Friday, June 1, 2012

Welcome to the world Max.

For the past few weeks all I have wanted was to hold my baby. Not that I was done being pregnant and not enjoying it but I just needed to feel his warm body on mine. I needed to nurse him and hold him. This is all I have thought about for weeks now. What was he going to look like? What was he going to smell like? I just could not wait to get my hands on him and kiss him. I was ready for a baby to be in my arms. It wasn't helping that it seemed like all my friends who were due after me were already having their babies.

This time was different than it was with Dexter though, I was fearful. Not of childbirth because I knew this time I could handle it. Not of having a newborn because I knew what to expect. I was afraid for Dexter. For the past 21 months all my attention has been on him. He wants to go to the beach me and him go. He wants to go to the park, we go. He wants to hold me I hold him. My life has revolved around him. I was able to meet his every need, his every want. How was it going to be with a new baby? And the thought of leaving him over night was hard. Not being able to read him his stories for those few days I was in the hospital was killing me. I was so afraid for Dexter, how on earth am I going to love two babies? Dexter is still a baby he still needs me. So bringing home a new baby was scary. I never want to make Dexter feel un-loved. How was he going to re-act? was he going to love his brother, was he going to want to help me? Or was he going to resent him, and try to hurt him for taking mommy away? Only time would tell and I was ready to find out.

Wednesday I was in so much pain. My mom had wanted to go to Walmart and I just wanted nothing to do with it. The thought of Walmart made me angry. But we went anyways and I was a raging well you know. The entire time. These people were walking behind us and they were kind of close and I had to hold my self back from screaming at them to get away from me. I was not in a good mood. But no contractions so I knew that baby wasn't coming I was just angry. Wednesday night I woke up around 1:30 am with cramping and slight contractions. I went to my bathroom to take a shower and hopefully help with the pain. When I walked into our bathroom I decided it HAD to be cleaned. right then and there. My shower could wait. I started scrubbing everything! Next thing I knew it was 3:30am and I was finished cleaning my bathroom and ready to take a shower. The shower helped and I was able to go back to sleep.
Thursday morning I was having light contractions but I couldn't really feel them but I thought hey why not go see Francis today instead of my scheduled appointment tomorrow! So I called and of course they got me in. My mom was home so she was able to watch Dexter while me and Phillip went in. I was dilated to 3cm. Which is nothing. But she said she thought I was in labor she gave me a list of things to do and told me to come back in three hours. I did everything she told me to and we went back to the doctor and we had the car packed with our hospital bags, we ended up with like four! haha. Well she checked me again and I was 6cm! She did some fetal monitoring and an ultra sound and after we talked about it I decided I would let her break my water at the hospital.
It was now about 5pm and we headed over to the hospital. There was no parking so Phill dropped me off and he went and parked the car. And wouldn't you know it some idiot asked me if I was going to have a baby! It made me laugh so hard. Here I am almost two weeks over due, and huge standing in front of the hospital and this jackass asks me if I am going to have a baby! So I told him "yeah that's why I am here!" idiot.. Anyways. We get up to our room and get all checked in and settled. I still was not in much pain. I could feel my contractions but they were not hurting. It was strange. Then Francis showed up. She broke my checked me and I was 7cm. Then she broke my water. Let me tell you it hurt so bad her checking me that I scooted all the way up to the top of the bed and I did not even feel my water breaking. Well I had told her my whole pregnancy that I wanted to have a water birth or at least use the bath tub to help ease the pain. My room however did not have a bath tub. So she said something to the nurse and had us switch rooms!
Thats when the pain started. And man did it start! Next time someone remind me to not let anyone break my water until I am about to push! Because apparently I don't feel contractions until my water has broken.  Well I tried to handle the pain alone, I got in the tub and that helped for about an hour but then it hurt again. Then I tried walking, that was worse. I tried rocking back and forth, that hurt. Rocking side to side was the only thing that would help but it still hurt to much and I gave up and asked for an epidural. I had wanted to be able to get through the pain and do it with out, but I couldn't. After the gorilla bear gave me my epi I was fine but my labor had come to a halt.  I was refusing pitocin though. I may have failed at the no epidural, this time at least  but I was not going to have any pitocin! So me and Phill laid in bed, enjoyed each others company. We played cards, watched tv, talked about what Dexter must be doing right then, and how crazy our lives were about to get! While watching Criminal Minds my contractions were super strong but then that was over and we watched something else and they died down again. Finally around 4am I called the nurse in and said I was ready to push. Or at least I thought. She checked me and I was at 10. It was time to push.
Frances arrived in my room a short while later checked me and said it wasn't quite time yet. She adjusted my bed and I sat up more and labored down. At about 4:30am it was for reals time to push!
After pushing for about thirty minutes they gave me an oxygen mask to wear so the baby could get more air. I was really feeling like giving up. I just felt like I was trying so hard and nothing was happening. It was very discouraging. At one point I started crying and telling them how it was just not fair that those stupid girls on 16 and pregnant got their babies out so fast and I couldn't! But when I was getting most discouraged Frances told me she could see his head and he had a full head of black hair. She even  helped me feel his head as he was coming out. It was a really amazing feeling. This time it was a lot more calm. The nurse who was in there was amazing, and this time there was not 5 nurses in there like there was with Dexter. Actually the nurse who was in my room this time was also working when Dex was born, and she was the only one who I would let take him out of the room. Phillip was also a lot more help this time. He had my mini fan on hand for when I got to hot. when I told him to help me take of my hospital gown because  I was going to have a hot flash he immediately took it off no questions asked this time. He also watched Max come out this time and I never thought I wanted him to but the look on his face as our son was being born is something I will never forget. After I finally gave the last push and the nurse put him on my chest I started crying. He was perfect. He had a head full of black hair. He had swallowed a lot of amniotic fluid so he was pretty congested but he wanted to nurse right away. I loved holding him. His warm body on my skin was such a perfect moment. The wait was finally over, I had my Max.
My last pregnant belly picture! 41 weeks and 6 days!
My room.

My Max

Dexter Meeting Max for the first time.
He did not really care for him. His face almost breaks my heart. I wanted to hold him more than ever right then.


We gave him a new elmo and cookie for becoming a big brother.

He wanted to lay in max's bed.

Daddy and Max



Baby hand.

So tiny on his car seat.

Dex trying to hold Max. 

Me and Dexter took a break and went outside.

He showed me the mud :O)









Look at that fat face!! <3 

There you have it, that is how Max got to this world.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Monday, October 31, 2011

My favorite Holiday!

As many of you may know Halloween is my favorite holiday. It has been for years and years. Last year was Dexter’s first and my good friend Brittany made him an awesome costume.  She did such a great job!  This year however she has moved :O( .

Dex 2010 

So I was on my own for making my own costumes and coming up with ideas. Dexter’s costume was kind of easy, his dad decided he HAD to be yoda. So obviously he would be Luke. We bought Dexter's costume from diapers.com it had super fast shipping. The sizing was all wrong though. The one I ordered was a 12mo but it was HUGE on him. The material was way cheap and honestly the only thing that was nice about it was the mask. and that was still only mediocre. I ended up taking it in over 4 inches on each side and hemming the bottom and sleeves it was still a little big but it worked for Halloween. Phill went to good will and found most of his costume some of it we had laying around.

Dex and daddy

So the question was what should I be? Princess Liea? Chewbacca? An android? Nah that was all to typical for me, plus I needed my costume to “reveal” more. Now many of you know I don’t mean skin. haha. So I decided to be a skeleton with some added features.  After searching the internet I knew what I needed I headed to Goodwill picked up some black pants and a black t-shirt. Went to Wal-Mart and got some fabric paint and some freezer paper came home and got to work. I found a picture of a skeleton had Phillip draw it onto my paper. I cut it out, ironed it onto my clothes and painted it. And there it was my masterpiece! I figured a lot of people would like this costume so after I was done I immediately put it on and told Phillip to get the camera and started taking pictures! Want to see what extra I added? Or have you already figured it out? hehe.

Here it is… ::Drum roll::

mommy and dex

mommy

Yep that’s right! WERE HAVING ANOTHER BABY!! :O)

I can honestly say I could not be more excited. I think this was a super fun way to tell everyone since we are so far away. My mom already knew somehow. A mothers intuition I suppose. But she did a good job and kept our little secret for a month almost! We found out while we were on our trip in Utah. I had a feeling because we had been trying and man driving through the mountains was making me turn green. That was the only bad part of our trip.

Okay back to Halloween. This year Dexter got to trick or treat. He could even say it when people came to the door. Our neighborhood is really bad about trick or treating though. Its like all the kids go at once not a few come at a time its just hoards of kids all at once. I hate it. It was much better last year at the Kramer's but this year they are in Utah so we were all on our own! Well I hope everyone else had a great Halloween and is now getting ready for Turkey day.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Utah Trip part one!

Recently we got the chance to go out to Utah! I was so excited when I heard we were going to get to go. Everyone who knows me knows how bad I have been wanting to go visit since we moved from there when I was 8. The week before we got to go Phillip decided to scare me by telling me his business trip got moved to the next week, and we had already bought our tickets! We still went the same week we were planing but he just took a whole weeks vacation instead of doing things while he was off. It actually turned out great!

The first night we got there we tried to walk down to temple square from our hotel but it turned out much further than we had thought. So we ended up stopping at this amazing burger place. I think it was called hermies or something like that. All I know is it was so freaking good! Well we stayed the night in SLC and started making our frive the next morning to south Utah. We were trying to make it to Cedar City that night to stay so we could go to the canyons the next morning. I was really nervous about trying to drive so much with Dexter in the car but he was a trouper! He is still rear facing even though he is one just because it is a lot safer that way and I am not ready to turn him around yet, maybe when he is two. So driving long ways can sometimes be a challenge. He slept most of the time but we did have to stop about three or four times for him. Once in Spanish fork which had the nicest playground I have ever seen! It was amazing, although most of it was still under construction the rest of it was really neat. It was so beautiful there. Here is our pictures from the first part of our trip! (After the break)

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Action baby carrier review

Recently I have been on what seems like a never ending quest for the perfect carrier. I wanted something lightweight since it does get so hot down here, but it had to be sturdy so I felt like Dexter was safe in it. I own a Hot sling as well and I never feel fully comfortable in it. I constantly feel like he is going to fall out. So after about a month of searching I have found what I think is a great carrier for our 11 month old baby. It is called an action baby carrier.
The Action baby carrier is my first SSC! I am so excited to try it out and review it.

 After ordering it straight from the company I received an immediate email notification that my order had been received and later that day I got a shipping notice! The shipping time was super fast and I received the carrier today after placing my order Monday! I chose the Robins egg print. I love the colors they are so beautiful. As soon as it got here I impatiently wanted to try it on, and use it. However little man was sleeping so I had to wait. I did snap a quick picture of the carrier though.
The carrier strapped onto a chair.

close up of the print

arm strap buckle

With the hood up

Waist buckle

Hood buckle


 Action baby carriers started off as one woman trying to make a baby gift turned into a business. Also all carriers are made in the USA! I know I for one love that about a product.

 The first time I put Dexter in the carrier I did a front facing in carry. I read all the instructions and followed them the best I could. They are clearly written and they include pictures which is always helpful for me! It still took me a minute to get him in there because this is my first soft structured carrier. After I got it on I was very pleased with it. He feels so safe in the carrier and I don't feel like I need to constantly be holding his bottom! The straps were easy to adjust with one hand and they moved easily. I did not feel like I was having to use a lot of muscle to get the straps in the correct place.

 The next try for me was the back carry. This proved to be a little more difficult because he was so squirmy. and just wanted to ride my back like a horse when I was trying to get him in there. Also I was worried he was not all the way down so I had to go to a mirror and check to make sure I was putting him in correctly. Once I got him in the carrier worked great! he was high up on my back and I felt he was very safe in there.

 When my husband got home from work I also had him try it on. It took him a little bit longer to get it on right but he was pleased with the way Dexter fit in there. He was more uncomfortable wearing it the I was. I think this is a great carrier for shorter people but taller people seem to have a harder time getting a good fit. It still works with my husband but it is just not as comfortable. I am 5'3" and my husband is 6'1"

 Over all this is a good carrier and well worth the money. I would recommend it to a short friend but not a tall one. 

Pros
Great quality
Fast shipping
Great selection of patterns
comfortable for me. 5'3"
Has an attached hood.
The straps un buckle so you can wear it in multiple positions. 
Buckles are all sturdy
Well made
Made in the USA
Can carry a baby from 8 to 40 lbs

Cons
Straps are not as padded as I would like.
Not a good fit for my husband.
The chest strap is not attached and it can easily be lost.
Does not come with different instructions for a newborn. 
No pockets for storing stuff.

Here is a link to the website if you would like to order your own.: http://www.actionbabycarriers.com/shop/