tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37992475732086238092024-03-13T10:14:28.080-07:00Nicole Blogs... (about baby, and home, and work!).Random blog about pregnancy, etc.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-6168533155529328582012-03-13T14:41:00.001-07:002012-03-13T14:43:32.387-07:00So Sad. Try, Try, Try Again.. Right?Went in for my 8 week ultrasound yesterday. No baby, no heartbeat. Just a gestational sac measuring 5 weeks. So all along that sac was causing my symptoms and bloat, but my baby never formed. I know it's a chromosome issue, nothing I did, nothing I could of done, etc. But I'm still so sad.<br /><br />I fully intend to try again right away. I am just waiting now to miscarry on my own. I've been bleeding since yesterday, but it isn't severe, very mild. Not sure how long it could take. I am so ready to get pregnant, have a healthy, happy pregnancy, and get my take home baby.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-63806018947346263212012-03-06T10:41:00.002-08:002012-03-06T10:53:12.053-08:007 Weeks!!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wjTXSUHV-wo/T1Zc3RM0z7I/AAAAAAAABCU/Oq1cSul3GYA/s1600/IMG_20120305_112750.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716858881573179314" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wjTXSUHV-wo/T1Zc3RM0z7I/AAAAAAAABCU/Oq1cSul3GYA/s320/IMG_20120305_112750.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>How far along: 7 weeks</div><br /><div>How big is baby: a blueberry! 1/2 Inch</div><br /><div>Weight gain: 3lb. Not quite as ravenous as last week, and I've been able to go a few hours without eating without feeling like I'm goign to die. Score one for me!</div><br /><div>Maternity clothes: For comfort reasons, but not out of neccesity.</div><br /><div>Stretch marks: no new ones!</div><br /><div>Sleep: great! I love love love to sleep. I have very vivid dreams everynight but it doesn't bother me much.</div><br /><div>Best moment this week: knowing I have only 5 days and a few hours until my first ultrasound!</div><br /><div>Movement: not yet :)</div><br /><div>Cravings: sweet tea & cheese</div><br /><div>Gender: feeling boy</div><br /><div>Labor signs: happy to say none!</div><br /><div>Belly button: in</div><br /><div>What i miss: not being moody</div><br /><div>What im looking forward to: ultrasound in 5.5 days!</div><br /><div>Weekly wisdom: I'm not feeling very wise today</div><br /><div>Milestones: another week down with no spotting or anything negative at all happening. Thats all I pray for every night.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>This are excellent over here! Feeling good. The bloat is finally going down a bit, and still no nausea. I am feeling very blessed here lately.</div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-61852789897763139932012-02-28T16:06:00.001-08:002012-02-28T16:06:15.214-08:006 weeks!<div><p>Hi everyone!</p>
<p>How far along: 6 weeks<br>
How big is baby: a sweet pea!<br>
Weught gain: 3lb. This pregnancy is starting out like aidans.. Ravenous right off the bat! Hoping to slow that down.<br>
Maternity clothes: ive been wearing a few shirts just for comfort, not neccesary yet of course.<br>
Stretch marks: no new ones!<br>
Sleep: still averaging 10 glorious hours a night. Lots of tossing and turning though. My hips are already getting sore at night!<br>
Best moment this week: just turning six weeks, less time until my ultrasound!<br>
Movement: im constantly moving, i have a two year old! Lol. No baby movement yet.<br>
Cravings: sweet tea!<br>
Gender: feeling boy<br>
Labor signs: happy to say none!<br>
Belly button: in<br>
What i miss: nothing<br>
What im looking forward to: ultrasound in 13 days!<br>
Weekly wisdom: cliche, but try to relax. Im pregnant today.<br>
Milestones: another week down with no spotting or anything negative at all happening. Thats all i pray for every night.</p>
<p>Im feeling good! Tired at the end of the day but nothing severe. No nausea. Some heartburn and breast tenderness. Overall im just on cloud 9 pretty much all the time. Feeling very blessed in this household.</p>
<p>Aidan had a pedi appt this morning for a flouride treatment, then mike brought him to my work. He had a blast charming everyone at my work. Love his little self so much!</p>
<br/><img src='http://lh3.ggpht.com/-C-kdufrLWYQ/T01r83nuZeI/AAAAAAAABCA/NqMABWURv5Q/20120221_194320.png' /><br/><img src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/-i9XCBCX_6UQ/T01r9Zf_OCI/AAAAAAAABCI/o6bT2MJMMeQ/IMG_20120228_131732.png' /></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-38243796314564784972012-02-22T14:32:00.000-08:002012-02-22T14:44:56.364-08:005 Weeks<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ALghrB54oeg/T0VvjLrCYJI/AAAAAAAABBs/lX6BDEcyC6Y/s1600/IMG_20120220_084656.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712094352608747666" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ALghrB54oeg/T0VvjLrCYJI/AAAAAAAABBs/lX6BDEcyC6Y/s320/IMG_20120220_084656.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br />There I am in all of my bloated glory. Random people are already commenting on my pregnancy. Seriously. I think I need a girdle. Or to stop eating everything in sight. lol<br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Baby size: Apple seed!</div><br /><br /><div>How far along: 5 weeks </div><br /><div><br />Total weight gain: +1</div><br /><br /><div>Sleep: My body is sore, I pee once a night, I wake up early and am restless- but it’s still good sleep.</div><br /><br /><div>Maternity Clothes: Not needed yet</div><br /><br /><div>Food cravings: carbs of any form!</div><br /><br /><div>Food aversions: Nothing off the top of my head</div><br /><br /><div>Symptoms: Heartburn, slightly increased urination, slight fatigue</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Stretchmarks: No new ones!</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Doctor’s Appointment: First ultrasound March 12th, and first OB appointment soon too, just waiting on a call back to set the date.</div><br /><br /><div>Movement: Not yet :)</div><br /><br /><div>Belly Button: In still</div><br /><br /><div>Gender: Who knows!</div><br /><br /><div>Best moment of the week: Being 5 weeks! Not much is getting me down lately.</div><br /><div><br />What I’m looking forward to: My first ultrasound!<br /><br />What I miss: Not too much, really. I'm just really grateful to be pregnant again.</div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-30707348037293441282012-02-15T09:16:00.001-08:002012-02-15T09:39:08.469-08:00I'm Back With News<div><br /><div>Wordpress just wasn't what I thought it would be, and I'd all but quit blogging over there before I realized it was because I just hate the interface! So I'm back.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Aidan is 2 years, 2 months, and some days old. He is talking more, running around, and just generally being the best little boy ever. Love him to pieces.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709414095432049362" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UnitFoqSZ_E/Tzvp3rnV4tI/AAAAAAAABAc/U703ad-nxbw/s320/aidanis2.jpg" /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Since the last time I was here I got pregnant again (August 29th I got my BFP). We packed up, moved to a bigger house, and then I started bleeding. I was diagnosed with a Subchorionic Hematoma at 9 weeks and I bled daily until I lost our angel at 15 weeks. It was just too much.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>But we were in our new house, picked out for our family of 4 and suddenly we're back to a family of three. We made it through the first few weeks (thanks to Buspar for me, and beer for Mike, and Aidan snuggles for both of us). Once I got my cycle back we wanted to try again, so we did. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>And on February 12th, 2012 I got this:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709413843161559042" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NJ_aXXzBcgE/Tzvpo_1XsAI/AAAAAAAABAQ/_fyvb6rvIY4/s320/IMG_20120215_081308.jpg" /></div></div>Due October 23rd, 2012! Now let us just hope for a healthy one this time, okay?? I'm only 4w1d right now, but I'm way too excited to keep it a secret. I'm so excited to be starting this journey again!<br /><br /><br /><br />4 Weeks:<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709416389660833058" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1EnTsRXc4hk/Tzvr9OSG9SI/AAAAAAAABAo/7dFoInwfgjs/s320/IMG_20120215_123015.jpg" /><br />How far along? 4 Weeks 1 Day</p><br /><p>Total weight gain/loss: 0 - I'm enjoying this number while I can!</p><br /><p>Sleep: I can't get enough. The exhaustion hit early this time. I'm yawning all day, and by 9pm if I'm not in bed I am literally falling asleep on the couch!</p><br /><p>Best moment this week: Getting my BFP! Even though we had been trying, it's still a shock to see it happen so quickly. </p><br /><p>Movement: Just gas bubbles moving around in there ;)</p><br /><p>Symptoms: Hungry all the time, tired, heartburn.</p><br /><p>Food cravings: No cravings yet!</p><br /><p>Food aversions: None yet.</p><br /><p>Gender: No idea!</p><br /><p>Labor Signs: None</p><br /><p>Belly Button in or out? In.</p><br /><p>What I miss: Nothing</p><br /><p>What I am looking forward to: First ultrasound March 12th to see the heartbeat!</p><br /><p>Weekly Wisdom: RELAX! Worrying accomplishes nothing.</p><br /><p>Milestones: Umm... getting pregnant! lol<br /><br /></p>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-50491472498829919372011-07-06T11:34:00.000-07:002011-07-06T11:35:47.546-07:00I've MovedI swore I had updated this but Blogger must have eaten my post, which is a big part of the reason I moved to Word Press! By all means come on over and check us out. I've missed all my blog buddies!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.anewnicole.wordpress.com/">http://www.anewnicole.wordpress.com</a>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-59034018582117691292010-12-07T09:11:00.000-08:002010-12-07T09:56:30.254-08:00Christmas Card Time Has Arrived<div align="left">I'm a little behind the ball this year, but it's time to think about Christmas cards already!<br /></div><div align="left">I normally send out generic cards that I pick up at the store, but this year we are wanting to do <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards"><em><strong>photo cards</strong> </em></a>to show family and friends what Aidan looks like now that he's one year old!<br /></div><div align="left">We have used Shutterfly multiple times in the past. We've ordered <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars"><strong><em>calendars</em></strong></a>, we ordered our <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/announcements/birth-announcements?c=60401"><strong><em>birth announcements</em></strong></a> through them, and of course we've ordered prints as well. I've never had anything bad to say about Shutterfly, so of course when I saw their <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards"><strong><em>Christmas Photo Cards</em></strong></a> it didn't take much to twist my arm into wanting to order from them.<br /></div><div align="left">I've been looking around for a while now and I can't figure out which type I should get!<br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 361px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.shutterfly.com/img_/publishing/styleSwatches/ssc/stationerycard_5x7/STATIONERYCARD_5x7-23046-2710-MERCHLARGE_FRONT-v1281039951000125175.jpg" /><br /><p align="center">(<a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/starlight-snowflakes-christmas-card-5x7-flat?sortType=1&fa=2&storeNode=93496&fe=1&fb=1"><strong><em>Source</em></strong></a>)<br />Option 1: This would of course have a picture of Aidan front and center!<br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 361px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.shutterfly.com/img_/publishing/styleSwatches/ssc/stationerycard_folded_5x7/STATIONERYCARD_FOLDED_5x7-27137-2922-MERCHLARGE_FRONT-v128882227100096858.jpg" /> <p align="center">(<a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/frosted-glass-snowflakes-christmas-5x7-folded-card?sortType=1&fa=2&storeNode=93496&fe=1&fb=1"><em><strong>Source</strong></em></a>)</p><p align="center">Option 2: This could be either a family shot, or a single shot. I was thinking more family style, as shown above.</p><p align="center"></p><p align="left">Both are 5x7 cardstock, and I just know they will be wonderful quality if my past experiences with Shutterfly have anything to say about it! I do believe I prefer the folded card, just so I can personalize each card without having to include a seperate note for each, but I'm leaving it up to you guys! Any preferences about which one I should get? Any ideas on what type of photo I should use in my cards? </p>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-76721872947710434732010-12-03T07:07:00.000-08:002010-12-03T07:30:44.135-08:00Aidan is One!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkMXYBZd5I/AAAAAAAAAYs/S7lmm5yrv_Y/s1600/car.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546478011808315282" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkMXYBZd5I/AAAAAAAAAYs/S7lmm5yrv_Y/s320/car.jpg" /></a> Got a cool new Cozy Coupe!<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkMS2JXOBI/AAAAAAAAAYk/DmQHiL84mo0/s1600/tru2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546477933995440146" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkMS2JXOBI/AAAAAAAAAYk/DmQHiL84mo0/s320/tru2.jpg" /></a> Dressed up in Toys R Us<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkMPCGufOI/AAAAAAAAAYc/9Y-NrZmRVl4/s1600/birthday.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546477868486130914" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkMPCGufOI/AAAAAAAAAYc/9Y-NrZmRVl4/s320/birthday.jpg" /></a><br />He was THRILLED when we told him it was his birthday.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkMJub0E_I/AAAAAAAAAYU/4_R8VvCX8No/s1600/154968_463231841518_603391518_5735622_1072561_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546477777306522610" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkMJub0E_I/AAAAAAAAAYU/4_R8VvCX8No/s320/154968_463231841518_603391518_5735622_1072561_n.jpg" /></a><br />Playing with a new toy his grandma got him.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkL3YB9rKI/AAAAAAAAAYM/bLjaUPKhg-w/s1600/16.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 253px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546477462054874274" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkL3YB9rKI/AAAAAAAAAYM/bLjaUPKhg-w/s320/16.bmp" /></a><br />Eating some squash!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkLxkMJ7NI/AAAAAAAAAYE/fcL3mfitrcA/s1600/12.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546477362239630546" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkLxkMJ7NI/AAAAAAAAAYE/fcL3mfitrcA/s320/12.bmp" /></a>Always a ham for the camera<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkLssoZaAI/AAAAAAAAAX8/lYnyjULezO4/s1600/149063_169401253090931_100000631721059_416950_6651498_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546477278606223362" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkLssoZaAI/AAAAAAAAAX8/lYnyjULezO4/s320/149063_169401253090931_100000631721059_416950_6651498_n.jpg" /></a> Opening gifts at his party<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkLoLopM1I/AAAAAAAAAX0/T0Ek6SgslUc/s1600/76304_463230306518_603391518_5735600_7792029_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 306px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546477201029411666" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkLoLopM1I/AAAAAAAAAX0/T0Ek6SgslUc/s320/76304_463230306518_603391518_5735600_7792029_n.jpg" /></a><br />Even a busy toddler stops to smell the roses sometimes :)<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkLhPBrvdI/AAAAAAAAAXs/58QmrlQ_bMk/s1600/13.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 294px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546477081680657874" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkLhPBrvdI/AAAAAAAAAXs/58QmrlQ_bMk/s320/13.bmp" /></a><br />Hamming it up. He LOVES everyone, would go to a stranger on the street if they tried to pick him up. He's not shy at all.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkLb4IQOWI/AAAAAAAAAXk/ECG9gPS5tH8/s1600/11.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 257px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546476989634853218" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TPkLb4IQOWI/AAAAAAAAAXk/ECG9gPS5tH8/s320/11.bmp" /></a> A nice shot of his semi busted lip. He misjudged the distance between to places and face planted.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-59426832646512105842010-10-10T10:15:00.000-07:002010-10-10T10:24:28.591-07:00New PicturesAidan's 10.5 months now, and oh boy is he a handful! He's always into everything, but it's so cute it's easy to not get frustrated. He's truly inquisitive about the world around him, and it's awesome to see him learn how things work. His big brown eyes just light up when he discovers something new!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TLH2M9IedPI/AAAAAAAAAW8/lYLmhU0N6_4/s1600/100_1465.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526468920189285618" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TLH2M9IedPI/AAAAAAAAAW8/lYLmhU0N6_4/s320/100_1465.JPG" /></a> He had his first real playdate with a friend close to his age. They played nice the whole time!<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TLH2MspGPdI/AAAAAAAAAW0/XEGheN4lSiQ/s1600/100_1472.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526468915762707922" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TLH2MspGPdI/AAAAAAAAAW0/XEGheN4lSiQ/s320/100_1472.JPG" /></a> He loves it when his daddy lays on the floor with him to play before bedtime.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TLH2MJKdg3I/AAAAAAAAAWs/za1wO2PA1jw/s1600/100_1484.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526468906238968690" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TLH2MJKdg3I/AAAAAAAAAWs/za1wO2PA1jw/s320/100_1484.JPG" /></a> He's teething so he loves to chew on everything, including bottles of Gripe Water.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TLH2LwIJhsI/AAAAAAAAAWk/Y2vK9suhmWg/s1600/100_1483.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526468899518383810" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TLH2LwIJhsI/AAAAAAAAAWk/Y2vK9suhmWg/s320/100_1483.JPG" /></a><br />You can see 2 teeth here, but he has 4 more hiding up top!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TLH2LaJDJKI/AAAAAAAAAWc/xR5MH8rq5fE/s1600/100_1467.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526468893616579746" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TLH2LaJDJKI/AAAAAAAAAWc/xR5MH8rq5fE/s320/100_1467.JPG" /></a> He loves his puffs, and they stick to him if he isn't wearing a shirt ;)</div></div></div></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-76908490247335882662010-10-02T18:07:00.000-07:002010-10-02T18:16:36.664-07:0010 Month LetterDear Aidan,<br /><br />I have no idea where to start! You're 10 months old now. I swear I feel simultaniously like I've known you all my life and that you just got here. Such conflicting emotions but I guess every mom feels that. You do new things every single day, so I'll make a laundry list of them in the interest of quickness:<br /><br /><ul><li>You walk, kind of. You hold 1 handed onto anything and everything and haul butt across the room. Hands, walls, couches, etc.</li><li>You say mama, dada, baba, buhbye, and hey</li><li>You eat everything. Pizza, pasta, etc etc etc. We feed you veggies and all sorts of healthy items but in reality you want whatever we are eating, and we give you bits of it not only to keep you from screaming but to expose you to plenty of foods!</li><li>You FINALLY mastered thumb-pointer finger grip. You still prefer to SHOVEL food into your mouth but you're just an enthusiastic eater and I love that about you.</li><li>Favorite foods are still anything apple, pastas, breads, any fruits, carrots, broccoli, okay... everything! LOL</li><li>You are in size 4 diapers, 12 or 18 month clothing.</li><li>Your favorite toys right now are your Fisher Price music learning table, Fisher Price Roll Along Bongo Drums, and any and everything you can fit into your mouth</li><li>You have 6 teeth. 4 up top, 2 on bottom and you are most definitely working on some more.</li></ul><p> </p><p>And really, I couldn't love you any more than I do. You're simply the most awesome baby ever. Your great great gram passed away this week, and you were an angel (maybe her angel!) every time I took you to see her. You were quiet and respectful and you smiled at me while I cried for her. At the funeral today you kept yourself quiet and when I showed her to you in her casket you reached out and tried to eat the roses she was clutching. You fell asleep in your stroller and while you were awake you literally stole the show. Everyone wanted to love on the "most adorable baby ever". </p><p>You have the most amazing personality ever, and everyone can see it. Thank you for giving me the honor of being your mother.</p><p>I love you,</p><p>Mama</p>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-23140577010757288782010-09-13T06:47:00.000-07:002010-09-13T07:02:23.553-07:009 Month Letter2 weeks late, as usual. Mommy is just way too busy sometimes!<br /><br />My dear Aidan,<br /><br />You're now 9 months old. You are 21 lbs. 30 inches long. When we took you to your 9 month well-check you had a double ear infection! I'm so happy we went because you weren't showing any signs at all. No fever or fussiness or tugging at your ears. I guess you're too tough for an ear infection to get you down!<br /><br />You are steadily growing. Size 4 diapers, 12-18 month clothing.<br /><br />You're favorite activity right now is cruising the furniture, I swear one day you're just going to let go and toddle across the room! You've also discovered that you can push your bumbo chair in front of the couch and then CLIMB on top of it to climb up on the couch. Unfortunately you still try to climb off of the couch face first.. so we are always on our toes!<br /><br />You're favorite foods are.. well, anything! Puffs, yogurt melts, cheerios, all stage 3 baby foods, grapes, strawberries, melon, crackers, wafers, bread.. you eat it all plus more. You're still averaging 30oz of formula a day, plus 3 solid meals plus snacks.<br /><br />You're favorite toy right now varies, but you still love Sophie and the Fisher Price Roll Along Bongo Drum thingies.. you chase those all over the house. You also love to blow raspberries!<br /><br />You go to bed between 8-9pm, and on weekdays wake up by 7:30am, weekends you sleep in a bit and don't get up until after 9am (yay!). You still take 3 naps a day usually, sometimes only 2.<br /><br />You're going to be a boy, in all meanings of the word. You love dirt, leaves, trees, grass. Your favorite things to do outside is to play in your baby pool, go for a walk in the stroller, and crawl around playing with dirt. I must admit I LOVE this about you. I'm not a girly girl and I couldn't imagine having to play pretty princess. I'd rather hang out outside anyday.<br /><br />You have your first girlfriend.. not really, but it's cute. Little Maxine is a younger woman by about 6 months, but she sure has eyes for you, little man.<br /><br />All in all you're steadily making my heart grow more and more every day. You're my favorite man, and I wouldn't change a thing about you.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-905822796677915632010-08-11T05:06:00.001-07:002010-08-11T05:11:10.869-07:008 Month LetterDear Aidan,<br /><br />Oh geez, boy. You have mommy busy! Even now I'm writing your letter 2 weeks late. Soon I'll be composing your 9 month letter!<br /><br />You are still the light of my life. I can't think of any saying to describe it, other than that. You absolutely radiate love every single time I come home from work, and every time you see your father. You've gained a long laundry list of things you do, and do well.<br /><br /><ul><li>crawling, real, fast, full on crawling</li><li>pulling up to stand on anything you can get your hands on</li><li>eating more and more table food. you are a ninja and grab things off of our plates without us noticing until we see you chewing!</li><li>saying Mama now, but only occasionally and not really directed at me</li><li>you point at what you want</li><li>you reach out to people for a hug</li><li>eating between 32-40oz a day plus 3 meals of solids (which I'm about to up the solids some, you've been out-eating my servings for a while but I just now noticed)</li><li>you're starting to "dance" when you hear music you like, you semi-jump and wiggle your whole body</li></ul><p>As you can see you're growing in leaps and bounds. You're everything I ever dreamed I would have in a son. Keep on being amazing, it helps mommy through rough days.</p><p>Love Always,</p><p>Your Momma</p>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-25147649273502455682010-07-11T09:23:00.000-07:002010-07-11T09:29:22.930-07:00My ApologiesI'm so sorry for not blogging a lot lately. I'm really trying to work on it. Things just got a bit overwhelming there for a while. We were all sick, work got busy which took it's toll on my moods, and Aidan is teething and starting seperation anxiety (even with me sitting right there, he wants constant attention it seems like!). Time on the computer at home has been limited to say the least.<br /><br />Oh well, things have smoothed out some so I'm back in the game.<br /><br />Updates on Aidan:<br /><ul><li>7.5 months.</li><li>2 bottom teeth, 2 top teeth pending (they are visible through the gums but not yet broken through)</li><li>army crawls like a pro</li><li>gets on hands and knees and hangs out, rocks back and forth a lot</li><li>loves to stand now. on the couch holding onto the back, on the floor holding onto the cushion, on our laps holding onto our shoulders, etc</li><li>loves to jump on people, not so much in his jumperoo. he will happily sit on our laps and kick his legs for an hour, easy, making himself bounce up and down</li><li>still eats like a champ. 40oz of formula a day plus 2-3 solids a day</li><li>sleep is still good.. usually 12 hours a night.</li><li>bedtimes are getting rough though with teething + seperation anxiety. he has a big issue when i lay him down and then leave the room! we're working on it though.</li><li>he gives big huge belly laughs now when he gets excited. he also FINALLY is starting to take interest in holding his own bottle. I still feed him but afterwards I let him play with it and he can now hold it up on his own and suck.</li></ul>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-39606426701475086302010-07-09T05:16:00.000-07:002010-07-09T05:31:51.700-07:00Adventures In Teething<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TDcVtEz4OiI/AAAAAAAAAWM/WZGVwYTqpBs/s1600/34041_402100043137_500143137_4448091_3986670_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491882134731242018" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TDcVtEz4OiI/AAAAAAAAAWM/WZGVwYTqpBs/s320/34041_402100043137_500143137_4448091_3986670_n.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Oh good lord Aidan is teething his top 2 teeth, at the same time. Last night in our house around 6:30pm the world ended.</div><div></div><br /><div>He was rubbing his eyes, obviously tired. I fed him his bottle at 6:30 to prepare to bedtime at 7. Screaming insued so I laid him down closer to 6:30 than 7. Hysterical screaming. Not good. I'm game with letting him fuss lightly for 5-10 minutes because it will always fall asleep, but this.. this was full on "oh my god I'm dying" screaming. I got him right back up. Bounce, rock, play.. screaming through the whole thing. He looks like he has two peas shoved in his upper gums, they are super painfully swollen. </div><br /><div></div><div>He wouldn't take a teether, and wouldn't calm down. Motrin, here we come! Gave him a dose and held/bounced/walked around for 30 minutes to let it take effect. Tried to lay him down again. Hysterical screaming. </div><br /><div></div><div>Got him back up, gave him 2 teething tablets. He calmed down for about, oh, 30 seconds. Hysterical screaming in my arms. Took him outside to walk around, he was quiet outside but still groaning and rubbing his eyes. After about 20 minutes tried to lay him down again. Hysterical screaming. (Are you seeing where this is going yet?)</div><br /><div></div><div>Got him up again. Rubbed some baby orajel on his top gums. He proceeded to make all sorts of funny faces, and even cracked a smile at one point. But 10 minutes later, hysterical screaming. At this point I will not lie. I was so distraught I had tears in my eyes. My child NEVER behaves this way. I could see in his face how miserable he was and all I wanted was to make him feel better but nothing was working! Poor little butt was clinging to me so tightly I could have let go and he would still be hanging there.</div><br /><div></div><div>I ended up bounce/swaying in a circle (directly in a circle, like a carosel) for 20 minutes while he nodded off slowly. At this point it was 9. I was shot. He was shot. The cats were so far in hiding I wouldn't be surprised if they were in another country. Mike was sitting on the couch cheering me on giving me updates on if his eyes were closed everytime I turned to where he could see him. After 20 minutes he was asleep... My arms were numb and my back ached. But by God the child was ASLEEP! I laid him down, and he slept through the night. Now I'm praying that those two teeth come through today.</div><br /><br /><br />Now some pictures, he's 7.5 months now. Sitting on his own (but he prefers not to). Up on his knees rocking all the time. Army crawling like a pro. LOVES to stand, he is even trying to let go of the couch/chair/hands/etc to try it on his own.. and can do it for a few seconds before falling into a happy, giggly pile. Usually a very happy, smiley baby!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TDcVs1agRxI/AAAAAAAAAWE/WGEDpxGw_yo/s1600/34041_402100003137_500143137_4448085_5915790_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491882130598283026" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TDcVs1agRxI/AAAAAAAAAWE/WGEDpxGw_yo/s320/34041_402100003137_500143137_4448085_5915790_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TDcVsQ3xb3I/AAAAAAAAAV8/TVFd99KnsDQ/s1600/untitled.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491882120788930418" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TDcVsQ3xb3I/AAAAAAAAAV8/TVFd99KnsDQ/s320/untitled.bmp" /></a>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-35288120966433690462010-06-17T07:39:00.000-07:002010-06-17T07:41:36.762-07:00Thankful On ThursdayToday I'm thankful for many things.<br /><br />1) Aidan army crawling all around. It makes things so much more fun to see him more mobile and getting into things!<br /><br />2) My best friend having a healthy, perfect little baby. Maxine Ember was born 6/16 at 5:24pm 7lb 9oz and 19 3/4" long.<br /><br />3)Aidan napping longer and more regularly now that he's scooting all around. All the activty wears him out and the extra napping helps keep him happy.<br /><br />4) Mike, so working hard and helping to provide our family with what we need.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-45750535081213609632010-06-15T12:37:00.000-07:002010-06-15T12:40:57.747-07:00Photo Update<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TBfW794KMII/AAAAAAAAAV0/42Qs0jfsiWw/s1600/100_1330.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483087397057605762" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TBfW794KMII/AAAAAAAAAV0/42Qs0jfsiWw/s320/100_1330.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TBfW7gCMSvI/AAAAAAAAAVs/uG2xu-FntW4/s1600/100_1341.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483087389046622962" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TBfW7gCMSvI/AAAAAAAAAVs/uG2xu-FntW4/s320/100_1341.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TBfW7Y-cRcI/AAAAAAAAAVk/fPdJlNZqmt8/s1600/100_1339.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483087387151844802" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TBfW7Y-cRcI/AAAAAAAAAVk/fPdJlNZqmt8/s320/100_1339.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TBfW6y_MYBI/AAAAAAAAAVc/gVI--WaJsu8/s1600/100_1338.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483087376954449938" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TBfW6y_MYBI/AAAAAAAAAVc/gVI--WaJsu8/s320/100_1338.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TBfW6Qo7FyI/AAAAAAAAAVU/7T0zo1Scs28/s1600/100_1335.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483087367734236962" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TBfW6Qo7FyI/AAAAAAAAAVU/7T0zo1Scs28/s320/100_1335.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-55715727721917556972010-06-10T17:21:00.000-07:002010-06-10T17:29:15.121-07:006 Month LetterDear Aidan,<br /><br />You're now 6 months 2 weeks, technically. But mommy has been too busy being sick and loving on you to write this until now! This past month has been great for the most part.<br /><br />You had your first illness. You contracted a virus somehow and had diarrhea for over a week. It was horrible! You even had fevers. After a visit to the pediatrician we amped you up with pedialyte and infant motrin and we made it through. A few days later daddy got sick with fevers and a sore throat. He was ill for a week. The mommy got sick with the same thing. The daddy got sick again for 2 weeks. Then mommy for another week. And now daddy has the same thing yet again. THANK GOODNESS you managed to avoid our illnesses. We can't complain because the entire time we were/are sick you were such an angel baby. Giving us plenty of hugs and playing independently quietly so we could lounge on the couch in misery.<br /><br />You are still working on sitting up. You can do it, but most of the time you choose not to. Youare definitely army scrawling now. We have a 4'x6' rug and you scoot all over it and even off of it. Your new favorite thing is to scoot your toys to the edge of the rug by the couch and shove them under it. Then try to crawl under the couch to get them. It's quite adorable but mommy is getting rug burn from trying to reach under the couch all the time to retrieve your toys!<br /><br />You eat solids foods now 3 times a day. And you are even expirimenting with stage 3 foods. You're loving the added textures and flavors! You're still in size 3 diapers, but you now we 9 months clothes and 12 month clothes!!<br /><br />Our love for you has grown so much lately. You laugh at everything and get the biggest smile when you first see us in the mornings. I never knew how much it was possible to love a small child who can't even walk, feed themselves, dress themselves, talk, etc. You have SUCH an amazing personality. You never meet a stranger. On my darkest days a simple smile and you huggin me tight as I hold you makes it all better. You are the definition of love and I can't believe we made you. Keep on growing, scooter-butt, and remember mommy and daddy will always love you more than you know.<br /><br />Love Always,<br />MommyNicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-72145716562198032372010-06-02T05:41:00.000-07:002010-06-02T05:42:29.792-07:00Wordless WednesdayHappy Memorial Day Everyone!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TAZRls_3TLI/AAAAAAAAAVM/MZB0KVycZDM/s1600/navarro+003.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478155704918822066" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/TAZRls_3TLI/AAAAAAAAAVM/MZB0KVycZDM/s320/navarro+003.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-51510112405931654522010-06-01T11:38:00.000-07:002010-06-01T11:42:31.133-07:006 MonthsFirst off, sorry for my absence. My great grandmother has cancer, and my grandfather had surgery, and I've just been flat out busy!<br /><br />Aidan is SIX MONTHS OLD NOW! 18lb5oz, 27 3/4 inches long! :)<br /><br />I am at work so I can't say much, but I will post an update with substance tonight!Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-90321519396586817622010-05-16T19:45:00.000-07:002010-05-16T19:53:30.532-07:00Q&A Answer # 2, 3, &4<strong>What has been your most memorable mom experience so far??</strong> :<br />This is a hard question. It's SO MEMORABLE when he first smiled, rolled over, laughed, got a tooth, ate solid food, etc. I guess the best would be the first ime he said mama. I know he doesn't associate "mama" with me, but it still broke my heart and made my heart whole all at the same time.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Have you gone back on anything you said you'd never do as a mom? Like, "I'll never let him cry it out for even 5 minutes"??? </strong><br />By all means, YES! I swore I'd never bed share. And we did for 3 months. I swore we'd never let him cry for more than 2-3 minutes, and even though we didn't for the first few months we have since then and he falls to sleep now on his own. And he is happy playing on his own. He's goign through a small bout of seperation anxiety since he's close to 6 months but nothing 2-3 minutes of FUSSING (not crying) can cure. Very rarely does he actually cry for us before we are there. I swore I wouldn't dominate conversation with things about my pregnancy, baby, etc. And I so do. But only with people who ASK for it. It's a hard habit to break! I'm just so proud!<br /><br /><br /><strong>How do you like being a working mother? What is the most amazing change you've noticed in yourself since having Aidan?</strong><br />I like being a working mother as could be expected. I'm clinically depressed. I cry at work all the time the first time I feel the least bit stressed. I am MEANT to be at home with my baby. But due to finances for the tim being I'm stuck at work. It is HARD and i HATE IT but I do it because I have no choice. As this poiint in our lives the best thing I can do is work so he has a home, and toys, and clothes, and food, etc.<br /><br />And the most amazing change has been my EMOTIONS. I cry over everything! I ooh and ahh over other babies and pregnancies where as before it was like "oh, okay, cool". It's WEIRD how far of a range my emotions have now.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-10053930837353105632010-05-10T06:12:00.000-07:002010-05-10T07:44:56.707-07:00McFatty Monday, Week 2 + Mother's Day + Lake!I'm still at 207. I don't want to talk about it. I didn't exercise once. And I ate my weight in carbs. I'm surprised I didn't gain. So I'd rather stay the same than gain. :)<br /><br />Mother's Day was nice. Aidan cut his second tooth (oh hey, yeah, he cut his first tooth on May 3rd!!) on Mother's Day. And was fevery and clingy and screamy all day long. But oh mah gosh my baybee has 2 teefies! :D<br /><br />Saturday we went to Carney Island. Aidan had fun, I guess. He liked staring at the moss hanging from the trees. :) We took a few pictures.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S-gatc-qzWI/AAAAAAAAAVE/xmxeKsb2Y7o/s1600/31074_386425838137_500143137_4110750_4796473_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469651115616947554" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S-gatc-qzWI/AAAAAAAAAVE/xmxeKsb2Y7o/s320/31074_386425838137_500143137_4110750_4796473_n.jpg" /></a> Me and my precious peanut. He SMILED for the picture! Melts my heart.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S-gas5_qMzI/AAAAAAAAAU8/buLPCejfcEc/s1600/31074_386425833137_500143137_4110749_5537974_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469651106225861426" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S-gas5_qMzI/AAAAAAAAAU8/buLPCejfcEc/s320/31074_386425833137_500143137_4110749_5537974_n.jpg" /></a> Angry face. Like "Daddy I dont WANT PICTURES"<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S-gasSjBPFI/AAAAAAAAAU0/ZJJQK5EmLt0/s1600/31074_386425828137_500143137_4110748_2600307_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469651095636753490" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S-gasSjBPFI/AAAAAAAAAU0/ZJJQK5EmLt0/s320/31074_386425828137_500143137_4110748_2600307_n.jpg" /></a> ALWAYS ALWAYS EATING THE HAND. But he DID pop a tooth the next day, so I guess it's allowed.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S-gasOGA9qI/AAAAAAAAAUs/WqAbiUxo_Zo/s1600/31074_386425823137_500143137_4110747_7166571_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469651094441359010" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S-gasOGA9qI/AAAAAAAAAUs/WqAbiUxo_Zo/s320/31074_386425823137_500143137_4110747_7166571_n.jpg" /></a><br />This is Carney Island. AKA Little Lake Weir. Big Lake Weir is right behind where we were standing.</p><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S-garphCxVI/AAAAAAAAAUk/swPdIPvpVBM/s1600/31074_386425818137_500143137_4110746_69622_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469651084622611794" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S-garphCxVI/AAAAAAAAAUk/swPdIPvpVBM/s320/31074_386425818137_500143137_4110746_69622_n.jpg" /></a></p>Check out Aidan in his swim trunks! Huge on his but TOTALLY ADORABLE. And apparently tiring, too. This was before we even left the house.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-48243757839895326752010-05-05T18:10:00.000-07:002010-05-05T18:41:50.973-07:00Q&A Answer #1So a while back I asked for some of my readers to ask my some questions. I got a few, here's the answer to one of them (I'll get to the others this week, I promise!)<br /><br />Nicci from <a href="http://changingtheuniverse.blogspot.com/">Changing The Universe</a> asked this:<br /><br /><blockquote><p>OOO!! I have a good one. You went back to work very quickly after having Aidan (wasn't it like 4 weeks or something?) and you are the breadwinner while Mike is a SAHD.<br /><br />How has that affected you as far as being a mom? Are you still expected to do the things that all working moms are expected to do (working PLUS cooking and cleaning, etc)? What made you decide to go back to work so soon and to have Mike be the one who stayed home?<br /><br />In other words, can you talk about how the typical gender roles have been reversed in your house :)</p></blockquote><p><br />Yes, I went back to work 2 weeks post partum. When I found out I was pregnant on March 24th, 2009 I was employed full time, working 55 hours a week. Mike was also employed full time working 40 hours a week. Things were looking good, I thought i would be able to stay home a tleast 6 weeks, despite only getting 2 weeks paid vacation time. My thoughts were shattered a mere 3 days after getting those 2 lines on that pregnancy test.</p><p>Mike was laid off. Which was strange seeing as the company had just finished a series of jobs for the county and seemed to be doing fine financially. It was only the owner, office manager (Hi Christine!), Shawn (Mike's brother) and Mike working there at the time. So needless to say I didn't cut down my hours AT ALL despite being pregnant, I had to work as much as possible to help pay the bills since Mike's unemployment obviously didn't 100% make up his lost salary.</p><p>I still thought I'd be able to afford to stay home those 6 weeks, but not any more than that. That thought was shattered when I was admitted to the hospital for a week due to gestational diabetes. This didn't kill our savings completely, but I wasn't bringing home any income that week and the biggest condition of me getting out of the hospital was that I would be on partial bedrest. It was either I work a maximum of 4 hours a day and spend the rest of the day in bed, or I remain in the hospital on bedrest until I delivered. Which was over a month away. Obviously I took the choice to be out in the world, even if it meant a drastic cut in pay and hours being worked.</p><p>After I had Aidan I was home for those 2 weeks. I had a chance to bond with him a bit, and we worked hard to get his nights and days switched so that when I was back to work I wasn't up all night. I took care of him primarily those first 2 weeks, but if I asked Mike to help he was right there and didn't hesitate. He was up with me at nights, making bottles, and changing diapers right along with me. </p><p>Once I was back to work I still got up with Aidan at night. I handled him primarily when I got home from work, and all throughout the night. Mike slept through the nights (except a few trying nights I had him get up to help) so he could be wide awake and in a good mood to stay with Aidan during the days. The system worked. I was able to sleep enough thanks to bedsharing to be functional at work, and I had extra bonding time with Aidan at 3am when I was feeding him ;)</p><p>During the first month or so our house was a wreck. Mike was adjusting to life with a baby during the days, and I was working. In the evenings it was all Aidan all the time for me, since I had been gone all day. </p><p>After that first month or so we settled into a comfortable routine. By 6 weeks or so Aidan was basically sleeping through the night and with the less frequent feeding I was able to get some housework done in the evenings. And on the weekends while he napped we both tag teamed the house & got it cleaned up.</p><p>These days our routine hasn't changed much. He takes long naps on the weekends freeing us up to clean and take our time (within reason). And Mike picks up during the days, making it easier. Mike is also working almost full time now. He works at his old job in the foam shop as a machine operator tuesdays and thursdays, 8+ hours each day. And he works at his old job land surveying monday, wednesday, and friday as needed. Those 3 days aren't full days, sometimes only 2-3 hours, sometimes more. But either way he's working more so it helps with our income as a family. Mike's mother watches Aidan while he's working.</p><p>So now our family dynamic is more back to "normal", whatever that means. I still wish I was able to stay at home. I have plenty of days where the mommy guilt kicks in full time because I didn't get a full 6-12 weeks to bond, I am not home with him all day, etc. But because of that he is bonded with his father like CRAZY, and he adores his grandmother, too. He's sharing his love with 2 other worthy people and that makes me happy. Despite all the mommy guilt I feel I know I'd rather feel guilty for working a job I have to work to put food on the table and a roof over our heads than stay at home and not be able to provide him with the things he needs to grow and thrive.</p>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-56013154668837969622010-05-04T15:33:00.000-07:002010-05-04T15:40:18.563-07:0099 ThingsI copied this from some other blogs I follow..I've done everything in bold below. Now you can copy this on to your own blog & bold the things you’ve done! Just a little something fun!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>1. Started your own blog<br /><br />2. Slept under the stars<br /><br />3. Played in a band</strong><br /><br />4. Visited Hawaii<br /><br />5. Watched a meteor shower<br /><br /><strong>6. Given more than you can afford to charity<br /><br />7. Been to Disneyworld<br /><br />8. Climbed a mountain<br /></strong><br />9. Held a praying mantis<br /><br />10. Sang a solo<br /><br /><strong>11. Bungee jumped</strong><br /><br />12. Visited Paris<br /><br /><strong>13. Watched a lightening storm<br /><br />14. Taught yourself an art from scratch<br /></strong><br />15. Adopted a child<br /><br />16. Been to Westminster Abbey<br /><br />17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty<br /><br />18. Grown your own vegetables<br /><br />19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France<br /><br />20. Slept on an overnight train<br /><br /><strong>21. Had a pillow fight<br /></strong><br />22. Hitch hiked<br /><br /><strong>23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill<br /><br /></strong>24. Built a snow fort<br /><br />25. Held a lamb<br /><br /><strong>26. Gone skinny dipping<br /><br /></strong>27. Run a Marathon<br /><br />28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice<br /><br />29. Seen a total eclipse<br /><br /><strong>30. Watched a sunrise or sunset<br /><br />31. Hit a home run<br /><br />32. Been on a cruise<br /></strong><br />33. Seen Niagara Falls in person<br /><br />34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors<br /><br />35. Seen an Amish community<br /><br />36. Taught yourself a new language<br /><br />37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied<br /><br />38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person<br /><br /><strong>39. Gone rock climbing<br /></strong><br />40. Seen Michelangelo’s David<br /><br /><strong>41. Sung karaoke<br /></strong><br />42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt<br /><br />43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant<br /><br />44. Visited Africa<br /><br /><strong>45. Walked on a beach by moonlight<br /><br />46. Been transported in an ambulance<br /><br />47. Had your portrait painted<br /></strong><br />48. Gone deep sea fishing<br /><br />49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person<br /><br />50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris<br /><br /><strong>51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling<br /><br />52. Kissed in the rain<br /><br />53. Played in the mud<br /><br />54. Gone to a drive-in theater<br /><br />55. Been in a movie<br /></strong><br />56. Visited the Great Wall of China<br /><br />57. Started a business<br /><br />58. Taken a martial arts class<br /><br />59. Visited Russia<br /><br /><strong>60. Served at a soup kitchen<br /><br />61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies<br /></strong><br />62. Gone whale watching<br /><br />63. Got flowers for no reason<br /><br /><strong>64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma<br /></strong><br />65. Gone sky diving<br /><br />66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp<br /><br /><strong>67. Bounced a check<br /></strong><br />68. Flown in a helicopter<br /><br /><strong>69. Saved a favorite childhood toy<br /><br />70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial<br /><br />71. Eaten Caviar<br /></strong><br />72. Pieced a quilt<br /><br />73. Stood in Times Square<br /><br /><strong>74. Toured the Everglades<br /><br />75. Been fired from a job<br /></strong><br />76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London<br /><br />77. Broken a bone<br /><br /><strong>78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle<br /></strong><br />79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person<br /><br />80. Published a book<br /><br />81. Visited the Vatican<br /><br />82. Bought a brand new car<br /><br />83. Walked in Jerusalem<br /><br /><strong>84. Had your picture in the newspaper<br /></strong><br />85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve<br /><br /><strong>86. Visited the White House<br /></strong><br />87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating<br /><br /><strong>88. Had chickenpox<br /><br />89. Saved someone’s life<br /><br /></strong>90. Sat on a jury<br /><br />91. Met someone famous<br /><br /><strong>92. Joined a book club<br /><br />93. Got a tattoo<br /><br />94. Had a baby<br /></strong><br />95. Seen the Alamo in person<br /><br />96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake<br /><br />97. Been involved in a law suit<br /><br /><strong>98. Owned a cell phone<br /><br />99. Been stung by a bee </strong>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-85067960129170964832010-05-03T15:37:00.000-07:002010-05-03T15:45:21.550-07:00McFatty Monday: Week 1So once, far back in time, I joined the McFatty Monday campaign started by Blair @ <a href="http://theheirtoblair.com/">http://theheirtoblair.com/</a>. Then I quit. Because I am the essence of teh lazy.<br /><br />Ladies! I'm back on the wagon. I gained up to 207lbs. Which is a lot seeing as I was 185lbs 6 weeks postpartum. WHAT?!! You'd think I was breastfeeding the way I can chow down on some foods. Insanity, let me tell you.<br /><br />I don't have a plan, per se. Which might be a problem. I'd like to keep it to 1500 calories a day. And at least 100 minutes of exercise per week. Unfortunately it's already desperately hot here in Florida, so outside exercise will be limited. But I do have malls to walk in, and a stationary bike. And 5lb dumbells for weight training. And 30 Day Shred. :)<br /><br />Starting Weight Prepregnancy: 195<br />Highest Pregnancy Weight: 230<br />2 Weeks Postpartum: 190<br />6 Weeks Postpartum: 185<br />Current: 207<br />Height: 5'7"Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799247573208623809.post-52521614187837234952010-05-02T11:56:00.001-07:002010-05-02T11:59:39.014-07:00Adventures In Sitting Up<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S93LPTYqL_I/AAAAAAAAAUc/JKe5LNQkpXg/s1600/100_1290.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466748986459828210" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S93LPTYqL_I/AAAAAAAAAUc/JKe5LNQkpXg/s320/100_1290.JPG" /></a>Hi Mom! You want me to sit up? Umm.. I want to play with my foot & eat my hand.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S93LO3XVaRI/AAAAAAAAAUU/UPSdrT9n5yw/s1600/100_1293.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466748978938079506" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S93LO3XVaRI/AAAAAAAAAUU/UPSdrT9n5yw/s320/100_1293.JPG" /></a> I'm pretty sure I told you I didn't want to sit up.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S93LNSWve9I/AAAAAAAAAUM/F1FDw-15EGY/s1600/100_1291.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466748951823612882" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S93LNSWve9I/AAAAAAAAAUM/F1FDw-15EGY/s320/100_1291.JPG" /></a><br />FINE. I sit up, but I refuse to smile about it.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S93LMtUdGaI/AAAAAAAAAUE/YMZKVPXCx2w/s1600/100_1289.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466748941881907618" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S93LMtUdGaI/AAAAAAAAAUE/YMZKVPXCx2w/s320/100_1289.JPG" /></a> Blank stare.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S93LL1VQEfI/AAAAAAAAAT8/ONOTPNmcKn0/s1600/100_1286.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466748926852862450" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VTzNiuctdLg/S93LL1VQEfI/AAAAAAAAAT8/ONOTPNmcKn0/s320/100_1286.JPG" /></a><br />Oooooh. I can play with my foot AND try to pick the flowers off the couch while I sit up.</div></div></div></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15745753710200993280noreply@blogger.com5