Back to Blogging & 2013 Goals, Part 1

Oh hello there blog readers! It's been a while.

Rest assured I haven't been just lounging around the couch eating bon bons (that was the last 10 months). Taking care of a very tiny human takes up a very large portion of my day. I swear the day needs just a few more hours in it so I can get things do. Like that laundry that needs to be done.

I keep thinking of topics to write about. And then not writing. It's a bad cycle.

Before I go too far, here is what I have been doing:

This was us before a walk. He looks pleased.

Often we do this.

 

My tiny human fast asleep while I have my hands free.

I absolutely love being a mother and a wonderfully long maternity leave has allowed me to be a stay at home mother since he was born. Thank goodness. I need some time to figure all this out.

Mainly how to accomplish anything when your son needs to eat every two hours. And how to change over 12 diapers in a day.

Never the less, I have found that I need time for myself too. I plan on continuing to write on here, keep things updated and make an effort to carve out some me time.

This year is going to be very different. Full of new challenges and wonderful memories. I am not sure what this year will hold, but my goal is to make it easier to enjoy these moments that will go by so quickly. I am making my 2013 goals to reflect both the changes in my life and those to come.

Before I go on about about new goals, how about a review of 2012 goals?

The original post can be found here.

1. still working on. having a baby does not help this goal but I try.

2. did pretty well on this. especially in the home decor area, I didn't purchase any Christmas decorations. We received a few ornaments, but no large decorations.

3. yup. this is still part of my daily routine. I enjoy doing chores this way, plus I have between 30-40 minutes during nap time right now to get things do so this works wonders.

4. kinda of. I need to update the book now and throw away irrelevant papers. I would call this a work in progress...

5.  did. well. Even while pregnant for most of the year, I took lots of time to take walks, spend time with friends and family, cook a little more and visit new places. It was great!

6. Lose 10 lbs? How about gain 50 lbs? This was was not accomplished. Not even close. But I am ok with that. 

7. Amen sister friend. Just in the last month or so I have greatly reduced my wardrobe and got rid of at least 5 pairs of shoes I know I won't wear again. Problem is now I still have three plastic tubs of clothing I don't fit in yet but would like to keep...this maybe an on going process.

So all in all I feel pretty good about these goals. I did not quit trying on any goal and really made progress in leading a cleaner, simpler life. I am really looking forward to building on these goals for 2013.

Stay tuned for part 2!

Raphael: One Month

I can safely say I missed blogging for the last (almost) month. But what I did instead was much, much, much better. 

It included this:

And this:

And a little of this:

And a few of these:

And time with friends:

I have neglected my blog, I know, but the time spent with my little guy was so worth it.

Our first month was spent cuddling, taking baths, talking walks, taking naps and eating (so much eating!).

 I absolutely love being a mom. Even one month in, deciding to become parents is one of the best decisions my husband and I have ever made.

That being said, living on 6 hours of broken sleep at a time can be difficult. Phew.  I never thought I had the ability to wake every 2 hours to feed a hungry, crying child. I am getting used the schedule, which includes many naps. I enjoy all my hours nursing Raphael, but I get tired too. The first few days were rough. Not to mention that nursing makes you feel 20 pound heavier on top. 

Raphael had some jaundice, hence the light bright picture above, for the first few days of life. After a few blood test we got to get rid of the light, thank goodness. 

ok back to the baby. more post soon!

A Very Thankful Birth Story

(I think this is the most excited I have ever been to write a blog post. Please excuse the excessive use of !!! and the length. I have a lot to say.)

I AM A MOM!

and this is how it happened.

Monday November 19th: My doctor and I talked about my options as I approached 41 weeks. It was decided that we would schedule a c-section for Friday November 23rd. I cried afterwards. I was looking forward to a natural birth experience, but having a healthy baby was top priority. 

4:30 am, Tuesday November 20th: I woke up not feeling well. I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions for a few months, so it was not unusual to feel this way. This time was different, they were more intense and they did not let up even with various position changes. I cleaned the kitchen, sat on my birth ball for a bit and then decided to head back to bed to try to get more sleep.

6:30 am: I wake my husband up telling him about the contractions. I was nervous that they weren't going away (and excited and reluctant and a whole host of other emotions!!). I had a pre-operation appointment at the hospital at 9:30 this morning so Mike and I decided I would wait until the appointment and then let the nurse know how I was feeling.

I was barely able to eat some granola and yogurt between contractions, which were coming about every 5 minutes. Mike and I tried to watch a little television before he had to leave for school but I was too focused on the contractions to even comprehend the show. 

Mike left for school with the car (yes we have one car) and I was going to walk to the hospital for my appointment. Now I know this sounds crazy, 41 week pregnant lady walking to the hospital, but it is only about a quarter mile away from our place. And so I walked. And Mike went off to school.

9:30 am: As the nurse was interviewing me, I was still having steady contractions. I told her that I was not feeling well and that the contractions had lasted for about 5 hours. She suggested I get checked in to the OB department and get checked just in case it was labor. 

11:00 am: After getting checked in and hooked up on the monitors, I was checked for dilation. Guess what? I HAD DILATED 3-4 CM!!! WHOO!!! 
I was not leaving this hospital without a baby. A BABY!!!
I text my husband, who was still in class, that I was in the hospital and he should come as soon as class was done.

I am not sure of the time table from here on out but it went something like this:
throwing up
contractions getting stronger
husband came
more throwing up
sister-in-law came
made my husband stand by my side as a I squeezed his hand through every contraction
my water was broke artificially
contractions become worse
I moan through every contraction 
My husband tries to tell me some biology fact and I tell him to shut up
I decide I want the spinal block
I get the spinal block and it felt so weird
I apologize to the nurse and doctor for being so loud
contractions get to be about a minute apart 
I feel like I need to push
I cry
I push for 35 minutes 

7:40 pm: Raphael Francis Albano is born, beautiful and perfect.

 

I cannot telly you how thankfully I was to have a mostly natural birth. In fact, I thanked the doctor on call for letting me labor. I thanked my husband for being wonderful through everything. I apologized profusely for being such a hot mess during labor (no one seemed bothered by it!). And I am so glad our little man is healthy.

I truly have so much to be thankful for. 

Going through the labor process is one of the most painful and rewarding things I have ever done in my life. 

I am forever in love with my son. Having children is wonderful. 
I told my husband shortly afterwards that we could do this again.

oh and sleeping for 2 hours at a time seems awful, but you get used to it. I promise.