Brutal Honesty

I feel torn in two.

In just one week, I'll be back to work. In just one week, I'll be back to work. In just ONE WEEK, I'll be back to work. See where I'm going with this? Time flies, and that's giving me a little anxiety.

My little guy is almost two months old (crazy, right?!) and that means my maternity leave is nearing its end. I've spent every moment with Jack for the past eight weeks and that's about to come to a screeching halt. To be totally honest, I feel 100% divided on going back to work. I love my sweet baby boy, but I don't know what to do with myself when I'm not pulling my hair out in the newsroom. I need to be at work to have a sense of productivity in my day, no matter how much I clean my house, or run errands. If I have too much down time, I've noticed that I over-analyze every fuss, bowel movement, or sound that comes out of Jack. I can't help it, that's just what I learned about myself over the past several weeks. I'm sure that's partially me being a first-time mom, but I think that's just how I keep my brain moving when it's not writing stories under a tight deadline. These past several weeks have given me a renewed sense of appreciation for all the stay-at-home moms out there. Don't ever feel small because you don't get up, put on a suit and have a 9 to 5. Your work is unending and goes from the moment you get up, until the moment you go to bed. Maybe one day I could be a stay-at-home mom, but for now, I don't think I have what it takes.

But the idea of going back to work makes my stomach churn. I don't want to leave Jack. I don't want to miss one moment of his childhood because I can now attest to how fast time flies. I really like my afternoon snuggles with him, and the sweet personality that's starting to shine through. I don't even mind the 3am wake-up call, because I see that sleepy face that needs his mommy or daddy so bad. What makes it harder I think is that we don't have family in the area that we can call in a pinch to watch him. We do, however, have a wonderful babysitter lined up and she puts my mind at ease. I thank God for the amazing people in the Stateline that He has put in my life. Without the kind, caring people here, I honestly think I would quit my job, move back home and take care of my baby. You all are the reason why, as much as it will pain me to leave him for a few hours a day, I'm ready to get back to work. There aren't many jobs where you meet new people everyday and tell their incredible stories. No two days are the same in news, and that's a big reason why I do it. I hope by going back to my crazy TV job, my son will one day understand he power of words, and the impact they can have.

Okay, I think I got all the deep thoughts out for this post. Let's end with a few fun things! My baby boy loves to smile, and that makes Aaron and I melt. He's also quite the chatter box (like his mama)! His favorite things to talk to include the ceiling fan, the bathroom hand towel, and our cedar chest that serves as a coffee table. Jack thoroughly enjoys his baths and lets us know by telling us all about it when he's done. He's finally outgrowing his newborn clothes and is onto the 0-3 month stuff. I also have to brag about the fact that he really only wakes up at 3am, and then about 6:30 or 7. Not too shabby for mom and dad's sleep!

Alright, that's all for now! I'll see you all soon back on the air! You know what that means, right? This girl needs some stories to share! If you have any good ones, shoot me an email at cnicks@wtvo.com.

The Poop Post

I never thought I'd care so much about bowl movements...

In my last post I detailed some of the feeding issues we've been having with Jack. His tummy would get so full and gassy, and he'd just be miserable. After giving his original formula (Enfamil Newborn) a solid 3-4 weeks to get into his system, my husband and I realized it just wasn't meshing with our baby. We switched and all was well... almost.

I was so excited when Jack took to the new formula (Gerber Soothe) well because you never know if he'll like it or not. One time we tried a sample of Enfamil Gentlease and he gagged on it and wouldn't drink any more. The Gerber really seemed to help with the gas almost immediately and this mommy was SO RELIEVED! But then it caused a new problem. Poor Jack was passing rock hard stools. I called the pediatrician on Friday explaining his bathroom situation. He recommended we switch to a soy formula. Later that night Jack passed a softer stool so we decided to wait a bit longer before switching, thinking maybe his body was adjusting. Wrong. On Sunday, he wailed for a solid 20 minutes on the changing table while trying to go to the bathroom,  I felt like the worst mother in the world! I seriously cried right along with him. We switched to the soy formula and so far so good. I'm still worried though that he'll have one more hard bowl movement before the old formula is out of his digestive system.

Luckily, his check-up was amazing, Monday. In one month, my baby boy has gone from 6.6 lbs at birth, to 8.13! He's getting to be so big! Despite the tummy trouble (which I've been reassured is super common), he's still eating really well and I'm so thankful for that. Poor little dude had to get a shot though, and that was tough to watch. He calmed down pretty quickly after, thank goodness! I know the vaccines are necessary, but that doesn't make them any less painful for baby... or for mom for that matter! I couldn't be more thankful that my little guy is so healthy, and we just pray he stays that way.

Okay, one last aside. This post might make some of you sneer a bit as I vent about my formula troubles and how I hate seeing my son get a shot. I stick by my decision to formula feed. It's convenient, and I feel it will work the best for both myself and Jack once I head back to work. To be honest, I also can't say that I really ever had the desire to breast feed. And as for the vaccines, I'll probably have several posts in the future about how I hate making my child get them... but I firmly believe they are so important. Everyone makes what they feel are the best decisions for their child. These are mine. I respect those of you with differing opinions and I hope you'll respect mine.

I'm sure that last bit won't win me any friends, but I feel like I needed to clear the air before I continue writing posts that will likely discuss both formula and vaccines in the future.

Trial and Error

Newborns are tough to figure out...

Passed Out! Haha!

I have the sweetest baby boy in the whole wide world (I know, every mom says that), which is why it bothers me so bad when I can't figure out why he's upset. I'm blessed because Jack is not fussy, but when he is, then I feel like something is definitely wrong.

Recently my little man has been battling a gassy tummy. It was bad enough last Friday that I don't think I slept a wink, and immediately brought him to the pediatrician the next day. I know, I know, first time mommy worries. Thank goodness they are open on Saturdays! I know lots of babies battle gas, but it's painful for me to watch Jack squirm and hear his stomach roll. The doctor recommended I try using the gas relief drops for infants, and pace him while he eats. I asked whether I should try a new formula (currently I'm using Enfamil Newborn), and she said that wasn't necessary, although she pointed out that Enfamil makes a gentle formula. Unfortunately, Jack HATES the Gentlease formula. I bought the drops and tried to pace him (because he inhales the stuff) but it still wasn't all that much better. Then my mother-in-law noticed the bottles and nipples I was using were actually for babies 3 months on up. I know, rookie mistake. Now we're using the Playtex Nurser "Naturalatch" bottles and nipples, along with purified water. I don't want to jinx anything, but those changes seemed to have helped. I've even backed off using the gas relief drops as much as possible. He still gets squirmy so it's not a perfect solution, but it's a start. Has anyone else battled the gassy stomach? How long did the phase last, and what did you do to cut down on your newborn's misery? 

On a brighter note, Jack, my mother-in-law and I all went to the park Tuesday afternoon. When it's this gorgeous outside, how can you not enjoy it? It was Jack's first time out in the elements (other than running into a store) and he handled it pretty well! He only had a couple small fits and they were quickly squelched! It felt so good to get out of the house and even better to get a little exercise. 

First Trip to the Belvidere Park!

I've been feeling better and better which is definitely helping my mood. I wouldn't say I've had the baby blues or post postpartum depression, but the crazy hormones have definitely caught me off guard a couple times. My poor husband and mother-in-law have witnessed me cry my eyes out while laughing simultaneously because even I can't figure out what's wrong, haha! Who knew the aftershock of having a kid could mess with your body so much?! 

I'm also starting to get the hang of taking Jack out with me, but it's definitely stressful. I can't wait for him to be able to hold his head up because I feel like his head just hangs so awkwardly in his car seat. The hospital made sure to show me how to put Jack in it right, but it just looks so uncomfortable! I also hate that he has to face the back. I understand why, but let's be real, it stinks to not be able to reach back and give him his pacifier without have to pull over and get out to do so. What have you guys found works to pacify your upset newborn in the car? Jack does well for the most part, but he's had a couple outbursts while I've been driving and I feel so helpless! At least he does well in the stroller (even though it's heavy)! 

And on that note, I'm taking the little guy upstairs for bed! Here's to broken up sleep, haha! 

Welcome to Motherhood!

I can't believe it's been two weeks since baby Jack made his great escape!

Every time I look into his little face, my heart melts. I also can't help but worry a little bit. I want to keep him this age forever so that no kids can ever pick on him, no one can ever hurt him, and he doesn't have to deal with our messed up and confusing world. Is that borrowing trouble? Most definitely. I just love him so much.

Jack is such a good baby. The child fusses very little, but my goodness can he generate some laundry! I'm so thankful my mom was here for the past couple weeks to help out. She did ENDLESS loads of laundry and cooked for us too. Jack tends to wet himself frequently because preemie diapers are too small and newborn diapers are a bit too large for his skinny butt! Anyone else have this problem? Aaron and I have found that Luvs work the best for him, but we still end up changing Jack's clothes and sheets about 3-5 times a day because he leaks! And trust me, we check his diaper frequently, so it's not like we're letting him fill it before it gets changed.

 My mom and I took Jack on a little outing the other day just to get out.

First trip out!

I was definitely getting cabin fever but I knew I wouldn't last long. In fact, Jack outlasted mommy! We went to the mall briefly, then to Olive Garden for lunch. It felt SO GOOD to get out however brief our adventure was. I never thought it would take my body so long to recover from labor and delivery. I'm sure that sounds silly because it's not everyday one pushes out a child, but I thought I'd be back in action within a week! No lies, probably the most difficult part of these past couple weeks is coming to the realization that I'm still healing and I just can't be as productive as I want to be yet. I'm used to a job where I go, go, go all the time, so staying at home and laying on the couch makes me feel like a bum even though I know it's what I need to do to heal. At least my little guy is here and I can snuggle with him whenever I want (and let's be real, this child relaxes is mommy's arms WAY MORE than he's in his crib or pack n' play, haha)!

The love and support for Jack has been unending. As I said, my mom stayed with us since the day after he was born through yesterday. My sister is coming to stay with me this weekend since Aaron is in a wedding in Missouri. My mother-in-law is then coming up Sunday to stay with us a week. Not to mention the fact that we've had plenty of visits from friends (shout out to Nick Toma and Mimi Murphy for popping in to meet Jack), and members of our church took time out of their day to cook us dinner and stop by for a visit. Aaron and I also received gorgeous flowers from both his job and of course from my WTVO/WQRF family. Thanks everyone for the love!

Flowers from WTVO!

Jack is healthy. Mom is recovering. Dad is kicking butt both at work and at home. What more can I ask for? God is good.

Baby Jack Has Arrived!

Wow, it's been a while since my last post, but that's because A LOT has happened! I'm proud to announce that baby Jack Anthony is here!

On Thursday, Sept. 4, I went to the doctor's for an ultra sound, non-stress test, and exam. When I left, I had an induction scheduled for 8 pm that very night! Sadly, little Jack had gained less than a pound since my 36 week ultra sound, and he also had his cord around his neck. Both of those facts sent me into panic mode, but my doctor reassured me that both issues are very common, he just thought it would be best to go ahead and get him out. And so the start of a very long night began!

Aaron and I got to SwedishAmerican at 7:45, but they were so busy that the actual induction didn't start until a little before midnight! We both got very little sleep between the start of contractions, frequent nurse check-ups, and getting my epidural (which was surprisingly not nearly as painful as I thought it would be!). Once the drugs kicked in, I was able to nap and I'm glad I did while I could. As the day went on, Friday, things certainly didn't get easier. I was really excited at one point because I dilated from a 2 to an 8 in about an hour and a half, but because it happened so quick, the epidural wasn't adequately keeping up. I ended up with one completely dead, numb leg, and the other was pretty mobile. That means I started feeling the contractions, and I was feeling them when they were at their strongest... ouch! I don't know how women do it completely epidural free because what I felt, sucked! Baby wasn't doing so well with my contractions either. His heart rate plummeted pretty far at times, and so they had to hook up what the nurse described as a "whirlpool" for the baby and they gave me an oxygen mask. By about 4:00 pm, I was completely dilated and ready to go. The doctor let me "labor down" for a bit and by 5:55, I pushed out my handsome man. What a feeling. I've never felt my heart soar as much as it did when they laid his little 6lb, 6oz body on mine. Jack Anthony arrived and was healthy as can be!

Family of 3!

No happier feeling in the world.

My husband's parents, my parents and my sister and her husband all came to the hospital to see our little man and we definitely appreciated the love and support. The hospital stay wasn't the most pleasant for me (VERY SORE!), but seeing Jack's face made it all worth while. We finally got to leave Sunday night and let me just say, it felt AMAZING to be home.

Homeward bound!

My mom and dad greeted us and have been a big help these past few days. Jack is a VERY GOOD BABY! He rarely fusses, only when he's being changed or needs a bottle. Yeah, our sleep pattern is interrupted, but again, when we see his little face, a full night's sleep just doesn't even matter. He's already trying to hold his head up (which he does successfully for a few seconds! Not bad for being a few days old!), and he makes the funniest faces! They say your newborn smiles without knowing it, but Aaron and I think otherwise. Jack smiles A LOT, and we like to think it's because he's such a happy baby. If' I'm wrong, I just assume not be corrected, haha!

As for mom and dad, we're getting the hang of this whole parenting thing. I'm still moving pretty slow, so Aaron has really stepped up his game. Nothing makes me more proud than seeing my husband be a great dad.

Did I mention that Jack has already made his TV debut? Check out the link here. Shout out to my Eyewitness News family for all their love and support. I'm going to miss them for the next several weeks.

We appreciate all the positive thoughts and prayers being sent our way. Labor was a little sketchy, but everything ended up being just fine. God is good.

Sleeping beauty.

And The Real Countdown Begins...

T-minus just a few days until my little one's due date!

39 Weeks Pregnant!

I can't believe my due date is THIS FRIDAY!!!!! The bean is almost here! I have to say though, he can come annnnnny time he wants now. Clearly, I'm not a patient person, haha! This weekend, I think the husband and I tried every trick in the book to induce labor, from walking, to swinging, to eating spicy food, but to no avail. I'm open to suggestions of other things to try too by the way. My grandma reminded me this weekend that "when the apple is ripe, it will fall from the tree," and I'm trying to keep that in mind, but it's so tough when you're at this point! Not only do I want to meet my little man, but I'm also uncomfortable, especially at night when I'm trying to sleep.

Nonetheless, Aaron and I have made the most of our time together. I did a little shopping at my favorite antique shops (I'm a HUGE antique nerd), we went out to eat and then hit up the Belvidere vs. Belvidere North game on Saturday with Mimi and her hubby. Sunday, we went to church and then had lunch with our two friends and their adorable 3 kiddos. It was time well spent as a family of two.


Baby Jack's nursery is pretty much ready for him now (minus a little housekeeping)! The pictures are hung, and tonight Aaron set up his little swing. Can I just say that I wish there was a swing for adults like this one? Why do kids get all the fun stuff?!?! 

Epic swing is now set up!

My gut is telling me that this child is going to make me go past my due date and I don't think I'll handle it gracefully if I do, sadly. I've seriously been praying for patience each night before I go to bed. I know I should trust God's plan and that obviously the kid will come out eventually, but it's just so hard sometimes! What's more frustrating is that I don't feel like I've really experienced any of the common signs of labor. Did anyone else feel like this? Did everything eventually just hit at once? Perhaps my frustration is compounded by the fact that  all my friends keep posting about their pre-labor pains and they aren't even as far along as me... Everyone is seriously popping out babies right now! I think I need to stay off Facebook because it's only enhancing my frustrations, haha!

Alright everyone, hopefully my next post will be about my brand new baby boy and his arrival. Any final words of advice for this first-time mom-to-be?

Non-Stress, No Problem!

What a ham!

The bean was such a show-off at my non-stress test, Friday. The doctor hooked me up to all kinds of fun contraptions to monitor my baby's heart rate and movement. Gotta say, that was the easiest doctor's appointment ever: lay there and push a button every time he moves... yeah, I think I can handle that, haha! The way this kid moves, I can't say I was too worried. In no time flat he had moved so much that the belts strapped to my belly had nearly slid off where the nurse placed them!

Bottom line: the doctor said the charts didn't look good... they looked PERFECT! God is truly watching over our baby boy and I couldn't feel more blessed.

What gets awkward is nearly every appointment, the doctor asks me if I have had contractions...and I generally answer "no". Honestly, I think I have had a few Braxton Hicks going off what I've read they feel like, but that's just it, I have no idea what a contraction feels like! I've had TONS of strange feelings ranging from a little pressure, to pains shooting down my legs, but how the heck am I supposed to answer that daunting question when this is my first pregnancy and I have no clue what anything feels like?! So frustrating. I'm sure I'll know when I'm in labor...? Oh, here's a random question for any of my fellow lady friends out there who are or have been preggers: did you have nausea this late (37 weeks) in the game? I was one of the lucky few out there that didn't have morning sickness whatsoever early on, but last night and a few other times I've felt the urge to get sick. Thankfully, I haven't, but I have clung to the trashcan anticipating the worst.

On a lighter note, I got more work done in his nursery this weekend, and that's lifting so much stress off my shoulders. I basically just have to add a few decorative touches and it should be done (not that the kid will spend much time in there at first)!

Don't worry, the blanket will come down. It's just decorative :)

37 Weeks!

Happy 37 weeks (and 2 days now, haha) to baby Jack! I can't wait for his arrival! I'd take any prayers and positive thoughts you might be willing to share for not only a healthy baby, but for patience. I just want him here, selfishly, and I know he's going to stay put until he's ready... so it's out of my control, and that is just killing me!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Back to the grind tomorrow. Let's do this.

Also, feel free to connect with me on my Facebook page and via Twitter! I promise not to clog up your news feeds :)

C'mon Bean, I'm ready for You!

Patience. I lack it.

On Friday, I will officially clock in at 37 weeks pregnant! Ding! Ding! Ding! That means baby Jack would not be considered premature if I had him any point after! That being said, bring on the bean!

I have baby on the brain, and that's about it. I find myself hoping each day will go quickly, because that means I'm one day closer to meeting this little guy. Do you realize how long that makes the work week feel? Today I thought it was Friday at one point... it's Wednesday. When I'm not at work, I just want to work on baby Jack's nursery, or clean (that's definitely me nesting because Lord knows, I'm not a neat freak, haha!). I hate feeling like this. I keep trying to remind myself that I need to enjoy some quality time with Aaron while it's just the two of us because those moments will be few and far between when the baby arrives. I just can't help all the butterflies I keep getting!

Have I mentioned that I have the best husband ever? The past few weeks have been tough because he's going back to school for his MBA, but he made up for it 10 fold this weekend alone. Before I even woke up Saturday morning, he already got the oil changed in my car and was going grocery shopping for me. Yes, he was GROCERY SHOPPING! He LOATHES tackling my 2 week grocery lists alone (I can't blame him, I hate tackling them alone too). Then, when he got back we both worked on painting. He tackled kitchen cabinets, and I started on the ceiling in the baby's room. We soon realized that I'm not good at painting the ceiling... so he took over, and I worked on baby shower thank-you notes. Aaron also knows I've been getting increasingly uncomfortable, so he takes it upon himself to give this sore mama a back massage. Anywho, brag session over, but I seriously don't know what I'd do without him. He's going to be such an amazing dad.

My aunt and uncle were also a huge help this weekend. They loaded up their van with all my baby shower goodies and drove it from St. Louis to our house just for the weekend. My aunt single=handedly organized all our mudroom (which was filled to the brim with baby goodies), and ran stuff either down a flight of stairs to the basement, or up a flight of stairs to the nursery... what a workout! We girls had to have some fun though, so we did a little shopping! I pretty much have refused to by any clothes for the bean since everyone else has done such a good job of that for me, but I caved when I saw a hilarious onsie at Babies R Us. It took everything I had not to buy the whole darn wall of clothes, including a ridiculously cute leather jacket (it was $36...babies just don't wear stuff long enough to make that price tag justifiable)!

Baby Jack will look like such a gentleman in his new onsie!

Next up on my to-do list... pack my hospital bag! Maybe that will encourage him to hurry up and get here, haha! But seriously, any suggestions of what to pack? I want to make the whole hospital thing as simple, yet comfortable, as possible.

Also, check out this story Eyewitness News did on the "Polar Vortex" baby boom. It's so true! I have a half dozen friends popping out children around the same time as I'm scheduled to!

Ready to Launch!

He's head down, folks!

The exercises my doctor told me to do to turn my breech baby around... worked! He told me last week that he felt like the baby had rotated, but today we got the proof thanks to an ultra sound. You know what that means? This girl's c-section has been canceled! Whew hoo! I'd do anything to have my baby come out safe and sound, but I'm rather glad that I don't have to dread surgery.

My appointment today was filled with fun facts! Baby bean now weighs a whopping 5 pounds 10 ounces, which puts him on track to weigh 7 pounds 10 ounces at birth (if he makes it the full 40 weeks). If you recall, my due date is September 5, but my doctor is predicting he comes on Labor Day... how appropriate, yes? haha! So far my doctor is 2 for 2 on his guesses (first guess was that the baby was a boy, second guess was that he had his head down), so I'm assuming he'll be right on this one too. The baby is sitting low, and I can tell! It feels like he's going to fall out sometimes when I get up out of my chair or when I'm walking around. I told this to my doctor and he said that would certainly be a first, haha! I'm so thankful my appointment went well today! God is looking out of my little family.

My goal this weekend is to finish painting Jack's room and get it organized. Neither of these tasks will be easy, but they both need to get done. Then, I'll just sit back and wait for this little guy to make his great escape. I'm so ready to meet him! I know he needs to cook longer, but I wouldn't be upset if he came early as long as I'm all organized and his room is ready, haha! Maybe I'm being selfish, but I'm ready to get my body back. It's amazing how the human body can grow another, but it also isn't the most comfortable thing in the world. Thank God I have a good husband who doesn't mind giving me a back massage, and co workers who aren't too weirded out by me producing a newscast standing on my knees to give my ribs a break, haha!

I'm officially 36 weeks which means the countdown is on. Moms and dads out there, what one thing would you make a priority before the baby arrives? Relaxation? Organization? Share your thoughts!

Showered With Love Part 2: Busy and Blessed

Two showers in two days = one tired mama!

My gorgeous shower cake!

Aaron and I hit the road this weekend for food, fun and lots of family! And what kind of adventure would it be if we didn't encounter at least one snag? Well at least it came early in the trip so we got it over with quickly. Bright and early Friday morning, Aaron and I grabbed our suitcases, packed up the car and pointed it south (ish) to Missouri, but we didn't get too far. We recently had the transmission replaced in our car (that's a whole other story), but to make a long story short, it started acting up again. We turned the car around, dropped it off at the shop and once again, hit the road. Sadly, that little excursion cost us a good 3 hours out of our lives we'll never get back, not to mention it tacked on extra time in the car that this mom-to-be was less than thrilled about (those seats are not meant for tall, pregnant women). Oh well, the transmission is covered under a warranty, and after our detour, we still made it to Aaron's family's house by about 6:30 Friday night. 

Aaron's middle brother started the weekend of baby parties off with one all the men out there can appreciate: a diaper party at a bar on a Friday night. Booze and babies? Who says they can't be combined... haha! His friends donated diapers of all brands and sizes, along with some wipes and dreft detergent. Not too shabby considering most of the party goers were dudes in their twenties. 

Saturday marked round one of the official celebrations for the bean. This party came complete with Aaron's grandma's AMAZING cooking! Can you say homemade Mexican food? What more does one need?!?! Aaron and I made out like a bandit! We got several things off our registry and his great aunt sewed us a whole box of homemade goodies! There's nothing better than crocheted baby blankets and soft flannel burp rags (among tons of other homemade stuff)! Aaron's mom planned out the party and didn't skimp on the details, like delicious bakery cupcakes and cute decorations. I'm so thankful I have great in-laws to party with and I know they can't wait to meet baby Jack.

Aaron and I hopped in the car and made the 1.5 hour trek to my hometown Saturday night so we could hang out with my family ahead of shower #2 on Sunday. When we woke up, right away the gift opening began! From cute clothes, to a diaper bag stuffed with everything a new mom needs, to a soft quilt with family connections, they spared no time spoiling the bean before his shower! And as far as the shower goes, no words can describe how truly epic it was. It was a Cardinals' fan's paradise! Cracker "Jack" and peanut party favors, baseball decorations, this shower had it all! My aunt planned out the party and I have to say, I'm pretty sure she should make a living out of work like that. My entire family made it out, some of whom I haven't seen in a couple years. Again, Aaron and I raked in the goodies, but I have to say, the best part was really just seeing everyone. 

My mom, AKA "Glam-ma" and I at the shower!

Thankfully, my aunt and uncle like us enough to see us again this coming weekend. They're bringing up all the goodies we couldn't fit in our car (most of which didn't fit). I can't wait to dig into everything and get it organized!

In the meantime, I have an ultra sound this week to see if baby bean has finally rotated himself in the proper position. I stick by my gut feeling that he's gonna come early. Did anyone else have nausea and side paints in the last trimester? I was lucky enough to bypass morning sickness early on but I feel like it's been catching up with me recently. I'm also tired 24/7. 

That being said, my eyes are rolling into the back of my head as I finish up this post. I'll leave you all with one more question: what was the shower gift you received that you found to be something you couldn't live with out? 

Showered With Love: Part 1

A "Jaxx" for Jack! 

Wow, what a weekend! I was lucky enough to have a few days off, and boy did I need it! I'm pretty sure the whole "nesting" instinct is setting in because at 12:45 Thursday morning, I painted the baby's room! I blared some music (the husband was out of town for work otherwise that would've never happened, haha), grabbed the roller, and went to town! Slowly but surely, I'm making progress on that room!

I got to show off my hard work to my sister, who showed up Thursday morning as I was finishing up the second coat of paint. She came to visit for a few days and let's just say, we can shop 'til we drop. For example, the two of us managed to spend a whopping 2.5 hours at an antique mall in South Beloit! Are we nerds? Yes. Did we drop a few bucks on behalf of the bean? You know it.

The productivity just kept going! Aaron and I met with the man who will be baby Jack's pediatrician! After hounding my coworkers, friends and even a city official for recommendations, we opted to go with Dr. Baptist in Rockford. I already couldn't be more pleased. He immediately put our new-parent nerves at ease and gave us a few bits of advice. One piece that stuck out was for us to forgo reading the child-rearing books. Instead, he gave us a pamphlet about the size of a church bulletin of do's and don'ts... and strangely enough, I feel satisfied with that (also because he said to never hesitate to call with a question, haha!). I think it's easy to get caught up in all the different opinions offered in online articles and books, and to feel very overwhelmed. As a journalist, I tend to seek out as much information as possible, but even I know that too much can be more of a headache than a help. Plus, as long as there have been babies, there have been moms... and I know that I'm going to be calling mine A LOT at first, haha!

Definitely the best part of my weekend came on Saturday. A couple co-workers organized a baby shower/get-together for Aaron and I, and wow what a celebration that was! I've always felt close to my coworkers, but never have I felt more loved by them. From my partner in crime, Nick Toma, to Ms. Mimi Murphy and her gorgeous family, to my boss, and everyone in between, we had an apartment filled with folks celebrating my kiddo! They showered Aaron and I with diapers, wipes, toys and much more!

Plus, there was delicious food, and as a preggo, that's always top priority!

Mimi concocted these delicious "hamburger" cookies!

One thing I did learn from this baby shower: we all need to keep our day jobs. A group of us went out to play a game of sand volleyball, and let's be honest, it was an embarrassing sight. None of our moves were legitimate. As long as someone hit it, we didn't care how the ball made it over the net. One ball that didn't make it over though came courtesy of my husband. He thought it'd be a good idea to try to overhand serve (when he's never done it) and he beaned Mimi right in the face! Good thing she doesn't need her face to look good for her job... oh wait... haha! Nah, she was okay, and we about laughed 'til we were in tears. As for my husband? I'm pretty sure he was mortified! It seriously looked like a scene out of "Meet the Parents", haha!

God has truly blessed me with great friends. I can't wait for all of them to be a part of my son's life once he gets here. Jack is going to have so many excellent aunts and uncles at WTVO/WQRF!

You might notice that this post is labeled "Part 1." That's because next weekend the festivities in honor of Bean kick into full gear, again! Aaron and I will head home to good ole Missouri for a shindig with his family and shower with mine! This week is going to crawl by because I'm so darn excited!

Alright, for now, I'm going to take a Tums (something I keep near me at all times these days), and hit the hay. See y'all on the tube!

That Can't Be Comfortable...

Last Friday, Aaron and I got to see what our little guy looks like up on the big screen - the ultra sound! It never ceases to amaze me how much he changes! I now have the pictures from my eight week ultra sound (when he really was a bean... sized that is, haha), my 21 week, and now, my 33 week. It's incredible the growth when you lay them all out next to each other! Anyways, with how this baby boy has been moving, I was definitely curious to see how he was positioned, and let's be honest... it was weird!

Baby Jack's little face!

As the tech skimmed over my belly with the ultra sound stick (I don't really know what it's called, but it looks like a stick), the first thing that was obvious was that this kid is still breech. He was breech during my 21 week ultra sound too. Clearly, he hasn't gotten the memo yet to flip over! But what was more odd? His feet were up by his head! That just can't be comfortable! Aaron and I got a pretty good laugh out of the image. Our baby is already strange like his mom and dad, haha! The ultra sound tech said if he stays in this strange position through the rest of my pregnancy and is delivered like that too, that for a while outside the womb, he'll continue to throw his legs up to his head! She said those were always the funny babies to look at in the nursery! It makes sense, and it's an absolutely a hilarious picture to imagine. I honestly doubt my little bean will stay in that position though, you all should see the way he moves! My stomach lurches side to side all day long! Even Nick Toma has witnessed it during our 9pm show! The baby seems especially active during the newscast and I can only assume that's because he wants to show off to the viewers; a ham just like his mama, haha!

In all seriousness though, I now have a c-section scheduled because baby Jack is still breech. It's not set in stone though. My doctor gave me some exercises to try and encourage him to flip around. I also have earned another two ultra sounds running right up to the due date. If he rotates, then I won't need the c-section, but my doctor wanted to play it safe and get it on the books because he says it's easier to cancel it than schedule it too far down the road. I fully trust my doctor and I know he's not just suggesting a c-section for the heck of it. He admitted that often times when babies are breech in first-time moms, there's a reason for it (as in maybe my body just isn't built to deliver naturally). He also said that trying to deliver a breech baby naturally can be extremely dangerous. So as much as I want to give birth "the normal way", as long as Jack comes out healthy, I don't mind being cut open. Whatever will be, will be.

In the meantime, I've gone into nesting mode. I've been working hard on the bean's nursery during my days off, and I've managed to wash all his little clothes in dreft (a lot of his clothes my mom and mother-in-law picked up from garage sales or are hand-me-downs from my cousin's kiddo). Let's be real here, washing baby clothes is the happiest I've ever been doing laundry... though I'm sure that will change once he's here and actually dirtying them up with bodily fluids. My sister is coming into town this week so I'm planning on getting crafty when it comes to decorations for his room. That's right, all those well-intentioned pins from Pinterest will finally be put to good use! Does anyone have good organization tips for a small nursery? I'm not the greatest at organizing and I want to set up Jack's room as practically as possible.

Well that's all for now, this mama is exhausted! I can't believe how terribly I sleep now that I have a bigger baby in my belly. Between my back or stomach hurting, getting up to use the restroom, or walking out a charlie horse, I wake up almost as tired as when I climbed in bed! But I do love waking up and feeling the little guy move around in there. I can't wait to meet him!

"Birth and You"... Say What?!

My husband and I took a birth class this weekend at SwedishAmerican Hospital, and wow what a class it was! It was taught by Cindy Boyle, a nurse with nearly two decades of experience in both hospitals and doctor's offices, including mine. What a patient soul she is. Not only was the class an all day affair (as in 9-5!), but she was teaching 9 scared-out-of-their-minds couples, including Aaron and I (more so me than Aaron, I think). I wish I could say after taking the class that I feel better, but while I feel extremely well informed, I kind of now feel a bit overwhelmed.

Let me start off by giving you all a little bit of background on my own pregnancy story. Aaron and I were blessed to find out about our little bundle of joy way back in January. I'll be honest, the baby was a surprise, but certainly a welcome one. Nothing was more exciting than going to our 8 week ultra sound and seeing the little bean-sized being, forming inside me. Ever since our doctor compared the baby to the size of a lima bean, the baby has affectionately been dubbed, "the bean"! I'll never forget shouting in the room that day that "I'm not crazy! I really am pregnant!" because three positive pregnancy tests just didn't have me convinced, haha! Fast forward to 21 weeks and we found out our little bean is boy! My husband and I have decided we like the name Jack, so Jack he shall be (or in my grandma's case, he'll be "little Jack bean", haha!).I'm now a whopping 32 weeks pregnant! I've loved almost every minute of my pregnancy. I've been blessed to have a relatively easy experience with virtually no morning sickness and no complications. I'm just hungry and tired all the time (not a good thing when your newscast is the last thing you do in a day!).

Okay, back to birth class!

The class started off with a bit of a female anatomy lesson. Man, they don't teach you this stuff in high school health 101! I learned so much about the beauty of the human body and what it's capable of. I also learned about all the weird stuff that comes along with pregnancy, and those first signs of labor. I feel like in pregnancy you know what to expect as you go along trimester by trimester, but I simply can't wrap my brain around this baby leaving my body, and it's method of doing so. Whatever happened to the stork?! There's so much to think about just in the labor process alone: do I want pain medicine? If so, do I want a narcotic or epidural? do I want to just grin and bear it since the latter two options can often make the labor process go slower (which I learned in my birth class, who knew?!)? My instructor was very fair while explaining all the options, not giving her opinion, just the facts of each method. She also gave great pain management advice, including the goofy breathing techniques. Honestly, I'm not sure what I want to do. I think I want to hold off taking any pain drugs for as long as possible, but I'm also not a martyr to pain. So ladies, let's be real here, how miserable were you if you opted out of the pain med department? And if you chose to go with an epidural, did it slow things down to a glacial pace? I know everyone is different, but hearing what worked best for other people brings me comfort for some reason.

Later on, we got to tour the labor and delivery wing at the hospital which was awesome. I liked seeing where I'll be holed up for hours on end. I was also impressed with all the amenities they provide like the bathtub with jets and the exercise ball. Clearly we modern mamas have it good! Did you know Swedes delivered about 2500 babies last year? That's more than any other hospital in town! I promise that's not me plugging them because I've been told to, I was just honestly impressed by that statistic! But with that stat comes the reality of many hustling and bustling nurses and doctors barreling down the hallways. I'm a rather modest person (and listen, I know that goes out the window during the labor process), but did anyone out there feel like their privacy was ever being interrupted without just cause?

At the end of the class, the 18 of us got a quick video on a few child-rearing basics. They included bathing, diapering, and sleeping. It's that section that left me feeling the most overwhelmed. I quickly realized how little I know about what to do with such a tiny little human! Diapering? Well I've changed a few... when I was a 13 year old babysitting in my church nursery! Bathing? Nope, never bathed a baby... but I imagine newborns don't like it. And does anyone else feel like the whole "baby sleeps on tummy vs. baby sleeps on back" is a lose-lose situation? In theory, they could die in either position! That's terrifying! And don't worry, I'll be going with the recommended baby-on-back method since that's what's popular with docs right now, but i'm just saying, not long ago and the other position was recommended.

Overall, I feel like I learned a lot, but I also feel like there's not enough time in the day to learn all I need to learn before birthing this baby boy.

This is my first blog posting and I'd love feedback on it and all those I post in the future. I know I won't see eye to eye with everyone all the time, that's the beauty of being different, I just ask that everyone remains respectful in their posts and comments.