes me 37 weeks today. Why do I care? That means if he was born today he wouldn’t be a premie! His main job right now is to put on weight. He is already 6.7 pounds, so he just needs a little more. I think he’ll be born on Jan 3rd- the full moon. We’ll see. The nurse told us to put our bags in the car and be ready any time now. I am already 1 centimeter dilated, so stuff’s happening. Here are the pix from the ultrasound.

Lotta Doctors.

12/21/06: 35 weeks or 37 days and counting!
I have to go to antenatal 2x a week for testing, the dietition once a week, the OB once a week and the Endocronologist every couple weeks. So, I am pretty busy with Doctor’s appointments! I went to the antenatal diagnostic testing center yesterday. My OB wants to make sure Miles is getting enough to eat because she feels my weight gain has slowed and reveresed a little too soon. The do a quick ultrasound (I didn’t get to keep any pix) and she showed me that Miles has a lot of hair on his head. He is also definately a boy-if there was ever a doubt. He still has plenty of amniotic fluid to float around in and appears to be doing well. He’s hanging out head down, so he’s getting ready to go. His heart rate is good and I didn’t have any contractions while I was there. All is going well.

I have packed my hospital bag, and Miles bag too. Made a birth plan and distributed it to my sis and mom and of course Keith. I made a birthing selection of music to play and packed a couple CD’s but also my iPod speakers. The nursery is ready to go...and we are ready for Christmas too. After Christmas I guess it’ll just be back to normal and a bunch of waiting. I want to get birth announcements addressed and ready to go- but I have lables for that. And I need a picture of Miles to assemble them anyway.

So that’s all the news for now. Merry Christmas!

45 days left to go- give or take.

12/13/06: 34 weeks
Only 45 days left to go! As if anyone really delivers on their due date. But seriously the end and the beginning are so near! It’s been strange to stay home for so long sans baby. I’ve been keeping amazingly busy, alternately napping. Getting ready for Christmas has been a big job. I took on the task of making Christmas cards- scrapbooker style. I made most of them before I pooped out and bought a box to send to the rest of the friends and family.

I am pretty big now- seems silly that I thought I was showing before. Lounge pants are a gift from heaven! I still manage to squeeze into my maternity jeans, but they are pretty uncomfortable. I stay in house clothes as much as possible (poor keith!).

Miles is a very active baby- pushing and rolling around. He doesn’t have much room to move around now so when I feel him it feels like he is trying to escape from the walls of my sides. Every once and a while I feel a kick to the ribs or bladder but for the most part he seems to be lodged in my left side. Keith and I play, “Guess the part” and try to figure out if we are feeling a butt or knee or elbow... I think that is the most fun part of being pregnant.

I’m still on the uterus relaxing drugs, but fast approaching 35 weeks, I’m going to be revieved of that. I need to go into labor sometime, and at this point- I’m not real worried about it. Watch him be late.

Oh- and I have been blessed with Gestational Diabetes too. I imagine a combo of weight gain and family history make me a pretty good candidate. But I think I may have had it all along. It has been a huge help for me to be on the diabetes diet. No more faintness in the morning and – I haven’t checked my weight in a while, but I feel like I’m on track. Miles is gaining by the day- inches and pounds. We should have one more ultrasound at 36 weeks to see how big he is and when we can expect his arrival. I can’t wait to see is shining face! Keith is pretty excited too.

I installed the car seat and the nursery is more than ready, clothes washed, blankets clean and folded, even the plastic taken off the powder and supplies. We are as ready as we know to be. Miles baby bag is packed and his homecoming outfit is ready. The only thing I have yet to do is pack a bag for the hospital for me. I guess I might be putting that off. It seems silly to pack when you don’t know when you are leaving, besides, I’m still wearing the lounge pants I will probably pack!

30 weeks and counting!

11/16/06:
After my last blog I ended up back in the hospital for 5 days. IV’d and drugged, with persistant contractions. I am now off work and laying low. Paying close attention to my body’s signs for contractions, pressure, cramps, and back pain. I can move around more than before but I still can’t really do much. I did make it to my baby shower though. Shelly and Gary put on a wonderful party with the help from my Mom and Aimee. It was great there was a terrific turn out and we received massive amounts of baby gear. The nursery is jam packed with baby bouncers, swings, clothes, toys, blankets and lots and lots of diapers. The only thing we needed to go buy ourselves was breastfeeding gear- which wasn’t that big of a deal. I bought a manual pump since I don’t think I will need to use it that much only on the rare occasions that I leave Miles with Keith or a family member. The days are going by very fast and I am doing a lot of little craft projects to keep myself occupied. I just wish I could clean the house- like deep clean. I can pick up but have been banned from the vaccume. It’s hard for me to rely on Keith to do the cleaning, since he has a million other projects that he wants to get done and of course he is still working full time. I guess there will be plenty time for vaccuming later in life! (little do I know)

Irritable Uterus- welcome to the third trimester

10/24/06:
I am on bedrest for the next week. Yesterday I went to work like normal, but felt a lot of pressure and heaviness in the pelvic area when I walked. I talked to a friend who told me I should call the doctor. My doctor’s office aid I should go home and lay down. After going home the feeling was the same so I called back and they sent me to Mary Birch Hospial for woman, labor and delivery. I was held for about 5 hours and monitored for pre term labor contractions. Apparently the pressure I had been having for the last few weeks were pre labor contractions. They gave me a shot to relax my uterus, which didn’t work. Then an IV, which also didn’t work. They did a couple tests which indicated I wasn’t dilated and sent me home with some medication to relax my “irritable uterus” and orders to stay off my feet as much as possible for the next week. I have a follow up on Halloween. Then well see what will happen from there. My first day of bedrest was pretty boring, I mostly read and watched TV, napped for a while. Keith was a sweety and went grocery shopping and made me dinner. It’s really strange not being able to do anything. I found myself actually wishing I could excersize today! I must be getting desperate already!

Last weekend we went to Julian and celebrated Grandma’s 80th birthday by taking her to a drag queen show. She didn't think it was as funny as we did, which was a bummer- but I hope she knows our hearts were in the right place. At least it will be memorable.

Octoberfest!

October 8th 2006 26 weeks
Last night we went to Octoberfest in LaMesa with my Sis. This is my favorite time of year. I love Fall. The weather, the holiday decorations, the festivals. All of it. It was obsenely crowded with a great mixture of drunk kids and family people. There was a fair share of old castouts from the 60’s, grey ponytail men in camoflage jackets, meandering the crowd- looking somewhat lost and totally at home. We went with the intention of Bratworst and Funnelcake but ended up at a local mexican eatery, Marios. I held my own, walking a litle funny for the shooting pains down my lower back and leg, and feet swollen and sore. This morning I feel a little like someone took a hammer to the bottom of my feet. But I imagine we’ll go back today so I can actually look at the crafts and enjoy some of the booths without the danger of someone shoving a funnel cake covered in fudge down my back.

I finally signed up for some birth classes for keith and myself to take over Halloween weekend. And it looks like my sis should be sending out the baby shower invites next week. Things are moving along at a frightening speed! Sooner than I can really imagine, little Miles will be here- maybe sleeping nearby while I blog this...

Life goes on...

September 28th 2006 about 24 weeks
Only 3 1/2 more months! Miles is getting bigger and more noticable. He gets my attention regularly with kicks and jabs that can now be felt from the outside, which is fun for Keith. We have trained the doggies not to sleep on our bed anymore, which was easier than I anticipated. They now have a big bed that they can share, or another little one if they don’t feel like being close.


I have been swamped at work, which is exhausting. Keith has been a huge help, making dinner at night and helping with the house chores. I come home dead tired and fall asleep by 9pm.

I am so excited for the holidays! I think these next couple of months are going to fly by. I imagine I’ll do a lot of my shopping online over the next few months. Partially to try and spend wisely and partially because shopping all day wipes me out now, and I imagine as I get bigger and more uncomfortable, it’ll be even worse. This will be the last year for a while that I can go shoping without a monster stroller!

Jungle Mural finally complete!

September 12th 2006
So I finally finished the mural in the baby’s room. It took me a lot of research and fear overcoming then just doing it in basically one day. I drew it out in one night and then painted it on Sunday. I think it looks pretty good! But you be the judge of that as I have posted a bunch of pictures to go with this.


I had the doctor’s (OB) appointment this morning and heard little Miles heartbeat. He sounds good and strong. I felt him moving around today, his movements seem to be getting bolder and sometimes it feels like he is doing summersaults! But mostly it’s just little kickboxing moves. Jab-jab-uppercut!

I have been feeling pretty good. Tired, and still with the crazy dreams. I mean super scary, crazy, exhausting, can’t put that on a family blog dreams. I would love to sleep all the way through the night without waking and without dreams. But I guess that wont be happening any time soon!!

We found a crib!

September 5, 2006 Day 122 (20 weeks)
We have been getting the nursery together. We have a crib (thanks to Mom!) and a changing table now. It’s looking pretty cute. All we need to do now is the fun decorations stuff. I bought some letters that spell “Miles” for the wall and hope to have some sketches for the mural done soon. I think it’ll be really simple. I am going to paint each letter of his name a different animal print and hang them on the wall above the crib. The room is so small and is somewhat crammed with furniture, so I don’t want the wall to overpower the small space.

I feel Miles moving around every day now. Still small flutterings but he usually gets my attention every couple hours or at least once a day when I’m holding still.

I’ve been feeling pretty good. With the exception of being tired more easily and feeling bigger and bigger everyday, which I suppose is very normal. So all is well!

It's a Boy!!

8/30/06
I have been super busy at work and exhausted at home, which doesn't leave me much time to blog or upload pictures. Which I hope to do very soon. We had our ultrasound yesterday and discovered that we are having a boy! And so far, he's very healthy and doing well. Looks like he is going to be long (tall) as his femor bones is long for his age. He was moving and dancing, kind of doing a movement that looked like crunches. I don't really feel his kicks yet. He is facing up and toward my spine, so he is kicking the placenta, not my stomach.

I have been feeling really good. I started taking Omega 3 (thanks Erin!) on the advice of a friend and whether it's that, or just the 2nd trimester that is making me feel good, It's hard to say, but I'll take it.

Oh, and we now have a new due date of 1/19/07. Which is a Friday. That makes me about 19 weeks and 5 days. Farther along than we thought. We need to sign up for some pregnancy classes soon. As slow as this has been going, it's going fast.

Prenatal Yoga

I went to a prenatal yoga class last night. It was awesome! I loved it. It was really nice to be around a bunch of pregos. There was the full range of 12 weekers to “my due date is tomorrow” and there were probably about 12-15 ladies in the class. I loved it. It was the first time I was in a room full of people I KNEW I had something in common with. I got home at 9:15 and crashed. I’m a little sore today. But the class was really good for me. I never realized how quickly you lose it when you don’t use it.

A few days ago

We went to Mom’s on Saturday for my Grandpa’s 84th birthday party. Shelly made great lasagna and I made a carrot cake. The Mackays came to the party and it was pretty fun! Everyone’s rubbing my belly now, which doesn’t bother me so much anymore. May be the last time someone rubs my belly and thinks it’s cute or exciting! At least until a few months after the baby is born, and then I’ll hope that’ll be Keith’s job.

I felt great all week last week. I had energy and a good mood. Today and yesterday I have been tired again. Sleepy and lead weighty. I imagine the baby’s having a growth spurt. I have started taking Omega 3 supplements, which I hear is good for baby’s brain growth and my mood for some reason. So far, I haven’t noticed a difference. I’ll take them anyway.

Tonight I’m going to make a calzone from scratch. Well kind of, I have wheat bread dough from Trader Joe’s. Yum!

The size of an Avocado.

August 17, 2006 Thursday
I have been feeling much better. Worlds better than I did. In fact I almost feel like the old me. Which makes me hopeful that the worst is over, at least for now.

The baby is now about the size of an avocado and will double in size over the next few weeks. That’s pretty exciting. There is a woman at work who is a month ahead of me and it’s interesting to watch how she grows and have a kind of guideline for how I will look in a couple of weeks.

We will get the ultrasound to see the sex of the baby on the 29th. In just under 2 weeks. So expect an announcement or tell me if you don’t want to know. Keith and I will be taking some classes at Sharp to prepare for birth and baby. I think that’ll help me, but especially help Keith know better what to expect, and take some of the scariness out of it. Not much else is going on. The weather has cooled off tremendously, and that is making life easier. I am looking forward to Fall like never before. I can’t wait until October! My favorite time of the year.

Exorcist Anyone?

August 12, 2006 Saturday 8:34 am
Okay, so I have been sick. Very scary- been to the hospital 2x this week, had an EKG sick. I know what your asking yourself, “how’s the baby?!” Thanks, the baby seems to be fine. And after 2 days of sleeping, exorcist style vomiting and comatose laying around, I seem to be much better today too. This has been a very scary week. Keith has been wonderful during this sick time. Taking care of me, calling the hospital, taking me to the hospital, sitting with me-even cleaning the puke out of my car when I let loose on the way HOME from the hospital on Thursday. He’ll be a great dad. If he can hold it together while scooping puke from the front seat, I no longer worry about him changing a diaper! He truly is a renaissance man!

I have an appointment with my regular OB on Tuesday, followed by a cardiologist. So we’ll see how everything is going along. I still think I feel the baby moving around at night, but still can’t be sure for sure. I measure around 41” around the belly button (I started at about 36-38”) and I have gained a scary 17 pounds. I gained a ton in the first few months, but now I am back on track gaining about a pound a week, which is what I should be gaining right now. Unfortunately the weight I gained in the beginning can’t be added on to my weight in the future. It doesn’t work that way. L

So now I am hopeful things will be good for a while. I am up today, showered and ready to take care of business. Just a little slower that usually is all.

Better Today

July 30, 2006 Sunday evening 8:47 pm
I have been feeling better- the weather has cooled off, even rained a bit. Coincidence? Probably not. I think I feel the baby moving around at night but it really is hard to tell. Exciting though. I am not in my 15th week a little more than a third of the way through. I bought a scrap booking album today and I intend to get started. This little blog will make an appearance for sure. I think I will make this into a paper version. With more intimate photos. I can add the baby pics and tummy pics that I wont publish otherwise.

I’m not looking forward to work tomorrow, or the next day for that matter. But what has to be done has to be done. What seems important now will soon take on such different meaning.

Sleeping beauty?

July 29, 2006 Saturday morning 7:15am
I woke up to rain. Finally! The sky has been so heavy, putrid, HOT. It finally cracked open. All the green (and brown) outside are singing. Reaching for the clouds. I went out with some string and twine and tied up the tomato plants. Found some old scissors and cut off some of the crunchy brown. The Basil unsalvageable. My poor yard! Usually I spend much more time with my hands in the earth. Although looking at the backyard on any given day, you might not be able to tell. I love digging and planting and eating what I’ve grown. There’s so much satisfaction in that. I have been so tired the past few months with the heat and humidity making things close to unbearable. Last night I fell asleep at 7pm. On Friday. My poor husband. But I needed it. I woke up at 6:15 this morning ready to greet the day! So it’s 7:20 and I feel my old self, already productive somewhat, in the yard. I’m wearing on of Keith’s old black A shirts, covered in paint stains. Damp from the mist and rain. My feet are still covered with old grass clippings. I really shouldn’t be tromping about the house this way. But I think I’ll make myself a good breakfast and set to cleaning up this place while I still feel so good. You never know when you suddenly will feel struck and need to lie down.