Chunky Monkey!!

So today we had our 2 week well baby check at the doctors office.  After our bit with jaundice the doctor was hoping Landon would be back to his birth weight or a little over.  Remember Landon was 7lbs. 10 oz. when he was born.  Well, he blew them away with a weight of 8lbs. and 10 oz.  So he has gained a full pound!!  He has also grown from 19.5 to 21 inches.  I knew he had gotten bigger, but holy cow!  Landon has also jumped quite a bit in the percentage range.  When he was born he was in the 36th percentile for height and weight.  Well he is now in the 48th percent for weight and 68th for length.  Once again he is his father's son and looks to be on the tall side already!!

We also had a fun week with Landon getting his first bath.  He still had part of his umbilical cord, so he wasnt' supposed to be fully immersed in the water.  He did like it much better than the hospital though!!!  He also lost his "belly button" last night so we look forward to bath time that can be much warmer!

I will attach a few pictures.  Not too much new this week, but mom and Landon have survived our first week on our own and hope for nicer weather so we can start going for walks and get some fresh air!!

I look so tiny with dad's hand on me!!

This bath thing isn't so bad!

My towel is a little big yet, but it warmed me up!!

Sweet Dreams!

All stretched out...this is the life

I'm 2 weeks old today!!

Cute baby feet..

I'm liking this tummy time stuff!!

BIG stretches!!!

I'm an inny!!

Week One...

Well we officially survived our first week, and to say it was a busy one is an understatement.  I will start by stating that for all of you who were wondering or doubting, we made it through the wedding and it was a huge success...Landon did GREAT and mommy was able to fulfill her bridesmaid duties!!

We came home on Tuesday, April 17th.  I think we were all thrilled to be home.  Landon has been eating well and sleeping great too.  We have gotten a few 4-4.5 hour spirts at night and eating about every 3 hours during the day. 

On Wednesday we spent my birthday running errands.  Landon had his first doctors appointment to check his bilirubin levels and make sure he wasn't going to need a blanket for jaundice.  His levels were elevated, but they weren't too concerned, so we got to go back on Thursday.  After our appointment on Wednesday I was feeling so well we decided to introduce Landon to our favorite places, Target and Menards!  We also had to make a quick stop at Walgreens to get him some supplies for his circumcision.  Wednesday night we took our first road trip to Des Moines so I could get my bridesmaid dress altered again.  A huge Thanks to the secretary in my office who does alterations and was able to tuck and trim my dress! 

Thursday led to another doctors appointment.  Landon's levels dropped quite a bit so no blanket for us!!  YEAH!!  We also had to take a run to Wal-Mart to try to find the guy some pants.  This lovely April weather has him a little confused.  Somedays he is in just a onsie and the next, long sleeves and pants.  We weren't too prepared for pants, and trying to find them this time of year has been a challenge.  Thanks to Wal-Mart and cheap pants he now owns a couple pairs!!

Friday we picked up my bridesmaid dress and had rehearsal dinner.  Landon did great and slept through the whole thing!

Saturday was the big day...Matt and Landon came to the salon in the morning while the girls got their hair done.  They were both troopers through the entire day.  After hair we went home to eat and get Landon ready for the wedding.  We went back to the church for pictures and the wedding.  There was about 20 minutes where Landon was a little frustrated and wanted to eat while I was getting pictures taken.  He slept through the entire ceremony and then after eating slept through the reception as well!!  We were able to make it until 8:45, so he partied hard!!

Sunday Grandma and Grandpa Heidesch came to spoil Landon and bring mommy and daddy a ton of food to help through the week.  With Matt going back to work this week, it will come in handy to have food to pull from the freezer!  Sunday night Louise, Abby, Dave, Heather, Mike and Ethan came over to visit.  They brought pizza that was delicious.  Ethan thought baby Landon was pretty cool and didn't really want to stop holding him once he got started.  He liked holding his hands!

So that is our week in a nutshell, pretty eventful, but we had a great first week home and look forward to some relaxing days to come!!  Below are some pictures of the week.  Also I added a few pictures of the "almost" finished nursery.  There are a couple of pictures from Pottery Barn where I got my inspiration and then my version.  I gotta say I don't think Pottery Barn has anything on me :o)

Pottery Barn Caterpillar....My Caterpillar above the bed                                                       

               Pottery Barn red and white....Our red and white

Welcome Home Landon!!

Sophie welcoming Landon home...Who is this new thing in my house??

Tiger is a little protective...and wants him to just be quiet!!

I sleep just like my daddy!!

Lookin good at the salon waiting for the ladies to get beautified!!

I am ONE week old today!!  My "newborn" outfit is still a little big!!



Ready to get this show on the road.  Bring on the Party!!

Landon with Daddy at the wedding and our first family picture!  Landon slept through the whole reception!!!

Landon with the Bride and Groom!!  Definitely the youngest guest there!!! 

Congrats Becky and Nathan!!

Ethan "holding" baby Landon...he thought it was pretty cool.

 Sleeping, Landon's favorite pastime!!!

Landon's Birthday!!

Landon was born 4.14.12 at 5:01 PM.  Here is the story of his birthday!

I woke up at 7 AM on Saturday and was bummed because I thought it might be the last Saturday of my life to sleep in and here I am, up at 7..UGH.  I got up and went to the bathroom, laid in bed and had a contraction.  I hadn't had any contractions up to this point so assumed it was a braxton-hicks.  Matt went into work to try to get a little overtime and I tried to go back to sleep.  I had another contraction at 7:15 and then another at 7:30...thinking that 15 minutes was a little regular I went to get out of bed and it happened.  My water broke.  I will admit, I wasn't quite sure, but really hoped I didn't just wet my pants b/c that is just embarrassing!!  I went to the bathroom and decided that my water did break.  I called Mercy nurse and they told me to come in, they would check me and if it did break, I had 24 hours to have a baby.  I tried calling and texting Matt, but got no answer.  So, I decided to take a quick shower, shave my legs :o) and throw everything into the hospital bag.  It was about 8:40 and I still hadn't heard from Matt.  I was starting to have more regular contractions so I decided I better go to his work and get him. 

I showed up to Matt's work and started asking random people where I might be able to find him.  I am pretty sure all the guys looking at me were a little worried a baby might make an appearance right there in the warehouse!!  Matt finally came walking around the corner (thinking I came to get him because Sophie got out) and I had to tell him my water broke and we have to move!!  That got him moving a little faster!!  He showered finished his packing for the hospital and we were on our way.  We had big plans for the weekend including finishing hospital packing and putting the car seat into the car.  So we threw the bag in the car along with the car seat (still in the plastic) and were on our way.

We got to the hospital at 9:40 AM.  By this time my contractions were approximately 4 minutes apart  They took a swab and determined that my water had in fact broke and I was officially admitted.  They got me all hooked up and we were on our way.  The nurse called the Dr. about starting pitosin and that was denied, he wanted to see how I progressed on my own first.  Well I sure did that!!  At 10 I was checked and was 4 cm.  The nurse asked if I wanted my epidural and I thought I would be tough and not get it right away.  Well by 11 I wanted the epidural...contractions were coming much closer together and really started to hurt.  I tried walking and that did not help at all, so I sat on a yoga ball and Matt rubbed my back.  I had to get into bed for the anesthesiologist to come and that was when it hit the wall.  From 11-11:45 I had contractions that felt like one solid contraction with little down time or relief.  This is when stuff got real and I pretty much shut down.  Matt thought I blacked out b/c I just laid still and tried to breath...wanting to scream, but knowing that wasn't going to do any good.  I got IV medication, that did not help much at all, then the miracle happened.  The Dr came in and got me started on the epidural.  I know some people want all natural, but if they make the drug why not use it...it was amazing!!  I got checked again and in the past hour and a half I had gone from a 4 to a 7 and was progressing quickly. 

For the next 2.5 hours Matt and I just hung out and watched TV.  I got my temp checked around 1 and had a slight fever.  The Dr. decided that as a precautionary I needed to be on IV antibiotics and Landon would need to go to the NICU to make sure he was also monitored closely and didn't get an infection either.  They thought that my fever may have meant an infection in the amniotic fluid.  So we started to prepare ourselves that shortly after birth Landon would need to take a trip upstairs instead of staying with us in our room.  At 3 the nurse came in and I was at a 9.5 nearing a 10.  She decided she would let my body continue to push and we would start at 3:30. 

She came in at 3:30 and we started pushing.  This really was nothing like you see on TV...push for 30 seconds and then would have 3-4 minutes of down time...at 4:40 she called in the Dr.  I pushed one more time while he got dressed.  I only pushed about 5 more times and Landon made his appearance.  5:01 PM after exactly 10 hours of labor.  I really couldn't have asked for anything better...as my friend Heather said...just a day at work. 

Landon was taken to the NICU shortly after he was born and Matt went with him while I stayed in the labor/delivery room to recover. I was finally able to go up and see him around 8 PM. We stayed there until approx. 10. Then we went back up every 4 hours to try to feed and get started on NICU Care which included changing the diaper, taking his temperature (which he hated), and making sure his pulsox monitor was switched from foot to foot.  It was hard to see our little guy attached to so many machines, but you have to do what you have to do.

We were known as the people with the "big baby" around the NICU.  It seems like all who came in or talked to us and said, Oh your the couple with the big baby...yep all 7lbs. 10 oz. of him!!

The next day we had lots of family visitors and that night Landon finally got a bath.  He hated it, but daddy and our favorite nurse, Danielle, did a great job.  It was nice to finally get his hair washed and give him that awesome "baby" smell.

Day 3 mommy was discharged, but luckily the nurses let us stay in the room until 11:00 PM and then we packed up the car and Matt went home, while I stayed in Landon's room.   Probably the most uncomfortable night ever.  really no where to sleep and alarms went off all night.  But, Matt came back bright and early to try to relieve me.

The neonatologist came in around 8 and said she would let us go home 2 hours after his circumcision. So at 1:30 PM on Tuesday 4.17.12 we graduated the NICU and made our way home. The nurses in mother/baby and especially the NICU were fantastic. However it is GREAT to be home!!

As I am writing this we had our first blow out...somehow Landon managed to miss his diaper while sleeping on his side next to me on the couch and pee all over my leg, down his PJ's and the couch...oh the joys!!  I wouldn't have it any other way!!

What a month!!!

So, I just logged in and realized it has been a full month since the last time I posted.  Time flies when you are having fun and extremely worn out!!!  So here goes nothing at our last month...

SHOWERED WITH KINDNESS.....

We have been blessed with 3 awesome baby showers this month!  My best Ankeny friends threw me a shower in the beginning of March.  The highlights being an ice cream sundae bar (they don't know me at all) and having every guest bring a book instead of a card.  Baby H is loaded with books...they will love to read whether they like it or not!!!  I was blessed to have so many great friends attend this shower and start the influx of baby love!!

                                      After Matt and Luke helped unload into the house!!!

    Then unpacking into the nursery!!!  AWESOME!!

Great friends and a Great shower!!!



My best high school friends and sister threw me a shower in Spencer on the 24th.  It was once again a great success with friends and family from back home.  They did a "Very Hungry Caterpillar" theme which turned out to be ADORABLE!!!  Baby H will have a lantern caterpillar to hang above the crib versus a mobile...I am so excited to get it hung up!!  We also had foods that the caterpillar ate through...so lots of yummy snacks there too!!   The UPS man was my friend the week before this shower.  For all the family that couldn't make it, there were lots of Target deliveries that week.  I was on spring break so home every day.  One of the gifts was 5 parts (a bath theme) and each part was delivered separately so the UPS guy and I saw each other everyday!!  It was pretty fun :o)  I need to get digital pictures from my mom or sister, but here is the loot :o)

Nice and packed up so it fit in my car!!

Then the crazy of unpacking it all!!  Notice the fact that we should have taken stock in Fisher Price and a very confused kitty in the middle...oh how his life is about to change!!!

I finished out the month with a great shower by my co-workers.  This shower was at my house.  Needed to show off the hard work of the nursery!  This just happened on Friday, so haven't gotten a chance to get pictures from my co-worker yet.  Baby H. was spoiled by all in the Indianola AEA office as well!!



DRS. APPOINTMENT AND PRE-NATAL CLASSES

So Matt and I took 5 weeks of pre-natal classes in March.  Overall they were very informative. The first 3 weeks were all about "non-medicinal" forms of pain management....WHATEVER...it is a great thought but they make those drugs for a reason and I am not afraid to use them :o)  The last two weeks were actually the best for us going through the actual process, the medicinal pain management, and having a pediatrician come and talk to us about going home and starting that journey.  Hopefully we are somewhat prepared for the craziness that is about to ensue on our lives!!

33.5 week Dr. visit. 
I went to this visit on my own and what do you know I am measuring a little big!  I'm sure that has nothing to do with Matt being almost 10 lbs!!!!  The Dr. said we would see how I progress and possibly get an ultrasound to make sure I'm not carrying a giant in there!!

35.5 week Dr. visit
Matt came with to this visit.  I actually measured right on at this visit so the Dr. is going to order an ultrasound just to make sure the baby isn't huge and to see what is going on with my fluctuating size.  I have started weekly visits, which is exciting b/c we are nearing the end.  I am actually dilated to 1 and starting to get moving.  I could be stuck at 1 for a while, but at least I am started with something!!  Matt might be just a little shocked still from the "realness" of these appointments, but I think he will be okay.  Pre-natal class didn't prepare him for the doctors appointments I guess :o) 

NURSERY PROGRESS
So the nursery is almost complete.  I am thinking I will start washing things next week and actually start putting things a little more together and out of the packaging.  My goal is to be ready to go the week after Easter.   My mom and sister are coming down for some extra time around Easter so maybe they can help me!  Here are some pictures of the updates!

We have a crib...looking in the nursery from the hallway

The rocking corner...We now have pictures on the wall...and shower gifts are put away :o)

The crib...it does have a mattress now!!

My homemade canvas prints...not sure why this picture won't upload normal..but you get the idea!

We are starting to get VERY, VERY full!!!

The crib with mattress and the super cute Caterpillar lanterns that will hang above the crib

PHOTO SHOOT

Sunday Matt and I went up to Iowa State and had a maternity photo shoot with my friend Lisa.  Brandon tagged along for some comic relief and to carry all the bags.  It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to see them all!!  I'm not one that is really into "belly pictures"  something about my stretch marks isn't so great, but I think Lisa did a great job and got some really cute pictures!!!

36 weeks!!! 

Happy April!!  Hopefully Baby H's birthday month!!!