Halloween

We go all out for Halloween around here. Our neighborhood consists of houses with large yards and ridiculously long steep drive ways. So we have to really amp up our decorations to get the kids to walk up the drive way. It also helps that we always hand out king size candy bars. The news has spread over the years of our extra large candy bars and more and more kids have trick or treated at our house!

Of course it was pouring non stop all day so trick or treaters were at a minimum this year. But nothing could stop us from celebrating this spooky holiday!

Boden's first Halloween consisted of him wearing his Boo outfit and 10 naps throughout the day.

He's definitely the cutest ghost I've ever seen!

Our weekend ended with a trip to the city for some Wormhole Coffee and to indulge in their Peanut Butter Koopa Troopa. Probably the most amazing peanut butter mousse latte I have ever tasted..yum!!

Boden was such a champ riding in the car and being carted around the city!

Happy November! It's finally socially acceptable to blast Christmas music around the clock!!

4 Weeks Old, Baby Blues, and Pumping

My little baby boy is 4 weeks old!! It feels like yesterday when I found out we were having a boy..

And now I get to wake up every hour to this precious face!!

It doesn't matter if you sleep 12 hours a day before your little one arrives... nothing can prepare you for the extreme sleep deprivation you go through. And to add to the raging hormones, or lack thereof, baby blues!

Around day 6 I developed some serious baby blues. Crying from 6pm, straight through the night, to 6am. This occurred daily. Erik thought I'd gone bonkers. How is it possible to be so excited and thrilled to finally have your baby here and hysterically cry nonstop!? 

My day usually went something like this:

5am: wake up, wipe away remaining tears and grab crying baby

5:15am-6am: feed baby

6am: change baby & chug extra large cup of coffee..wish it was spiked with rum

6:15am: shower 

6:30am-7:15am: feed baby

7:15am: change baby then rock/hold baby

7:30am-2pm: REPEAT feed baby, change baby, hold crying baby, baby naps for 30 mins

2pm: chug second extra large cup of coffee and day dream of sleep

2:15pm-6pm: REPEAT feed baby, change baby, hold crying baby, baby naps for 30 mins

6pm: bam. the tears start flowing.

6:15pm: have a discouraging conversation with Erik about non stop blubbering and fail to explain my lack of reason for crying

6:45pm: back to baby feedings, changing, holding & rocking

7:30pm: eye lids refuse to stay open and it's time to head to bed

8:00pm: in bed and it feels SO good

8:05pm: Boden is WIDE AWAKE and ready to party.

8:15pm-5am: Boden is reverse cycling and thinks I should too.

REPEAT.

I arrived at my 2 week appointment 2 weeks ago with dark circles under my eyes, no make-up, wearing my pajamas, a sleeping baby and a attitude to match. My doctor quickly instructed me that exclusively breast feeding wasn't probably mine or my babies thing. Time to break out the pump and hand the 2am feeding responsibility off to someone else. 

So the second I got home I opened my breast pump, boiled the parts and started pumping. Instant hatred. Who wants to sit with a plastic cone sucking milk out of your boob after you just had to sit and feed the baby! Ugh!

Needless to say, I pumped enough for that night. My husband stayed with Boden ALL night downstairs and fed him at all the feedings. I slept for 10 hours that night! And with that no more tears were shed. I've been pumping and sharing the night time feedings for about 2 weeks now and I have enjoyed motherhood more and more each day!

October Love

Why October is the best month...

\\ Cooler weather. Thank god that sticky, slimy, frizzy haired, sweaty, humid weather has passed! \\

\\ Holiday season has officially begun! Hell yes I am playing Christmas music in between watching Halloween, Beetlejuice, and Hocus Focus on rerun. \\

\\ LEAVES are changing and crunching under my feet! \\

\\ Soup season. It officially begins in October. Potato soup, broccoli soup, chicken noodle soup, chili, split pea soup, french onion soup, curry lentil soup....all on repeat. \\

\\ Walking Dead season premiere. Time to get my zombie fix. \\

\\ Pumpkins. Decorating the house, making pumpkin soup, making glass pumpkins, and occasionally rolled into the street by the neighborhood adolescents and run down with their car... \\

\\ And the best reason October is the best month...my husbands AND Boden's birthday!! \\

Breastfeeding...

Aaahhhh..breastfeeding. How breastfeeding can be the most amazing experience AND a lovely annoyance is still a clue to me. Sure everybody told me I was going to be a on call milk maid but no one warned me of all the little details that came along with it!!

Rock hard lumpy boobs...check.
Boobs converted to a slow leak faucet...check.
Nipples becoming extra sensitive to cold/hot/wind/touch/sight...check.
Approximately 2.5 mins for bathroom use without freaking out if the dogs have decided to make the baby their own personal lollipop...check.
Never sleeping longer then a 45 min time frame...check.
Being limited to wearing shirts that allow easy boob access (no cute Fall sweaters for me!)...check.
Cold Hot Luke warm showers to avoid nipple chaffing...check.
NO lotion/perfume/body spray/anything on upper half of body...check.
Sweat profusely due to raging hormones at night..check.
Being excited for the weekend because it's socially acceptable to lay in your yoga pants and do absolutely nothing all day...check.

Happy Breastfeeding!!

Must Do LIST

Making lists is definitely my thing. I don't think I could of prepared myself through pregnancy without 10 different lists being made at all times. SO, I compiled a list of "must do's" before our little guy comes..

1. Walking Dead marathon...because nothing takes your mind off of waiting for labor like zombies. 

2. Attempt to Complete pregnancy work out.

3. Paint nails in Essie's Smokin Hot polish. Best fall color ever.

4. Shave (and probably cut) legs and bikini area. This will be hilarious.

5. Try not to stare at all my stretch marks.

6. Make the 56th pan of peach cobbler this week.

7. Nap with the pugs.

8. Embrace the pregnancy acne that has suddenly appeared again.

9. Order another pair of Fresh Picks Moccasins because Boden can't have enough.

10. Drink 4 gallons of water.

11. Repack my hospital bag..again...wonder if I can stuff the pugs in there as well.

12. Breaking Bad marathon. I think I'm the last person to jump on this band wagon.

13. Wash 5000 bed sheets, make spare beds, and place chocolate kisses on pillows to welcome the 300 people that will be staying at my house.

14. Eat said peach cobbler.

15. Shop for jeans that I WILL fit into after losing the baby weight...gotta get the motivation from somewhere.

16. Go into labor and have baby boy.

And yes, this list will be completed in that order. Due date: October 1st. Better get started.

TGIF!!!

39 Week Pic!

How many weeks? 39 weeks

Total weight gain/loss? Up 30 lbs..39 week check up tomorrow so I'll find out then.

Maternity clothes? Living in my leggings and hubby's shirts!

Stretch marks? No no ones! I got most of my stretch marks in the 2nd trimester..weird.

Sleep? Sleeping great now that I got rid of my pregnancy body pillow! I was feeling SO claustrophobic when sleeping with that pillow.

Best moment this week? Cleaning the house for the 10,000,000 time....

Miss anything? Eating a normal meal! I constantly snack because a actual meal is WAY too big.

Movement? Oh yeah!

Food Cravings? More homemade brownies and PEACH COBBLER. oh my god..making a 2nd pan this week already...

Anything make you sick/queasy? Still hate broccoli. 

Gender? BOY :)

Labor Signs? None so far. Hurry up Boden!

Belly button in or out? Out for sure!

Wedding ring on or off? Off. Although since we have had some cooler weather my fingers aren't as swollen.

Happy or moody? Happy!

Looking forward too....? Getting the ultrasound tomorrow to find out his weight and whether or not we are being induced!! SO crazy that we could have a little baby any day now :)

Fall Weekend Pics!

FALL IS HERE!! Cool weather, pumpkin picking, hot apple cider, boots, and walks with the baby.. who should be here anytime now! For now, we will take the pugs for a walk!

Being almost 9 months pregnant makes a mile walk seem like a marathon! I definitely felt like a zombie by the end of that hike. 

It's definitely time for some pampering seeing as Boden could be here any day now!! PUMPKIN SPICE PEDICURE.....hell yes. Thank goodness I had my toes polished considering I can barely touch see them now! 

Happy 1st Monday of Fall!!! :)