Nursery Before & After

Dear Conor,

The meat and bones of your nursery is finally complete.  We are still waiting on some smaller items to be purchased but the painting and cleaning and organizing is all done.  Therefore I thought it would be a great time to do a Before and After post.

Prior to your room becoming yours it was our home office.  It was the first room that we renovated when we moved in as I would need a place to study and law school was starting in a few weeks.  We selected the moose theme because I thought it was cute and I was excited to be in Maine.  Here is what it looked like when it was our office:

Once I opened my own practice we moved the office to the main floor of the house and moved the guestroom up to the "Moose Room".  I hadn't gotten around to decorating it as a guest room because we were toying with the idea of painting it so it stayed as a Moose room for several months.

Then, we learned that you were coming and we just knew that the renovations we had talked about would be perfect for a baby's room - so I started painting and the work began.  Here is the room now....almost 100% ready for your arrival!

I just love how your room has turned out and I can't wait for those finishing touches to arrive.  Your room is by far my favorite room in the house.  It makes me so happy that we were able to provide you with such a nice space to come home too.  Having such a beautiful room also makes those sleepless nights that I am certain we will share seem not so terrible (of course, I might not say that when I'm running on a few days with no sleep!).

I hope you like your room as much as we do!

xoxo
Mom

Week 34 - Tired and Trials?

Dear Conor,

Week 34 has not started out so great.  Mom had a trial scheduled for Tuesday and it was going to go all day long.  So I got up early, packed a very good lunch and some snacks for us as well as some water.  But, the trial was still long and it was difficult to sit in the VERY uncomfortable court chairs for several hours at a time.  You didn't like it either - you started moving around a lot towards the end of the day.  I think you were trying to tell me that you were uncomfortable because I know that I was. 

When we got home we were exhausted and then I began to feel sick.  Your Dad and I ended up going to the store for gingerale and oyster crackers because I was worried about eating anything else.  I ended up falling asleep shortly after we got back and while I felt better this morning it still wasn't great.

I also had my first good cry today.  I was so frustrated with doctor's offices and the bills they send out - they just never make any sense and the pressure to have everything organized, paid, and in order became too overwhelming for me this morning and I just started crying and couldn't stop.  I was so embarrassed to have had this reaction to something so insignificant in the grand scheme of life but your Dad was great and made me feel much better - we are going to wrestle with some of these bills together.

I am still feeling worn down and I have a stuffy nose so I think I am also coming down with a cold which could be contributing to my feeling a little under the weather.  You however continue to move around and it's clear that you are feeling quite well.

We have birthing class tomorrow night and we will be learning about post delivery care of mom and baby - YIKES!  Hopefully we remember everything we learn!

Hopefully the second half of week 34 will be better!

xoxo
Mom

Little Moments

Dear Conor,

My hope for you is that someday you will find someone you love enough to marry and that the two of you will be fortunate enough to be a dad.  When the time comes, if it comes, I hope that your Dad helps you to take care of your spouse in the same ways that he has taken care of me as you grow inside.  This weekend we were supposed to work on the house and get a ton of different things accomplished.  We worked very hard on Saturday - perhaps too hard because nothing seemed to be coming along easily and at the end of the day I felt entirely defeated.

Your Dad recognized this and decided that it was time for us to spend some time focusing on enjoying this process and our time together.  He came to me and told me to pack a bag and that we would be spending the night in a nearby hotel that had a heated swimming pool and a great buffet breakfast.  We got up Sunday morning and I did one task (putting a first coat of pain on the shelf supports in the bathroom) and then it was time to go.

We took a nice ride up to Freeport and walked around the different shops just enjoying the time outside and the fresh air.  We got steamed hot dogs from the street vendor and even got a little bit of Christmas shopping done.  Then we drove to the hotel.  It was such a nice feeling to not spend the day thinking of the lists of things that needed to be done at home.  We ordered take-out from a local restaurant and watched some brainless TV.  We also read a little of our workbook and went swimming.

The swimming was so nice and it felt great to float around in the pool. I loved it so much that I think I am going to sign up for a weekly swim class.  This morning we got up, went for a swim and got a great breakfast.

Spending that 1:1 time with your Dad without the nagging needs of the home was great and reminded us that we need to take time to enjoy little moments throughout the week/day with each other no matter how busy we are individually.  You are arriving in 6 weeks and from this point forward I am pledging to take time each day for just your Dad and I.  And, when your time comes - I will remind you to do the same.

xoxo
Mom

Week 33

Dear Conor,

Thursday's birthing class was very informative but also made the idea of birthing you a little scary.  Your Dad had to leave about 20 minutes early because Hunter had been home for 4 hours alone and that is about his time limit.  When he left we were watching a movie and it was just getting to the actual birth viewing.  The teacher came up to me after class and wanted to make sure that he was ok.  The look on her face when I explained why he had to leave was priceless - and then she shared a picture of her grandpuppy that lives in Sweden.

Friday we had a doctor's appointment.  This was our first biweekly appointment.  We talked about carseats, prelabor contractions and a few other things we had discussed in our class just the night before.  After talking (and coming to the conclusion that I needed to wear wrist guards at night to help with my hand issues) we began measurements.  You are measuring spot on for 33 weeks and your heartbeat was a strong 145.  You are head down (and have been for several weeks) and curled in a "C" shape with your little feet touching my right side.  Your butt is up by my ribs and the midwife thinks you have a boney butt (this made me laugh because that is a trait that runs in my family).

Today I worked on so many projects but nothing is wanting to come together very quickly.  Tomorrow I have a little bit of painting in your room left and then I have to wash the floor and it will be done.  The shelves have gone up in the bathroom and I am working on staining those tomorrow as well and painting the supports.  Staining takes time because you have to do each side and the edges and then poly so I will be working on those all week.  I am going to try to convince your Grandma Mary to come up in the the next two weeks and help me paint the bathroom (and maybe the hallway or my bedroom) and make sure that there is nothing I am overlooking in our preparations for your arrival.

The bedding for your room arrived and we are not in love with it so I am sending it back and ordering the original bedding that I liked.  If I can return it on Monday then I should have your new stuff in by early next week and that element of your room will also be complete - then it will just be curtains and decor!

A pregnancy issue this last week has been heartburn that can't be easily cooled and occurs more than twice a day.  I am currently eating a few Tums a day and taking Pepcid at bedtime along with my prenatal vitamin.  It is my hope that once you drop I will have a little relief.  I think you will drop in the next few weeks because you tend to "bobble" down low towards the evening hours and then you float back up by the next morning.  I have also had a lot of swelling in my feet.  This is normal and is not currently a concern for the midwives but I have been told I need to put my feet up at the end of the day.  This is very hard for me but I am going to give it my best try because I don't want my feet to hurt.  I also have an odd symptom in which my finger joints hurt when I try to bend them.  They hurt more in the morning than any other time of the day but the pain is present during the entire day.  I am now going to be wearing wrist splints at night to prevent my from sleeping with my wrists in awkward positions which might help alleviate some of the pain in my hands and is that doesn't work then it might be time to see a physical therapist or another type of doctor to get some relief.  I am also looking into some prenatal aqua-aerobics classes as there is some belief that swimming or being in water can help with both the swelling in my feet and the pain in my hands.

So, that's the update for this week - next week I am going to start packing hospital bags......I have a feeling the next few weeks are going to just fly by and we don't want to be caught off guard!

xoxo
Mom

Birthing Class #2 - Labor and Delivery

Dear Conor,

Tonight will be our second birthing class and the outline states that we will be learing all about labor and delivery.  I am nervous.  I am enjoying having you growing in my belly because you move a lot more now and I can sense the little person you are becoming - the idea of expelling you from my body scares me a great deal.  I am nervous about the idea of bringing you into this world both literally and figuratively.  I worry that I don't yet have the skills to be a Mom - let alone a Mom to a little boy.  I worry that I won't be able to mold you into a strong and smart, yet kind and empathetic man.  I worry that the world has so many troubles you will get lost in them because I won't be able to teach you right from wrong or you will misunderstand my teachings - or choose to ignore them completely.  I also worry about my physical ability to bring you into this world.  Will I be able to handle the pain?  Will I be strong enough to push you out when the time comes?  Will I be able to nurish you and give you the best start?

I don't want you to think your Mom is a worrywart because I am not.  These worries are not unnatural and are held by every parent prior to the delivery of their son/daughter and, when you and your spouse are going through this very difficult transition, I hope seeing my worries here in black and white will remind you that it's ok to have fears and worries.

But, I am excited about this class because I have never witnesses a labor or delivery and all the stories I have heard have been so different - it will be nice to hear from a professional what we might expect on the day you decide to arrive.  Your Dad is looking forward to this class - he has said so a few times this week.  I think the only one not looking forward to this class is Hunter because it means he will be left home alone tonight for a few hours - but its a small price he will have to pay now if he wants you to come home in a few weeks (and I know he does - we all do!).

xoxo
Mom

More Nursery Sneak Peaks

Dear Conor,

The nursery is about 99% complete and I couldn't be happier with the results.  The crib went together rather easily and the bedding is just what I had hoped it would be.  It provides a lot of soothing light blues with punches of red and dark blues to stimulate your eyes.  The furniture is beautiful.  I can honestly say that you have the nicest furniture (and the nicest room) in the house.

I wasn't going to give any more sneak peaks till it was 100% done but all that's left is to finish installing outlet covers (I have to buy them first) and to finish trimming out the blue paint.  That will likely be finished this week - I  had to wait for the white paint to really "cure" to ensure no bleeding between the paints and to ensure that any tape won't peel the white paint off.  I also have to decorate the walls but I am going to wait on those until the guestroom side is done.

So, without futher ado - here is your nursery:

The changing table - I love the mix of green and blue basket liners!

Your crib as viewed from the guest bed.  The whale basket was the first thing we bought for you.

A close up of your bedding.

The entire view as seen from the guestbed - the stroller bassinet is next to your crib.

Your dad and I have put a lot of thought and work into this room; I truly can't believe that only a few months ago the room was forest green and had a moose/bear border; and we really hope that it suits your needs for several years to come.

We have now turned our focus to the guest bed and ordered the bedding for that this past weekend.  I'm not going to sneak peak that right now because we don't have it here yet but hopefully it will arrive by this weekend and we can dress the bed.  After that it will be time to pick out curtains and a night stand.....and decorate the walls but that will come in time of course :)

As of today there are only SEVEN weeks left till your arrival - and we can't wait to meet you!

xoxo
Mom

Nursery Progress

Dear Conor,

These last few days I have been so busy working on your room.  I can only do so much at a time because (1) I have to let paint dry and (2) my body (with you growing in it) can't handle as much physical labor as it used to be able to do.

Last night I finally finished painting your woodwork.  As I said before - your room is the first room where we have transformed the woodwork from stained to painted white.  It was a long and hard process but I love the final look.

After painting I started washing the floors.  Because we had to paint your ceilings - paint splatters were on the floor so the only way to wash it was by hand with a hot sponge and scour the areas where the splatters were.  So that is what I did (well, I'm almost done - I have to finish today or tomorrow).  First I scoured the floor with the hot water, then I used the wet swiffer to get all the little dots up and give the floor a quick cleaning.  Once that dried I used our regular wood floor cleaner to finish it all off.  I got two large sections of the room done.  All that is left is the closet and the area where your crib will go. 

Because so much  progress was made we moved somethings back into your room in order to give us more room in other places of the house.  The queen sized frame and box-springs went back into your room (the mattress will likely go in this weekend once I purchase things for the legs of the frame and finish a few touch-ups on the blue wall that I have yet to do) as did your changing table.  Your changing table has had a few homes in our house since we brought it home from the store but it finally came to rest where it was always intended to be - your room.

Because I couldn't resisit (and they have been sitting in the back of my truck for a week) I got out some of the baskets we bought for the table and filled them with the diapers from Auntie Lindsay's diaper cake.  It was so sad to take the cake apart but we will need the diapers and there is no where for me to keep it set up until you arrive.  Then I got out the changing pad and its cover and we connected that as well.  There are still two larger baskets for the bottom shelf and I need to figure out if I am going to get an organizer for the top but right now I think it looks pretty good (stil not sure I am keeping the changing pad cover in that color - I will have to wait till everything is put together to make that decision).

Here's a sneak peak!

That's all the sneak peaks you get - I'm not going to post pictures again until the room is 100% done!

xoxo
Mom

Hunter - The Quality Control Expert

Dear Conor,

I realized that I don't write much on your blog about Hunter.  He is such a big part of our family and I can't wait for the two of you to be good friends.  We are preparing him for your arrival in every way that we can and he seems to be taking to things very well.

When I got home from your Cape Cod Baby shower and set up your tranformer stroller Hunter wanted to ensure it was not only safe but that there was plenty of room for him.

Hunter in the cargo hold.

Little did he know that we had already thought about him and had purchased an attachment for your stroller that would allow him to ride in an area a little more plush and that when he wasn't riding you could also use.

City Select Bassinet Attachment

The stroller isn't the only baby item that Hunter has been making sure is just perfect for you.  Everytime we set something up he likes to jump into it and make sure that it meets his very particular standards.

Car Seat Testing

This included testing your carseat that we took out of the box yesterday.  I had no sooner placed it on the floor and removed the plastic wrap and he was seated in it.  His smile clearly shows that this seat is going to be just perfect for you.  Hunter also tested out your swing and your Pack and Play but I don't have pictures of those.  He really enjoyed your Pack and Play - the swing - not so much as he jumped out of that one right away.

Hunter is going to be such a great big brother to you - I just hope that you love him as much as we do.

xoxo
Mom

Week 32 & Updates

Dear Conor,

Lots of things to report :

(1) I developed some kind of weird itching thing last week that was a tad bit annoying.  I didn't itch on my stomach but on my legs, arms, and behind my ears - and only at night.  A cool shower helped but we still were unable to sleep Wednesday night (it wasn't just the itching - for some reason I just couldn't get comfortable).

(2) Friday (10/07/2011) I had a doctor's appointment.  I mentioned the itching to the midwife and she was a little concerned so she wanted me to report after the weekend if I was still itching because they would want to draw blood and test for certain things (thankfully I haven't itched since Friday so no worries).  At this appointment I weighed 154 which means that I have gained a total of 27ish pounds as I was between 125 and 127 at my first appointment.  The midwife is very happy about this weight gain and says that I "look great."  My blood pressue continues to be perfect and your heartbeat is also strong and "sounds good."  This was the last monthly appointment - we now have to go to the doctor's every two weeks until some point in November when we start going weekly.  I can't believe that you will arrive in 8 weeks!!!

(3) Saturday (10/08/2011) I primed all the woodwork in your room.  It took a LONG time because there is not only a lot of woodwork but I also had to take a lot of breaks.  But I got both coats of prime on by the end of the night which meant that the room would be ready for paint on Monday.

(4) Sunday (10/09/2011) we drove down to Auntie Ana and Uncle Gordon's house to meet Little Gordon.  He was just adorable and oh so very tiny.  I doubt you will be that small but I can't wait to hold you like I held him.  He fell alseep on my chest with his little legs resting on my belly - right near where your little feet are so it was almost as if you were touching.  After he fell alseep I put him in his little swing and we visited for a while longer before heading to the mall to purchase some items for you.

Yesterday (Columbus Holiday) I spent the day once more in your nursery crawling around painting all the woodwork. But the task is done and it is my hope that we can wash and wax the floors tonight and start moving your furniture in tomorrow!!!  As we start birth classes this week we have one less night each week for the next four weeks in which to get things done.  And, with you coming in only 8 short weeks I feel the need to restore my house to what it used to look like (before all your boxes of things arrived) as soon as I can!!!

xoxo
Mom

Week 31 & Pictures

Dear Conor,

We are 1/2 way through week 31 which means there are only 9 weeks until your birthday (if you come on time).  I have continued to try to take pictures every few weeks to document your growth.  There hard to take and I honestly do not like how I look in the pictures.  While I look normal in person for some reason on camera I just look different.  But, all that aside - it is important to document so here goes :

Since August 20, 2011 you have grown a lot and therefore so have I!  I will find out tomorrow how much you have grown in the last month and if we are still measuring one week ahead.  Certain clothes make me look much bigger than I really am, especially later in the day when I am tired and retaining a lot of water.

This week you and I have not been sleeping.  Well, we have been sleeping just not a lot.  We seem unable to fall asleep before midnight and I have to be up no later than 7 more days.  With the multiple bathroom breaks during the night and the shifting to get comfortable I would estimate that we sleep about 4-5 hours a night. 

This last week there has also been a lot of itching.  But not on my stomach - on my legs, hands, feet and behind my ears.  Weird I know.  I am going to mention it to the doctor tomorrow.  I continue to use lotion in an attempt to keep the stretch marks away and keep my skin nice and moist.  You seem to like when I rub lotion on my stomach at night because it usually makes you move around a bit.

Last night I am certain I felt you roll over for the first time.  It was a very odd feeling but one I wonder if you will repeat tonight so I can determine if it is really you rolling over.  Your movements are still concentrated in the mornings and the evenings (usually once I have layed down for the night); you tend to sleep during the day which continues to allow me to get my work done which I greatly appreciate!

Well, that's all for now.

xoxo
Mom

The Birth of a Friend

Dear Conor,

Tonight at 6:44pm your Uncle Gordon texted me to let me know that he and Auntie Ana were on the way to the hospital to bring little Gordon into the world.  Your Auntie Ana is my very best friend and we are lucky enough to both be pregnant at the same time and both bringing little boys into the world.  I do hope that you and little Gordon will be very good friends as you grow up.  Uncle Gordon and Auntie Ana are two of the select few people that I would ever feel comfortable leaving you with if I needed to go away for a few days and couldn't take you with me - so I am sure you will have a good relationship with them as well.

Little Gordon was scheduled to be born on October 17 (which is also his parents anniversary) but it appears that he had other plans. 

UPDATE (10/3/2011):

Little Gordon was born at 2:05am this morning (10/3/11).  He weighed 5 pounds 11 ounces and was 17 inches long.  I talked to Uncle Gordon this morning around 10am and both Little Gordon and Auntie Ana had just fallen sleep.  I think we will be visiting them at home this weekend instead of at the hospital - but I will wait until we talk to Auntie Ana to see what she would like.  Uncle Gordon said that Auntie Ana was a trooper and labored at home from 1:30pm to 6:30pm when they left for the hospital - she is a very strong woman and I have no doubt that she did a great job :) 

xoxo
Mom