The joys of motherhood

I knew that we would be excited to meet Ethan, but no words can express the love and joy that Matt and I have for him. Even though he keeps me up at all hours of the night and will whimper and cry and I have no clue what he wants, I would not have it any other way. Here are some of the things that I absolutely love about Ethan and being his mommy:

1. the noises he makes as I feed him

2. watching him make faces as he sleeps; the smile is my favorite!

3. the way he kicks and punches

4. the way he will whimper and then when I hold him he is suddenly at ease

5. watching him fall asleep in my arms

6. taking naps with him; we cuddle together

7. his monkey toes; he got them from me!

8. watching Matt console, feed, burp, and entertain his baby boy

9. the way he will gaze into my eyes as if he is telling me he loves me

10. the way he sleeps...either on his side or on his back with both hands up over his head

11. his awesome hair that I hope he does not lose!!

12. the way he clamps on to my fingers with his hand

13. his cries...it lets me know I am needed

I know this list will continue to grow as he does!

Ethan's journey into this world

It all started Saturday June 7 around 1o pm. I was having contractions, but nothing too close together. They were making me wince in pain, and I knew that the time was near. We went to bed around midnight, and around 1:00 am I was woken up with some steady contractions (about 7-8 minutes apart). I did not wake Matt up yet; I just wrote down and kept track of the contractions. Around 2:30 Matt stirred, and I called the midwife. Needless to say, she told me to wait until they were 5 minutes apart and unbearable. I was frustrated because I could not sleep and just wanted my baby. We went back to bed, but I did not sleep at all. Contractions continued all morning long on Sunday, but still nothing was consistent enough. I told Matt that I could not take this much longer! This baby better come soon! By 3:00 pm, the contractions were more intense, but anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes apart. I called the midwife again and she told me to either wait it out or come to the hospital for them to check me. No brainer there...we were headed to the hospital!!

On the way to the hospital, I was having contractions consistently at 7 minutes apart. By the time I was checked, I was 3 cm and 100% effaced. My last doc appointment was on Friday, so I had made a lot of progress over the weekend. I was admitted, and now we were ready for baby!

It was about 6:00 pm that we got to our labor and delivery room. The nurses did all their stuff, and then Matt and I went on a walk to get things going even more. My family showed up during this time, and I was so glad to see their love and support!

I got the epidural (lifesaver!!!) and was now just laying there waiting for actual labor to begin. I was progressing...I went to 4 1/2 centimeters in about 1 hour. My contractions were still not coming as hard and steady as they needed to be. The midwife started me on pitocin to make things go even faster. During all this, the midwife discovered that the baby was turned a little, so they had me changing positions every 30 minutes to get him to move. Also, when I was having contractions, the baby's heart rate was doing weird things that they did not like, so they gave me an oxygen mask. I am not gonna lie...that really scared me. Within another 1 1/2 hours, I was at 8 cm. The pushing began about 1:30 am. Matt, my mom, and my sis were there for the whole thing. It was quite a miracle! Little Ethan came into the world at 2:50 am June 8.

2 cm and waiting...

I will be the first to admit that I truly thought I would have a baby boy in my arms by now. The pregnancy has been wonderful, so surely he would grace us with his presence before my actual due date. Apparently my baby boy already loves being with his mommy and is not wanting to let go!

I can really feel the end of this pregnancy. I am cramping, having intense pains at random moments, feeling the need to always sit down, and getting immune to the lower back pain. Everyone keeps telling me to relax and take it easy, but when I do that too much, I find myself thinking about nothing else but this baby coming. I do not want to become too anxious, so I am doing things to take my mind off of just sitting and waiting. I am constantly cleaning (not a bad thing at all!), running errands, going to the mall with Matt or family, reading a book, etc to stay active.

I think we are both a little skeptical of the whole labor ordeal. We both want to see him so bad and bring him to our home that we often forget about the process of him getting here. Matt laughs at me because I am such a planner and want to know how everything will happen...like the exact route to the hospital, where we will park, what our house will look like when we leave it, leaving Mags and Kay (the dogs) for who knows how long...the list could go on and on!!

I have been thinking about some things that I will truly miss about being pregnant:

1. Having an excuse to sleep and eat when I want without a reason

2. Feeling my baby move inside of me

3. Experiencing first-hand one of God's miracles at work

4. Nesting...I have really gotten some things accomplished...maybe it will keep up!

5. Late night runs for ice cream and other sweet treats! Thanks Matty! :)

6. the natural glow I feel like I have at times...being pregnant does make you excited and happy!

7. reading and learning all about my growing and changing baby inside of me...now I will read about the actual baby!!

8. Seeing an even softer side of Matt--he has really been a trooper and sweetheart through the pregnancy...I can't wait to see him as a father.

Here are the things that I am ready to give up or go back to with my pre-pregnancy life:

1. Running and working out!!

2. drinking Coke

3. not having to pee 2+ times during the night

4. not having random people comment on my belly...well, now it will be the baby

5. being able to wear normal clothes

6. being able to walk without my back aching

7. explaining to everyone how I am doing and what is going on with the pregnancy...I do not lke all attention on me...again, this will now be on the baby

8. being able to see my feet

9. eating feta cheese...I LOVE Greek salads!

10. SHOPPING!! I have not bought myself any clothes (besides to necessities for the growing belly) in what feels like forever! I go to the mall and just look...

Kids say the darnest things!

This might be the funniest thing that has happened to me since I have been pregnant...


Matt and I went to the mall last night to hang out and see a movie. The walking around was good for me, even though it was not the easiest task in the world. We were in Journeys (a shoe store) just looking around. There was a boy of about 4 years old (at the most) in there with his parents. I hardly even noticed the boy until he came up to me. Here is how the conversation went:

Boy: What you got in there?

Matt and I were confused at first, and then we realized that he was referring to my belly.

Boy: What's in there? Let me see.

He obviously thought I was hiding something under my shirt.

Boy: Lift up your shirt! I wanna see!

Me: (laughing) It's a baby...you looked like this once too.

Boy: No!!! I wanna see...what is it?

He was laughing and jumping up and down anticipating the magic show of me showing him what I was hiding under my shirt. I suppose he has not seen many pregnant ladies before, and my belly to him just looked like a big ball or something else really exciting. Needless to say, Matt and I were laughing about it the rest of the night!!

Just waiting...

I am a few days over 37 weeks, and I just sit and wonder when Ethan will begin to make his journey into this world. I am fairly confident that we have everything ready. I am such a planner, so not knowing when he will come just about drives me crazy! I am trying to take it easy this weekend. I have been rather busy at school with packing up my classroom, finishing the school year, and just being busy getting ready for Ethan. I have really worn myself out.

I went to the doc on Thursday, and they think he is about 6 1/2 pounds. Only time will tell! Matt and I talk all the time on how we want to see his little face! It's so hard to believe that he is almost here.

I can really tell that the pregnancy is coming to an end. Everything just feels different. He has moved down a good bit, which makes me go to the bathroom all the time! My back aches, and I have had trouble sleeping. He moves all the time, and these movements poke and pry at my body! I cannot wait for him to be here!!

Mother's (to-be) Day

Even though Ethan is not here yet, I consider myself a mother already. I have been preparing, loving, and caring for this baby for many months now. It is so weird to think that this time next year my baby boy will be almost a year old!!

Matt gave me a very sweet card and signed his name "Dad."--it made me laugh, smile, and almost cry at the same time. I told him not to go overboard with anything for me because I know that he can get a little carried away. He bought and picked out a book for me; he knows I love to read and that I will be rather lazy this summer, especially when the baby is sleeping. I was totally surprised and impressed that he remembered my favorite author, Jodi Piccoult, and got me one of her books. He was so down on himself though when I told him that I had already read it; it was actually the first book of hers that I read about 3 years ago. I did not care at all; I do not own the book and would love to read it again. He was not satisfied at all. Needless to say, he returned the book and had me pick out another one. When I got home from work yesterday, he had also picked out a pair of Crocs flip flops that he knew I liked. He is so sweet!!

My aunt sent me a card in the mail about becoming a mom, my uncle called me, and my sister gave me a card and a present. This is becoming more and more real!! I cannot wait to really become a mom and experience the true joys of motherhood!!

Counting down the weeks!

Oh my how this time has gone by! We only have about 4 1/2 more weeks until the expected due date (June 11), but only God knows when precious Ethan will come! We still have some things to do, but my goal is to get it all accomplished over the next week or 2 so that I can relax.

I went to the doctor this past Monday, and everything looks great! I am measuring right on schedule, blood pressure is amazing, and I have a total weight gain of 28 pounds. Ethan is in a great position for a normal vaginal delivery. His head is in the right spot, and it is very unlikely that he will move from there. His movements now are becoming a little more uncomfortable. Sometimes I feel like he is trying to puncture my ribs and other organs. I am having to use the restroom a lot more frequently; I can surely tell he is bigger and right on my bladder!

I am fairly certain that I have experienced my first real contraction, not a Braxton Hicks. It woke me up the other night. It was like a really bad cramp that lasted for a little while. Everything was extremely tight, and I felt as if there was nothing I could do to alleviate the pain. Once it surpassed, I got out of bed to use the restroom, and then I proceeded back to sleep. I suppose I should get used to these things! I keep reminding myself that my mom delivered all 3 of her babies at 37 and 38 weeks, so that is very soon for me! I really should be more productive on this Saturday!!