photos taken 04.13.16
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Our Little "Talker"
When my dad was in town the weekend of Easter Sunday I noticed that Atticus was cooing at him as my dad would talk to him. That was new! He now is cooing and trying to smile more and more every single day. It's probably annoying to anyone else, but in order to get him to "smile" and coo I talk to him in a really high pitched voice. I just love watching him try to form sounds with his little mouth. He puckers his lips and sticks his tongue out. He is trying so so hard to get noises out, and it's the cutest thing ever! Last night he wouldn't sleep, and as I tried to let him be I could hear him cooing in his rocker...finally at 1:30am he decided to knock out. It's such an amazing experience to watch this little human grow. He is so different from just 7 weeks ago when we first met him, he's still my little baby, but he is changing daily. It makes me a little sad that he won't be this little forever and I won't always be able to snuggle him and hold him in my arms, but I can not wait to see him grow into his personality and see him through his life. Recently this little guy is such a Momma's boy!! I love it but it's also hard to get anything done. He is the fussiest baby, but when I hold him he instantly calms down and cuddles up against me. I love it. He is our everything. I love this baby boy so so much!
photos taken 04.13.16
photos taken 04.13.16
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
One Month
How could he already be ONE MONTH OLD?! This is going way to fast! This little guy is such a cuddle bug, in the morning I snuggle with him in bed. He always has his hands by his face and will get out of his swaddle just to put them up to his cheeks. Sometimes he starts grunting and fighting to get his arms out of his swaddle, it's pretty great. He also loves his paci! It's his best friend and sometimes ours as well. We discovered that he loves foot massages, just like his daddy and he seriously has Zach's monkey toes. He's getting so big he is just about out of his newborn clothes. Also Atticus' eyes are getting so blue! It's the best. He's the best. We love this little chunk so so much!
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
The Start of a Long Week
The week before.
I was told on Wednesday February 17th that if baby boy was not coming on his own I would be induced on Tuesday February 23rd, but go in monday night to start the process. It was my third week of being at the same dilation of 1cm and 50% effaced, nothing was changing and I was already 10 months pregnant. My due date was the day before, and of course some discouragement came over me that I was still pregnant and baby boy was not coming out. Going back a few days, I was actually told the friday before that this would be the plan of inducing me if he wasn't here by Feb. 16th, since Tuesday the 23rd would be week 41 of my pregnancy. I was semi okay with the idea of being induced when Dr. Thackeray told me this plan...really I didn't think I would need to be induced, having a whole week to have him after his due date seemed accomplishable. Overall though I just wanted to have my baby the safest way possible. I was still hopeful that I would go into labor naturally without needing the induction done. It was something I had been anticipating for over a month, even longer, that I would be sleeping and my contractions would start..or I would be home and need to call Zach to hurry home and take me to the hospital...and of course the hollywood idea of "my water broke!". I really was looking forward to experiencing one of these, I wanted it to be spontaneous, and even though it made me anxious and nervous I never thought of my delivery any other way.
So I had about a week to get things moving and try to naturally have my baby. I had my parents come to town on February 13th, since I was due on the 16th (at the time I was hopeful he'd come on time). So now Zach and I were determined to have baby boy, we knew everyone was here and ready to meet him and we were excited! I looked up every possible way to "go into labor naturally" and tried all the different remedies. Here are a few to mention. So my mom started acupressure on me to help open my cervix, every night we did that. I ate pineapple everyday, to thin out my cervix. My family and I took a long beautiful 3 mile walk, to possibly start contractions. I worked out and did squats and lunges to again, help my cervix. I bounced on a yoga ball for hours everyday, also thinking contractions would start. Zach took me to get spicy indian food at my favorite place. I walked/jogged stairs at my apartment complex...I did other things as well that were told to make a woman go into labor. It was worth a shot, but none of these worked for me. I was already overly pregnant and tired, and everyone was constantly asking if I felt different or had more contractions. It was kind of disappointing at some moments when they would ask and I had nothing to report. I tried and tried and tried and nothing came about it. As we hit and soon passed my due date I became more emotional and disappointed in myself. I continued trying these remedies and others. It's hard to explain the feelings I was having. The anticipation of having him spontaneously for over two weeks, at any given moment, didn't matter anymore because I knew I would be getting induced. On thursday my mom and sister took me out to get a mani and pedi to relax. All I needed was to relax at that point.
By the time the weekend came of Friday the 19th, I was worn out. Zach and I had a deal for the past week that I would not call him while he was at work or school before I texted him, just because every time I called he thought it was time. I had this breakdown on friday and all through the weekend that I shouldn't be induced and wait until I was 42 weeks, just to give my body and baby more time to deliver naturally. Induction really scared me. The rate of having a c-section went up to 30%, and I really didn't feel comfortable with everyone pressuring me and forcing my body to go through it with medication. Looking back at it now (two weeks ago) I think what the scariest thing was, was not ever believing I would be induced and never learning about it and preparing for it. And I wanted my experience to be as I always thought it would, as every woman thinks it would be.
To make this long emotional week short, I called into the doctors office and asked if going another week would be healthy and safe for the baby. I wanted to give my body and baby a chance to go through labor naturally. My doctor's assistant, Erica, talked to me and said that I would still need to go to the hospital to monitor the babies stress levels if I decided to wait a few more days. They wouldn't force induction on me but my doctor would highly recommend me to not wait three days past tuesday the 23rd. I was torn at what to do, should I wait or cancel the induction? After talking with Zach about which decision was best, we chose to go in that night...which was the scheduled day I was up for.
So I put all of my emotions aside of "it should have been this way" and "why can't I do this" or "what will everyone think?". I really got into my head and what was most important was having my baby arrive safely.
I was told on Wednesday February 17th that if baby boy was not coming on his own I would be induced on Tuesday February 23rd, but go in monday night to start the process. It was my third week of being at the same dilation of 1cm and 50% effaced, nothing was changing and I was already 10 months pregnant. My due date was the day before, and of course some discouragement came over me that I was still pregnant and baby boy was not coming out. Going back a few days, I was actually told the friday before that this would be the plan of inducing me if he wasn't here by Feb. 16th, since Tuesday the 23rd would be week 41 of my pregnancy. I was semi okay with the idea of being induced when Dr. Thackeray told me this plan...really I didn't think I would need to be induced, having a whole week to have him after his due date seemed accomplishable. Overall though I just wanted to have my baby the safest way possible. I was still hopeful that I would go into labor naturally without needing the induction done. It was something I had been anticipating for over a month, even longer, that I would be sleeping and my contractions would start..or I would be home and need to call Zach to hurry home and take me to the hospital...and of course the hollywood idea of "my water broke!". I really was looking forward to experiencing one of these, I wanted it to be spontaneous, and even though it made me anxious and nervous I never thought of my delivery any other way.
So I had about a week to get things moving and try to naturally have my baby. I had my parents come to town on February 13th, since I was due on the 16th (at the time I was hopeful he'd come on time). So now Zach and I were determined to have baby boy, we knew everyone was here and ready to meet him and we were excited! I looked up every possible way to "go into labor naturally" and tried all the different remedies. Here are a few to mention. So my mom started acupressure on me to help open my cervix, every night we did that. I ate pineapple everyday, to thin out my cervix. My family and I took a long beautiful 3 mile walk, to possibly start contractions. I worked out and did squats and lunges to again, help my cervix. I bounced on a yoga ball for hours everyday, also thinking contractions would start. Zach took me to get spicy indian food at my favorite place. I walked/jogged stairs at my apartment complex...I did other things as well that were told to make a woman go into labor. It was worth a shot, but none of these worked for me. I was already overly pregnant and tired, and everyone was constantly asking if I felt different or had more contractions. It was kind of disappointing at some moments when they would ask and I had nothing to report. I tried and tried and tried and nothing came about it. As we hit and soon passed my due date I became more emotional and disappointed in myself. I continued trying these remedies and others. It's hard to explain the feelings I was having. The anticipation of having him spontaneously for over two weeks, at any given moment, didn't matter anymore because I knew I would be getting induced. On thursday my mom and sister took me out to get a mani and pedi to relax. All I needed was to relax at that point.
By the time the weekend came of Friday the 19th, I was worn out. Zach and I had a deal for the past week that I would not call him while he was at work or school before I texted him, just because every time I called he thought it was time. I had this breakdown on friday and all through the weekend that I shouldn't be induced and wait until I was 42 weeks, just to give my body and baby more time to deliver naturally. Induction really scared me. The rate of having a c-section went up to 30%, and I really didn't feel comfortable with everyone pressuring me and forcing my body to go through it with medication. Looking back at it now (two weeks ago) I think what the scariest thing was, was not ever believing I would be induced and never learning about it and preparing for it. And I wanted my experience to be as I always thought it would, as every woman thinks it would be.
To make this long emotional week short, I called into the doctors office and asked if going another week would be healthy and safe for the baby. I wanted to give my body and baby a chance to go through labor naturally. My doctor's assistant, Erica, talked to me and said that I would still need to go to the hospital to monitor the babies stress levels if I decided to wait a few more days. They wouldn't force induction on me but my doctor would highly recommend me to not wait three days past tuesday the 23rd. I was torn at what to do, should I wait or cancel the induction? After talking with Zach about which decision was best, we chose to go in that night...which was the scheduled day I was up for.
So I put all of my emotions aside of "it should have been this way" and "why can't I do this" or "what will everyone think?". I really got into my head and what was most important was having my baby arrive safely.
Saturday, March 5, 2016
My Boys
Today we did a little photo shoot in our home. Mostly it was of Zach and Atticus, my boys. Atticus is 11 days new and we are just so in love with our little guy. It's the best thing to watch him grow and see the little differences from day to day. I want to remember every change, moment, and growth he makes. Today he started to hold his paci in for the first time. It's funny to watch him with that pacifier, he loves that thing...and to be fair we do too! Now he holds his hand on it while sucking so it won't fall out, smart little baby, sometimes it doesn't workout but he tries. Also he starting to stretch his legs out a lot more. He'd rather them be stretched out then folded up to his body like being in the womb. This makes it hard to swaddle him, he's so dang long! Another thing I have noticed is that his left eyelashes are starting to show/grow. I'm not sure if they were always there, but we certainly didn't see them until now. But it's only his left eye...they are so so blonde! Where is all that blonde hair from?! And lastly he got a sponge bath today, he enjoys the warmth but is quick to shiver and be done. There's nothing like swaddling and snuggling a freshly bathed babe.
We love him so much and I can, and do, stare at him all day long. Here are some pictures of us three together from today.
Oh and Tia Lauren and Uncle Tio visited tonight, and Hector held him for the first time! I love that my sister is always visiting and already so involved in his life. She's the best!
We love him so much and I can, and do, stare at him all day long. Here are some pictures of us three together from today.
Oh and Tia Lauren and Uncle Tio visited tonight, and Hector held him for the first time! I love that my sister is always visiting and already so involved in his life. She's the best!
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Atticus Louis
My baby boy is growing every single day and I just can't get enough of him. I'm obsessed with him! We don't do much during the days...I talk to him and read books to him. He stares at me and goes crossed eyed. I watch him sleep and make cute baby sounds. And he wakes up to nurse and then snuggle. Today I noticed his eye lashes coming in on only his left eye...they are white and so little! I've never seen them before today. He is also stretching his legs out more and more, he's so cute!
Here he is from todays pictures, 9 days new.
Here he is from todays pictures, 9 days new.
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| He has Zach's feet, and he stretches his toes out like his daddy as well. |
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| Our blonde babe. |
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Atticus' Newborn Pictures
We got Atticus' newborn pictures done the first week of his life. It's still crazy to think that we have a baby, and that we get to have these adorable pictures of him. Our baby boy only 4 days new, Lindsay Olsen Photography did an amazing job! Atticus was great as well, he only peed on Zach once towards the end of the shoot. Baby boy kept his hands nice and flat and snoozed the whole time. We tried everything that morning to prepare for him to sleep, nursed him, bathed him to keep him awake and talked to him for ever. Once we hit the car to drive to Provo he was out for a good two hours. What a life! Like I said, Lindsay did great and was so patient to get the shots of him. I can't wait to hang these in my home and look back at them years from now. They are beautiful!
Atticus Louis, our handsome baby.
Monday, February 22, 2016
Monday
Monday.
It's an interesting feeling to know the day you will have your baby. You are given a due date very early on based on little detail, and only 5% of women have their babies on that day. I also learned later that most first pregnancies are a week late (what was all my fuss about then?). But when you are given that due date it's engraved in your mind and you still hold yourself to that expectation of delivering that day. Early on in my pregnancy I was told February 16th-Febraury 21st, and still I wanted the 16th...the sooner the better. Obviously I was a week over due when I had my baby boy and this is how my last day went being pregnant. (and this time it was a for sure last day, I always told Zach, "this could be our last wednesday together!" but for sure this was our last monday together and day together without our baby)
Monday I woke up knowing I'd be in the hospital that day preparing for baby to come the next day. I was told that I would get a phone call around 4pm to know what time I'd go into the hospital. So really it was a day of waiting. My mom had been in town for over a week so she was there with me. I had a slow morning getting ready for the day. My mom and I went out to lunch, Cafe Rio, and Lauren met up with us to spend time with us as well. Zach got home around 5pm and I still had no phone call. So we needed to get out and kill time! We headed to In-N-Out for dinner and Sweet Tooth Fairy for dessert. It started to rain that night as we rain across the parking lot. We were both nervous and excited all in the same. The anticipation was killing us to get to the hospital. Right as we were heading out of the bakery, my phone rings and the hospital said I could checkin at 8pm. We had about 50 minutes to get home and grab the last few things. (Zach already loaded the car that morning of all our hospital bags) Then we were off to have a baby!
We arrived at the hospital and checked into room 12. I changed out of my clothes and dressed into a gown, that I would be wearing for the next few days. Then Zach and I sat and waited in the cold, big, and empty hospital room to be greeted by a nurse. We met my nurse for the night, Natalie. She had me answer lots and lots of questions about my health and pregnancy. The whole process of being in the hospital still hadn't hit me at that moment. I was cold and nervous. During the questioning she then went over to a board on the wall and asked me what our baby's name will be, if I wanted to do their "sacred hour", who dad is, if i was getting an epidural, and so forth. While into the questions Lauren showed up, she was on her way home from spanish class and dropped in to say hi. Natalie strapped on a heart and contraction monitor for the baby, and showed me how to read everything. Then after that easy stuff it was time to get my IV out in...I HATE needles. she stuck the first one in my right forearm, it pinched a lot as she jabbed it in. It was just about to be taped down when she said the dreaded words, "that's not going to work." Then she explained I'd be getting on in my right hand instead. That was better in my opinion anyways..so she jabbed me again. I couldn't look at my hand for a few minutes because it freaked me out. I'm a big baby, but also I've never been in the hospital over night so I was even more freaked out! Anyways, that was done and over with and next was the real deal of why I was there over night.
The reason I checked in over night was because I had to have this pill inserted to help thin out my cervix before we could start the induction the next day. So moving forward that night my nurse checked to see if I was more effaced and dilated, and big shocker, I was the same as two weeks before. I was still at 1cm and 50% effaced. She did her thing, which hurt like hell, and then mentioned that my cervix was high up so hopefully that wouldn't be an issue? Then she inserted the pill...and we waited from there. Every three hours I would be checked and have another pill inserted until 8 or 9am when they would start the pitocin. It was a long night! I certainly did not sleep, and if I did at all it was a woppin 2 hours all together. I was too anxious and didn't think to sleep, everything was sinking in. Zach on the other hand slept through every check, every light that got turned on, every beep of a machine...everything. He needed it though, for the next day.
Monday I woke up knowing I'd be in the hospital that day preparing for baby to come the next day. I was told that I would get a phone call around 4pm to know what time I'd go into the hospital. So really it was a day of waiting. My mom had been in town for over a week so she was there with me. I had a slow morning getting ready for the day. My mom and I went out to lunch, Cafe Rio, and Lauren met up with us to spend time with us as well. Zach got home around 5pm and I still had no phone call. So we needed to get out and kill time! We headed to In-N-Out for dinner and Sweet Tooth Fairy for dessert. It started to rain that night as we rain across the parking lot. We were both nervous and excited all in the same. The anticipation was killing us to get to the hospital. Right as we were heading out of the bakery, my phone rings and the hospital said I could checkin at 8pm. We had about 50 minutes to get home and grab the last few things. (Zach already loaded the car that morning of all our hospital bags) Then we were off to have a baby!
We arrived at the hospital and checked into room 12. I changed out of my clothes and dressed into a gown, that I would be wearing for the next few days. Then Zach and I sat and waited in the cold, big, and empty hospital room to be greeted by a nurse. We met my nurse for the night, Natalie. She had me answer lots and lots of questions about my health and pregnancy. The whole process of being in the hospital still hadn't hit me at that moment. I was cold and nervous. During the questioning she then went over to a board on the wall and asked me what our baby's name will be, if I wanted to do their "sacred hour", who dad is, if i was getting an epidural, and so forth. While into the questions Lauren showed up, she was on her way home from spanish class and dropped in to say hi. Natalie strapped on a heart and contraction monitor for the baby, and showed me how to read everything. Then after that easy stuff it was time to get my IV out in...I HATE needles. she stuck the first one in my right forearm, it pinched a lot as she jabbed it in. It was just about to be taped down when she said the dreaded words, "that's not going to work." Then she explained I'd be getting on in my right hand instead. That was better in my opinion anyways..so she jabbed me again. I couldn't look at my hand for a few minutes because it freaked me out. I'm a big baby, but also I've never been in the hospital over night so I was even more freaked out! Anyways, that was done and over with and next was the real deal of why I was there over night.
The reason I checked in over night was because I had to have this pill inserted to help thin out my cervix before we could start the induction the next day. So moving forward that night my nurse checked to see if I was more effaced and dilated, and big shocker, I was the same as two weeks before. I was still at 1cm and 50% effaced. She did her thing, which hurt like hell, and then mentioned that my cervix was high up so hopefully that wouldn't be an issue? Then she inserted the pill...and we waited from there. Every three hours I would be checked and have another pill inserted until 8 or 9am when they would start the pitocin. It was a long night! I certainly did not sleep, and if I did at all it was a woppin 2 hours all together. I was too anxious and didn't think to sleep, everything was sinking in. Zach on the other hand slept through every check, every light that got turned on, every beep of a machine...everything. He needed it though, for the next day.
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