Thursday, January 31, 2013

Five Facts

Bonnie did a cute post today and I figured I could spare ten minutes to write a quick post with five facts about me you didn't know.  I laid Baby Axel (that is his proper name in this house) on the couch next to me and so lets get this show on the road! 

The hardest part about writing this post was finding a picture that was "sexy" enough.  I went for brooding instead.
1. I have not walked out the front door of my apartment since Friday.  Newborn baby + toddler + snow = us not going anywhere.

2. My biggest fear in life is people dressed in gorilla suits.  I hate all masks, but gorilla masks top the list.

3. I use peroxide to make my hair blonder.  Basically its like that Sheer Blonde crap, but I pay 97 cents a bottle instead of 10 dollars.  It brightens it up just enough.

4. I swam into the the wall of the swimming pool in the third grade.  I lost one of my front teeth and half of the other one.  They are fake now.

5. I hate clocks that tick.  (As I sit and listen to the ticking of my living room clock.  This is what music is for. . .)

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

January's Goal

 Totally forgot to blog this back in January, so I'm back dating this post.  Enjoy!

My goal in January was to get my apartment in order before Axel was born.  As I'm sure you're aware it was pretty much the worst year for sickness in the history of the world (probably not a true statement) Olivia and I traded off being sick until a couple days before I had Axel.  That being said, we still got mostly unpacked.  My awesome husband did a lot since I came home from the hospital and my mom helped me organize and clean Olivia's bedroom while she was here.  There is still a few boxes to go through, but we usually tackle one or two each weekend.  I'd say January's goal: accomplished! 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Axel Thomas! (Do you want some TMI?)

I tweeted a bit while I was in labor, but I tried to steer clear of tmi tweets.  No one wants to know how dilated I am, right?  Well if you are a mom, you might be interested in that kind of thing.  I know I am!  So here's a brief run down of my day:

7:00am Show up at the hospital

7:15 Get into the sexiest hospital gown you ever did see (NOT)

8:00 After three attempts they finally found a vein and got me some pitocin

10:00 I started feeling contractions so I asked for an epidural.  I like to be prepared.

11:30 Got me that epidural and spent some time missing my legs.

12:00pm Dilated to a 5

1:30 Dilated to a 9

1:45 Felt the urge to push, never felt that with Olivia.  Didn't think to call the nurse, I knew she would be back soon.  She called my dr and he got on his way!

2:10 My doctor arrived

2:23 Pushed twice, head out.  Pushed two more times, we have a baby!


Monday, January 21, 2013

Keeping it Real

So many bloggers have been talking about our real selves vs our online blogging persona.  I don't feel like I hide much, but I don't have a lot of deep dark secrets.  I've posted about my ugly picture face, how I don't know what to do when it comes to Olivia and the pacifier, how I don't wear my wedding ring and how I almost failed a class because I didn't know what a blog was.  I'd say I was keeping it pretty real. 

But this month, it has sucked everything out of me, chewed me up and spit me out.  It could get worse, but my goodness I sure hope it doesn't! 

Things that are bad:
  • I started January with a sinus infection
  • Olivia got the flu
  • We took three weeks to move into our new apartment and we're still not totally settled
  • I got the flu
  • I had to get non-stress tests done on my baby every week, something I didn't feel was necessary but I'm sure will cost us a pretty penny
  • No internet or TV at my house until after the baby comes

Things that are good: (so we can end on a high note!)
  • I lost two pounds!  (No I wasn't trying, yes I was still eating, just healthier and not as much thanks to my illness)
  • My husband is amazing.  He's done so much work with our moving since I've been so sick and pregnant.
  • Olivia loves the new house
  • Olivia loves her new crib, which Adam was able to put together with out instructions!  
  • I don't have to be alone with Olivia anymore for like a month (not that I don't like being alone with her, its just been hard since we've both been sick)
  • Snuggling Olivia in bed while we watch Cinderella for like the millionth time
So its been bad, but can you imagine having the flu and having to give birth in a covered wagon on the trail?  These are the things I think about to help keep me grounded :)

Tomorrow is baby day!  Unless I went into labor naturally before this posts, I'm getting induced first thing tomorrow morning.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Five Favorites on Friday: Little boy names

I'm having my baby on Tuesday!  And even though my husband can't keep a secret and spilled the beans about the name to our families, I haven't told you guys.  I think that's kind of fun :)  So here are my top five baby boy names, and I'll let you know which one we picked when I blog about his birth.
1. Charles: My grandpa's name.  I think Charlie would be such a cute nick name for a little boy.

2. Andrew: My brother's name.  I can't help it!  I love those strong classic names!  I asked my sis-in-law (Andrew's wife) if we could use it and she gave me the green light.

3. Christian: My husband's middle name.  His mom really wanted it to be his first name, but his dad wasn't a fan.

4. Axel: My husband's cousin from Sweden.  He came to visit the states for the first time this past summer and he was so cute and blonde.  I just love Scandanavian names.

5. Cole: A name that Adam has loved since before we got married (I think) and we've always talked about using it.

I obviously love family names!  And to be fair, Robert (my second brother) isn't on the list because I'm considering his name for a middle name.  And Kenny (my youngest brother) isn't on the list because I want to use his middle name (Hans) and he wont let me :) 

So, which is your favorite?  And which do you think we'll be using?  Hey!  If you know the answer, no giving it away!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The pacifier questions

It was really hard to find a picture of Olivia with a pacifier.  Since she was a baby, she really only needed it to sleep.
Some call it a binki, some call it a paci.  We called it a bibi, but Olivia couldn't say the "b" (despite her love for other b words like ball, bye bye, bubble, go figure) and she called it a mimi. 

Soon after we left daycare (around 14 months) I stopped letting her have a mimi outside of her crib.  It was for nap time and bed time only.  It was the easiest transition ever.  She didn't even notice it was gone.  And nap time?  Suddenly there was something to look forward to!  And she would ask to take a nap or go to bed.

She still does this.  Nap time at our house is "mimi time" and she runs to her crib and tries to climb in herself. 

They recommend taking away the pacifier at 15 months.  Go cold turkey, they say.  Who the heck are they anyway?  And where are they when I have to put my kid down for a nap?  Hmm???  That's what I want to know.

Now with a new baby coming into our family I'm just so hesitant to force any more life changes on Olivia.  Isn't getting a new brother and less attention enough for a 22 month old to deal with?  Does she need to have her comfort object striped away from her as well? 

And we're potty training at two.  Will taking her mimi away during potty training make life hell for both of us? 

I have this strange feeling I'm making a big deal out of nothing, but if I just knew the answers it wouldn't be such a big deal. . . questions, questions.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Two book in three days

I wish I could be one of those girls that is always reading a book.  I could have button for it on my blog "Ask me what I'm reading!"  But I can't.  Why?  This Christmas vacation I read two books in three days.  Really it was almost two books in two days, but I didn't quite finish the second before bed.  I think I had two chapters left.  When I read a book I don't do anything else.  I don't shower, clean, cook, or take care of my child.  I just can't exist like that!

But let me tell you what I read over Christmas!

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) 
I love how relateable Mindy is.  Like I could have been friends with her in middle school, that time of life when true friends are so hard to come by.  And she's so funny!


Outliers: The Story of Success 
This was an incredibly interesting book.  I never thought about all the factors that go into making someone a success.  And of course as a parent there are things you can do to contribute to your child's success.  I'm just wondering, where is the balance?  Should I let my kids be children and play and use their imagination?  Or should I teach them how to work 350 days a year (like the final chapters of the book suggest.)?  Just some food for thought. 

Have you read either of these books?  What are you reading right now?