First Father's Day

On February 8, 2010 our life changed forever when Leyland was born. That day he made Kevin a dad. I think Kevin's road to fatherhood really began once he knew a baby was growing in my belly. Throughout my pregnancy Kevin lovingly hugged, patted, and kissed my tummy daily, talking to the baby we did not yet know.

But on 2.8.10 I fell in love with him all over again as I saw him holding our pink newborn. Leyland was huge when he was born, but he still looked tiny, vulnerable, and totally safe in his daddy's arms. Kevin moved through Leyland's first day with the confidence of someone who'd been there before, and yet it was his first day on the job. He changed diapers, stared at every detail of Leyland's face, and looked as proud as a man can. On Leyland's second night, he wouldn't settle for sleep. Kevin allowed me to sleep between feedings and rocked, and walked Leyland around the hospital room. I will never forget waking in the middle of that night and seeing Kevin rocking Leyland in his arms.

Our son does not yet know how lucky he is that Kevin is his father. But he will. I've never seen Kevin set a goal for himself and not achieve it. And currently? He's working to be the best dad he can be.

I am so thankful that Kevin chose to work so that I can stay home being a mommy, I'm so thankful that he can't wait to see his son at the end of each day, and I am so thankful he is my partner in parenthood.

I love you Kevin!

Rub a Dub in the Hot Tub!

Kevin and I have talked about how annoying and or frustrating it can be that we remember dumb pop culture references to no end, but can't remember the essential things we've studied in school. The really odd thing is that a line from a movie or tv show can become so ingrained in our minds that we apply them to ordinary life. I frequently find myself saying (or at the very least thinking) the line "now you know, and knowing's half the battle." from the series "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero."

About a week ago, I was soundly sleeping in the middle of the night, when my sweet husband rolled over in bed and wrapped his arms around me. Feeling overly warm, and not wanting to be held- I tried to think of a response that would not be rude in response to his loving gesture. So what did I say? "Too hot in the hot tub." I know, right?? I'm obviously crazy. But what's crazier? Kevin said "oh, ok" and removed his arms. Somehow this made sense to both of us, and I even felt like I had said something endearing to communicate my message. This line comes from a hilarious Eddie Murphy SNL skit "James Brown's Celebrity Hot Tub Party."

Please view the video here for a good laugh.

This One's for the Ladies

Yesterday Kevin, Leyland and I had a family day out and about at Panera, Trader Joe's and Target. We have two Targets in Pasadena, and one has an amazing clearance section in the baby department. It's a great way to slowly stock up Leyland on clothes for great prices. $1 for a cute striped onesie? I'll take it. $2 pants? Sounds good. Anyway, as we scoured the clearance section we found an item for me. It was an online purchase that a woman had returned to the store. So, what was it?

A Bravado Nursing Tank


This tank top is $45 and the one at Target was $11. The amazing thing is that these tanks are not sold in S, M, L, XL they are sold by bra size- band, and cup. The tank just so happened to be my exact size. My exact size! Seriously, what are the odds? We took it home, and I love it. I haven't taken it off since! The irony is that this is something that- now that I own one, I might actually invest the money in, but I got mine for a serious steal! Sometimes I think God likes to provide in such specific ways as sweet reminders that he is our provider, and we can trust him fully. This item is not necessary to my existence, but it does make me so happy.

Our Son Leyland

It's pronounced "Lee-land"

Our son Leyland Carson was born at 8:01 am on February 8, 2010. My water broke at home at 1:00 am on February 7, and the events that followed were intense, beautiful, and painful. I don't think I will write out my birth story here, because it is also very personal to me. But I am happy to share the story with those who are interested.

When Leyland was born the doctor was already trying to guess his weight before I even heard my son cry. When he announced "it's a really big boy" I was filled with excitement, but I was not shocked. You may recall that I always suspected we were having a boy. So I felt that my heart was right all along.

When our son was weighed everyone seemed to hold their breath. As the scale numbers moved up and down, there was a collective gasp when his weight was announced: 10 lbs 13 oz! My gasp may have been the loudest. Our son was 22 inches, and his head was 14inches. I never ever could have guessed that my little Peapod was so big!

Leyland will be one month tomorrow, and he is hands down the best gift God has given me. In my last post I wondered what it might be like to see "Peapod's" hiccups on the outside, and now I get to! Let me tell you that they are precious, and drive him crazy. Getting to know this little person has been a wonderful adventure thus far, and Kevin and I love to pour over every one of his features assigning its origin to either me or him.

Some things you might like to know about Leyland
He tends to be a serious baby thus far. He furrows his brow frequently, and appears quite thoughtful most of the time.
We suspect he may be an introvert like his parents. When we take him out, or introduce him to new people away from home he often times closes his eyes. Whomever is meeting him will say "aww, he's sleeping soundly." But we know better, he's just keeping to himself. When we return home from such an outing he likes to lay on his back in silence, preferably with a pacifier. He will just lay still with his eyes open, but not kicking, or cooing like he normally does.
When he is eating he clasps his hands together, and holds them close under his chin.
He prefers not to cry, and opts for low toned grunts, and small moans.
He will cry when his clothes are being changed, and sometimes during a diaper change.
During his second week of life I introduced a bedtime routine, and so far he seems to love the predictability of it. At night I lay him down often times while he is still awake, and he looks around for a bit before drifting off.
He has the best hair. After baths it dries into tight curls before relaxing into a natural faux-hawk. Our little neighbor who is 5 said "hey, your baby has a Mohawk! Where did he get that?"
He makes this face sometimes where his eyes go wide, his eyebrows raise, and he purses his lips into a tiny "o" as if to silently say "oooooh, I see."

He is my favorite little buddy, and he fits right into our home as though he was always one of us.

Fully Full Term

I'm pretty much here, tomorrow is my due date, and as everyone and their mother loves to remind me- most first baby's are late. Blah, blah, blah- they obviously don't have 8+lbs of baby bruising their ribs. I am well aware of the statistics, but it doesn't change the fact that I am SO ready to have this baby. As I type Peapod has the hiccups, and it's so cute, and I just wonder what those hiccups look like outside the womb, you know?

Anyway, this will give you the run down:

How far along? 39 weeks, 40 as of 12:01am tonight.
Total weight gain/loss: 20lbs. yeah! Love the 3rd trimester, I keep eating, and just not gaining. I do however throw up from time to time again, yucky.
Stretch marks? sigh
Sleep: sleep? I pretty much wake up every hour or so, to go potty, or from a contraction.
Best moment this week: Knowing without a doubt that no matter what, it will not be more than 14 days until I have my baby.
Movement: Movement is pretty decent. A little slower, but still happening.
Food cravings: Still loving spaghetti.
Gender: ???
Labor Signs: Irregular contractions, for the past two evenings I have about 2-3 hours in which I get contractions between 2 and 10 minutes apart. But then I go to bed, and it's over.
Belly Button in or out? Innie!
What I miss: Thinking about things other than going into labor.
What I am looking forward to: Ummm, labor beginning!
Weekly Wisdom: It's ok to feel impatient at the end. It doesn't mean that you don't like being pregnant, or that you can't take it. It's natural.
Milestones: Week 40!

Giving With Open Hands and Hearts

"As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'I tell you the truth,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'" Luke 21:4

What can be better than someone putting their money where their mouth is? I recently read about Sandra Bullock giving $1 million to Haiti earthquake relief. That is a huge donation, and I don't want to minimize that- but. And (as my freshman history teacher would say) it's a big but. Various media outlets report that Sandra makes around $15 million per movie. Which means that in 2009 she made a minimum of $45 million. What's more, her donation has been heavily publicized.

I personally believe celebrity's have a responsibility to give big since they earn big. However my morals regarding giving are shaped by the Bible, and I can't hold everyone to that. It makes me wonder though- what about the single mom who cries over images of orphaned children in Haiti, and gives $10? Her own children may do with less for the week, but she has given what she could and no one may ever know about her donation.

This is a lesson I will probably learn and relearn throughout the course of my life. I am constantly trying to loosen my grip on my money, and on all of my belongings.

I would like to suggest that giving with an open hand, and without expectation of recognition or equal return is more rewarding than just about anything.

I recently told Kevin that I will always tell our children that "you will never regret buying a meal for a friend." It's true, I have never paid and then wished that I hadn't. The conversation, and laughter that are shared over a meal or a cup of coffee outweighs the few dollars spent.

Now I just need to learn to give when I am not directly benefitting from the gift.

Taking My Own Advice

On Wednesday of last week I told my boss that I can't keep working until my due date. Fact is, I'd like to be done with work already. But, I decided to make my last day before leave Friday, which is about 10 days before my due date. I had high hopes of working to the bitter end, thinking that it was the only option. But after Christmas I returned to work, and felt horrible. I am so thankful that I made this decision, and I am looking forward to having a week at home before the baby comes. I obviously won't be disappointed if the little one arrives earlier than that either. But, being my first I assume February 2 or later. In recent weeks my doctor has gone back to the original due date that he gave me, so that if the baby is late we can wait as long as February 18 before inducing. So he says February 4, and I say February 2, or the first week of February. I would really like the baby to have a February birthday, and so in my perfect world (where I control everything) I would go into labor on Sunday, Jan. 31 so that I get to February. I am not sure why- but I'm sort of stuck on February.

Anyway, I think we are done getting ready for the baby. This weekend we bought our stroller/car seat, finished the details of our "birth preferences" to get signed off by our doctor, and given to the nurses when we arrive at the hospital, and we even created a gift basket for buttering up the nurses who are on duty the day I am in labor. It is a cute plastic pink tote that includes four starbucks frappucino's, a bag of mint milano cookies, two bags of dove chocolates (dark and milk) a jar of cashews, and a box of apricot fruit leathers. We plan to stick our "birth preference" document in the gift basket just as a thank you.

How far along? 37 weeks, 38 tomorrow!
Total weight gain/loss: 20lbs., according to my last appointment I lost 1 pound
Stretch marks? sigh
Sleep: Sleep is ok, I get up frequently, my hips hurt from laying on either side too long, and I am feeling anxious about labor which keeps me awake sometimes.
Best moment this week: Peapod's little foot has been sticking out on my right side, and lately I like to run my hand along the heel. Sometimes I can almost make out how long the foot is.
Movement: Movement has slowed as baby and I are running out of room, but I "count the kicks" as my doctor instructed me, and I have nothing to worry about.
Food cravings: I was craving nachos, and fulfilled said craving.
Gender: ???
Labor Signs: Contractions are picking up, and I have started vomiting again, which just says to me that my body is preparing for labor- not that it is beginning!
Belly Button in or out? Innie!
What I miss: brie, I think I'll eat a wedge of brie after I have the baby.
What I am looking forward to: Holding my baby and listening to it as it sleeps on my chest.
Weekly Wisdom: It is SO worth it to get things done ahead of time. I have special hospital toiletries, snacks/drinks for while I labor at home, and I bought some cute socks for walking around the hospital in. Peapod's "going home" outfit is clean and laid out, and I bought a brand new (maternity, because I live in reality) top to wear home from the hospital, and feel pretty in. And also snacks for Kevin to eat at the hospital. You may think I'm crazy, but I feel relaxed and confident about my labor beginning.
Milestones: Pretty sure the baby dropped this week, and contrary to what I'd been told- it doesn't feel better, now I'm uncomfortable in new ways.