November 5, 2011
November 3, 2011
Sleepytime
Today was the first day I really felt like I had a good night's sleep. I probably slept no more than 5 or 6 hours, but compared to the 4 I have been getting those extra hours really helped. It also helped that Mateo seems to be getting more comfortable with nursing while we're lying down. What a difference that makes...rather than waking up, taking him out of his vibrating bouncer (yes, my son sleeps in the bouncer at night...big deal), sitting up uncomfortably in bed with the Boppy and dozing while he nurses, then trying to convince him to sleep on the firm bed or back in the bouncer, we simply lay back down and sleep/nurse the rest of the night without having to fully awaken. This was what I imagined cosleeping would be like...hooray.
Here we are making use of the crib:
Here we are making use of the crib:
November 2, 2011
Trying Not to Blink
I am trying not to blink. I can't believe my baby will be 6 weeks old in a few days...where has it gone? I know I'm going to be saying this again in 2 weeks...2 months...2 years....such a cliche. In an effort not to miss a thing I'm going to be daily attempting to document Mateo's sweet face through my terrible photography. I thought today would be a good day to start, seeing as it is the very first day Mateo and I have been all alone since his birth. I managed to get...a few things done. I've learned that any time he's sleeping (not in my arms) I need to do two things: go to the bathroom and refill my water bottle. Because before I know it he's up again, refusing to be put down, or I'm nursing and dying for water. The house is...lonely without visitors and Justin, but I try to focus on making Mateo smile, sleeping, and attempting to do things on my list like take a shower and cook food. I worry Mateo misses all the activity so I talk to him, read aloud, put Justin on speakerphone when he calls...I think he's going to be a very social baby. Which means I may be forced to be more social in turn...
On Monday I was a bad mommy and didn't do anything to mark Mateo's first Halloween. I half looked around for a costume but they were all too big on him...so I dressed him in an orange onesie and called it a day. I insisted Justin stopped at CVS so I could run in to buy candy for the trick-or-treaters, but Justin said he'd do it...10 minutes later he came out with 5 bags of candy. Um, what? I was going to buy one bag of Kit-Kats and call it day. I don't know what came over him, especially since he insisted we weren't going to get any trick-or-treaters. Which he was right, we didn't. So sad...someday we will live somewhere trick-or-treaters go. Someday. Now we have 5 bags worth of candy sitting in a ziploc bag on the top shelf of the pantry where I keep hoping I'll forget about it. This is not good news for my get back into shape plan. Today I was going to start Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred but instead I ate more candy than I wish to admit. I realize this might be bad news for Mateo, so I'm hoping I'll have some self-control for his sake. The kid already took coffee away from me, I can sacrifice sugar, too. Yes, I can.
This will never be a photography blog. There will be lots of blurry faces, shiny faces, shadows and colors far from their true hues. I have no talent for taking pictures and am usually the girl saying, "Man, I wish I'd thought to take a picture of that!" But I can't let these precious days go by without having something to remember them by. And I know that at least Mom will appreciate my efforts :).
Mateo started to really smile a lot this past weekend...true smiles and grins that display his adorable dimple and make every tired moment worth it. I've had a hard time capturing his smiles but these pictures hint at the real thing...
I'm only posting one picture per day to the blog, if there's a flickr link below the picture follow it to see more...
On Monday I was a bad mommy and didn't do anything to mark Mateo's first Halloween. I half looked around for a costume but they were all too big on him...so I dressed him in an orange onesie and called it a day. I insisted Justin stopped at CVS so I could run in to buy candy for the trick-or-treaters, but Justin said he'd do it...10 minutes later he came out with 5 bags of candy. Um, what? I was going to buy one bag of Kit-Kats and call it day. I don't know what came over him, especially since he insisted we weren't going to get any trick-or-treaters. Which he was right, we didn't. So sad...someday we will live somewhere trick-or-treaters go. Someday. Now we have 5 bags worth of candy sitting in a ziploc bag on the top shelf of the pantry where I keep hoping I'll forget about it. This is not good news for my get back into shape plan. Today I was going to start Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred but instead I ate more candy than I wish to admit. I realize this might be bad news for Mateo, so I'm hoping I'll have some self-control for his sake. The kid already took coffee away from me, I can sacrifice sugar, too. Yes, I can.
This will never be a photography blog. There will be lots of blurry faces, shiny faces, shadows and colors far from their true hues. I have no talent for taking pictures and am usually the girl saying, "Man, I wish I'd thought to take a picture of that!" But I can't let these precious days go by without having something to remember them by. And I know that at least Mom will appreciate my efforts :).
Mateo started to really smile a lot this past weekend...true smiles and grins that display his adorable dimple and make every tired moment worth it. I've had a hard time capturing his smiles but these pictures hint at the real thing...
I'm only posting one picture per day to the blog, if there's a flickr link below the picture follow it to see more...
September 1, 2011
36 Weeks
As of today we are 36 weeks along! This means that even if I go into labor tomorrow we will (hopefully) be able to have the baby at home, as planned. The midwife and doula came yesterday for our home visit which made this whole thing really...real. As if the pressure on my pelvis or the fact that baby has been head down for the past month doesn't make it real enough. We took a tour of the apartment, discussed supplies, back up plan if for some reason the midwife doesn't make it in time (highly unlikely), birth tub, food, exercises, breastfeeding, and tons and tons of information overload concerning the birth and first few days afterward. I'm so thankful Justin has been able to be at all of the midwife appointments because his mind is like a steel trap when it comes to remembering her advice and instructions whereas mine is...uh, not so present all the time. It's all a blur of information about contractions and stages and relaxation techniques and lists. I feel confident that we've prepared enough that it's all absorbed somewhere in my psyche and beyond that I have the support of people I love and trust and who will be there to support me when the time comes. Baby is measuring right on schedule, great heartrate, my blood pressure is low (has been throughout the pregnancy...I thank my mama's genes and my lack of stress for that), tons of amniotic fluid...everything is good!
The nursery/guest room is rapidly evolving and I promise pictures as soon as I finish redoing the dresser/changing table. I've washed baby clothes up to size 3-6 months; I think all we may need are a couple of newborn outfits...he's not measuring particularly big so hopefully they won't go to waste. The crib now has a mattress with freshly washed mattress cover and sheet, all covered with plush blankets to protect the sheet from Silas hair.
Tangent: That cat sheds so much. It gets EVERYWHERE and is making me seriously considering investing in a Furminator. I've always wanted one because I thought Lucy would enjoy it, but now I want one so I can attempt to get some control over Silas's shedding. To look at Silas and Lucy you would never think the little short haired cat (we think he's always going to be small) would have more of a shedding problem than the big long haired fuzz ball, but there you have it. Any Lucy hair that doesn't end up on her brush can be found in big, easily vacuumed clumps on the bedroom floors each morning after a night of Kitty Death Matches, whereas Silas' finds its way into every nook, shelf, shirt, nasal cavity...ick. Just one more way in which she is my perfect child and he is the bane of my existence.
Fabric for a crib skirt has been ordered and I think all we're really missing is a changing pad and a couple of other baby/nursing accessories I'm not really worrying about...it's not like the store won't be there after the baby is born. It's exciting watching it all come together, knowing it means he'll be here soon.
I think we've (finally) found a church....Treasure Coast PCA in Stuart. Despite our theological differences it just felt like...home, right away, the same feeling I had at Grace Harbor. It's a small congregation with lots of young couples and young families that meets in a pretty informal building, everyone was super friendly and welcoming, the music was great, lots of outreach opportunities, small groups emphasis, etc. We went out to lunch afterwards with a few people and I instantly felt such...relief. It's not perfect, I think the Presbyterian doctrine (which they don't hide or try to gloss over, which I appreciate) will keep us from ever becoming members, but we've been clear with them about what we believe, and they've been the same with us and I think...it would be a shame to sacrifice the fellowship, worship and outreach opportunities for a few doctrinal differences that can only serve to help us grow in our faith and challenge what we believe. Especially since we'll only be here a couple of years. When we told the pastor that we come from a Wesleyan background and had concerns over our theological differences with the Presbyterian church he asked if we were familiar with George Whitefield, a Calvinist contemporary of John Wesley. The pastor told us how after Whitefield and Wesley had separated due to doctrinal differences someone asked him if he expected to see John Wesley in heaven. He replied, "No," and continued, "John Wesley will be so close to the Throne of Glory, and I will be so far away, I will hardly get a glimpse of him." That was a sweet way of putting us at ease, as well as reminding us that these differences don't really matter in the end, as long as our faith is true and sincere.
Stay tuned, pictures to come.
The nursery/guest room is rapidly evolving and I promise pictures as soon as I finish redoing the dresser/changing table. I've washed baby clothes up to size 3-6 months; I think all we may need are a couple of newborn outfits...he's not measuring particularly big so hopefully they won't go to waste. The crib now has a mattress with freshly washed mattress cover and sheet, all covered with plush blankets to protect the sheet from Silas hair.
Tangent: That cat sheds so much. It gets EVERYWHERE and is making me seriously considering investing in a Furminator. I've always wanted one because I thought Lucy would enjoy it, but now I want one so I can attempt to get some control over Silas's shedding. To look at Silas and Lucy you would never think the little short haired cat (we think he's always going to be small) would have more of a shedding problem than the big long haired fuzz ball, but there you have it. Any Lucy hair that doesn't end up on her brush can be found in big, easily vacuumed clumps on the bedroom floors each morning after a night of Kitty Death Matches, whereas Silas' finds its way into every nook, shelf, shirt, nasal cavity...ick. Just one more way in which she is my perfect child and he is the bane of my existence.
Fabric for a crib skirt has been ordered and I think all we're really missing is a changing pad and a couple of other baby/nursing accessories I'm not really worrying about...it's not like the store won't be there after the baby is born. It's exciting watching it all come together, knowing it means he'll be here soon.
I think we've (finally) found a church....Treasure Coast PCA in Stuart. Despite our theological differences it just felt like...home, right away, the same feeling I had at Grace Harbor. It's a small congregation with lots of young couples and young families that meets in a pretty informal building, everyone was super friendly and welcoming, the music was great, lots of outreach opportunities, small groups emphasis, etc. We went out to lunch afterwards with a few people and I instantly felt such...relief. It's not perfect, I think the Presbyterian doctrine (which they don't hide or try to gloss over, which I appreciate) will keep us from ever becoming members, but we've been clear with them about what we believe, and they've been the same with us and I think...it would be a shame to sacrifice the fellowship, worship and outreach opportunities for a few doctrinal differences that can only serve to help us grow in our faith and challenge what we believe. Especially since we'll only be here a couple of years. When we told the pastor that we come from a Wesleyan background and had concerns over our theological differences with the Presbyterian church he asked if we were familiar with George Whitefield, a Calvinist contemporary of John Wesley. The pastor told us how after Whitefield and Wesley had separated due to doctrinal differences someone asked him if he expected to see John Wesley in heaven. He replied, "No," and continued, "John Wesley will be so close to the Throne of Glory, and I will be so far away, I will hardly get a glimpse of him." That was a sweet way of putting us at ease, as well as reminding us that these differences don't really matter in the end, as long as our faith is true and sincere.
Stay tuned, pictures to come.
July 30, 2011
Progress Report
The nursery is painted! The crib is put together! The rickety old black bookcase is now a nice jade green! This was the week for projects, and they continue on. There are pictures to be hung, thrift stores and fabric stores to be scavenged (for frames, fabric for curtains, etc), crib mattresses to be bought, and so it continues.
Project evidence:
Testing the grays....
Two coats of primer and two coats of paint later....a nice soothing, light gray.
The crib! Note the cats' stuffed bunny underneath...
Battered black bookcase becomes...
Pretty green bookcase!
Ugly $2.50 Goodwill elephant....
Nice new elephant:
Check out the Baby Bjorn we picked up at Boomerang Children's Consignment for $30! J is all ready to wear baby around :).
Other than projects I've been barrelling through John Steinbeck's East of Eden, which J has had on his nightstand for approximately eight months with the intention of reading. He says that if he can "get through that, I can get through anything." Sort of like a confidence boosting read. To me that's like saying, "Oh, I'm just going to run this marathon and then I'll train for the 10k." So I moved the book to my side of the bed and have had trouble putting it down ever since. I read it aloud to baby when J's not home, I'd cried by page 32, I constantly rave about it to J (who then told me he was taking it back - I figure my finishing it first is the best way to motivate him to read it). I love Michael Crichton, but reading two M.C. books in a row and then switching to Steinbeck was a huge reminder of how powerful and heartbreakingly beautiful great literature can be...a healthy dose is needed every now and then.
Project evidence:
Testing the grays....
Two coats of primer and two coats of paint later....a nice soothing, light gray.
The crib! Note the cats' stuffed bunny underneath...
Battered black bookcase becomes...
Pretty green bookcase!
Ugly $2.50 Goodwill elephant....
Nice new elephant:
Check out the Baby Bjorn we picked up at Boomerang Children's Consignment for $30! J is all ready to wear baby around :).
Other than projects I've been barrelling through John Steinbeck's East of Eden, which J has had on his nightstand for approximately eight months with the intention of reading. He says that if he can "get through that, I can get through anything." Sort of like a confidence boosting read. To me that's like saying, "Oh, I'm just going to run this marathon and then I'll train for the 10k." So I moved the book to my side of the bed and have had trouble putting it down ever since. I read it aloud to baby when J's not home, I'd cried by page 32, I constantly rave about it to J (who then told me he was taking it back - I figure my finishing it first is the best way to motivate him to read it). I love Michael Crichton, but reading two M.C. books in a row and then switching to Steinbeck was a huge reminder of how powerful and heartbreakingly beautiful great literature can be...a healthy dose is needed every now and then.
July 17, 2011
Weekend Update
So the nursery still looks like this:
Because I was a bit busy looking at/floating in this all weekend:
And watching these dive for fish:
It's a hard life here in Florida.
July 15, 2011
29 Weeks
I'm going to try and post more often; I know how frustrating it is when blogs aren't frequently updated. I will not make any promises though, because more frustrating than infrequent posting is promises that aren't kept. So I'll try.
In my defense, I was in Pompano off and on for a week with my wonderful Virginia and North Carolina family (and Miami and Naples family!) and then J was home and I really try to limit how much time I spend on the computer when he's here.
Today I (finally) finished priming the nursery/guest room in the hopes that this weekend we can (finally) get it painted and start arranging things (namely, put the crib together - exciting!). J made a little bit of progress organizing his boxes of misc. stuff, but as you will see in this picture there is still some work to be done there. Progress is being made, though, I promise! Get ready for picture overload:
View of nursery from the closets:
Nursery from the doorway:
Nursery from the corner (hi, Lucy!):
Today (Thursday) also marks my 29th week of pregnancy. Because we are the worstprospective parents photojournalists ever this pregnancy has been woefully undocumented...but I'm hoping to change that now. It's never too late to start, right? Plus, I know when you have babies you're supposed to take tons of pictures of them so I need to get in the habit of seeing the world through that little black device. I truly believe that some people are born to document our lives through pictures and that some of us can forget that cameras exist, even when they're hanging from our wrist. Or maybe I've just been lucky enough to be related to/friends with the first kind of people so I've just gotten away with being photo lazy. That's probably it. Anyway, I give you 29 weeks:
In my defense, I was in Pompano off and on for a week with my wonderful Virginia and North Carolina family (and Miami and Naples family!) and then J was home and I really try to limit how much time I spend on the computer when he's here.
Today I (finally) finished priming the nursery/guest room in the hopes that this weekend we can (finally) get it painted and start arranging things (namely, put the crib together - exciting!). J made a little bit of progress organizing his boxes of misc. stuff, but as you will see in this picture there is still some work to be done there. Progress is being made, though, I promise! Get ready for picture overload:
View of nursery from the closets:
Nursery from the doorway:
Today (Thursday) also marks my 29th week of pregnancy. Because we are the worst
Yes, I am huge. Yesterday I was writing a note and the baby actually kicked so hard he messed up my writing! Because of course the belly is now a tray table. Yikes.
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