We had a delicious chicken dish tonight that I must share! This recipe came from Food Network and I found it in the "healthy dish" section. Here we go...
Chicken Zucchini Alfredo
1 lb pasta (I used a tomato, spinach, carrot pasta and it was yummy)
3-4 chicken breasts
2 zucchini
2 cloves garlic
2 tbsp oil
1 tbsp all purpose flour
1 cup low fat milk
1/2 cup non fat evaporated milk
3/4 cup parmesan cheese
Alrighty, cook your chicken however you wish. We seasoned ours with McCormick's Montreal Grill Mates and grilled it. We also just used 3 chicken breasts. Chicken annoys me. It annoys me that they sell chicken breasts in packs of 3. Therefore, we used 3 in our recipe. Silly chicken packagers.Ok, so cook your chicken and cut into small strips or bite size pieces.
Cook the pasta according to directions. While pasta is cooking, Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet. Add 1 clove garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Add zucchini, cover with a lid, and cook until tender. We cut our zucchini into small strips for easy eating...and it cooked quickly. Once the zucchini is tender, remove from skillet. In the same skillet, if you want to decrease the number of dishes, heat the remaining tbsp of oil. Whisk milk and flour together in a separate bowl. Add remaining garlic to the oil and saute for about 30 seconds. Add milk and flour mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and stir for about 2 minutes. Add evaporated milk and cheese. Stir until cheese is melted. Add pasta, zucchini, and chicken and mix. Voila!
Coming soon to a blog near you....Hayes's 4 month pictures! Our baby is growing so fast. Which is weird since he told me he was going to stay tiny for forever...
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Monster Baby Blog!
Warning...if you are one of my few male readers, Dad and Scott, you probably will want to skip this post.
Does it seem like everyone and their sister is pregnant these days? My sister actually is pregnant:) With so many first time mommy friends out there, I thought I would do a post of my reviews on baby products. Now keep in mind, every baby is different and every baby has different needs and preferences. Let this be a guide in your decision making process as you attempt to prepare for motherhood, the best adventure ever!
Just an FYI, I am not getting any form of payment for these reviews:)
Blankets/Swaddle Blankets
Our hands down most favorite blankets are these Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets. They are available at Babies R Us or Target and are worth every penny. We were lucky enough to get several sets as gifts. We actually have 12 total now. I leave a few at daycare and the rest stay here. These blankets are lightweight and can be used for swaddling (obviously), tummy time, nursing, covering the car seat when walking outside or in the doctor's office around sick kids, etc. We tried a sleep sack and to say Hayes hated it would be an understatement. Not every baby likes swaddling, which is why I like these blankets. They make swaddling super easy, but I use them for more than just swaddling.
We use some heavier blankets to cover Hayes at night, but that is really it. I don't think we have used a single receiving blanket since he was born.
Nursing/Feeding Supplies
So breastfeeding Hayes has been the most challenging thing I have ever done. It was more challenging then actually giving birth. But, we have mastered it and Hayes is still getting only breastmilk. (I pump during the day for bottles at daycare and nurse him when we are at home.) I could write an entire book on breastfeeding, but I won't. I am more than happy to answer questions though! We faced lots of challenges in the first month and overcame them all! So for moms who are breastfeeding, these are my must haves:
A nursing sleep bra! These bras are super comfortable and easy to feed baby with. It was all I wore for the first 2 months. Medela makes one, but they run pretty small. I have a Motherhood Maternity one I like also. I still wear these at night.
Nursing pads! I used Lansinoh disposable pads for the first few months and wore them often, because I was leaking often:) Now, I use washable ones and I only have to wear them at night.
Nursing tanks! I ordered a few from Gap before Hayes came, and I'm glad I had them to wear right away. This one is my favorite and it came from Gap. It is super easy to manage for feedings, no clips to mess with. It is also easy to wear out. I would throw it on with my second trimester maternity jeans, also from Gap, a sweater, and a pair of flats, and look kinda presentable....for a sleep-deprived new mommy.
Pump Pump! I have a Medela pump and I love it. It is one of the more expensive models, but I am getting my money's worth. I pump 2-3 times everyday and plan on continuing until Hayes is 1, so having a nice pump is totally worth the money for me. I have also heard good things about the Avent pump. Recommendation...get to know your pump before your milk comes in. It will make things slightly easier to manage:) Make sure you have bags or bottles for freezer storage! All Medela products come with instructions for storing, freezing, thawing, etc.
Nursing Cover! I have a few from Udder Covers, but I recently purchased a Balboa Baby cover that I really like. I also use these everyday when I pump at work. It is important to find one you feel comfortable with. The Balboa Baby cover feels like it covers me better.
Nipple Shield...awkward, I know...which is why I told men not to read:) Hayes had difficulty latching at first. We had to supplement with formula at first and his frenulum needed clipped, so nursing was really challenging for a while. One of Ryan's cousins suggested a nipple shield and it saved our lives. Medela makes one and it is available at Babies R Us and Target. I believe hospitals have them too, although a hardcore lactation consultant might not give you one. This thin piece of silicone makes latching easier for the baby. We used one for about 3 weeks and it was very easy for me to wean Hayes off of it. The shield got us through the first few weeks when he wasn't sure what he was doing...and neither was I:) Just so you know, a good latch is important! A bad latch can lead to mastitis, which is no fun, trust me.
Bottles! This is a tough one...every baby is so different. It is best to buy 1 bottle to make sure baby likes it before you invest in a collection. We started off with Avent and Hayes did not do well with those. We also tried Medela and he kept on sucking the nipples so hard they would become inverted. We now use Dr. Brown's for daycare and I am very happy with them.
Car Seat/Stroller
We have a Chicco Cortina Travel System. I love our carseat and stroller! My only complaint is that the carseat does not have a slot for buggys (or shopping carts if you are not from LA). It sits in the buggy, I just get nervous and want to hold it the entire time we are in the store. Our set came from Babies R Us.
Baby Gear
Baby Sling. I love love love my baby sling from Balboa Baby. I feel like Hayes is so safe and secure in it. I didn't start using one with Hayes until he was about 3 months old. I tried out my SIL's first and decided I had to have one. I actually found mine for $20 at TJMaxx! They are also available online. Check out Balboa Baby for details.
Nap Nanny. We ordered this because Hayes had pretty bad reflux until he was almost 3 months old and couldn't sleep laying flat. I like that this has a cover that can be removed and washed. It is nice to sit him in while I am eating or getting dressed. However, the Lamb Seat mentioned below works for that too. You are not supposed to use a Nap Nanny in a Pack N Play or crib. Babies can flop the top half of their bodies over the edge and potentially get stuck if the Nap Nanny is up against something. This still happens even if they are strapped in. I woke up multiple times during the night to find Hayes hanging over the edge of his. I always kept it on the floor next to our bed. If you know someone who has one, see if you can try it out before you buy your own. I like it, but I don't think we got our money's worth. They run around $120 and we got ours from Babies R Us.
Infant Seat. Seats like this are fantastic! Hayes slept in this lamb seat until he was about 3 months old. When he was 2 months old, we put the lamb seat in his crib. We never had to worry about him dangling over the edge with this one. We used it for sleeping and hanging out. We also took it with us for Hayes to sleep in when we went to visit family. And FYI, the cover is washable! We got this one from Babies R Us.
Diaper Genie. I have heard mixed reviews on these, but we love ours!
Pack N Play. We got this model because we thought we would use it as a bassinet when Hayes was first born. Due to reflux, it did not get used that way. Maybe our next baby will be able to sleep in it though. I do love it now. We have taken the top tray out and it is great to put Hayes in while I am cooking or getting ready. I know we will use it more when he becomes more mobile. Again...Babies R Us.
Bibs and Burpies. You can't have enough of these. Want some fun ones? I happen to have made most of Hayes's burpies and bibs...and I would be happy to make some for you! Email me at eppske@gmail.com or comment on this post to place your order.
Paci Strap. We waited way too long to get one of these. I don't know why. Every time Hayes spit his paci out, which was often, it would hit the floor. These will save so many trips to the sink. Or moments in public where your only paci hits the ground and your child is screaming. These are at Babies R Us and Target.
Bumbo Chair. We love our Bumbo! Right now, Hayes just plays in his. I know my sister-in-law also uses hers for some of Landen's feedings when they are away from home.
Diapers
We are a Pampers family. Maybe it's something about little boys, maybe it's my little boy, but no other diaper cut it when he was a newborn. He peed out of every single Huggies he wore...which made for lots of laundry. Now that he is in size 1 diapers, Huggies snugglers aren't so bad. We still prefer Pampers though!
Baby Clothes
We didn't have a ton of clothes when Hayes was first born since we didn't know his gender. We had lots of these shirts though and it was pretty much all he wore. These were nice because we felt like we were going to break him and these shirts don't have to be pulled over the head. Zip up sleepers are also wonderful! I thought Hayes would be in 0-3 month clothes right away, especially since he was almost 9 lbs at birth. He actually stayed in newborn clothes until he was 5 weeks old. You never know how fast or slow your baby will grow!
Maternity clothes for before and after baby
I ordered my maternity jeans from Gap and loved them. I had to order mine in Long and not many places had that option. For my first two trimesters, I wore their "no-panel" pants. These are stretchy in the front and have an elastic band in the back for your expanding body. They were sooo comfortable. They were also perfect for right after Hayes was born. For my third trimester, I ordered a pair of their full panel jeans for a more comfortable option.
Holy Yoga Pants! I lived in yoga pants during my pregnancy. I usually wear scrubs to work, but at a certain point my pants were uncomfortable. So I wore yoga pants to work. And to the store. And to the doctor. And to see friends. I especially loved having these after Hayes was born. They were so comfortable and held in my after baby tummy really well. I wore regular yoga pants from JCPenney.
I also lived in these stretchy maternity tanks made by Be Maternity at Target. They were great for wearing under tops to avoid people seeing the bottom of my belly. I actually still wear these tanks everyday. I really don't like many nursing tops, so I wear a regular shirt with one of these underneath. When it is time to pump or feed, I pull my top shirt up and the tank down. I have a Bella Band, but I didn't use it much. It never stayed in place on me. These tanks were long enough that I could pull them down over any pants I didn't want to button.
Whew! What a post! I hope it helps guide all of my mommy-to-be friends! Remember, every baby and every mommy are different. What worked for us might not work for you. I welcome all questions!
Images from Babies R Us, Wal-Mart, Balboa Baby, Gap, and Be Maternity
Does it seem like everyone and their sister is pregnant these days? My sister actually is pregnant:) With so many first time mommy friends out there, I thought I would do a post of my reviews on baby products. Now keep in mind, every baby is different and every baby has different needs and preferences. Let this be a guide in your decision making process as you attempt to prepare for motherhood, the best adventure ever!
Just an FYI, I am not getting any form of payment for these reviews:)
Blankets/Swaddle Blankets
Our hands down most favorite blankets are these Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets. They are available at Babies R Us or Target and are worth every penny. We were lucky enough to get several sets as gifts. We actually have 12 total now. I leave a few at daycare and the rest stay here. These blankets are lightweight and can be used for swaddling (obviously), tummy time, nursing, covering the car seat when walking outside or in the doctor's office around sick kids, etc. We tried a sleep sack and to say Hayes hated it would be an understatement. Not every baby likes swaddling, which is why I like these blankets. They make swaddling super easy, but I use them for more than just swaddling.
We use some heavier blankets to cover Hayes at night, but that is really it. I don't think we have used a single receiving blanket since he was born.
Nursing/Feeding Supplies
So breastfeeding Hayes has been the most challenging thing I have ever done. It was more challenging then actually giving birth. But, we have mastered it and Hayes is still getting only breastmilk. (I pump during the day for bottles at daycare and nurse him when we are at home.) I could write an entire book on breastfeeding, but I won't. I am more than happy to answer questions though! We faced lots of challenges in the first month and overcame them all! So for moms who are breastfeeding, these are my must haves:
A nursing sleep bra! These bras are super comfortable and easy to feed baby with. It was all I wore for the first 2 months. Medela makes one, but they run pretty small. I have a Motherhood Maternity one I like also. I still wear these at night.
Nursing pads! I used Lansinoh disposable pads for the first few months and wore them often, because I was leaking often:) Now, I use washable ones and I only have to wear them at night.
Nursing tanks! I ordered a few from Gap before Hayes came, and I'm glad I had them to wear right away. This one is my favorite and it came from Gap. It is super easy to manage for feedings, no clips to mess with. It is also easy to wear out. I would throw it on with my second trimester maternity jeans, also from Gap, a sweater, and a pair of flats, and look kinda presentable....for a sleep-deprived new mommy.
Pump Pump! I have a Medela pump and I love it. It is one of the more expensive models, but I am getting my money's worth. I pump 2-3 times everyday and plan on continuing until Hayes is 1, so having a nice pump is totally worth the money for me. I have also heard good things about the Avent pump. Recommendation...get to know your pump before your milk comes in. It will make things slightly easier to manage:) Make sure you have bags or bottles for freezer storage! All Medela products come with instructions for storing, freezing, thawing, etc.
Nursing Cover! I have a few from Udder Covers, but I recently purchased a Balboa Baby cover that I really like. I also use these everyday when I pump at work. It is important to find one you feel comfortable with. The Balboa Baby cover feels like it covers me better.
Nipple Shield...awkward, I know...which is why I told men not to read:) Hayes had difficulty latching at first. We had to supplement with formula at first and his frenulum needed clipped, so nursing was really challenging for a while. One of Ryan's cousins suggested a nipple shield and it saved our lives. Medela makes one and it is available at Babies R Us and Target. I believe hospitals have them too, although a hardcore lactation consultant might not give you one. This thin piece of silicone makes latching easier for the baby. We used one for about 3 weeks and it was very easy for me to wean Hayes off of it. The shield got us through the first few weeks when he wasn't sure what he was doing...and neither was I:) Just so you know, a good latch is important! A bad latch can lead to mastitis, which is no fun, trust me.
Bottles! This is a tough one...every baby is so different. It is best to buy 1 bottle to make sure baby likes it before you invest in a collection. We started off with Avent and Hayes did not do well with those. We also tried Medela and he kept on sucking the nipples so hard they would become inverted. We now use Dr. Brown's for daycare and I am very happy with them.
Car Seat/Stroller
We have a Chicco Cortina Travel System. I love our carseat and stroller! My only complaint is that the carseat does not have a slot for buggys (or shopping carts if you are not from LA). It sits in the buggy, I just get nervous and want to hold it the entire time we are in the store. Our set came from Babies R Us.
Baby Gear
Baby Sling. I love love love my baby sling from Balboa Baby. I feel like Hayes is so safe and secure in it. I didn't start using one with Hayes until he was about 3 months old. I tried out my SIL's first and decided I had to have one. I actually found mine for $20 at TJMaxx! They are also available online. Check out Balboa Baby for details.
Infant Seat. Seats like this are fantastic! Hayes slept in this lamb seat until he was about 3 months old. When he was 2 months old, we put the lamb seat in his crib. We never had to worry about him dangling over the edge with this one. We used it for sleeping and hanging out. We also took it with us for Hayes to sleep in when we went to visit family. And FYI, the cover is washable! We got this one from Babies R Us.
Diaper Genie. I have heard mixed reviews on these, but we love ours!
Pack N Play. We got this model because we thought we would use it as a bassinet when Hayes was first born. Due to reflux, it did not get used that way. Maybe our next baby will be able to sleep in it though. I do love it now. We have taken the top tray out and it is great to put Hayes in while I am cooking or getting ready. I know we will use it more when he becomes more mobile. Again...Babies R Us.
Bibs and Burpies. You can't have enough of these. Want some fun ones? I happen to have made most of Hayes's burpies and bibs...and I would be happy to make some for you! Email me at eppske@gmail.com or comment on this post to place your order.
Paci Strap. We waited way too long to get one of these. I don't know why. Every time Hayes spit his paci out, which was often, it would hit the floor. These will save so many trips to the sink. Or moments in public where your only paci hits the ground and your child is screaming. These are at Babies R Us and Target.
Bumbo Chair. We love our Bumbo! Right now, Hayes just plays in his. I know my sister-in-law also uses hers for some of Landen's feedings when they are away from home.
Diapers
We are a Pampers family. Maybe it's something about little boys, maybe it's my little boy, but no other diaper cut it when he was a newborn. He peed out of every single Huggies he wore...which made for lots of laundry. Now that he is in size 1 diapers, Huggies snugglers aren't so bad. We still prefer Pampers though!
Baby Clothes
We didn't have a ton of clothes when Hayes was first born since we didn't know his gender. We had lots of these shirts though and it was pretty much all he wore. These were nice because we felt like we were going to break him and these shirts don't have to be pulled over the head. Zip up sleepers are also wonderful! I thought Hayes would be in 0-3 month clothes right away, especially since he was almost 9 lbs at birth. He actually stayed in newborn clothes until he was 5 weeks old. You never know how fast or slow your baby will grow!
Maternity clothes for before and after baby
I ordered my maternity jeans from Gap and loved them. I had to order mine in Long and not many places had that option. For my first two trimesters, I wore their "no-panel" pants. These are stretchy in the front and have an elastic band in the back for your expanding body. They were sooo comfortable. They were also perfect for right after Hayes was born. For my third trimester, I ordered a pair of their full panel jeans for a more comfortable option.
Holy Yoga Pants! I lived in yoga pants during my pregnancy. I usually wear scrubs to work, but at a certain point my pants were uncomfortable. So I wore yoga pants to work. And to the store. And to the doctor. And to see friends. I especially loved having these after Hayes was born. They were so comfortable and held in my after baby tummy really well. I wore regular yoga pants from JCPenney.
I also lived in these stretchy maternity tanks made by Be Maternity at Target. They were great for wearing under tops to avoid people seeing the bottom of my belly. I actually still wear these tanks everyday. I really don't like many nursing tops, so I wear a regular shirt with one of these underneath. When it is time to pump or feed, I pull my top shirt up and the tank down. I have a Bella Band, but I didn't use it much. It never stayed in place on me. These tanks were long enough that I could pull them down over any pants I didn't want to button.
Images from Babies R Us, Wal-Mart, Balboa Baby, Gap, and Be Maternity
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Summer Fashions!
I'm sure many of you are thinking "Why the heck is Katie doing a post on fashion?" Sure, it's never been a passion of mine. I have always preferred the classics and don't usually strive for starting trends. However, I do believe in always putting your best self forward. We are all always advertising for ourselves. You never know when you will meet your future husband, wife, best friend, employer, etc. While it is not fair to judge people based on looks alone...first impressions mean a lot! Hmm....random soapbox moment. The purpose of this post is actually to show off a fun new dress I got today and show some other pieces I hope to accumulate soon.
Item #1: Must have summer dress!
This dress came from Gap.com...and I got it on sale! It came in today and I couldn't wait to try it on. I love it!!!! It is a wee bit on the short side....but I'm only 26. I can still wear "a wee bit short" dresses, right? I am still debating on shoe color and jewelry options. I will be paying a visit to DSW soon for a shoe search...
Item #2: Classic summer shorts
These shorts are also available at Gap.com...seems to be where I do most of my shopping these days. I don't have these yet, but I plan to get a pair soon! I like the shorts with the ribbon tie around the waist...but I feel like those limit your choices for tops. These shorts can easily be dressed up with a cute top and wedges, or dressed down with a simple shirt and flips. They come in a variety of colors, there is a red pair I have my eye on.
Item #3: Classic summer shoes!
I love shoes...but I don't indulge this love often. I work in a healthcare setting and wear my nike shoes everyday. I just can't justify collecting shoes to only wear on weekends. I love these sandals. The simple Gladiator style is perfect for sundresses or shorts this summer. Find these on Piperlime!
Item #4: Ahhh peep-toe!
I just want these shoes. Most of my heels are closed toe and I could use more peep toe for the summer! I love the neutral color as well. It means I can add color in with fun jewelry! I found these on Piperlime as well.
Item #5: A little bit of back home...
Mignon Faget is a special line of jewelry inspired by and made in Louisiana. I love this pelican charm! I really enjoy bringing Louisiana to Ohio every chance I get.
How cute is this graphic? Sweet Hayes has a onesie with this design screenprinted on it from Drea. Another little piece of my heritage! She found it at Storyville on Magazine Street in good ol' New Orleans.
So I must share another new interest of mine...a fantastic blog I discovered. The Blue Eyed Bride and I have a lot in common. We both have sweet baby boys named Hayes. We both went to La Tech. We are both members of the Greek system. And we both have size 10 feet....I'm not a stalker, I read it on her blog:) She writes about being a mommy, a wife, a southern girl, and a lover of event planning and home decor. Sounds like my kind of blog!
This weekend...a 4 month photo shoot! Hopefully my sweet baby gets over his cold by then...
Item #1: Must have summer dress!
This dress came from Gap.com...and I got it on sale! It came in today and I couldn't wait to try it on. I love it!!!! It is a wee bit on the short side....but I'm only 26. I can still wear "a wee bit short" dresses, right? I am still debating on shoe color and jewelry options. I will be paying a visit to DSW soon for a shoe search...
Item #2: Classic summer shorts
These shorts are also available at Gap.com...seems to be where I do most of my shopping these days. I don't have these yet, but I plan to get a pair soon! I like the shorts with the ribbon tie around the waist...but I feel like those limit your choices for tops. These shorts can easily be dressed up with a cute top and wedges, or dressed down with a simple shirt and flips. They come in a variety of colors, there is a red pair I have my eye on.
Item #3: Classic summer shoes!
I love shoes...but I don't indulge this love often. I work in a healthcare setting and wear my nike shoes everyday. I just can't justify collecting shoes to only wear on weekends. I love these sandals. The simple Gladiator style is perfect for sundresses or shorts this summer. Find these on Piperlime!
Item #4: Ahhh peep-toe!
I just want these shoes. Most of my heels are closed toe and I could use more peep toe for the summer! I love the neutral color as well. It means I can add color in with fun jewelry! I found these on Piperlime as well.
Item #5: A little bit of back home...
Mignon Faget is a special line of jewelry inspired by and made in Louisiana. I love this pelican charm! I really enjoy bringing Louisiana to Ohio every chance I get.
How cute is this graphic? Sweet Hayes has a onesie with this design screenprinted on it from Drea. Another little piece of my heritage! She found it at Storyville on Magazine Street in good ol' New Orleans.
This weekend...a 4 month photo shoot! Hopefully my sweet baby gets over his cold by then...
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Nothing says Happy Memorial Day like...
new boat shoes!!!
So I have noticed my blog has become all about my sweet Hayes. I'm sure everyone enjoys this....however, I have a new topic tonight!
I recently did a magazine purge in my life. At one point, I was subscribed to 8 different magazines. Where are they now? Stacked in corners of my house. I decided it wasn't fair to the environment...or my housekeeping to continue this trend. Eventually, I hope to have a Nook or Kindle that I can read my magazines on. Until then, I am sticking with 2. Food Network Magazine and Better Homes and Gardens. I love BHG! It always has simple recipes and realistic home decor ideas. My mom introduced me to FNM and it is my most favorite source for recipes (besides The Pioneer Woman, of course). FNM has a fun feature every month called "Mix & Match." In this section, you start with one dish and pick from a variety of ingredients to make the final product to your liking. June's dish was Pasta Salad...and we made an amazing one! We actually doubled the recipe and ate it for several meals throughout the week. I loved this dish because it is cold and perfect for warm weather. It's also easy to make!
Make Your Own Pasta Salad:
1. Start with 1/2 lb of pasta.
[We used Fusilli]
2. Add 1 cup protein, if you wish.
[We used diced ham. Other options...chicken, shrimp, eggs]
3. Add 2 cups of vegetables!
[We used corn and asparagus. Blanch vegetables for best results*]
4. Add 1/2 cup of any mix-in you like.
[We added sundried tomatoes. Other options...olives, cheese, nuts]
5. Add your dressing. We made a Creamy Parmesan.
Mix 1/4 cup mayo, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 tbsp lemon juice, minced garlic, 3/4 cup parmesan and salt and pepper to taste.
Once you have mixed all of your ingredients, chill for 3 hours. And done!
*To blanch vegetables, boil until crisp-tender, then drain and cool in ice water
Enjoy your week! And enjoy this face...it makes me smile.
Friday, May 27, 2011
The Birth Story...
I've been wanting to tell our birth story since Hayes joined our family but...being a mommy makes blogging a wee bit challenging:) So, I suppose I now is as good a time as any. Ryan and I found out we were pregnant on Father's Day in 2010. We were a little shocked. We weren't exactly planning for a baby, but we weren't preventing a baby either. And so the excitement began...
We had decided before I got pregnant that we would not find out the sex of the baby. I heard so many stories of the magical moment when a baby is born and the doctor yells "It's a ..." I wanted one of these magical moments for myself. Since we made the decision before I got pregnant, it was easy to stick with throughout the pregnancy. I didn't even think of finding out as an option. I must admit, it was fun torturing our friends and family with the big secret. I am so glad we didn't find out Hayes would be a Hayes and we will definitely make our next baby a surprise.
So, that was one decision down. After we found out we were expecting, I started toying with the idea of a natural child birth. I had several reasons for wanting to attempt this method of delivery. I was concerned about adverse affects of medication. A huge reason for me wanting this was about the experience. We were so thrilled to be pregnant. I wanted to feel every second of this sweet baby growing and moving inside of me. I also wanted to fully experience every second of bringing my baby into the world. When I finally made my decision for sure about natural childbirth, we made another important decision....finding a doula!
The hospital we delivered at has a fantastic doula program that we were able to use. We were matched with an amazing doula named Beth, who also taught our childbirth classes! Beth has 5 children of her own, so she had a little experience in the area:) We loved that she also worked at the hospital and already had a great relationship with the nurses and doctors. After completing our classes and meeting with Beth to discuss relaxation and pain management techniques we were interested in...we were ready to have a baby! Or so we thought...
On Tuesday, February 15, I spent my day at home waiting on the cable man. While waiting, I went on a mad cleaning frenzy. During my cleaning frenzy, I started noticing something odd....and a little embarrassing. I was peeing my pants...or so I thought. I became very frustrated, but chalked it up to a weird pregnancy thing. When Ryan got home, I told him what had been happening and how annoying it was. Ryan's response was so funny, I will never forget it. He informed me that he remembered learning in our classes about the different ways for my water to break which could result in a slow leak or a gush. Someone was listening:) He made me try random home tests he found on google to see if it was leaking fluid....and we thought the tests were negative. The next morning, I decided to call my doctor and just check on the situation. They asked me to come in just to check everything out. So I left work at lunch and headed to the office. I truly thought he would tell me it was not amniotic fluid and I would pick up lunch at Chick-fil-a before going back to work. You can imagine my surprise when the doctor walked in and said, "Your water broke...you should go to the hospital right now."
At that point, I was only dialated 1 cm. We did not know when my water had broken for sure though, so they wanted to induce me so that my labor would progress faster. Doctors typically prefer delivery to happen within 24 hours of water breaking to reduce the risk of infection. I called Ryan on the way home and only got out "You need to come home now" before I burst into tears. I was so shocked and overwhelmed and nervous and excited all at the same time. So, instead of going to the hospital right away, I went home and put on a load of laundry. Smart, right? There was no way I was going to the hospital without my husband, and my yoga pants. Once Ryan got home, we loaded up the car and headed out. (Amy delivered my clean yoga pants later that night)
We were admitted to the hospital around 1:30. Once I was hooked up to the monitors, I found out I was having contractions that were about 2 minutes apart. What I thought was an active baby had been contractions since the night before...nice to know. So we started on our journey of labor. The first few hours were so exciting. The contractions weren't painful at that point...hence the excitement. I was started on Pitocin to help speed up my labor. I had hoped to go sans Pitocin...I had heard horror stories about Pit contractions. But, I forged ahead with my Pitocin and lack of epidural. For some silly reason, Ryan and I didn't go to sleep while my contractions were mild. Big mistake. Around 11 p.m., we decided to try and get some sleep since it was evident our baby was not coming anytime soon. Right after we turned the lights out, in came the nurse. They decided to put in internal monitors to get a better read on my contractions and Hayes's heartbeat. And that fun task caused the rest of my water to break. I will say one thing about that moment....gush doesn't do it justice. After that, my contractions became more intense. Sleep was not happening. I spent most of the next 8 hours in a rocking chair. I was able to focus on deep breathing and rock through each contraction, which made them easy to manage. Ryan and our doula were also great at telling me when I had reached the peak of each contraction and when it was ending. At 5 a.m., the nurse returned to tell me I was 5 cm. At that point, they increased my pitocin and life got a tad bit more challenging. The contractions that came as a result of the increased pitocin were not fun. Most of them were piggybacking with other contractions. They had become more intense and closer together. Ryan, the doula, and myself thought this meant I was continuing to progress in my labor. Silly us. This started the rounds of vomiting/dry heaving. Interesting fact....vomiting/dry heaving made the contractions less painful. Is that interesting? Maybe only to me...
8 a.m. Nurse is back to check progress. I am hoping and praying for at least 8 cm...but I will take 7. Nurse looks at me and says "You are still at 5 cm." I almost threw something at her head. How dare she tell me that. 3 hours of intense, ridiculous, never ending contractions had gotten me no where?! At this point, I hadn't slept or eaten in over 24 hours. As much as it broke my heart, I knew I couldn't continue on my own. I was far to physically and mentally exhausted. I asked for (demanded) an epidural. And I got one, 30 minutes later. That was the longest 30 minutes of my life. That epidural was so amazing. It felt like a nice warm blanket wrapped my tired body up and put me to sleep. I actually fell asleep as they laid me back down. I slept for about an hour and when they checked me, I was ready to push. As it turned out, my body needed some rest to finish up the process.
Time to push! It was 11 a.m. at this point and Ryan and I are thinking we will get to meet our baby soon. An hour later...I'm still pushing. I was so tired at this point that I was actually falling asleep in between contractions. At noon, Ryan asked the nurse when she thought the baby would be here...and she said 12:30. I wanted to throw something at her head too. But that would require too much energry. So I kept pushing. And at 12:41, I heard the magical words I had been waiting for since Father's Day. "It's a boy!" I heard someone ask what his name would be and Ryan answered "Hayes Patrick." I was so in love and I hadn't even held him yet. They placed him on my chest and my world was over as I knew it. He was crying and when I started talking to him, he stopped and just looked at us. He wrapped his tiny fingers around one of mine and looked at me with those big blue eyes and I was so in love that I didn't even know what to do.
Hayes Patrick, you are such a precious gift to your Mommy and Daddy. We have loved you since you were just a dream in our hearts. I love the story of how you came to us and wouldn't change a single detail.
We had decided before I got pregnant that we would not find out the sex of the baby. I heard so many stories of the magical moment when a baby is born and the doctor yells "It's a ..." I wanted one of these magical moments for myself. Since we made the decision before I got pregnant, it was easy to stick with throughout the pregnancy. I didn't even think of finding out as an option. I must admit, it was fun torturing our friends and family with the big secret. I am so glad we didn't find out Hayes would be a Hayes and we will definitely make our next baby a surprise.
So, that was one decision down. After we found out we were expecting, I started toying with the idea of a natural child birth. I had several reasons for wanting to attempt this method of delivery. I was concerned about adverse affects of medication. A huge reason for me wanting this was about the experience. We were so thrilled to be pregnant. I wanted to feel every second of this sweet baby growing and moving inside of me. I also wanted to fully experience every second of bringing my baby into the world. When I finally made my decision for sure about natural childbirth, we made another important decision....finding a doula!
The hospital we delivered at has a fantastic doula program that we were able to use. We were matched with an amazing doula named Beth, who also taught our childbirth classes! Beth has 5 children of her own, so she had a little experience in the area:) We loved that she also worked at the hospital and already had a great relationship with the nurses and doctors. After completing our classes and meeting with Beth to discuss relaxation and pain management techniques we were interested in...we were ready to have a baby! Or so we thought...
On Tuesday, February 15, I spent my day at home waiting on the cable man. While waiting, I went on a mad cleaning frenzy. During my cleaning frenzy, I started noticing something odd....and a little embarrassing. I was peeing my pants...or so I thought. I became very frustrated, but chalked it up to a weird pregnancy thing. When Ryan got home, I told him what had been happening and how annoying it was. Ryan's response was so funny, I will never forget it. He informed me that he remembered learning in our classes about the different ways for my water to break which could result in a slow leak or a gush. Someone was listening:) He made me try random home tests he found on google to see if it was leaking fluid....and we thought the tests were negative. The next morning, I decided to call my doctor and just check on the situation. They asked me to come in just to check everything out. So I left work at lunch and headed to the office. I truly thought he would tell me it was not amniotic fluid and I would pick up lunch at Chick-fil-a before going back to work. You can imagine my surprise when the doctor walked in and said, "Your water broke...you should go to the hospital right now."
At that point, I was only dialated 1 cm. We did not know when my water had broken for sure though, so they wanted to induce me so that my labor would progress faster. Doctors typically prefer delivery to happen within 24 hours of water breaking to reduce the risk of infection. I called Ryan on the way home and only got out "You need to come home now" before I burst into tears. I was so shocked and overwhelmed and nervous and excited all at the same time. So, instead of going to the hospital right away, I went home and put on a load of laundry. Smart, right? There was no way I was going to the hospital without my husband, and my yoga pants. Once Ryan got home, we loaded up the car and headed out. (Amy delivered my clean yoga pants later that night)
We were admitted to the hospital around 1:30. Once I was hooked up to the monitors, I found out I was having contractions that were about 2 minutes apart. What I thought was an active baby had been contractions since the night before...nice to know. So we started on our journey of labor. The first few hours were so exciting. The contractions weren't painful at that point...hence the excitement. I was started on Pitocin to help speed up my labor. I had hoped to go sans Pitocin...I had heard horror stories about Pit contractions. But, I forged ahead with my Pitocin and lack of epidural. For some silly reason, Ryan and I didn't go to sleep while my contractions were mild. Big mistake. Around 11 p.m., we decided to try and get some sleep since it was evident our baby was not coming anytime soon. Right after we turned the lights out, in came the nurse. They decided to put in internal monitors to get a better read on my contractions and Hayes's heartbeat. And that fun task caused the rest of my water to break. I will say one thing about that moment....gush doesn't do it justice. After that, my contractions became more intense. Sleep was not happening. I spent most of the next 8 hours in a rocking chair. I was able to focus on deep breathing and rock through each contraction, which made them easy to manage. Ryan and our doula were also great at telling me when I had reached the peak of each contraction and when it was ending. At 5 a.m., the nurse returned to tell me I was 5 cm. At that point, they increased my pitocin and life got a tad bit more challenging. The contractions that came as a result of the increased pitocin were not fun. Most of them were piggybacking with other contractions. They had become more intense and closer together. Ryan, the doula, and myself thought this meant I was continuing to progress in my labor. Silly us. This started the rounds of vomiting/dry heaving. Interesting fact....vomiting/dry heaving made the contractions less painful. Is that interesting? Maybe only to me...
8 a.m. Nurse is back to check progress. I am hoping and praying for at least 8 cm...but I will take 7. Nurse looks at me and says "You are still at 5 cm." I almost threw something at her head. How dare she tell me that. 3 hours of intense, ridiculous, never ending contractions had gotten me no where?! At this point, I hadn't slept or eaten in over 24 hours. As much as it broke my heart, I knew I couldn't continue on my own. I was far to physically and mentally exhausted. I asked for (demanded) an epidural. And I got one, 30 minutes later. That was the longest 30 minutes of my life. That epidural was so amazing. It felt like a nice warm blanket wrapped my tired body up and put me to sleep. I actually fell asleep as they laid me back down. I slept for about an hour and when they checked me, I was ready to push. As it turned out, my body needed some rest to finish up the process.
Time to push! It was 11 a.m. at this point and Ryan and I are thinking we will get to meet our baby soon. An hour later...I'm still pushing. I was so tired at this point that I was actually falling asleep in between contractions. At noon, Ryan asked the nurse when she thought the baby would be here...and she said 12:30. I wanted to throw something at her head too. But that would require too much energry. So I kept pushing. And at 12:41, I heard the magical words I had been waiting for since Father's Day. "It's a boy!" I heard someone ask what his name would be and Ryan answered "Hayes Patrick." I was so in love and I hadn't even held him yet. They placed him on my chest and my world was over as I knew it. He was crying and when I started talking to him, he stopped and just looked at us. He wrapped his tiny fingers around one of mine and looked at me with those big blue eyes and I was so in love that I didn't even know what to do.
Hayes Patrick, you are such a precious gift to your Mommy and Daddy. We have loved you since you were just a dream in our hearts. I love the story of how you came to us and wouldn't change a single detail.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Hoppy Easter from Hayes!
I am fully aware that I am a little late on my holidays...and a little out of order. Better late than never! Hayes spent his first Easter with the McCormick family in Delphos. We attempted a photo shoot with Hayes and cousin Landen. Hayes had just woken up from a nap and was not really in the mood for pictures...it showed. Once we got home and he had a long nap, he was in a much better mood and ready to smile for the camera. I took waaaay too many pictures...I will only share a few.
Checkout that happy boy:) Thanks for the Easter outfit Nana!
The Ultimate Mother's Day Gift
Yes, this post is a little late. It's because I'm a mom and mommies are busy people:)
This was my first M Day as a mommy, and it was so special. I actually had to work in the morning, but I got to spend my afternoon napping and hanging out with my sweet little boy. Even though Hayes and Ryan got me some pretty sweet gifts, I wanted to tell everyone about the best Mother's Day gift ever...the gift of being a mommy.
Ryan and I have learned first hand how precious the gift of life is. It is a miracle that a couple can get pregnant, stay pregnant, and give birth to a healthy child. So many people take this miracle for granted. The number of couples that experience fertility problems and miscarriage is unbelieveable. Becoming a parent can be the most frustrating, challenging, and often heartbreaking thing a couple can go through. Being a parent has been the most amazing...and exhausting experience I have ever had. Our personal journey to becoming parents made the experience so much more special for us. The day I gave birth to Hayes was so surreal and amazing. It was certainly a day we will never forget.
This was my first M Day as a mommy, and it was so special. I actually had to work in the morning, but I got to spend my afternoon napping and hanging out with my sweet little boy. Even though Hayes and Ryan got me some pretty sweet gifts, I wanted to tell everyone about the best Mother's Day gift ever...the gift of being a mommy.
Ryan and I have learned first hand how precious the gift of life is. It is a miracle that a couple can get pregnant, stay pregnant, and give birth to a healthy child. So many people take this miracle for granted. The number of couples that experience fertility problems and miscarriage is unbelieveable. Becoming a parent can be the most frustrating, challenging, and often heartbreaking thing a couple can go through. Being a parent has been the most amazing...and exhausting experience I have ever had. Our personal journey to becoming parents made the experience so much more special for us. The day I gave birth to Hayes was so surreal and amazing. It was certainly a day we will never forget.
This Mother's Day was a day I will always cherish. I love how Hayes lights up when I talk to him. I love listening to his sweet voice when he coos at me. I love looking into his big, blue eyes. I love that when he smiles, his whole face smiles. I love when 5 little fingers wrap around one of mine when he falls asleep in my arms. God gave me the most amazing Mother's Day gift on February 17th and I thank him everyday for my sweet Hayes.
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