Pregnancy Diary 2: Week 1 Postpartum

One week old already! Charlie has been a great baby so far just doing the typical baby thing. Nurse, sleep, nurse, awake, nurse, sleep, nurse, poop, nurse and repeat. He takes a binky already too which is awesome.

I am feeling rested enough, although my body is still healing, so I am trying to take it easy. My mom has been great all week helping with the boys and housework. I am positive things would be a lot more stressful if it weren't for her help.

I've only had one emotional meltdown so far, which, surprise, surprise, happened at 4am a couple nights after Charlie was born. My milk had come in and I was so sore, but Charlie would barely nurse for 2 min and then pass out, giving me no relief. I convinced myself that something was wrong with his latch. My wonderful midwife sent over a lactation consultant the next day who gave me back the confidence that he was doing just fine. I can't wait to be feeling 100% again, so I can go out and show him off!

Here we are one week postpartum! Here I am with Sam one week postpartum.

My sister came over this morning to help do a newborn photo shoot, but it was a complete fail. How do real photographers do it?!? Between it being an overcast day leaving us with poor lighting to a baby who wouldn't stop squirming or crying unless he had a binky or was nursing, this is all we got:

I did manage to get these the other day though.

Life lately

First off, thank you so much for all the lovin' we've received the past few days since Charlies arrival. We feel truly blessed.

Charlie is doing great. His birth was just perfect (which I will definitely be sharing in due time), and he is healthy as can be. The boys have shown nothing but love towards him, although emotions have been a little wonky. Trying to show them extra grace (as much as sleep deprived parents can) but still maintain a level of obedience has been the biggest challenge.

Sleeping at nights. Not. But then today I discovered this:

We've got ourselves a tummy sleeper! I had been swaddling him up, and having him on his back/side, whenever I've laid him down, but he always woke up within minutes. He's been zonked out in his bassinet for over 3 hours now. First time he has slept that long not being held. This. Is a good thing. 

Today Dean had to go back to work, but my mom is graciously spending the day here until nap time tending to the boys and housework, and I am spending the day in bed. As hard as it is to keep myself from doing too much, too soon, I know my body needs this. By day two I couldn't help myself from picking up toys, cleaning the counters and rinsing off dishes. But within minutes of doing it, my body was saying, "You is crazy!" So, ouch. 

I can't wait to share his birth story and the beautiful pictures from it! Now, off to nurse my hungry boy!

Pregnancy Diary 2: Week 39

Every day I have to remind myself that Charlie will be here in no time at all! Even if he is a few days late like his brothers, it is still only 1.5 weeks away! I feel mostly ready for him to come. I have a few things here and there I would like to get done beforehand like clean out the coat/shoe closet, completely catch up on laundry, and wash my dirty hand printed windows. But I don't feel like it would be holding me back if I didn't. I would like to finish the blanket I am crocheting for Charlie before he comes though, so I've been trying to work on it as much as I can. Dean is super busy with work today, and tomorrow is Sea Breeze day and Dean has to be out of town until late afternoon. So, we're just hoping to get through Wednesday, and then Charlie has full permission to come whenever!

Knowing that this pregnancy is almost over is super bittersweet. Of course, I am above all, anxious to meet my 3rd son. The day he decides to come will be a joyous one for sure. But it is still very fresh in my mind how sick I was in the beginning of this pregnancy, and knowing that I will most likely have to go through that again to get to this hard to fathom. I do try and be grateful though. As hard as it was being so sick, I was at least able to get through it by 18 weeks and was able to enjoy the rest of the pregnancy feeling pretty darn great. In fact, this is the best I have felt at 39 weeks with any of my pregnancies so far!

Everything looked good at my last midwife appointment. I got a negative on the GBS test, and the labs we did looked great as well. Other than the discomfort of having a baby's head deep in my pelvis, and the occasional lower back pain I am feeling awesome! With both Will and Sam I had pretty bad round ligament pain for at least the last few weeks, but now I don't have any! I have been doing yoga twice a week for about 12 weeks now, and I am certain that is why I am feeling so great. I am definitely an advocate now for prenatal yoga!

Here I am at 39 weeks! I carry pretty low as it is, but I definitely feel like my belly is hanging super low now.

Here I am at 39 weeks pregnant with Sam!

Pregnancy Diary 2: Week 38

Today is a busy day, so this will have to be kept nice and short! I am feeling rather well these days, considering. Waddling is how I walk now, and getting up from being down is always quite a sight to behold. 

It's always about this time when it hits me that I am actually having a baby. That he will be here. I am always so focused on getting all of these things accomplished before the baby comes, that I forget that life goes on after he is here as well. 

I have been told so many times that going from 2 to 3 children is quite a jump. Something about having one more child than you do arms. I am hoping it is one of those situations like when you hear over and over how great a movie was. That it was SO funny. You have to see it. And then you see it, and you're like...really? That was it? 

A mom can dream, right?

So here we are at 38 weeks, and here I am at 38 weeks with Sam.

Maternity photo shoot :: Anna

I am so excited to share some of the maternity pictures I got of my sister in law, Anna. She is due exactly one month after I am, with a little girl, and simply gorgeous (as you will see).

I wanted to try and do something a little different for her, since being in a field of flowers or standing by a tree aren't exactly her style (although she could pull off any look!) So, we ventured downtown and did something a little more urban.

I am such a beginner photographer, and had way to many out of focused pictures. Thankfully, I took like 400 pictures, so by chance I was able to get some great ones too. It was so hard to pick which ones to share, but here are some of my favorites!

I still haven't decided if having gutters in your shot is considered cool or not. But regardless, I love these pictures.