Pics from our first week home

Matthew Garrett Lowe

Baby Matthew is finally here! He arrived on Monday, June 20th at 6:15pm. He was 8lbs and 14oz. I was not expecting that big of a baby at all! Unfortunately I didn't fall under the majority of "second labors are easier labors." Poor Matthew was not only sunny side up but was coming out face-first. After 3 hours of pushing he was completely stuck. The Dr and nurses were preparing for a C-Section and were going to try one last thing...the vacuum. Poor Matthew pretty much had his face vacuumed out of me. It was a pretty scary experience but I am so happy it didn't end in surgery. My bottom half is sure paying for it now though. :( I can't wait until the day I can put the pain meds up and feel like myself again.

Here are some pics from our big, exciting, scary, amazing day! Matthew's birth!

This is when my epidural was working and everything was smooth sailing.

After only a couple hours of bliss, the epidural on left side 100% gave out. In this pic I had already pushed for 2 hours. The Dr let me take a little break because Matthew's heartbeat was at a steady 50. The contractions were unbearable and we were so worried about our baby.

6:15pm. He's here! Daddy got to cut the cord.

Such a sweet moment that Brad and I got to share this time.

Big boy!

The next morning.

Big brother Miles comes to visit!

Just a few hours before check out. I definitely could have stayed another night or two.

We're home and trying out the new swing. So far so good!

You know pregnancy has made you crazy when....

...you do this to your cat.

I had Joe professional groomed today ($70 down the drain) because it was either that or get rid of him. I couldn't stand the constant shedding of fur, the way he smelled, and him dragging his butt on our carpet. Couldn't STAND it! So, I dropped him off and said "do the works". I picked him up a couple hours later and this is what he looked like. Shaved, bathed, clipped and anal glands expressed.

This is called "The Lion Cut." I am satisfied...for the moment.

Formally Joe... In his defense, he probably is the sweetest cat alive. So sweet that my mom wants to start a nursing home ministry with him.

Since Brad is in the field the next 2 weeks, I had to figure out a litter box fix until my mom gets here. We bought 4 new litterboxes and I am just throwing them out every couple days. Wasteful? Yes, but I am not using one of my 3 bendovers for the day to clean cat-crap.

Crazy? I told you!

37 weeks

*How far along?: 37 weeks

*Weight gain: 30 pounds... one time I gained 10 pounds in 4 weeks. Yikes! But, the past 6 weeks I've only gained 2. Interesting how it all works!

*Sleep: you mean pee? I don't sleep... I pee.

*Stretch marks: Yes, they're creeping up. It feels like fire ants are crawling on my stomach and there's nothing I can do to relieve it. Ugh!

*Best moment of this week: Brad had a long 4 day weekend. We're celebrating his 31st birthday this Sunday!

*Movement: He doesn't stop. I actually think parts of my insides are bruised. Certain movements bringtears to my eyes when he moves at this point.

*Food cravings: No, just fruit if anything. I quit soda and sweets a month ago and have never felt healthier!

*What I miss most: sleep, being able to breath, to bend over, not be so achy... I miss just feeling good!

*What I'm looking forward to: coming home from the hospital with our baby!

*Measuring: Baby measured 7 lbs & 3oz at the last ultrasound which was huge for 36 weeks! Dr. told me to stop eating or I'd end up with a c-section.

Interesting facts: I'm 1 cm dilated. 20% effaced. Baby is LOW.

Only 2.5 weeks until the big day, but crossing fingers for earlier!

Still here

Wow, it's been a LONG time! I don't know why I haven't blogged anymore. I guess I feel like facebook is essentially the same thing and just about everyone I know is on it. It seems pointless to do double everything. But, just incase someone out there is still reading this-- here is what we've been up to the past 2 months.

Our cousins Jason and Debbie gave Miles a bike for Easter. He has perfected his balance bike so we thought adding pedals would be simple. Not so much. He can't make the connection that it's the same thing- just with pedals. One of these days!
We have some of the best neighbors ever! There are several moms on our street, all with kids Miles age, and all stay at home Moms. These girls are so sweet that they threw me a baby shower last week. 3 months ago I didn't even know them. I just love military families and their open arms. We had a BBQ last week because one of the girls moved away (to LA- not too far). Miles really enjoys these kids. His best buddy is the little guy in the orange.
Our new pool. Unfortunately it has stayed pretty chilly here! If it does make it to the 70's then it's the wind that keeps the pool away. We were told that last summer was super chilly until October and then the whole winter was in the 80's. I'm hoping for the opposite this summer, but then again- CA houses do not have AC. We'll see.

Oh my goodness...how OVER this pregnancy I am. We have just a little over 3 weeks to go. Brad and I watched Miles' birth video last night. I don't know why I did that to myself. Never watch your own birth video when you're about to give birth...Ignorance is bliss. Now I just look like a deer in headlights.

On another note, Brad is scheduled to be in the field for 2 weeks RIGHT when I'm due. This will be interesting. They are not letting him out until I go into labor or until the 20th (my induction date.) The interesting part is that the "field" is always some crazy, remote, far-away location where the guys get no phone signal (not that they're allowed to have phones). Also, the "field" is a place where cars, showers, hand-washing, toilets, etc. do not exist. It's all baby-wipes and sleeping bags. Because I tend to think worst case scenario I am imagining Brad not getting the message until it's almost too late, him rushing to the hospital and showing up to the delivery room looking like a homeless person. I guess it's better than him not being there at all!

Otherwise June 20th is the big day for us! 7am CA time. I will be 39 weeks. Our Dr is letting me go a week early for the simple fact that if left to chance Brad could (once again) not be there since he's leaving for 29 Palms the first week of July. I also, selfishly, want to go to MI this summer and I think that flying with a 5 week old sounds so much better than a 4 week old. It's all still up in the air though.

36 weeks- almost full term!

Another iphone photo of our street.

28 weeks

*How far along?: 28 weeks

*Weight gain: about 15 pounds. I just read that you gain an average of 11 pounds in your 3rd trimester. Yikes!

*Sleep: 8 hours of pretty broken sleep. I'll take it.

*Stretch marks: A couple of light ones on my sides. No where as bad as the deep 3-D ones from Miles. My belly button looks like it's barely attached. I'm sure it's just a matter of weeks before I'm ripping left and right.

*Best moment of this week: Spending some time Brad on Saturday.

*Worst moment of this week: Brad and I realizing how fast this deployment is approaching. He'll meet/see his new son for a total of 3 weeks of his little life and that's about it for the year 2011. The next time they'll meet is April 2012. It's a hard pill for us both to swallow.

*Movement: All the time! This baby is WAY more active then Miles ever was. I wonder that means? More active baby?

*Food cravings: No, just want food. Realizing that the eating has to slow down. There just isn't any more room.

*What I miss most: taking decongestants. So over all these colds and sinus infections. Oh and being able to flip over in bed without having to stand up and climb back in to my new position. :)

*What I'm looking forward to: Of course I'm ready for the baby to come out... but that also means Brad is leaving too. So my thoughts are to just enjoy the now, uncomfortable as now may be.

*Measuring: unknown but I feel BIG!

Photo session

Some photos from our weekend. Hope they are not too sore on the eyes. :)

27 weeks

First family photo we've had taken in a long time!

These pelicans were so magnificent looking. They flew by in waves every 5 minutes. You could see their skeletons from underneath.

Once I sit down... I'm not getting up.

Can't get in the new car with dirty feet!