Our First 2 Weeks!

What an adventure this new life has been..and worth every second! Every day there is something new to smile about, whether it's a new face or a new sound or a new gesture, this boy has me (and daddy and the rest of the family) in love! 

Heading home from the hospital

In the carseat for the first time....he looks tiny!!

Mommy love

I spend most of my days staring at my little man's face with a huge smile on mine and holding him in my arms as often as I can and kissing him all over!! I can't remember my life without him. He has brought a whole new meaning to living and I truly love him more and more every day. The only thing I like better than spending time with Lucas is watching Craig interact with him. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I thought I knew how much I loved Craig, but seeing him talking, holding, reading and dancing with our son brings that love to a whole new level. 

During these two weeks Craig and I have worked on adjusting to our new role. Lucas sleeps a lot during the day and likes to eat every 3-4 hours and because I'm not breastfeeding, Craig enjoys taking turns feeding him, especially at night! So far he has had 2 sponge baths and we are anxiously waiting for his belly button to fall off so he can have a real one! We have also visited Dr. Blanchard (the pediatrician) twice already and Lucas is growing up wonderfully!, our next appointment is scheduled for when he is one month old for his first set of shots. Lastly, we had our professional photo shoot at Picture People at the mall when Lucas was 1 week old and the pictures turned out beautiful! Here are the best shots:

...and last but not least, we celebrated Lucas's first 4th of July with fireworks and family time :)

Hello World

First and foremost allow me to introduce to you:

LUCAS LANDON PITTINGER

BORN JUNE 21, 2012 at 11:24am

6 LBS 15 OUNCES, 19.1 INCHES

But let's back up a bit so I can take you on a journey of what my life has been the last 4 days...

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20: Since today would be the last day to sleep in before the BIG day, my mom convinced me not to come to the shop but rather enjoy the day. Craig didn't get home from the hospital until about 3:30am and he didn't have to be at his training until about 1pm so we set no alarms, got out of bed at around 10:30, went to Starbucks and indulged in a delicious Mocha frappuccino and bagels from Panera and we talked a little about our excitement about the future!...that was about all the time we had before he had to go!....I decided to then head to the shop for a bit to hang out and then my mom took me to the mall to get my haircut (finally!!) before heading to 3 Amigos for dinner with the whole family! Craig and I had talked about watching a movie when he got home but he didn't make it back until almost 10:30pm so after eating a Twix Ice Cream bar with him, we decided to go to bed and watch TV from there....it took Craig about 10 seconds to fall asleep!!!! 

THURSDAY, JUNE 21: It was a lllooonnnggg night!!! As expected, I couldn't sleep...but forget the back pain and reflux, I just couldn't believe this was it! The day that I think I had been waiting for my whole life was finally here.  At 6:15 I got out of bed and took a shower, called the hospital to make sure we were still on the schedule and we headed to Norfolk shortly after 7:20am. We make it to the hospital and as we waited for our families to join us, the nurse got me ready for the operating room. I felt surprisingly calm the whole time and even until the point when I walked to "OR 1" and sat on the cold bed in the ready position for the spinal to go in. After I got numbed and the nurses finished up setting up the room, I was happy to see Craig walk through the doors. He sat by me and about a minute later, the anesthesist said "Get your camera ready daddy and get up and start clicking, Lucas is almost here!!" I held my breath, said a quick prayer, and after feeling a bit of pulling and pressure, Craig stood up and I heard "the cry". My eyes filled with tears as the doctors cheered and welcomed Lucas into the world, gave me a quick peak of him over the drape and then took him to get checked out!...he is absolutely PERFECT! Craig went over to the warmer and brought him over to me when he was ready...we were both overwhelmed with emotions and as tears rolled down our faces, we kissed and stared at OUR son! I fell in love with Craig ALL over again at that moment and feel so lucky and so complete...what an incredible feeling!

FRIDAY, JUNE 22: Shortly after being born and while I was in recovery, Lucas was taken to the nursery and spent his first 6 hours there doing his little best to regulate his own temperature! By the time he was able to prove to the doctors and nurses that it was ok to come see mommy and daddy (around 6:30pm), our parents had left for the day and since they only got to see him through the nursery window, they were eager to come today to get their first real look, steal their first kiss, and hold our little man for the first time in their arms! We spent most of today entertaining visitors and taking about a million pictures of our little miracle

SATURDAY, JUNE 23: Last night we were told that although our discharge date was set for Sunday, that we could opt to leave Saturday if we wanted to and after thinking about it, Craig and I decided that we were truly in no rush to get home. We wanted to make sure we took advantage of the help and knowledge we could get from all the nurses, get the hang of pain control, we didn't want to rush any procedure or test that was pending, so we spent the day today asking all the questions we could think of, resting, we watched a movie and the soccer game and just really taking it ALL in...we both agreed that Sunday would come soon enough so we truly enjoyed some good quality only the 3-of-us time today :)

This Is It!!!!

How far along am I? 39 weeks!!! Holly Molly!!! I don't think anyone expected me to make it this far! Today when I went to the doctor, Dr. Dattel even seemed a little surprised! she said she was ecstatic at how "easy" of a patient I was!...and looking in retrospect, I'm amazed also, although I feel like by seeing a doctor every 2-3 weeks throughout the whole pregnancy really helped!

Total weight gain? It is official!!!, I have gained a total of 30lbs (exactly) during my pregnancy and with only 2 days to go I don't expect to tip the scale anymore!!!

Sleep? It is completely overrated!!!...right?? on a less sarcastic note, I'm trying to get as much rest as I possibly can and I'm taking it as easy as possible during the day I promise! Unfortunately the back pain keeps me up at night and occasionally brings tears to my eyes. Also the frequent peeing is getting out of control! moving in general is getting pretty difficult  so needless to say trying to get out of bed multiple times a night is crazy!

How am I feeling? I'm feeling great!! as uncomfortable as I am and as ready as I feel, I just can't wipe the smile off my face long enough to complain (too much!!). I can't believe in less than 48 hours he will be here, in person, and I will be able to kiss his face and touch his little nose and look into his little eyes and fall in love over and over and over again!

Best moments this week? Putting together Craig's "Dad-To-Be Survival Kit" for his first Father's Day, watching his face light up when I gave it to him and almost being done with the nursery (only a couple of pictures still need to go on the wall and that's it!) 

Movement? Lucas loves kicking mommy's right lower ribs and pressing with significant force on mommy's sciatic nerve!! I also think because he has dropped, I feel his kicks lower and he is putting some pressure on my pelvis...ouch! 

Belly Button? No change, still flat and smooth!

Food cravings? Nothing really although plain M&Ms are always welcome :)

What am I looking forward to? Thursday June 21st at 10:30am!!!

Baby milestones? I think Lucas is ready!....or at least he will be in 2 days whether he is ready or not!!!! As for now, his brain keeps developing rapidly and he's getting smarter by the day, his nails extend past his tiny fingers and he is probably able to flex his limbs now

First Father's Day

Not a dad just yet, but with only a few days to go before making it official, I decided to make Craig feel special today :) ...So for his first Father's Day, I went the creative route for his gift and made him a "Dad-To-Be Survival Kit".

 

SURVIVAL KIT: Eraser - To remind you that every new dad makes mistakes, Tissues - To dry the tears...baby's mommy's and yours!, Rubber Band - To remind you that flexibility is key, Paper Clip - To help hold it ALL together, Puzzle Piece - To remind you that you're an important piece of this journey, Coins - To consider that every penny counts and we need to save!, Clock - To remind you that time passes by too quickly so enjoy every second, Hershey Kisses - To help replace the ones you'll give away, Beer & Aspirin - When everything else fails...take them together and take a nap!  

 ...he smiled as he read it and I think he really loved it!!!

...And then I surprised him with a Blue-Ray Special edition of "Act of Valor", a movie we have been wanting to see since the moment it came out in theaters but we never got the chance!!....all in all, it was a wonderful day :)

0 and 0

Phew! 38 weeks and ready to pop!!! At least that's how I feel! and as ready as I am to see my little man, he doesn't seem ready to come out at all!!!!....I guess in a way I'm happy that I have made of my belly a comfortable place for him to be, but I would like to think that it is getting too crowded and he will soon want to come out and stretch out!!!....we'll see :)

Today I had a doctor's appointment, and as uncomfortable as I am with all the little annoying pains that I'm experiencing, I went in hoping that we had made some progress....I know we have the C-section scheduled, but that doesn't mean that labor is not around the corner....so I was eager to know if I had dilated at all and if Lucas was ready or at least a tiny bit...but NOPE!!! 0cm dilated and 0% effaced....not what a mom-to-be wants to hear when she believes to be ready!!! Oh well, I guess I have a little more time to get things ready and done around the house, pack my bags and get a haircut!!

Almost There...

How far along am I? WOW! 37 weeks (plus a couple of days) and LOVING IT (tired and ready to meet Lucas, but HAPPY!!!)

Total weight gain? well....I lost 1/2lb this week and the doctor seemed ok with that!

Sleep? What is that?? No clue!!! Not getting much shut eye these days. I think the combination of back pain, reflux, BIG belly and a bit of anxiety has got me tossing and turning all night! The doctor keeps reassuring me that it is normal as my body gets ready to wake up every few hours with Lucas and that "as a mom, you'll never sleep again!!"...my mom agrees :) I am however lucky enough to have the support I need to come home and take a nap every day in the middle of the afternoon!!!

How am I feeling? I'm feeling ok, just tired and overly excited which helps tolerate the discomfort in my lower back and the cramping and pressure that I feel every now and then (more often than not!)  

Best moments this week?  This week has been amazing! My mom helped put a few more things together in Lucas's room and she even finished the rug she has worked so hard on for the past few months!

The growth chart/mural we are painting together!

Finally DONE!!!!

Also this past Tuesday, the girls from the hospital and I got together for lunch to celebrate Tyffani's pregnancy (yes, she is expecting a boy also!!!!) in what we called a "baby sprinkle" and had a blast telling stories, comparing symptoms and even comparing our walks (more like our "waddles!!). At 2pm, Traci insisted it was time to go and that I needed to follow her as she surprised me with the amazing invitation to get a pedicure!!!! (or as I like to think of it: "a much deserved mommy-to-be pampering session!!!"). Of course I wanted to so something a little different and instead of picking a bright, summery nail polish color, I picked blue and asked the girl to write "Boy!!" on my big toes as my excitement gets more and more intense.

The next day, my mom insisted we go get our nails done, and I just went with the flow....another pampering session?, of course I gave in!!!! For the manicure I went a little more traditional and had the French done!.....next stop will be a haircut and then I will be ready for baby-delivering time :)

To end the week on a wonderful note, our chair/glider for the nursery arrived and I LOVE it!!! the color, the fabric and the comfort is amazing!...now the nursery is ALMOST complete!

Movement? It is amazing to feel him move and kick the way he does (he is truly a soccer player like daddy already!!!) and my favorite part are the hiccups!!!! I think I'm really going to miss that!

Belly Button? About the same as its been, it is pretty flat and even with the rest of the round belly!

Food cravings? Nothing really except for I admit plain M&Ms have become a bit of an obsession! I'm suddenly in love with them and get them every chance I get!

What am I looking forward to? I'm looking forward to the end....I can't believe the we are down to less than 2 weeks! I think I have reached that point where I'm pretty much done and over being pregnant and I'm ready to start this new chapter of my life with my little family!

Baby milestones?  This week we have officially reached "Full Term" status, although I don't think he is as ready to come out as I am for him to come out!!!! Lucas is comfy, gaining weight steadily, and with all of his crucial functions developed, he is just hanging out getting healthier and healthier as he prepares for his grand entrance :)

Once a Poppyseed, now a Honeydew!

FROM    TO  

What an incredible journey!, another week goes by and now we are only 23 days away from welcoming Lucas into this world! Once in my dreams, then the size of a little tiny poppyseed, now the size of a honeydew, our little man could breathe on his own if he was born right now!

As he is getting into position down in my pelvis, he is also sitting comfortably on my bladder! This kid is making me pee about a million times a day...and night!!!! But he will be off my bladder and in my arms in no time and that image keeps me going!

Today I saw the OB for our weekly appointment and things didn't really go as I hoped. The truth is that the last 3 days have been a little rough! The discomfort and pain that I haven't felt in 9 months of pregnancy, I'm suddenly experiencing...the back pain, the cramping, some nausea, pressure, and even crazy itching in my arms, legs and chest!

Anna, the nurse practitioner, walked into the room today and right after her usual "hello my sweet girl", she paused and said "you are not looking very good today!" and indeed, I wasn't! My blood pressure was a bit high, my heart rate was 130 and I gained 3.5 pounds in 1 week so I think preeclampsia crossed her mind! She said fortunately my urine was negative (no protein) so that's a good sign but I have to start "resting" again! She suggested I drink "much more" water and lay down because kidneys function better that way! I also have to keep an eye on the itching because it can mean that the baby is pushing on my gallbladder and blocking or putting pressure on my bile duct, which could turn into a complication! I have to watch my weight, my blood pressure and of course call immediately for any concerns!!! Needless to say when I got back to the shop and saw my mom, as soon as she asked "how did it go?', I lost it and cried :(

On a brighter note, this past week I continued working on getting things ready! Lucas's room is almost done, laundry was done, folded, hung and the older clothes put away, swing was built, car seat installed, stroller put together, and my mom and I started putting the last touches on the mural/growth chart that will brighten his room!....we also got some pictures taken and we can't wait to see them, so stay tuned for hopefully some good shots!!!

His table with his books and piggy bank!!!

Crib is made and ready for night night!

Swing is set in the living room and
 ready to soothe our little man!!

Carseat installed....check!

Zebra is ready to go! 

I can see you!

Dear Lucas:

These are ten of my greatest hopes for you, my son...

1. I hope that daddy and I instill in you a love of education, books, and seeking knowledge. Read everything! Fill your head with philosophies, math, history and science. Education is one of the few things in life that can never be taken away from you. No matter what you become, be the BEST!

2. Travel the world. Experience as many different countries and cultures as possible. Learn from them and respect them, take every opportunity to go and do and see!

3. Seek out your passions. Grow them! It doesn't matter what they are, know that you are capable of reaching whatever goal you can dream up and set for yourself. Invest in you.

4. Do not be afraid to speak up when you feel something is unfair, unjust or harmful. We are all deserving of kindness. There is no cause or difference worthy of belittling or bullying others. Doing the right thing is not always the popular thing but it will always be worth it.

5. I hope that one day you know what it feels like to love another person with all of your heart. Take your time and never rush into the matters of the heart. Enjoy your youth and be carefree but when you're ready, loving someone else faithfully and completely will be one of the greatest gifts of your life.

6. Of course, I hope that you know what it feels like to be loved by another person with all of their heart. When you do fall in love, make sure that person is willing to give the same to you. You are worth the effort and always remember that true love is an equal partnership.

7. May your heartbreaks in life be minimal. They will happen and although they can feel consuming and paralyzing, know that they are a part of your story. The hurt will shape you and it will make you a wiser and better person. Learn from every experience. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is allow yourself to be vulnerable.

8. Have a group of friends who will be loyal and encouraging. Over the course of your life you will hold many friendships so don't waste time on anyone who is not good to you. Let the lessons from all of these relationships allow you to build a circle of friends who will always be there to stand with you in the highest and lowest moments of your life.

9. No matter what happens to you, remember that daddy and I are here to care for you, guide you and support you. Even if we disagree with you, don't ever be afraid to come to us for help. We may not always have the answers or the means, but we'll be in it together. Our love for you is without limits or conditions and it will always be that way.

10. Never forget your faith and love for Jesus. I know we don't go to church often, but we feel very blessed to have everything that we have and we thank Him often. Please develop a relationship with Him and let Him be the north star that guides your life.

When I think of your future, my heart can barely contain the hope it holds for you. You are still in my belly now, but the days are moving fast and I'm taking every opportunity to be purposeful and open about my dreams for you. But these words are just that! Merely a launching pad for the possibilities of your life! Who will you become? What will you achieve? Only time will reveal those things. I am certain that the very best thing I will ever do in my life has already begun. In whatever you accomplish, you will be my greatest legacy.

Te amo con todo mi corazon,
Mommy

I'm going coco-NUTS!!!!!

Today turned out to be a pretty wonderful day!!!! Even though it started with a doctor's appointment this morning where I learned I have gained a total of 25 pounds since the beginning of this pregnancy (which sounds crazy to me!), the highlight of the day/month/year was that we got to schedule the BIG day!!!!

Our little Lucas will make his debut June 21st, 2012 at 10:30a.m.

Although I really thought that it would be a couple of days sooner (we had originally thought of the 18th), the nurse practitioner explained to me that since it was written on my chart that my original due date is June 27th, doing it any sooner than the 20th would be grounds for liability for the doctors...I guess I can see how people could sue the practice for doing something "sooner" than they should have....I tried to talk to her and tell her that from the very beginning it was written wrong and never changed but I guess it was the official document so there was no argument!!!! No matter what, the real countdown now begins....31 days until my little stinky booty is in my arms!!!!!

At today's appointment, Lucas's heart was beating strong and beautifully at 147 beats per minute and I have to admit that hearing the drumming of that tiny heart is always magical! I look forward to the appointments just to hear that "thump, thump, thump"...It truly solidifies the bond and oneness I share with this little one!!

As far as baby this week, it is all a matter of continuing to add that adorable baby fat as he gets ready to make his entrance! He will continue gaining about half a pound a week until delivery and the stem cells in his bone marrow will continue making red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to maintain his immune system.

Another Week Flies By!

How far along am I? 34 weeks and I still can't believe this journey is going to end soon!

Total weight gain? Well as of last week at the doctor's office, I have gained almost 22 pounds! Holly Molly!!!

Sleep? Not much AT ALL!!! Lucas loves keeping me up tossing, turning and kicking usually between 3am-430am and I have to admit that I'm not very good at going to bed much earlier than 11pm-12am, so I really can't complain!!!! Also having to get up and pee about 2-3 times a night interrupts any possible "resting" time!....ALL worth it :)  

How am I feeling? I'm still feeling pretty good although at times feeling a little anxious about the BIG day! Normal, right? I also feel much bigger than I look (apparently!), getting more and more tired, fatigued, occasional heart burn and crazy Braxton-Hicks remain pretty frequent and now my legs and feet are starting to swell noticeably!...again, ALL worth it :) !!!! 

Best moments this week? Mother's Day was yesterday and it was wonderful to hear everyone congratulating me on my very first one! Even though Lucas is not here yet, it was wonderful and sweet to be acknowledged as a "mom"...My mom also made this bag that said it all! and it brought tears to my eyes when she gave it to me. A bag full of M&Ms (my favorite!) with  a special message: "Green is for the inspiration you give me each day, Blue is for the passion you are showing along the way, Orange is for your warmth and caring style, Yellow is for the way you always make me smile, Red is for my life that you have touched for 30 years...You place a light in my hands that melts into my heart and lives forever. You are "Magnificent & Marvelous", Thank you for being my M&M. You will be the "best mom", Lucas is already very proud of you. Love you :)" it was so simple and yet so perfect! Thanks Manis!!!

Movement? Lucas seems pretty active although he remains shy! not a lot of people have been able to feel him kick!!! I do love feeling him move around and looking at my belly getting deformed at times because of his movement is just awesome!

Belly Button? Well, it is definitely not an outie but not an innie either....just plain flat!!!! Weird! 

Food cravings? Not really having any specific cravings, but I was SOOOOO happy to find these at Target for $1, because they take me back to my younger years!!!!

What am I looking forward to? Finishing up the nursery!!!

Baby milestones? Our weekly email says that Lucas is now urinating about 1 pint per day so we better get those diapers ready!!!! Also, the protective vernix coating on his skin is becoming thicker and the lanugo hair is almost gone!!! It also says he will be getting in the "ready-position" for descend (head down) but this child is already and overachiever, he has been head down since week 26!!! (Stay in there buddy, you don't need to get TOO ready!)

34 Weeks and loving it!