Fiona Check-Up

A few days ago, Fiona had her first check-up at the doctor. According to him, everything looks great! She has already gained more than pound since she was born, so even though it is a little frustrating to feel like I am feeding her around the clock, it looks like it is at least doing her some good! It's always nice to have a medical professional reassure you that you're doing an alright job so far. Almost three weeks old and still alive and kickin' --- gold star for Mom and Dad!!

Other than that, we've just been trying to make it through one day at a time. Everyone who told me that going from one kid to two is a tough transition was sugar coating it -- these first few days have rocked my world! Part of that is due to the fact that I've also been recovering from a c-section, which has made otherwise simple actions (like getting up from a seated position!) more difficult, but it's also a little overwhelming to try to balance the all-consuming demands of a newborn with the needs of a high-energy toddler. The thought that Sam would ever feel like Fiona has replaced or displaced him breaks my heart, but I think that David and I have done a great job so far of making sure that he feels included and loved. While he has his moments of jealousy, he is mostly very sweet with her -- he calls her "his baby" and likes to give her kisses and pat her head. The whole thing melts my heart, and there are times when I feel that my chest is not big enough to contain the love I feel for these little souls.

Another adjustment was having David go back to work, which happened a few days ago. He got two weeks of paternity leave, which was awesome, and not having him around the house has been a little rough for me. He is such an enormous help when he's around, and I got very used to being able to depend on him as an extra set of arms to hold Fiona, as well as a shoulder for me to cry on when my hormones are going crazy! Sigh -- I guess I'll have to learn to do it without him!!

In the mornings, I get Sam ready for daycare while David gets ready for work. Then, my two boys leave together, and it's just us girls at home. Since I've finally been cleared by my doctor to drive, I have been trying to have at least one outing a day for me and Fiona, since otherwise I get super stir-crazy. She is definitely not on any sort of routine or schedule yet, which means I am pretty exhausted most days, and despite my best intentions I never seem to be able to stick to the "sleep when the baby sleeps" mantra (is anyone able to actually do this?!). Luckily, since this is not my first rodeo, I have some perspective and can understand that this phase is blessedly short, so I am doing my best to not stress and try to enjoy every minute.

Here are a few new photos to tide you over! :)

First bath at home!

Not sure how she feels about this...

Getting all her crazy hair washed!

Sacked out on the couch...

Chubby little bundle!

Crazy stickin' up hair!

Makin' faces!

Big ol' baby blues :)

This is what we call her "rock'n'roll hair" -- standing straight up!!

Fiona Charlotte's Debut!

Here is the post you've all been waiting for! For months, David and I have been trying to picture this new little person who was going to join our clan, and everyone else has been driving themselves crazy speculating about whether it was going to be a girl or a boy, and FINALLY, on Monday, Nov. 1st at 1:47 p.m. -- we got to find out.

It was...drumroll, please....a GIRL!!!!!!This came as a surprise to just about everyone, since the prevailing opinion was that it was definitely a boy. Since I had to have a c-section this time, it was David who got to see her come into this world, and the look on his face when the doctor announced that he had a daughter is something I will never forget. In the end, it was a blessing that I had the c-section, since she ended up being quite the little chunker -- weighing in at 9 lbs 6 oz!! She was 20.3 inches long, and had a full head of dark hair. The recovery from the surgery has been a little rocky so far, but I'm taking it one day at a time and trying to remember that the pain will be temporary!

We got home from the hospital on Thursday, and have been adjusting to life with two children ever since! Sam alternates between being incredibly sweet and loving to Fiona, to displaying a huge amount of jealousy. Sometimes he comes up to the baby out of nowhere and says "Love you, 'Ona," and sometimes I catch a glimpse of him out of the corner of my eye and the sadness on his little face just breaks my heart. I know he will adjust in time, and that he will love having a little sister. For right now, we're taking it a day at a time and trying to show him a lot of extra love and attention!

Fiona is a big, juicy delight. She is not on any sort of real schedule yet -- basically eating all day long and sleeping whenever she pleases! David and I are getting to know her, learning more about our little bundle every day. Watching David talk to her and stare at her when he thinks I'm not looking has been the most heartwarming thing...he is completely in love with his baby daughter. I look at her all day long, and wish I could just eat her up. I think about how proud I am of her already, how much she will bring to our family and to the world. I cant wait to uncover her little personality day by day -- just like we did with Sam -- and find out who she really is. I love her more than I can say -- words fail me.

The photos below are in no particular order (I've been having a lot of trouble moving photos around on Blogspot lately), but we hope you enjoy them :)

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow my life is going to change.

Tomorrow is my scheduled c-section. My due date is actually Thursday, Nov. 4th, which puts me at about 39.5 weeks. Because I was induced at about 38.5 weeks with Sam, I have literally never been this pregnant. I am big. When I say big, I mean ridiculously, outrageously, I-don't-even-blame-people-for-asking-if-I'm-having-multiples huge.

To demonstrate my point, here are two photos of my belly from tonight's trick or treating adventure (read on for details about that...)!

As you can imagine, with this massive size comes massive discomfort on many levels. I am READY to have this baby. My countdown started days ago, but now that there are literally only hours left (14, to be precise), the gravity of what is about to happen is finally starting to hit me.

Tomorrow, I will become a mother again. Tomorrow, I will make David a father again, and Sam a big brother. Tomorrow, I will meet the person who has been growing inside me -- kicking me, frustrating me, amazing me -- for nine long months. Tomorrow, I will transform our family. Tomorrow, my heart will explode with love and joy and gratitude. Tomorrow is going to be one of the happiest days of my life.

Tomorrow, everything will change.

I can't wait.

Halloween :)

Happy Halloween!!

Wow, this year was SO much fun. Sam is old enough now that he can at least understanding a little bit of what's going on. We asked him what he wanted to be for Halloween, and he told us in no uncertain terms -- SPIDERMAN! Grandma bought him his costume, which he has been begging me to wear every single day. Over the past week or two, we've been getting him prepped by telling him that Halloween was coming up, that he was going to get to wear a "Spiderman outfit," and that he would go knocking on doors saying "Trick or treat" and getting candy. Some days, the very first thing out of his mouth in the morning would be "Trick or treat? Halloween?? Spiderman outfit???" I hated letting him down day after day, but was really looking forward to the day when I could say, "Yes, buddy...it's today!!"

That day -- finally -- was today! In the morning, we headed over to my parents' house to carve pumpkins...and by we, I of course mean that poor David got stuck doing most of the real work. But Sam was sort of into it, helping out a little. After lunch and a nap, we headed back home, where my Mom, sister Moon (or "Momo," as Sam calls her) and nephews Lucas and Daniel met us for dinner before trick or treating.

After dinner, it was finally time for Sam to get into his Spiderman costume -- and you have never seen a cuter, more excited Spiderman! He was A-DOR-A-BLE. I can't stress it enough. I was worried that he would only wear the mask for a few minutes, since kids are notorious about hating to have masks on, but he wore it the WHOLE TIME. I mean, from the minute we put it on him, through getting back in the front door after the last house, he would not remove that mask. I think he really thought he was Spiderman -- every few houses he would crounch down, stick out his finger and say, "I shoot web! PSSST!" Seriously, adorable.

A whole gang of little kids and their parents from the neighborhood hit every single house in our development (all 34 of them!), and after that we headed home. Sweet boy that he is, he only asked for a couple pieces of candy, and then willingly took off his costume and let us put him to bed. It was a completely successful night, and it couldnt have gone smoother or been more fun. I am SO glad that I decided to schedule my c-section for the day after Halloween, so that I could have the opportunity to do this with him.

Some photos to enjoy!!

Weight Ultrasound -- 37.5 Weeks

So these are the last ultrasound photos we will get for this little one. What does everyone think -- boy or girl?? Most people are saying boy, but I have a few who are still thinking girl -- wishful thinking perhaps!

The reason I got to have an ultrasound this late in my pregnancy is because I went in for an appointment yesterday, and I was measuring a bit too big for how far along I am. So my doctor ordered a weight ultrasound, which I had this morning. I had one of these with Sam too, for the very same reason. The tech this morning said that this baby is weighing in at a little more than 8 pounds right now, which puts him/her in about the 92nd percentile for his/her gestational age. They told me that babies tend to put on about half a pound a week from this point on, which means they are estimating about a 9 pound baby -- big, but nothing ridiculous! Sam was about that big (8 pounds, 14 oz to be exact), so it would come as no surprise to me! Besides, I love big, fat, healthy babies -- there is just something about big cheeks and fat rolls that gets me every time. And since I'm having a c-section this time anyway, I don't really need to worry about how much the baby weighs, so bring it on!

Other than that, everything looks good. My blood pressure is still awesome, and I am already 2 centimeters dilated, which I guess means the baby could really come at any time! Even if I go all the way to my scheduled c-section, we are only 13 days out...so I am now officially in countdown mode! It's just crazy to think that in 13 short days, we will welcome a new member of the Brown family. I'm excited and scared and eager and bewildered!

I will keep you all posted -- send me some positive vibes for an easy and fast next two weeks!

36.5 Weeks!

As of today, I have 26 days left until we welcome our new little one into the world, which makes me about 36.5 weeks along now! I would be a lot more excited, except that I know from experience that these last few weeks are the longest -- time seems to slow down the closer I get to my due date. I'm VERY large (as you can see from the photos I posted above) and highly uncomfortable, but at least the weather has finally started to cool off, which makes hauling this load around a little more bearable! At my last appointment, the doctor said that my blood pressure still looks awesome, which means I'll most likely escape the pre-eclampsia I had with Sam. Still on schedule for a Nov. 1 c-section (yikes...), and just trying to get a few things done before the baby comes (like packing a hospital bag, washing some baby clothes, getting the bassinet set up in the bedroom, etc etc). I'm trying to stay very mellow and Zen about the whole thing, but the excitement and anticipation are starting to get the best of me!! Girl? Boy? Who will he/she look like? What will Sam's reaction be? I just can't wait to find out :)

More to come!

32 Weeks and Counting!

I have definitely not kept up with taking belly shots as much with this pregnancy as I did with Sam's, but as you all know, there are reasons for that!! They are known as toddler, job, grad school, and life in general ;)

This pregnancy has absolutely FLOWN by up to this point -- I can't believe that I am already 32 weeks in. That means that in just 56 short days, David and Sam and I will get to meet this new little person. It is simultaneously scary and thrilling. I have thoughts like, "How will I feel when I first hold him or her in my arms? Will this new person fit into our family? How will Sam react to not being Mama's baby anymore? Will David and I be able to adjust to having two kids? Will falling in love with this baby be the same as it was with Sam?" And the list goes on and on...

Mostly, as I approach these last two months of my pregnancy, I am surprised by how relaxed I feel about it all. I am more mellow, more mentally prepared, more welcoming of this change. I have this secure feeling that no matter what happens, we will be just fine. Better than fine -- this whole thing is going to be awesome :).

So here are a couple of belly shots -- 7 months in! That's some belly, huh??? ;)