Since finding out this week that we will be having our baby on Wednesday!!, it has occurred to me that a lot of my normal routines and day-to-day happenings will be my last as a single, responsibility-free person. I cried in bed Tuesday night when my two girlfriends left my house from a wonderful visit thinking that would be the last time I would ever hang out with them again without worrying about a baby or needing to excuse myself to call home and check on said baby. While watching Grey's last night (yes I still watch that) my mom said, "you know, next time you watch Grey's you'll be holding your son, too!"And, this morning I had my last doctor's appointment. I felt like I was graduating as the receptionists and nurses all congratulated me in advance and looked surprised when I told them they wouldn't be seeing me again next week.
It all seems so final. I know this is the end of a significant chapter in our life as a married couple, but I also get butterflies of excitement thinking about the new chapter that's about to begin. The emotions I feel about becoming a mom in five days are overwhelming -- elated, scared, sad, but mostly serious excitement.
This weekend, we will celebrate our last weekend as a family of two. We will go on our last date without needing to hire a babysitter. We'll watch the Michigan football game with friends and not worry that we are going to wake up a napping little boy. And, we'll soak up every minute of each other knowing for the rest of our lives, we will have to share the overwhelming love we have for each other with something greater than we can even imagine.
The time is here and I can hardly believe it. Stay tuned for the main event!
A Dose of Happiness
Showing posts with label Baby Mathews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baby Mathews. Show all posts
Friday, November 4, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Exciting News!
Day 2 of bed rest has turned out to be a pretty exciting day. I went in for my marathon appointment today at the doctor and came home with lots of information. So here it goes:
1. Baby M is measuring in the 77th percentile at 5 lbs 12 oz! We have a big boy on our hands.
2. He seems to have a big belly and short legs...hmmm....
3. He's growing well and the doc was pleased with all of his measurements
4. My blood pressure was at an all time low! Rock that!
And for the most exciting part... barring any emergencies, we are scheduled to be induced November 7 or 8 (depending on the hospital's availability). It's so surreal to think that in 3 weeks our little man will be here!
The ultrasound tech had just received a new machine today and asked if I'd be her guinea pig. Um okay! So I got an extra long look at him and she took some pretty cool 3D shots. Here's one of him kind of smiling:
He still has the smushy nose similar to mine as a newborn. I'm so excited to see what he looks like in person!
The doctor also clarified a little bit about my bed rest restrictions. She said she wanted me to walk around and not be a couch potato, but that I should not be doing anything strenuous or that requires a lot of exertion. The goal of bed rest right now is to keep calm and relaxed so my blood pressure remains low on the medication I am taking.
So.... when I got home I felt a wave of anxious energy come upon me and what did I do?? I baked. I found this recipe online yesterday as I was bored at home and it looked delicious. The cookies are currently in the oven so I don't have pictures yet, but I'm pretty sure they'll be awesome.
I guess the countdown is on!
1. Baby M is measuring in the 77th percentile at 5 lbs 12 oz! We have a big boy on our hands.
2. He seems to have a big belly and short legs...hmmm....
3. He's growing well and the doc was pleased with all of his measurements
4. My blood pressure was at an all time low! Rock that!
And for the most exciting part... barring any emergencies, we are scheduled to be induced November 7 or 8 (depending on the hospital's availability). It's so surreal to think that in 3 weeks our little man will be here!
The ultrasound tech had just received a new machine today and asked if I'd be her guinea pig. Um okay! So I got an extra long look at him and she took some pretty cool 3D shots. Here's one of him kind of smiling:
The doctor also clarified a little bit about my bed rest restrictions. She said she wanted me to walk around and not be a couch potato, but that I should not be doing anything strenuous or that requires a lot of exertion. The goal of bed rest right now is to keep calm and relaxed so my blood pressure remains low on the medication I am taking.
So.... when I got home I felt a wave of anxious energy come upon me and what did I do?? I baked. I found this recipe online yesterday as I was bored at home and it looked delicious. The cookies are currently in the oven so I don't have pictures yet, but I'm pretty sure they'll be awesome.
I guess the countdown is on!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Rose and Thorn
A friend introduced me and our group of girls to this game many years ago. Every time we get together, we share the "Rose" and "Thorn" of our day (the good and bad). It became a way for us to quickly check in with each other, but also an opportunity to reflect on our own days and how lucky we really all are to be healthy and happy in our day to day lives.
So today, I will share the Rose and Thorn of my weekend:
We'll start with the thorn because I always like to end on a sweet note :)
I received a call from my doctor on Thursday evening that I needed to come into the office on Friday because some labwork came back with abnormalities that were concerning. Of course, I began to read online and slightly panic (I even packed my hospital bag!) and by Friday afternoon when the doctor's appointment arrived, my fears had been realized -- I have been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. This condition is why the doctors have been monitoring my blood pressure so closely. It can be dangerous, but my case is mild as of now. Nevertheless, I have been put on bed rest and have to stop working. Sounds fun, right? I was obviously an emotional wreck on Friday, but lucky for me Candy was coming in town anyway and she and Allie arrived Friday evening with some good humor, Mexican food and a lot of love. By Saturday morning, I felt I had processed the information and was feeling a lot better emotionally. So, while my thorn certainly hurt this weekend, it's not the end of the world, and my focus now is on keeping this little guy cooking as long as I can!
Without a doubt, the Rose of my weekend was the most perfect Baby Shower that my sisters, Adrienne and Sara hosted for me yesterday. My doctor gave me the okay to attend the shower given I stay seated, and let me tell you, my sisters barely let me scratch my foot without their help. The shower couldn't have come at a better time. Unlike a typical Baby Shower, this one was a "Pamper the Mom" shower and we got manicures and chair massages and everyone showed up in their comfy spa clothes. It was a day of pampering, friends and relaxation... truly everything I needed. Thank you to my wonderful hostesses for making me feel so special and loved.
Here are some pictures from the event:
And for a little silver lining: at least I have plenty of time on my hands to write thank you notes, right?
So today, I will share the Rose and Thorn of my weekend:
We'll start with the thorn because I always like to end on a sweet note :)
I received a call from my doctor on Thursday evening that I needed to come into the office on Friday because some labwork came back with abnormalities that were concerning. Of course, I began to read online and slightly panic (I even packed my hospital bag!) and by Friday afternoon when the doctor's appointment arrived, my fears had been realized -- I have been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. This condition is why the doctors have been monitoring my blood pressure so closely. It can be dangerous, but my case is mild as of now. Nevertheless, I have been put on bed rest and have to stop working. Sounds fun, right? I was obviously an emotional wreck on Friday, but lucky for me Candy was coming in town anyway and she and Allie arrived Friday evening with some good humor, Mexican food and a lot of love. By Saturday morning, I felt I had processed the information and was feeling a lot better emotionally. So, while my thorn certainly hurt this weekend, it's not the end of the world, and my focus now is on keeping this little guy cooking as long as I can!
Without a doubt, the Rose of my weekend was the most perfect Baby Shower that my sisters, Adrienne and Sara hosted for me yesterday. My doctor gave me the okay to attend the shower given I stay seated, and let me tell you, my sisters barely let me scratch my foot without their help. The shower couldn't have come at a better time. Unlike a typical Baby Shower, this one was a "Pamper the Mom" shower and we got manicures and chair massages and everyone showed up in their comfy spa clothes. It was a day of pampering, friends and relaxation... truly everything I needed. Thank you to my wonderful hostesses for making me feel so special and loved.
Here are some pictures from the event:
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| Me with all the hostesses! |
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| The beautiful spa flowers and yummy grub! |
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| Everyone decorated bibs and onesies! |
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| They also wrote funny messages on diapers! |
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| We had a very special visitor |
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| Two preggos |
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| Proof for Rick that I was seated the whole time! :) |
And for a little silver lining: at least I have plenty of time on my hands to write thank you notes, right?
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Never a Dull Moment
Well, here's the update from yesterday's doctor's appointment:
1. Baby M weighs about 4 lbs 10 oz according to the ultrasound tech... a bit above average, but we're pretty sure it's all muscle :)
2. He has hair! The tech could see it on the screen which was really cool. I have always wanted a baby with lots of hair, so I'm hoping he wasn't tricking us and that he comes out ready for me to tease his locks Steel Magnolias style!
3. Baby M is perfectly healthy. He's growing perfectly and very comfortable... but he's one stubborn fella. He had his hands covering his face the whole time so we couldn't get a good picture of his cuteness.
4. My BP was really high and the monitors were picking up some regular contractions, so I was sent to be monitored at the hospital for a few hours. All the blood work came back normal, which is great and I was given some directions for what to do this week until I need to go back to the doc on Monday for a follow up. The doctors sent me home last night with simple instructions and no alarming looks on their faces so I'm feeling pretty confident that they have this under control. She did say to expect that I'll be induced early, but we want to keep him cooking for as long as possible, so I've booked a massage for Sunday and I'm thinking that should help :)
That's about it for now... keep sending your zen vibes!!
1. Baby M weighs about 4 lbs 10 oz according to the ultrasound tech... a bit above average, but we're pretty sure it's all muscle :)
2. He has hair! The tech could see it on the screen which was really cool. I have always wanted a baby with lots of hair, so I'm hoping he wasn't tricking us and that he comes out ready for me to tease his locks Steel Magnolias style!
3. Baby M is perfectly healthy. He's growing perfectly and very comfortable... but he's one stubborn fella. He had his hands covering his face the whole time so we couldn't get a good picture of his cuteness.
4. My BP was really high and the monitors were picking up some regular contractions, so I was sent to be monitored at the hospital for a few hours. All the blood work came back normal, which is great and I was given some directions for what to do this week until I need to go back to the doc on Monday for a follow up. The doctors sent me home last night with simple instructions and no alarming looks on their faces so I'm feeling pretty confident that they have this under control. She did say to expect that I'll be induced early, but we want to keep him cooking for as long as possible, so I've booked a massage for Sunday and I'm thinking that should help :)
That's about it for now... keep sending your zen vibes!!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
A Work in Progress
This was a big baby weekend. Huge.
Our nursery furniture was delivered on Saturday and the minute the delivery gentleman left, I went to town on that room. I organized clothes and put them away. I unpacked bags that we have stuffed in the closet for months and ignored. Car seat is installed and Pack n Play is set up in our bedroom. Crazy? Maybe... but I feel a million times better knowing if this little guy decides to come early, my house is somewhat prepared and ready... even if I'm not.
The nursery is by no means ready, and still needs a lot of work, but here's a sneak peek at what we got accomplished this weekend:
The baby madness didn't end yesterday. Today we had our all day childbirth class at the hospital which was information overload to say the least. We got a tour of the hospital along with a lot of information about what to expect from the moment we arrive to the moment we leave there. I'm glad we went, but my head is spinning.
We have a big doctor's appointment tomorrow. We'll get to see the little guy on an ultrasound and check out how he's coping with my BP issues. I think both Rick and I will feel a whole lot better once we get some more answers to our questions and information about what we can expect with this little blip in the road.
Stay tuned for an update!
Our nursery furniture was delivered on Saturday and the minute the delivery gentleman left, I went to town on that room. I organized clothes and put them away. I unpacked bags that we have stuffed in the closet for months and ignored. Car seat is installed and Pack n Play is set up in our bedroom. Crazy? Maybe... but I feel a million times better knowing if this little guy decides to come early, my house is somewhat prepared and ready... even if I'm not.
The nursery is by no means ready, and still needs a lot of work, but here's a sneak peek at what we got accomplished this weekend:
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| View looking in from hallway |
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| View looking out into hallway (and subsequently our bedroom...oops) |
The baby madness didn't end yesterday. Today we had our all day childbirth class at the hospital which was information overload to say the least. We got a tour of the hospital along with a lot of information about what to expect from the moment we arrive to the moment we leave there. I'm glad we went, but my head is spinning.
We have a big doctor's appointment tomorrow. We'll get to see the little guy on an ultrasound and check out how he's coping with my BP issues. I think both Rick and I will feel a whole lot better once we get some more answers to our questions and information about what we can expect with this little blip in the road.
Stay tuned for an update!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
An Update
Well, in a few days I will be 30 weeks pregnant. 30 weeks! That means 10 weeks until D-day... which is so hard to believe! Baby M is doing great... he's a real trooper and is incredibly active. I think we have a star athlete on our hands.
At my last doctor's visit, my doctor was a bit concerned about my blood pressure being elevated. I've been monitoring it for a week, and went to see the doc yesterday. Because it's still elevated (though not so high that it's harmful to the baby at this point)... they want to keep a close on eye on us. My doctor is great... of course I was a nervous wreck (which doesn't help my blood pressure!) but she assured me that at this point it's nothing to panic about, and she ordered me to drink more water, eat less sodium and take it easy. I am scheduled to go into the doc's office more often over the next 10 weeks for monitoring and ultrasounds just to be on the safe side, which means we get to see the little nugget a couple more times on a screen before we meet him face to face. There's always a silver lining, right?
As you would imagine, my husband has been an amazing source of comfort and calm. His brilliant ideas to bring down my BP: He called a cleaning lady and bought me a prenatal massage. A man after my own heart.
And some exciting baby news.... the crib bedding arrived today and I got a phone call that the nursery furniture has all arrived. It will be delivered in two weeks!
So, the Mathews house has officially been declared a sanctuary of calm and peace. Only those willing to contribute to our zen-like environment are welcome. Though, there is someone whose on thin ice with the Zen Police... because coming home to this every afternoon isn't helping my blood pressure much:
Maizey's going through some phase right now that we can't seem to kick. It's too bad she's so darn cute.
At my last doctor's visit, my doctor was a bit concerned about my blood pressure being elevated. I've been monitoring it for a week, and went to see the doc yesterday. Because it's still elevated (though not so high that it's harmful to the baby at this point)... they want to keep a close on eye on us. My doctor is great... of course I was a nervous wreck (which doesn't help my blood pressure!) but she assured me that at this point it's nothing to panic about, and she ordered me to drink more water, eat less sodium and take it easy. I am scheduled to go into the doc's office more often over the next 10 weeks for monitoring and ultrasounds just to be on the safe side, which means we get to see the little nugget a couple more times on a screen before we meet him face to face. There's always a silver lining, right?
As you would imagine, my husband has been an amazing source of comfort and calm. His brilliant ideas to bring down my BP: He called a cleaning lady and bought me a prenatal massage. A man after my own heart.
And some exciting baby news.... the crib bedding arrived today and I got a phone call that the nursery furniture has all arrived. It will be delivered in two weeks!
So, the Mathews house has officially been declared a sanctuary of calm and peace. Only those willing to contribute to our zen-like environment are welcome. Though, there is someone whose on thin ice with the Zen Police... because coming home to this every afternoon isn't helping my blood pressure much:
Maizey's going through some phase right now that we can't seem to kick. It's too bad she's so darn cute.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Austin Fun and a Sneak Peek!
What a weekend we had in Austin! Adrienne and I flew down on Thursday evening ready to enjoy our last weekend of Summer, celebrate Baby M, and frolic around Austin with Mom and Ashley. We also partook in a food marathon as expected when visiting Austin. We started with a visit to Thundercloud on Friday, which has been preciously renamed by Ms. West as Torpedocloud.
We then took a drive down 6th Street in search of a hot sauce restaurant I had heard of called Tears of Joy. For those who like hot sauce, this place is a mecca. There was every type of hot sauce you could imagine and some you wouldn't believe existed! We left with some loot in hand and headed home to get our swim on!
The main event took place on Saturday, and I really don't have enough words (or pictures... thanks to Maizey who ate my camera today!!) to describe the lengths Fancy went to in order to make me and her guests feel so special. The house was drenched in blue, and the attention to detail was beyond anything I had seen. Here are the few pictures I do have (on top of Maizey thinking my camera was her breakfast, my phone also broke this weekend and upon updating it last night, I lost many pictures).
Everyone left with a coffee mug and mini-coffee beans that said "Baby is Brewing." Doesn't get much cuter!
Mom, thank you for hosting such a love-filled, over-the-top celebration. It was so much fun to be able to mingle with friends, gush about baby boys and eat our hearts out. You truly have a gift when it comes to entertaining and you hit this one out of the park!
Today, I had a doctor's appointment for a study I am participating in and they performed a 3D ultrasound. I got a little sneak peek at the little guy, and found out he is still a boy (phew!) and weighs exactly 2 pounds, which puts him at the 66% right now. I can't decide if the 3D pictures are creepy or cool, so you decide!
The main event took place on Saturday, and I really don't have enough words (or pictures... thanks to Maizey who ate my camera today!!) to describe the lengths Fancy went to in order to make me and her guests feel so special. The house was drenched in blue, and the attention to detail was beyond anything I had seen. Here are the few pictures I do have (on top of Maizey thinking my camera was her breakfast, my phone also broke this weekend and upon updating it last night, I lost many pictures).
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| The dessert table and infamous diaper cake! |
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| Little onesie cakes! |
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| Auntie Ashley loves her nephew |
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| Awkwardly opening presents |
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| Some more awkwardness |
Everyone left with a coffee mug and mini-coffee beans that said "Baby is Brewing." Doesn't get much cuter!
Mom, thank you for hosting such a love-filled, over-the-top celebration. It was so much fun to be able to mingle with friends, gush about baby boys and eat our hearts out. You truly have a gift when it comes to entertaining and you hit this one out of the park!
Today, I had a doctor's appointment for a study I am participating in and they performed a 3D ultrasound. I got a little sneak peek at the little guy, and found out he is still a boy (phew!) and weighs exactly 2 pounds, which puts him at the 66% right now. I can't decide if the 3D pictures are creepy or cool, so you decide!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Baby Stuff!
This weekend I'll be 24 weeks pregnant. 6 months!! It's so crazy to think that in nearly 100 days, our little peanut will be here. As many of you know, I'm a bit of a control freak/anxiety-ridden over-planner. Needless to say, I think my craziness has come in handy as a pregnant lady. You really have to think ahead when you're having a baby. Did you know it can take 3 months to receive a crib or rocking chair after ordering it?? And, all the cute bedding is back ordered until September! Well, good thing this mama has some time on her hands...and control issues :)
A few weeks ago, Mama and Papa so graciously bought Baby M his crib and dresser. The little guy isn't even here yet and he's already spoiled rotten! He's one lucky duck to be part of this family... he has no idea how much he is loved already. Here's what the crib will look like, even though it won't arrive until October:
Nanny and Pop Pop (aka Lynne and Jim) also overdid themselves and granted our wish of a brand new rocking chair to put in the nursery. It looks something like this (though we ordered it with a gray cushion, not pink!) We know we will be spending many hours rocking the little guy in this glider, and we'll think of Nanny and Pop Pop each time we do.
In the meantime, I'm preparing myself and our house for the influx of "stuff" we are about to acquire. You have no idea how many baby products there are today that "you can't live without!" Luckily for me, I have a sister who has been down this road before and is more than willing to guide me through the overwhelming list of things to buy and let me borrow the ones I'm just not sure I want to commit to.
Fancy's hosting a shower for me next weekend. Yes, she already has the house decorated, menu set, and I actually think she's waiting at the airport right now for our arrival next Thursday :) I am beyond excited to celebrate this little baby and spend some quality time with friends and family in the scorching 110 degree weather :) I am embracing the inevitable Baby Stuff Storm 2011 and have to admit, I'm a bit giddy about it. Whoa, baby!
A few weeks ago, Mama and Papa so graciously bought Baby M his crib and dresser. The little guy isn't even here yet and he's already spoiled rotten! He's one lucky duck to be part of this family... he has no idea how much he is loved already. Here's what the crib will look like, even though it won't arrive until October:
Finally, I recently ordered Julio's bedding along with a matching valance for the window and changing pad cover. I really struggled to find something that I loved. I'm not into animal/sports/tree themes, and I felt like blue is so predictable. While green isn't necessary unique or cutting edge, it felt a little different to me and this set screamed "masculinely shabby chic." (Yup, I just invented the word masculinely). I'm excited to see it all come together, and will obviously share the final results as soon as it's complete!
In the meantime, I'm preparing myself and our house for the influx of "stuff" we are about to acquire. You have no idea how many baby products there are today that "you can't live without!" Luckily for me, I have a sister who has been down this road before and is more than willing to guide me through the overwhelming list of things to buy and let me borrow the ones I'm just not sure I want to commit to.
Fancy's hosting a shower for me next weekend. Yes, she already has the house decorated, menu set, and I actually think she's waiting at the airport right now for our arrival next Thursday :) I am beyond excited to celebrate this little baby and spend some quality time with friends and family in the scorching 110 degree weather :) I am embracing the inevitable Baby Stuff Storm 2011 and have to admit, I'm a bit giddy about it. Whoa, baby!
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