The Chaos Begins Again

Corbin and Mommy

Corbin is almost 5 months old. My how the time flies. He is such a happy baby and we are so lucky. Over the last couple of months we have been able to bring Corbin to many new places. 

For Brad's Birthday we traveled to Long Beach Washington.

Corbin and Daddy

Brad and I

We were also able to take another trip to Idaho earlier this month to spend time with Brad's family. Here are some of my favorite pictures from our trip

Lexi (Brad's 2nd cousin)

Our little family at Linda's (Brad's aunt) Retirement Party

Brad and Stephanie (his cousin)

Brad, Sally (Brad's Aunt), Me, and Corbin... The beautiful Lake in the background is not a  picture.

 This is Corbin after our long walk to Garfield Bay and Back. This is how happy the outdoors make him.

We have also been able to attend lots of fun events and birthdays this Summer. 

I highlight all of these things because these are the things I won't be able to enjoy for the next 9 months. This is my last year of school. I am taking 16 credits per term, each term, so that I will be done in June. This means I will have very little time (or no time) to attend these special events and vacations. The good news is that Brad and Corbin will still be able to enjoy them. This is so important to us, so that Corbin can continue to form relationships with his aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. Below are some great pictures of Corbin with a few of his family members.

Corbin and Uncle Johnny

Corbin and Aunt Brandi

Corbin and Grandpa

Corbin and Uncle Wayne

Corbin and Grandma

Corbin and Aunt Jenn

Corbin with Grandma and Grandpa

Corbin and Aunt Megan

Corbin and cousin Hailey

While the school year will be hard on me it will be even harder for Brad and Corbin. It has become our routine that I put Corbin to bed every night. For this reason, I am worried about Wednesday nights. I will not be getting home from school until after 10:00. This week went well, so I hope they continue to be that easy. I know they will be fine, but it's still hard. 

In preparation for the long school year ahead, Brad took a weekend camping trip with his brother over Labor Day weekend.

Brad and Mitch

Brad and our 2 4-legged boys

I hope to update every month... we'll see. Hope everyone enjoys the pictures.

3 months of life

Corbin is officially 3 months (on the 6th). Time really does fly, but what's more amazing to me is how much he has grown in his short 3 months.



Leaving the hospital - May 8th

August

Corbin is a pretty fast learner and very quickly learned to hold his head up and roll from his tummy to his back. He hasn't really had much interest in rolling from his back to his tummy. Although, as I walked in the door from work yesterday, Brad immediately had to show me that Corbin was working on rolling onto his tummy. He was on the couch, so it was kind of slanted anyway, but at least now he is showing an interest.

He has also been saying mom (when he cries) since he was two months. This video was the third time he said it and since then it has become even more clear:

 

Brad and I truly love being parents. We love watching his personality form; what he likes, what he doesn't like.

He loves the bath! I usually give him a bath at night and afterward he is so relaxed and in such a good mood:

He hates the car

He hates tummy time. Whenever we put him on his tummy, he rolls right to his back.

He loves to lay outside (on his back):

He also loves to snuggle with his blankets. This is so hard for me, because I am so paranoid about him suffocating. He also loves mom and dads bed. We don't let him sleep with us at night, but after he eats in the morning he gets to stay in bed with dad, and he loves it.

4 days old

I am in love!!! Corbin melts my heart every time I look at him. I can't believe I made it through the labor, but it was so worth it. Some people are curious, so here is his story of arrival.

On Tuesday, May 3rd (his due date), I started having horrible back pain. The only thing that helped was to kneel on my knees and lay my head on the couch. By midnight, I called the advice nurse and she said to take some Benadryl to help me fall asleep (thanks for nothing). The next day I went to my doctor. I was still in the same pain, so she gave my muscle relaxers and vicodin. Neither of those helped. By Thursday evening I couldn't eat, sleep, think. The pain was unbearable, so I went to the hospital. The only thing they could do to relieve the pain was induce labor and start and epidural. So that's what we did. Around 2:00am I got my epidural and was at 1cm dilated. 

The pain went away immediately and I was out like a light. When I woke up at 7:00am I was dilated to 6cm and 100% effaced and my water broke. Around 11:30 I was 10cm and ready to push. I pushed for a bit but the pain I had before came back. They increased the epidural. I pushed again and had the same results after only 15 minutes of pushing. Same thing happened again. The doctors were beginning to think I had a kidney stone. 

At this point, he was low enough that they were able to assist the birth by using a vacuum, so that's what we did. He arrived at 3:58pm on Friday, May 6th. 7 pounds-7 ounces and 20 inches long. 

His head had a little bit of bruising and swelling, but it looks better and better everyday! I also haven't had a single back pain since he was born.

Sleep over the last 4 days has been very little. However, it is getting better. It's amazing that after having a newborn, a 2.5 hour nap seems like you slept for 10 hours. Last night I did get to sleep for about 4.5 hours. 

Brad has been the most amazing husband and dad through all of this. He is very concerned about my enormously swollen legs and ankles, so he is doing everything he can to help me. I couldn't ask for a better husband or father of my baby.

I am quickly learning to take advantage of my free minutes, but for now I am going to feed Corbin, and then snuggle up to my sleeping husband.

Tomorrow will be 37 Weeks

As I walked into work today I realized and accepted that I am officially miserable. It doesn't matter how I sit, lay, or stand I am still uncomfortable. I got my tennis shoes on and tied this morning, but this will be the LAST time I attempt that. From now on it is slip-ons and flip flops. The good news is that I don't have to worry about my feet getting cold, cause I am so warm all the time and my feet are so swollen, I can't imagine being cold. In addition, my back hurts all the time, my hips hurt, I have heartburn, and I still can't eat much. Throughout the whole pregnancy I have been asked a million times how I am feeling. Almost every time the answer is "good" or "fine".Well, I am officially no longer "good" I am "done".


Now that I have got that bitching out of the way, the good news is that I went to the doctor last week and she said that I am already 50% effaced and 1/2 cm dilated. I know that doesn't mean a whole lot as I can be dilated for a while, but my doctor was very surprised (as I was only 36 weeks) and told me that she doesn't think I will be making it to my due date. I go in again on Thursday and I will get checked again!


We are all moved into our new place in Sandy. Well, I still haven't unpacked the office, but other than that the house is looking pretty good. Corbin's room is unpacked and setup, which was a huge relief!

So over the next week I have a lot of last minute things to get done. The entire pregnancy I have convinced myself that Corbin was going to be late, so I planned to start maternity leave a few days before his due date, so that I would have plenty of time to get things done. I suppose he is welcoming me to parenthood, cause I now have to get all those things done NOW, which is a little difficult when I am working full time and going to school full time!!! Thank goodness for my amazing husband!!!! 

Week 33

I can't believe in 7 weeks (or about that) I will be holding my baby boy. It's hard to think about anything besides that. Every night before falling asleep I think about how much life is going to change. More than that, though, I think about what Corbin is going to be like. Is he going to look like me or Brad? Whose personality will he have? Oh the wonders of the unknown. I just want this 7 weeks to pass by quickly so I can hold my baby boy. However, in between now and then Brad and I have a lot to do:

5 prenatal classes - they start next Monday
1 ultrasound - Next Tuesday. We aren't sure why the doctor wants another one, but she assures us everything is okay, she just wants to get his measurements.
5 doctor appointments - One more this month, then 1 every week in April
1 hospital tour
10 school classes - I am really hoping to get mid way through the term before he arrives
Work our regular jobs - I am working until the end of April
Move - as if our schedules aren't busy enough we have decided to move to Sandy. We are getting a much bigger place with a double car garage. We are so excited to have a new place, but not so excited about the move.

That pretty much sums up our lives for the next 7 weeks. I think we can stay busy. :)

30 Weeks

Tuesday marked week 30. WOW!! I can't believe we are 75% through the pregnancy. I saw my doctor on February 7th for our regular monthly appointment. This also marked the second time I had to complete the glucose test and the second round of blood work.

The glucose test was horrible. The first time I did it, it wasn't so bad, but I think that's because I went at 5:00 in the evening. This time I drank the "special" drink on an empty stomach. Worst idea ever!!! However, the test came back normal. The blood work also came back pretty normal.

The doctor sent us for a second ultrasound. She said it was to check the growth of the baby. She said she wasn't worried, but of course, anytime the doctor orders test I worry!!! The ultrasound was a couple weeks ago, and the doctor has not got back to us. I am hoping that no new is good news. Either way it was really cool to see Corbin again. He is definitely a boy and it appears that he has mommies chin.

We go back to the doctor on the first! That will be the last of our monthly visits, then we are on to the bi-weekly visits.

We also are all signed up for prenatal classes. We start those on March 21st.

We have setup the babies room for the most part. We don't have a lot decorated yet, because we are waiting until after the baby shower, but we have put all the major stuff in place. We are doing our best to make sure Odie (our dog) is apart of the whole process, so while trying to setup the crib he was laying underneath it. Now, every time I am in the baby's room he lays under the crib. I hope hanging out in there with him will help once the baby comes.

Now, I think I will get back to doing my homework.

27 Weeks

As most everyone knows Brad and I were married on Friday the 28th! We had a very small ceremony at the courthouse and then shared a great dinner with our close friends and family. Everything went pretty well, and Brad and I can't thank our friends and family enough for sharing our special day with us. Also for the gifts and help they have given us during the last week.

It sure was great to spend the week with his mom and step dad. It sucks that we only get to see them a few times a year, so we really appreciate the time that we get with them. It was also fabulous to see all of his family from Idaho.

We are now getting back to reality. With the excitement of the wedding wearing down we are starting our to do list to get ready for baby Corbin. Aside from a couple of cute outfits, we have yet to buy a single thing. A lot has been given to us, but there is still so much more to get. Within a week or so we are going to start getting the room cleaned out and start organizing it. I am also working on getting the baby shower list ready to go.

Week 27 means I have officially entered the third trimester. It is crazy to think that I have made it through the first and second trimesters without even realizing it. It's great, though, cause Brad and I can't wait for little Corbin to be here!!!!

Now I am going to stop procrastinating and work on studying for my midterms.

Week 24

Well, I can't believe that in 16 weeks (or so) we are going to be holding little baby Corbin in our arms. That seems like it is "so soon!" Yet, when I think of it in terms of school, I think "that is so far away." :)

I had another doctor appointment last week and everything looks really good. All of his measurements from the ultrasound were perfect and his heart rate is about 150bpm. Next month is the second glucose test. Yay for having to sit in there for an hour. I think that's way worse than drinking the orange crap.

I am finally able to eat a bit. I almost finished my dinner (including the meat) one night last week without feeling like I was going to puke! I was pretty pleased with myself. Since then I have been able to eat pretty good sized meals. As of now I am still down about 10 pounds, but we'll see at my next appointment if that changes cause I am finally able to eat.

Corbin is getting pretty active in there. I told Brad he is training to be a UFC fighter. A couple nights ago he was moving around like crazy so Brad put his hand out my tummy and Corbin kicked him SO hard! I just love watching Brad when he gets to feel him move!

The other thing I can't believe is that the wedding is 2 weeks from today. Time sure has flown by and in just 2 short weeks I will be marrying my friend of 17 years. 17 years ago, I never would have thought that I would be marrying the boy sitting next to me on the school bus. I couldn't be more happy, though!!!

I started school again last week. For some reason I think this term is going to be much more manageable than last term. I am hoping the stress of last term was mostly just trying to get back into the groove of going to school full time while working full time.

Brad's dad's surgery went well, but he ended up having to have another surgery this week, cause he tore the stitches while sneezing. He is in the hospital, but will hopefully be able to go home today or tomorrow.

My mom is home and trying to feel better!