Two weeks!

12 days today! We're getting the hang of it...except for breastfeeding.

Well, I'm having some trouble with it. Mainly, I'm not producing enough milk to keep John happy and satisfied. I thought there might have been a problem, so I called the leader of our local La Leche League (an organization specifically for promoting breastfeeding), who is also a lactation consultant at a hospital in town, and she made a house call on Sunday. She weighed the baby before and after I fed him and watched him nurse. Apparently, I'm not only having a supply issue, I'm having a "let down" (or, technically, a milk ejection reflex) issue. Basically, I'm not producing enough milk AND even if I were, my body is not letting the milk through. So, great. I'm screwed, in other words.

The lactation consultant thinks it may have something to do with my thyroid and inhibiting the level of oxytocin (affectionately known as the "cuddle hormone" Isn't that just so effing cute you could vomit and possibly throw things around the room in a massive rage?). Fantastic. That explains why I can be a raving lunatic beyotch sometimes. Hey, don't blame me because I'm mean--I DON'T MAKE THE FREAKING CUDDLE HORMONE.

Sunday was rough. I tried breastfeeding him, which, poor thing, he just nurses and nurses happily along, not knowing how different it all could be. Then...THEN, we try a bottle with some expressed breast milk. And he spits it all up and his sweet little face gets all red and he starts wailing. So, we try a bottle with an ounce of formula. Same thing. Oh.my.god. Talk about feeling like the worst mother on the planet. I was so upset, it brings tears to my eyes even thinking about it. I was inconsolable. Then, Sunday night, I try to breastfeed again and I cry throughout the whole thing, just apologizing to Johnathon over and over again because I KNEW I wasn't producing enough. I gave up the ghost on Monday night when I gave him his first full bottle of formula. And cried and cried again. Brutal.

BUT!!! It's Thursday now and I'm feeling alright! So, um, that previous part of the post was written in a kinda dark place. I'm much better today, even though it's only two days later. Johnathon has regained his birth weight and then some and it's all due to the fact we're actually feeding him now and he's getting full. So, huge difference. I'm still giving breastfeeding a good try--I'm pumping still and hell yeah(!), I pumped two ounces TWICE today. For reference, before I would pump for about 20 minutes and get anywhere from a half an ounce to an ounce, total. As in, from BOTH boobies. Yeah--not a whole lot. Two ounces still isn't a lot, but it's enough for a good feeding.

But, my baby is still bringing the cute:

He's sleeping better and he's getting a smidge better at the whole day/night thing.

10 days old!!

Baby Johnathon is 10 whole days old. Where has the time gone????? I DO NOT WANT TIME TO BE FLYING BY THIS FAST.

He's so little and cute. Here are some pictures

But, he is definitely mixing up his days and his nights. John is a champion napper during the day--three hours at a stretch is a piece of cake for him. At night, not so much. He's up all the time. He just wants to eat and be held, sleep is not an option. I met with a lactation consultant today and I am having some issues with milk supply, so the fact that I can't keep him full enough also plays into the lack of sleeping at night. We're working on it, though!

My mom and dad have been here since last week and I swear, I don't know what I would have done without them. This week, Sister also came to visit and, again, I do not know how I am going to manage on my own. I've also had a couple of issues healing from labor, so my movements have been slow (today, I feel great, though!). All of my family has been so supportive of me getting as much sleep as I can and moving as little I can. But, being me, staying in one place or in bed all day is impossible. I have to get up and move around, even though it bugs my mom beyond her limit.

Ok--I've spent enough time away from my little. I'll update again later...

He's here!!

I have been kinda busy the past week, so I am really, really late in posting, but

Johnathon Davies is here!!

He was born Thursday, March 18 at 7:30 a.m.. He weighed 7 pounds, 9 oz and was 20.9 inches long.

There will be pictures and more details to come, but for now, Craig and I are simply and absolutely in love with our little man. He's perfect and more than we could ever wish or hope for. He's health, strong, and all around wonderful. We had our first pediatrician appointment today and Johnathon is still doing well. He isn't back up to his birthweight yet, but he's eating well, so we're not concerned. He's doing a great job sleeping at night (and during the day). We're still working on him figuring out day and night.

My family is here to help out, but somehow, even with all the help, my free time is spent just staring at my sweet little boy. :) Can't help it. But, there are TONS of pictures and video that Daddy and Mommy have taken, so they WILL be posted soon. He's a beautiful, beautiful baby, even if I do say so myself. (And he totally looks like Craig.)

I ended up not needing an induction!!! I went into active labor late on St. Patrick's Day and delivered 30 minutes after my scheduled induction! I was really happy to have the birth experience that I wanted. I'm doing well--some aches and pains, but nothing out of the ordinary after birth pains.

More to come...

March, it is

First let me brag about my wonderful husband/babydaddy.

We have a pregnancy journal called The Belly Book. It's a week by week journal of my pregnancy. Almost every week, we've taken a picture of me and the bump and I've written a little summary of the week. Craig sometimes contributes.

This morning, I get out The Belly Book and turn to Week 38 and here is what I see:

"So, I know I haven't been writing in the book as much as I should have but I have been thinking about you constantly. We're all really excited to meet you. Not too long to go now! Love Dad"

Commence crying. AGAIN. I don't say it enough and when you hear us talk, we are so sarcastic to each other that some people have sat and stared at us, but, I really have married such an amazing man and sometimes I just can't believe my luck.

Onto Baby news. I don't think I've mentioned this before, but my doctor is going out of town on my due date. This is not new to us--the doc let us know on our first visit this was going to happen (well, sort of. He first said it was the week I was due, then he said it was the week after, then he reconfirmed that it WAS the week I was due). At the time, I really didn't think it was a big deal because the baby has always measured ahead of time, so I have convinced myself he's coming early. No need to worry about it, doc, he'll come before then!!!

Fast forward to now. Well, it's getting to be crunch time and the doctor has given me the option of elective induction or just wait until I go into labor spontaneously. I may watch too many movies, but I was looking forward to the whole, "Honey, let's go. I'm in labor" drive to the hospital. So, induction wasn't REALLY what I wanted. But, the practical, planner, Type A side of me says fantastic!! If we have an induction, we are prepared for it.

Right now, I'm really hoping I DO go into labor on my own, but I think I've wrapped my head around an induction as well. You may be wondering why it matters. Well, with all the changes that we have had during this pregnancy (the move to Cincy, the house hunt, first baby, little support system in town), I think it would mean a lot of me to have the doctor that I have established a relationship with to deliver the baby. It may not mean a lot to HIM, but I think I would be more comfortable and relaxed knowing who was going to deliver, rather than just some stranger coming in. **I should add that my OB is a single practice. It's just him--he's not part of a group.

I know there are risks involved, but the people I know personally who have been induced have had great experiences.

Craig is coming with me to my appointment on Monday, so we'll be able to ask all the questions we have right now and if we feel comfortable with induction, then D-Day begins March 18 at 7 a.m. For those of you who do not have immediate access to a calendar, THAT IS ONE WEEK EXACTLY FROM TODAY.

I'm still hoping that I do go into labor on my own, but if nothing else, we will have a baby in one week. Wow.

A 38 week picture:

In other news, we're making friends!!!!! Our next door neighbors have been utterly fantastic in welcoming us to the area and really making us feel so comfortable here. They are the kind of neighbors you hope to get when you move into a new house. Last night, we had another couple over for dinner as well and they were very nice, too!! I am just so happy that we've started to meet people!

Holy Crap

It's March, y'all.

MARCH, I say!!!

As in, March 22 is my due date. As in, THIS is the month I give birth. As in, I'm going to be a mommy THIS MONTH.

Here's what Johnathon thinks
You and me both, buddy.
And, Happy 30th Birthday to my neighbor and new friend, Joe. Johnathon is also horrified you are so old :)