One month!

Can't believe it's been a month already! My plan is to do a photo shoot with Miles each month with the scottie dog stuffed animal to track his growth. But he wasn't really into it :) Some more shots from our "session": 

(ha, it looks like the dog is chasing him:)

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And another favorite from today: 

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I'll be back later with stories from our "exciting" week (and by exciting I mean awful and traumatic). Two trips to the hospital: one for Miles, one for me. We're all okay -- but not fun.

Still here.

cutest feet ever

A quick note to say: I'm still here! I keep thinking how nice it would be to jump on the blog and post pictures of Miles, or type out a post about motherhood and the first weeks of this crazy roller coaster ride...but time is the strangest thing these days. It literally slips through my fingers -- every day -- and I am not sure how morning to night happens so quickly! This teeny tiny person consumes most moments of my day leaving little to no time for things like blogging, emailing people back, showering, eating, etc. But I'll try to get on here more often, promise. 

And p.s.: Miles is 3 weeks old today!! 

He's here!

I'd like to happily introduce you to our son (we have a SON! whoa), Miles Daniel, born September 1st, 2011 at 8:38pm in the evening, 7lbs 10oz. Oh and he is definitely the cutest baby I've ever seen :)  

It's been a crazy, beautiful, emotional week (hence not getting on here earlier with the news) and we are learning/loving/living our way through this whole thing. I've spent a lot of time over the last week just staring at him in amazement. He really is amazing (and to think he still wouldn't be here until for another week!). More later...

xo

It's time.

One last city photo to post before we head to the hospital for the Life Changing Event! I don't have a whole lot to say as my mind is pretty much a pile of mush right now between all the things we still need to do and the nerves/excitement.

Until next time....!

The weekend (in photos).

Rooftop bar on Friday night w/ friends (look at that view!) -- one last late night hurrah before baby comes...

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...and deserted streets before hurricane Irene's arrival (she didn't really do much of anything up in our 'hood (see last photo below))

the extent of "damage" to our car (thank goodness!)

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And the latest baby news is that I am going to be induced on THURSDAY, Sept. 1. That is THREE days away, people! Actually, we head to the hospital on Wednesday night where I'll be monitored overnight and then Thursday morning is GO time! I am a ball of nerves and excitement and whoa. Lots of WHOA. Just can't wrap my brain around all of this! Will try to jump on here one more time before the big event.

xo

Baby update.

my growing boy! (36 weeks)

As I mentioned in my last post, it looks like this little guy will be here *very* soon....as in (probably) next week (!!) (original due date was September 19th). This is all due to some complications that arose a couple of weeks ago, and so doctors are talking about inducing me at 37 weeks. Eek. 

It's been quite the emotional roller coaster around these parts lately. Besides the fact that this turn of events has been worrisome and scary, we're also still getting settled into our new home and aren't exactly feeling prepared for this life-changing event to happen quite so soon! 

Here's the sort of/semi-short version of the story: only a few days after my first doctor's appointment here, I started developing strange symptoms (incredibly itchy hands and feet) which I then googled, leading me to find out about a condition called cholestasis that typically occurs later in pregnancy -- strange, but seemingly non-alarming symptoms that are actually a sign of something going on in the mother's liver that can be dangerous for the baby. I seriously didn't think I had this, but called my doctor anyway just to be safe. They had me come in for tests and a day later called to say I did in fact have cholestasis, which was pretty shocking to hear. I'm now on medication and getting weekly non-stress tests to make sure the baby is doing alright (he's been doing great!) and the doctors have assured me that everything is under control and will be just fine. The tricky thing about this condition is that things can change very quickly and become more risky towards the end, especially beyond 39 weeks, which is why they typically induce between 37-38 weeks. So as much as I hate the idea of going in before we (me and baby) are ready, it's what needs to happen for his safety and health. 

I'm trying hard not to stress about everything and to really trust God through all of this (some days that's easier to do than others). I am so thankful for my competent and caring doctors and that this was caught early -- and also thankful that, despite this turn of events, baby is doing great and is more active than ever. And one positive to all of this is that we get to meet him SO soon! (okay, so that kind of excites me and terrifies me all at once!)   

I would so appreciate your prayers for his safety and for a smooth and safe delivery. I also wanted to share this story in case there are any other preggers out there who might be feeling itchy (with no rash -- that's the indicator!): call your doctor! Or if anything pops up that seems unusual/questionable...make the call no matter how silly it seems. I really wrestled with calling with such a 'minor' thing, especially since I was new to the practice and didn't want to be seen as their new, high-maintenance patient. But that's what they're there for, so it really is worth it to have peace of mind and a safe/healthy pregnancy and baby.

I'll hopefully know more about everything (induction date, etc.) later this week and will keep you posted. Thanks for listening (reading) :)

The ever-growing baby bump.

28 weeks!

Thought I'd post my latest belly explosion! Here I am at 28 weeks. Apologies for the strange orange color -- as charming as our apartment is with all of it's brightly painted walls, it doesn't make for the greatest photo backdrops/lighting!

I am officially in the third trimester now (according to my doctor, that is -- I didn't even know I had reached such a milestone!). I definitely have more aches and pains these days, and getting out of chairs as become quite the challenge with all that extra weight in front (like a little bowling ball!) and the lower back pain. BUT...aside from that, I am feeling pretty good! This little guy likes to move and wiggle and kick constantly, and Dan and I love staring at my belly at night, waiting for a big kick or (what we think is) a tiny foot poke out. Fascinating! 

Past belly shots here: 25 weeks, 21 weeks, 18 weeks. 

City baby.

Dwell Studio Skyline bedding

I've been trying to get  my act together lately and finally register for some baby stuff (which is incredibly overwhelming but also incredibly addicting. Once I get started on reading reviews, looking at nursery decor, etc., it's hard to stop!). Today I came across this Skyline crib bedding by Dwell Studio (love their stuff). Wouldn't this be great for a city baby's room? Cute without being too cutesy. Love it. Through Amazon I discovered the whole line: blankets, bibs, washcloths...the works! And I want it all! :) 

Baby News: It's a.....

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BOY!!!!!!!!!

We had our big 18 week ultrasound appointment yesterday and were thrilled to see a healthy, active (very active) baby boy! Even though my gut all along said GIRL (and I've always been good at guessing other people's babies!), I am so incredibly happy to know Dan and I get to raise a little boy together. (So much for those early "maternal instincts," eh?!).

It is interesting because the night before the appointment I had at least three different dreams in which we were told the baby was a boy at our appointment. And I felt confusion and disappointment in those dreams, because I was so sure it was a girl! After waking up, I took those to dreams to heart and tried to 'mentally prepare' myself for either outcome. And then I read this blog post (on having a boy) about 15 minutes before leaving for our appointment. Think God was trying to prepare me, perhaps? :) It's not that I even *wanted* a girl more, necessarily, it was just what I felt. So when we were in that quiet, dimly lit room with the technician, watching our baby dance on the screen and she said, "Yup, it's definitely a little boy" (then pointed out the evidence), all I felt was relief and joy and excitement (after the initial "REALLY??" moment and mental readjustment, that is). I'm not sure why I felt relief....maybe I *did* really want a boy after all?! Or perhaps it was finally knowing who this little person inside of me was...a HIM, not an IT! And you know? It feels right. It just made sense when she said boy...of course it's a boy! It is what was always meant to be :) 

We had a few minutes alone with our baby up on the screen while the technician went to print out her report and that's when it really hit me. Images flashed in my mind of our future: of a little boy who looks like Dan, with those big, kind eyes (be still my heart!) running around and getting dirty at the park, playing with toy cars, building forts, etc., and my heart just melted.  

All this to say: I am so, so happy :) Above all else, I thank God for a healthy baby so far and for a chance to witness such a miracle yesterday.

More fun shots from the day: 

on our way to the hospital to find out (I was so nervous!)

there he is! (it looks like he's smiling, I think)

belly shot! I feel like I look super-pregnant in that close-up, profile shot.

I think that outfit accentuated the bump :) 

celebrating that night w/ dinner and a concert...perfect ending to a perfect day 

(even w/ the crappy weather!)

xo