Happy 2016 !

Happy New Year everyone! I'm pretty sure next to no one is reading this post currently, but even so I wanted to say that to you all. I'm sitting at my laptop going through old photos and videos just looking back on how my life has drastically changed in the past three years. I created this blog back in 2013 to have somewhere to share my pregnancy journey and then to keep track of my journey as a mother  I failed tremendously. After looking at how long I haven't written on this blog I decided that it was time to seriously get back to it.

Valentine's Day 2015. 1 year and 1 day old.

January 2016 is here and as with any new year there are resolutions. I don't do resolutions, I prefer to call them goals. One of my goals for the year is to utilize this blog more because so many things are going to take place and I want to be able to share the info with my family in the future.

Sesame Place <3

Christian's 1st Birthday!

My little baby boy is growing up!! I can't believe he is already 1 year old. It's really scary how quickly time passes. But I'm so proud of my baby & the wonderful person he is becoming. He is such a charmer.

I can't believe, this time last year I delivered this handsome little guy. I seriously remember it like it was yesterday. Being induced and him not wanting to come down. Being in labor for 44 and a half hours before he arrived. My prince is everything and more to me.

Two Weeks Postpartum Update

Weight Loss: 14lbs down

Swelling: Gone from thighs and legs. My feet are still a bit swollen.

Stomach: Still swollen with a bit of darkness on it, soft when pushed and a bit rough since it was stretched out from c-section.

Incision: Outside stitches healed, inside stitches started to hurt a lot more.

Pain Meds: took them every 3-4 hours switching between the Motrin and Percocet (Oxycodone).

Other Notes:

• great bowel movement
• rectal pressure
• cramping
• leaking from boobs a ton
• internal pain from inside stitches
• pretty good with walking around the house

Overall, first two weeks went great as far as recovery as long as I was taking my pain meds.

XoX

Baby's Two Week Update

Height: 20 inches

Weight: 6lbs 6oz

Routine: His routine as of now is sleep for two hours, wake up to eat every two to three hours, change diaper every three to five hours (depending on what his diaper is looking like and if we are both sleep) and bath time between 7 and 8pm.

Eating: He is currently drinking breastmilk every two hours and if he takes formula he drinks it every two and half to three hours.

Sleeping: He sleeps in two to three portions (if that's even the right word to use). He is pretty good with his sleeping, but at night he prefers to sleep on my chest or near me on my bed rather than in his bassinet or boppy.

Sizes: In clothing he can get away with some NB and 0-3 months if they are made small and not wide. He probably can wear preemie clothing as well. In pampers he is still rocking NB sizes in the Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive.

Milestones:

In two weeks he has accomplished the following:

• tummy time
• holding head up on own
• alert
• watches tv

Those first two weeks were a bit hard for me, but with the help of my mom I've been doing just fine as a new mom. Still working on waking up in the middle of the night and early mornings between 2 and 5am.

XoX

Labor & Delivery Story: Natural to C-Section

I'm not quite sure where to begin so I recorded a video on my labor and delivery.

Let me begin by saying my expected due date was Sunday, Feb 23, 2014. I had an appointment on Wednesday, Feb 12, 2014 at MFAC (Maternal Fetal Assessment Center) to check on my amniotic fluid and the baby's weight. My fluid was at an 8.1 (which is okay since your fluid should be between 8 to 14 on the index) and according to the sonogram he was weighing 5lbs and 11oz which according to the sonographer and doctor he was weighing at 35 weeks and 3 days. I was 38 weeks and 3 days.

Keep in mind, my doctor told me my son wouldn't be over 6lbs and 5oz just because of my figure so I wasn't concerned, but every other doctor was concerned which I guess is okay.

My son was born Thursday, Feb 13, 2014 at 9:23pm. He weighed 6lbs and 1oz and was 19.4 inches long.

As far as my discharge and home recovery goes, check out this video:

Overall, my labor and delivery was smooth I just wish the pain medication would have continued to work while I was dilating because I probably would have decided to just push him out.

3 Weeks In...

I can't believe my last update was at 31 weeks pregnant...a lot has changed since then. From weeks 32-38 I pretty much stayed in and relaxed because my feet was swelling a lot. I was supposed to have my baby shower at 38 weeks, but I opted not to have one at all because I just wasn't in the mood to be around a ton of people.

Needless to say, the Wednesday before my baby shower was supposed to take place I had an appointment at MFAC (Maternal Fetal Assessment Center) at the hospital and the doctor decided to induce me...so my baby shower was definitely a no go.

The interesting thing, my mother kept saying that when I went to my appointment they would keep me so it wasn't a real shocker to me, but it was still a bit nerve wrecking.

I will give you this quick note: my labor was 44.5 hours...Why? They tried to get me to push him out and after 43.5 hours of him not coming down they finally just gave me a c-section which took another 1hr to prepare for...yup. I gave birth to a handsome baby boy on Feb 13, 2014 at 9:23pm...the day before Valentine's Day and I couldn't be happier about it.

Upcoming Posts

• Belly shots from 32-38 weeks
• Labor & Delivery Story
• C-Section Experience & Recovery
• Postpartum Essentials
• Baby's 2 Week Update
• Two Week Postpartum Update
• Baby's 1 Month Update
• Baby's 6 Week Update
• Six Week Postpartum Update
• Breastfeeding Experience
• Newborn Essentials
• What's In My Diaper Bag
• New Mom Tips

Overall, I have been enjoying my life as a new mom. It is a bit of struggle waking up every 2-3 hours to tend to my little one at night, but I'm surely getting the hang of it. 

I can and will say -- my son was the best thing that has ever happened to me!

Enjoy your day!

And It's Down To The Wire...

Dear Jellybean,

Yes I've been calling you jellybean lately because you remind of a jumping jellybean -- lol. Anywho, this isn't a real formal letter, it's more like a note. I just wanted to let you know that we made it through a full 7 months without complications and I'm truly blessed. I am grateful that the most issues we've had is back pain and nothing more. You're healthy, I'm healthy and we are doing just fine. I go for my 33 week appointment on Friday and my next sonogram is during week 36 so I'm excited to see how big you are and how much you weigh.

To think, just on my 22nd birthday I was blessed with such an amazing gift. I couldn't ask for anything more, but than your dad proposed to me a month later which made it all the more better. Yes, I was a bit nervous and started to treat your dad really mean, but I got over it and began to accept that my life is changing for the better.

You will be here in February -- any time after Feb 2nd (which is when I'm full term) is fine with me! I am quite excited for your arrival. There's not much more to say than I love you so much my little jellybean. Even as I type this up you're moving about and stretching those limbs.

XoX,
Your Excited Mommy

P.S. I did switch your name around :) It was Christian Jaiden at first, but since I love the name Jaiden so much and your nana and uncle decided that would call you Jaiden instead I opted to make your name Jaiden Christian which sounds more better according to your father.

Love you jellybean!