Family & Canines

This weekend Aunt Kristen and Uncle Larry came to visit James! It was sooo good to see them and have them around for the extra sets of hands. Larry is a master "swaddle swinger" (we are working on the patent on that one) and Kristen loved to hold her nephew -- which meant Mom & Dad got some much needed extra zzz's :-) Thanks you two!!! Larry is going overseas to Afghanistan in July, so we need to get some more QT in soon with them!One of the many "James" faces we've come to love...usually his lips are a bit more together, but it's so funny, he can get a perfect circle almost...it's one of his "thinking" faces I believe.

Kris and Larry brought their two dogs, Callie and Dutch, with them this weekend, which made Easton EXTREMELY happy -- finally someone here to play with him! The three of them had a ball chasing/pouncing/smelling each other all weekend and Easton slept all day Sunday and Monday after they left from all the hard work of entertaining his canine friends!

Corey and Jenny also visited James on Sunday. I didn't get a picture of Jenny holding him (who had baby custody most of the time) but I did get a good one of Corey *maybe* practicing for herself one day (*maybe*). It was great to see some friends from work and hear about my students (for the first time in 5 yrs of teaching, I thoroughly enjoyed all 3 of my classes I taught -- maybe that's bc I usually teach 5 classes/day, but I like to think it's because of the smaller class sizes and that I've changed as a teacher -- hopefully for the better)! Sorry about the run-on sentences, I do teach Physical Education, not English, so I just go with the flow as I type and use lots of "...."s to continue thoughts ;-)

Now That's Sharing!

Easton wondering why this little man keeps on screaming...I mean, he's totally willing to share the pillow, why won't James?

After a few minutes, James gave up his fight and decided to sleep it out with Easton.

The "sleeping" lasted less than 2 minutes and James was ready to check things out again, but without the screaming and howling to boot ;-)

GGs Visit

GG came to visit this week to help me recover and get some QT with James. She's been a busy lady! She has been awesome -- laundry done, bathrooms cleaned, meals cooked, doctor's appts for both myself and James made (close to) on time :-)
Above: James checking out his world -- he gets SO ABSOLUTELY MAD at himself if he needs to take a nap -- he doesn't want to miss anything that could be happening in his world -- so much to learn, so little time!

Below: GG holding James one night as he FINALLY fell asleep -- he looks so peaceful; however, he was up screaming until 2am this night, little stinker ;-)

My doctor's appointment went well today. They just wanted to check out my incision and see how it was healing -- the midwife kept looking at it because she was so thrilled w/ how it was healing! She said "all incisions should look this good!" Jim did a most excellent job caring for the wound before I could actually do it myself -- he's the bestest! I think the fact that my body rejects the type of stitching they use (Vicryl) may have helped the incision site heal better bc they had to staple me up -- guess it was a big debate in the operating room what to do, but they went w/ staples because I may be talked into having more children sometime (in the very very far future). Other than that, a pretty uneventful appointment, just some good advice and things to watch out for in the next few weeks. Hopefully James and I are both done with dr. appts. until I go for my 6-week post-partum and he goes for his 2 month appt!

Two Weeks Old & Lovin' It

Daddy and James on his two weeks old night...still such the little Peanut! This outfit is from Mr/Mrs. Grimaudo -- it's a "Make Way for Ducklings" (one of Jimmy's favorite kid's books) onesie from their trip to Boston (side note: I love Boston). Anyway, I really didn't think he'd be small enough to fit in it, but it's actually a bit big on him still, so maybe we'll get a couple more wears out of it still!







Two week comparison to the teddy bear GG bought James. I guess he's only about 1/2 inch longer and 5oz heavier, so the difference isn't too noticeable yet -- I'm sure it will be crazy different in a few months! This picture was taken after a feeding, so we had a bit more of a happy camper (who then leaned over and spit up on the couch, of course the one w/o the blanket on it ;-) thanks Jamesy, hehe!







LOL -- this is the "not so happy" camper picture that we tried earlier in the day -- you get a good idea of how long and skinny his legs are though!

Second Week Happenings

Hmmmm, who dressed me this morning? I think it's pretty darn cute though!

James doesn't usually mind a dirty diaper, he'd much rather be dry, but he absolutely HATES the process of diaper changing...here is a picture Gma Chele took on a visit after a diaper change...she thinks he's contemplating the world, I think he's also wondering why he couldn't get all zipped up first before his photo shoot :-)

James likes to look at all the lights/shadows in the room. This morning GG walked him around all the rooms for almost an hour -- he's very inquisitive and gets really mad if his scenery isn't changed regularly.

James in his bouncer with Easton keeping guard of his baby brother. Easton definitely doesn't like it when James is unhappy and crying -- he's always checking to make sure James is OK in his pack'n' play and we're doing a good job soothing him after James cries.

Daddy had to work from home at the end of last week -- here's some proof that he can be productive AND hold a baby! I think he should work from home all the time, but I don't think work would appreciate that too much :-)

So, OK, this picture was sort-of staged (Jim wasn't really asleep) but it was too cute to not post my 2 favorite guys!

James, myself and Easton all cozied up on the couch relaxing a bit.

Bath Time!!!

GG helped us give James a bath tonight. I had attempted one last week, but needed some reassurance that I was getting him clean (not that he's running around playing in the mud or anything yet, but still). Here's the "before" picture -- notice someone lost his umbilical cord! The dr. had said it would probably fall off in the next week or so -- it was about 6 hours later! I totally freaked when I opened up his onesie and it was missing and Jimmy (who was previously grossed out by the thing) had to find it and throw it away -- kind of like w/ a spider being found. The belly button isn't completely healed yet though, so we will continue to sponge bath for a bit to help avoid infection, etc.

James actually didn't mind the bath too much -- only cried a bit towards the end when he was probably getting a bit chilly.

Week 2 Dr. Visit

Above is one of the pictures the hospital's photography company took of James when he was 3 days old (our365 gets the credit) -- I can send the link for people to order pictures, let me know if you're interested.

Today was a pretty busy day for us considering we've pretty much been holed up at home since getting out of the hospital. My mom is here for the week to help us out and it's already been awesome! This morning Mom, James and myself joined our neighbor Rachel at a breast feeding support group. Very nice to hear that even people who have been nursing for almost two years still have their issues with it. We had to leave the group early to get James to his 2 week dr. appt. He is looking good -- essentially back up to his birth weight (he was 1/2oz. shy, but we'll round up) and almost 1/4in. longer at 19.25in. -- how amazingly fast they can grow! Guess that means he's actually getting enough food when he eats -- we can even up the amount of milk Jimmy gives him at night while I pump to see if he'll finish it. Peanut was all content sleeping in his bundleme in the car seat until the dr. came in and we had to get him naked down to his diaper -- then he broke out the howler monkey screeches (still so funny because he'll usually stop crying within 10 seconds of picking him up as he's just faking). I started to feed him after the dr. left because it was coming up on 5 hrs since his last meal and then the BIG BAD NURSE came in to give him his first Hep. B shot -- he was NOT happy to say the least but recovered quickly to finish eating -- good way to a Montalbano's heart is through the belly!

Hiccups

James had the hiccups 1-2 times/day while in-utero and they have continued in the outside world -- which I think is so cute and hilarious at the same time. Jim took some video of James having the hiccups in the hospital -- they shake his whole body -- nothing you can do for them, but no worries, they don't hurt him!

One Week Old

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!! James turned one week old today. We had him sporting 3 different outfits w/ green in them today and he peed right through 2 of them! This kid has a knack for knowing exactly when you want to leave the house and then pooping for like 10 minutes -- of course, the second time is JUST after you've already changed his diaper the first time! :-)

I went for my dr. appt today to get my staples out. They said they were healing well and pulled out the staples (NOT painless as others had led me to believe). It ends up I'm probably allergic to the pain medication they had given me (glad I had been on it for a week already) and it was possibly hampering my recovery. My abdominal pain is most likely due to the fact that my dr. is really short and had to stand on a stool to do c-sections and the side that hurts is the side she stands on -- glad to know it's nothing more serious because I really don't want to go under the knife again if I don't have to any time soon!

Going Home

On Friday James didn't eat very well, so his weight dropped off (normal for babies, just don't want it to get to 10%, which is where he was at about 6lbs 6oz) and his biliruben numbers were up a bit(jaundice)...so we had him sunbathing on Saturday as we were preparing to leave the hospital.











James first "real" outfit was a gift from one of my students...check out his little Pooh Bear feet :-)
All dressed, hat on and binkie in while strapped into the car seat = one baby all set to go on his first car ride to get home

Mom and Dad ready to be parents in 'the real world'

Hospital Visitors

Peanut had his fair share of visitors in the hospital and when he got home!

Aunt Jen and James

Aunt Amanda smiling at her Peanut

Uncle Dominic checking out the big guy

Great Uncle Ed had his magic touch to get James to sleep

Aunt Cassie could hardly contain herself

Cousin Jamie cuddled right up

Cousin Laura came to see James twice

Hospital Stay

To update the rest of James' hospital story:

We stayed in the hospital until Saturday since our insurance covers 96 hours...what a great decision! I highly recommend it for anyone with the chance. James and I were having some issues with feedings and his biliruben numbers were up and his weight was down to the 10% mark, so it was good to have the extra help during the day and for one more night. Saturday he checked out much better with the pediatrician and we both got our discharge to go home and start life in the real world :-) My recovery was a bit tougher than expected -- I guess major abdominal surgery will do that to ya though -- I am only allowed to do the stairs once a day, so that means A LOT of the responsibilities have fallen on Jimmy...he has been an absolute wonder! I love my husband so much, he is a fantastic daddy :-)

My doc let Jim take still pictures during the delivery, so I'm sorry if you have a weak stomach, but these pics were just sooo cool and pretty amazing and I've only included one.

James had lots of visitors. My mom and dad drove up when they found out I was going to be induced on Monday. Mom and Michele stayed at the hospital overnight (even though we told them to go home) and Dad went to hang with the dogs at our hizzouse. The next day everyone was ready to welcome Peanut to the world. Uncle John, Jen, Dominic and Amanda all came to visit James the day he was born -- it was great to get to see them all and share our lil' joy with them (he was groggy then and nice and quiet -- they missed James' great impression of a howler monkey the next few nights).

Below, Pops gives James "a kiss for both of his grandpa's"...so cute, I love my dad!

James and Gma Chele get acquainted (is that a tear we see Gramma? I think she likes him)!

James getting some lovin' from G.G.

Uncle John looking oh-so-comfortable holding a newborn ;-)

Sweet Baby James

Our family welcomed James Edward into our lives March 10th. He was 7lbs 2oz and 19.5 inches long. As you can see, he has lots of dark brown hair! To finish up the last entry, I ended up being on Pitocin and laboring for 19 hours to only make it to 1/2cm and 50% effaced...thank God the Dr. came in after her morning meeting and said we were going the c-section route because it ends up my tailbone faces the wrong direction. The result is a baby hitting your tailbone on each contraction and his poor little head having a bruise along w/ you not being able to sit/lay to feed, etc. It is all worth it though for our little bundle of baby boy :-) James came home today to meet Easton and Pops and Aunt Cassie (we miss you Aunt Kris, who is sick and G.G. who stayed home w/ their dog, Charlie). I will put more pictures up later, but I need to rest now, I'm strugglin'!

The Montalbano's (version 1.0 minus E)

BABY TIME!!!

Went for my Monday appt totally dreaming of lunch afterwards and maybe even stoppin to finally get my oil changed....WRONG! They did an NST and it took us a bit to get him moving but it was good bc his heart rate was variable with his movements (drinkin a lil water goes far). However, when the dr. did an ultrasound to check my fluids things changed a bit. She tried 3 times but it kept measuring low (at about 3 when 10 is the low "normal") and she sent me to labor & delivery -- quite a walk all by yourself when you weren't expecting it! I was all ready to wear my cute maternity clothes through Thurs. when they were originally going to induce. So I got in and all hooked up at 2pm...pitocin started at 3pm...at 7pm when they checked me was barely 1/2cm dilated and 50% effaced....still chillin' there when checked again at 9pm. Dr. let me unhook from bed rest & pitocin then to eat something & shower (so relaxing & good time waster) since it probably won't be until after 9am when they make a decision on how he's makin his entrance into the world. Doc isn't so sure my beautiful but non-childbearing-friendly pelvis will actually let Peanut engage...so we're giving it a good ole college try for now. Jimmy has been amazing with massages and all other requests. Gma Chele refused to go to work so she didn't miss anything and John kept her company for awhile. Pops & g.g. made it up here safely to join the par-tay too. Dad is the only smart one that went home to sleep some tonight and keep Easton & Charlie from going doggie crazy. So it's 2:40am now and I can't get uber comfortable to try and get some zzzzz's but I think it may be worth a shot so we have some energy to meet our lil' man in the morning! Lotsa love!!!

And So My Summer Break Begins

I made it through 38 weeks, 2 days at work! The drive was getting to be an event I dreaded every day -- 45 - 60 minutes each way of being kicked and having nerves hit was getting old. The CNW (cert. nurse midwife) had told me to stop at 38 weeks, but I figured the 2 extra days would be good to round off my semester and hand it all of to my guest teacher and then I'll miss a nice even 60 days of work -- good thing I haven't taken many sick days since I've been working and they'll all be paid (cha-ching)!

I'm glad I married an engineer so I don't have to do all this baby-gear assembly! Jimmy got the stroller/car seat all set up and it's pretty surreal but we've had the car seat chillin' in his car for over a week now, just in case ;-) Easton is also trying to figure out what the heck the pack-n-play is doing in his spot in the family room -- sorry pupsters, we have limited space in that room.

I had pushed back my weekly visit to Thursday so I could see either the Dr. or the CNW that are the only 2 people in the office that can deliver me right now..well, of course, they were both in doing C-sections, so I got to meet the new PA. She was very nice and informative but the physical part isn't yet her forte as she just switched to obgyn from peds. To the best of her knowledge, I'm still not dilated AT ALL (which I can't believe bc of all the hip pain and the Braxton-Hicks I thought I was having). So I'm going back Monday to get 'er checked out again (so not fun) and they'll tell us the plan for later in the week. If lil' man doesn't come out on his own, they are going to induce bc my pelvis has measured small and they're not sure he'll fit (OUCH)! So if I'm dilated = probably go in Thurs. very early and start Pitocin; if not dilated at all still = go in Wed. night for Cervadil medicine to get the parts ready and then start Pitocin early in the a.m. on Thursday. They said usually babies are born around dinner time on the day they start, but it could potentially go into Friday. If labor isn't progressing, it means he probably can't fit through my pelvis, so they'll have to do a c-section...I just hope they don't let me labor all day long w/ Pitocin contractions (I've heard wonderfully awful stories about them) to only make me go under the knife. At least the Big 10 Bball Tourney starts and Jimmy and I will have something to watch to help distract us during the day! Will update more after my appt. Monday.

My friend Jenny keeps telling me my belly has definitely dropped and gotten bigger -- well, she's finally right. I had been at the same circumference since the 1st of November and when I measured last night, it was actually 1.5 in. bigger -- so looks like Peanut has dropped (easily seen) but also probably put on some weight finally. The PA said she's not very good at estimating weight, but she thought "we have a pretty good sized friend in there" much to my amazement because he was only estimated at 5lb 2oz two weeks ago!!! WOWZERS! The fundal height was measuring at about 39 weeks, so still one week ahead -- maybe he will say Phooey to this induction and just get things done himself!

One of my fav pictures below.