Our sweet boy, Blake David, entered the world on 11/18/09! I can’t believe it has already been a week since his birth! We have been snuggled up at home, enjoying having a baby to love on. I had a wonderful birth and was lucky enough to get the drug-free birth that I wanted. It was a CRAZY and SHORT (under 3 hours!) experience and so different from my very long and difficult (ie looooong) birth with Coen. Here is Blake’s birth story!
The afternoon of the 18th I was getting pretty uncomfortable. I kept telling Dave that I though the baby was in a weird position and he was kicking me like a crazy boy. I was working on finishing up a little baby sweater and was just about at the end of it. At about 8pm Dave asked if I thought they were contractions…but I was not convinced because it was more of a constant pain…not a coming and going kind of pain. During one of the pains I decided to feel if my tummy was hard or not (you’d think, being a second time mom, I’d know what a contraction felt like, LOL) and lo and behold…it was a contraction. Still unconvinced I was in real labor, since my tummy was pretty hard anyway (it was stuffed with a full term baby after all) Dave decided to start trying to time the contractions for me. Mind you I was on my very last row of knitting this sweater and I think I told him that I couldn’t be bothered, when he kept asking if I was having a contraction or not. I told him that I would get more serious when I was done with the sweater, LOL.
So Dave went to put Coen to bed and I started timing the contraction more seriously…they were about 5 minutes apart! I went about cleaning the house in preparation to leave for the hospital (still in denial) and the contraction kept getting stronger and stronger…about 45mins later I was SURE that we had to get our booties moving out the door. We got Coen ready (he was SOOOO excited to get to go to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s instead of to bed) and at about 9:20 out the door we went! Unfortunately we were about two minutes into the trip and the gas light came on…I forgot to fill up the tank earlier that day. If anyone has ever had a baby before they probably would agree with me that one of the most difficult positions to be in when you’re having full fledged contraction is sitting in the car. So it was slightly annoying that on top of it we had to stop for gas! I remember saying a bunch of times…just put enough in to get us there! Coen was happily singing songs in the back seat and trying to get me to play a game with him…I was just trying to keep breathing and not freak him out!
We dropped Coen off and got to the hospital at about 10pm (mind you this was only about 2 hours after I half-heartedly thought I MIGHT be in labor). By this time the contractions were UNBELIEVABLE and I was starting to feel a bit of pressure with them. With Coen’s 24+ hour birth as my only experience I was starting to not believe that I would not be able to go very long without any kind of pain relief. We got checked into the hospital and at this point I was shaking so badly from the pain and contractions were about 2.5 minutes apart. The midwife came in and she checked my cervix to see how dilated I was (I was mentally preparing myself to be at about 6cm or so) and she said “Well no wonder your in so much pain…you going to have a baby in a few minutes! I was at 9cm! Bag of waters was still intact! So off I went to the birthing bed…the midwife was guiding me through little pushes while standing at the side of the bed…then a few minutes later I was pushing full force! There is no way to describe the feeling of giving birth…intense, and totally crazy! All of a sudden I see Dave gloving up…and the midwife instructing him on what he should be doing TO DELIVER THE BABY! I could really have cared less what was going on down there at that point to be honest! I was just trying to concentrated on pushing that baby out! Dave got the incredible experience of being able to really deliver his own baby…which was awesome…not just catching, but EVERYTHING…I’ll just leave it at that, LOL! And at 10:57pm, less than 3 hours from when I thought I **could** be in labor…Blake was born! I think my first words were “oh he’s so beautiful!”…with the intensity of the pain I think I kind of forgot that I was going to get a baby out of the whole deal! I was instantly in love! All in all I am SO happy that it was a fast and furious birth…because I’m pretty sure that I would never have been able to last as long as I did with Coen without any meds…and I really wanted to have a natural birth. So thanks Blakey!
So far Blake has been an “easy” baby and only cries when he is hungry. He is nursing GREAT in fact maybe a little too well as he gained about 9oz between his hospital discharge on Friday and his first doctor visit on Monday! I had forgotten how painful it is when your milk “comes in” though! Ouch! I think since Blake had been nursing pretty much non-stop since he was born that my body was pretty convinced that I had given birth to 5 babies…I was FULL of milk.
It’s nice to live in a city that is so natural parenting oriented. The staff at the hospital was GREAT…they do a little happy dance when you say you won’t be circumcizing…suggest co-sleeping with your babe…or delay any unnecessary interventions. So if you ever are having a baby in Seattle…you’ll have to look up Group Health Midwives!
Coen has been a great big brother. He is CONSTANTLY giving kisses and pats to Blake…I can’t wait to watch their interactions together as they grow. Although our bed is getting a little small with all of us trying to stake our own space! It is so sweet to wake up and have little Blake nursing on one side and Coen snuggled up with Daddy on the other. My boys! Sigh!
Phew! That was probably the long post I have ever written!
…which means, yes, I’m still pregnant. November 16th is my official due date, but I was SURE that I would have had this baby by now. This was my first week of maternity leave…and I have to say that it is so much easier to be home at this point! Coen has loved having me home to snuggle with in the mornings and I have been enjoying not getting up at 6am and rush-rush-rushing around everywhere like I usually do. Next week Dave starts the second part of his furlough…and then he gets an additional 4 weeks of paternity leave! So he’ll be home with us a total of 8 weeks, which is so awesome, I can’t even explain it. When Coen was born he only took 2 weeks off, and by the end of it I was doing my best to convince him that he should just quit his job and stay home with me, LOL! Of course money will be tight…but at least all this crafting energy is turning into some good gifts for the holidays!
I am furiously trying to tempt the labor fates by starting a multitude of baby projects in the hopes that I will never be able to finish them, but alas…
I have had to move onto knitting projects since my ability to lean over fabric on the floor is pretty much gone at this point. Here are some snapshots of some of my handiwork (yes, I realize I am a bit out of control …)
This hat is made with the softest bamboo and alpaca yarn…so cozy for the little babe!
And of course I had to make a little hat for Coen too…
A cashmere teddy bear…this was what Coen decide he’d bring for his show and tell day at school (well, until he changed his mind to the monster toy that shoots, lol) it made me so proud!
This little floor quilt was actually supposed to be just something to practice freehand quilting on…but I like how it turned out! I have a full size quilt in the works…but it will have to wait until this baby is born to be finished…it’s driving me crazy that I can’t go any further with it.
Coen has been the little crafter himself lately…we get these cool toddler modeling kits from the craft store that come with paint, glue, a brush…all for $1!!! So far we’ve done a cool sail boat and this race car. They are perfect for a three year old…simple, big enough for little hands and enough little parts to keep them busy! He loves them…I stocked up the other day for when the baby arrives…only a $1!!!
And of course my most important project of all…keeping this baby healthy! My gestational diabetes has stayed in check and the midwife says he’s looking pretty petite…so no 19 pound baby for me! He is so much less active than Coen was when I was pregnant with him…so I have been trying to not worry myself silly. It’ll be interesting to see if he is this quiet after he is born (I have to admit that would be a nice change, LOL!)
Hey everyone out there in bloggy land! I know I have been MIA for most of the Summer…but yes, I’m still alive!
Here are some totally random updates for you!
1) Coen started preschool!! He LOVES it and from what the teacher tells me is quite the little helper in class. He is only there two mornings per week, but I think that is plenty for him at this stage. Sadly I missed being able to drop him off for his first day (stupid work!) but Daddy made this sweet little video…and I feel like I was almost there!
2) I am back to my normal part-time schedule at work…although it was nice to be able to work full time for the Summer since Dave’s job instituted a 2 month furlough for it’s employees…and with another baby on the way that was, how do you say, NOT GOOD TIMING. Such is life…we are getting good at living frugal!
3) Baby #2 is almost done cooking…just 5 more weeks (cross your fingers that it’s a bit less!) before his due date! I am sooo DONE being pregnant. As much as I have tried to enjoy it…I am ready to not have insane back pain that literally renders me unable to walk some nights. On top of that…I have gestational diabetes this time around which among other things is a real pain in the…finger. Luckily I am able to control it without any insulin so far…so keep your fingers crossed for me that I’m not the next woman to deliver a 19 pound baby! Yikes! Coen has been awesome through this whole thing…he helps me take my blood sugar…and hasn’t complained too much that I can’t run around at the park with him anymore. It breaks my heart that I can’t wrestle around with my boy and I am so looking forward to really getting to play with him again in a few weeks.
4) I have been continuing to nest like crazy…my sewing machine has gotten quite the usage in the past few months! Since I can’t do much else…all this energy has got to go somewhere! Here are a few projects I’ve been doing…
Clockwise from top left…a quilt for the babe (my first!), little baby booties, curtains for Coen’s bunk bed and a little banner for sweet dream wishes, and a picnic blanket for the family (you can’t tell in the picture but it’s BIG and I can’t wait to use it!). The picnic blanket and “dream” banner are from the book Handmade Home (well kinda…as we are being frugal I spent some time pouring over the book at the bookstore and then recreated them from memory, LOL). The book encourages using recycled fabric…so some of these projects were pretty inexpensive to make! Bonus!
5) Coen has been going through a major “mommy” phase…especially at night. He’s never been a great sleeper but being able to tag team with Dave really saved my sanity. But now he doesn’t want anything to do with Daddy at night and as much as we try to alternate, I end up getting up after Coen cries and pleads to be rocked by his Mommy…I just can’t say no! Actually, I don’t mind too much, as I know how much less I will be able to snuggle and cuddle with him once the new baby makes his appearance. It sounds weird but I am starting to mourn the loss of our current family dynamic already…even though I know that it will be just as wonderful and amazing with the new little guy. And when Coen crawls into our bed at 5am and snuggles up to me with his arms around my neck and his forehead pressed to mine…I really could not be more content!
Some more random photos that have been sitting in my camera…
Little wood nymph Coen…after a session of outdoor finger painting with Daddy…he was covered in paint and kept hiding in the bushes…so funny.
Coen’s getting into collecting things…we are so lucky to live so close to the beach!
No idea if this is normal for a 3.5 year old…but he sculpted his name in playdoh ALL BY HIMSELF! I was so shocked when I looked over and he said…look I made my name! He is a genius!
It seems as if everywhere I look I see a pregnant lady or a newborn (or is it just me?).
One of my favorite co-workers had her baby a few weeks ago and I have been begging her to let me come over and snap some pics of her little guy since I found out she was pregnant. He is such a little cutie and it was really fun to see his mommy in mommy mode! Here are my favs! I hope you like!
Something very strange happens to me when I am pregnant. I get crafty. I normally wouldn’t consider myself crafty…artistic, yes…but crafty, nope. But all of a sudden I find myself wanting to make things…sewing, knitting, even baking. It probably has something to do with the “nesting” instinct, I suppose.
Dave and Coen are on a little trip to visit his family in Colorado and since somebody has to make some money around here , I get to stay home and work…boo! But it does have it’s advantages…one being I can pull out all the fabric and yarn that I’ve been hording away in the corner of my closet for the last 6 months and make stuff!
My first attempt at a baby quilt…for a coworker of mine, turned out pretty cool! And I only had to try twice!
I’ve got a few little projects to work on up my sleeve for the rest of the week…in between reading and shopping and all around relaxing by myself. I miss my boys but it sure is nice to have a few days alone after 3+ years of having a constant side-kick!
Oh and if you are feeling a little crafty yourself…check out some of these links!
The lovely little miss Farrow let me come back and snap some more pics of her. She is seriously one of the cutest little girlies I have ever seen! Her hair is out-of-control adorable! Here is a little sampling of some of my favs!
I love thier little gate! Check out the doggies!
Paws!
I couldn’t help but snap a few pics of the dogs…I have some doggy envy going on!
There are so many more cute ones…but now I must go lay in a bath tub of ice water and try to beat this sweltering heat! Ugh! Happy Tuesday!
Today marks theofficial halfway point of this pregnancy! Woohoo! I’m feeling great and starting to be obviously pregnant now, which happened much more quickly than it did last time. We had our big ultrasound last week and found out Coen is getting a little brother! The baby looks perfect and healthy and we couldn’t be happier. Coen was able to come to the ultrasound and he was such a little trooper…even when he had to sit by himself for 45 minutes while I was being examined.
I feel this little dude move all the time now which is both weird and cool. I hope the next 20 weeks goes as quickly as the first did because I just want to meet the little guy already, but I am also trying to really enjoy the pregnancy since I’m pretty sure it will be my last (never say never, right? – Just kidding Dave!).
Coen talks to the baby all the time through the microphone that is my belly button, LOL! He’s pretty excited and I can’t wait to have two little snuggle bugs to love on!
In other news, I’m working full time through the Summer so posts will definitely be sporadic (not that they weren’t already!) but I’ll try to get a few belly shots in here while I’m still in the cute and preggo stage…as opposed to the “are you sure you not having twins” stage, LOL.
I hope you are all enjoying your Summer so far and have a brewsky for me!
I had the pleasure of spending a few hours photographing an engagement session at one of my favorite childhood beaches last weekend. The weather was beautiful and the couple, Josh and Nikanne, were as cute as could be. I’m pretty sure Nikanne has lived a past life as a model because she was a natural in front of the lens! Here are some of my favs!
This is one of the first shots I captured of them…giggling and in love…ahhhh!
See what I mean about Nikanne’s past! Those are the brown eyes I have wanted my whole life!
A little smooch as the sun is starting to set…
Thanks Josh and Nikanne! I hope you like your little sneak peak!
Summer has FINALLY arrived in Seattle! Yesterday the temps hit 90, which is really hot for a pregnant lady! Coen and I have been enjoying our yard in the afternoons and wasting more water than we really should be. I was inspired to actually pull out my camera and snap some shots…Coen has turned into a little streaker and has spent most of the last few months in his birthday suit. I’m secretly jealous. Hope you all are enjoying the Summer!
, I get to stay home and work…boo! But it does have it’s advantages…one being I can pull out all the fabric and yarn that I’ve been hording away in the corner of my closet for the last 6 months and make stuff!
