Eve of the Eve

We celebrated the eve of the eve last night with great friends ... my sis is in town, along with Scotty, Ade, and of course Uncle John and hubby.

We finally checked out ROOF at the Wit Hotel, pretty awesome. I can see how in the summer time it would be totally jammed.

So fun to get out and enjoy a night on the town. Tonight is much more low key with dinner at the house.

Happy New Year to all! Hope you have a great, safe night.

My sis rocks

I read a stat this weekend that said if you were raised with at least one sister, your more likely to be happier than people with only brothers. The article says (obviously) girls are more likely to express feelings and encourage the entire family to communicate more effectively...along with a few other things that lead to an increase in overall happiness levels. Basically, sisters rock.

With mine in town this weekend while hubby is in Boston for a week, I must conquer. For a thousand reasons, I love having her here...not the least of which is that we haven't had quality alone time like this in ages. We caught up on everything under the sun, ate Ethiopian (she is one of only a handful of people in my life who crave it like I do), helped with Ben (thank goodness b/c I found myself feeling not so hot on Sat and not sure how I would have handled him on my own), and of course, she is always game for a Ben photo shoot...so enjoy the pics.

You have my sis to thank (as do I!). xoxo

Big smiles

Ben's favorite, my sis. And one giant, gummy smile. 

I think teeth are in our near future. No actual sign of them yet, just seeing a lot more of his gums than ever before. 

What do you think? 

Congrats to My Awesome Sis

A big CONGRATS to my sis who organized the 4th annual Ryan Serber Classic 8K race this weekend.

Negotiating the details of an event of this magnitude is stressful enough -- add into the mix the emotional elements surrounding the race, having family and friends in from near and far, coordinating countless logistics, hosting house guests, (not to mention co-hosting a baby shower the same weekend) and an ordinary person would be balled into a corner in tears.

Yet she handles herself with such grace and poise throughout, I continue to be in awe of her.

She hands out race packets. She knows everyone's name on the course, and thanks them personally for volunteering. She welcomes the runners and conducts the post-race ceremonies. And she does it all with a genuine smile and gratitude.

Congrats my sis. Ryan would be so proud. I love you.

For more on her story, check out this great article in the Toldo Free Press

Smiles Still Send Me...

The weekend has come to an end and we had a great visit with my sis! Lots accomplished, including tons of cuddling with Ben and his aunt. We managed to squeeze in a little shopping, sushi, and yard work too.

Tonight we will eat our first salad with lettuce from the garden. I picked a mixture of red leaf, arugula, butter, bib, spinach and a few others. So excited to taste it!

Here is to a great week - a little giggle from Ben to start your Monday with a smile. Video being uploaded as well...

Ben's Stats

Big weekend ahead of us - my sis is coming into town to visit the little guy which will be great fun. We'll also do some early celebrating of my b-day which is on Monday.

Before the week gets away from us I wanted to share Big Ben's digits from his two-month peds appointment, which was on Monday.

He is now 13.4 lbs (up from 10.2) which means he is putting on weight very nicely. He is 23 7/8 inches long, with a head circumference of 16 inches (I'm still unclear why this one matters). For those into percentages, he is 75th percentile for weight/length and 50th for head. All percentages are higher from last appointment.

Overall he is progressing perfectly (I think the doctor's word was actually "normally" but I heard perfectly).

He got his big round of shots and took them like a champ.

Seen here modeling his first shorts-set (thanks Rachel!), resting up for the party ahead.

Have a great weekend!

Family extravaganza continues

We visited my sis, Ben's aunt (and godmother) last night during a quick stop over in T-town. She and Ben are cuddling in the picture above - Ben has his arms around her in front and back in a hug-like position. It was so nice to catch up, albeit just for a few hours. And Ben is becoming quite the Mexican food critic, seen here at El Camino.

He is growing SO BIG, SO FAST - it is amazing. He definitely isn't a newborn anymore. He has graduated into baby. What's the difference? He has outgrown the newness that is obvious when you look at a newborn, and he isn't as tiny. Sad. But he has better neck control and baby rolls, which is cute. And we're dangerously close to smiling.

Watch out. I am going to be SO annoying when he starts smiling. Actually I may never post again b/c I'll be busy waiting for the next one...

LABOR

(Warning- potential for TMI)

The month leading up to my due date, I started tivoing birthing shows on TLC. People say you can't really prepare for your labor experience, need to be flexible b/c things change quickly, but I thought if I watched others go through it I would at least have a sense of what to expect.

The thing is, most everyone featured is doing childbirth naturally, and there are 15 people in the room. Coaches, midwives, doulas, family members - helping support the mother.

So when my nurse and doctor gathered at the end of my bed and told me it was time to start pushing, I really didn't get that it was 'game-on.'

I had been put on a pitocin drip, in partnership with my epidural. I had been very fearful of the pitocin b/c I'd heard it was extremely painful. In my case it was necessary to help speed up the frequency of the contractions, and get the little puppy out. It wasn't really that painful, relatively speaking.

The day went by pretty quickly. The nurse was switching me from side to side periodically b/c the baby's heartrate was fluctuating, and going a bit lower than they liked to see. Turning helps shift the baby, and they thought maybe relieve stress on his cord.

Hubby and I both took a nap. I'd heard women say this and never really understood how it was possible. But the epidural makes you so sleepy and numb (seriously, it is the BEST thing I've EVER experienced, college years included), and it takes awhile for the contractions to speed up to a productive place.

Anywho, I had been 2cm at admission; 4cm by the time I had gotten upstairs. Suddenly, mid-nap, about eight people rushed into the room and there was a flurry of activity. The baby's heartrate had dipped significantly.

They propped me up on my hands and knees, strapped an oxygen mask to my face and started rubbing my belly (meanwhile all I could think about is my naked butt flailing in the air - labor is so not pretty).

The doctor checked me in a 9cm. I had progressed from 4cm to 9cm in about 30 minutes.

Once the baby's heartrate regulated, everyone left. It was just hubby, me, my sis, the nurse and the doctor again, and they said it was time to get started. They turned down the epidural so I could better feel the contractions (not that bad), and we got down to business.

It is hard to explain how it all goes down but really it is pretty simple. You feel the contraction coming, you push (really, really hard) for 10 seconds/three times in a row, and then wait for the next one. You need the contractions coming quickly enough that you don't lose progress or momentum in between each set. You are literally pushing the baby down the birth canal.

It didn't seem like I was making any headway with my efforts (because I couldn't feel anything - again, xo epidural) but then the doctor asked hubby if he could see the head coming. The head?! And soon she said, "we have eyebrows"...and then there was more pushing, and breathing and contracting and pushing.

And then there was a baby.

Hubby shouted "Balls!" -- and thus, we had a boy :)

He didn't cry right away, which also contradicts what you see on TV. But no one seemed concerned. The doctor made some comment about a 'triple necklace' or something, his cord was wrapped around his neck three times. Again no one seemed concerned and I was still processing the enormity of the whole experience. She unwrapped him and I remember being struck by how long the cord was.

And then baby Ben was on my chest. Slippery and bloody and even more confused than I was.

There is really no way to explain the emotions other than to state the obvious - it is a miracle.

Our second support shift has arrived - aunt Carrie left this morning and my parents arrived this afternoon.

Everyday we get a little smarter, learn a few more tricks that make this whole thing a bit easier. It is a facinating experience. He is so awesome, I can't even do him justice by trying to write it out.

Not surprising, my biggest challenge is taking things easy so I bounce back faster. I've already been scolded for overdoing it...but who is surprised? I'm neurotic, type A and have been on bedrest since mid-Feb. And now there is SO MUCH MORE to do. Baby clothes to be washed, closet transitioned from maternity to regular, house to be cleaned. But all this means running stairs a thousand times and that does not a recovered mother make. So I've learned to ask for help, and lots of it.

I still have plans to share details (for those interested) on the labor itself, breastfeeding, the amazing amount of people who come out of the woodwork to offer blessings and presents and maybe a few other gems. It has been such an unbelievable journey.

Just trying to get up and running here. Thank you for all your notes and thoughts. can't wait to introduce you to the little guy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!! (super cute pic of mom and sis in Costa Rica)

Today is already a fantastic day and it is only 10:30. Mom and sis are in town for my baby shower - (I received clearance to attend, though must take it easy) - which is going to be so fun. It snowed about 3 inches last night and now there is a pretty blanket of white. Stella is so happy.

We had a fantastic dinner last night at Province - new yummy restaurant downtown. This morning we're just bumming around laughing and catching up. Normally we'd be feverishly shopping but the girls are nice enough to slow down with me. And they are spoiling me. Walking the dog, cooking for me. It's weird and wonderful at the same time :)

It's so fun to have them in town!!

Wow, that may have been the roast with the most! Early signs point to maybe the best ever. What made it so great? It could be that we woke to drizzle that slowly evolved into full on rain mid morning. Not so great when you have a 220 lb pig twirling on the spit in the alley! But by noon the sun came out, along with a beautiful blue sky and a nice breeze.

We also had a really awesome crowd this year. Probably 120 people, but the randoms were kept to a minimum (in years past we've had lots of people literally walk off the street and come in). Yesterday was mostly just great friends and great friends of friends.

The food was amazing - Bob of course delivered spectacular pig, as always. K made her delicious broccoli salad and the rest was ordered in from Smoke Daddy. We had mac & cheese, cole slaw and the most delicious corn bread ever. Yum!

We had special appearances from all the sisters - C's and mine - which was a great treat. Lots of great favorites from out of town. Tons of kids (and expecting moms) who were all wonderfully behaved (may have been that they finally received a kid's table and special fixings to keep them happy). Parents of friends I adore and haven't seen in too long. Boys that tucked in wives and returned for a late night out. Overall just a great event.

A few pictures are below, I'll rotate them in this week because there are lots of great ones.

Thanks to everyone who came and played and lent a hand and brought ice and drinks and fun times!

Today we rest.

I DO love Vegas...though I feel like I've aged 10 years welcoming in 33. We headed out Thursday morning for a long weekend in Sin City, staying at the Palazzo (new wing of Venetian). Molly and Joe, Scotty and Gaston, and of course Chris and my birthday surprise, Carrie!

I rolled into the cabana Saturday morning only to find Carrie there!! The best birthday present EVER (I had been hinting all week that all I really wanted for my b-day was Carrie in Vegas with us like years past) and to my surprise those two had planned it weeks earlier. What a fantastic present :)

And living the life of a high roller for the weekend can't be beat either (of course I just enjoyed the perks, while preferring to stick to the 'common' area of the casino myself). Cabana at the pool, great restaurants, fine wine, to-die-for shopping, and of course blackjack until the sun comes up. The boys had a lot of luck with slot machines oddly enough, which was a fun spin on things (wheel of fortune pun intended).

The girls stuck with cards and had a couple great tables throughout the weekend. Because of Carrie and a wild ride with our dealer last night/this morning, I think I finally did end up a winner (though I was definitely sleeping sitting up during those last two shoes).

It was the perfect birthday weekend, another great Vegas celebration. Now this old lady is off catch some zzzz.

Best birthday present ever!!!! Chris flew Carrie out to Vegas!!! More to come but we're having a blast!!!