One week old

I'm hopeful that I will be able to keep up with weekly blog posts for Calvin like we did for Caleb, but I can't promise anything.  Calvin is one week old today and it seems like this week just absolutely flew by.  We are adjusting pretty well to our life as a family of four, but there are moments where we feel completely overwhelmed.  Calvin has been a pretty content baby and is settling into a pretty good daytime routine.  He likes to nurse, stay awake for 20-30 minutes, nap for an hour or so and then repeat.  By the middle of the day he's pretty exhausted and takes a 2-3 hour nap and then starts his cycle again.  He's doing great at night and giving us anywhere from 2.5-5 hours of uninterrupted sleep.  He likes to be held or at least sleep a little upright.  He doesn't seem to care for the swinging motion of the swing (which is good because we think it's broken), but he likes the vibration.  He hates to get his diaper or clothes changed.  He really likes being warm and all snuggled up under a blanket. Caleb helped me give him his first bath and while Calvin wasn't a big fan, he didn't absolutely hate it. He's a big fan of his pacifier, but only the one from the hospital.  I quickly ordered a couple more of that brand in case we lose the ones we have.  The doctor saw him on Friday to check on him for any flu signs and he is starting to gain weight already.  He was 7 lb 11 oz at hospital discharge and was 7 lb 13 oz on Friday at the doctor.  As often as he likes to eat during the day, I bet this will continue.  Keeping track of pictures is going to be a bit trickier this time since we are both taking way more with our phones than our camera this time around.

One of his many, many funny faces

Getting ready for the bath

Big brother likes to help out. 

Lots and lots of kisses 

Welcome to the world Calvin

Calvin Tyler arrived at 2:45 AM on Monday, January 12th.  I was pretty certain labor was approaching throughout the weekend, but just tried to push it out of my mind as I didn't want our boys to share a birthday.  Well, around 1:00 on Sunday (Caleb's birthday), I knew that we would be lucky to not share a birthday.  Contractions were coming pretty regularly and getting painful.  We called our friends Kyle and Anne to come watch Caleb and headed to the hospital.  We checked in around 3:00 and I was only dilated to 1.5 cm and contracting every 3 minutes.  We walked for an hour and I progressed to a 3 so we were admitted.  Around 8:00 that night we had no more progress and were beginning to get discouraged that maybe this wasn't the real deal.  My doctor came at 11:30 that night and broke my water.  She was a bit hesitant as she arrived during a spell of no contractions. Throughout the entire labor I would have three back to back contractions and then eight to ten minutes off.  She went ahead and broke my water and that got things moving.  Contractions became more intense, but manageable.  We kept walking the halls, but around 12:15 I couldn't walk anymore.  We tried to keep moving some and I did everything to avoid laying down in the bed.  By 1:00 contractions were intense and I was in some serious pain.  Fortunately, I was still having the same pattern of three or four contractions and then some time off.  We used the birth ball and all sorts of different positions and I was doing ok until 1:45.  I had been putting off getting checked because I didn't want to get discouraged to hear I hadn't made any progress.  The nurse insisted that I get checked then and much to my surprise, I was a 6!  She called the doctor and told the doctor she'd better head to the hospital now.  Thank goodness she did.  Within ten minutes I was feeling the urge to push and she checked again...I was a ten.  The nurses got everything ready for delivery and I (not so patiently) waited for the doctor in what was the longest 10 minutes of my life.  During this time they called the doctor to check where she was and fortunately, she was close.  She came running in still getting her gear on and I immediately began to push.  We aren't exactly sure how long I pushed, but we both think only four contractions and baby was out.  The doctor told me to reach down and grab my baby and helped to lay him right on my chest.  It was wonderful.  He laid there for about 20 minutes before they took him to clean him up.  He got cleaned up and began nursing shortly after that like a champ.  While this labor was still intense, it was way better than Caleb's!  And not that we plan to have more children, but if we did, I would do natural again.  I felt so much more in control of what was happening and I'm convinced that all the moving and walking we did is what made him come out so quickly/easily.  I'm pretty sure we walked nothing short of seven hours that evening!

I wish I could say our stay in the hospital was as wonderful as the delivery, but unfortunately I came down with influenza Tuesday morning and couldn't hold Calvin.  Caleb was freaked out by the masks and hardly came to see me Tuesday either.  It was hard not being able to be with my boys, but we all made it home Wednesday afternoon and fortunately no one else has gotten sick.

Update

My doctor's appointments have been going well and no more concerning things going on.  Blood pressure is completely normal and swelling is down from where it was a couple of weeks ago.  Baby has also shown good growth and is back to measuring completely on schedule.  He is still measuring about two weeks behind Caleb, but totally normal and showing good growth week over week.  He is also head down (fingers crossed he doesn't flip).  My doctor is still hoping for baby during week 39, but has agreed, we don't need to schedule an induction that week since he's measuring average instead of big like Caleb.  I'm hoping for a baby early in week 40 to avoid an induction.  It sounds like January 23rd is the last possible day I can be pregnant.  My money is still on January 19th.  Lots of Braxton hicks that are getting more and more painful.  I've also had some pretty good lower back pain on and off. One day I will feel great and the next day my back hurts so bad I can't hardly get up. Last night was one of those nights.  I was nearly in tears and laying with ice on my back.  Caleb was trying to help by stretching my legs (he's seen Travis help me do this) and kept telling me "it be ok mommy.  Daddy be home soon.  Him can help you."  He also told me in the morning I would wake up and feel all better.  That wasn't exactly the case, but I did have a massage today and I can't remember the last time my back felt this good.  Just being able to lay on my stomach for an extended period of time on the special table seemed to help a ton.  I think baby shifted positions a bit and I have had no pain at all today.  Hoping it lasts for a while, or that we stumble across a large sum of money and an extra hour in the day so I can go get a massage each day.

As we get closer and closer to being parents of two, I'm feeling differently than I did last time.  I'm not near as scared about having a newborn.  We've done that before and although it wasn't easy, I know we can do it.  What I'm nervous about is how will we balance everything and have both kids get what they need...and how will we ever get anything else done!  With Caleb on his no nap schedule, we have almost two hours each evening after he's in bed to get caught up on work and housework, have some time to talk as adults, and time to relax!  Even if Calvin goes to bed around the same time as Caleb, I will have to follow shortly after to survive the night wakings and early mornings, so our peaceful evenings will be a thing of the past.  We also have the luxury of getting up before Caleb if we need to since he doesn't typically get up until 7:00.  Prior to December, I would get up at 6:00 every week day to either get to work, or get work done at home.  I've already given up that hour in the interest of sleeping more.  Oh well, somehow we will figure it all out and some things will just have to take a back seat for a while.

Week 37...papaya

Week 36...honeydew

Now where will I find a pumpkin this time of year for the next photo?

We have a nursery

We took this morning as our opportunity to finish up the nursery and are pleased it is done before the holidays, Caleb's birthday, and Calvin's birth (hopefully in that order!).  Only things left to do are hang the mobile and the baby monitor.

Update

We haven't been as good about taking and posting pictures, but here are some updated ones...

Week 35...head of romain lettuce

Week 34...coconut 

Week 32 or 33 (we missed one)...spaghetti squash

 I'm struggling a bit with buying the right fruit/veggie for the weekly pictures.  There are such huge variances in size of each one.  I think the spaghetti squash was much bigger than the coconut, but oh well.

Still feeling pretty good.  Last week was rough and I was beginning to wonder how I would make it six more weeks, but this week has been much better!  My braxton hicks were getting pretty painful.  They are still happening, but not near as painful.  I was also super, super tired last week.  I was really struggling to get a good nights sleep.  Not sure if baby moved or what, but I am sleeping much better.

Baby is still looking good, but didn't grow quite as much as expected at our last appointment.  He grew one weeks worth instead of two.  The doctor didn't seem too concerned, but said if we aren't seeing a bigger growth by my next appointment (Tuesday), she will do an ultrasound to double check things.  Baby is moving like crazy and has a strong heartbeat.  She's confident he will have a bigger growth at this check, so fingers crossed for that!  I'm also supposed to be checking my blood pressure between appointments now to keep an eye on pre-eclampsia.  I have a few signs, but nothing alarming yet.  So far, blood pressure has stayed well below an alarming range.

As for the to do list, not much progress!  Nothing really needs done, but would be nice to get done.  Here is what is still on it:
- install new blinds (here, just not hung up.)
- hang up bookshelves (here, painted, just not hung.  We did get Caleb's hung)

31 weeks

I am now 32 weeks pregnant (haven't taken this weeks picture yet).  Here is what we have been up to:
- buying necessary baby supplies...very few needed this time around, but we are set now
- installing new ceiling fan
- finishing painting
- arranging finiture
- clothes washed and hung in closet
- blankets washed and folder
- diapers changed down to the right size and put away
- final touches on sub plans at school.  I think there are only two things left on my to-do list
- working away on the cross-stitch wall hanging.  Over half done, but still a ways to go!  Hoping to get a lot done over Thanksgiving and Christmas break.
- filling the freezer.  I've been trying to make at least one extra meal a week to put in the freezer for easy meals post baby.  I've just been doubling whatever we are having for dinner that night and making a crockpot of soup at least once a week.  We eat the soup for one meal and freeze the rest.

Still left on the to do list:
- install new blinds (ordered, but not here yet)
- hang up bookshelves (ordered, but not here yet)
- hang up border on wall

What baby has been up to:
- frequent hiccups!  These started around 30 weeks and are happening a few times a day.
- moving a lot.  This little guy doesn't like me to lay down in the evenings.  He wiggles all around.
- growing, growing, growing...baby has been measuring about one week behind "average." So I am hopeful that means he won't be huge and my doctor won't feel the need to discuss early induction.  Caleb always measured 2-3 weeks ahead of "average."

How I've been feeling:
- my back has been feeling much, much better.
- sleeping pretty good most nights for about 2.5 hours in a row.  Then I usually have to go to the bathroom, change positions, and fall back to sleep.
- out of breath...the extra weight is taking it's toll and a flight of stairs will leave me winded.  I'm still making it to they gym 2-3 times a week to do some cardio.
- relieved that it sounds like a long-term sub is lined up at school...and she's a retired English teacher, so I won't need to check papers!!!!

Week 31

Update

Week 29 - eggplant

Week 28 - acorn squash

Here are weeks 28 and 29.  We will probably skip a week 30 picture...one site says cabbage (we won't eat that) and the other says cucumber, which I don't think is right unless they are talking about a monstrous cucumber. 

We are making progress on the room.  The shelves are painted and up and half the room is completely painted.  The other half just needs the second coat.  I'm working on a few small projects to hang up, but have his door letter done.  Caleb choose the fish and crab to go on it.  He also talked me into buying Calvin some new pjs today.  He told me our baby doesn't have enough pajamas.