My Kids Kidnapped Me

So....by now, everyone knows that we had a beautiful, healthy baby boy on May 12th. Hudson arrived 17 days early and has had us working for his love ever since!! I haven't even had a chance to post about his birth and he'll be four months old soon. I know I'm a procrastinator, but I swear this time our kids were holding me hostage!! Here's some fantastic maternity and delivery pics that my biz partner and dear friend, Bree, captured. She and my mom jumped in the room the second after he flew out (story for another day).

The Fam

 While I know this isn't my best pic, it means a lot. I stumbled on the one shirt I asked for when my grandpa passed, covered in paint. He was a hard worker and a great man. I wanted to wear it as we got set to welcome our second little man. 

WELCOME BABY H!!!

36 Weeks, 3 Days and Counting

At 35 weeks I was dilated to 1 cm and 50% effaced. The doctor said that is common with second time moms and could stay that way for some time. She also said that these final weeks are critical for brain and lung development. The Dr said that she wouldn't put me on bed rest or stop progression since a baby can be born healthy at 35 weeks, but suggested that I stop doing photo shoots and try to take it easy. With the utterance of "brain and lung development" I knew that I would hear those words from the Hubs repeatedly until my next check up. Guess what? I was right. Now Johnny is doing his work, my work at home and forcing me to relax. He's been great!

We'll see what they say at my 36 week appt tomorrow. Baby Johnny didn't really get the memo about 'taking it easy', but he's been a real trooper and has had some outings with Aunt Lisa, GG and Dad.  When I have contractions I get antsy, like let's do this or stop faking it. I'll try to hold him in a little longer. I don't really want him smaller than Baby Johnny was, who was born 15 days early.

Well, back to my movie. It won't watch itself.

Week 37: Anyone For Swiss Chard?

At 37 weeks they say that our baby is as long as a stalk of swiss chard, a little over 19 inches, and weighs a touch over 6 lbs.  It's still funny to me when they compare Baby Johnny to fruit or the length of a vegetable. It's hard to visualize the size of our baby compared to swiss chard, but here's our wavy baby.

And me growing at almost 38 weeks....

Shower For Gundie

My pals that I made in the wedding industry threw us an awesome baby shower last month. The shower theme was Baby Bundy by Gundie. If you want to know about Gundie, you have to ask. ;0)

It was such a fabulous time, from the food to the games and the fantastic gifts. Aimee's house was the perfect setting for the shower and her delicious drinks, including the Nojito were delicious. The decorations were awesome!

Carissa of Sugar and Spice Specialty Desserts (who also made the desserts for our wedding) made ALL the food and desserts!!! I loved everything and thought the mini mason jar salads you shake up were so fun. Carissa almost didn't make them because she was worried about suggesting "shaking" at a baby shower. Too funny!! All the food was outstanding and of course the desserts, divine. I can almost smell chocolate caramel tartlets now. Mmm....

Shannon of Flourish created these amazing masterpieces for the shower. The spiky ball looking things are where castor oil come from. She also made me a beautiful, unique wrist corsage for me twisting the metal even. So talented!!

While Lora of A Day to Remember is a coordinator by trade, I don't think she's had to work on too many baby showers. She was in charge of games and they were a blast and I had never played them before! One game included everyone blindfolding themselves and drawing the items Lora described from our house to our baby and our dog. The winning image was framed and will be hung in Baby Johnny's room. What a thoughtful idea!  The playdough babies were fun too.

Jen of The Memory Journalists was there to capture all the fun and festivities too, which is so nice. It's great to have awesome pics of big events in your life. 

I can't thank everyone enough for the fantastic gifts and fun day!!! I had such a great time and Baby Johnny will love all the great outfits, toys, books and blankets that he got.

Still Growing...Week 28

Let's take a look back at the pregnancy progression so far...for fun (ha).

Here's week 5 basically, the day we found out! Wait...was I really that small? I don't recall this.

Here's week 7 vs. week 14 pic?  From working out to eating out....

Then we have week 22. I see the belly isn't the only thing that's been "ahem...enhanced".

Then week 24. Actually eating out...but with a buddy, it's ok.

Now....the end of week 28! People say I look small for 7 months. I would buy into this more if I thought it was going to mean small baby shoulders and no tearing during delivery. But...we can't have it all, so I'll be happy with a big, bouncing, healthy baby MJ (mini Johnny)!

BTW_Linea Negra....is that really necessary?!

Only 12 weeks to go....better go now. It's PB&J time. ;0) 

Prego Friends

It's fun to have friends that are pregnant around the same time. You can talk about symptoms, stories, plans, exchange recipes, cry for no reason together, etc. ;0) Here I am after a delicious breakfast with my friend Tina, who is due in less than a month! I hope I look this amazing at 8 months.

Week 24 - Who's Growing Now?!

This Saturday will be week 24 (6 months)! I can't believe how fast this is going. I know...I know. Once I hit month 8 I might be singin' a different tune. For now, I am really enjoying being pregnant, except for the elastic, chest high waist band from my mom prego jeans. Mom jeans....ha. Why are these SO funny?!

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/mom-jeans/229048/

Anyhow, I digress. Baby Johnny is kicking and rolling around and doing Flying Sukaharas into my belly for hours a day. Last Saturday when I stayed at my parents, he kicked my mom so hard, she screamed. ;0) "Hey Grandma, just lettin' you know who's in charge. You ready for me?"

It is such an amazing feeling to have him moving around inside me. Everyone is so anxious to meet him but I'm really enjoying our quality time together. Again, I know ladies...you all remind me that by my last month I'll be trying to talk and coax him out of the womb. Regardless, it's a fun time right now.       

Question & A Quick Pic

So...reading my pregnancy books about week 16, they tell me to start sleeping on my side now. Apparently, sleeping or resting for too long on your back adds pressure from the uterus on the vena cava and aorta decreasing circulation to the baby. WHAT!??? I never knew that! Did you? Did you sleep on your back when you were pregnant?

And...I found this pic the other day of my mom, the day we found out we were pregnant. I told her in a card and she has me holding up the conception wheel estimating my due date. She was only off by 5 days. She may actually be glowing more than I am! Way to get excited Mom!!

My First Un-Official Mother's Day

Yesterday morning I woke up to a sweet note from my hubby, fresh cut roses from our yard (grown and hand picked by JAS) and a delicious breakfast! A girl could get used to this.  Yesterday we celebrated Mother's Day at my Grandma's house with a bbq, ping pong, badmitton and great family time! It was a lot of fun celebrating over there like we used to when I was growing up. I can't wait for our child to get quality time and share fantastic holidays with his/her Great Grandmother!! She'll be the most active GG that our kid knows. Grandma takes more trips and is busier than we are. I can't wait for you, Baby Shebl, to get to make cookies with your GG, play games and have her trace letters on your back while you try not not fall asleep. Fantastic grandparents, a great grandmother, a great-great grandmother plus all your amazing family!! You are one lucky baby!!

Here's a little belly show off on Mother's Day!

First Prego Pic

So once a month we will take a picture to see how I grow and change.  This is the first photo for the series. Not much going on, except my Cinnamon Bun Pancake belly. ;0P

Taken 03/07/10