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 :)