The Littlest Popes

Happy Halloween!!

2011-10-31T19:44:00.000-07:00

DIY laundry detergent

2011-09-30T20:09:00.000-07:00

Many of you know, but I've been on a homemade kick since before Jemma was born. I've gotten away from using commercial cleaners and pretty much make my own with a mix of water, soap, washing soda, borax, baking soda, and vinegar. Anywhoo, the only thing I hadn't jumped into was detergent. Having heard good things about a family recipe I decided to give it a try. I ended up modifying the recipe I was given as I just don't have the space to store gallons of liquid detergent and Tom prefers powder detergent. I'm including both recipes below.

Pope Family Recipe (Thank you Grandma, Aunt Margie and Aunt Sharon!)
Ingredients: ZOTE soap, Borax, Washing Soda; Water
Grate 1/3 bar of ZOTE soap, put in a pan with 6 cups of water and heat until soap is melted. Add 1/2 cup of Borax and 1/2 cup of washing soda. Stir to dissolve. Remove from heat; add 4 cups of hot water in a bucket, add soap mixture; stir. Then add an additional 1 gallon plus 6 cups of cold water; stir. Let it sit for 24 hours, stirring occasionally. Pour into empty detergent or softener bottles.

Notes: I couldn't find Zote soap, so I used Fels Naptha. The consistentcy will not be a smooth gel and should be shaken before each use.

My Recipe
As I said, I didn't have enough room to store the 2 gallons of liquid, not to mention I was impatient to use it! When I started grating the Fels Naptha at home, Tom started having an allergic reaction to it, so I knew this wouldn't work for us! He is extremely sensitive to chemical fragrances. One of my friends uses a similar recipe with castile soap, so I bought a bar of Dr. Bronner's peppermint instead. He seemed to tolerate that just fine :)

Ingredients: Castile bar soap, Borax, Washing Soda
Grate the soap and mix with equal parts borax and washing soda. I did 1 cup of each. Use 1 tbsp per load.

Notes: Working well so far! I haven't noticed any difference in cleaning, even with our cloth diapers. I also use vinegar in place of fabric softener and the occasional cup of bleach for whitening.

Food Intolerance 101

2011-09-23T20:24:00.000-07:00

It was confirmed today by the allergist that Lily has MSPI. Milk soy protein intolerance. This was pretty much what I expected to hear. I decided about a month ago that I would feel more comfortable going to an allergist and finding out more about what's going on with our little girl. Her pediatrician is great, but his advice in this area has been rather generalized and I wanted some more specialized input. While it's good to know she doesn't have a true allergy, it still means I will continue to be dairy free and now eliminating soy. We're going to be have to be very cautious of what she eats as we start solids.

Dr. Sutton helped me come up with a plan for introducing low allergen foods to her first and we will be delaying introducing cow's milk till she has a follow-up allergy test in a year. I'm going to be starting a food diary and keeping track of what I eat and how she reacts. The nice thing is since we are breastfeeding, I can try new foods and Lily gets a diluted amount of it, so even if we see a reaction, it isn't as risky as giving it directly to her.

So, what is a food intolerance? Symptoms can vary, but Lily's are fussiness and irritability, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and congestion. The congestion and rash only happen if I have goofed up and eaten something offending multiple times in a few days, but the vomiting and diarrhea happen every time I have an oops. With a food intolerance, symptoms usually begin within a half hour of eating the food but can also appear up to 48 hours later. Dr. Sutton told us that children with an allergy will almost always develop hives in addition to the other symptoms but children with an intolerance typically do not have an immediate skin reaction. The big medical term for this is that an intolerance does not produce an IgE antibody response, whereas an allergy does. That means Lily isn't going to need to carry around an epi-pen, but she could still get very sick from eating a food she is intolerant to. Based on her history and symptoms, Dr. Sutton felt she was very sensitive and that if she had been on a milk based formula, she would likely have had much more difficulty gaining weight and may even have struggled with dehydration. Thank heavens for breastfeeding!!

We are 100% certain of the cow's milk and I'm 75% sure of the soy. The next common food intolerance is grains, so we're going to hold off on giving her rice cereal or other grains until I've given her a small challenge through my diet. My plan is to clean my diet of soy over the next 2 weeks, and then I will begin my food diary and start challenging grains and soy to determine if those really are causing issues or if it is simply the cow's milk. On a positive note, this is likely something Lily will outgrow by age 3, but for the forseeable future, we're going to be dealing with this.

Please pass the cocketballs

2011-07-22T17:27:00.000-07:00

Dinner, Pope household, 7pm.

Jemma, pointing across the table, "Mama, Jemma have cocketball?

Tom, whispering to me, "Did she just say cock and balls?"
Me, whispering back, "I think she said chocolate balls."

Jemma, interjecting into our conversation, "Please Jemma have cocketball!" She is becoming a little frustrated at this point.

Tom, "What do you want Jemma?"

Jemma, "Cocketball! Jemma want cocketball!"

And finally, we realize she is pointing at the bowl of olives, which, yes, she thought were chocolate balls. She continued to ask for "cocketballs" throughout dinner!

Rolling, rolling, rolling...

2011-07-15T18:00:00.001-07:00

Lily started rolling! She rolled over once yesterday and she's done it twice today! This baby is going to be a mover. She thinks she's bigger than she is. She wants to stand and sit up all the time. I think Tom and I might be in for it with her!

Visiting with our cousins Addie and Roman

2011-06-09T20:37:00.000-07:00

Jemma changes a diaper

2011-06-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

This actually happened a week or so ago, but I just got around to uploading the pictures. I went to the bathroom and came back to find Jemma changing Lily's diaper. Quite a feat considering we use cloth. Jemma had gotten Lily's diaper off, but couldn't figure out how to put the new one on her :)

Cute baby faces

2011-06-02T20:29:00.000-07:00

My newish kitchen

2011-05-23T21:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, so not so much about the girls, but I had a gift card to IKEA and decided to get some kitchen organization I've been eyeing for quite sometime. Jemma rode in the cart while we were there. Lily rode on me, but no picture of that ;)

So here's the kitchen before...

And after...so much easier to get to everything.

I got a new microwave cart/side table. Now we finally have a place to put potatoes and onions (in the bottom baskets!).

Also, I saw the cutest bunk bed set up that I would love to get for Jemma and Lily once they are sharing a room. Don't you think this would be so fun?! I love that the bottom mattress is on the floor. Perfect for a toddler!

Introducing...

2011-05-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

SCARY JEMMA!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!

My little girls :)

2011-05-16T19:36:00.000-07:00

I've been busy enjoying our new little addition as well as our super spunky 2 year old. Jemma has officially become a toddler. I may not have wanted to admit it before Lily was born, but there's no denying it now. Her favorite question is "why?" and she dresses and redresses herself 5 times a day lol. She's still the queen of cuteness though.

She's also become quite the little artist. I got her some paints the other day and she's asked to paint every day. (Disregard the dirty face...she'd just had lunch)

Lily is a sweet little angel and I love her to pieces. Poor babe has been battling reflux. I noticed this right away when she was born, but it didn't seem to bother her until around 3-4 weeks old. We got a prescription for Zantac from the pedi (which has helped a lot) and I stopped eating dairy (which helped even more). It's been a bit of a transition for me since milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream are pretty much staples of my diet. But I'm learning to read labels and eat differently. Started drinking soy milk and eating soy ice cream...did you know they even make a cheese subsitute? Tastes a little like cheese puffs. Anywho, it definitely helped me shed some pounds as I am only 3 pounds shy of my pre-Lily weight. Hoping to drop a little more too! It has made such a difference for her. We went from vomiting out her nose and mouth with a pretty large amount at every feed to a little puddle every other feed or so. Double bonus that it's helping me too. I've been wearing her in our wraps a lot since staying upright minimizes the spit-up and plus she just seems to love it. Jemma liked being worn, but Lily LOVES it. She is such a little cuddle bug.

Getting to know Lily

2011-04-22T17:22:00.000-07:00

So Miss Lily has been with us for 3 weeks now, and I thought I'd share some of the things we are learning about her!

1. She likes to eat. A LOT. The girl literally ate for almost the first 2 hours of her life (with a half hour break or so while her daddy held her) and this verocity for food has continued so far. You can tell she's a Pope ;)

2. She's a spitter. This is a whole new world for Tom and I. Jemma rarely spit up and we never needed extra outfits or burp cloths. It's a necessity with Lily! I'm pretty sure she has reflux and have actually decided to cut out dairy products to see if that makes a difference.

3. She loves her tummy and hates her back. I think she'd sleep for hours on her tummy if I let her! I do when I'm awake and watching her, but at night she sleeps on her side for fear of her spitting up and choking when she's on her back or being unable to breathe on her tummy.

4. She loves a good cuddle, especially on Mommy. She likes to lay on Daddy too, but Mommy has better pillows ;)

5. She's a good sleeper. Yippee! Cross my fingers, knock on wood, this kiddo sleeps for 3-4 hours stretches at night and has since week 1. She had one night of eating every hour the first night my milk came in, but has so far continued with her 3 hour schedule, which isn't so bad.

I'm sure we'll have more to update as Lily is doing more, but mostly at this point, she's doing all those important newborn things - mostly growing! She's finally starting to fit in her clothes better. She's a sweet baby. And of course, here are some adorable pictures of the little princess!

Jemma dresses herself :)

2011-04-16T20:14:00.001-07:00

So the other night, Jemma got to spend the night with Aunt Kari and her cousin Ella. She was so excited she packed her Dora backpack and dressed herself. She insisted on wearing her red Made in Ohio t-shirt, her leggings with stripes and hearts, and her winter boots. She is so stinkin' cute!

Lily's Birth Story

2011-04-06T17:34:00.000-07:00

Lily Elisabeth Pope made her arrival at 6:36pm on April 1, 2011. She was 7 lbs, 10.8 oz and 21 inches long. She was born at Mercy Fairfield Hospital and delivered by Dr. Daniel Bowen. I wanted to share her birth story. It is a little long, but I wanted to preserve my thoughts and memories surrounding her delivery.
When I found out I was pregnant, I immediately started thinking about delivery. Jemma’s birth was not quite the experience I hoped for, and I really wanted things to go differently this time. With Jemma, I said I wanted to try to have a natural birth; with Lily, I said I AM going to have a natural birth. I switched to a different OB, Dr. Bowen, who was highly recommended to me. (His partner, Dr. Wall, was equally as good when I saw him, but Dr. Bowen ended up delivering Lily). Both doctors were very supportive throughout my pregnancy and helped me develop a birth plan to achieve my goal. I decided to deliver at Mercy Fairfield since it was closest to our home, and they have whirlpool tubs in all the labor and delivery rooms. I hired a doula (birth attendant) to help us with support during labor.

Lily’s birth story begins at 34 weeks when she first dropped. I remember thinking how nice it was to be able to breathe again! From that point on, I had inconsistent contractions until 36 weeks when they became more prevalent. At my 36 week appointment, I asked Dr. Bowen to check me and I was 2 cm dilated. Yeah for progress! Contractions continued off and on for the next few weeks. There were a few times I thought we might be heading to the hospital, but the contractions would fade. I was beginning to get a little frustrated. I wasn’t so much uncomfortable, just impatient and annoyed at the constant contractions. So, at my 39 week appointment, I asked Dr. Bowen to check me. I was 3 cm and fully effaced, so we decided to strip my membranes. That was at 4pm. By 6pm, I started having contractions, and they regulated to about 6 min apart throughout the evening and stayed that way overnight and into the next morning. They weren’t painful really, just present. I spent a lot of time walking, bouncing on my exercise ball, and lying on my left side. I called Dr. Bowen around 7am to let him know how things were going, and he said to check back in when contractions regulated to 5 min apart for an hour. I called our doula to put her on call and my mom came to pick Jemma up.

My contractions stayed about 6 min apart until about 11am and then they started increasing in frequency and intensity. I was starting to have to really focus to get through them. By 1pm, they’d been 5 min apart for an hour, so we called Dr. Bowen and said we’d like to head to the hospital. The contractions were strong but not unbearable. I could talk through them if needed, but they felt better if I focused on breathing and staying relaxed. We went to triage, I got checked, and was 6cm dilated! I was so happy to hear that. We were admitted to our room and our doula, Nicole, arrived shortly after. I think that was around 3pm or so. My nurse was wonderful. She encouraged me that I could have a natural labor and kept me on the monitors the shortest time she could. I truly appreciate her support. I was on the monitors for 20 minutes of every hour. The first hour I spent my 20 minutes of monitoring bouncing on a ball, and then got in the tub. The water felt so good and really eased my contractions. After 30 minutes in the water, I felt like I was getting overheated, so I opted to get out and sit in a rocking chair. I stayed there through the next 20 minutes of monitoring and rested between contractions. I was feeling tired and the contractions began to get fairly uncomfortable towards the end of the last monitoring session. Nicole gave counterpressure at my hips and pelvis during each contraction, and that helped ease them. As soon as I was off the monitors, I hopped back in the tub and had Tom add more hot water. At this point, I was really going into transition and the contractions were very strong and painful. I remember feeling overwhelmed and wondering whether I could really pull this off…maybe I was crazy for thinking I could go natural. Then I would realize that I was in transition, and remind myself that I could do it! Tom held my hand and Nicole massaged my back for the next 40 minutes while reminding me to stay relaxed. I suddenly felt the urge to get out of the tub and stand up, which ironically occurred at the same time I was due for another round of monitoring. It took 2 contractions to get across the room, during which Tom pretty much held me up. I couldn’t bear the thought of sitting, so my wonderful nurse said I could remain standing while she put the monitors on. At the next contraction, I felt the urge to push a little, and I couldn’t stop my body from doing it. During the next 3 contractions, I pushed more and more, and I think the nurse went to get Dr. Bowen and forgot about the monitors because I don’t remember them being put back on! On the last contraction, I felt a pop and my water broke – all over Tom’s pants and shoes I might add. I felt a burning sensation, which was apparently Lily crowning. They got me on the bed, Dr. Bowen came in, and I think about 3 pushes later Lily was out. I felt a little bit like superwoman.

They placed Lily on my chest and Dr. Bowen helped Tom and I feel where her cord was still pulsing. Tom got to cut the cord, and we rubbed Lily to warm her up and she stayed on my chest. Dr. Bowen helped me deliver the placenta and then showed us all the parts of it, which I thought was just amazing. I never saw Jemma’s placenta. I started nursing Lily while Dr. Bowen stitched me up (I had a second degree tear I think). I ended up having to have pitocin to help with the bleeding afterwards, but that was the only real intervention I had. I didn’t even get checked after my initial admission! I felt so good afterwards. It was such a different experience from Jemma’s birth, and I am so thankful for all the support from the amazing staff, Dr. Bowen, my doula, and most importantly, my loving and caring husband. I could not have asked for a more perfect delivery. It was amazing to be able to feel my daughter come into the world. Thank you for letting me share.

Pregnancy #2 Update

2010-11-20T18:25:00.000-08:00

Well, most of you know by now that I'm preggo with #2! We are very happily anticipating adding another little girl to our family in early April. The pregnancy has been going very well - I initially had some nausea and some extreme fatigue, but that passed pretty quickly this time. I've been feeling great for a month or so. This little lady is much more active than Jemma was. Jemma would only kick in the evenings or when I laid down to rest; this one is kicking me all day long! She especially hates when I sit down to drive and repeatedly kicks me where the seat belt presses into my stomach :)

We've been telling Jemma that there is a baby in Mama's belly, but I'm not sure how much she understands. She loves her cousin Ella and loves to help change her diaper, hug her, and bring her a "ki-ki" (her word for pacifier). I'm hoping this will transition well when she has a little sister of her own! We're in the process of moving her to into her big girl room. It is decorated and ready to go, but we're making a slow transition to sleeping in the big girl bed. She is still preferring her crib, which is fine. We have plenty of time to move her. The new baby won't need the crib for several months anyway.

I switched OB practices this time, mainly because I wanted to develop a better relationship with my doctor. The first practice I used had 5 doctors and it was hard to get to know all of them. This one has 2 and it is also much closer to our house. The doctors are amazing and I really like both of them. They spend time talking to you and genuinely care how you are feeling and how the pregnancy is going. I've been really happy with my switch so far. I'm determined that this time I'm going to have a natural birth and my docs are so supportive of that.

Overall, we are all doing great. It's amazing how fast this pregnancy has progressed. It's halfway through and I feel like we still have so much to do before this little one makes her appearance! I'll continue to keep you updated! Happy Thanksgiving!!

Why I wear Jemma

2010-10-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

Babywearing is just that - wearing your baby in a carrier. For me, that carrier is simply a piece of cloth, or a wrap. I also use ring slings, which are essentially short wraps with rings sewn on one end so that they can be easily adjusted. This has been a wonderful experience for us. I initially thought it would just be convenient for trips to the store or to get housework done. It has definitely helped with those things, but it has done so much more.

When Jemma was little, it helped me simply get chores done and keep her happy. I quickly learned that just putting her down in something didn't work. She wanted to be held. After I returned to work, it allowed us to reconnect after a busy day, when she had been missing me and I had missed her.

Once she was older, she was able to see and look around her world, all while safe and secure next to her mama. It saved my sanity during teething when all she wanted was to be held. We went to the zoo without having to lug a stroller and get her in and out everytime she wanted to see an animal.

Now, at 19 months, Jemma still gets carried a few times a week, for errands in a store or today when we went to a large celebration at church. She asks to go "up." She loves to go for rides on Mama's back. A baby carrier is an invaluable tool with a squirmy, wiggly toddler who likes to run in public!

I'm sharing my babywearing experience in the hopes of making a difference. If you remember, earlier this year the Infantino SlingRider and similar "bag slings" were recalled. It is heartbreaking that parents and families who were trying to do a wonderful thing with their children were sold an unsafe product, and even more tragic that children had to die for the recall to occur. Babywearers had been saying for year that bag slings were dangerous. The baby essentially sat in bag or purse, Mom (or Dad) wasn't able to see the baby, and it also placed the child in a poor position for breathing.

Due to the heartbreaking tragedy that occurred with this ONE TYPE of soft carrier, the CPSC has deemed ALL soft carriers to be unsafe and is making a move to recall ALL types of soft baby carriers from the market. (This includes my beloved wraps, ring slings, pouches...and it could go on to include other soft carriers such as mei tais, podegais, etc). The Baby Carrier Industry Alliance has issued an emergency call to action asking for all moms and dads alike to step up and voice their support for babywearing. That is why I am writing today, in the hopes of sharing a positive experience and showing the joy babywearing has brought to my life and my daughter's life. Babywearing has immense benefits to both mom and baby and has been practiced by mothers all over the globe for centuries. This isn’t a new thing. It is safe.

If by some miracle someone from the CPSA happens to read my little blog or any of the other countless stories being posted throughout the internet, I urge you to not recall ALL soft carriers. Instead, talk to the parents who wear their babies everyday about the benefits. Please work with the BCIA in the effort to always manufacture safe soft carriers as you do with every other product you recall.

Thank you for listening.
~Erin

Just a little light reading...

2010-08-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

How having a baby changed my perspective, AND how to make your own cleaners

2010-08-08T16:24:00.000-07:00

So, as I mentioned in my last post, I'm going to start adding some more posts here about me, Tom, our stuff. I've been having a hard time coming up with things to say about Jemma on a frequent basis. Don't get me wrong, she's adorable, and I love her dearly, but mostly her days consist of eat, play, sleep. You can only talk about that so many ways. So, I've opted to start adding some things about our parenting and lifestyle, mostly because Jemma has had such a profound impact on my view of the world. She's kinda turning me into a hippie, frankly. Before Jemma, I never put much thought into what or how I ate, what kind of cleaners and toileteries I used, what kind of impact I was having on the world. Now, I have someone to worry about, someone who needs me to be healthy, needs me to protect her, someone to leave a legacy for. I want to leave her with the best world that I can.

When I first got pregnant, I had just read Marly and Me (awesome book, by the way). In it, the author's wife has a miscarriage shortly after using some heavy duty chemical cleaners, and although the doctors said that didn't have anything to do with it, the couple was convinced it did. Being newly pregnant, this scared the dickens out of me, so I started looking for some more "green" alternatives to my household cleaners. I searched loads of websites and found that I could make safe gentle cleaners on my own! And on top of it, it was super cheap!

I've been making my own cleaner for over 2 years now, and I would not go back to buying commercial products. In fact, I bought some bathroom cleaner a few months ago because I could not get rid of this mold in our grout, but the smell made me so dizzy I got rid of it. (Fixed the mold problem with bleach, by the way) This weekend I made everything I'll need for several months, and I did it in a few hours with things I keep at home. I wanted to share my recipes and show you how simple and easy this is. I purchased some essential oils at Cincinnati Natural Foods, but really they are not necessary, they just add a pretty smell :)

My ingredients!

Supplies!

All-Purpose Cleaner:
1/2 tsp castile soap (I use Dr. Bronner's in Peppermint)
1/2 tsp washing soda
1 tsp Borax
1 cup water
*optional* 10 drops essential oil of your choice

Toilet Bowl Cleaner:
1 cup water
1/2 cup soap (I like Dawn for this)
1 cup bleach *The bathroom is the only place I use bleach and only because our toilet bowl seems to grow this obnoxious mold I cannot get rid of in any other way)

Window Cleaner:
1 cup water
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 tsp castile soap

Soft Scrub - Baking soda mixed with liquid soap to a frosting like texture.

Deodorizer - for the trash cans, carpet, etc. - BAKING SODA! Sprinkle and let it be or vacuum if it was put on carpet. Sometimes I mix some essential oil with the baking soda before I sprinkle it if I'm wanting to smell something pretty.

Those are the main cleaners I use for everything. I've learned to use vinegar, baking soda, and soap to clean. There are lots of nice alterantives at the store, too, but they cost a lot more and really, this is so easy. My friend makes her own laundry detergent and I can't wait to try that out. I'd also love to learn to make my own soap!

On a side note, I'm on the lookout for a kid-friendly bug spray, so if anyone has suggestions, I'd love to hear it! Jemma is a mosiquito magnet.

Blog edits

2010-08-03T18:29:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be updating our blog layout, changing things around. I've decided to expand this to more about our lives, as really Jemma's life is only so interesting every few months :) So forgive me if everything is a little messy for a few days.

Jemma's Dollhouse

2010-06-12T10:16:00.001-07:00

About a month ago, we were purging all our toys at work since we are being renovated soon, and I was able to save this lovely wooden dollhouse from the garbage can.

It needed a lot of love, but I thought it would be great for Jemma. I have wonderful memories of playing with our dollhouse at my Grandma's and ours at home, and it was always so fun. I knew Jemma would like it. Every girl should have a dollhouse! It needed a lot of love though - sanding and painting. My youngest sister spent the weekend with me a few weekends ago, and she helped pick out the paint and we got started! We did a lot of sanding and smoothing and then all the painting started. We wanted it to be bright and cheerful. This is our finished product. I'm so happy with it, and Jemma seems to enjoy it so far! She tried to climb in, which is pretty fun. I also found a little bunny and bear family to live in it, although she still puts her big babies in it :)

The Littlest Robben :)

2010-05-31T18:14:00.000-07:00

I'm so proud to announce Jemma has a new baby cousin! Her name is Ella Grace Robben, and she was born today weighing in at 8lbs, 4oz and 21 inches long. Mommy and baby are doing great and recooperating at Bethesda North hospital. I am so excited to have a beautiful little niece.

This is making me feel quite sentimental abour our own little bean. She has gotten so big, and is turning into such a toddler. It's so hard to believe she was so small once, too. We are so blessed to have these 2 beautiful little girls in our lives!!

A Day at the Zoo!

2010-04-18T16:02:00.001-07:00

3 month hiatus...sorry :)

2010-04-13T17:16:00.000-07:00

As you can imagine, we are quite busy with our lovely little lady. So much has happened since my last post!! We had her a simple little birthday party with just family at hour house. She had fun, but she wasn't really into the cake so much.

She is soooo close to walking, but mostly just stubbornly refuses to do it (hmm...I wonder where she gets that from). She's taking around 5-8 steps most of the time if she doesn't realize she is walking. She can walk all over holding your hand, but the second you let go, she sits down and crawls. She'll get it soon though. She loves using her push toy. Here's a picture from us walking outside with her push toy today:

She also LOVES outside. It is her new favorite thing. She loves to walk around and point to everything. We just got a zoo pass so we're looking forward to lots of fun trips this spring and summer.

I promise it won't be another 3 months before I post again, but off to get the munchkin to bed.

Our growing little girl

2010-01-25T15:27:00.000-08:00

I was home sick with Jemma today (I am sick, not her...at least so far!) and I was reflecting on how much she has grown and how different she is. It is amazing how fast they change!! Corny, I know, but I had little else to do other than watch TV on hulu :p

For instance, we have had this little child's chair in our living room since she was about 4 or 5 months old. We originally used it like a bouncy seat, then as a feeding seat, and she had pretty much ignored it for several months until she recently decided it was perfect for climbing on! Today she climbed into it with her snack and sat there while she ate. It is amazing to think that a few short months ago we were placing her in the seat and now she gets in and out herself.

And just so you have a visual, here is Jemma at 4ish months (this was the first time she held a rattle)

And here's her today at snack time...

I can't believe our little girl is going to be 1 in less than a month!!

Things Jemma Says...

2010-01-22T10:46:00.000-08:00

I was talking to my grandma the other day, and she mentioned that one of her nieces (or maybe a nephew...I don't remember) had made a list of all the things her baby was saying. I thought that was a cute idea, and thought I'd share Jemma's current vocabulary.

Uh-oh (this is what she says most)
Mama
Dada
Oof (woof)
Og (just starting to use the D)
Mow (meow)
Hi
uh-uh (usually after we tell her no...)
Wow
Look (sounds more like ook, but she gets the L sometimes)

I think that's it...I'll add more if Tom tells me I forgot something!

My first snow

2010-01-09T14:14:00.001-08:00

Since there was such a fabulous snowfall these past few days, I had to take Jemma out for her first time playing in the snow! Much to my dismay, I realized we did not have a sled, nor a snowsuit or even baby gloves...so we made do with a laundry basket, wrapped Jemma up in several layers of clothes, her coat and her daddy's coat with socks for gloves :) Our front yard has a little hill which was just perfect for baby sled riding! She had a lot of fun and we got a good laugh.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-29T07:24:00.001-08:00

Okay, I know we're a few days late, but we've had a blast the last few days spending time with Jemma on her first Christmas. She didn't really understand the ripping open part, but she had a good time. We spent Christmas Eve at Nana and Opa's and Christmas Day at Grandma and Grandpas. I also tried to get a picture of Jemma dressed up in front of the tree, but it went kind of like this...

That was the best smile I could get at that point :) She needed a nap. Here are some action shots of present opening!

At Nana's...

At Grandma's...
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And at home!

I'm planning to add more pictures later, but the computer is acting up. I'll try to post them later today or tomorrow!

Feeding myself :)

2009-12-14T19:45:00.001-08:00

Jemma has really taken off with eating lately, so thought I'd share a little meal time with you...

Yummy, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes and apple juice!

This is good, I'll have some more...

I like this feeding myself stuff!!

PS: Congratulations to our friends BJ and Jessie Murphy who welcomed their new little boy just last week. Jemma can't wait to meet her new friend, Canaan!

So many toys...

2009-11-22T09:39:00.000-08:00

With Thanksgiving next week and Christmas just around the corner, I thought I'd go out today and do a little pre-Christmas shopping. Tom and I had already talked about how we wanted to handle Christmas for Jemma, and we decided we'd have 1 Santa gift and 3 gifts from us (baby Jesus got 3 presents). I have been debating getting Jemma a toy kitchen or some sort of standing toy she could play with since she is getting so mobile. I went to Target and Meijer and then to Toys 'R Us, and wow, I was overwhelmed with all the toys!! I just wandered around and stared at everything! There were so many things and I had no clue what half of them were. I didn't even know where to start looking!

There also seems to be a shortage of simple toys. Everything is sooo decorated and I could hardly find anything that didn't light up or make noise! I remember I had a Little Tikes kitchen with a fold out table, and it had a stove, fridge, and a sink. The kitchens I saw had sinks, microwaves, dishwashers, and one even had a laundry center! I was hoping I could just find a simple little kitchen...I think I might have to shop craigslist for a "vintage" kitchen!

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-03T16:41:00.000-08:00

Jemma dressed up for Halloween as a sweet little bunny! I made her costume, and I think it came out pretty well. We walked around with her aunts, (who were a hippy and Batgirl, respectively). She waved to everyone and stared at all the costumes. Tom didn't get to come as he had a paper to write for class (he is working on his Masters), but we dressed her up and took pictures at home!

PS: On a side note, I will be adding Jemma's Christmas/Birthday wish list to her blog soon since the holidays are fast approaching!

"Bubble wrap is not for babies" and how Jemma is growing!

2009-10-29T17:36:00.000-07:00

I found myself uttering those words recently, as Jemma has decided to explore everything! She is so active right now. It is really fun, but we definitely have to watch her every move or we find her doing things like, biting bubble wrap, chewing on our plant, pulling the cat's tail, etc. She is a very curious little baby, and of course, she learns about everything by putting it right into her mouth :) She has grown so fast this past month - I feel like she learns something new everyday! Here's a quick recap for everyone:

1. Not only is she crawling, but she is cruising along furniture :)
2. Her first tooth broke through about a week or so ago (it was the bottom right tooth), and I think she's working on the bottom left. She looks cute with her little teeth.
3. She loves to walk holding your hands.
4. Jemma babbles constantly - mamamama, dadadada, nananana, bababab. She says mama most consistently and with the most meaning. Makes me smile.
5. She's going to be a bunny for Halloween.
6. She eats most foods now, except for the baby no-nos, like dairy, egg, etc.
7. She has learned to wave!

Jemma is just a fun child to be around, and everyday is an adventure!! I love this age!

October Update :)

2009-10-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

Jemma is growing so quickly. She's up to 19lbs, and about to outgrow her carseat in length! She is like 99% for height or something, so we're expecting a tall girl. She also has mastered crawling, pulling up to stand, and she is starting to cruise! We are going to have an early walker on our hands, I think. She loves toys now, and wants to play with everything, as she thinks everything is a toy :) We've had to give her a spare remote so she will leave ours alone!!! She is babbling some, but her most consistent phrases are still "gee," "eee," "huh," "ahh" and sometimes "mama" if she really wants something or is super sleepy.

Her hair is coming in more now, so she can finally wear a bow! I tried headbands, but no matter how loose they were, they always left marks on her head. Of course, she still looks bald because her hair is so light, but it'll get there. It's really grown a lot in the last few weeks. She also refuses to keep her socks on and kicks/pulls them off, even though her feet feel cold to me! She loves to eat and loves almost everything she's had, except she didn't like avocado or plums, I think. Speaking of eating, she seems to be hungry, so I have to run, but look for an update again soon!

And we're back!

2009-09-16T17:27:00.000-07:00

Well, Jemma has been keeping me so busy I have hardly had time to do anything! Sorry for the delay in updates, but I will do my best to get everyone up to par on our lives since the end of July!

School has started up again for Tom, so Jemma is back to Grandma's and Nana's every week. She loved spending time with her daddy this summer, and they got to be really close. They love to play together, and Jemma gets to do fun things, like be a plane or rocket ship and fly all over the house! She sits by herself, and has just started belly crawling this week! She gets up on her hands and knees and rocks and rocks, but she can't quite figure out how to move her arms and legs together. She does the inchworm, if you know what I mean! She gets up on all fours, moves her legs, and then pushes out with her hands, and ends up on her tummy again. Then she starts the process all over again! She's getting pretty quick, and last night she chased a plastic bag all over the room - not matter where we hid it from her!

She has lots of toys to play with, but her favorite thing at the moment is an old remote. I was tired of her stealing ours to chew on, so I let her have an old one that doesn't work, and you'd think we gave the kid the moon. She is so happy and proud to hold her little remote and swing it all over the place. Of course, she likes to chew on it - along with everything else! She doesn't have any teeth yet, but we have been going through some serious teething phases...up all night, every night for a week, slobber, crying, drool, crying, biting, etc, etc. It seems to have calmed down a little, but I'm sure we'll be going through more soon.

Hmm...I don't have any pictures right now because our camera broke, and I don't have a new one yet (but my birthday is next week, so keep your fingers crossed!). We did get 6 month pictures taken, but they are not uploading for me, so I will try again later! We were in Babies 'R Us, and the picture place in there (Kiddie Kandids) was training a new employee, so we got a session for free, and a discounted package. The pictures turned out great, so I decided to go ahead and get them! Here is the link until I can get them uploading: http://mystudio.kiddiekandids.com/EditImage.aspx?im=33404270&sit=0

That's all for now, and we'll be in touch soon!

Boom Boom Wow!

2009-07-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

Jemma likes to get down with the Black Eyed Peas :) Could Jemma be the next Fergie? We don't know...

Sorry for the sideways shot, can't figure out how to turn it!

Jemma Gets a High Chair...and Bananas!

2009-07-15T17:35:00.001-07:00

I have been keeping an eye out for a high chair for little Miss Jemma. We've been doing some mashed bananas in very small quantities, but we hadn't really had anywhere to put her other than her bouncy chair, which is just a huge mess waiting to happen! So, I happened to stop in Once Upon a Child today after work, and they had a Fischer Price Space Saver high chair for $15!! These are normally like 60 bucks or something! I had been pondering where I wanted a full size high chair, but I really like this one, especially at this price. I just love consignment shops. You can find such good deals! Anyway, here is Jemma pre-bananas trying out her new to us high chair!

Of course we had to try it out, so here are some of our mealtime photos!!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

The evolution of Jemma's hair (or lack thereof)

2009-07-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

I was looking through some pictures of Jemma from the newborn stage, and I was highly amused by the changes in her hair. She started out with dark brown hair, even if it was a little sparse. I remember immediately after she was born I was surprised by how dark her hair was....and how much of a conehead she had!
It continued to grow in thicker as she got a little older...
You can really see how thick it was in this back shot of her head!

Then it started to disappear...

And now it's coming back in, but seems to be almost blonde!

Who knows what she'll look like next???

Jemma Sits! Well, sort of...

2009-07-07T17:28:00.000-07:00

My little girl is getting so big and strong! She is almost sitting up by herself! Yesterday Tom and I went to the grocery store, and I went to the bathroom, and when I came out he had Jemma sitting in the cart holding onto the edge in the kid seat. She sat in the cart for about 20 minutes just holding that little bar. Tom and I were so proud, you'd have thought she just graduated! We must have looked like crazy people in the grocery store because we kept stopping and staring at her...well, it was mostly me, but he did it a little too! Then today he said she propped sat while holding onto her legs for almost 10 minutes. Sigh. She is just getting sooooo big!

I'm also planning to start introducing some foods. We're going to make most of her stage 1 foods, as it's all mostly puree anyway. I'm planning to start with bananas, so we'll see how it goes. We'll take some pictures when that happens!

A little life update :)

2009-06-26T19:58:00.001-07:00

Hello out there!!! We have been a busy little family lately! Tom finished up his first year of teaching, my sister Dana graduated, then my other sister Kari got married last weekend. It has been more than a little hectic around here. We've had lots of visitors and lots of events to attend. Tom is actually gone this weekend on a manly getaway with his brother, dad, friend, and cousin to Lake Cumberland. They are doing manly things like boating, playing cards, and drinking beer. Jemma and I are hanging out and relaxing after our crazy couple of weeks. Sometimes it's really nice to just sit at home!

Tom has gotten to be Mr. Mom since he has been home, and it has been really nice to have him around all the time! He cooks and cleans and takes care of the baby, and it is awesome to come home to that!!! Jemma is really getting to spend a lot of time with him too, which is good for them. More baby daddy bonding is always good! She loves her daddy. He tickles her and she giggles and they play a lot. She really enjoys that. She loves to cuddle up on me, but she prefers to play with her dad. It is so amazing to watch the interaction between them. I just love it. Tom is a wonderful father.

Jemma is a growing little bean. She is 15 lbs, 4 oz and 25 1/2 inches long. She is in the 90th percentile for height and weight! She can roll to either side, but hasn't figured out rolling all the way to her tummy yet. She sits with just a teeny bit of support, too. I've decided to start baby proofing the house as I am anticipating her to begin rolling around soonish. I can't believe she is getting so big!!!

Just Jemma

2009-06-16T16:04:00.000-07:00

Mirror Mommy and Wall Daddy

2009-05-29T15:42:00.000-07:00

About a week ago, Jemma discovered Tom's picture hanging on our living room wall. She stared and stared and then she cooed and "talked" to the picture for at least 10 minutes. Then she became quite perplexed when the picture didn't talk back! She also loves to look in the mirror, but instead of looking at herself, she looks at me! This is how Jemma has come to have a "wall daddy" and "mirror mommy." We are highly amused by this recent development, and wanted to share!

My growing baby and her new bed

2009-05-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

I do not have an exact weight, but I'm guessing Jemma is around 15 or 16 lbs. I weighed her by stepping onto our scale, and it increased by over 16lbs!! Of course, she had clothes and diaper on, so not entirely accurate, but close enough for me to say she has outgrown her bassinet...which made me sad because I love her bassinet! I was bumming at the thought of having to get up, pad down the hall, pick her up, feed her, get her back to sleep, and then go back to bed. Initially this was the routine we had because I could not figure out how to nurse her on my side, and I was soooooo tired all the time, even when we were only getting up 1 time a night to nurse. About a month or so ago, I figured out how to feed her on my side, and since then I have been getting such good sleep - and so has she. I think because she doesn't really wake up as much, so she goes right back to sleep after nursing.

So I'm sure you can imagine why I was not happy at the thought of losing this wonderful routine we had developed...especially since I just started back to work and I really need my sleep!! I decided to invest in something else to keep by our bed because her crib is just too big. It would not fit. We'd have to take our bed out of the room for it to fit, and that would completely defeat the whole point!! I am so excited to introduce our new Arm's Reach Mini Convertible Co-sleeper:

This thing is so cool! It can bump right up next your the bed (like I have it shown), it can be a free standing bassinet, and it is also a little playard too! And it will support her up to 30lbs on the top and 50lbs on the bottom...so it will last a long time and be great for traveling, too!!!

So what became of our old bassinet? Well, it converts into a infant/toddler chair, which is now sitting in our living room. And for your enjoyment, here are some pictures of Miss Jemma using it as a chair :) She is just so adorable.

Just plain cute

2009-05-21T19:05:00.000-07:00

My sweet little Jemma on Mother's Day. Sorry it's late, but she's still cute.

Bad Blogger Mommy

2009-05-17T17:42:00.001-07:00

I think I have been a bad blogger...I know, I know, it's been a long time since I've posted. Sorry. I'll try not to let that happen again. Try is the key word in that sentence. Ha ha.

Life is good. I started back to work full time (well, 4 days a week) last week. The 2 weeks prior I had worked 2 days each. I think that was a good decision for me. I had no idea how hard it would be to leave Jemma. Before she was born, I naively thought I would easily go back to work, no problems, no worries. HA. That was the furthest thing from the truth...and Jemma is even staying with family! She's with my mom Mon, Wed, Thurs, and my mother-in-law Tues, which I am so grateful for. It's hard enough to leave her with people I know! It is so hard to trust someone else with your child. I had no idea. I mean, I know she's fine with them, but it's just the little things I think of...do they hold her hand when she's upset or rub her head to help her go down for her nap? Do they know she likes something to hug when she naps? I could go on and on. I'm sure you all know what I mean. (And to my lovely babysitters, I mean no disrespect. You are doing a great job!! I'll stop worrying eventually!!!) It's getting better, though, at least for me. Jemma has never had a problem to begin with - just Mommy. On the plus side, I am happy to be back at work, as hard as it was initially. I truly love my job, and I enjoy what I do. I don't think I will ever be a completely stay at home mom, but I do hope to cut my hours back somewhat in the future...like maybe in a year or 2. Or at the very least when we have another kiddo.

Speaking of the little angel, she is doing awesome. She is growing like a weed and is just such a joy. Tom and I love her to pieces. She is so much fun. It's wonderful to watch her little personality emerge. She's started cooing and "talking" to everything that catches her interest, and she is almost rolling now, but she has so far only done it on accident. We are so blessed to have such a beautiful little angel for a daughter!!

2 hospital visits in 2 weeks...

2009-04-24T13:00:00.001-07:00

Well, sorry it's been a while, but life got a little hectic around here. Most of you know, but for those who don't, Jemma was hospitalized for almost 2 weeks due to RSV, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. She had started to get a little cold almost 3 weeks ago, and then on Monday April 6th we ended up in the ER because she was wheezing. We were admitted because she had something called bronchiolitis. I had never heard of this before, but every mom I know seemed to know what we are talking about. Basically, it's like the baby has a bad chest cold and their little lungs can't handle it. It's yucky. She was released Friday April 10th. The next Monday she had a follow up and her pediatrician sent her back to the hospital and we spent another 3 days because she had developed pneumonia! Finally, last Thursday we got sent home, and we have stayed here :) She is doing MUCH better, thanks to her awesome team of doctors, antibiotics, and lots of prayer!!

So, I hope to get back on track with this blog now that we have a healthy baby! Thanks everyone for everything you helped with during those last few weeks!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-01T09:02:00.001-07:00

All right, these are the only words you will hear again on a Wednesday, but I wanted to give props to the blog I got the idea from: Uniquely Placed.

Finding the Cloth Love

2009-03-31T17:20:00.000-07:00

I'm going to make a startling announcement. I enjoy cloth diapering Jemma! Crazy, I know! Who thought anyone would ever say they like to diaper their child? Certainly not me! Now, I'm not saying I love poopy diapers, but cloth diapers are at least fun. Disposables are just diapers. They all look the same and they're kind of ugly. Cloth diapers are cute! At least ours are. Well, actually the cloth diapers we use aren't all that exciting since they come from the service, but our diaper covers are bright and fun. They do make colored diapers, but I don't have to buy my own. Jemma currently has a few different types of covers, but we mainly use Thirsties. They work fantastically, and are so adorable. She has pink, lilac, orange, and yellow. At night, we use fleece covers, but I don't have a picture of her in those. I'll get one soon. They are huge and fluffy, and I love her little fluffy bum!

I'm currently coveting some fleece soakers for our diaper stash. They are covers for the day, but are kind of like little pants to wear over the diapers and then you don't have to wear other pants. They are nice and soft and apparently great for warmer weather so baby doesn't have to wear so many layers. You can also get little sets with matching t-shirts like these from Monster Fluff Studios which I am totally in love with:

While on the cding topic, I also have to rave about our diaper service, Good Natured Baby. It is so nice to never have to worry about having enough diapers (we get 100 a week!) or wipes (we're also using cloth wipes). I am so thankful that there is a service in our area. I think I would still be cding if I didn't have the diaper service, but it is so convenient. The cost is roughly the equivalent of buying disposables. I have thought about just buying prefolds and doing the laundry myself to save on costs, but until that is really necessary, I'm not going down that road!

Thoughts on Breastfeeding

2009-03-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I am breastfeeding Jemma, and I have to say it is a much different experience than I ever expected. My mom nursed all of us, so I was always exposed to it, but until I was actually pregnant, I had no interest in doing it myself. It just seemed...weird? I don't know. I guess I just didn't like the idea of becoming a milk factory.

Once I was actually pregnant, I decided I wanted to breastfeed because I knew it was best for the baby, not to mention a better decision financially. Formula would cost a fortune!! Even the cost (and minor inconvenience) of purchasing a breastpump and bottles doesn't add up to the cost of formula.

So then I had Jemma, and my perspective changed again. She initially had trouble latching on and keeping it up - she'd slip or pull off and she was a very sleepy baby, so I had to constantly wake her up. I had to practically strip her naked to get her to nurse :) The first week or so was real work to get her to eat consistently, but at the time it didn't seem too bad. I knew it was going to get better eventually, and it was actually a really good way to get me to sit down and bond with Jemma initially. We spent a lot of time trying to figure it out.

Now she does great, and my next challenge is how to figure out how to do this in public without an indecent exposure episode. Jemma refuses to eat with a blanket over her head, so that isn't a great option. I have a few nursing tops which seem to work well, but I think mostly its just going to take practice.

I think the best thing about nursing so far is that it is something only I can do with Jemma. She'll take a bottle if she needs to, but she prefers to nurse. It is our special time together. It also forces me to rest and just spend some time with her. No matter what's going on, when she needs to eat, I have to stop and sit down to feed her. It is a great way for mother nature to ensure that you spend time with your baby and make you take a break every now and then!

Getting on Schedule

2009-03-15T20:05:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report that Jemma has begun sleeping for 4-5 hour stretches at night - yeah!!!!! Cross your fingers that she keeps it up! She has done this for the past week, so I am hoping this is going to be a more consistent pattern. It has been really nice to sleep for more than 3 hours. I've been trying to start a nighttime routine, so that we can start preparing for me to go back to work. My first day back is April 13, and I am working 2 days a week until May 11 when I go back 4 days a week. I'd like for us to have a schedule established by then. Of course, this all obviously depends on how cooperative little Jemma wants to be, but so far so good!

We made it to church this morning, and we were even there on time for our normal 10 o'clock service. Jemma had one little crying episode (she needed her diaper changed), but was otherwise content throughout the service. I'm sure that will change as she starts getting older and wants to play more. She's just happy if we hold her for now :) We went to visit our students at the high school service, but Jemma was asleep in the car seat, so we'll have to go back when she is awake.

Just wanted to give you a little update since I was sitting here sending some emails, but that's really all I have for the moment. We'll post later in the week!

Date Night

2009-03-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

Today was date night for me and Tom. My sisters came to baby-sit Jemma, and we went out for dinner and dessert. We had a gift card for Montgomery Inn, so we had that, and it was soooooo good. I love the saratoga chips!! Then we ran over to Kenwood to the bike store Tom gets his mountain bike gear from (he needed some clips for his new bike shoes). Sadly, I was starting to get tired after this, so we picked up some cheescake from the Cheescake Factory and headead home. My endurance has just not returned yet...probably due to all the sleep deprivation.

It was really nice to just be out with Tom, but it was a little strange to not have Jemma around. We have only left her one other time, and that was for an urgent trip to the doctor for me, so I wasn't thinking so much about her not being there. Even though I knew she was fine with my sisters, I kept wanting to call (although I talked myself out of it) and just wondering if she was okay. I am so grateful that we live close to family who are so willing to help out, and who I trust to care for my daughter while I have to work. I would die if I had to leave her with strangers!!! I know daycare works for some people, but I just could not bear the thought of leaving her in one. My ultimate goal is to get to a place financially where I can work 2 or 3 days a week, but we just aren't there yet. Maybe within the next 2 years...so probably by the time we are working on a second little Pope! Oh, I don't even want to think about that yet...

Motherhood: Week 2

2009-03-04T13:36:00.000-08:00

Tom and I were sitting on the couch last night, and he was saying how strange it was that Jemma wasn't in our lives 3 weeks ago. It is crazy how quickly babies just become part of the family and you feel like they have always been with you! It seems like she has been here forever, although it's only been 2 weeks and 1 day. Amazing, huh? I think it also seems longer because she is a big baby, and it's easy to think of her as older as she is. Many babies are just hitting 8 lbs at 1 month and Jemma is probably up to 9 lbs already. She is also beginning to develop her head control, and can hold her head up by herself for about 5 seconds. She can pick her head up and turn to the other side, and her eyes are starting to focus and she tracks objects for short distances. I'm so proud :) Being a PT, I of course am watching for every little motor milestone I can. It's amazing to me how the body learns and develops on its own.

Anywho, I got off on a bit of a tangent. We are doing well at home. Tom returned to work on Monday, and he seems to be doing okay...tired, but okay. I am getting up with Jemma during the nights, but apparently she makes a lot of noise in her sleep, and it is keeping Tom awake. I am so tired I sleep right through it :) She's actually doing really good at sleeping in between feedings, and she continues to be this amazingly content little person.

I am healing up as well, and hopefully only have 2 more doctors visits in my future. I went Tuesday and my doctors were pleased that I had started to heal and everything was looking good. I have to go back Friday for another check, and then at least one time next week, maybe more depending on how things look. Although it is a pain to go to the doctor so often, it does at least get me out of the house and I know I am being well cared for.

My plan is to try to update the blog at least weekly, but we'll see how it goes. Until next time!

My Jemma

2009-02-26T18:17:00.001-08:00

FINALLY! Jemma's Birth Story!

2009-02-26T17:53:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to write a post about Jemma's birth and how life is going for over a week now; however, motherhood and the internet appear to be conspiring against this. We're actually doing really well at home, but it is just adjusting to taking care of Jemma and recovering. I had the post written about 3 times and then my computer crashed and I got fed up and decided I would just start over later.

SO, Jemma's birth was an interesting experience. It was definitely not what I expected or was hoping for, but it wasn't terrible. I started having contractions around 1 in the afternoon Monday, and we headed to the hospital about 9pm that night. I was really feeling great until they broke my water at 1am, and then the contractions got really intense. I was having horrible back labor, and I was getting really tired. My doctor suggested an epidural at about 5am, and I happily agreed. I was ready to start pushing by 8am, and this is where it got interesting. I pushed for 3 hours with minimal progress - when I'd push, she'd come down, but as soon as I stopped, she went right back where she was before. This led my doctor to suspect I might have a pretty big baby (turned out she was right)...anyway, we discussed several options, but I ended up having another doctor assist to perform a forceps delivery, and Jemma came out very quickly with that assistance. I narrowly avoided a c-section, although I did end up with a 3rd degree tear thanks to my daughter's broad shoulders. It was worth it, though, and I much prefer that to a c-section scar and recovery.

Jemma turned out to be 8 lbs, 12 oz; 21 3/4 inches long; brown hair; and brownish blue eyes. She had a small abrasion on her head, but this is healing well. She also was slightly jaundiced, but again, this has cleared up. We are breastfeeding, and she had a little trouble at first, but she's a pro now. She had her first pediatrician visit today, and Dr. Weatherington was very pleased with her. She's up to 8lbs, 14 oz (already surpassed her birth weight!) and is doing all the things she should be.

I am doing well considering how difficult Jemma's birth was. I have had some complications with my tear repairing, and I have to go to the doctor every 2 days until it starts to heal on its own, which hopefully should be soon. My doctors' seem pleased with the progress, but it's just going to take some time for everything to go back together. Basically this just means I have to rest a lot and stay off my feet as much as I can. I'm not allowed to lift anything heavier than Jemma. Tom stayed home the past 2 weeks to help me out, and I have lots of friends and family who will be helping during the day once he goes back to work Monday.

Anyway, overall everything is going pretty well. Jemma is a pretty easy baby, and we are enjoying having her with us finally. We're spending lots of time cuddling and snuggling and napping together. We'll keep you updated on how life is going, but for now, we're just spending time at home adusting to life with Jemma!

Gearing Up

2009-02-16T03:41:00.000-08:00

Well, it's Monday. I was hoping to have a baby, or at least be on my way to having one by now. I do think it will be soon, as I having been having lots more contractions. Friday I went to the doctor, got checked out (almost 3 cm dilated!), and they stripped my membranes. I also got referred to a dermatologist for this skin rash, as my OB seems to have no real clue what it is other than to say "it's probably pregnancy related." I am still convinced it is PUPPP after looking at all the information online, and knowing my own symptoms. The OB was hoping a dermatologist could make sure it wasn't anything worse, and get me some relief from all the itching. However, no one was available Friday, so I am going to see if someone can squeeze me in this afternoon or tomorrow. I'm not sure what they'll be able to do, but I figure it is worth a shot.

Anywho, Friday I had contractions off and on all day following my doctor's appt, and by evening they did regulate to 10 minutes apart, but then tapered off before bed. Saturday morning I didn't feel a whole lot, but again as the day progressed, contractions picked up and even kept me awake until about 2 AM. They were 5-7 minutes apart, but then stopped once I fell asleep. Yesterday was the same, except I had them intermittently all night but not in any type of pattern. This, combined with the itchy feeling, left me waking up about every hour. They are also getting stronger and have been more intense each day. This makes me think labor is coming soon, as my body really seems to be gearing up and practicing. I hope so. I am ready to get over the waiting and meet this little person. So, keep your fingers crossed that labor starts soon, and that we have a healthy mama and a healthy baby at the end of it. We'll continue to keep you updated!

Week 39

2009-02-12T18:10:00.000-08:00

I'm itchy. All over. Although my doctor last week did not think much of the rash beginning on my stomach (he said it was due to all the stretching and to use hydrocortisone cream 3 x day). Well, now it is everywhere. EVERYWHERE. From the tops of my feet to my shoulders and down to the tops of my hands. It has not yet spread to my back or bottom, but the entire front of me looks like it is covered in little red bumps...sort of like pimples but paler. As an added bonus, the initial ones that started on my stretch marks have morphed into this red blob...although they have been less itchy than the other places of my body. Or I am just noticing it less because there are so many other places itching. Oh the joys of pregnancy. On the plus side, while this is more annoying than chicken pox, it has no harmful side effects for the baby - just intense, horrible itching bumps for me! It is definitely PUPPP, even if the doctor didn't officialy diagnosis. Currently my focus is on trying to get the itching to lessen.

I have had some contractions this week, but I haven't really been feeling a whole lot. One false incident on Wednesday morning, but that ended up going nowhere. Surprisingly, I thought I'd be feeling a lot more frantic about having the baby than I am. Two weeks ago I was more than ready to be done, and while I definitely want to be done, I am feeling more calm about the whole process (even with the added itch factor). I guess I have accepted the fact that the baby will come when she's ready. It also helped a little that the doctor told me they wouldn't let me go more than a week overdue, which puts me at under 2 weeks regardless. I can handle that.

Steady Progress

2009-02-06T10:51:00.000-08:00

Good news! I'm up to 80% effaced as of today - still only dilated 1.5 cm or so, but the doctor was happy with my progression, and said I was moving along well. He also stripped my membranes during the exam, which was uncomfortable, but will hopefully help things move along. They also told me they wouldn't let me go more than 1 week overdue, which made me feel better. I really don't want to be induced, but the thought of another whole month was awful. However, the doctor said he didn't think that was going to be a problem for me. Yippee! Maybe we'll have a baby here soon....

38 week woes

2009-02-05T17:48:00.001-08:00

I go to the doctor again tomorrow. I thought about waiting to post until then, but I am bored and wanted to give a little update. I'm holding up fairly well, although I swear my belly gets bigger by the day. Tom said I look like I've grown a lot in the last few days, and my body definitely agrees. It is increasingly more difficult to, well, do anything! Mostly, I have trouble transitioning from one position to another, like from sitting to standing. This is only a problem because I can't seem to stay comfortable for long, and I need to switch positions a lot.

My biggest complaint is this itchy stomach of mine. As I reported last week, I have developed a few stretch marks, although they are not terrible. What is terrible is the itching they cause. At first I thought it was just the stretch marks, but I am beginning to fear it is something called "PUPPP", or pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. Here is some information I found about it:

This is the most common rash in pregnant women. It normally occurs in first pregnancies during the third trimester with an average onset of 35 weeks. Thankfully, PUPPP does not usually affect subsequent pregnancies.

Appearance of PUPPP
The rash of PUPPP almost always begins in the stretch marks (striae) of the abdomen. It does not involve the belly button distinguishing it from other common rashes of pregnancy. The rash itself consists of small, red wheals in the stretch marks that grow together to form larger wheals on the abdomen. Sometimes the rash can include small vesicles. Over the next several days, the rash can spread over the thighs, buttocks, breasts, and arms. The rash is very itchy, or pruritic, hence the name. This condition is harmless to mother and baby, but can be very annoying. It lasts an average of 6 weeks and resolves spontaneously 1 to 2 weeks after delivery. The most severe itching normally lasts for no more than 1 week.

Cause of PUPPP
The cause of PUPPP is unknown. It is not associated with preeclampsia, autoimmune disorders, hormonal abnormalities, or fetal abnormalities. Some investigators suggest that the rapid abdominal wall distension damages connective tissue and causes an inflammatory response. One study has shown that male fetal DNA can be found in skin biopsies of the rash. Since 70% of women with PUPPP give birth to boys, a new hypothesis is that male fetal DNA acts as a skin irritant.

Diagnosis of PUPPP
The diagnosis of PUPPP is clinical, meaning it is based solely on the appearance of the rash. There are no laboratory tests that detect PUPPP. Skin biopsies are not generally performed unless there is a question about the diagnosis.

Treatment of PUPPP
The treatment of PUPPP is symptomatic. High strength steroid creams or ointments used up to 5 to 6 times a day usually relieve the itching and prevent the spread of the rash. Once the rash is under control, changing to a lower strength steroid used less frequently is advisable. For severe cases, daily oral steroids may be necessary to control itching. Oral antihistamines are generally less effective for itching than steroids, but may be useful at night to help with sleep.

Sounds lovely, doesn't it? I'm hoping maybe I don't have this, but the red lines of fire on my belly look eerily similar to the pictures I found online. At least, I am at 38 weeks, so even if it is PUPPP, perhaps it will not spread to terribly. It seems to be concentrated just on my stretch marks for the moment, which seems to be how it starts. I plan to ask the doctor about this tomorrow. Calamine lotion has helped somewhat, but maybe they can give me something else. Or maybe I could just have the baby. That would definitely help the rash go away :) I'll update you again tomorrow!

1.5 cm dilated, 50% effaced

2009-01-30T11:51:00.000-08:00

We went to the doctor for my weekly check-up today, and I've made a little progress - 1.5 cm dilated and 50% effaced (or as the doc put it "halfway thinned out"). I was happy to hear that there are changes going on, but I'm trying to just take this all one day at a time. She's going to come when she's ready, so there is no sense in worrying about it. Of course, it took me like 2 weeks to realize this, but I guess at least I figured it out now! I was going a little nuts worrying about every little twinge, tightening, or sign, and I've just decided I will go insane if I keep that up. So we'll just take it a step at a time, and the baby will get here when she gets here.

I do have to admit I'm a little excited about the effacing part because up until now I hadn't had any changes in that area. That still doesn't mean we'll be going into labor soon, but that's okay! I'm planning like she's coming tomorrow but expecting that she won't be here until past her due date. I figure that way I'm not disappointed :) Besides, there are actually benefits to going longer - at least for me. The longer I work, the more time I accumulate to take off after, and the more time I work at my normal salary. On the other hand, if she comes a little early, I just get to have more time with my baby, so that is great! Anyway, that is all I have to report for today, so I'll talk to you all soon!

Random Stuff

2009-01-27T07:00:00.000-08:00

Well, I am sitting at work, watching the snow fall outside our window. None of our patients showed up, and it is likely that none will this afternoon either. I don't blame them. I wouldn't be taking my child out in this if I didn't have to. Unfortunately for her, she's still stuck going everywhere I go since she still has a few weeks left in there (although sooner is okay with me - I keep trying to tell her that she can come out now, but she apparently isn't listening. The rebellion begins...).

Anywhoo, there is not a lot going on with us except wait and see! The doctors said I could go anytime or maybe not for a few more weeks. I am feeling a lot more pressure and I am a "fingertip dilated" (can't remember if I posted that before or not, but oh well - pregnancy brain!). I'm having more and more Braxton Hicks contractions, so my body is definitely practicing for the big day. I've also recently developed stretch marks (BOOO!), which I was so hoping to go without. How annoying to make it 37 weeks without a single one, and then get like 10 in a day...I just hope they don't spread too much...

Tonight, as long as the weather holds up, Tom and I are going to a new parent visit at one of our possible pediatrician choices - Springdale Mason Pediatrics. They have 2 offices and we are planning to use the Springdale office, as long as we like who we see this evening. We are trying to find a pediatrician who will be knowledgable and helpful about delaying and spreading out vaccinations. I know there is no conclusive evidence linking vaccinations to anything, but I have had way too many patients who come in with the story that their child was fine, got a vaccine, and then went downhill. Better safe than sorry, in my opinion. Tom agrees. Plus, looking at the vaccination schedule for kids now compared to what we got when we were young is astounding. They get like 6 vaccinations at 2 months...that seems like a lot to throw at a little baby. We do want our child to have all her vaccines, just hopefully spread out.

Well, I'm not sure I have a whole lot more to ramble about, but if I think of anything, I'll be sure to let you know :) Enjoy this beautiful snow and be safe!

Baby Survey

2009-01-23T14:48:00.001-08:00

Name: Erin
Birthdate: 09/21/1983
Current Age: 25
Height: 5'6"
Weight before pregnancy: 145 lbs.
Current Weight: 171 lbs

Partner's Name: Tom
Partner's Birthdate: 01/14/1983
Partner's Age: 26
Partner's Height: 6'2''
Partner's Weight before pregnancy: ??? Roughly 200 lbs or so
Partner's Current Weight: Same

When did you find out you were pregnant? June 12 was the first positive pregnancy test, and we confirmed it at the doctor on June 17.
Who did you tell first about the pregnancy? Tom
Date of Conception? um...not really sure?
Due Date? February 18, 2009
Was the pregnancy planned? We weren't preventing it from happening but we weren't trying very hard either.
How did your parents react? My parents were excited but pretty calm about the whole thing.
How did your partner's parents react? My father-in-law's eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head and my mother-in-law screamed at the top of her lungs. They were only a little excited :)
Did you go to the doctor yet? More times than I can count
Did you have your first ultrasound? I've had 3 total
Do you know the sex? yes
Boy or Girl? Girl
How is the baby's movement? She used to kick me repeatedly as soon as I sat or laid down, but her movements have slowed down a little lately. Now it is more like a gentle rolling most of the time, but there are still occasions of hard kicks.
How is the baby's heartbeat? Strong - usually around 140s-150s
Baby's name? ***** ********* or ******* ********* or ******** ***** or maybe ******** **** you all know we haven't decided and the names are secret anyway!!
Who do you think the baby will look like? My nose at least, probably brown hair which will turn blonde later. I'm hoping she gets Tom's big brown eyes and his ears (mine are a little too elfy)
Mom to be's favorite foods? Anything made from potatoes
Mom to be's latest cravings? Chocolate
Mom to be's latest "mom" moment? When we moved the bassinet into our bedroom and I thought how there was really going to be a baby in there soon!
What was the first change you noticed in your body? Suddenly I felt nauseous all the time
What was the latest change in your body? Back pain and increasing pelvic pressure
What is your sleep schedule? It varies, but it usally involves falling asleep around 10-11, waking at 12-1, and then getting up around 6-7
What is your work schedule? 8-4:30, Mon-Thurs
What is the last thing you bought for the baby? Chest rub, baby tylenol
What was the last thing you bought for yourself? Spare parts for the breastpump (I guess that was for both of us)
Planned birth place? Good Samaritan Hospital
Are you scared? More like anxious but a little yeah
Are you going to use drugs? Not if I can help it
How do you think you will react? I have no idea - I will probably cry and be very happy
How do you think your partner will react? I'm predicting he will cry, but you know, the manly kind when you shed like 1 or 2 actual tears and mostly just get all wet around the eyes
Have you started birthing classes? We already had ours.
What is the nursery theme? Ocean
Are you going to breastfeed? Of course

I'm Here:)

2009-01-23T13:28:00.001-08:00

Sorry I haven't posted lately, but there isn't really a lot going on, and I have been feeling pretty worn out. I'm trying not to complain a lot, so let's just say I'm ready to be done. I wish my body would make up it's mind to either get this done or go to the due date! At my last visit, I was a "fingertip dilated" and I've been having increasingly more intense Braxton-Hicks contractions, so the doctor thinks there is a higher chance I will go early. Who knows? Anyway, we are all set at home, I've got everything packed, and the only thing left to do is organize our guest room so we can use it if needed. I honestly don't have a lot else to say, but if anything changes we'll let you know!

Waiting Game

2009-01-14T16:55:00.000-08:00

Guess what? Today is Tom's birthday, which was the last big event before my due date. I had mentioned before that I was counting down based on the large events in our lives (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc), and Tom's birthday was the last on my list! Now that I'm thinking of it, my sister Kari's birthday is February 4th, so I could add that in! Anyway, what I am getting at is that this whole birth thing is fast approaching! I am 35 weeks today, which is only 35 days till my due date (although I could potentially be looking at an additional 2 weeks if she shows up late). I am really getting excited to be done with pregnancy and just be a mom! I will so love being able to roll over in bed easily, sleep on my stomach, walk without waddling...oh the joys of the third trimester. I can't complain much because I have had a relatively easy pregnancy in comparison to many people I know. It will just be nice to be done with this process.

Oh, and thank you to everyone for all your thoughtful gifts at my showers! We are so thankful for everything, and it will make this transition so much easier to have these things ahead of time. We truly appreciate everything!!

Pampered Friday

2009-01-09T09:21:00.000-08:00

Today I got to go to Becoming Mom spa in Mason for a pregnancy massage and pedicure. It was W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L! I feel awesome! My darling husband got me a package for Christmas because I have been having a lot more back pain and this was fantastic. I loved it! My massage therapist was sweet and it was really relaxing. The therapists are specially trained in pregnancy massage and specifically third trimester massage. I did not know this, but apparently certain points are believed to induce labor, so most massage therapists will not perform a third trimester massage. Who knew? Tom put a lot of effort into researching and finding this place, so it was really special for me. It was an awesome present.

The pedicure was really great too because I haven't had a chance to pamper my feet in a while - simply because I can't reach them very well. So if you are looking for a great gift for a pregnant mom in your life, I highly recommend this place - they are great. And the best part is they use safe products. While I was there I picked up some Zoya nail polish - it is free of all those yucky chemicals. Awesome!

Baby Shower #1

2009-01-04T15:32:00.000-08:00

Yippee! Today was my first baby shower, and it turned out really nice. Thanks to my mother-in-law and aunt-in-law for throwing a very nice shower. It was relaxing but fun, which was perfect. And thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone for all the wonderful gifts. It will all be so helpful in the coming months!

And now I'm up for baby shower #2 this Saturday...I tell you there is a lot of baby showering going on here, but that is a-okay with me :)

Went to the doctor today...

2009-01-02T12:58:00.000-08:00

Nothing new to report, except I've gained another 3-4 pounds. The doctor is happy. I actually cannot complain because my weight has been really good. I do have to watch it a little bit these last 2 months because I was apparently very close to failing my 3 hour glucose test. The doc said if I had scored 1 or 2 points higher they would have sent me to the dietician and I would have to be monitoring my blood sugar. Thankfully, that is not the case, but I do want to stay as healthy as I can. I am actually looking forward to going back to work Monday so that I can be more active. This 10 day vacation has been awesome - don't get me wrong - but work is my exercise :) It keeps me up and moving which is good for me and the baby. Anyway, looking forward to seeing everyone at the shower Sunday!

PS: I've been updating my What We Really Need post as my registries are being shopped, so you know what are the current urgent items!

New Nursery Pics!

2009-01-01T11:49:00.000-08:00

With Tom and I both off for an extended holiday break, we have been able to get a lot done around the house - including finishing up the nursery. Now all it needs is stuff to fill it up!

Now there are decorations around the crib. Yeah! The orange seahorse lamp is still one of my favorite things. It give a really nice soft glow which will be fantastic for late night feedings. And we just happened to have these 2 small shelving units (the tan one), which are perfect for storing baby items. This one has (or will have) extra sheets and blankets for the crib.

Close-up of the rainbow fish pictures which hang above the crib. Aren't they so cute and friendly looking??

Rainbow fish rug from IKEA - I love that place. They have some really cute stuff. And they seem to be one of the only places which have ocean decorations for children's rooms. Almost all of the decorative stuff has come from them, excluding the rainbow fish pictures. I found those at Target. But the IKEA items are very bright and colorful, which goes great with the ocean!

What will be our changing area once we have a changing pad and diaper pail. The dresser and shelves were another IKEA purchase. The lamp is only temporary until we find a floor lamp for that spot. I also like that the dresser fronts are clear so you can see through the drawers a bit.

And a close-up view of the drawer. I think it looks so cute with all the little clothes. It's crazy to think that a person will actually fit into those! On the far right in the picture are some of the diaper covers I've gotten so far. The ones in the back are the night time covers, and the front ones are for day time. The drawers are filling up fast these days!!

Suggestions Please!

2008-12-31T07:59:00.000-08:00

Although Tom and I are keeping our name choices secret, I think we may need some advice. First names we have a pretty good handle on, but the middle ones are giving us a little trouble. So, I know this may be difficult without knowing what the first name will be, but anyone have any good middle name suggestions? Just throw them out there! Thanks!!

My Achy, Burning Heart

2008-12-29T16:36:00.001-08:00

Heartburn is my newfound companion. It showed up a few days ago, and has been by my side ever since. In fact, it was so close to me last night I had to sleep propped up on our couch to make room for it. Along with this, I have eaten a lot of Tums...so much so I should probably invest stock in them. Oh, well. It will be over soon enough.

I am so excited because my showers are coming up - yeah!! My Pope family/friend shower is this Sunday, and my Edge family/friend shower is the next Saturday. I am even more excited that my aunt and grandma are coming up for my shower because they live pretty far away, and I was not expecting to see them until after our little one arrives. I love showers. They are such a silly, girly thing to do, but it is always a lot of fun. I usually like attending more than receiving because everyone's not looking at you, and you get to give fun presents. I am really excited to have these, though, just because it seems like there is so much stuff the baby still needs, and any gift we receive is less shopping I will have to do myself! Shopping is actually becoming a bit difficult for me, at least my normal way of shopping. I like to go and wander around for an hour or so, but if I do that, I inevitably get tired or distracted and completely forget what I was there for in the first place...someday perhaps I will have my mind back. Maybe. There are probably a lot of you who would argue that I never had it in the firstplace. Anywho, I am definitely rambling at this point, so I am going to go do something productive. Have a Happy New Year!!

Heads Up - Registry Change!

2008-12-26T19:44:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to post a note that I changed my diaper registry to Wildflower Diapers instead of Nicki's Diapers. They had more of the covers that I wanted. You will need to have a password to see the registry and that is babypope. I will try to link it without the password under the registries section in the left blog column.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T18:32:00.000-08:00

Well, today was Tom and I's last Christmas alone together. It's kind of crazy to think how different next year will be. That's okay. We had a really great day and enjoyed spending time with both our families. I hope everyone else had an excellent holiday, too. We got some cool gifts that I am super excited about, like the back massager from my parents and the massage/pedicure package my awesome husband bought for me! And the baby (who shall remain nameless) got presents as well - a sleep slack and duck from Nana, a strawberry outfit from all the Edge Aunts and Uncles, and a mermaid bib/onesie outfit from her cousins! We are very excited to try all these things out once she arrives and grows into them. Thank you!!!

Until there is more to report, be safe and Happy Holidays to everyone!!

What We Really Need

2008-12-22T06:28:00.000-08:00

I have been getting asked frequently what Tom and I really need or want for the baby. Enough so that I decided to do a post on it!! Soooo, here is our list of urgent needs and wants and where to find it. This does include some items which are only available online. I also bolded the items which are the most important.

There is a whole section on diaper covers because this is a little more detailed. Keep in mind most things we need are on the registries, so you can go to the store or go online to shop. Babies "R" Us will also ship the items to our local store and we can pick it up so you do not have to pay shipping. I will try to keep this list updated for everyone.

BIGGEST NEEDS:
Furniture/Baby Gear
Hotsling (Babies "R" Us)
Babyhawk Mei Tai Carrier (BabyHawk) Tom is excited about this one because he helped design it. He picked the flame side :)
Toy box (Babies "R" Us)

Feeding
BREAST PUMP - Ameda Purely Yours with Carry-all or Medela Pump in Style Advanced (Medela available at Babies "R" Us or Target, Ameda available online at http://www.amedababy.com/) *I also found out that Discount Drug Marts carry the Ameda pump locally. They have a few locations locally.
High chair (Target)

Clothing/Layette

2-4 Receiving blankets (Babies "R" Us)

2 Ultimate crib sheets (Babies "R" Us)

Diapering
Diaper Bag (Babies "R" Us

Wet Bag (Target)

Diaper Covers: BIG NEED!!! We are going to use a diaper service, but this does not include the diaper covers, so this is an area we really need! I have a registry at Wildflower Diapers. We will need 6-8 covers in each size, and we would like to have newborns and smalls already, although we will need larger sizes, too. Brands to shop for are: Thirsties V2 diaper covers, Bummis Super Brites, and Imse Vimse Soft and Organic. I tried to link all of the covers to the brand page so you could see what they are and what to look for. Again, all of those are available through Wildflower Diapers, and there is also a gift certificate option if you are unsure of what to buy. *Update: I have around 5 newborn covers now, but only 4 smalls, so that would be a better size to buy!

Other: Health and safety items, like thermometer, nail clippers, etc (Babies "R" Us)

THINGS TO WATCH FOR:

- Any feeding (teethers, pacifiers, bottles, nipples) should be BPA free plastic. BPA is a harmful chemical found in plastics, and leeches from the plastic when it is heated or cooled. Not something we want to expose the little Pope to! See my BPA section on the side for more info.

- If you buy any toiletries (lotion, shampoo, etc) please make sure it is fragrance free because Tom is highly allergic to scented things.

- We' d also like to keep the baby gear (swings, seats, etc) to a minimum due to space, so we'd really only like what is listed on our registries.

Finally, thank you all in advance for loving and caring enough about us and our little one to even think of shopping for us at all. We truly appreciate all the gifts and support we have received so far, and those that we will receive. It is wonderful to know how much we are loved:)

My Stroller Arrived!!

2008-12-15T16:39:00.000-08:00

I know I'm supposed to wait till after my baby shower to buy things, but I found the stroller I want online at a significant discount, so I bought it. Yippee!! I can't believe I'm this excited about a stroller. It is a Baby Planet Solo Sport in charcoal...oooh! Ahhhh! It is truly ridiculous how much time I have spent researching strollers. It was my first baby obsession. When I took Tom to Babies "R" Us, he hated all the strollers at the store, and felt they were flimsy. That prompted endless researching on my part to find the ultimate stroller. Sad, I know:) BUT, I was really excited when I came across Baby Planet strollers. Baby Planet has a selection of strollers and a bassinet, which are in the middle of the price range but supposedly have great quality. They also have a recycling program so you can return the product to them when you are finished with it, and they recycle it! Pretty cool.

Anyway, it arrived sometime last week, and I put it all together and played with it, which was kind of exciting. Tom was pretty pleased with the stability of it (and by that I mean he said it didn't suck and felt better than the ones at the store). Now I just have to wait for my baby to arrive so I can push her in it!

PS: Here is a video review of my stroller on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3oW7Y3Ax7I in case anyone else is in the market. I wanted to take my own pictures or video it myself to show it off, but the camera is having issues, and I couldn't figure out the video thing...sorry. Maybe someday :)

Strange pregnancy symptoms

2008-12-04T17:08:00.000-08:00

So today I had cramps all day - pretty similar to what I would expect before my period starts - but they would not go away. I was afraid to take any Tylenol because I was trying to monitor it to see if it escalated, besides the fact that I've been trying to stay medication free throughout the pregnancy. Anywho, I ended up calling the doctor to check if it was okay, and they told me to come in this afternoon since my regular monthly check up was supposed to be tomorrow. After a long wait, I finally got to see the doctor, who diagnosed me with a bladder infection. Apparently there were some white blood cells in my urine. I was a bit surprised because I normally notice immediately when I get one of those - it goes from mild to excruciating in the course of a few hours. Maybe pregnancy is helping with that - who knows?

Other new developments this week include a protruding belly button and extremely itchy feet. My belly button is only a little bit out, but I wore a snug fitting shirt the other day, and you could definitely see it through the shirt :( I'm afraid it's only going to get worse. Oh well. My feet on the other hand are driving me insane. I'm not itchy anywhere else - just both sides of my feet and across the top of my right foot. There is some mild redness, but no real rash or anything. My doctor said it was probably just a weird pregnancy symptom (not in those terms exactly, but that was what I got out of it). Calamine lotion stops the itching, so I guess I will just be using a lot of that until this stops.

On a positive note, the baby continues to grow and be well. Her heartbeat again was "nice and strong." My cervix was firm and showed no signs of opening yet, so again good news. The baby kicks me multiple times a day in multiple places. I think I'm going to have a little kickboxer. She's also started responding if you push on my stomach - she'll kick back in the same spot. It's kind of fun to "play" with her sometimes. I keep meaning to try shining a flashlight on my stomach to see if she does anything, but I never seem to remember.

Well, that's about it. Hopefully it wasn't too much information for some of you. I'll report back again soon!

OMG I'm Really Having This Baby!

2008-12-01T07:16:00.000-08:00

I had been counting down my pregnancy by big life events, like I found out I was pregnant in June, then the next month was our vacation, and I figured by my birthday in September I would be out of the sick, yuck phase (which I was), etc, etc. There wasn't a lot between September and November, but with November comes Thanksgiving, then Christmas in December, and in January is Tom's birthday, and then February is the baby! I knew once the holidays hit, things would start to speed up, but it seems like time is flying by at warp speed. I have a doctor's appointment Friday, and then after that I start going every 2 weeks, which I will only do 3 times, and then I have to go every week.

All of this is basically adding up to a little bit of shock on my part that, yes, we really are having a child, and yes, I do have to deliver her. This seems a little silly since I wake up every morning with this large bump for a stomach, but it is easy to forget sometimes when I'm caught up at work or taking care of the house and the hubby (just kidding...he mostly takes care of himself). I don't feel scared - maybe a little anxious - just keenly aware of the fact that our lives are about to change drastically, and we are in it for the long haul. That is okay. We are ready for that. I just need to keep remembering that it's coming...and SOON!!

The Name Game

2008-11-26T18:13:00.000-08:00

I believe my current most asked question is "Have you picked a name?" Tom and I both are constantly asked this question, whether from our loving parents or random strangers. My usual response ranges from a simple "No" to "We've thought of some, but we haven't picked" This last response inevitably leads to a follow up question of "What are you thinking of?" To which I am forced to respond, "It's a secret!" Tom and I made the decision early in my pregnancy that 1) we were not going to choose a name until the baby was born, and 2) that our choices were going to be secret until that time. Now very early (like 3-4 months ago) we may have spilled the beans to close friends or family, but we are seriously trying to keep our mouths shut at this point. This is for a variety of reasons, but mostly because it was a decision we wanted to make ourselves and since we found out the sex, we wanted to have a surprise for everyone at the delivery room.

Because this question continues to be asked, I wanted to make a blanket statement that we truly are keeping it a secret and no, we will not tell you - no, not even one name! Most people have been very respectful of this, but I feel really bad when someone is overly curious (whether it is a close relative or not) and continues to ask, while I basically have to repeat "I'm not telling," although I do try to be more polite than that. This is not because we don't like you, but just because for now, it is our secret.

I will say we have narrowed down our choices to approximately 5-6 names first names and 3-4 middle names, but there is no clear cut winner, and honestly, there probably won't be until she arrives. What if we had picked out Katherine and she comes out looking like a Madison (neither of which are on our list by the way)? So in summary, please be respectful of our decision and do not be offended when we will not tell you our choices. Thanks everyone!

Cute Story and Updates

2008-11-24T13:10:00.000-08:00

So Sunday at church, this older gentleman who was sitting behind me tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I was having a girl. I said yes actually I am, and he went on to explain that he can always tell if someone is having a girl because they don't look pregnant from behind. So apparently I only look pregnant from the front and sides :) I'm not sure how true that is, but I thought it was funny.

On another note, we will hopefully be finishing our nursery purchases in the next week or so. The dresser we wanted was out of stock, so we had to wait to buy it. Also, baby shower will probably be the 1st weekend in January, although I'm not sure which day. Let me know if Saturday or Sunday is better for anyone in particular and I will pass the information along to my planning party.

Shower Update

2008-11-19T18:17:00.000-08:00

I have some shower news. I was just recently informed by my mother-in-law that she is too busy at work to get a shower together for Thanksgiving, so the date is being pushed back. It will probably be after Christmas due to the hectic holiday schedules of myself as well as everyone else. I have been getting questions about the shower, so I wanted to make sure we were all on the same page!

I Passed :)

2008-11-18T19:08:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to let everyone know I passed the dreaded 3 hour glucose test - yippee!!! I am so excited and thankful to not have the added complication of gestational diabetes. Also, I am feeling much better from my bought with the stomach virus. Hope everyone is well!! Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers :)

Stomach virus...blah

2008-11-16T17:59:00.000-08:00

Well this weekend is just not the best. Friday I had my 3 hours of yuck as I posted about before, and Saturday I wound up with the GI virus that's going around. Thankfully, I didn't get sick till the evening, but Tom and I were at the Colerain-Elder game at Nippert Stadium, and we had to leave early because I wasn't feeling well. Then I had to make him pull the car over on the way home so I could throw up....then I proceeded to throw up multiple times at home all night as well. Sorry for the discussion, but that's what happened! I am feeling much better and I have been able to keep Sprite, crackers, applesauce, and a small baked potato down today. Hopefully I will continue to feel better tomorrow.

I do want to brag on my husband a little because he takes such good care of me. He went out and bought me Sprite and crackers, rubbed my head and back, and generally has just been fantastic. I could not ask for a better friend and partner in life! Thanks honey!

Overalls or Dress

2008-11-15T05:42:00.001-08:00

I went shopping yesterday! Kohl's is having a huge sale, and I had to get some new clothing items. Everything on me just continues to grow!! So as I was walking, I saw that baby clothes were also on sale, so of course I had to peruse them. I found 2 adorable possibilities for her coming home outfit. I saw the overalls first and thought they were really cute, but then I wondered if that would be okay with the umbilical cord. Then I saw the dress, but thought her legs would be cold, and I actually called my mom to see if they make baby tights, which apparently they do, but are hard to find because I haven't seen any at the stores I frequent. SO I'm taking a vote: which outfit do you like? Or would you keep looking?

3 hours of yuck

2008-11-14T12:01:00.000-08:00

I had my glucose test this morning. It wasn't the most pleasant experience. The stuff I had to drink this time was double the sugar, so it tasted like fruit punch on steroids. And I had to fast before hand so I had a sugar rush going which gave me a stomachache and headache for about an hour, then my blood sugar crashed so I was exhausted. I also had to have my blood drawn 4 separate times. My arms are a little sore, but it wasn't the end of the world. Hopefully this one will come out clear, but my family medical history is against me (thanks, Mom...kidding). I also apparently had really high levels on the first test. Oh well. We'll see what happens Monday. I should get my results back then. Nothing else new to report as yet. Hope everyone is well!!

Enjoy the new layout!

2008-11-12T05:29:00.000-08:00

As I'm getting better at this blogging thing, I realized there are tons of fun blogging templates out there. So I decided to spice up the blog! Just bear with me as I change some things around. It may take a few days to get it all set like I want!

PS: This layout came from http://www.giselejaquenod.com.ar/blog/

I Failed the Glucose Test!

2008-11-10T16:39:00.000-08:00

For anyone who is familiar with pregnancy, there is a condition called gestational diabetes, which means that the mother develops diabetes during her pregnancy only. Pregnant women 25 or older are routinely screened for this problem by undergoing a 1 hour glucose tolerance test. Basically, you have to drink a special bottle of "juice" (mine was fruit punch - not too bad actually), and then wait an hour at the doctor's office until they draw your blood to test the glucose levels. I took this test Friday, and then got a call from my OB office this afternoon letting me know that I failed it. My glucose levels were higher than they should be. However, not to be alarmed, the next step is a 3 hour fasting glucose test. This one involves fasting from midnight the night before, going to the doctor's to drink the juice, staying at the doctor's for 3 hours, and then getting my blood drawn. Not the end of the world, but it's kind of shooting this Friday morning in the foot. If anyone is bored in the early hours, you can come hang out with me at the Western Hills office of Seven Hills Women's Health Center!! I'll be there from 8:45 to noon!!!

Nursery Pictures

2008-11-08T08:06:00.001-08:00

I was finally able to get the nursery cleaned out this week! Yeah! Because the nursery used to be the office, we had a rather large desk we had to find a place for. It found a new home in my sister's apartment :) So this is the first picture of my current favorite thing in the room - the sea horse lamp!

It looks pretty cool lit up - it has a nice soft light which will be great for all those late night trips to the nursery. Okay, picture #2.

As you can see, we still only have a crib and our most recent addition - the chair. Hopefully, tomorrow we are going to go on a shopping trip for the dresser, table, and a crib mattress. That way our child will have a place to sleep and to put her clothes :) Oh, and we are going to trim the curtains. I just haven't done that yet. All right, well if we get more things together, I'll post some more pictures!

Registries and such

2008-11-07T10:51:00.000-08:00

As we are getting closer to the time of baby showers, Christmas, and gifts, I wanted to point out a few things on the blog. I have links to our registries listed on the left, if you have not already discovered that. I recently added a registry at Amazon for some of the items which cannot be found at Target or Babies R Us. These are mostly things like diaper covers, wet bags, soaps, etc. for cloth diapering, and a few products that are online only at specialty stores. It is impossible to find cloth diapering supplies in stores; it is almost a complete online business. There is one store in Cincinnati called Park and Vine which carries some things, but they are downtown, so it's not a place you can stop in conveniently. Anyway, I am rambling. Sorry:)

Also, Popes and everyone else on Tom's side...expect a shower invite soon. I believe it is being planned close to Thanksgiving. My mom will also be throwing a shower sometime in December or early January, but we haven't pinpointed a date yet. That shower will be my side of the family and friends, so you all have a while to wait :)

And the answer is...

2008-11-02T18:53:00.000-08:00

Cloth. Yes, I can't believe we are committing to this, but Tom and I have decided to go ahead and try the cloth route. Believe me, a lot of research went into this!! There is a diaper service here in Cincinnati called Good Natured Baby (http://www.goodnaturedbaby.com), and it will be about the same cost, if not cheaper than disposables. By the way, thanks to Ashley for recommending them! We are hoping this will be a good compromise for us. If it turns out to be too much we will look for other options, but this is what is looking like the right course for us. I think the main reasons we decided to do this is to reduce our environmental impact and for the health of our baby. It will definitely be less convenient, but that's okay. We are willing to make the sacrifice if it is better for everybody.

The Diaper Dilemma

2008-10-27T17:59:00.000-07:00

And so, my current thoughts have turned to diapering...Tom and I both hate the thought of creating thousands of pounds of trash with disposables, but the thought of cloth diapers is a little scary, mostly because I don't have any experience with those. I have been doing a lot of research and there are a lot more options than pins and plastic covers. In fact, a lot of the cloth diapers are really cute. There are much more benefits to them, including health of the baby, decreased cost, improving the environment. Oh, but the convenience of disposables!! I am wondering if anyone has any experience or advice they would like to offer - things we should consider that we may not think of? We would appreciate the input :)

A Father's Love

2008-10-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I work with children with disabilities and special needs. I could not ask for a more rewarding job, and my current position has been such a blessing. Unfortunately, one of my former patients passed away last weekend. She was 8 years old, and had many medical complications. Despite this, she was a bright and happy girl, and everyone enjoyed her. Her father wrote us this letter, which I think is a touching and beautiful story from a father and a compelling testament to a family's faith. The names have been changed due to medical privacy, but the message is clear, even if you don't know the specifics.

It’s with a heavy heart that we are writing to tell you that Emma went home to be with the Lord this morning, between 6 and 7am on Sunday.

It is a great mercy of God that Emma went peacefully in her sleep, at home in her bed and her familiar surroundings. No life-support machines. No IVs. No pain or distress as far as we could tell. She was getting over a mild cold and had seemed to be doing better. There were no indications whatsoever that this was coming.

Yesterday, she was up early with her cough – about 6am. Judy got up with her and gave her a nice, warm shower because she had spit up a little bit in the night.

Later on Saturday morning, Judy stayed home with her while I took the other 3 kids to Judy’s parents’ house to get some firewood. While I was gone with the other kids, she and Judy hung out on the couch, watching videos and spending some good time together, since Emma was still getting over her cold and needed to rest. Emma took a nap in the middle of the morning, which was no surprise since she had been up so early.

Emma spent the day at home, listening to her favorite music, watching Veggie Tales and Wonder Pets DVDs and talking on her Dynavox. Yesterday evening, Judy and I worked together to make Emma’s favorite dinner – homemade pizza. We pureed a slice for her. I spoon fed it to her and she ate really well.

We did our usual bedtime routine. We sat around Emma’s bed, as we always do. I read a Dora book that Allison had picked out. As always, I embellished the words that were written in the book. Emma always knew when I embellished the words, and she would smile. On this particular night, I really wanted to see her smile since she hadn’t been smiling as much lately with her cold.

After the Dora book, we spent a few minutes working on our memory verse. It was Psalm 16:11 – “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Then we sang a song together that repeats these words 3 times:

Jesus is the Rock of my salvation

His banner over me is love

The kids really got into the motions, and Emma was happier than she had been all day as she watched them. It was obvious that her cold was much better.

Then we had prayer time. John prayed and thanked God that we had so much fun at Gramma and Grampa’s. Allison also thanked God for our time at Gramma and Grampa’s. Then I closed in prayer and asked for a good night’s sleep for everyone. I tucked everyone in their beds.

My last words to Emma at bedtime have been a solemn time for me for quite a while now. About a year ago, I resolved to treat it like the last time I would ever look into her eyes. My routine is to hold both of her hands in mine, bend over very close to her face and whisper Numbers 6:24-26 in her ear:

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

She always looks into my eyes and smiles, her eyes sparkling. Then I kiss her on the forehead and stroke her hair. Then I tell her I love her, and that she is precious, about two more times between turning out her light and closing the bedroom door behind me.

I can’t tell you how thankful I am that last night was no exception to that routine. Thank you, Lord, for this last moment you gave me to usher Emma into eternity with a pronouncement of God’s blessing. I would not have wanted our earthly goodbye to be any other way.

Judy made 2 more visits to Emma’s room between 8:30 and 11pm to give her some cold medications through her feeding tube and check on her. On both occasions, Emma stirred when Judy entered the room, which was typical. Judy stroked her hair until she drifted back to sleep. The last time we saw her alive was this visit from Judy at 11pm while she was sleeping comfortably.

I love Lord’s Day mornings. I’ve always thought it would be a precious thing to enter eternity early on a Lord’s Day morning. I can’t help but think that Psalm 16:11 may have still been fresh in her memory as she stepped into “fullness of joy” in the presence of her God.

Emma was such a rare and precious gift to us, and to everyone who knew her. She endured the pain of several lifetimes in eight short years. From 3 days old, she was in an all-out fight for her life. We have seen her at death’s door many, many times. And we have seen her elated and brimming with life many, many more times.

Emma leaves a legacy of the glory of God in her wake. Few met her, probably, who did not stop to consider what mattered most. She was an ever-present reminder that “we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23).”

We are stunned at her sudden departure. I think we all expected a long, difficult battle in the hospital. While we miss her terribly and are still trying to wrap our heads around the fact that she is gone, we smile to think of her running, dancing, and singing, free of the broken body she lived in here. Our lives will be very different now, but we pray that we will never forget the lessons she taught us.

Emma was an ever-present reminder that we have an unwavering Lover of our souls. And He is a tender Rock, the rock of my salvation, whose banner over me is love.

Life

2008-10-19T18:03:00.000-07:00

And there has not been much going on in the Pope household lately. We are mostly just working and relaxing while we still have some time to ourselves. Tom has been working very hard at being a teacher - making lesson plans, grading, etc. I've mostly been working hard growing a baby! I have a small cold right now, and I've felt a little down this weekend, but I'm starting to feel better. Hopefully a good night's sleep will do the trick :) The next two days I am pretty busy; I have a course Mon and Tues night after work, so hopefully I don't get too worn out. They both are free and provide dinner, which is a great trade for some continuing education credits! Anyway, all is pretty quiet around here, but I'll check in again later this week!

Doctor Visit #5 - Ultrasound

2008-10-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

And here is the promised ultrasound pic! It's her little profile - I swear I think she's going to have my nose. Doctor visit #5 went well. My weight and blood pressure continue to look good, and she is up to a whopping 16 oz. I go back in another 4 weeks for more of the same.

Today I also went to IKEA and bought some fun stuff for her room - bright blue and green wall shelves, a stuffed yellow crab, and a laundry basket with a turtle. IKEA actually has very cute baby furniture, and it is all really inexpensive. I believe we will be getting some other large items there in the next month or so, like a dresser, bookshelf, etc. Lucky for us that there is an IKEA really close to our house! Anyway, that's all for now!

Wanted: Baby Einstein Discovering Water Baby Rocker

2008-10-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

I wanted to ask everyone to keep their eyes out for this product:

Baby Einstein Discovering Water 2-in-1 Bouncer and Rocking Seat
http://www.babyeinstein.com/en/products/product_explorer/category/activity/NFS0013/Discovering_Water_Rocker.html

From what I have found online, this is a discontinued product, but it goes perfectly with our ocean themed nursery. Not to mention it is very cute!! It is supposed to sell at Target, Walmart, Toys "R" Us, or Babies "R" Us. I have not yet found it online, but please keep your eyes peeled. I would be open to a gently used version as well. If you come across this, please let me know asap so I can stop looking for it!! Thanks everyone!

It's painted!

2008-10-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Tom, Matt, Mikey, and Doug (some of the boys from our church youth group), the nursery is painted! It is very, very blue, but that goes with the whole ocean theme :) It is still drying, and we may have to do some touch-ups, but there should be pictures up by the end of the week! And a big, big thank you to the boys for helping Tom finish up - we really appreciate it.

Halfway There!

2008-10-01T16:15:00.000-07:00

Today I am officially 20 weeks, which means we're halfway through! Not much else to report except the little one has begun kicking me so hard it makes me jump...maybe I'll get used to that soon :)

Preparing

2008-09-28T12:08:00.000-07:00

Not a lot to report right now. The next doctor's appointment is at least 2 weeks away, and everything is going well. Tom has been working on painting the nursery. He got it all primed yesterday, but I had to leave the house because the paint smell was making me so dizzy! We're (well, he) is hoping to find time within the next week to get the paint color up. Once that's done I'll post a picture!

Other than that, everything is going well. I've been feeling well. Baby is continuing to kick and move around. We're trying to narrow down our name choices, but not getting terribly far with that. And don't ask about names because we're keeping that a secret until she's born. We figured we need to leave everyone with something to surprise them, since we found out the sex now. Anyway, that's about all, but I'll be in touch again soon!

Movement!!!

2008-09-23T17:52:00.000-07:00

I thought I had been feeling little twitches recently, and now I most definitely sure. They are inconsistent, but there have definitely been some kicks and punches from my little one! I seem to notice it most when I'm sitting still, probably because she isn't that strong yet. I'm sure that will come, though. It's exciting to know that she's really in there!

Latest news!

2008-09-22T15:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I had my latest ultrasound on Sept. 10, and all looked well. This ultrasound was to confirm my due date (Feb. 19, 2009), and it appears to be on target. We also got the great news that we are having a little girl!! She was not being very lady like during the ultrasound, and had her little bottom up in the air, giving us quite the view. On the other hand, the ultrasound tech was very sure that she was a girl. I am trying to post the ultrasound pics, but am having some issues with the scanner, so watch for those soon. Other than that, we're doing well!

Welcome to our baby blog!

2008-09-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

I decided to make this blog in order to share my thoughts and memories with you all as Tom and I make this journey to parenthood. I will update regularly with new photos and fun baby stuff!