Levi Allen Jones is Finally HERE!!!!

On Tuesday April 29th, I went in for an induction. Already 3cm and fully effaced, the labor was anticipated to be short and sweet...and that it was! At 7:30am I began the Pitocin and by 8:15 the epidural was in full effect too. I never felt one ounce of pain. It was fantastic. All morning the contractions were strong, but I felt nothing. By 2:20pm, I was almost ready to push. After about 15 pushes, Levi was born at 3:30. It was the most amazing experience I have ever known...and the fact that it was painless, makes it even more special. I could not have wished for a better experience and am forever grateful for my beautiful, healthy baby boy.

He did not take to the boobie very well, so I am pumping and giving him breast milk through the bottle. Its exhausting and painful, but worth every ounce. I love him so much, I cannot imagine my life without him.

To everyone who listened to me complain and vent through the last nine months...Thank you. I could not have made it without my fellow preggos.

XO

March 25th- 35.5 weeks- Spring is finally here. The flowers and trees are blooming. The weather is getting warmer. Its great to finally see the start of a new season. Especially when it coincides with a new baby. I really feel like this is right around the corner, now. Its all so real and so very scary. I can't help but wonder if I am going to be able to do this...am i going to be a good mom? Can I handle this new totally dependent life? I feel ready. I know I am tired of wearing him!!LOL!! This past eight months have really flown by without any bumps or hiccups. I feel so fortunate to have made it this far without any real complications or worries. The days at work are getting longer and more uncomfortable. Sitting all day is rough on my back. When I get home, I feel like I have been hit by a train. Sleeping is nearly impossible...at least sleeping for more than 3 hour intervals. I find myself out by 8pm, then up 12 or 1, then up again for good at 5ish. At least I will be groomed for the sleepness nights to come. Well...I will be here for the next five weeks...just waiting.

March 17th-34.2 weeks- HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY

We had our baby shower this weekend. It was fantastic! We truly got everything we will need and more! This little guy is already so loved. Its ridiculous. I was so exhausted by last night i could hardly help carry anything in the house. We still have to make another trip to my mom's to pick up the rest of the stuff that wouldn't fit in the first trip. Even through the exhaustion, I was still able to wash his crib sheets and make it up. Its so adorable, I just had to see it all ready. I will post some pictures if I ever remember the camera. My brother in law installed the chair rail for us on Friday, so we are almost done. The only thing left is hanging the pictures and getting organized. We have been filming "The making of Levi's nursery". I cannot wait to show him the video. Its hilarious to go back a watch the initial construction, especially, since my husband had never painted a room before. Well, I am feeling more ready for Baby Levi, now that we actually have something to bring him home in and a bed for him to sleep. Its really starting to register that the countdown is on. He will truly be here in a few more weeks! Oh shit!!! So much done, yet so much left to do. I promise pics to come... Also, we started birthing classes on Friday. We were one of four couples in the class and have the earliest due date. Everyone one else is a couple of weeks behind ours. It feels good getting prepared and learning what to expect. Its also great to just be able to ask questions. The instructor is a certified RN and doula. She has been involved in child birth for the past 30 years and has already answered a handful of questions. The last 30 minutes of the class were focused on relaxation and breathing, which i fould difficult to relax while laying on the hard floor with only a yoga mat. But, i get the point. Be quiet and breath. Got it. Well, I hope everyone is doing good and not missing the green beer, too much.

A little quickie: For the past few weeks, when I fall asleep, my dreams have been insane. They are so clear and colorful and horrendous. I actually wake up stressed out. It usually takes me at least half a day to "shake the terror". WTF?? This cannot be healthy!!!

March 10th-33.4 weeks- The days are finally longer!!! It will not be dark when I get home from work. Its the small things that excite me these days. We begin birthing classes this Friday and have two baby showers this weekend. Both my MIL and mother are having a shower in the same weekend. So, while it will be a lot to do, it will be great to spend the whole weekend talking about our BABY!! I went to the doctor on Friday because I had a headache so bad, my right eye felt like it was going to explode, literally. They gave me some pills, a little stronger than tylenol, but not quite as strong as narcotics...great. They were great. I slept from Friday until Sunday and feel like a million bucks today. I wish I could sleep that good without the drugs!! I watched a hundred shows on the baby channel and have seen at least 100 deliveries. So, while watching these labor/delieveries my husband (god love him) looks at me and says, "i thought the epidural meant, no pain" Yes, honey, that's what I thought too until recently. Do you think i would have agreed to this baby thing if I had known otherwise?!?! I am really starting getting scared about the pain of delivery...I think hubby is too. But, there isn't much i can do about it now except pray that I live through it! HA!! As for the aches...my back is constantly in pain and my fingers look like lil snausages. I have resorted to the heating pad on a regular basis and wish there was more I could do. Stretching helps, but only temporary relief. If only there was a magic trick that would make this achey back go away. Anyway, take care mommies and thanks for reading.

March 4th-32ish weeks- back to doctor yesterday for the usual heart beat check, cervix check, weight check, pee in a cup, and out the door. All looks good so far... I did some serious cleaning over the weekend. I was cleaning baseboards and carpets and ceiling fans until I felt like I was going to collapse. I couldn't help myself. I am adament that the house will be clean when the baby comes home. The only part that sucks is it will all be dirty again, by the time he finally arrives. I just wanted to get the hard stuff done before my ever expanding middle, expands again. I am eating more and more and can't seem to ever really feel full...except Friday night. We tried a new greek/italian restaurant. I had a GINORMOUS plate of greek spaghetti and didn't care that I was over eating...until about 30 minutes after we left. Thank god for the TUMS!!! Well, the weeks have definitely started to slow down compared to the first 30 weeks. I guess its expected when you can barely roll off the couch. Spring is almost here, next week the days will be longer and the weather will begin to regulate to a warmer temperature. I can hardly wait. OH, and Levi will be here this spring, too!

February 25th-31 weeks- For the most part, I have felt pretty good this week. The weight is definitely taking a toll on my body, though. My low back is achy and I don't feel like working everyday, but all in all, its still good! I have been talking to friends of mine, that have kids, and they want to scare the hell out of you with their labor horrors. SHUT UP!! The last thing I want to hear at this point is how terrible it was! Isn't there a way you can knock me out and wake me up when he's here?!?! I tried to read the labor and delivery section of my preggo book and couldn't make it past the picture with the head crowning....seems impossible. I am also tired of wearing my elastic pants, but whatever. Do what you gotta, right? We have also assembled the crib, which i must confess, i had no part in. My fantastic husband surprised me with it already together when I woke up! I can't wait to have our baby shower so we can decorate and buy the stuff we didn't get. I am really ready to meet this little field goal kicker...hurry up April 25th!!!!

February 18th-30 weeks- Ten weeks to go!! I can almost smell the baby breath!!! We went to our 3D ultrasound on Saturday. It was so awesome. It was such a wonderful feeling to see his little face and know that he is okay. We had not had an ultrasound since 20 weeks, so we were surprised to see his growth! We go back to the doctor tomorrow for the routine 2 weeks visit. I still have not started birthing classes, but we did get the nursery painted!!! HOORAY!!! It looks great. I will post some pics, once the furniture has been assembled. On a less exciting note: my back is constantly aching and my fingers and feet swell, occasionally. However, i guess with all of the things that could be bad, my complaints are minimal.

February 6th-28 weeks- FINALLY- the home stretch!!! Things have been going so fast, I am sure this is when time stops flying...oh I hope it still goes by quickly. I am so impatient! The third trimester appointment was the second coolest doc appt yet. (next to the 20 week scan) I was hooked to the fetal montior for 20 min. I got to lay there for 20 whole minutes and listen the wonderful sound of my boy's heartbeat!!! Then, he checked my cervix...closed. More good news. Everything seems to be fine. I am so forturnate this has been uneventful so far. I have hardly had to worry about anything...it almost makes me worry more about labor/delivery!! My glucola testing came back fine, thank goodness. I don't think I could have given up my pancakes or sweets!! My belly button is starting to stick out. Everyday...is a new adventure! I have been feeling much better lately, probably because the weather is changing, the days are getting longer. The sunshine always makes things brighter!!! We still have not painted the nursery, but the baby shower has been scheduled for March 16th. YAY!!! I have so many things left to do....where do i begin???

January 30th- 27 weeks- The past week has been, not so good. I am finally feeling like a beached whale, unable to sit and relax comfortably. If I sit for too long, I feel like my stomach is coming out via my throat. My feet and hands are swollen at the end of the day. I am sick of working. I just want to lay around and do nothing. Why does it go from, "I feel great" to " i feel like complete shit" ??? Seems so sudden...all of the changes. Anyway, we are keeping busy on the weekends with getting the nursery ready. The rest of the house has been organized, thanks to my incessant energy over the past 10 weeks. I am just glad that I acted on that energy when I had it, because it is slowly draining out of me. Someone said, You can't pray for patience. I don't know, I have been praying alot for patience lately. Seems like I realy need it now more than ever.

January 22nd- Today I have felt like the color of this page...blue. I couldn't even stand to be at work past 12:00. So, I called it a sick day and have been laying on my couch for the past five hours watching the baby channel...which i don't advise. Labor is scary and those shows are graphic. I probably would have been better off at work. I guess eveyone probably has these days where nothing can get you going. If not, then I just took a very lazy day with no excuse. Still feeling like tomorrow might not be so good either.

January 14th- Over the weekend I bought the book written by Jenny McCarthy, "Belly Laughs" (thanks Colleen) It was great! If you haven't read it yet, its worth it! I am still laughing about some of the things she wrote about!! Do yourself a favor and go buy it. Its $10.00 here in the US. I would have paid, $100

January 11th- Okay... I had a neurotic mommy moment today. I have been having lower back pain and this morning went to my doctor because I thought something could be wrong. Nope, I am just neurotic. Swell. The good news...I got to hear the heartbeat again. They measured everything and moved my due date up one week. So, hooray!! The sooner the better..as long as its not too soon. I am trying to motivate my husband to clean the nursery out. We have to get some furniture out of the room before we can paint. I see moms who are 24-25 weeks pregnant with their nurseries already finished. I feel like the biggest slacker. I have just been so busy with the rest of the house tweaks and repairs. No excuses, its getting done this weekend; At least the painting. Well, Happy Friday everyone!

January 8th- The doctors appointment went well. His heartbeat is strong and my weight gain is on track. Thank goodness! I was a little concerned that the chicken Mcnuggets had taken over! Next appt is Fed 4th for the nasty little gest. diabetes test! I have heard so many good things about that tasty drink!! Can hardly wait...

January 7th- 24 Weeks- Today is my 24 week doctor appt. I hope the chicken nuggets haven't added too much to my bottom line! HA!! Last night was the first night I have been miserable pregnant. I felt like I needed to deflate the balloon around my waist. No matter what position I sat, it was still uncomfortable. I can only imagine what its going to be like in the coming weeks. My husband and I are deciding on the baby's care after birth. Daycare or not Daycare? I would love to be able to work part time, but that is far away... We picked out a pretty color for the nursery called, Silver Sea. Its a beautiful neutral color that we'll accent with Kahki. I am so excited to get started on the decorating!!! Time really is flying...

January 2nd- I am 23 weeks pregnant with our first child. ITS A BOY! Levi Allen Jones. My husband and I have been married only since July. We have always wanted a little boy and have been TTC for about a year. We discoved on 8-30-07 that our attempts were successful! This has been one extremely crazy roller coaster. Thank god for my fabulous, perfect Husband. He is always there to remind me that these emotional surgers are just "special moments" and they are a result of our growing boy. I am so happy to be more than half way through. I am very impatient and can hardly wait to meet this little guy. My body aches lots, but nothing unbearable... Just growing baby pains...

I am having some anxiety about delivery. I guess its a little too early to start worrying about that though. I am trying to exercise more and eat better. The McDonald's chicken nuggett cravings have got to stop!!