On The Move

As my pregnancy with Tipp has ended and a new chapter in our life has begun, we are consolidating Tipp’s blog to our Staffordville blog.  We hope you will join us and follow the details of our lives as we watch Tipp grow. 

Tipp’s Arrival!!

Tippett Jefferson Stafford arrived Wednesday, June 16 at 5:40pm.  He was 7lbs. 6 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long.  Other than that he is just PERFECT!

On Monday, Jun 14 we went for my 39 week appt. with Dr. Anya.  I had noticed a slight decrease in movement, but convinced myself it was normal due to his cramped quarters.  However, I brought it up for reassurance with Dr. Anya.  She suggested a Non-Stress Test and we sat hooked up to the monitors for 30 minutes in the office.  It was exciting to know I was already having small contractions on my own, but they did not get a clear reading of his heart rate and movement, so we went to Labor & Delivery at Rex for a longer NST.  Tipp responded well there with a little ice water and sugary popsicle so we were sent home.  Dr. Gunter, the doctor on call wanted us to come back Wednesday for another NST.  We were not at all prepared as Ben had left his cell phone at home and I did not have any numbers for his parents on my phone.  I finally had my bag packed, but left it at home. 

I was already working from home and getting quiet bored waiting on Tipp’s arrival.  On Tuesday evening I went to my mom’s house for dinner and a long 2 mile walk to hopefully get things moving along.  We also made plans to get a pedicure Wednesday evening and then eggplant parmesan from Daniel’s for dinner as it supposedly can help start labor. 

Prior to Wednesday I was not really Nesting, but I spent the morning deep cleaning our stove and it suddenly dawned on me maybe I’ll go into labor Wednesday night. 

At 2:45pm we headed to our appointment and spent 30 minutes on the monitors.  Other than Tipp’s hiccups I did not experience any movement and his heart rate remained steady around 146.  Dr. Gunter seemed a little concerned that it was a “perfect” test and when it comes to babies he wanted perfect.  They got us an appointment at Duke Perinatal immediately for a Bio-Physical Profile. 

We walked into ultrasound at 3:45pm.  Everything on the ultrasound looked great - fluid levels were good, all of his organs were great, and the ultrasound tech estimated he was around 8 lbs.  She left the room and said the Dr. would be in shortly.  Two minutes later the tech returned and said we should head over to Rex and they were expecting us.  She also added I should not eat or drink anything just in case they wanted to admit me.  My first thought was “Oh wow – this baby might be born late tonight or early tomorrow morning”  And slightly worried about an induction as opposed to going into labor naturally.  Again we did not bring our bags to the doctor’s appt.

At 4:10 we walked into Labor and Delivery triage.  I was gowned up and hooked up to the monitors again just as we had spent the afternoon 2 days ago.  Within a few minutes Dr. Placide came to talk and they heard from Duke, but only that Tipp had scored a 4 out of 8 on the BPP and they wanted at least a 6.  He was concerned it could take days to induce me since I was not dilated so he recommended a c-section.  Still, I was calm and thought we would schedule it for a few hours from now when the OR would be available.

In between people coming in to talk to us I was able to call my parents to let them know what was going on.  The anesthesiologist came in to discuss the spinal and risks while I had a nurse putting in an IV and another nurse taking off my jewelry.  I was instructed to take out my contacts and I suddenly lost it realizing the c-section was happening faster than we had planned and there was no time for Ben to go home and get my bag.  I am blind without my contacts and I knew it would be hours before I’d be able to SEE my baby.  Never mind we did not have our camera and I was upset we would miss those first photos of his daddy holding him, being weighed and getting his first bath. 

Our nurse Helen, was amazing and could read me like a book.  She knew I was overwhelmed!  Dr. Placide came back in and said the OR was ready and it would be an hour before my initial blood results would be back from the lab and a spinal was not an option.  I was going to be under general anesthesia.  Part of me was relieved since I was very anxious about being awake for the surgery, but the other part knew the consequences of being groggy and a longer time in recovery without Tipp.  Luckily, the lab expedited the results and they determined I was able to get the spinal. 

Next thing I know I’m being wheeled to the OR and Ben gave me a kiss as he went to get his scrubs on.  They prepped me and I sat on the OR table to get my spinal – pretty terrified that a huge needle was going into my spinal column.  I really surprised myself and remembered to use the relaxation techniques we learned in our birth classes.  The spinal was in place within 2 minutes and by the time they got me lay back down my legs were already going numb. 

Everyone finished their preparations while the nurse anesthetist stayed with me and explained the entire surgery and what was going on.  I thought they were still getting set up when I heard suction and knew they had already started.  I was pretty relieved knowing the incision was already made and I had not felt a thing.  Ben was brought in and sat by my head.  I was told to prepare for some pressure and then one more round of pressure – then we heard the sweetest sound – Tipp’s cries, then our cries of joy.  Someone said 5:40, although I had no concept of time and then I heard "strawberry blonde hair.”  Our son was born. 

Ben went with Tipp next door to be weighed and assessed, then he brought him to me.  I could barely make out his features, but knew he was perfect!

Recovery was a bit of a blur.  It took a good 30-40 minutes to get me put back together.  I remember hearing Dr. Placide and an OR Tech making small talk and then discussing the new dissolvable staples they were using.   I was wheeled to recovery where I met up with Ben an d Tipp.  I had given Ben my Iphone to get a few non-professional pictures of Tipp and was finally able to hold the pictures close enough to see our son.  Once Tipp was given his first bath where he was still crying, he was handing to me to hold him – it was amazing – the moment I had waited for and I could finally comfort him!

We were finally moved to a post-partum room on the east side of the hospital since the Birth Center was full.  At 8pm I was able to nurse Tipp and at 8:45pm our family was brought back to meet their newest grandson and nephew.  My mom had gone to our house to get our bags and I finally put on my glasses to officially see my baby…he was perfect and absolutely gorgeous.  We are so in love!

Our first night was a blur (as were the first few days now), but one of my favorite moments was finally cuddling and taking an early morning nap with my son the next morning.  I was a little sad we never got the initial bonding time right after his delivery, but this moment made up for it!

Ben has been absolutely amazing and jumped right into fatherhood.  He even took over the first diaper change and has become a master at diapers and swaddling.  I always knew he would be a great father.  We shared a special moment the night before we were discharged.  We had sent Tipp to the nursery to get a few hours of sleep and Ben gave me a beautiful David Yurman pearl and diamond ring as a commitment to Tipp and our family.     

For the next two days we had a ton of visitors stopping by to see us.  On Saturday, June 19, Tipp’s due date we were discharged and could not wait to get home.  Tipp loved his car seat and slept the entire ride home.  We were greeted with a huge “Stork” announcing our bundle of joy from my brother and sister in law as well as a huge blue bow on our mailbox from my parents.

We finally had our son home after looking forward to this day for over a year. 

Right now, Tipp is an excellent sleeper, especially at night.  We are working really hard on nursing and hopefully within the next week things will start clicking.  He has been to the doctor twice for his initial check up and his weight was 6 lbs 13 oz.  Our second appointment was with the lactation specialist and he had gained weight back up to 7 lbs even.  We have even made several outings to Target, Panera Bread and Babies R Us. 

Tipp has already brought so much joy into our lives and we are so happy to finally have him here with us.  We are excited to watch him grow and change over the next few weeks, months and years.  I feel like he is already changing and growing in just the 10 days we’ve had him!

I’m starting to use our Shutterfly page since we have so many wonderful photos to share.  Enjoy all the pictures we are taking as we watch Tipp grow.

www.staffordville.shutterfly.com

39 Weeks

We can truly say we’re just waiting on Tipp!  I’m 39 weeks and we have made no plans -  so things are a little boring around here.  I have made lasagna, stuffed peppers, chicken divan and banana bread to freeze.  This week it has been HOT and HUMID and I cannot imagine being pregnant through the entire summer.  So far I have made no progress although Tipp has seemed to drop.  Other than being bored, I’m feeling ok most of the time – just very pregnant! 

We continued celebrating my birthday with more family Friday night.  Saturday Ben and I decided to run some errands, then walk around the mall due the heat.  I almost had to knock down a woman and her daughter for cutting me off and taking the only 2 bathroom stalls in Belk!  I was in tears running through the mall to the food court, but after it was nothing a little Chick-Fil-A Milkshake couldn’t fix!  We spent the rest of the weekend doing lots of walking and eating spicy foods. 

I had another doctor’s appointment today with my regular doctor and I mentioned Tipp’s movement has slowed down.  After a 30 minute NST in the office he was still not cooperating, so we earned a quick trip to Rex Labor & Delivery for more monitoring.  We had a little trial run at how it is done to check in and get set up.  Thankfully after some ice water and a popsicle Tipp decided to wake up and move around.  I am having some contractions and apparently they are a little stronger than I thought, but not much other progress.  Dr. Gunter said I could be back later tonight or next week.  Dr. Anya confirmed we would discuss induction at 41 weeks and schedule it no later than a few days past that. 

Of course we went to our appointment today and Ben left his cell phone at home, we forgot to let Freddie out and I have still have a few things to add to the bag! 

Tipp  continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

How far along? 39 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: 28lbs
Maternity clothes? Yes – last week of maternity work clothes!
Stretch marks? YUP lots.
Sleep: Still some insomnia
Best moment this week: Celebrating my birthday and knowing Tipp has his own!
Movement: Lots of heel kicks, but he is slowing down
Food cravings: Watermelon, birthday cake, salad, greek yogurt
Gender: Definitely a BOY!!
Labor Signs: Nothing really – slight contractions.
Belly Button in or out? Still in and just a small slit!
What I miss: Sleep
What I am looking forward to: Tipp’s arrival!!
Weekly Wisdom: Take one day at at time.
Milestones: Starting to work from home – it’s heavenly these last few days

Single Digits!

We are now in the single digits to our due date.  And possibly the coolest thing – I bought milk with Tipp’s due date on it.  It is quite hard to believe our world is going to change so much in the next two weeks.  We can’t fathom the fact Tipp has been with us for the past nine months, but very soon we will finally officially meet him and see his sweet face.

I also started working from home and it’s been wonderful.  My feet are thankful for being able to work from the “man chair.”  Although there isn’t much work to be done since I have pretty much wrapped everything up.  My first day home I met co-workers at California Pizza Kitchen for Tara’s birthday lunch and made 2 pans of lasagna to freeze.  I’m looking forward to cooking a few more meals to freeze, getting the house a little more organized and spending some time writing in Tipp’s baby book.

38 Weeks

We’re counting down the days and we have had a great balance of relaxing and keeping busy!  We finally got the results back from my blood tests and they were all negative – so I’m just itchy would could be the result of the crazy hormones.  Ben is already getting a taste of mood swings – I can be laughing one minute and in tears the next over the dumbest thing! 

This past weekend started my birthday celebration week.  We did a little shopping, a little lounging around, and enjoyed dinner at Brio for mine and Mame’s birthday.  Wednesday is my birthday and I’m still convinced Tipp will be staying put and making his debut after the 9th to enjoy his very own special day.  That’s ok – I love belated birthday gifts. 

At my 38 week appointment this week, I was measuring back on track, my weight gain is still steady around 28 lbs.  Dr. Gaines said I am no where near dilated or effaced, but Tipp is dropping and settling into my pelvis good. 

I plan on finishing my work up in the office this week and will continue to work from home until Tipp is born.  I have delegated all of my work now and it is the weirdest feeling of leaving and not coming back until November.  I know the summer and fall seasons will fly by, but right now it’s a mixed feeling.  Even though I have my days of hating getting up in the morning and the deadlines, I do like my job and the people I work with.  I think I’ll miss seeing them – for the most part.  While I work from home I plan to make a few of our favorite meals to freeze and keep the house tidy.  Other than that -  we’re just waiting on Mr. T!

Tipp has really plumped up. He weighs about 6.8 pounds and he's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). He has a firm grasp, which we will soon be able to test when we hold his hand for the first time! His organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color Tipp’s eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If he's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If he's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time he's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

How far along? 38 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: 28lbs
Maternity clothes? Yes – last week of maternity work clothes!
Stretch marks? I think they are improving with a oil I found – regardless it makes my skin feel good.
Sleep: A few nights of early morning insomia
Best moment this week: Having no weekend plans while we wait for Tipp.
Movement: Seeing body parts such a feet and knees
Food cravings: Watermelon!!
Gender: Definitely a BOY!!
Labor Signs: A little cramping and back ache, nothing notable.
Belly Button in or out? Still in
What I miss: Sleep
What I am looking forward to: My birthday
Weekly Wisdom: Take one day at at time.
Milestones: Finishing up a few things at work that I promised I would be around for.

Full Term: 37 Weeks

Tipp is officially full term this week and is free to come whenever he is ready!  I’m sure my co-workers would not agree to that since I promised them one more month end.  I’m hoping to make it to my birthday and then start working for home or just stop working!  We have been enjoying the Memorial Day weekend with tidying up the house, grilling out, relaxing and packing the hospital bags for me and Tipp.

Tuesday I had an appointment with Dr. Anderson who reviewed the ultrasound results and confirmed everything looks great with Tipp.  I had the Group B Strep test done and found out I’m barely a finger tip dilated – which is no surprise this early.  I had mentioned my itching to him and he ruled out PUPPS, which is rash.  He was concerned it may be Cholestasis, which is a condition in which the normal flow of bile in the gallbladder is affected by the high amounts of pregnancy hormones. Cholestasis is more common in the last trimester of pregnancy when hormones are at their peak, but it usually goes away within a few days after delivery.  Itching is the main symptom, however I don’t have any of the other symptoms.  There is a very slight chance of infant fetal death, so I would need to be induced before my due date.  So, on Wednesday I went back for blood work where I had to fast.  As of Friday the office had not received the test results, so we are waiting until my next appointment on Tuesday. 

Tipp is now considered "full term," even though my due date is three weeks away. If I go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. Our baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long.

How far along? 37 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: 26lbs – it varies every day due to fluid retention
Maternity clothes? Yes!
Stretch marks? Yes!
Sleep: It’s getting uncomfortable and I feel so big taking up most of the bed
Best moment this week: Getting a sneak preview of our maternity photo session
Movement: All the time
Food cravings: Salad, watermelon, strawberries, ice cream, frosted animal crackers, trail mix
Gender: Definitely a BOY!!
Labor Signs: Lots more Braxton Hicks and possibly some weak real contractions
Belly Button in or out? Still in
What I miss: Wearing my regular summer clothes – I refuse to buy more maternity clothes
What I am looking forward to: Finding out the test results.
Weekly Wisdom: Don’t be afraid to let others do things for you!  I’m learning to ask for things.
Milestones: Making it to full term!

36 Weeks

We celebrated hitting 36 weeks with a photo session with Emilee.  I met Emilee several years ago through The Knot as we were planning our weddings and we’ve been to several get-togethers since.  In the last year she has started her own photography business and we were thrilled to have to her do a maternity session with us.  But, I think we will be even more thrilled once Baby Tipp is here and she takes his first professional pictures in the first few days of his life.  Click on the link above to see the sneak peak of our photos. 

This past week we also had a growth ultrasound to check Tipp’s size and fluid levels since I was measuring 4 weeks ahead at my last appointment.  As of 35 weeks and 3 days, he weighs 6lbs 1oz, which puts him exactly in the 50th percentile for his age.  The fluid levels and everything else looked great as well.  Tipp is slightly head down in a oblique position – sort of diagonal into my hip.  He still has a few weeks to drop down. 

With the summer-time weather coming I’ve started to have a little swelling especially in my feet and they hurt like pins in my heels if I stand too long.  I’ve also been itching like crazy which is worse at night.  But, I pampered and treated myself to a pedicure last weekend with my mom.  We earned it – she had come over to steam clean our carpets and help deep clean our house.  We really appreciated the help and love a sparkling clean house.  Let’s hope I can keep it up until Tipp arrives.

This week we also finished buying everything we will need from our registry.  Thanks to gift cards and coupons we’ve received we spent a total of $95 at Babies R Us.  Our BOB stroller finally was delivered from being on back-order and we picked it up at REI.  We love it even more and can’t wait until Tipp is big enough to go jogging with us.  Until then, we will have fun taking long walks around the neighborhood.

This week, Tipp is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Our baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, Tipp will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.)

How far along? 36 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: 26lbs
Maternity clothes? Yes and some tops are too short!
Stretch marks? Yes all over my stomach – disgusting.
Sleep: It’s sooooo hard to turn over at night
Best moment this week: Having Emilee take photos of us
Movement: All the time
Food cravings: Salads with tons of toppings and ice cream
Gender: Definitely a BOY!!
Labor Signs: Lots more Braxton Hicks
Belly Button in or out? Still in
What I miss: Wearing some of my shoes since my feet are swollen
What I am looking forward to: A nice long holiday weekend at home -  the first Memorial Day weekend we can remember not going to the beach.
Weekly Wisdom: Keep up the water intake – it helps with the fluid retention
Milestones: The fact we have maternity pictures to show!

35 Weeks : 35 Days

This past weekend we celebrated Tipp being 35 Weeks and only 35 days to go – Hopefully!  I had a doctor’s appointment Tuesday and I measured 4 weeks bigger.  I started retaining some fluid, so hopefully it is just extra fluid and not a big baby.  But, we have a ultrasound scheduled to see how big Mr. T really is!  In the mean time the swelling has gone down and is minimal by the end of the day.  For the first time this entire pregnancy the realization hit that Tippett may come before June 19!! 

On Tuesday, my office surprised me with a shower planned by two of my girlfriends at work.  I don’t think I’ve ever had a surprise party (that I didn’t figure out)!  We had a Milky Way cake from Blue Moon Bakery …Chocolate cake swirled with a cream cheese, chocolate chip mixture iced with chocolate buttercream & chocolate ganache.  We received a generous gift card to Babies R Us that will definitely come in handy soon and the backpack diaper bag Ben picked out for himself.

We spent the weekend doing lots of fun things.  I finally got an Iphone and yes I know a new one is coming out, but just upgrading to “smart phone” is big for me!  Ben is holding out of the new Iphone, but he has had fun playing with mine in the mean time.  Saturday we went to the DPAC to see Wicked for the 2nd time.  Our first was on our anniversary trip to Seattle in September, but we both loved it so much we had to see it again.  Tipp enjoyed moving the entire time and I had a ton of Braxton Hicks contractions.  After the show we came back to Apex and had dinner at Ocean Grill, which was amazing, especially the scallops.  I love eating at local restaurants and its even better when they have great service and food.

Sunday, I had my last baby shower given by Ben’s sister, Amy.  The shower was so cute and unfortunately I don’t have any pictures.  The food was awesome and we played a fun game with balloons and waddling.  Of course we received some great gifts including a play gym, bouncer, swaddle blankets, nursing accessories, books, lots of diapers, and handmade burp cloths. 

I’m still feeling pretty good, better than I expected at this point, but I do tire out pretty easily.  I think I’m getting used to the sleeping difficulties and some nights are better than others. 

Oour baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in my womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

How far along? 35 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: 24lbs
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch marks? Yes and thankfully some are already fading!
Sleep: Much better than Ben is well again and not coughing all night
Best moment this week: My surprise baby shower at work
Movement: Quite a lot
Food cravings: Fruit, salad and sweets
Gender: Definitely a BOY!!
Labor Signs: Lots more Braxton Hicks
Belly Button in or out? Still in
What I miss: Shopping for normal clothes
What I am looking forward to: Maternity pictures with my friend Emilee
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy the last few weeks
Milestones: 35-35…it’s so fun to say!

34 Weeks

Happy Mother’s Day!!!  It’s been a wonderful weekend being an “almost real mom” very soon with about 6 weeks to go!  It has been a very very busy week for us.  After an extremely busy week at work for me – training and month end stuff -  we headed to Greenville for my sister, Sara’s graduation.  Friday morning was spent sweltering in the heat for the university graduation.  Then, we refueled with a tailgate before her afternoon department graduation.  Saturday we started our morning off with a brunch at Sara’s apartment before going to her boyfriend, Adam’s graduation. 

Today was a beautiful day and although busy, it was still relaxing.  Ben presented me with a card and gift almost immediately after sleeping in past 8!  He had ordered the Edna Mae Baby Book personalized for Tippett.  After making me my own decaf coffee he made heart shaped beglian waffles while I got to relax.  My mom, brother and grandparents joined us for church, then we all went to Tyler’s for brunch/lunch.  The weather was so beautiful, we came back to our house to take a few pictures outside, then headed to the park to spend the afternoon with my mother-in-law and family. 

Our birth class is going really well and we have two classes left.  Last week we took a tour of the birth center and saw the labor & delivery rooms as well as the nursery.  Luckily there were 2 babies in the nursery for us to see.  It was so exciting to know in just a few weeks we will be there welcoming our son!

Our baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making her rounder. Tipp’s skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. Babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine if born now. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

How far along? 34 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: Hopefully around 22 lbs – we ate a ton this weekend!
Maternity clothes? Um yes
Stretch marks? Yes and my skin actually hurts in some places!
Sleep: The beginning of the week was horrible – Ben may be sleeping in the guest room very soon!
Best moment this week: Seeing the nursery and knowing we will be there very soon!
Movement: Quite a lot
Food cravings: Strawberries, ice cream, lots of sweets
Gender: Definitely a BOY!!
Labor Signs: Lots more Braxton Hicks
Belly Button in or out? Getting smaller
What I miss: An ice cold beer while sitting on the porch
What I am looking forward to: Our final baby shower
Weekly Wisdom: Start preparing a little at a time
Milestones: Celebrating an almost Mother’s Day!

33 Weeks

This week Tippett weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

 

How far along? 33 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: About 20 lbs
Maternity clothes? Definitely and a few are getting a little snug.
Stretch marks? Too many to count!
Sleep: Could be better!
Best moment this week: All the little ones of talking about Tipp!
Movement: He’s been moving constantly
Food cravings: Ice Cream, Salad, Mexican
Gender: Definitely a BOY!!
Labor Signs: Lots more Braxton Hicks
Belly Button in or out? Still in and the same size
What I miss: Leaning over to pick up something
What I am looking forward to: Celebrating Mother’s Day
Weekly Wisdom: Don’t get too dehydrated…it makes the Braxton Hicks worse
Milestones: Welcoming May and being able to say we’re having a baby next month!

A Peak at Baby Tipp!

Last Monday, my mom treated us to a 3D ultrasound at Prenatal Peak with the condition if she paid, she’d get to come!  At first Ben thought it would ruin the surprise of what he looks like, but I guess he came around and we were all pretty excited.  We first confirmed he is still a boy!  But the best was watching his face most of the time.  He is absolutely the cutest little boy with the chubbiest cheeks.  I cannot wait to kiss and pinch those cheeks in just a few weeks.  Tippett spent most of the ultrasound with his hands near his face, rubbing his eyes and sucking on his fore finger.

We learned he has my nose, Ben’s feet – complete with the big space between the big toe and the poutiest lower lip (also just like his Daddy).  He also has hair, which probably explains why I have so much heartburn! 

We came home with tons of pictures printed on a CD as well as the entire ultrasound on DVD.  It will be so fun in years to come to show him the DVD (if DVD’s are still around then) of when he was in my tummy. 

The ultrasound got us all extremely excited for his arrival.  Sometimes I still cannot believe he just hanging out inside me, fattening up and waiting to meet the rest of the world!

32 Weeks

Just 8 weeks to go!  I’m not the only one with a countdown – Laura is counting down the days on a whiteboard on her bedroom door!  This past week we started our childbirth classes at Rex.  It’s not really a Lamaze class, but just informative about what happens during delivery and good ways to get us thinking about about what relaxes me.  Sleep this week has been mixed…I slept great during the week, but this weekend it has been rather uncomfortable.  Early Saturday morning at 6:51am I was jolted awake by the worse Charlie-horse of my life!  I was almost in a panic it hurt so bad, which made Ben panic.  He thought I was in Labor!! 

We’ve been organizing and doing lots of Tipp’s laundry to prepare.  We also made a big list of what else we absolutely need to have before his arrival.  This weekend we also got to work on one of the big projects we’ve been meaning to do ever since we moved in -  the yard.  Specifically building flagstone wall around the main flower bed/tree.  Ben did most of the work, besides me helping picking out the stones.  It turned out amazing!  We added new flowers for some color and new mulch.  Now that the grass is doing great, I’d say we have the best lawn in the cul-de-sac and we’re pretty proud of it!

Baby Tipp has been doing some growing…by now, he baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. I’m gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to the baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

How far along? 32 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: Close to 20 lbs
Maternity clothes? Of course – although I wore some regular clothes to do yard work this weekend.
Stretch marks? Yes and a few in places that I didn’t expect!
Sleep: Mixed – Charlie horses are nasty!
Best moment this week: Spending the weekend at home with Ben and thinking of all the weekends we’ll spend at home with Tipp relaxing!
Movement: Yep
Food cravings: Ice Cream, Salad, Lemon, Jam, cereal
Gender: Definitely a BOY!!
Labor Signs: None other than Braxton Hicks
Belly Button in or out? Still in and the same size
What I miss: Being able to turn over in bed with a big production
What I am looking forward to: Another relaxing weekend coming up
Weekly Wisdom: Don’t over do it!
Milestones: Getting all of our house to-do’s complete (within reason)!

Tipp’s First (And Probably Only) Tea Party

Sunday we had our 2nd Baby shower for little Tipp given by our good family friends Pat & Hilary.  In the past year we’ve all become tea drinkers and even gone to a few afternoon teas, so it would only be appropriate the shower was a tea party.  I imagine this will be Tipp’s last tea party, although he may come along to Afternoon Tea sometime this summer. 

Pat and Hilary left no detail undone.  We were served one of my favorite teas, Berries and Cream as we arrived.  And the food was every bit as delicious as it looked – Cupcakes from Cafe Carolina, Bottle cookies, raspberry lemon tarts, oreo truffles, baked brie, asparagus, and fruit skewers.  This was my first Cafe Carolina cupcake, even though I’ve heard rave reviews about them and it certainly won’t be my last. 

Hilary also made us the cutest diaper cake with a few things from our registry as well as Wubba-Nubs.  Wubba Nubs are a Soothie pacifier with a stuffed animal attached that provides comfort for babies and makes it easy for them to grasp and manipulate the pacifier themselves.  We actually saw these at our newest baby store, Green Pea Baby in downtown Apex. 

We also received so many wonderful gifts from our family and friends, especially books.  Each guest was told to bring a book signed instead of a card to build Tipp’s library.  Apparently everyone’s favorite book is Good Night Moon as we received 4 of these!  Hilary, Pat and Meg also gave us a few books for me to read on breastfeeding, sleeping and soothing.  Now will be the perfect time to catch up on this reading!

For gifts we got a highchair from my grandmother since she bought my highchair when I was a baby.  My mom gave us a digital monitor to keep a close eye on little Tipp and a personalized tote filled with lots of goodies including some awesome Aden & Anais Burrpy Bibs.  Meg and Kathy gave us a Baby Einstein Aquarium Soother, some argyle socks, the sweetest Baby Gap polo onesie and a reversible beach hat just like one Ben has.  My brother, Zack and sister in law, Amanda outfitted Tipp for Hokie Football season!  My mother in law, Susan gave Baby Tipp the softest stuffed dog from Anthropologie called a Jelly Cat.  We also received so many little toys, bath supplies, a carrier, bottles, crib sheet, and a gift card. 

We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends to help us prepare for the arrival of Baby Tipp and thank each one of very much for making our baby shower so wonderful!

31 Weeks!

Time is flying fast and the weeks are counting down!  I am still feeling pretty good and even having a good few nights of great sleep.  I’m not sleeping in very much, but I guess I’m well rested with the sleep I do get.  I had another doctor’s appointment this week with a nurse practitioner who I really liked.  Even though she is not one of the doctor’s who could end up delivering Tipp, she was great at answering questions and offering pediatrician suggestions.    

This week, Baby Tipp measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

How far along? 31 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: 18 lbs according the scales at the Doctor’s office!
Maternity clothes? Yes…a few of my early maternity shirts are getting a little short
Stretch marks? Yes and they itch!
Sleep: Quality not quantity!
Best moment this week: Girl’s Weekend-wine tasting, dinner, picnic at Duke Gardens, shopping and a tea!
Movement: Yep
Food cravings: Salad, cereal, coffee
Gender: BOY-we’re confirming at our 3D ultrasound!!
Labor Signs: None other than Braxton Hicks
Belly Button in or out? Still in and the same size
What I miss: Eating/drinking without heartburn
What I am looking forward to: 3D ultrasound
Weekly Wisdom: Drink lots of H20
Milestones: Officially 7 months pregnant

Baby Shower #1

This past Sunday, our family friends Elizabeth and her Mom, Barbara hosted a baby shower in Sanford for us.  So many family friends came to celebrate the arrival of Baby Tipp and showered us with lots of wonderful gifts.  Elizabeth and Barbara put a lot of effort to make the shower extra special with tons of details including an amazing diaper cake for the centerpiece.  The favors were animal crackers in little take out boxes.  The little girls also had a lot of fun guessing the number of banana runts in the baby bottle.  And of course the food was delish – Almond Coconut Cupcakes, cream cheese sandwiches, fruit, and Apple Mint Green Tea Punch!

 

 

Hopefully I’ll get a few more pictures of me opening gifts, which was so much fun.  For a small shower, we got 3 Boppy pillows!  Tipp also got a handmade baby blanket and his very own Jefferson cup (since he is a Jefferson) from my Dad and Mame.  Ben’s favorite gift was from Lillie – a Tiger from Build a Bear representing the Year of the Tiger for the Chinese New Year and she named him Stripes and dressed him in a Panther’s outfit.  Granny and Granddaddy gave me a new Vera Bradley diaper bag in blue just for a boy.  We received our stroller from Elizabeth and Barbara.  Other gifts we got were a birthday plate, christmas ornament, photo album, humidifier, diaper genie, lots of bath stuff and many of the softest blankets and new born clothes. 

Ben and I are so grateful for everyone who already loves our sweet little Tippett and is helping us get ready for his arrival.  We can’t wait for all of our friends and family to meet him!

30 Weeks!

We’re 3/4ths the way done!  This past week we had one of our first classes  - Breastfeeding.  Ben wasn’t sure why he was attending, but found it very helpful, especially for helping me remember everything when I’m sleep deprived at 3am.  I also started having a few Braxton Hicks contractions and they quite weird feeling!  Baby Tipp is loving his favorite little spot under my right rib and occasionally I’ll have to “adjust” him a little. 

Tippett is about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in my uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from her face.

How far along? 30 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: Still 18 lbs!
Maternity clothes? Yep, but my regular gaucho’s are fitting so great
Stretch marks? Quite a few surrounding my belly button.
Sleep: I cant sleep past 6:45 am even on the weekends!
Best moment this week: Going to the hospital for our class – it made everything pretty real!
Movement: Yep
Food cravings: Cereal, candy and unfortunately - Tums
Gender: BOY!!
Labor Signs: None, but started having a few Braxton Hicks contractions
Belly Button in or out? Still in and the same size
What I miss: Sleeping on my back
What I am looking forward to: Girl’s weekend and another shower
Weekly Wisdom: Get the hubby to help out
Milestones: Our very first Baby Shower