Babies don't keep

I know of been a terrible blogger... but babies don't keep. :)

Babies Don’t Keep

by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

Hang out the washing, make up the bed,

Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,

Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew

And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo

But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo

Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?

Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow

But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!

I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

Two weeks

I can't believe she's two weeks old already! We've really enjoyed our time getting settled at home as a family.

A. was able to take all of last week off from work, and take half-days this week. He has been absolutely amazing as a father and a husband. I couldn't ask for a more supportive, patient, loving man to share my life with. He's been a true partner, changing diapers, making dinner, grocery shopping (including nursing and maxi pads!), cleaning the house, singing to Helen, and constantly encouraging me and supporting me as I figure out this mommy thing.

My mom also came to spend a few nights with us, and was absolutely wonderful. It was nice to have someone here who knows how to take care of a baby! The first thing I asked her to do when she got here was make chocolate chip cookies. :) I was craving them, and it just seemed like a comforting thing to do. She also helped with laundry, cooking, cleaning, and holding Helen while mommy and daddy took naps! Most importantly, she was able to come with us to the Emergency Room on Helen's second night home. She hasn't peed in 24 hours, and that paired with the concerns about her kidneys, led our pedi to recommend that we go to the ER. I was pretty much a mess, and was so glad to have my mom their with us. I just feel safer when she's around. :) She also helped document important firsts - like Helen meeting Ruby for the first time (on video!), and Helen's first bath! Thanks Mom!

We've had a few visitors, but not so many that we've been overwhelmed. Helen has had 2 pedi appointments, and one appointment at Texas Children's hospital for follow up testing on her kidneys (ultrasound and VCUG). Her kidneys are still a little dilated, but nothing to be concerned about according to her pedi. We'll do a follow up ultrasound at 6-7 weeks. Whew! I was so worried about her. It was SUCH a relief to her the pedi say that she looks great at her second appointment! She was 9 lbs 7 oz at 1 week and 5 days! My big girl! 

We went for a walk today - just down the street to get the mail. She loves the Moby wrap! It's hard to see in this pic, because the wrap is black and so is my shirt. She's snug as a bug!

The light of my life

8 lbs 11 oz, 21 inches long, with a full head of black hair :)

Thursday morning I woke up with what I thought was gas pain. And then I realized that I don't usually have to cuss through gas pains, and gas pains aren't usually 4 minutes apart. :)  I took a quick shower and continued to time the pains. After an hour, it became apparent that they were indeed contractions! Andres had already left for work, so I called him to tell him that I thought I was having contractions, and he should head home. We called my OB and she told us to go ahead in to the hospital. I finished getting dressed and picked up a few things around the house while Andres loaded the car. Every time I got a contraction I had to walk around the house in big circles and huff and puff and cuss. Going into labor in the morning really worked out. J I got to take a shower and take my time getting ready. There's no way I would have been able to drive myself home if I went into labor at work! 

We left for the hospital around 8:15. The contractions in the car were SO uncomfortable!  Having to sit through them was torture. Who knows what people who pulled up next to us were thinking!  When we got to the hospital, I intended to walk up to the L&D floor on my own, but one of the valet guys insisted that I sit in a wheelchair. He wheeled me up, and did this cute little ambulance noise as he drove. It was cute. J We went straight to our room and they checked my progress. I was 5 cm already! My OB came to check on me and broke my water. I progressed to 7cm really fast, and at that point, I begged for the epidural. The pain was insane and I was pretty much climbing the walls. HUGE kudos to anyone who has given birth without an epi. I tried, but oh my goodness there was just no way. After the epi, I was in heaven. Our parents were all in the waiting room, so we let them in to visit for a little while. I progressed to 10 cm pretty quickly and wanted to push, so the nurse kicked everyone out and call my OB. I could feel the pressure of the contractions, but no pain. The pressure was getting stronger and stronger, so the nurse told me to push the epi button again. Pushing was kind of hard because I couldn't feel what I was doing at first. As the baby got lower, the pressure was greater, so it got easier. When she was finally born, she took my breath away. It is the most incredible thing I’ve ever done. We are so, so in love. 

Here are a few pictures. There are TONS more here: https://picasaweb.google.com/laura.aya/BabyAya#

38 weeks and ready!

I'll be 38 weeks on Tuesday. :) 

Helen's room is almost ready:

It is hard to see in the pic, but her name is embroidered on the banner. :)

So, starting today - I'm walking, eating spicy food, etc. We are ready to meet this girl and would love for her to arrive before A. is out on spring break! 

When it rains, it pours...

I know that phrase is usually meant in a negative way... but it also perfectly (and positively) describes the way I've felt over the past few weeks. A., Helen, and I have literally been showered (not sprinkled, SHOWERED, like Texas thunderstorm style!) with gifts and love and excitement! We've had 6 (six!) showers and have been absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity of our family, friends and coworkers. It means SO much to us that Helen will be welcomed and loved by so many people when she arrives!

My first shower was hosted by my dear friends in Pearland. They outdid themselves with the decor and the personal touches. Everyone could tell they put a LOT of thought and creativity into all the little details!

Isn't it gorgeous!? Hostesses M and P did a fabulous job! I was really blown away by all the details.  M MADE those little banners out of fabric that matches Helen's bedding set! She also made the table cloth, and they had a cute smaller banner made with Helen's name embroidered!

Me posing with the gorgeous cake!

Instead of a traditional guest book, they asked everyone to write a special note to Helen in a "Sleeping Beauty" book (one of my all-time favorite kids movies!). It was such a sweet idea.

My dear friend, M., who made all the banners and table cloths! She MADE that little red dahlia outfit! Can you believe it?! I can't wait to see Helen in it. :)

Group pic! :)

My college girlfriends E and R hosted a wonderful brunch the very next day. Almost all of our circle of friends from college were able to attend, as well as the book club girls! Everything was wonderful! They had everyone sign a pretty photo mat, that is now in Helen's room. And the book club girls all pitched in and got a TON of books for Helen! She seriously has a small library in her room now. :)

My mother and sister hosted a fabulous shower at my mom's house a few weekends later. It was so nice to be surrounded by my aunts, cousins, and all the other women who I grew up with as they showered Helen and I with love, gifts, advice, funny stories, and most of all - support! 

My awesome SIL and I. :) Yum, love those mini quiche!

Sweet Courtney gave Helen this awesome basket with all kind of goodies in it!! She also made wall letters for Helen's room. Helen is so spoiled already! :)

The best present - the baby blanket that my mom made for me when I was a baby. :) It matches Helen's room perfectly. She also gave me some really gorgeous blankets that other people made me, or bought for me when I was little.

Me cracking up because my cousin was complaining earlier that my aunt didn't save anything for her. Then when I opened up all these blankets, my aunt said, I think I made that one! Ha!! :)

The cutest decor!! My mom put pictures of me when I was a baby, and the actual dresses that I was wearing around the house! And now I have those dresses in Helen's room so she can wear them. So sweet! :)

A's family (specifically my mother-in-law(s) and fabulous sister-in-law(s) hosted a wonderful shower as well. 

Pretty girlies :)

Everything was beautiful!

Do you see what I mean about being overwhelmed!? Look at all those gifts! A. was most excited about our awesome stroller from his aunts and uncles!

Super cute outfit from my MIL! She spoiled ME too - I got some nursing tanks and a night gown! :)

I also had two awesome work showers (one with my team, and one at the plant).

This is what everything looked like:

Again, we've been completely overwhelmed by everyone's generosity. Friends have loaned us things, my awesome SIL made food to keep in our freezer, etc. We're truly blessed. :) Now come on out, Helen! So many people want to meet you!!!

A sweet room for sweet Helen

A and I have decided on a name! We can't wait to welcome Helen Cecilia to the world! She is named after both paternal grandmothers. :) A. has been HARD at work on her room. He hired painters, did the touch up on the ceiling himself, cleaned the ceiling fan, the floors, the baseboards and the air vents, and hung the curtain rod and cute artwork! He also went to my parents house to pick up the rocking chair. It is the chair that my mom used with all three of us. We can't wait to move in the rest of her furniture as well. It is starting to feel even more real - we have a nursery in our house!

The prints are from Etsy seller - InkTreePress

 This is the sweet frame that A made me for Christmas! It ended up also being the name announcement to my family, as I opened on Christmas morning at my parents house. Like I said in my previous post, I just burst into tears when I opened it. All I could get out was, "That's her name!" :)

We've been busy knocking things off of our baby checklist! We've registered and purchased the nursery furniture.  Our childbirth and hospital tour classes are coming up this month, as are several baby showers! We're working on scheduling some time to meet with pediatricians, and I've been obsessively making lists! What's left to do before baby list, questions to ask at the hospital tour list, things to pack in the hospital bag list, freezer meals to make ahead list, etc.! Also, she's been kicking up a storm. A. asked me if it hurts, and I told him, "No, I love it. Every time she kicks I know she's ok." :) It's the most incredible feeling. Fun, fun times! 

Has it really been 3 months?

I've been a terrible blogger! And it hasn't been for lack of fun things to blog about, I just haven't made the time. Let's do a quick recap of the last part of 2010!

Thanksgiving was split between seeing A's family in Alice, TX and mine here in Houston. We had a wonderful trip down to south Texas. It was great to be able to spend time with family, and fill up on delicious food! There was menudo and mariachi's, a visit to the Gonzales family cemetery, a visit to the ranch, several of very competitive Uno games, orange picking, and of course, A. and his brother serenaded the entire family with their rendition of "Alice, Tx (Ay, Dios Mio)". They can get pretty silly whenever there's a guitar or keyboard nearby!

My family attending my cousin's wedding in Austin (sans A.) and while I was there, I was able to attend my dear friend Myriah's baby shower! It worked out quite well! Myriah is my friend who used to live in Hawaii! Now she and her hubby live in Colorado, and she is due just a week after me!

My mother graduated from college! I'm SO proud of her! She's worked so hard over the past few years keeping up with her classes, jobs, and family. I don't know how she did it! GO MOM!! :)

Christmas was fantastic. We are so blessed to have 3(!) large, loving families to spend the holidays with. The festivities began with a bbq at A's aunt and uncle's house to celebrate the visit of a long missed cousin!

I don't have any pics to post - but my mother-in-law took some and made a SmileBox. It's cute! There are pics of the beautiful dresses that my MIL got for the baby! This link should work - Christmas Smilebox


Christmas Eve, we made the usual rounds - candlelight service with my family, dinner and gifts with A's mom, then party until midnight (or whenever we get tired!) with A's dad's family. Then is back to my parents house to spend the night, and wake up Christmas morning to open gifts, which is always a ton of fun. We literally spent HOURS opening all the gifts this year! :) Also, with our little one on the way this year was extra special. I received several baby-related gifts this year, including parenting books, our diaper bag, and a gorgeous aquamarine necklace (the baby's birthstone, assuming she's not super early!), and a sweet picture frame from A with both of our pictures and a place for the baby's picture. He made it himself and I just burst into tears when I opened it. I'll save the pic for my next post. ;) The baby even got some gifts herself! She got several cute outfits from her Aunt Jessie and Uncle Carlos, as well as a beautiful handmade dress from Tlacotalpan from A's mom!  It's absolutely gorgeous, and will probably end up on a satin hanger, hanging on the wall in her room! (speaking of her room -nursery pics are coming soon!)

Here's a fun collage of most of my wonderful gifts!