So Many Milestones, So Little Time

We have been through a very intense 2 weeks. On October 29 Brady finally cut his first two bottom teeth. He was such a trooper during the day but as soon as he got tired around bed time you could tell the pain became less and less tolerable. To top it all off about two weeks before we went out for dinner with some friends and lost the beloved Sophie the teething giraffe which due to the cost Dad was not interested in replacing (Side note, invent the next Sophie so I can retire young and hang out with my babies) . Needless to say after 3 days of night time pain Dad caved and Brady got himself the Sophie teething pack which came with 2 additional teethers. We were all in a much happier p[lace that night. Did I mention how amazing Sophie is?? And how cute are his little chicklets? I must admit I'm really going to miss his gummy ham smiles but I do think he will be just as cute with teeth.... maybe cuter (Not sure if it's possible but we will see)

Anyways back to our busy two weeks. For the past month Brady has been trying so hard to crawl, he would first get up on his arms, then on his legs, and finally he figured out how to do both at the same time. His biggest obstacle was his head. He hadn't quite figured out how to pick his head up off the floor. But the Saturday after he cut his teeth he figured it out and officially scooted for the first time. This scoot quickly turned into a crawl and he hasn't stopped. He's done a great job teaching us how bad of a job at baby proofing we did as well.

 

This is the first official time we caught him on video.

Along with crawling he also had his first Halloween. Not quite the hit I was hoping for due to the two experiences noted above he was very clingy, cranky and generally upset compared to his normal happy self. I got him into his cute little costume for a total of 5 minutes, snapped a bunch of pictures took some videos then got him out ASAP. Did I mention the bribing it took to get the pictures? Every other picture the little man was provided Puffs for his hard work (his favorite) which he graciously shared with his BFF Pippa. 

Happy first Halloween to my beautiful baby boy. I love him way too much.

My Fears on Going Back to Work and Childcare....

Where or where is the time going? My little man is 7 months old and is getting bigger by the second. I feel like every milestone and moment I dreamt of while pregnant has come and gone faster then I was ready for each. You hardly have time to enjoy one exciting moment and memory before you are unknowingly catapulted into the next. I've been blessed to be able to spend almost every moment of my days with him so far and I wouldn't change a second of it. I love being his mom and getting to stay home with him right now. A close friend of mine is ending her maternity leave next week after a year off with her little man and going back to the daily grind that we all call work. This is really making me think about my own inevitable return that will happen in less then 5 months now. I know 5 months is a long time. It used to be before Brady came into my life. 7 months has sped by faster then I could have ever imagined and I anxiously feel that the next few months will do the same. Part of me is excited about going back and seeing adults every day, that part however is small. Very very small. The other part (the large majority) is full of anxiety, fear, doubt, remorse and guilt about having to send my beautiful baby to day care to spend too much time being raised by a stranger. I know from a social aspect these tings are good for the kids. I also realise from a financial aspect work is a great thing for the family. But being a mom, being his mom full time has been the best thing I have ever gotten to do. Working never totally felt right to me, never completely enjoyed it (but who does) and went because I liked living in my house and eating food (and a few other luxuries work allows me to have). Teaching him, watching him grow, learning how to take care of him and my house and husband does feel right. I always knew I wanted to be a mommy, I know lame, but now it doesn't feel so lame. It is a dream come true and I'm so torn up inside about what I will face 5 months from now. I am now having to get serious (very serious) about who will be watching my baby every day while I'm there. Will they love him enough? Will they teach him? Will they kiss his boo boos better? Will they appreciate his crazy screeches as much as I do or get so excited that he ate his slice of avocado and only threw it on the floor once? How could they.... this person did not grow him inside their belly for 9 months, give birth to 6 lbs 14 oz of perfection then endure sleepless nights, early mornings, breastfeeding challenges, first smiles, first giggles, late night cuddles, cries that only mommy could cure and all the other obstacles and amazing moments we have shared in the past 7 months. I have big plans to keep me closer to him in the future but going back to work for awhile is the unfortunate reality that will help me get there. I just need to first find someone who I trust enough to take on this important task and then second sit back and enjoy the last 5 months I have with my little man before this happens. It's going to come and I need to be okay with that..... I will one day I hope.

It's a Boy!

8 Weeks ago my life completely changed.......

The change was drastic, scary, overwhelming, life altering and surreal and I have been amazed by this change every day since. 8 weeks ago I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy, Brady Charles Hiroshi Wolsey.
 

First shot of the new Mr Wolsey

Brady was born right on time on his official due date, March 24 2013. Such a smart and efficient little man (like his momma). Labour was hard and painful but so worth it. When I first saw him I was a) in shock he was a boy b) happy labour was finally over (it took a total of 17 hours and I didn't get an epidural... so I felt every last long, excruciatingly painful contraction.... and you don't get anything in the end for going without it) and c) overwhelmed by how beautiful and perfect this little man that I was growing in my belly for the last 9 months was. He was amazing, words can't describe that day and moment and I will never be able to forget it. His dad was amazing as well. Not gonna lie I had gone into this day thinking Brian wouldn't be able to handle the whole situation (I didn't know if I could honestly) but he stuck by my side, helped me focus and watched the entire thing. Seeing him hold our little man and give him kisses for the first time is a feeling like no other. My two men bonding for the first time, priceless. Brady was little (thankfully!) He weighed 6'15 lbs and was 20.75 inches long. Much smaller then the 10 pound baby I had night terrors over delivering. He looked just like Brian, to a tee. If I hadn't delivered him myself I don't know if I would have believed anyone if they said he was mine, but he was and I loved (still do, I promise) every little bit of him.
 
 

Twins!

 

Brady and Daddy. Love at first sight. 

First time holding my little man in my arms. I will never forget this moment.  

Grandma and Brady.

 
The first few days were rough, Brady was born with his little cord wrapped around his neck and for a combination of reasons he spent his first 4 days in the NICU. It was scary, sad and gut wrenching to see him in there attached to heart monitor, oxygen monitor and with an IV but after it was all over I was so thankful to the amazing nurses who helped us out and took care of him for those first few days. After he figured out how to nurse and was eating enough food, keeping his body temperature up and his heart rate was stabilised we got to take him home on March 28. That was the best (scariest) day of my life. It felt like he had been in the NICU for so long at that point with so many rules and others handling him that I felt like we were stealing him and would be pulled over at any moment for child abduction on the way home. But we weren't (or they haven't caught us yet, either way).
 

Brady in his islet on day one in the NICU. It was so sad, we couldn't hold him that night at all.

 

Snuggles with auntie Kendra!

Hanging out on Mommy's lap after eating.

 

My bed after being taken out of the islet.

Passed out in my Mommy's arms.

 

One happy momma on the day Brady was released. We were waiting for daddy to come get us.  

First time in my car seat ready to go home!!!

 

Those first few days seemed like an eternity where as the last 8 weeks have flown by. It took a few weeks and a lot of helpers for us to get settled and figure things out. Brady has now mastered the art of nursing, pooping and sleeping (when he isn't fighting it). And I'm slowly figuring out what he needs and wants from minute to minute. Half of my days are spent just watching him and soaking in his gloriousness (seriously, this kid thinks I'm nuts!) but I wouldn't have it any other way.  I don't know how its possible but he gets cuter every day and I fall more and more in love with this little man in my life. Brady was 2 months old last Friday and is now smiling and starting conversations with anyone or anything that will listen. He is holding his head up like a champ and even rolled onto his side yesterday (lord help me.... I'm not excited for the roll onto the tummy). He loves bath time and his mommy (not gonna lie, I love that he does) and is even warming up more to daddy. We have gone through 2 growth spurts that almost had me committed to the psych ward because I had no idea at the time why he was crying or how to help him... we figured it out though... hes still alive!  Brady weighed in last Friday at 11`2 lbs and was 22.75 inches long. He amazes me ever day by mastering new skills and enchanting me with his beautiful smile and personalty. I`m so happy hes the little peanut I was growing and nurturing all of those months and that I get to be his mom!

Some of my favourite pictures of my little dude from the past 2 months.

Soooo tiny! 

First outing with just mom.... not too happy about it.

 

Just me and my little man.

Pippa meet Brady, Brady Pippa. Now be nice. 

He always looked so concerned and serious for the first month of his life. Now he smiles which I love!

 

His one month photo!!  

First smile caught on camera.... heart melting.....

Now hes full of smiles!

 

Bath time.

 Whoever said you cant dress up boys hasn't met me. Baby Tigger!

 

8 weeks old!

 Brady and Mr Panda Bear

 

2 month photo shoot. (he`s much happier now) 

Meeting auntie Shell!!

 

Hanging out with my daddy eating my fist.... life is good.

Until next post!

20 Weeks - Halfway There!!

Saturday officially marked my halfway point. 20 weeks. They have flown by and I have a feeling the next 20 will fly by too. The bump no longer disappears when I sit or lay down, it's a permanent fixture and grows bigger and bigger every day. The hardest part to get used to is how much pressure I feel in my belly and how tight it's getting. Right now I have a hard time thinking that this is only the half way point and there is a lot more growth left to come!
 
The most amazing experience I've had since my last post was the ultrasound..... We got to meet little baby Wolsey and that made this whole experience so real. It was overwhelming. I haven't stopped smiling yet :) Baby was moving all of the place and at first it was hard to make out the little features. But Peanut slowed down and we eventually started to see the little feet, little fingers, ribs, spine, heart and all of the other perfect features that make up our little peanut. We declined to see the gender so that ship has officially sailed. We won't know if peanut is a pink baby or a blue baby until the day we hold baby in our arms. Brian however is convinced baby is a boy due to my size the ultrasound pictures. Take a look below, what do you think? I no longer care about the gender although I feel like peanut's a girl most days. At my 20 week doctor's appointment we went over all of the ultrasound results and everything came back normal. That's all I needed.
 

Meet Baby Wolsey.

I love that little face.

Side profile of Peanut

 

 

Baby weighed in at 10 oz and already has Daddy's toes

 

Baby doesn't have any fat yet so the straight on face shot makes baby look like an alien  

 

Check out these legs... Peanut's gonna be a soccer player!

 

 

 Hi Everyone, I can't wait to meet you! Peanut's waving at you.

 

And lastly Peanut's arms. Nice and strong.

 

 

I can't stop staring at this pictures. They are beautiful! I also found out the reason why I haven't felt too many of Peanut's kicks and somersaults. I have an anterior placenta, which means it sits on the side of my uterus closest to my belly so baby's movements are cushioned The past 2 days however I have finally started feeling more right under my belly button. It's amazing and surreal. Also it's incredibly reassuring to know that baby is ok in there.

 

Enough of my rambling. Here are the last 3 weeks worth of belly shots. I know... it's huge!! 

 

 

And cause she's adorable. Here's big sis Pippa!!!!

 

 

 

16 Weeks and before you know it.... 17 Weeks is almost done

These past 2 weeks have gone by way faster then I could have imagined hence no update since then. I finally told EVERYONE at work so the little one is no longer a secret. It went much better then I was imagining, everyone seems genuinely excited for Brian and I and is already playing the boy or girl guessing game. It's such a relief to talk about it whenever I am feeling tired, or happy, or sad or the other gazillion emotions and feelings that I feel within any given hour. No longer need to put on the same brave, "I'm a new manager, I'm fine" face. That face sucked, not gonna lie. Strangely enough it was as like, I told everyone, then the next day I popped! Compared to what I looked like 2 weeks ago, I feel huge! A taste of what the next 5 1/2 months will bring I suppose. You may think I am exaggerating but check out the pictures below, you can't deny the belly now.
 
I started my new exercise class last week and have now gone twice. After the first class I thought that I would never walk again and the instructor was a cruel, cruel woman who didn't understand that I was pregnant. Well so were the other 5 woman in the class with me. Literally I couldn't shift gear in my car the next day. I took one major lesson from the whole pain experienced. I am really out of shape! Good thing is last nights class went much better (although my coordination is getting worse, not better) my strength is increasing, I was able to do more cardio and I could move this morning! Bonus!! My new goal is to do my yoga DVD twice a week, fitness class Wednesday nights and daily walks with the pooper (Pippa's much deserved nickname). I want to make sure I am counteracting my ever growing appetite with something that will help me stay in shape and not balloon up more then baby needs me to. Plus I have been reading that Mommy's who exercise have calmer and happier babies. I need both of those  traits in this precious little baby, so I will do whatever I can. Everyone in the class is at least 21 weeks and I do get a little jealous because they have been talking about what it feels when baby is moving. I haven't felt it yet, I think I do some days but then pass it off as gas or some other body function that now occurs on a daily basis with me. I can't wait until that moment though. It feels real half of the time but some days it feels like I am just gaining weight and getting cranky.

2 Weeks exactly from today and I will get to see baby. This is the appointment I have been waiting for since the pregnancy test was positive. What does baby's spine look like? How long are the legs? Is everything measuring out the way it should? Will I recognise him/her? All these questions and a few little pictures will be able to answer these for me. I can't wait! Even better, I get to hear the heart beat 6 days later at my follow up appointment with my doctor. I love hearing that rapid little noise more then anything ever. I will keep everyone posted on the outcome and post pictures from the visit as soon as I can. Now to enjoy my long weekend filled with painting the nursery, laundry and lots of rest. My kind of weekend :)

16 weeks - October 11th

17 Weeks - October 18th