The First Two Weeks

Cameron Grant Riser arrived two weeks ago today.  Born January 12, 2013 at 5:19 am 8 pounds 13 ounces 22 inches long.  He left the hospital weighing 8 pounds 5 ounces,  four days after birth he was 8 pounds 11 ounces, and  twelve days after birth he weighed 9 pounds 11 ounces!!  I have been very busy, but luckily not at night :)    Cameron eats every 2-3 hours in the day, starting at 7am.  Between 5pm and 10 pm I let him cluster feed to store up for the night.  He goes to bed for the night between 9 and 10 pm and sleeps a six hour stretch. 
He is a calm and observant baby.  He cries only during baths, when it's time to eat, and when his sister hits him in the head.  He sleeps a total of 20 hours a day with three distinct wake times.  One in the morning, afternoon, and night.  I try very hard to follow the Eat, Play, Sleep pattern during the day, although he prefers to sleep through some of his "play".  Right now I'd say we have a pattern to our day vs. a schedule.  It is predictable and I like that.


Here's a peek into the first two weeks:

Happy Birthday!

Meeting for the first time

Love

Eating together

First Bath- He HATES them!

Big Feet

Life with Little Brother

This is where he sleeps at night

A trip to the Children's Museum

Excelling at Tummy Time

Sleeping through Tummy Time

Alexis sharing a book with Cameron

Lucky Ducks!!

40 Weeks Pregnant

how far along: 40 Weeks.  1 1/2 cm dilated, 75% effaced, -2 station

 

how big is baby: The fundal measurement is 37 week.  The midwife guesses his weight at 7lbs 3 ounces.  She says he is long and in correct position for birth.

 

weight gained so far: 39lbs.  I gained 5 lbs this week!!!!!  And I am SWOLLEN!

Belly Button in or out:  Halfway in and Halfway out

 

stretch marks: No, and everyone who has seen my belly (nurses and midwife) comment on how "pretty" it is.  I got lucky there...thankfully it's winter so my swollen legs and all their veins aren't showing.

 

sleep:I get up twice every night around the same time to pee.  The rest of the night I spend flipping from one side to the next.  Lots of nights I wake up to mild cramping.

best moment of the week: Showing up at Labor and Delivery at 11pm on New Years Eve for monitoring.  I was on my way to get ice for my finger which I had burned on hot glue and in the process tripped over the dog.  It is standard procedure to get monitored for 4 hours.  My favorite part was Josh's sarcastic response to lighten the mood "I guess I should stay here so one of us can get some sleep"  Kate, my sister, thought he was serious!!!

 

food cravings:no

 

looking forward to: Getting this show on the road.  If I am still pregnant on Thursday Jan. 10th at 4:15 pm the midwife will strip my membranes.  Hopefully that will get things going.  Her advise to me today was: plan something everyday, stay busy, pretend like you'll be pregnant til he goes to kindergarten.  In other words- Forget about giving birth and having a newborn.  Easier said than done, but I will give it a shot.  

I really do believe in the natural route;  however I'm finding I was more an advocate for it at 20 weeks than I am now :)

37 Weeks Pregnant

how far along: 37 Weeks

how big is baby: The fundal measurement is 36 weeks

weight gained so far: 34lbs

Belly Button in or out:  Halfway in and Halfway out

stretch marks: No!  Although, I do have my fair share of varicose veins.

sleep:I'm restless at night.  Who isn't at this point?

best moment of the week: Anytime someone mentions "baby" to Alexis she comes over and lifts my shirt up to show them.  This happened in Bath and Body Works this morning!

food cravings:no

looking forward to: Going in to labor on my own.

Not looking forward to:  The lack of sleep that comes with a newborn

Lexie's Life Schedule- 25 Months

8:00-8:15- Wake up

8:15- Breakfast.  Her favorite is a frozen waffle with butter.  Sometimes (rarely) we get out of the routine with a hard boiled egg and some fruit.

Monday morning we have a play date with Sophia (16 months old) She lives across the street. After that we go to the Chiropractor for a weekly adjustment, then we go to the gym.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and every other Friday we head to the gym after breakfast and then onto a play date or to do errands.
Thursday is school from 9-11:45
The 2nd and 4th Friday of the month we have MOPS.  Alexis has her own kids program, while I hang out with other moms.  We usually meet up with Daddy for lunch at Panara or Chipotle afterward. 
Saturday is never the same anymore.  Josh and I usually get a workout in.  It's fun to have one spontaneous day.
Sunday is church from 9:30-11:15.  Once a month Josh and I teach in the toddler room.  The rest of this day we try not to do any work or plan anything.  We just hang out at home.

12:15- Home for lunch

12:45- Watch a show usually Super Why

1:15- Read books and then nap time

4:00/4:30- Wake up

4:30- Play or do a learning "project" with Mommy

5:00- Independent play in the kitchen or living room while Mommy prepares dinner.

5:30- Daddy's home!!!

5:45- Dinner

6:15- Play, Play, Play or another outing- the park or frozen yogurt :)
Tuesday is swim from 6-6:30
Wednesday is small group from 6:30-8:15 or so

7:30- Bath Time

8:00- Read books, turn on the fan, lay on the floor, say Bible verses, pray, get in the bed, turn off the light, sing lots and lots of songs, go to sleep.  Alexis is very attached to this bedtime routine.  She notices if she is being rushed or if there is one minor change.


What a life she has!  In a couple of months this busy toddler's schedule will be turned upside down with the arrival of  her brother Cameron Grant.  I'm trying to get her in school one more day a week. It will be a huge adjustment for this family to learn how to stay at home again.

Alexis is learning colors, letters in her name, coloring in the lines, how to count to 20, and how to sit still for a long book.
We are also working with her on sharing, saying "yes" instead of "yeah", general manners, how to introduce yourself, and how to obey- which is always the first time you're asked anything else is not obedience!

That last one is the biggest challenge. 
This is the way I've been teaching it 90 % of the time: 
1. State what I want- (Please go put your shoes in your room)
2. Alexis does something else
3.  I say "you did not put your shoes in your room,  Mommy will help you practice."  I take her and the shoes to her room... then say "this is how you obey!"
4.   Take the shoes back to the original spot.
5. Give her a chance to succeed at obeying.
6. Lots of praise if she does it.  Time out if she does not.

It's exhausting, but it works...for now.

26 Weeks Pregnant

how far along: 26 Weeks

how big is baby:We don't know.  The external measurements show 21 weeks, same as my appointment four weeks ago. 

weight gained so far: 22lbs

Belly Button in or out:  In

stretch marks: Nope

sleep:I'm restless at night.  We need a king size bed for the next 3 months.

best moment of the week: They all involve Alexis!  She brought a truck and a yellow block over to my belly and said "won't chu play with me baby broder?"

food cravings: Mostly anything I don't have to prepare

looking forward to: Seeing the baby on an ultrasound next week.

Not looking forward to:  Pitocin.  I hate that drug.  

Top Ten Favorite Baby Tools

Listed in no particular order...here are some of my favorite things:


Diaper Genie- Keeps the bad smells away.

Baby Bjorn- Josh and I used this everywhere!  Anytime we were out and at home too.

Infant Travel Bed-  We traveled so much when Alexis was a baby and this came in handy.  I used it in the airport and at restaurants. It doubled as a small play area.

Coffee- For the caffeine.  I drank 16 oz a day while pregnant and an unlimited amount while nursing...It never made a difference in Lexie's behavior.  For that I am thankful.

Pacifier- When babies are little they need to suck.  I wasn't thrilled about being the sole source of sucking.  My babes will always have this available!!!!

High Quality Nursing Bra- Most of mine came from Target, BUT I had one high quality Medela nursing bra that made all the difference in how I felt.  Worth every penny.

Video Camera- To capture all the "moments"

Break Away Sheets- These are useful in case of a major spit up, throw up, or diaper leaking episode.  They snap on the railing of the crib and act as a barrier between the baby and the crib sheet.  Our crib sheet has never been washed due to this lifesaver.

SwaddleMe Baby Wraps- We got a couple as a baby gift and I thought they were the silliest things I'd ever heard of until I tried them.  The baby stays nicely wrapped up.

Nurse Carol- A visiting nurse provided through the local health department. I wouldn't even consider having a baby without a Nurse Carol.  She came once a week when Alexis was a newborn to check growth and help with anything else that was going on.  I'm looking forward to seeing her again soon!

29th Birthday Fun

First I should begin with a couple of 23 week pregnant shots.  For those who don't want to think about it, that's 6 months :)

 Now for the Birthday fun.... 
A week out, I knew the general idea of the surprise, but didn't know any details.  Saturday at 10 am it began.  Josh gave me five envelopes with Google map directions to a specific address and directions on the back.  I was given strict instructions to not read the directions until I got to the address. Everything I needed for the event was either pre-paid or included with the directions.

A stop at Starbucks for a Pumpkin Spiced Latte.

 

Directions to the #2 location- The nail salon.  Josh and Alexis pre-paid this one earlier that morning. Alexis got all excited because she thought she was getting her nails painted- What 2 year old expects these things!??!?!  O, yeah, I created that...oops.

 

Resulted in a manicure- 1st time ever with a real color on my fingernails

And a pedicure- My poor feet are always swollen these days :(

Stop #3 was next and by this point I was beginning to really get into it.  At first, I admit, there was a little resistance on my part.  I have a slight control problem that, I felt should not have been confronted on my 29th birthday, or the day after.  That's the honest truth.  Judge away- I deserve it.  Anyway... #3:

One of my very favorite Omaha restaurants

A peaceful lunch.

Because of a slight mix up between #3 and #4 I had to call Josh and get it straightened out.  I knew all through lunch that my next stop was Barnes and Noble to pick up a pre-paid item.  This one really caught me off guard.

Here's what I found. 

This book was written by one of Josh's history teachers at Montreat College and  published in 2009.  It had come up in conversation one day when we were discussing EMP's (Electromagnetic Pulses- a weapon which could be used to attack America).  The book tells a story of how a small American town is affected by an EMP.  I wanted to read it because of the personal connection to the school and location. 

Here's how the author describes Montreat College " A small college, six hundred kids, most of them from small towns across the Carolinas and a few from Atlanta or Florida.  Some of the kids were freaked out by the relative isolation, but most of them grudgingly admitted they loved it, a beautiful campus, a safe place, an old logging trail across the edge of the campus leading straight on up to Mount Mitchell, good white water nearby for kayaking, and plenty of woods to disappear into for partying for some of them, to get around the fairly strict campus rules."

His descriptions of Black Mountain and Asheville are perfect.  They make me miss home.  You all should read the book!

 Stop #5 was home to take a nap, BUT, I could not resist my favorite cookie shop on the way home.   I stopped there to pick up a peanut butter cookie for myself and a couple of M&M ones for Alexis, one of her favorite babysitters, and Josh.


After a short nap Josh and I went to my other favorite Omaha restaurants- Roja.  We made a trip to Nebraska Furniture Mart to pick up a mattress for Lexie's new room, picked up a movie at the local Redbox, and headed home.

What a fun day!!!!