He's Here!!

Some of you may have already seen my sister's blog and saw some pictures, but here are some more for you.

Ethan Amadeus entered the world at 1:57pm weighing in at 8lbs 5oz and 21 inches long on Thursday Oct. 2nd. He was about 6oz heavier than Belle was. I thought for sure he'd weigh less, going by the ultrasound I had 2 weeks earlier.

I'll post a birth story on this post, but I must say that this experience was MUCH better. Some of you know that I had a horrible tear with Belle and while I still tore this time, it was no where near as bad.

**Warning** Some ooey gooey pictures are included. Don't look if that grosses you out.

Here is me still pregnant. And the proud papa.


I love this picture for some reason. Maybe it's the cute little tushy. Oh and by the way, Ethan did not get a crooked butt crack like Belle. Darn =)


Here is my "what? you want me touch him?" picture. I wasn't expecting them to just throw him on my stomach. With Belle, she had meconium and so they had to wisk her off to the NICU nurses.


Here he is. He looks a lot fuller in these pictures. He's since lost some weight and is down to 7lbs 15oz.



Us getting ready to come home.


Stay tuned for some pictures when Belle gets to meet him tomorrow when my inlaws bring her home.

BIRTH STORY:
7:30 - Nic and I arrive at the hospital for the induction. The nurses were already in the room waiting for me. I got into my gown and worked on getting my IV going.

8:30 - Dr. Davidson came by and broke my water and got my pitocin started. I wasn't expecting them to break my water right off the bat. I was a little scared of the pitocin too cause I had heard some bad things about it. While the Dr. was doing her thing she checked me and I was 4cm 75% effaced.

I just sat back and hung out at this point. The pitocin was doing it's job cause I started getting crampy right away. Nothing too awful though.

10:00 - They were upping my pitocin every half hour or so and things got progressively more painful. Still nothing I didn't think I could handle.

11:00 - Thing are getting a little worse in the pain dept. Enough that I was having to breath through the contractions. I decide that Im not going to be a martyr and ask for the epidural. I figured that I'm going to get one in the end anyways and so why deal with this pain now.

11:45 - The epidural nurse comes in and not a moment too soon. I was really glad I asked for it when I did because the contractions are coming fast and furious at this point.

Once they got the epidural in they checked me and I was at 6cm. It probably took about 45 min to get the epi in once everything got situated and done.

After about 15 minutes the nurses came back cause I was having some break through pain. Nothing horrible, just enough pain that I was feeling it, even with the epidural. That and I was starting to shake uncontrollably. I should've known something was up cause the one nurse looked at the other nurse and just shook her head. They left saying that they were going to get the warmer and call Dr. Davidson.

I pushed my little epidural button since they said it would probably take 30 minutes to take effect. It gave me a little extra dose of medicine to combat the break through pain.

The nurses come back in after calling the Dr. They ask me if I was feeling any pressure, I said no. Not 5 minutes after they leave I do start to feel pressure.

1:00 - They call the Dr back and tell her to head on over. I guess the Dr. had said to just let me "labor down". Well that wasn't needed cause I was ready to push.

So we all just hung out waiting for the dr. to get there. I continued to feel more and more pressure. Sara decides to nurse Brody and send him out with Poppy. About the time the Dr. gets there Brody decides to poop up his back and holds up progress. We had to wait to he got cleaned up so that the Dr. could move in her equipment and we could get started.

1:20 - I start pushing. This time I had just enough epidural that I could feel something, just not pain. We took things a lot slower so that I could "stretch".

1:57 - Ethan was born!! I totally was not expecting them to just throw him up on my stomach. I didn't get to experience that with Belle because she had to be rushed over to the nurses because of the meconium in the water. The nurse actually had to grab my hand and put it on him. While I love my son dearly, I really was just thinking to myself "can't you just clean him first".

He was much bigger than we all thought and I was glad that we didn't wait til he was 40 weeks.

Get out of my belly!!

Here is my final belly shot. Ethan will be evicted next Thurs starting at 7:30. So far I'm 4cm 50% dialated. The dr. said she kinda stretched things out so we'll see if things get moving on their own.

I'm not sure why Belle will not open her dang eyes when we tell her to smile. I hope it's just a phase.

She talk good!

I was always kinda worried about Belle's speech. Several weeks ago I finally got around to calling Early Intervention to have her evaluated. Of course about that time she really started talking better.

Well she had her evaluation today and she is in fact on track with her speech. No need for any kind of intervention. Way to make mommy look like a fool! =) The evaluators had a good time playing with her though and just thought she was hilarious, which she is.

Time for a new movie!

We've caught Belle sucking her thumb or finger while in the car lately. We could not figure it out until sunday. We were on our way home from the grocery and Belle not only was sucking her thumb, but was also holding her ear.

It finally clicked that we've had Robin Hood in the dvd player for a looong time. I think it's time to change things up. =)

Set a date!

Ok so we didn't set a csection date, but a date nonetheless. Dr. talked me out of a csection, but it is still on the table as an option. I will be induced on Oct. 2nd if I don't have Ethan before then. The dr. doesn't want me to go past 39 weeks to try and keep Ethan from getting too big. Hes currently 7lbs 6oz.

Big Sister

We've been telling Belle that she's a big girl lately. Like "Big Girls go to the potty" "Big girls don't climb in the crib" "Big Girls don't lay in the baby glider". You get the idea. Well lately when we say to Belle that she is a "big girl", she'll respond with a "i a sister". Its awfully cute, but I have no idea where it came from. Maybe she's starting to understand those big sister books we've been reading to her.

A potty note: The last 2-3 days Belle has asked to go potty in the evening. I think it's just because thats the time of day she feels that she wants a sticker and would put pee in the potty for it. I guess thats progress. =)

Ethan's room

Here is a pic of Ethan's room so far. It still feels undone, but it's gonna have to do.

Whats for Dinner?

Apparently Belle thought she'd make some Kiki for dinner. Poor kitty thought she'd just lay in the window by Belle's play area. Little did she know that she'd soon become the toy. Funny thing is that she didn't seem all that bothered by the fact that she was shoved into the play oven.

Belle....where's Kiki?




The cat has found some other strange places lately.

Progress!

This may verge on too much information, but we're all girls right? =)

I had my first physical check today by the dr. I'm already 2-3 cm and 50% effaced. I DO NOT remember those checks hurting so much. Belle almost got a new vocabulary. We are going to have an ultrasound next Thurs to determine Ethan's size and figure out his "route". More than likely a csection.

It really hit me today that we're in the home stretch.

And because I know you are tired of these no pic posts.

Always the youngest

Yesterday at Sunday School Belle got to move up to a new class. This class is for 2 yr olds and 3yr olds. Well when church was over, all the kids were still sitting at the table eating their snack. It was a sugar cookie with homemade icing, extremely messy. Well all the parents just filed into the room and waited.

As we were all standing there the teacher very cheerfully announced, "I can tell you who is the youngest in the class.....Miss Isabella and Miss Audrey" I guess Belle didn't want to participate as much as she should. With this new class they are expected to sit on the floor for puppet/story time, as well as sit at a table and participate in a craft.

The teacher assured me though that we'll see amazing changes from Belle this year and that she'll soon get comfortable with whats expected of her.

She is in fact one of the younger kids. The class goes by Indiana's age cutoff date of August 1st. So Belle will always be the youngest in school if she starts on time.

Here is a pic since I haven't posted any recently. Belle has started this winking thing, it was in all the pictures I took. She was awfully excited that I got her some pediasure for almost free, see how here.

I'm SO over it!!

I'm so ready to evict this baby. I'm miserable and I don't remember feeling this way with Belle. I'm only 35 weeks so I've still got 5 more. =(

How is it that this kid can be half way up my chest and be jumping on "the exit" at the same time? Am I going to give birth to a three footer?

I'm tired of the simplest tasks, like getting up off the couch or rolling over in bed, being difficult. And I'm walking at a snail's pace for some reason, whats up with that. Oh and then there is getting up 5x a night to pee. And don't let me forget the horrible heartburn, thats a new thing this time round.

Oh I guess some would say that since this is my last pregnancy that I should enjoy it. Blah Blah Blah. Yeah well not at this particular moment. Lets get this show on the road.

The Baby Made Me Do It!!

I've found myself eating a rather weird lunch after Belle goes down for her nap. I sit on the couch with a jar of Jiff, a bag of choc. chips and a spoon. Yumm!!

The baby made me do it and thats the excuse I'm sticking to. =)

Our First MOPS!

Belle and I had our first MOPS meeting. It was a lot of fun and I think we'll both really enjoy it. And hey, we both came home with crafts. All the moms made journals to keep throughout the MOPS year and the kids made little foam picture frame magnets. =)

Oh, the motivation of a chocolate chip cookie!

Belle has gone pee pee in the potty twice in the past two days. I think we've learned her motivation. They just happen to be the soft chocolate chip cookies from the Walmart bakery. This could get expensive and very unhealthy if she wants a cookie every time. Maybe she'll start letting me break them in half. =)

Bump Progress - 34 weeks

Its been awhile since I've done this and I've been bad about taking pics. So late last night I made Nic take a new bump pic. Im not real sure on a comparison pic so this will have to do. I figure it's about the same time.

First pic: 2006
Second pic: 34 weeks

Murphy's Law

If anything can go wrong, it will. Also, if you go out of your house looking like crap you will see someone you know, or possibly end up in front of a television news camera. Thats what happened to me this morning. Belle and I decided to go to the park fairly early and while luckily I was dressed halfway nice, I had just put up my wet hair and put some foundation on. I even forgot my glasses. So imagine my surprise when on our way back to the car I was confronted by Channel 6 news. They wanted my opinion on the recent drug arrests in Franklin and if I felt safe in the neighborhood. Well considering I live in the subdivision where a murder happened, not so much, but overall I think Franklin is a fairly nice town.

Now you'd think the smell of poopy diaper would've been enough to keep them away. Or maybe the fact that while they are interviewing me, my kid is having free roam of the van and decides to lay on the horn. I don't know, but it's my hope that I don't end up on the news tonight.

Lesson learned, atleast do your makeup.

The Event of the Summer!

On Friday Belle and I traveled to Ohio to attend my friend Kelly's Tea Party that she held for her daughters and friends. Let me just say that Kelly out did herself. Everything was beautiful!!

The girls all had their own place setting and they sat and ate the cutest foods. There were little pb&j sandwiches, strawberries and chocolate fondue, veggie wraps, and all kinds of creative goodies. Belle of course being her picky self stuck with mostly pretzels. She did love these little pretzel butterflies with caramel. And I agree, they were great!

Everything was just so beautiful and Kelly even made the girls the cutest little headbands. Belle being her ever so bow defiant self, only kept hers on for short spurts. So I of course ended up wearing it.

Kelly planned a treasure hunt and Belle mostly just ran after all the girls. She made friends with my friend Sarah's daughter Lilly (4). I think once she started running around with Lilly, she just had so much more fun. All she wanted to do was be a part of what the big girls were doing.

The evening winded down with the girls watching a movie in their sleeping bags. Belle mostly just wanted to play in Jayda and Jacey's playroom, but eventually settled down in Lilly's sleeping bag with her. We stayed up really late. I just hated to leave when Belle was having such a good time, and I was having fun catching up with the girls. We ended up leaving about 10:00pm and poor Belle was so tired that she fell asleep in the car, something she NEVER does.

It was certainly the event of our summer and hope we get an invite for next year!

New blog

Ok so I probably need a new blog like I need a hole in my head, but here it is www.mommy-cents.blogspot.com. I created this blog since there has been a little interest in my new couponing hobby.

It's my hope that this blog can be a community of sorts where we all post our successes and scenarios. If you've picked up this fun new hobby and want to join in on posting, just send me an email. So far I've got Tish (Sara's friend) on board and hope to get my sister and my friend Kelly to help too.

Some things never change

Gosh I feel old sometimes but this weekend really took me back to 1998. Anita and I ventured out to our 10 year high school reunion. Seems like just yesterday that Anita and I were playing on the swings at Van Cleve elementary. And now look at us, we're both very pregnant (Anita is due at the end of Nov.) and went to the reunion in my mommy van.

I was a little hesitant to go in the first place, but decided to tag along with Anita when she asked. Let me just say IT WAS PAINFUL. Not only did the planner not do a very good job, but it was just like a high school dance. Complete with couples dances, lights and a fog machine. I guess I was hoping for something a little more mature.

I think I've come a long way since good ol'Troy High and was hoping to maybe talk to some people I never really got to know in high school. But as soon as I stepped through those doors, I reverted back into my shell. Anita said it best, "some things never change". The cliches were still the cliches and some made you wonder if they left high school at all.

Maybe the 20 yr reunion will be better and I'll attend, but at this point I'm gonna go with a big ol NO.

Thanks for going with me Anita, cause there was NO WAY I could've done that alone.


**Oh and Megan, I wish you were there. Might of made it a little more bearable. =)

Meet Ethan!

So his name is officially Ethan, we just haven't decided on either Amadeus or Scott for a middle name. Ive left it up to Nic, which will probably mean it'll be a delivery room decision.

We had a 3d ultrasound done this weekend. Here are some pics. And that is his foot on his forehead in one of the pics.

The End of an Era

Well I'm officially a stay at home mom. Yesterday I wrapped up 8 yrs of design work at Pulse Creative Partners. It was bittersweet for sure. It'll be nice to be able to stay home with my kids, but on the other hand, it was pretty nice to collect a paycheck from a job I loved.

Most graphic designers will agree that this is not a job that we have to make ourselves do, It's something we truly enjoy. So I will certainly miss the work, but I hope to freelance and keep up my skills that way.

On the stay at home front, I've enrolled Belle and me into MOPS at our church. I hope that we can both meet friends and find people to spend our new found free time with. Belle will start a 6 week preschool class in November and I hope to maybe try out the library story time. I'm sure Belle will love going to all the activities and not being cooped up in my office. =)

Belle's Last Day of Work

Belle with Stefan and Rhaya



Today is Belle's last day at Pulse. It was 2 yrs ago when she was just a little baby that I'd pack her up and bring her to work. I'd wear her around in a sling for the first few months and then wrangled her in with a fence. Today she spends a lot of time watching tv or drawing while I work.

Next week I'll be packing up and Belle will be at Mimi's. I wanted to get a picture of the whole gang, but unfortunately Katie isn't here today for me to include her in the pic. I should've thought of this yesterday.


Here are some oldies but goodies.

Playing Footbelle


Desk Baby


Fenced in Baby

Cats are Weird!!

I forgot just how weird cats are. Kiki is working out well, but she is sneaky, stealthy and downright mean sometimes. But she can be so sweet too and just lounge around on us. We can be sitting on the couch and the cat will come out of nowhere. Even from between the couch cushions



She can sleep anywhere.



And loves to play


Her new favorite thing is to attack my feet in the middle of the night if I try to sneak them out from under the covers.

Oh and we can't forget Belle. She has started picking up the kitty more and playing with it. Which usually results in us telling her to "be nice".


I wish I had a video camera for this one. Belle was laughing hysterically because the cat was playing with her through the window of the dollhouse.

All this for a little more than $5!!

Since I'll no longer have a regular income after the end of the month, I'm trying to find ways to save money, wherever I can. I've started getting into couponing.

Here what I got this week. Check out this blog for some great ideas. I'm such a novice, but still learning.

Target:
Electrosol Tabs 20qty
Regular price is $5.?? each

On sale for buy 2 for $5.68
Use (2) $2.25 off coupons from sunday paper
TOTAL: $1.00 for 2 boxes

Kroger:
Herbal Essense shampoo and conditioner
Regular price is usually $3 something

On sale for 2 for $5
Use $3 off 2 coupon from paper two weeks ago
Total: 4 bottles for $4 ($1.00 each)

Suave Soap
Regular price is $1.99

On sale for $1.67
Use (2) $.50 coupons *
TOTAL: 2 bottles for $1.34
*Kroger will double any coupon up to $.50


The key is to keep your coupons and wait for the items to go on sale, and then use your coupons. I'm also starting to discover CVS and their Extra Bucks. A couple weeks ago I bought several toothpastes ($2.50 each, but earning $2 Extra Care Bucks, so only $.50 in the end) I later used my Extra Care Bucks that I earned to buy 4 ALL Small and Mighty detergents which were Buy One Get One Free for only $3 (Reg. $6.99 each)

ANOTHER DEAL, ALL FOR $3


KROGER
(2) Brownie mix = $1 each
(2) Cottonelle toilet paper = $1 each
(2) Suave deoderant = $1.50 each
TOTAL = $7

Coupons
- $.50 off two Duncan Hines (doubled) = $1
- $.25 off Cottonelle (doubled) = $.50
- $.25 off Cottonelle (doubled) = $.50
- $.50 off Suave deoderant (doubled) = $1
- $.50 off Suave deoderant (doubled) = $1
TOTAL = $4
TOTAL OUT OF POCKET = $3

Only problem is that I was shorted one of my coupons, they didn't scan one of my $.25 coupons. Also missing from the picture is another deoderant where apparently one of my $2 coupons didn't scan. Lesson learned, pay attention to the coupons as the cashier scans them.

KiKi

Ok, so when Belle goes to grandma's & grandpa's, she usually comes back with something. Whether it's a new outfit or a few more bumps and bruises, but this time we got more than we bargained for. A KITTEN!

We had talked about getting Belle a kitten at one point, but figured it wasn't the best time. Guess there is no time like the present.

So here she is. We named her KiKi since Belle calls her kittykitty.

Sadie is doing ok so far with her, the cat really likes her, but the feeling isn't mutal. Hopefully it doesn't drive her completely nuts, cause she's already got one foot in the looney bin as it is.

And apparently this kitty is my new best friend. It is not happy unless I'm sitting down and it's sitting on me. Otherwise it follows me around meowing. Can you get a cat de-meowed?

Our first and last fireworks display

We decided to take Belle to the fireworks display in town. She had been enjoying her nightly fireworks time with daddy, but the big stuff wasn't quite her cup of tea. At home we had the little fountains and snap pops and thought that maybe she's enjoy the a trip to the city's fireworks display.

We had a good time. There were vendors and a concert with everyone sitting in the court of the masonic home waiting for the fireworks. Nic got a lemon shakeup and I got a shaved ice. Belle wasn't too sure about the ice, but quickly confiscated the lemon shakeup.

Once the fireworks started, Belle quickly said "bye bye". She was ready to leave. After a few minutes we packed up and headed home. Poor girl was terrified of them. But once in the safety of the van she was back to her old self. She was a trooper for staying up so late. Maybe next year we'll just come for the festival and leave before the fireworks.

Sneaky reader!

We've been letting Belle go outside by herself and play in the backyard. We leave the door open so she can come and go. But she knows that all toys and books stay inside. Well we caught her one day sneaking books outside to read on the swing.



Ask Belle to give you her "dirty look", and this is what you get.

Bump Progress - 25 weeks

First pic: 24 weeks (2006)
Second pic: 25 weeks

Vote!

<-------------- Alright all you blog stalkers, VOTE!

I thought we had this name thing figured out. But now Nic is having a little doubt. Here are our contenders.

If you're wondering where in the world Amadeus came from, heres the story. Nic came home one day and thought he heard such a great name on the radio (this was when we were preggo with Belle). Once he got home he couldn't remember, but said it was in a song that went "rock me (something)". I busted out laughing, knowing immediately what he was talking about. I do like me some 80s music. It was Falco's song, Rock Me Amadeus. I thought we had to use it, even if only for a middle name.

The idea for Jonah actually came from a friend of mine, Rhaya. One of her friends recently named her boy Jonah. And kinda going on Jonah, Nic thought of Jonas. No, not like the Jonas Brothers. Like the character on Stargate, ha ha we're such nerds (or Nic is atleast). =)

Plastic Surgery for a 2 yr old!

Belle is going to get some work done. Cause you know, it's never too early to work on perfection.

Ha Ha. We just found out at the Dr. today what Belle's bald spot is. It only took two years. We've heard that it was just a manufacturer's defect and that she'll need a far part. But we saw a different doctor in the practice today and quickly told us that it was in fact a Sebaceus Nevus.

What I was suprised to hear, is that it usually has to be removed because it could develop into a tumor after puberty.

So now we're off to a dermatologist to talk about removal. I figure I better get it done now while our deductible will be paid up this year. And the fact that they'll probably have to shave a spot on her head for the surgery. Better to do it now while it won't bother her.

The best news of all is that she'll be rid of her bald spot and won't have to be creative with her hair as she gets older.