As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Happy *belated* Thanksgiving to you all! I'm only a week-ish late, c'mon meow.  I've been meaning to update for over a week, but can't seem to find the time.  Still trying to get our Christmas tree up and decorated, ha!  Anyway, Thanksgiving was at our house this year.  It was super convenient to have Sofia in her own element, even if it was "pass the baby around", much like hot potato, hehe.  We did a potluck and had so much food and goodies; it was amazing.  So glad we got to spend it with such great people.  I just love this time of the year, and want to make a better effort of being more thankful in other months besides November.  We have had such a blessed year, and I am so grateful!  Here are a few pics of out little butterball on Turkey Day:

I just love the sweet look she is giving daddy.  He seems to be the one that can invoke such great expressions from her.  She has been smiling a lot more these last few weeks, and making adorable cooing noises.  It sounds like she is saying "Goo". Man, I can't believe she is 7 weeks old. SO nuts!

The night before thanksgiving was hellish for the both of us, up almost every hour and hardly any sleep.  I had been laying her down on her tummy during her daytime naps for at least 3 weeks now and noticed she sleeps more soundly.  Her neck is really strong and she has amazing head movement.  Going against the grain (what is the grain these days anyway?!), we decided to let her sleep on her belly at night time.  Of course, I watched her like a hawk those first few hours.  Waking up at every little sound.  She slept 6 hours and 15 minutes!  Compared to sleeping an average 2-3 hours at a time, it was huge!  Next night: 6 hours and 45 minutes.  Tuesday night, she slept through the night for the first time (8 and 1/2 hours) from 10pm-6:30am. Hallelujah!  Mommy & Daddy instincts rule.

It will be nice to fall into a routine now.  I'm still trying to gauge what type of daily naps she will have. I know it's not gonna happen overnight, but it is getting easier over all.  I just gotta remember to take care of mommy too!  I'm really looking forward to exercising again.  I've already noticed I have more energy and my back doesn't hurt as bad.  I swear, the damn anesthesiologist stabbed me one too many times because I've noticed a dull ache in my back.  No bueno.  I hope it goes away over time :/

Postpartum recovery is going much better.  I don't really notice my incision as often, but was told it can take up to a year to fully heal. Yikes! This mama wants to be beach body ready sooner than that ;)  Yes, I know.  It took 9 months to put on, so don't rush it.  I'm not trying to have a 6 pack by next week; it's more about feeling good.  I feel better when I eat healthier and work out on a regular basis.  I'm pumped! I think Rob thought I was a little crazy when I was excited to do Insanity with him.  It feels good to have a good sweat sesh :D Maybe, just maybe I will document getting back into shape on this blog too.  So far, I've lost about 30 lbs just from breastfeeding. It really did melt off in the first few weeks. Now I *only* hafta lose 25 more, which has been done before. I'm more focused on how my clothes fit, so we shall see.

Mmk, back to baby.  With all the hustle and bustle, I asked Bre to do an impromptu Holiday Pic photoshoot. Here are a few of my faves:

I just love that last one, it was in between wardrobe changes and she was hammin' it up.  She is just starting to show more and more personality as each day passes and i absolutely love it!

 

Le sigh, I love our little monkey. Anyway, there's not much else to report until her 2 month well checkup in about a week. I leave you all with one more pic.  It's her faux hawk look:

 

Until next time, 

La la lex!

 

One month old!

Wowie Maui, I can't believe it has already been one whole month since our little love made her debut.  You know what they say, time flies when you're having fun. It has truly been amazing watching her grow up right before our eyes. Though motherhood has been rather exhausting so far, it is the best job in the world.  I'm forever thankful that Rob is providing for us, so that I can be home with her.

It has been a learning experience.  Eat. Sleep. Repeat.  I knew Copeland was trying to prepare me for something! I always thought my type A personality would get the best of me, and I would try and plan perfectly how to take care of this baby. Get her on a clear routine of sleeping and eating at the same time. But, now that I'm on the nitty gritty, it's refreshing to just relax and go with the flow. Within reason, of course.  Just when I think I've got it down, little Sofie throws me a curve ball.  For example: on friday night she fed hourly from 6pm until 2pm Saturday.  Literally.  Nothing else would really soothe her.  Oh em gee, I was exhausted.  Not the best timing, since my BFF from out of state, Monica, and her son were visiting.  Oy vey.  Talk about a major growth spurt. It was worth it though, because she has been going longer in between feedings.

Here is a recap of what I've learned as a new mom in the 1st month of:
-It's true when the proverbial *they* say to sleep when the baby sleeps.  Seriously.  Even if it's only a 30 minute nap.
-We are creatures of habit, listen to your baby and look for cues of what works for him/her.  Every baby is different. Sounds simple enough, right?
-Breastfeeding is amazing, once you get the gist of it.  Don't give up, both you & baby are learning together and it doesn't happen overnight.
-A bottle of pumped milk is more valuable to you when your hubby offers to take a feeding shift.  I thought enjoying a margarita would be more fun. Haha, ok so I'm totally joking.  But really, if hubby offers to take a feeding or entire night: pump those boobies and get some sleep!
-On the same note, accept help when offered.  This isn't the time to be accommodating to guests or polite.  Yes, you can wash my dishes. Of course I would love for you to bring us dinner. Don't forget your *Please & Thank You's*

This came across one of my daily bits of info on my Baby Center App:

So true! I seriously don't know how my body can function after 5 weeks of intermittent sleep, but I'm thankful that it can. Photo bomb time!

Sofia turned 3 weeks old exactly on Halloween.  Here are a few awesome pics:

 It worked perfectly when we found out Karlie dressed up as Cinderella.  Too cute!

 Look at our little Snow White.  A special thanks to our cousins Megan & Emma for sending such an adorable costume!

I had a great weekend with Monica and Jace visiting, and I can't wait til they move back to AZ.  Here is a pic of Auntie Mo and Sofia.

And of course silly Jace, being a total boy and getting into everything. He managed to fit inside Rico's tiny kennel! Haha

 Jace watching his mommy hold baby Sof and unsure of how to react, hehe. Oh, and Mr. Rico.

 Trying to soothe Sofia, it was a rough weekend for the children. Ha!

 Jace & Uncle Rob playing in Sofia's room.

Sofia turned 1 month old on Saturday and we took our first of many "progression" pictures.  Very similar to my belly shots. Look how cute our little monkey is!

 Here is a collage of her many faces.  I am a typical obsessed mom and take a gazillion pics and think that every single one is the cutest. Gosh, I just love her!

The board reads she weighs 11 lbs, because we weighed her at home (rob weighed himself and then held her and weighed himself again.  we is smart)
Per the pediatrician, here are the stats:
*10 lbs 12 oz and is in the 87th percentile
*23 inches long and is in the 94th percentile (whoa!)
*Head circumference is in 80th percentile (didn't catch the #)

I had a feeling she had a major growth spurt, lengthwise.  She has officially grown out of newborn onesies already.  *tear* The 0-3 or 3 month onesies fit perfectly in length, still a little baggy in the chest area. The tech had to come in to re-measure her to make sure she did it correctly. Looks like she may have inherited the Hegarty torso & legs.  She will probably be in the Olympics too, boom!

A quick look of progression.  Top left to right: Day of birth, 1 week old, 2 weeks old.  Bottom left to right: 3 weeks old, 4 weeks old.

 Last picture to share today: Daddy & Daughter time is super special for Rob after a hard day's work.  I love seeing his face light up when he gets to love on his little princess.  It melts my heart.

One significant thing I've noticed is that she is starting to smile a lot more, it's adorable.  I can't wait to see what she does next.

On another note, we have had a crazzzzyyyy week. On tuesday night, the dogs were running around, as usual, and Riley accidentally stepped on Rico.  This time, he got him good (as there have been many close calls.)  We thought it was his left leg, since he was dragging it more.  Turns out it was his spine, and *Thank God* it isn't fractured.  I'm so thankful to Caring Hearts Clinic for always being so honest with us and with their services.  He was discharged last night with steroids, and this will hopefully help him heal quicker.  I can already see a difference in him today, he is walking a little better.  Tile proves to be a little more challenging, poor little dude.  Once he is healed up, my parents have agreed to take him.  I'm gonna miss seeing his big, bug eyes and radar-like ears every day, but am so happy I can visit him when I want.  These 2 dogs love each other, but it's too hard for them to co-exist.  Especially with a newborn.  He will have a lot more fun with Sushi (my parent's havanese mix), and can finally play with someone his own size.

I guess I lied when I said no more pics.  I've been snuggling him more, hoping mama bear's love will help heal him quicker.  He loves to be on my belly, and it was funny to watch him try to get comfy on a flatter surface when he is used to my big ol preggers belly.

Ok, so I realized I should probably update more often since I just love posting pictures. I told you, I'm obsessed.

Before I sign off, I just wanted to express how unbelievably happy I am to hear that one of my childhood friends is expecting her first baby.  It has been a challenging journey for her, and I have been praying to hear such wonderful news.  I continue to pray for a healthy pregnancy for her little miracle.  Go Team Baby W!

Baby girl's morning nap will be ending soon, so I better go eat some food and get some shtuff done around the house.

Until next time,

Lex

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new." ~Rajneesh

Oh, how true this quote is!  Motherhood has definitely changed me as a person, and baby Sofia has already taught me things about myself, life, and love. She makes me want to be the best mama that I can be!

Here's our little monkey, already 2 weeks old!

 

It was tough to get a pic of her with her eyes open, I think she was going through a growth spurt on this particular day.  Speaking of growing, baby girl is back on track with her weight.  9 lbs 3 oz and 22 inches long (as of Monday) Yay! It's been nice to get more than 1 hour-ish of sleep.  Let's just say we shouldn't have an issue going forward, she is hungry little hippo and is a great eater.  So far, we are on a pretty consistant schedule of eating every 2 1/2-3 hours. Such a good little babe.  Not to mention she can sleep through anything.  I'm sure she heard Riley's deep bark and Rico's high-pitched yap in utero, haha.

Ok, so we had quite the adventure last Sunday taking newborn pics.  A huge thank you to Monique with Monique Hessler Photography for being so patient, and capturing such amazing pics of our precious girl. 

 

I'm really excited to document Sofie's monthly growth with these awesome stickers I found on etsy

Here's a picture from today, just loungin around with mama on a gorgeous October morning.

 

Gosh, I love our little monkey.  It's crazy how we've noticed how much she has already grown in 2 weeks.  Already having certain personality traits and habits.  This picture, for example, she always makes her way to the left side of the bassinet.  Never fails.  It's like her 3rd boob, haha.

Mmk, time to feed the pups.

Stay tuned!

 

"Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

She's here! Me, oh my...what a whirlwind the last week and a half has been.  I had a very last post to write with my 40 week picture, but my macbook won't let me load pics from my digi cam.  Oh well, who needs another belly post when baby is finally here. ♥

Birth Story

It all started on Tuesday, October 9th at my weekly OB appointment.  Rob came with me, since we were already over 40 weeks.  My doctor had been telling me for a few weeks now that she had a feeling baby girl was measuring pretty big.  At her 36 week ultrasound, she measuered 8lbs 5 oz  (I don't think i shared this on the blog because of the betting pool).  Of course, ultrasounds can be off as much as a pound either way. But still! Needless to say, she was worried about it.  Also, my cervix was still completely closed and I hadn't had any signs of labor.  Barely experienced any Braxton Hicks. Soooo, she booked us an induction for Friday (which we reluctantly said ok, for now) sent us to the hospital to do standard testing and an ultrasound to see how big she was.
Welp, they said she was already 10 lbs, *give or take a pound*  Holy mama!  No biggie, I had already had a few pep talks with my doula to prepare myself.

That's not all.

Her chest/tummy area were measuring abnormally larger than it should. Since this was my first birth, my doctor said "Even if you can get her head through, I don't think you can safely get the shoulders through and the baby may get shoulder distocia.  We need to do a c-section.  blah blah blah"  I say blah blah blah, because the minute I heard c-section, my eyes welled up and I started to shake. I barely heard the rest of what she said.  This isn't what I had been preparing for, in fact; this is what I've been preparing to avoid. Next thing I know, the nurses say they have an opening at 9 am (18 hours away).  I told them we need a few minutes to let this sink in and call our doula. Amanda (our doula) was such a great support and provided us with the knowledge we needed to make this decision.  I also trust my doctor, and her reputation for natural births and balancing conventional and homeopathic services.  I asked the nurses (who were excited to hear I was going med-free before the news) and asked them to be straight up honest.  They said c-section will be the safest way to get her out.  My mommy instincts were telling me the same.  Last thing I wanted was to try and be a hero and go for it, only to end up in an emergency c-section after 30 hours of labor. Ultimately, my goal had always been: whatever it takes to safely have a healthy baby.

So we made the decision. Scheduled c-section @ 9 am the next day. I think we got 4-5 hours of sleep, and both woke up at 3 am with anticipation and excitement knowing that in approximately 6 hours, we get to finally meet our miracle baby. We did some last minute nesting, double checked our overnight bags, and made our way to the hospital.  Amanda met us there and hung out with us during triage while we got prepped for surgery.  I don't know if I really digested what was to come, but I know that I was nervous.  I've never been in the hospital and the worst thing I've experienced is a sprained ankle (knock on wood, and super thankful)  We could only have one person in the operating room, so we said our goodbye to Amanda as she joined our parents in the waiting room.
I was so scared and nervous, I was shaking.  Not to mention the room was freezing, which made getting my epidural a feat for the doctor.  Took him a couple tries, as I arched my back over my big belly, focused on my breathing, and held on to a nurse.  She really got me through that part, and I was really grateful for that (rob wasn't allowed in until I was prepped).  The surgery was super short, maybe 15 minutes? It's the weirdest sensation being awake and alert, numbed from the chest down while they operate on you.  Tugging and pulling and pushing her down.  Finally, the anesthesiologist asked Rob if he had a camera because it was time.  Once I heard she was coming, I had a mini flashback of our 2 year journey to get to this moment and I couldn't help but cry.  Then, I heard her strong lungs crying out and my tears just came faster.  Our baby finally made it safe and sound! Born at 9:59am, 9lbs 2 oz and 20.5 inches long. Whoa mama!  Rob left to go cut the cord and play camera man again.  I wish they would have let Amanda be there, but it was ok.  Rob came over to me with our precious Sofia and put her cheek to cheek with me.  She immediately stopped crying when I said "It's ok baby, mama's here."

After they stitched me up, they took me to a temporary recovery room so I could establish breastfeeding (i made it known this was very important to me) That nurse was super helpful and was respectful about what we wanted to do as far as newborn procedures were concerned.  I recommend to any first time moms to research what is necessary, and what you can skip entirely or wait on.  I also asked for either one of us to be present when any procedures were done.  It's already a scary world for babies as it is! Not to mention, she was pretty noisy (lotsa crying) the first few hours after birth.  Can you blame her? She was probably mid-nap when they yanked her out of me vs a baby that instinctively knows to make his/her way down the birth canal. I should mention that her head was perfectly round and not "molded", as my doctor put it.  And as I mentioned earlier, they had to push her down (that took my breath away, ouch!) In other words, she was nice and comfy in my belly and didn't even try to make it down the birth canal.  Who knows how long I would have gone past my due date.  It made me feel better about our decision.
Proud daddy:

We didn't make it to our actual recovery room until around noon, and after that it was visitors galore.  We feel so blessed that our baby is so loved!  Thanks to everyone who came to visit us and helped with meals, our pups, and anything else.  We stayed at the hospital for 3 nights, and I can't express how great the entire hospital staff was while we learned on the fly.  I'm also extremely thankful for having such an awesome husband. I was impressed with how natural it all came to him. Watching him with our daughter made me fall in love with him all over again. He took care of us both.  After major surgery, it was like a 30 minute field trip for me just to go potty.  He became the ultimate diaper changer and burp master.  We definitely needed that extra night, and left with a lot more confidence.
Here are the proud grandparents:
Can't forget about the proud Aunts and Uncles:

Our first week home has gone by pretty quick, and it has been a learning experience (duh!).  We have a pretty nice setup in our room. Bassinet right next to me, changing area on top of our dresser, and our awesome gliding chair.  All I need is our mini fridge and I don't need to leave the room! Haha.   First few nights, Rob had to help me a lot more since it was difficult to get in and out of bed with my incision. Aaaand we were put on a strict feeding schedule since she lost more weight than normal.  Feed every 2 hours, feed pumped breast milk, supplement with a little formula, and pump for 30 minutes (for next feeding)  That left me with maybe an hour-ish to sleep.  Man oh man, that was challenging.  All things considered, can I just say how lucky we are?!  Sofia is such a good little baby *knock on wood* She is a happy baby with simple needs, and she makes me feel like I know what I'm doing! Hehe.  I'm also really surprised at how it's been easier than expected to function off of such little sleep.  There's gotta be some sort of science behind that right? After those first 2 nights with Rob's help, I decided to try and do it on my own.  Kind of a preparation for when he went back to work.  My mom also starting coming over in the mornings to help with housework and the baby, which has been really great.  I'm sure Nana is lovin all the quality time with us too. Thanks Nana!  Also, thanks to our family and friends who have gone out of their way to bring us dinner.  It has been super helpful and made this transition that much easier.

I can't wait to start writing more about our precious baby girl.  It's amazing how much she has already changed our lives.  It's true when they say you will never really know until you experience it for yourself.  And that all the pregnancy discomforts, pain that comes from birth, and other sacrifices made are worth it. I have so much love in my heart for this little being, that I'm overcome by emotion.  I'm noticing her grow up before my eyes and wish she would stay this little forever.  Yes, I'm that kinda mom!  Of course I am excited and curious to see what kind of little girl and young woman she will become.  But every time I look at her, I just wish time could stand still, because she is so perfect in that very moment.  le sigh
Photo Bomb time!
First night home:

First sponge bath:

First visit to the doc:

Here's one of my faves, thank you instagram for making me a professional photographer (totally kidding!)
First smile caught on camera:

Daddy burping his baby girl:

One last one, since it's rare she is awake and we get to see those pretty peepers:

Mmk, time for me to get some sleep.  Things to come include: newborn photo shoot this weekend with Monique Hessler Photography (she did our maternity pics) and I plan on finding something cool to share baby stats, kinda like I did with the belly stats.

Besos,

Baby Mama Lex

"Time is making fools of us again." ~J.K. Rowling

Tick tock! I find this quote rather fitting for my current situation.  I've been told at all my ultrasound appointments ordered by my doc that I've been measuring a week early, and at my OB appointments; my belly measurement has also shown about a week early. Pffft! We are 3 days away from the due date.  So much for accuracy, haha. Oh wells.  Like I've been saying, gotta take it all with a grain of salt. But, I gotta be honest... I'm officially ancy and anxious to finally meet my little babe.  ((not to mention SO over being preggers)) Especially since I've noticed a mini baby boom amongst my fellow FB ladies.  I can count a handful that were due after me and have already had their babies.  Is it my turn yet?! le sigh.  However, I'm extremely grateful that I've made it full term. I've seen a few mamas out there that had their babies too early and not be so lucky.  I do count my blessings and am so thankful I've had a low risk pregnancy with no hospital visits or preterm labor.  Buuuuut, stilllll. This last home stretch has been rough!

So yup, I'm still here. As pregnant as ever. I'm happy to report my preggers twinsie, Tanicka, had baby London Amaya on Sunday.  She just had to be a September baby. Hahaha, I love it.  Successful VBAC with a healthy, happy baby girl.  So excited for them!  When we went to visit, I had 3-4 people ask if I was checking in and all I could do was shamefully drop my head and say in a small voice, "no, not yet..."  bahahaha. I'm such a little whiny punk.
I'm so ready! Got my overnight bag ready, diaper bag, putting together a doggy bag (not for leftovers) for the pups when they need to go to Casa de Cuervos. Let's do this!
Poor Rob is extremely ready! I think it's been a challenge to focus at work this week because he is so excited.  Also, since I've had a lot more pelvic pressure and groan in pain while I sleep; he is wide awake ready to go "Babe, you ok? Is it a contraction?"  or when I *ever so slowly* get up to go pee (for the 6th time) he says he is just waiting for me to tell him my water broke or I found other evidence of labor (bloody show, sorry if it's TMI).  Could I just say that i absolutely love how knowledgeable and involved Rob has been throughout this whole pregnancy. It's pretty great.
Not much else to report, so how bout some belly stats (hopefully the last one?)


How far along: 39 weeks 1 day
Baby is the size of a: mini watermelon (20 in & 7.25 lbs)
Total weight gain: 54. please stop! haha
Maternity clothes: non-maternity comfy skirts and comfy tank tops. or naked (my preference! haha)
Stretch marks? Still the same ones on the bottom of my belly, and on each hip.
Sleep: straight up sucks, just being honest!
Best moment this week: getting to hold not 1, but 2 newborns. is it my turn yet?!
Miss Anything? feeling like myself, like my body isn’t falling a part. the feeling in my right hand, lying on my belly, seeing my ankle bones, an ice cold margy, sushi, a hard workout, having energy, being able to move without something hurting, ok. i’ll stop. haha
Movement: yup, my little night owl. and everytime she moves, I sweetly ask if she is ready to keep moving down. haha
Food cravings: bluebell icecream (cookies and cream AND butter crunch) anything chocolate & peanut butter. firehouse subs. honey hot wings.
Anything making you queasy or sick: still feel icky after most meals. suuucks
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: It’s really hard to say
Symptoms: the usual: back aches, arm/leg cramps, tons of pelvic pressure(ow!), carpal tunnel, tummy ickiness, burps, fatigue, swelling (the fingers on my right hand have been tingly/numb for quite some time) And more fatigue, WTH! Oh, and a new one: my knees are starting to hurt. basically, I’m falling a part
Belly Button in or out? Kinda flat, sometimes pops out depending on how I’m sitting
Wedding rings on or off? Off. My poor, tingly sausage fingers.
Happy or Moody most of the time: happy AND moody, I am pregnant people! haha
Looking forward to: holding and cuddling our precious Sofia, whenever she decides to make her grand entrance.

Happy October!  My favorite part of the year has officially begun.

Big Gulps huh? Welp, see ya later!
Lex