Meeting his Lela & Pop Pop!

Just before T turned 2 months old, I took a trip back home to South Carolina to introduce him to his Lela and Pop Pop and the rest of my family. I was very nervous about flying with him so early but excited to be making the trip... T did a fantastic job on the flights. We took a red-eye for the first one and it worked out really well for me to get a couple hours of shut-eye while he slept. The take offs and landings didn't seem to affect him at all! I think on the very last flight coming into San Diego the descent finally affected him. I was so proud that I didn't have "that child" on the plane! ;-)

I arrived to SC just in time for my brother and BL's baby shower for daughter #3! They knew I was coming but my nieces didn't and I love surprising them when I come into town! We only stayed a week and I wish we could have stayed longer. I loved being "home" and sharing T with everyone.

Unfortunately we ended up in the emergency room with the little guy since we woke up Monday morning (we'd arrived on a Saturday) and he had a raging fever. Turns out he had bronchiolitis and an infiltrate of pneumonia. :-( How's that for your first "vacation"? It was a good thing we were only intending on visiting with family since we were stuck indoors for 90% of the week after that diagnosis. It was awful having to experience my sweet baby so sick for the first time but I was thankful that I had such experienced, helpful hands around.

Here are some of the snapshots from our week. I tried to take so many while we were there and I wish I could post them all but I think it might be overwhelming!

Dressed in his "Little Pilot" sleeper for his first plane ride!

BL modeling a cute outfit for Baby M!!

BL was very excited that we made it to the shower. Look, nephew and Auntie coordinate!

Lela pushing T in the outside swing that he LOVED! Cousin E was occasionally helping push as well ;-)

Not quite big enough really, but he just loved being outside. I got him a swing just like this when we got home!

I didn't realize that the weekend we arrived was Grandparent's Day. How great, right?!

Here's Lela and Pop Pop with their grandbabies (minus Baby M who would make her arrival in a couple months ;-)

Lela and Nini (my aunt) and a sleepy baby boy.

T rolled over for the first time while we were at my parents. Of course we missed that very first time since I'd put him down and then looked away and when I looked back he was on his back! I grabbed the camera and for the next several days kept trying to capture it but he just wouldn't do it as long as there was a camera ready! He even has a "What?" kind of look here doesn't he?

Cousin M admiring T. Poor little guy spent a lot of time in his car seat since it elevated him so he wouldn't be so uncomfortable with the gunk in his lungs.

Chillin' with Uncle M. The boys had to stick together with all the ladies around!

We made it out of the house one day so we could go see my Godparents who were anxious to meet T! He slept the whole time we visited but I'm sure next time we see them he'll be much more active and awake!

I got so excited the day it rained because I swore T would probably not see rain again for a long time since it hardly ever rains here in SD. HA HA HA! It's rained so much since that trip back home!!

Pop Pop had picked out this "Prince Charming" onesie. Pop Pop was very smitten with his first Grandson!

We made it out to see one of my niece's soccer games and my good friend J came and met us at the game so she could meet T! I wish we'd remembered to snap a picture before it got dark and we'd been sitting in the SC humidity for a couple hours! Sweet baby is again, sleeping...as he did so much the whole week! I was so happy to see J though, even if only for a short visit.

The Friday before we left, I went and had lunch at my niece (and Goddaughter's) school with her. She's in fifth grade and just turned 11...and she's already taller than me!!

T slept his nights at my parent's house in the cradle that my brothers and I all used when we were babies!

E loved T and was always wanted to hug and kiss him!

Saying goodbye for now to my brother and the girls (minus my niece, M).

The tree is MY oak tree that I convinced my parents to buy when I was probably 12 years old. It's grown A LOT!

:-D This picture pretty much sums up how wonderful and special a trip it was!

We can't wait to go back and visit again!

Month Two!

T's second month found us welcoming some of my family to San Diego. I was very excited that my cousin C decided to come to SoCal for her birthday as an "excuse" to see me and meet T! My Aunt stayed with me at the house while C and her family enjoyed the new "hotel" on base. She even got to see one of California's beautiful sunsets from her hotel room window. It was an exciting week and I learned that while you can do many things with a 6 week old, some of them should be avoided during the hot SoCal summers (such as Sea World, Zoo, Wild Animal Park, etc!! Nursing and sweltering sun just don't go well together!) But it was fun nonetheless AND I lost about 10lbs that week (ok, maybe it was more like 7lbs but I'm completely serious, all that walking paid off for me!)

I had my 6 week post partum appointment and everything checked out so I was given the green light for exercise. Little did the doc know I was already walking regularly and using my Wii Fit as of week 4 but I definitely picked up the pace once I got the "official" okay. I was well on my way to achieving my goal of "pre pregnancy" weight by D's return date.

T and I were still working on the nursing, but I was definitely feeling more confident and comfortable with the process itself. Overal it was a month of slowly finding a routine for ourselves...little did I know that "finding a routine" with a baby would be an ever changing thing!

Here are some pictures from "Month 2"...

Looking adorable in his bathrobe from my friend H! I think he kind of looks like a boxer getting ready to go out ...only, he's a really happy looking boxer!

Look how strong my neck is already!

...and I'm pooped! Enough neck exercise for me, Mom.

Luna: "You're taking all the comfortable spots on Mom...and the floor."

T: "I'm here to stay, furry creature, this is my blanket."

"I might be stinky but I'm so darn cute you love me anyway!"

Snuggling with Mommy. :-)

First trip to the Animal Park (He slept most of the day...)

My cousin with T and her two wonderful children.

Me and T out to eat for my cousin's birthday.

(His diaper is not full, the outfit was just a little big on him!)

We did take some pictures at Sea World but a certain cousin of mine hasn't emailed them to me yet... ;-) so I'll update this post once I get them...

Month One!

Month one was an exciting time for us while T and I learned more about eachother and formed the wonderful bond of mother and child.

We struggled through breastfeeding but I stayed stubborn and determined that it would work for us. I ended up having to supplement but after being upset initially, I came to terms with the fact that my child's needs were much greater and more important than my wants and desires. I was not a bad mother because I couldn't produce enough for him from the beginning and because my milk didn't come in fast enough - once I accepted that I was doing my best and relaxed (a little) we started having much better feedings. He initially slept well for me, staying on a constant "eating every 2-3 hours" schedule. The dogs were adjusting, moderately well and I was quickly recovering from the c/section and anxious to start loosing that weight!!

I will forever be thankful to D's mom for the time she spent with me and helping me with the house, the dogs and especially T. It was a special time for her as well and I'm glad she was able to share in almost his entire first month (just shy a few days!)

The following are a few pictures I took during that first month...enjoy! :-)

T's first bath in the "bath tub" and he promptly fell asleep!

Discovering the soft feel of his dinosaur from Aunt C & Uncle G.

Looking into the camera like a good boy for Mommy! :-)

I love him too!

Who's that in the mirror?

First trip to the beach! 8-12-09

"What are you doing, Mommy?"

(I was going to take a picture like this each month....not surprising that hasn't happened, though I have made sure to take a picture for his month birthday even without a sign.)

I got really excited because I thought for sure this was his first social smile but when I sent the picture to D he wasn't so sure since I admited that T sneezed right after this picture. But then the next day he did this...

SMILE!!!!! Mommy sure was funny!

What a way to mark his first month "birthday"!

Saying goodbyes and Hellos...

G and C had to leave the Friday after T was born and while I was really sad to see them go, I was so happy that the timing had worked out perfectly for their arrival and T's birth. I was and am still so very grateful that they made the trip and were there for me (and D) for this very special moment in our lives.



With G&C leaving in the morning, Grandpa T arrived that night! :-) I think it's safe to say that he was smitten from the very first moment he saw T...

He was only able to stay for the weekend but it was great having him visit and meet T!

Bringing T home!

In preparation of T's arrival to the house, C and G took home T's first "hat" so Luna and Boo could smell his scent.

Luna sniffed it...

Boo thought he should taste it...

Getting my little guy all dressed up! I didn't care if we were only driving 2 minutes down the street, he was going to be super handsome!

I had no idea how big the outfit would be!! He was adorable, despite the onesie and jacket being huge...

So happy to finally go home! And to think...I felt so much smaller that day! Looking back, I'm still pretty big! Though, I got on the scale that night and had lost 20lbs since his birth so that was pretty awesome!

All buckled in and approved for departure!

Boo was really curious and wanted to give Boo-kisses immediately! I was cautious, but he did amazing. After this shot, he went and grabbed a toy and was ready for play time as though nothing in the household had changed!

Talking to my Luna-girl and explaining that I still loved her very much, but T was here to stay and would be utilizing her "lap" quite a bit for the next few years ;-) And I also said we girls had to stick together since we were now outnumbered.

After an outfit change I did what many would think crazy...I packed up my 3 day old, got back in the car and we all went to Pizza Port for pizza. D had really wanted G to try his favorite beer (Chronic) served at the Port since we never made it there during G&C's honeymoon. I wanted to make sure the trip to Pizza Port happened, I think because I was emotional and felt that would somehow make D seem closer or "there" with us. Whatever it was, the pizza tasted SO GOOD and I don't regret it one bit. :-) The only shame was that they were out of Chronic beer that day so G still hasn't tasted it. Oh well, next trip out!

T's Arrival...

Ok, I'll be honest. I had this very long, very detailed post ready to finish, add pictures, etc. (that I started to write almost two months ago!!) but I've decided to wipe the slate clean and just post a bunch of pictures. :-) If you really want all the details, email me and I'll be happy to fill you in with what happened over the span of 52 hours...

Last day before labor began...

The ONLY picture of me in labor before going to the hospital. (For anyone preggers reading this...this position did nothing for me, but feel free to try it, maybe it'll help you!)

There he is! He was actually pretty quiet and I remember thinking, "Why isn't he crying, I don't hear him crying..."

G cutting T's cord for D...

A very happy (and weepy) new Grandma!

A happy Aunt C!

Talking to D on the phone in the recovery room...I was able to be in touch with him throughout the whole weekend and several times before the decision for the c/section came and then during my whole time in the recovery room. :-) So he was "there" the first time I held our son.

Finally relaxed and snuggling! I can't post the pictures of me holding T for the first time because they all involve me trying to breastfeed for the first time and frankly, I consider those private! Plus I'm super puffy from all the fluids I had during the surgery... ;-)

A tired Uncle G...

I will explain my sweet baby's bruises: T was trying to come out in an abnormal presentation; basically face first so his neck was bent in a dangerous position. This explained why I wasn't dialating even though I was technically in "active" labor for two days. I made it to 6 cm by the time a doctor realized something was up and it was an hour later when my contractions were every minute and pretty intense (though I couldn't feel it thanks to the fabulous epideral!) literally right before they would have had me start pushing that the decision for a c/section was made. I will always be grateful to Dr. M, the doctor who was honest with me and probably saved my son's life or at the least kept him from possibly having brain damage and me from having a more intense "emergency" c/section.