Before and After Labor

Here is my before and after labor. This is mostly for my records but figured that since you have all been on this journey with me you might want to see this as well. Plus I was always curious to see what a belly truly does look like after birth so I am showing off mine as an example.

Key notes:

-I only gained 31 lbs
-Simon was 7lb 13 oz so between him and everything else that goes on I lost about 10 lbs automatically
-I have been exclusively breastfeeding since he was born

As we left for the hospital:

After (May 22, three days after birth):

Three days after birth with Simon:

Can you believe that big thing was in my belly? He was actually head down for the majority of the pregnancy I just didn't think it would be smart to hold him head down :). Also, I do have stretch marks...no more bikini's for me!

As of right now, my belly is basically gone. I definitely need to work on my abs when I am physically able to but I am back in my pre-pregnancy jeans. And not my "half way through my weight loss" jeans..the jeans I was wearing right before I got pregnant. I had to go to a doctors appointment on May 29 and at that point I was only 11 lbs away from my pre pregnancy weight. Not bad!

38 Weeks Update

Well I wasn't planning on doing another update until after Thor came but with everything that is going on...I want to make sure I keep up with the pictures and if I do that..I might as well document what is going on.

Thor has definitely started his journey home. I still don't think he will be here much before his due date and am still hoping for Memorial Day weekend but I don't want new mom naivety to ruin Thor's pregnancy photo book.

At 37 weeks I was 50% effaced. At my 38 week appointment which was actually on the 10th I was 70% effaced and 2 centimeters dilated. My 39th week appointment is on Wednesday the 15th so we shall see where I am there.

I knew on Friday (the 10th) that I had made some progress because I was having bad, constant cramps....similar to the menstrual cramps I used to have. These lasted 2 hours and were strong enough for me to think that maybe he was coming so I started to rush at work to finish or get as much of a project done as I could. I figured I would just go to the doctors appointment as usual and go from there. The doctors office is quite literally across the street from the hospital so I figured I was fine. By the time the doctors appointment had come the cramps had subsided. While I was being checked by the amazing midwife (love her...if Thor could come when she was on call....I will be SOOOOOO happy) I actually had a contraction so maybe the "cramps" I was feeling were actually contractions". I continued to "cramp" on and off the rest of the night. Based on the doctors appointment I finally got off my butt and packed the hospital bag. Brian just needs to put jeans and socks in and we are set! 

The midwife has said that I could come this weekend but she thinks it could possibly be by Wednesday (coincidentally my next doctors appointment). While I have made progress I know too many women, including my mother, who have made significant progress and the baby still didn't come for weeks so who really knows.

Because it could really be so close I made Brian take my photos. I apologize for not smiling much...I was still cramping at the time :)

Half way to an outie...

Yup....Brian is still Brian

No baby yet but we are getting there :) 9 days till due date!

Thor and the Amazing Moving Belly!

I finally got a couple videos of Thor moving and making my belly move in all sorts of weird ways. He wont do the full on ninja movements on camera but he will make my belly look more like a water bed.

I didn't realize until now that the room was so dark...you can still see it but if I had realized I would have turned another light on.

You may have to re-watch the videos to see but there is definite movement..it just happens really quick so by the time you realize you saw the belly move it has already stopped. The videos are about a minute long so it shouldn't be that bad. Of course you will see him not listen to me and not do it on command which Brian finds funny.

Thank You Thor!!

I am posting from my phone so the pictures won't be placed perfectly but I'm sure you will follow along.

Dear Thor:

You are supposed to be nice to mommy! You will plenty of opportunities to get yourself into trouble when your born..this is the time where your supposed to be the little Angel that I will soon wish you were. If this is you as an Angel then oh boy are daddy and I in trouble!

Food is good! Food is yummy! While I love the fact that you like healthy foods like vegetables and fruits life is short and there is more out there! Pasta, pizza, bagels, chicken are all very good tasting and good for you in the right amounts. I really hope you end up eating differently when your born than you do now otherwise daddy will have some questions to ask me as he and I were never picky eaters. If anything we are too much!

You need to let me eat. When you don't I look like a Dalmatian which is not a preferred look for a human. I am not vain and I generally have a different idea as to what is considered presentable but the Dalmatian look is a bit much. Mommy does not enjoy freaking people out with her face.

If we could make some improvement on this I would be very appreciative.

Love Mommy

P.s. causing Daddy to laugh at Mommy isn't nice either.

If you haven't guessed Thor is not cooperating with food. Last night I tried to eat pasta with butter and cheese and that didn't work. This morning I tried to eat a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich which is something I have recently been able to eat but not this morning.

And thanks to Irish skin, even after a few hours my face looks like this and I am scared to eat anything.

Mom's Baby Shower Weekend

It turned out fabulous!

Mom and dad came up on Good Friday and we had steak for dinner with orzo and salad. It was so yummy. Brian cooked it, he does steak so well.

Saturday we ran some errands before the shower and just relaxed mostly.

The shower was so much fun! I really enjoyed everyone's company and I think everyone enjoyed themselves as well. Every one was so generous with gifts and their time but I want to mention some for memories sake. Daddy went nuts with Giants memorabilia. The Mara family will not have to worry about losing any money this quarter thanks to Daddy. Your welcome Mara's! Thor will be wearing them proudly and we won't have to buy more until Thor is about three or so. Did you know they make sports themed pacifiers? Caroline totally got into the ducky theme and got Thor some ducky feetie pajamas that are SO cute! She got them in two sizes so Thor can continue wearing them. They dressed baby up in one of the outfits and Thor may have to fight her for it lol. Mommy got Thor tons of overalls and cute onesies from Osh Gosh...so if you see overalls on Thor more then likely it is from Mom. Mom also got Thor Nigel, a stuffed giraffe. My friends from work Lisa and Jason got us Murray....a light up/singing stuffed animal...this generations version of glow worm. It has been a success for their cute boys and I am sure it will be a success for us as well. Ms Micki gave us a wonderful plaque that is going to go on the wall between the two photo's of Benjamin and Vicki gave us some wonderful bulldog onesies and sunglasses so Thor can be like father and son. One of my favorite things is the shower curtain they used as a table cloth. Pictures of that will come when I show the finalized nursery.

Saturday night we just relaxed, we tried to go out to dinner and it was not completely as expected. I wasn't hungry but tried to eat anyway and then got sick and the restaurant completely messed up dads martini.

Sunday was a bit busy. Brian and I made Easter dinner (lamb, Yorkshire pudding, green beans with tomatoes and prosciutto and salad). Mom and  I organized the clothes and put everything away. We have a few decorative items to do but we are basically ready for baby. And we all dyed Easter eggs.

It was a wonderful weekend and as soon as mom emails me pictures she took from the shower I will post those.

I do need to get off my lazy bum and post about works baby shower......maybe this week?

So coming up:

Work baby shower
Finished nursery and guest/baby bath :)
Pregnancy update :)

Work Update :)

Sorry I have been distant...it's been very very busy and I have been very tired.

*While this will be about work, I just wanted to let everyone know that Thor is doing just fine. Moving around a bunch and just being Thor. We are at about 31 weeks and technically have 6 weeks to go until I hit full term (37) but I am hoping he stays in there longer. And we are not much closer to deciding a name.

A couple weeks ago I mentioned that I may have something positive coming down the pipelines in regards to work. And it actually happened and I can announce it publicly. :)

I got a promotion!

I am now one of the company's Project Assistants. I am no longer on the phones and am working 8-5 which should make doing the day care tango with Thor easier. Because I am no longer on the phones I also will have more flexibility in leaving if Thor gets sick and needs to go home unexpectedly as I am sure he will time to time.

I started on the 18th and I am enjoying it so far. They are easing me into the position due to the fact that in 9 weeks or so I will be out for 6 weeks because of Thor. The person I am replacing will keep some of her responsibilities and will pick up for the 6 weeks that I am gone. Once I am back from maternity leave I should end up taking over everything.

So whats coming up?

I need to post about works baby shower
I need to do a post for the 7 month update
I need to post about Moms baby shower

I am sure there are more things but that's all I can remember at the moment. I hope to do the 7 month update this week but the baby shower updates will probably be next week.  I don't think I am doing to well in my New Years goal to update this more often :)