Milestones

Happy Sunday friends!

A lot has been going on in our lives! We made it through my first day back to work, gotten into a routine (sort of), celebrated our birthdays, and have been traveling back and forth to Franklin Co. A LOT lately!

Tate has been SUPER smiley all of a sudden, especially in the mornings. It seems like he is a morning person. We wake up somewhere between 6:30 and 7:30, it just depends on when I have to be at work. We are normally in bed by 9 or 9:30. He still wakes up either once or twice to eat, but is normally back to sleep within 15 or 20 minutes. I really don't mind it honestly, especially since going back to work. It's a good way to spend time with him :) He is still breastfeeding and I'm so happy to say he hasn't had to have any formula yet since I've been able to pump at work. We had a couple of canisters of formula sent in the mail to us even before Tate was born. I guess it is the good kind too, Gerbers and Enfamil I believe. I'm not sure how great it is though to be sending future moms formula even before their baby is born. I know some women aren't able to breastfeed for medical reasons however, it just seems like it's sending the wrong message, like "oh don't worry about breastfeeding, formula is so much easier and just as good for you baby" Ummm, kay. Whatevs. I won't go into detail about how I feel about all of that but when I looked at the ingredients on the back label, I was really surprised, and not in a good way! It's pretty crazy. I'm just glad Tate is getting the best stuff their is, and sometimes in public places, oh my! ;) ANYways, I can't believe we are introducing solids in 2 months! Whack.

So besides smiling, laughing out loud, clasping his hands at mid line, and tracking objects, his biggest milestone (to date) happened on the 2nd of July. He rolled over! I laid him down on his tummy time mat on his back and went into the office for about 10 minutes. When I came back he was on his stomach, looking up at me.....I confused myself because I thought maybe I HAD left him on his stomach, so I turned him back over on his back, and he preceded to turn right over again to his stomach! It was so exciting to watch. It seems that he likes to be on stomach. It's almost like he is ready to start crawling. He moves his legs around and when Brandon braces his back feet, he inches forward just a bit. It's crazy how fast babies start to develop. You go from a warm bodied little lump of a baby to a squirmy, talkative little child!

He is now 3 and half months old. He will be 4 months old on the 16th of this month! It is crazy! I don't know his weight or length though since he didn't go to the doctor in his 3rd month. Our next appointment is on the 22nd so I am really looking forward to seeing how much he has grown. He is really such a sweet baby and I just love him so much! 

 Brandon is a bit smitten by him as well :)

 You can't really tell from this pictures, but he does have hazel eyes. Same exact color as Brandon's.

Brandon and I had the idea to have a fish fry to celebrate our birthdays this year. He went deep sea fishing again with his friends from work and seemed to just love it. He brought back a shit ton of Red Snapper, so we had some people over and fried and grilled it. IT WAS SOOOO DELICIOUS! I was so proud of Brandon; although he doesn't spend much time in the kitchen, he really does know his way around a grill and a deep fryer :) Everything turned out so yummy. We had such a great time celebrating with our family and friends. A couple of people mentioned that it was the calmest party we've ever had, haahah. Guess life changes a bit when you have kids! (Although Brandon still insisted on getting a keg for the kegerator) So the beer was good, and I was happy because I had a bunch of pumped milk for Tate-man ;)

Uncle Doug came in for the 4th of July and Tate finally got to meet him. He got him some adorable new clothing that Tate thought was SO cute.

It was so great to see my friend, even if it was just for an hour or so. I miss him so much and can't wait till we can take Tate to visit KCMO!

Lastly, I will finish with a few more random shots of our spoiled rotten child. Although I know I am new and still learning how to be a mom, I think it is turning out to be one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I love him so much! 

Thanks for reading and I hope everyone has a great week! 

Tate says "TA-TA for now!"

TWO MONTHS OLD!

Hello friends!

I can't believe I have a two month old! He is really closer to two and a half months which is just crazy! Life has been such a whirlwind, but a good kind of whirlwind! Brandon and I have really loved the whole parenting thing so far. We are both in love with our child. He is such a sweet baby. 

He is starting to really show his personality more, which is so fun to witness. He is "talking" a lot which cracks us up. Sometimes he does this little scream/yelp sort of thing for no reason at all. Half the time I think it's so cute and the other half it scares me! Here are some 2 month shots my mom took of him lying on a receiving blanket my Aunt Susie made :)

The other day I snapped one of him smiling! And crying ;) I've never actually seen him cry a real tear before. It will probably freak me out when he does! When he got his two month vaccines, Brandon was holding him and we put a pacifier in his mouth. He sort of cried, but it only lasted about a minute and he seemed to forget about it after that, thank goodness!

 I LOVE to see him smile. It's my favorite thing he does.

On to the stats! 

*Weight: 12.28 lbs-51.12 percentile 

*Length: 23.5 inches-71.95 percentile

*Head Circumference: 15.16 inches-30.21 percentile 

His pediatrician, Dr. Eastham (who is amazing btw), said he seems to be growing well, and fast! He said his weight jumped quite a bit more then normal from one to two months which can probably explain why some days all I felt like he wanted to do was eat! (Wow, he's so much like his mama!)

*Eating: He is still eating every 2-4 hours during the day and I'm still exclusively breastfeeding. He has done well with a bottle which is great since I'll be going back to work in less then two weeks :( 

*Sleeping: For about a week now he has only been waking up twice at night, YAY! We go to bed fairly early, and he sleeps a good 5-6 hours, then wakes up again 2-3 hours later. I know this will change as he begins to teeth, etc. but it has been nice finally getting a "full" nights sleep. (For anyone who knows me, you know sleep is something I do well and most of the time I require at least 8 hours a night to function well the next day, thus explaining some of my whacky behavior lately which can only be blamed on sleep deprivation :) 

*Milestones: Smiling is a big one! Love it. Also he has been grasping his hands together at mid-line, tracking people and objects across the room, laughing out loud, raising his head 90 degrees while on his stomach, and grasping objects that are within reach.  

So all in all, he is progressing well and Brandon and I are really enjoying life with our little peanut head. We have been able to get out and enjoy a couple of date nights as well, including our friend Charlotte's birthday party and the Avett Brother's concert, both in Nashville. We left him with my Mom for the birthday party and our friend Junko for the concert. He did great for both of them and although it was tough at first to leave him, we had SO much fun getting out together and enjoying ourselves :) Life is good! 

Thanks for all the support and well wishes! Until the next post! ...................

-Niki 

ONE MONTH OLD!

Hello everyone!

So, it is obvious I am VERY late with this post. I have yet to write anything about my birth experience and the first few weeks of being home with my kid. I apologize! Time is seriously flying by and I can't believe I can say out loud that I have a one month old kid! (Technically one month and two days....but who's counting?!) 

First let me go ahead and give a short synopsis of the day he was born, March 16th, 2013. 

My water broke at 3:10 p.m. (in my kitchen!) and we loaded up and headed to the hospital. My mom followed behind Brandon and I. By the time we got checked in and made it through triage, I was dilated to 6 cm. I labored until about 8:10 p.m., when I was fully dilated and began pushing until he finally arrived at 8:35 p.m. This happened fairly quickly since it was my first baby and for that I am thankful especially because I chose to deliver him naturally. There were several times within that time frame that I REALLY wanted to just spurt out "give me an epidural!" but I never did, and somehow managed to make it through the contractions without any drugs. Unfortunately, the situation got a bit more serious when it was time for me to push. To spare you of the gory details, basically he was just too big for me. It's not too surprising when you consider the height of his dad, but either way, it was a struggle to get him out, but luckily he finally came without any major complications or trauma. After about 20 minutes I was able to hold and nurse him. It was the most intense mixture of emotions I have ever felt. Minus the scariness of his actual delivery, I am so glad I did it naturally and was able to experience that rush. The whole thing was one of the craziest experiences of my life. I can't really put into words how it felt, but I'm glad it turned out the way it did!  

*For anyone who is interested, I would be happy to share a more detailed description of my my experience, just shoot me an email! 

Moving on!

Here are a few tidbits about our current life :) 

*Eating: I am exclusively breastfeeding right now. Tate eats anywhere from every 2-4 hours. 

              He eats more often and for longer periods during the day which sometimes makes for 

              more restful nights for both of us. I started pumping once a day last Tuesday so that 

              Brandon can help me feed him and to build up a supply for when I go back to work. 

*Sleep: Since he is eating every 2-4 hours, that's about how much sleep I get at one time, however,

             we try to go to bed by 9:30 or 10 p.m., and don't "wake up" until 7:30 or 8:00 a.m. 

             Thankfully, he is becoming more efficient during the night feedings are we are awake 

             about 30-45 minutes at a time. It is getting easier and some nights are definitley better then

             others. 

*Activity: Tate is the most active in the early morning. He may turn out to be a morning person 

                 because as soon as light comes through our windows, his little eyes pop open and he starts

                 looking around. While lying on his stomach he can lift up his head for a few seconds and

                 move it from one side to the other. He makes all sorts of noises especially when he has gas.

                 He smiles on accident and we have noticed a dimple on his right side, which is the same 

                 side Brandon's is on. It's pretty dang cute :) 

*Stats: Weight 9.59 lbs (38.13 percentile)

             Height 22 inches (76.9 percentile)

             Head circumference 14.5 inches (51.6 percentile)

The doctor said he is developing normally though it looks like he is going to be tall and skinny................well hmmm, wonder how that happened?! 

So, all in all, life is pretty awesome! It is definitely a different life then I could have ever imagined, but I am really enjoying it. Being a mom has been an amazing experience so far! Luckily I still have 8 weeks until I have to go back to work so I can enjoy as much time as possible with this child. I just love him so much! He is about the cutest, sweetest thing I have ever seen and now I can't imagine my life without him!  

So that's it for now my friends! I promise to be more diligent about posting in the future :) As always, thanks for reading!

-NIKI

Full Term!

Hello everyone!

I am officially full term! 38 weeks yesterday. The pregnancy itself has actually felt rather long. Most people would say it has "flown by" but I really haven't felt that way. I'm not saying it has been a terrible experience, it has actually been an amazing experience, but I have felt pregnant for quite awhile now. I think it's because when I found out I was pregnant, in JULY, it was hot as hades here, and summer just feels like forever ago. Winter does that to me; it's like I forget what warm weather feels like. I am just so much of a warm weather person, I can't WAIT for it's return.

PREGNANCY STATUS

36 weeks

I've gotten quite a bit rounder since this photo but I haven't taken any decent ones since this. I will do that tomorrow! Brandon and I are both VERY anxious to meet our child! Tate has continued to grow, and we estimate him to be about 6 lbs 9 oz. He shifts around quite often and is always getting the hiccups. I have learned this means he is "practice" breathing, so his lungs will know what to do when he enters the world :) I am quite large and my back is constantly achy. I get up about 3 times every night to use the restroom but luckily I fall back asleep pretty easily. Other then these "to be expected" things, I really have no other complaints. What I'm most nervous about is the fact I could go into labor at ANY time, and I just don't know when! It's always the unexpected that scares us the most I'd say. I think as soon as I realize I'm in labor and we are headed/checked-into the hospital, I'll feel a little better. Only time will tell! 

THE NURSERY IS FINISHED! And here are some photos: 

The rocking chair belonged to my Grandpa and Grandma Beckman. My granny used it with my mom and my mom used it with me :)

The bedding is Carter's "Green Elephant". This also came with the elephant canvas and diaper holder (pictured later)

The adorable penguin was sewn by my friend Annie.

The clay turtle bowl was made by Burki Gladstone, my friend Hallie's mom.

Brandon re-painted the whole room, added the crown molding, and did the chair rail.

Brandon made these shelves! We got the idea from this blog http://ana-white.com/

The letters came from Hobby Lobby unpainted and Brandon painted them.

The turquoise and silver one is my baby bracelet and the gold one was Brandon's moms.

These are gifts from the best co-workers ever :)

These are prints taken out of a favorite book of verses. The frames are from Hobby Lobby.

 

Anyone notice Lilly in the basket next to the chair?! I really hope Tate likes cats (and dogs!) Anyways, I am VERY happy with how our nursery turned out. It was truly a labor of love (from Brandon). He did all the work and I just got to set it up how I like it. I am so lucky to have been blessed with a handy-man who knows his way around some tools ;) 

While we know we won't really be using his room all that much at first, it feels good to know he has a room he can grow into. The "plan" (because who knows if it will actually turn out this way) is for Tate to use that furniture until he moves out (or wants to take it with him wherever he goes!) The crib turns into a toddler bed and then we can buy full size rails to make a full size bed with that headboard. However, Brandon thinks he will outgrow a full size bed before he turns 18. We shall see....I AM a part the Tate equation therefore I add a bit of shortness to the picture so I'm not sure he is going to be as tall as Brandon thinks! Although I do hope he's at least 6 feet ;)

That's all for now folks. Who knows when I will post next?! There could be an actual baby to post photos of!!!!! EEEEE! Thanks to everyone for all the love, support, and gifts we have been given the last 9 months. We are so thankful and appreciate all of it!

Playing Catch-Up!

Good morning friends! It has been a little over a month since I've written a blog post. My goal was to blog AT LEAST once a month, soooo you can see how I don't get along so well with goals sometimes ;) ANYway, I really really do still want to blog as often as I can, I just need to make time for it, I know this!

So I am 36 weeks pregnant last Sunday and feeling pretty good! My back aches at night and I am constantly hungry but really those are my only complaints. I've been to see the mid-wives twice since my last post and everything has been going well! I had an ultrasound about two weeks ago and they averaged him at 5 lbs. 9 oz! I hope he stays just a tad on the smaller size so I can birth him normally! We shall see :) 

I have had two AMAZING baby showers given by sweet and kind friends and family. The first one was at my parent's house hosted by my Mom, Sister, Aunt Susie, Crystal, and Angeline. It was SO much fun! We of course had the most delicious food, including yummy cupcakes made my Angeline, spicy dips made by my sister, and my mama's famous 7-layer dip :) We socialized and played some fun games, then I got to open up mine and Tate's presents! We were showered with beautiful things including a wonderful handmade turtle blanket from my Aunt Susie (the best Godmama in the world!) We are so lucky and blessed beyond imagination!

The second baby shower was in Sewanee hosted by my best friends Hallie and Annie. They really are my best friends forever; it was one of the most enjoyable showers I've ever been too! (Granted it was for me and my baby, but still) We played this HILARIOUS game where you had to guess your neighbors drawings based on words and it just turned out to be SO funny that I saved the sheets we used :) We also had some delicious food and once again we were given so many beautiful gifts including a clay turtle bowl made my Burki Gladstone, the baby monitor I wanted given by Junko Kato Smith, and a stuffed animal penguin sewn by AKP44 herself! It was SUCH a fun day and I only wish I could have spent more time with everyone who came!

Last night I was given a third shower by my co-workers at one of my favorite restaurants ever, CHUY'S! They of course know this is a favorite of mine so they suggested having the shower there. We had a great time: enjoyed the delicious food, I opened gifts, and then we had a yummy, scrumptious ice cream cake from Dairy Cream. They know me SO well! Again we were given so many nice things I am overwhelmed by the niceness! Adorable stuffed animals, a fawn and an otter which we sale at the Wilderness Station ;), a very cute turtle picture frame that says "handsome" on it, some cool animal building blocks, and some baby KEENS! Can't WAIT to get those on his feet this summer and play in the river :) I showed Brandon all the goodies from last night and he said "all of y'all really are animal crazy" And we are! That's why we get along so well at my work, we have so much in common. Love them so much!

And finally, since I'm apparently in the mood for collages, I will leave you with one of random baby and pregnancy pictures of Brandon and I. He was quite an adorable child, but a bit of a handful from what I've heard.....so time will only tell what kind of child Tate will be!

I plan on taking some good photos of the nursery since it is ALL FINISHED now! That will be the next post, and I promise to make that happen sooner rather then later!

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who helped with ALL of my showers. I've said this so many times but we about the luckiest and most blessed people on this planet. I should never complain about ANYTHING! Love to everyone!

WHOOAA!

 Okay, so I officially have EIGHT weeks and two days left of pregnancy....what?!? In some ways I am just SO ready for Tate to be here.....but in other (perhaps more) ways, I am freaking out just a tad bit about being a Mama.....I am starting to realize HOW MUCH my life is about to change, like for real for real. People say it all the time, and I smile and nod, but things are really starting to set in like internally, in my brain, about how different mine and Brandon's life will be be.....does it sound like I'm freaking out just a tad?! Ummm, I am! But honestly, I am so excited too. I can't wait to see what he looks like, who he'll act like, and the kind of parents we'll be. It's just a whirlwind of emotions!

 

So with that being said, here's what we've been up too lately :) 

*We started Lamaze classes two Mondays ago with Tracy Good at http://www.goodbirths.com

  She is an awesome instructor and we are learning A LOT! 

*I went to my 30 week check-up and everything was normal. He had his head down and his heartbeat

  sounded strong! I don't think I've mentioned, I'm using the Vanderbilt Nurse Mid-Wives and so far 

  have absolutely loved working with them. They are an amazing group of women and I can't wait to

  have them at my side for Tate's arrival! 

*Speaking of Vanderbilt, this is where I'll be delivering. We toured the Family Care Center 

  Wednesday night and I LOVED it! We made a date night out of it and went to Mellow Mushroom 

  afterwards. I think that was Brandon's favorite part ;) 

*Tate has been kicking, squirming, pinching, poking, and prodding around like, A LOT. Especially in the evenings, it is quite strange but also so cool at the same time. Brandon has seen my stomach do some strange things and I can't tell if he thinks it's cool or weird or what. 

VERY pregnant! 

As I mentioned before, I am using the Vanderbilt Nurse Mid-Wives for the delivery of Tate. Since I am delivering at Vanderbilt, if there is an emergency, an OB is always on call. Some people think I'm crazy, but I want to avoid any interventions unless medically necessary. The United States has one of the highest C-Section rates in the world, and I want to avoid this major surgery if at all possible. I of course realize that sometimes C-Sections are medically necessary for the safety of mama and baby, and I will for sure have one if I have too, but I would love to be able to say afterwards that I did it all on my own, that I WAS a hero ;) I just cannot imagine all the powerful, amazing feelings that will come after I have my baby without any medicines. I know it's not going to be easy and it will hurt, but it's a type of pain that women have been enduring since the beginning of time, and most importantly, this pain ENDS, with the result of a new baby who I can hold as soon as possible, and brought into the world in the safest and most nurturing way possible. I kinda like to think this is the best way to start being a good mama to my baby :).....many of these ideas came from hours of documentary watching on Netflix, the first being "The Business of Being Born" 

http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/ Check it out if you have the time. There are some very eye-opening facts and figures about labor and delivery here in America. You will be shocked! 

Moving on!......

I am wondering how our other children are going to adjust once Tate gets here. At least they will have each other! (Minus Lilly who spends as much of her free time outside as possible. She's trying to avoid the new kitten. They have not bonded as well as I'd hoped. Poor Lillyann) 

 Have I mentioned that I love this baby! And apparently he has an awesome auntie ;) Sweet, sweet  Jack. 

That's all for now folks! I will probably be updating again after the nursery furniture arrives! Until then, ADIOS!