Christmas 2009

This Christmas was so special and exciting with Ethan joining us this year. We spent Christmas Eve at Granny and Pop's house with the Ciolino family where Ethan met many of his aunts, uncles, and cousins for the first time. I'm especially excited that Ethan was able to meet Grandpa this Christmas. Ethan got a cute little Glo Worm from his Uncle Tom and a fluffy white teddy bear from Granny. When we came home that evening we all cuddled up while Chris read Twas the Night Before Christmas. True, Ethan was sound asleep the entire time but maybe next year he'll be awake enough to enjoy the pictures!

Christmas morning was so much fun since Santa visited us. Ethan opened his presents (ok, Mommy and Daddy helped out) and wore all the bows on his head! Santa must have thought Ethan was a good boy this year because he got so many cool presents. He got a Playskool Walk N Ride, a Busy Ball Popper, lots and lots of books, March of the Penguins DVD, and clothes. Santa also brought me some pretty cool gifts like a nightstand for Ethan's room, an iPod docking station, a book light, the Clapper (again for Ethan's room!), and a new griddle. Chris got a body fat scale, a movie, cologne, and some razor blades. Of course we opened gifts with Bing singing in the background and breakfast casserole cooking in the oven. Christmas morning was so much fun, starting our own family traditions, and experiencing the magic of the day through the eyes of a little one for the first time. I can't wait for next year's Christmas when Ethan will be able to enjoy it even more.
The rest of the day was spent with Chris' family. We started out at Carol's house where Ethan again met many of his family members for the first time. I couldn't believe that he slept pretty much the entire time we were there! That didn't stop Ethan from being the center of attention though because everyone wants to hold a calm, quiet, sleeping baby. Some of Ethan's favorite gifts were a Fisher Price barn, a stuffed animal for teething, and several more outfits. Wow, he's such a spoiled little boy already!

Our final destination on Christmas was at Don and Kathy's house where we all opened even more gifts! Ethan got a Penguin to beat up on, more books, shares in P & G stock, and lots more. Chris and I got clothes, cologne and perfume, tons of gift certificates, and more. It's so nice to be able to just hang out with the family and catch up. Ethan was certainly cozy since he slept the entire time we were there as well!

The final Christmas celebration happened Saturday night when we went to my dad's house, ate dinner, opened gifts with Dad and Linda and her boys, and watched movies Ethan now has his very own savings account to start putting money in for when he gets older.

We are so blessed to have such wonderful families to share the holidays with. Christmas really does have a new meaning once you have a little one to share it with.

Mommy Must Haves

These are a few things that I could not live without now that Ethan is here! My Mommy recommendations for other moms!

-Yoga Ball
When we first brought Ethan home, we thought he had colic. He would cry for hours at a time and nothing we did would calm him down. Luckily a friend of mine suggested bouncing with him on a yoga ball. Thank God for this! Who knew an exercise ball could calm a crying baby and make him sleep so quickly?! I'd have no idea what to do if we didn't own one of these. Not only is the yoga ball a wonderful way to calm a screaming, fussy, sleepy baby but they also serve as wonderful foot rests for those middle of the night feedings.

-Sleepers
The easiest way to dress a wiggly baby for winter. Sleepers make it much easier to dress a baby so you don't have to spend the time looking for a shirt, pants, socks, etc. It's one piece of clothing that can simply be unbuttoned to change baby's diaper. Plus, instead of having to clean multiple items of clothing when baby has a blow out, you only have one article! I'm so glad we went out and bought extras as soon as Ethan was born. Now we just need to make sure we have enough to cover him as he continues to get bigger.

-Pack n Play
We decided to get a pack n play for when Ethan would spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's house and as an extra sleeping location. I originally wanted to put the PNP in our bedroom for him to sleep in during the first few months but ended up moving it downstairs so he Ethan could nap there during the day. Ours is bassinet height with a changing station and storage area. It folds down to the size of a tent and takes 5 minutes to set up.

-Soothe and Glow Seahorse
I LOVE this thing! You push its belly and it sings 5 different songs with ocean sounds. Plus its belly glows similar to the old Glow Worms from when I was little. It plays for a total of about 10 minutes and shuts off.




-Nipple Shields
After Ethan was born, I had some issues trying to nurse him. The lactation consultants suggested using these shields to help him latch. They also cut down on the pain that comes with cracking. I'm hoping to wean Ethan off of them soon but they were a life saver since the beginning.

-Boppy
It’s a breastfeeding pillow that doubles as a great tool for everything for baby. It can help them sit up, you can put them on their stomach for tummy time, and it puts them at a perfect angle for bottle feeding. Not only is it wonderful for Ethan but Maggie absolutely loves curling up in it to fall asleep.


-Swing
When we first put Ethan in his swing, he absolutely hated the thing. But after multiple attempts, we soon realized that he loved falling asleep in it while listening to the rain forest noises. He often sleeps in his swing for 2 or 3 hours at a time giving me a chance to nap on our own or get things done around the house. Just in the past few days he's started to notice the toys attached to the front and is trying to figure them out. As an added bonus, the print on this swing is so pretty yet understated. It blends in with our living room decor without making the room look like a giant kids' play room.

-Swaddle blankets
I purchased one of these while pregnant after hearing rave reviews about them. After watching The Happiest Baby on the Block we learned that swaddling is one of the best things a parent can do to calm a screaming baby. I attempted quite a few times to wrap regular blankets in such a way that would keep Ethan's arms nice and close to his body but I just couldn't get those darn blankets to stay put! These blankets are so easy to swaddle and keep baby nice and tight inside until they outgrow them. You just slide baby into the bottom pocket and wrap the two side pieces around them to form a tight fitting swaddle. In fact, we thought these were so great that Chris went and bought several more after bringing Ethan home.

-Moby Wrap
The Moby Wrap is one of the coolest baby related purchases I've made. The purpose of this is to tote baby around hands free allowing you to get things done around the house while keeping baby cozy, comfy, and happy. Prior to owning this, I attempted to use one of the popular slings but found that I absolutely hated it. I always felt like Ethan was going to fall out of it if I didn't keep a hand on him at all times, completely defeating the purpose. I use the wrap to wear Ethan on my front, facing me and have been able to get so much done! He could sleep for hours this way and my two hands are free the entire time!

STTN!

Last night our adorable little 4 week old baby slept through he night for the first time! Ethan went to sleep officially at 10:30 and was STILL sleeping when Chris woke up for work at 6:30. We actually had to wake him up to be changed and eat at that time. He nursed for about 20 minutes and continued to sleep until 9:30! I know this is probably a fluke but how awesome is that!

1 Month

Dear Ethan,

Today you are a month old. I can't believe how quickly time has flown. Everybody told me that would happen but it took having you around to really believe it. You've learned so much in the short month you've been here with us but you've already touched so many people's lives. We were so surprised when you were lifting up your head when you were only a few days old. Of course it didn't stay up for very long but still...pretty impressive. The last few days you've been practicing tummy time each morning. You only spend a few minutes in that position but you try so hard to take in the entire world around you. Your daddy and I absolutely melt every time we see that little smile on your face. We know at this point it's probably a result of gas but it's still so stinking adorable. When you get really sleepy, your eyes roll back and you get the cutest little smirk. It almost looks like you're in the middle of some hilarious dream.

Mommy and Daddy give you a bath every other day. Since you're such a little guy, you don't get very dirty so a bath every day would be silly. You seem to enjoy your baths most of the time and rarely cry. You always fall asleep after your baths. Most nights you go to bed around 8:30. Mommy wakes you up before going to bed herself between 10:30-11:30. Most nights you wake up again around 3 and again around 6. You even slept through the night once for 8 whole hours!

Mommy and Daddy love you so much, Little Man, and are so proud of what you've accomplished in just one short month.

Birth Stats
7 lbs 11 oz. (50th percentile)
21.5 inches long (95th percentile)

1 Month Stats
8 lbs 15 oz. (25th percentile)
22.5 inches long (80th percentile)

First Days

Ethan had his first doctor's appointment yesterday with Dr. Donoghue. Before leaving the hospital, his weight had dropped 10% requiring us to supplement with formula and begin pumping. After being weighed again, Ethan's weight is now back up to 7 lbs. 5 oz. and he's been given a perfectly clean bill of health.

After the appointment Ethan was sound asleep so we decided to attempt our first meal out with him. Ethan was a perfect angel during our entire visit to Pizza Hut and slept the entire time!

Yesterday was a tough day here at home for us because Ethan was having a fussy day. As soon as he finished eating he'd need a diaper change followed by hours of crying. Nothing we did would calm the little guy. Luckily he slept for a huge 5 hour period last night allowing us to get some sleep.

Hopefully we'll have more calm days ahead of us.

Introducing Ethan Christopher Becker

Ethan Christopher Becker was born Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 7:04 pm. He weighed 7 lbs. 11 oz. and was 21.5 inches long.

Tuesday night Chris and I relaxed around the house as I enjoyed my first night of maternity leave. I had planned for the sub to start working for me on Wednesday. Around 3:30 Wednesday morning, my water broke. After calling the doctor, we had time to take showers, eat breakfast, and head to the hospital.

We were admitted to the hospital around 5:00 and found out I was 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced. I didn't last very long before requesting an epidural (the greatest medical creation ever!) Afterwards, Chris and I hung out in L & D actually a bit bored waiting for things to progress. Dad and Linda showed up around 11:00 and Chris' family around 2:30. Surprisingly, we were a bit bored waiting for something...anything to happen. My epidural kept wearing off and I would be in excruciating pain until redosed. After laboring for 14.5 hours, I only made it to 7 cm and 100% effaced. The monitors showed that the baby's heart rate was not recovering from contractions quickly enough when the doctor suggested a c-section. I was absolutely terrified.

I was taken to the OR sometime after 6:00 pm when the surgery began. I was extremely doped up from the medication and couldn't keep my eyes open. I was with it enough to feel the pain of the surgery. Apparently they could only give me the epidural which isn't nearly strong enough to cover all the pain. I was awake long enough to see and hear the baby for the first time and was quickly put under. I kept waking up long enough to tell them I could still feel the pain but would get redrugged. Looking back, I barely remember anything after delivery except being wheeled to the Mother and Baby Unit where we enjoyed a lovely 4 day stay until Saturday.

Recovery was rough at the beginning but is getting better each and every day.

So if the last few weeks are any indication of what life will be like post baby, I probably won't end up posting very often. Just a quick up to date...

As of today I am officially 40 weeks 5 days pregnant (that's right as in WAAAAYYY overdue!). I go to the doctor again tomorrow but I'm sure I won't have any progress just like the last few visits. The good news is that there's an end in sight. I go in to be induced Friday night at 7:00. The game plan is to get Cervadil Friday night which is used to ripen everything (ewww, I hate that word!) Saturday morning at 7 they will start Pitocin to get the ball rolling. Finally, things are moving along. Instead of just talking about this mysterious nameless baby, he'll finally have a name and a cute little face to go with it!

On yet another good note, today was my last day of work. I'm planning to call in the next three days so my maternity leave won't officially start until Monday. I just don't want to be there anymore. I've found myself teaching from my rolling chair in the back of the room most days and I absolutely HATE that. This way I'll have a few days to relax and prep before Baby _ _ _ _ _ arrives. (There's a small hint for you Mom!)

Blah...

So everyone keeps asking me if I'm at the point where I'm sick of being pregnant. I think I've officially hit the wall today. I barely slept at all last night due to aching hips and a fun little cough I happened to pick up at school. I have no energy whatsoever. I just want to curl up on the couch and sleep for the next two weeks or so until our sweet little boy is here. Is that too much to ask?!

Yet Another Week

We went back to the doctor today for another visit. It started off with another fetal weight ultrasound where it was determined that baby boy is measuring exactly where he should be (with a big head still!) As of today he weighs approximately 7.5 pounds and is progressing perfectly. He was wiggling, kicking, and stretching the entire time. The funniest part was when baby stretched his head way back, stuck his head out, and took a giant gulp. So cute! And, yet again, we confirmed he is in fact still a boy!

As for progress, nothing can be said. We're still at nada...

36 Week Apt.

Today I started my weekly doctor's appointment. At this point, there's absolutely nothing to report. Not dilated and not effaced at all. The baby is measuring ahead again by about 3 weeks so we're getting another weight ultrasound next Monday. After having a small issue this weekend, the doctor checked to see if I was leaking fluid at all. Everything turned out to be normal so we were sent on our way for another week.

35 Weeks

Dr. Apt. and Baby Showers

This past Monday, Chris and I returned to the doctor for our regular appointment. Since the baby was measuring large at our last appointment, we had an ultrasound done to determine his approximate weight. The ultrasound tech confirmed that he is still, in fact, a boy. All the measurements came out to be right on target for 32.4 weeks except for baby's large head! Apparently his head was measuring 35 weeks already! Lord help me that his head doesn't continue to grow at this rate! The pictures didn't turn out as good this time though so nothing new to post there.

Today was my first baby shower with the Ciolino's and Linda's family. Overall there were about 15 people there making it a pretty intimate get-together. I'm pretty excited about all the gifts we got including our stroller, high chair, and car seat base. Of course there was a lot more than that and all of it is awesome. I'll post pictures once they're uploaded.

32 Weeks

How far along: 32 weeks

Total weight gain: I've stopped telling but it's under the 25-35 pound recommendation.

How much does baby weigh: around 4 pounds

Maternity clothes: Whatever fits at this point. I recently stocked up on new pants for work but but some shirts are starting to be too short. I've had to break out the Bella Band again to get that layered look.

Stretch marks: Ever seen a road map?

Sleep: I still keep one pillow between my knees and one under my belly. I usually wake up at least once each night to pee. Lately I seem to be waking up about every 2 hours to switch sides.

Best moment this week: It's always so neat to feel him flipping and flopping around in there. I was also told by my principal that now would be a good time to fill out maternity leave paperwork at the district office...it's getting close!

Movement: He's most active when I get home from school and get a chance to relax in the recliner. That's when the belly starts doing the wave!

Food cravings: grapes and chocolate...not at the same time!

Belly button in or out: It's still an innie but I've noticed it's flattening out and getting harder.

What I miss: Nothing this week

What I'm looking forward to: Our next doctor's appointment and ultrasound on Monday. They'll be checking his weight and his size.

8/31 Appointment

Yesterday I went to yet another doctor's appointment which are now being scheduled every two weeks. Last time my uterus measured at 27 cm but this time it has grown to a whopping 33 cm. Based on my reading, this is the average size of a 33 week baby! Dr. ordered an ultrasound for my next appointment to verify weight and growth. The very first words out of the doctor's mouth were, "now this doesn't necessarily mean you'll deliver early." Since no other information was really given, I decided to do a little research on my own (never a good idea!) Luckily, the diagnosis for measuring ahead are not that big of a deal, usually. It can mean baby is larger than expected, further along than originally thought, laying in a weird position, or high fluid levels. All of these seem extremely minor compared to some stories I've read. I'll keep you posted!

3D Ultrasound

27 Weeks

How far along: 27 weeks

Total weight gain: Last time I checked it was around 21 pounds.

How much does baby weigh: around 2.3 pounds and is a little larger than a 2 liter of Coke!

Maternity clothes: Anything that fits at this point

Stretch marks: of course thanks to being larger before baby and genetics!

Sleep: I am getting plenty of sleep thanks to my summer schedule but I end up waking up every hour or so to flip sides. If I happen to wake up on my back accidentally, I noticed my hands are usually asleep. The belly pillow has been a life saver!

Best moment this week: Getting kicked and punched constantly and having Chris feel it again.

Movement: All the time especially after eating. He kicked so hard my pillow moved the other night :)

Food cravings: none

Belly button in or out: Still an innie

What I miss: Nothing this week

What I'm looking forward to: My next appointment on Wednesday, 3D ultrasound next Sunday when mom's in town!

Where are my Ankles?

I've always heard stories about how pregnancy makes you blow up like a balloon but never really believed it until now. At some point during my crazy, hectic week (see previous post) I noticed that I have developed the dreaded cankles, a condition contributed to a lack of definition in the calf and ankle areas. I guess it was bound to happen to I was so hoping it wouldn't. Oh well, if this is the worst that happens, I can deal with that.

Not only have my calves and ankles been working overtime, but so has the rest of my body. I had another appointment yesterday where I learned exactly how much I've gained as a result of vacation food. While I am still safely within all the recommended amounts, I still dreaded the number laughing in my face. My baby books say BABY is picking up weight at a whopping 1/2 pound each week so at least it's not all me. He sure is getting big!

BABY has really become active in the last few weeks. I constantly feel him flipping, kicking, punching, and practicing his UFC moves already. While on vacation last week, Chris was finally able to feel a whopping drop kick!

We've also spent the last few days putting together the baby crib that's been sitting in our hallway for about a month now. The bedding arrived while we were on vacation last week and we were finally able to get things partially set up last night. We still want to re-paint the room but I'm so excited by the progress we've made so far:

View from the Door

Teaching Joys

Part of being a teacher in Ohio is participating in continuing education courses in order to renew your certification. We must take at least 6 semester hours of courses before our certification expires (5 years for me.) Although I still have 3 more years before my certification expires, I decided to use this summer to complete my 6 semester hours so I wouldn't have to worry about it after the baby is born. I am enrolled in a class called SOSI that lasts 8 hours a day for the next 10 days. SOSI focuses on teaching science content and methods to science teachers. Yes, I know I'm not a science teacher but did I mention that the 6 semester hours are FREE?! Yes, free compared to the roughly $4,500 I would have to pay a college in order to earn those hours. Sounds like a good deal to me. While the content is completely useless to me since I teach Language Arts and Social Studies, I'm learning some new teaching methods that can hopefully come in handy in my own classes. I do have to say, however, I now know what it's like to be the slow learner in class! Trying to sound and be smart in an area where you are mostly clueless really SUCKS! This is one of the few times you will ever hear me say I can't wait until (insert day of the week here.) I can't wait until next Friday!

Gulf Shores, Alabama

During the week of July 3-11, Chris and I went on a much needed vacation to Gulf Shores, Alabama with his family. We left on Friday, July 3 and drove to Decater, Alabama where we stayed the night in a hotel and ate at some BBQ joint featured on the Today show. The next morning we continued our drive and arrived in Gulf Shores around 3 or so. Our condo was situated across a small street from the beach where we spent most of our days. We did have a day and a half of rain and storms but we just spent that time watching the Michael Jackson funeral on tv. Each night we ate at a different local restaurant from Lulu's (owned by Jimmy Buffett's sister), to the Original Oyster House (yummy salad bar!), and a place called Doc's (1 lb of crab legs for $16). The weather stayed close to 90 degrees most of the trip with a few days peaking closer to 100. While there didn't seem to be a whole lot of sight seeing available, Gulf Shores is a great place to go if you're looking for a relaxing vacation with plenty of touristy hang outs. I'm so so grateful that Josh was willing to house/doggy sit while we were away. Our pups can be a real handful but he did a great job and even vaccuumed the place for us. Thanks Josh!

Lazy fun filled Uno night (I won both games!)

Cheesing for the camera


Beach front houses

White Sandy beach

What, no picture?!

I know I didn't update a picture this week. I was feeling lazy for some reason and really didn't want to do myself up to get a picture. I'll take one this week though. And just so you don't think I've been too lazy, we've had major accomplishments this week. After spending last weekend clearing out a good majority of the baby's room, we've finished most of it at this point. Chris took the other bookshelf and books downstairs along with the pink recliner :) We picked up the dresser today and also touched up the walls. I'm hoping to put the crib together sometime this week before our vacation to Gulf Shores, AL on Friday...yahoo!!!!

It's a Boy!!!

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Hand by Face

Starting the Nursery

Chris and I spent the day preparing our house for what will soon be the nursery. In order for this to happen, we first had to put together two new bookshelves in our front living room. We planned to bring all the office furniture downstairs as well but decided against it after moving the desk. Our front living room is so oddly shaped that it can be difficult to rearrange furniture. Instead, we rearranged the guest bedroom so we could put the desk and office stuff in there. Here's what we have so far:

Soon to be nursery

New bookshelves in living room

Guest Room

We also purchased a rocker/recliner/chaise for the nursery today. It should be in by Tuesday (ultrasound day!!!) Here it is: