Mason is One Month Old!

This first month flew by! We have loved having Mason in our lives. He is such a good baby. We feel so very fortunate that he is ours and love him more than we knew was possible. 

Eating: he mainly breastfeeds, but he gets the occasional bottle of breast milk for convenience so he will take a bottle when I return to work. He eats every 3 hours during the day, almost like clockwork. He has been that way from the start! During the night he eats less frequently, somewhere between 3-6 hours. I am pretty sure he has reflux, making him a little fussy and uncomfortable after feedings, but it is short-lived and he just needs a little extra love after eating.
 

Sleeping: he sleeps like a total champ at night. From the start, he has always given us at least 4 hours and then goes right back to sleep for another 3 or more. At 3 weeks he started sleeping for 6 hour stretches after we put him down for the night. They say we should wake him up after 4 hours, but I don't believe in doing so, because he is growing like he should be.
 

Growing: at 3 weeks, he weighed 9 lb. 1 oz. up from 8 lb. 4 oz. at the 2 week appointment. He is definitely growing just fine! His length at birth was measured 21.25, but he has remained around 20 inches at his appointments. His little (or not so little) noggin measures between the 75th and 94th percentile. He is now in size 1 diapers and moved out of newborn clothes between 3 and 4 weeks.
 

Loves: music, music, music! He also loves  hiking with Mom and Dad in the front carrier, sitting up and observing the world, kisses, cuddles, warm baths, nursing, and riding in the car.
 

Mason has been hiking several times, been on many walk and runs, road-tripped to Logan and to Idaho Falls, and has been a total trooper through it all.
 

We just can't get enough of our sweet boy.
 

Hindsight and Goals

Before I decided I was ready to have a baby, I was so nervous about "giving up my body" for pregnancy. My mentality changed a lot leading up to getting pregnant and I came to accept the fact that a body is more than just a figure, but also a vessel for life and that was much more important. I still honestly dreaded what would come of my body as I had been keeping up on my fitness goals for so long and was happy and confident with my body. 

Little did I know, my future self would want to smack my past self for ever pondering the idea of never having a child. It has been by far the most rewarding and happiest things I have ever done. I would "give up" my body over and over again for Mason. He is perfect and I'm proud of my body for providing a safe and healthy home for him. 

With that being said, I still have fitness goals and realize I actually didn't give up anything permanently! My abs are gone, yes. But I will get them back in time. So for now, I am jotting down small, achievable goals and tracking my postpartum fitness journey here on the blog so I can hold myself accountable and to be able to refer to this for any future pregnancies. 

As I have written in previous blog posts, I kept up with exercise during pregnancy. Nothing crazy, but some lifting and cardio. 

My current goals are:

1. Make a daily routine/time for exercise with Mason. 

2. Wake up and put on workout attire. (So helpful and motivating to me)

3. Mindfully eat. 

4. Drink LOTS of water for health and milk supply. 

5. Register for a race of some kind and start training. 

6. Start upper body lifting at home or on walks. 

My progress:

My goals for the first 3 weeks postpartum were to walk and soak up every ounce of baby loving with Mason. 

I did that, and even squeezed in a 2-mile run which encouraged me to look at races. 

Pre-pregnancy weight: 115

Final pregnancy weight: 145

2 days postpartum: 130

1 week postpartum: 117

Now: 117 

(I realize the scale only tells you so much, I'm more focused on how I FEEL)

I cannot wear all my pre-pregnancy clothes yet. My hips are still wide. I can wear my size 3 jeans. I obviously lost quite a bit of muscle too, so the numbers on the scale really are skewed. 

3 weeks postpartum today and feeling ready to tackle this challenge!

Mason James Andreason

On a warm April day, we were preparing for our biggest adventure yet – we were going to be admitted to the hospital that evening to welcome you into the world.  We spent the day enjoying the sunshine, each other, and the blissful pondering of what was to come.

We arrived at the hospital at 5:30 PM, bags packed and in tow.  We were as ready as we could be! We settled into Room 11 in Labor and Delivery and the reality of your arrival became much clearer, as this was the room we would be meeting you in.  It was the largest room on the unit with a bath tub.

At 7:30 PM, after being assessed and monitored, the doctor placed a Cook catheter (dilation balloon) to dilate my cervix before inducing labor.  The monitors showed I was having consistent natural contractions upon arrival, but they weren’t very productive yet.  The dilation balloon caused the contractions to become more uncomfortable, so I labored throughout the night switching from walking around, bathing, and relaxing in bed.  Your daddy was the perfect coach giving me plenty of positive affirmations and counter-pressure, which worked wonders for the back pain.

The medical team came in throughout the night to check the progress of the dilation.  At 1:00 AM, I was still only 1 cm dilated and 70% effaced, which is what I was upon admission.  We did not let that discourage us, as we were told it could take up to 12 hours for the balloon to take effect.  At 6:10 AM, they checked again and I was 4 cm dilated and 80% effaced, which meant the balloon could come out! Great news! Pitocin was started at 6:40 AM, to help my natural contractions be more rhythmic and productive.  My water was broken at 8:00 AM.  Things really started to pick up after this.  The contractions became much more painful and much closer together.  They would last about 1.5 minutes with 20-30 seconds of break in between.  Again, I labored walking around and bathing, with the help of Daddy as my coach.  By 11:20 AM, I decided it was time to relieve the pain.  I was given an epidural and was able to relax and enjoy the company who had come to visit us.  By noon, I was 6 cm dilated.  By 2:00 PM, I was 7+ cm dilated and 90% effaced.  Getting close!

At 5:00 PM, they checked me once more and found I was complete.  You were not positioned well for delivery, so we gave you time to turn your head from the side and settle down in the pelvis.  I lied on my side to help you turn, which also made it so all the pain relief was gone from one side of my body.  Daddy helped apply counter-pressure for the hour we waited for you to get ready.  By 6:00 PM, they checked your placement, and you were ready!

At 6:26 PM, I began pushing.  Each and every contraction was productive and so motivating.  I could tell things were moving along by watching your daddy’s facial expressions.  He was getting really excited!  I pushed through about 10 contractions before it was time for you to be delivered.  Daddy gowned up and gloved up, in preparation to deliver you.  “This is it!” “Here he comes!” With one long push, out you came at 7:26 PM! Daddy caught you and placed you upon my chest.  In that moment, nothing else seemed to exist in the world.  You cried immediately, which was one of the most beautiful, reassuring sounds we had ever heard.  Once the cord stopped pulsing, it was clamped and Daddy cut it.  You made it known you were hungry and ready to eat, by squirming and rooting around on my chest.  At just minutes old, you nursed for the first time like a champ!  After we were settled, the nurse weighed and assessed you.  Daddy put on your first diaper.  The next several hours were spent bonding with you and soaking up our new life as a family of three.  You were perfect. Our hearts were full.  Our lives were changed forever.

Photo Credit: Karen Richards
http://www.karenrichardsphotography.com/

Mason James Andreason

Born: April 3rd, 2015

Weight: 7 lb. 15.3 oz.

Length: 21.25 in.

36 Weeks!

Total weight gain/loss: +20 lbs.

Rings on/off: On!

Sleep: Waking up often, but fall back asleep easily. Definitely getting uncomfortable!

Best moment this week: Baby showers from the Patterson side of the family and my neighbors! So many wonderful people who already love our baby Mason so much! We are feeling very fortunate and grateful.
[We also have had an Andreason shower and friend showers! Wow! We are surrounded by SO many beautiful and generous people.]

Movement: Still lots of movement.  Anytime he is moving, it is visible from the outside, so many many people have been able to see and feel him move over the course of this pregnancy.

Food cravings: I love cinnamon.  Always have.  But lately I've been eating lots of cinnamon-y cereal, like Kashi Cinnamon Harvest and Cinnamon Chex. Yummmm!

Gender: Boy

Labor Signs: No.  He has dropped, and I have started to feel lots of pressure from his head.  Still having several Braxton-Hick's contractions every day.

Belly Button in or out? Out!

Wow! 36 weeks! I am so so ready to meet this little boy! At this point, I feel like I've been waiting my whole life to meet him.  Jeff is also so very excited.  We love to read and talk to him, go on walks, and "play" with him; all these things are just going to get better when he is out into the world.  :)

I am still exercising! I love lifting weights, but the constant stares from people in the gym are getting really awkward! If nothing else, I will go on a 3+ mile walk with Ike and do at least 30 squats a day.  I want to make sure I'm keeping up on some kind of routine so it'll be easier to jump back in after our baby arrives.

I am feeling great! I do have some sciatic nerve pain.  My feet and legs definitely swell up by the end of a long work day.  And I feel sore when I get into bed.  But overall, I feel really great! I attribute much of my physical well-being to exercise.  I think my back would be aching and sore during the day had it not been conditioned for weight previously.

We have weekly OB appointments until this baby arrives.  So far, so good!

Pregnancy Dreams

I want to share/document a couple of the dreams I have had during this pregnancy. 

The earliest strange one I remember was at 12 weeks.  I had a dream that I had TWO babies and had amnesia so I couldn't recall any part of the pregnancy, labor or delivery.  My only memories were 12 weeks and earlier.  I was so sad in my dream! I felt like I had been jipped of the whole experience.  And I had twins, without even knowing I was expecting two! It was a boy and a girl... They were about 2 weeks old when I was able to "come to" and realize what was going on.  Jeff had to teach me when and how to feed them.  It was so strange!

I had a verrrry long dream about halfway through my pregnancy.  I woke up several times during this dream only to fall back asleep and catch up right where I left off! It was a zombie dream.  There were zombies taking over the city and everyone was running for their lives! I was running all over and narrowly escaping them many times (which would wake me up in a panic!). There was one point where I was in a theater judging actors who wanted to play zombies for a play, and the real zombies busted through the auditorium and bent the actors over the front of the stage and chopped their heads off! So disturbing!.... Then my favorite section of this giant zombie sequel dream... one of my friend's moms, Sue, was running around the neighborhood with me away from zombies.  She wanted to stop into this little diner... I told her we should probably keep running and not waste anytime, but she was persistent so we went.  We ordered "over-easy ice cream", which was a big mug of ice cream with a fresh, hot cookie shoved in the middle (making it melty in the middle, like the yolk of an over-easy egg).  Such a strange, yet inventive treat... go sleeping brain!! Much, much more happened, but those are the highlights.

Over the New Year, I was very sick with the flu. I was sleeping terribly and I was miserable.  I fell asleep finally one night and woke up still dreaming.  Jeff told me the next morning what happened:  I got out of bed and stood up.  He was woken by me getting up and asked what I was doing.  I told him "I'm going to the stove to get the medicine James' friends brought me."  He caught on  that I sleep walking at this point and said, "I'll go get it for you, you just sit down and relax."  I sat on the bed and waited for him.  He came back and told me, "There isn't any medicine on the stove, babe, I'm sorry."  I said, "They brought it! It's from Coldstone, only it's not icecream, it's medicine."  He reassured me that there was nothing out there.  I got back into bed sobbing because I was so upset there was no medicine to help me and that they had lied to me.  Being so congested, this sobbing woke me up because I couldn't breathe! I fully woke up, blew my nose, and went back to sleep. The end.

28 Weeks!

Time is sure flying! We are so excited to be in the third and final trimester of pregnancy now.  Overall, I have been pretty lucky with not getting too sick.  But nausea and queasiness stuck around until about 26 weeks, and then I got some sort of respiratory flu for a week and a half.  So I am feeling GREAT right now.

Good diet and exercise have remained goals of mine.  I have been able to make it to the gym at least 2-3 times a week, sometimes more if I'm lucky but it all depends on my work schedule.  I will do stretches and walks at home too.  I maintain little things like always taking the stairs, carrying a basket rather than pushing a cart in the store, and standing to chart at work.  Every little bit counts, right?!

Jeff and I made a quilt for our baby, and plan on doing this for any other children we have.  This was the first quilt I had ever made and I learned so much!  Jeff was so helpful with the measuring, cutting, and feeding the huge amounts of fabric through the machine when we were finishing up.  I used cotton-based fabrics on the front and minky fabric on the back.  Minky is tricky to work with so I googled all sorts of tips and tricks on sewing with minky and used ALL of the time-consuming recommendations.  I am sure glad I did, because I didn't run into any issues!  The nursery has an adventure/travel theme, so the quilt does too!

Total weight gain/loss: +15 lbs.

Rings on/off: On!

Sleep: Getting difficult.  I wake up often, about every 2 hours.

Best moment this week: At our appointment, we learned he is still growing healthily and I passed the glucose tolerance test! (I also got the RhoGam shot)

Movement: Yes, he is such a mover.  I feel him move multiple times an hour all day, usually.

Food cravings: Grapefruit! (sour, citrus-y stuff has been a constant)

Gender: Boy

Labor Signs: Nope, thank goodness.

Belly Button in or out? Out!

24 weeks!

Woo hoo! 24 weeks down, approximately 16 weeks to go!
I am excited to reach this week as it is the week of viability! Go baby Andreason!
We are starting to work on the nursery.  It will have a travel/adventure theme.
We had an ultrasound a few days ago to follow up on baby's kidneys. (They were showing fluid retention at the anatomy scan, but they said it's common in boys and will likely resolve on its own.)  I am happy to report that baby boy's kidneys have improved, the doctors are not concerned, and we will have a follow up ultrasound in 2 months.  Win-win-win!

We tried to get a profile shot of baby, because he wouldn't cooperate at the first ultrasound.  This time he was still a little wiggle worm and the moment we were able to FINALLY see his cute profile, he yawned! It was so amazing to watch him yawn.  Don't worry, he quickly got back to moving about and we weren't able to get any other profile shots. Hahaha!

Total weight gain/loss: +10 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Yes, since 8 weeks haha. But my shirts are just barely starting to not fit now... I guess my short torso came in handy for something during pregnancy!

Stretch marks? Yes, unfortunately.  But, I knew I would! I have so many from puberty already.

Sleep: Mostly great! Night shifts really throw me off these days, so I have a difficult time sleeping prior to and following my night shifts.

Best moment this week: The ultrasound, and Jeff being able to interact with baby boy.  I was actually asleep this morning around 4 AM, and Jeff had woken up and placed his hand on belly (like usual) and baby moved in response.  Jeff said he was able to illicit movement several times and feel him roll around and kick for about 15 minutes.  This made me so happy! And this is the first time baby has responded to touch.

Movement: Yes and lots of it! I love watching my belly and seeing his little kicks and jabs.

Food cravings: Clementines!

Gender: Boy

Labor Signs: Nope, thank goodness.

Belly Button in or out? Half in and half out.

What I miss: Working out my abs.  I have diastasis recti (split of the abdominal muscles) so I am not supposed to do any ab exercises as it can make the problem worse.

What I am looking forward to: Christmas! Jeff is normally a scrooge around the holidays but something about becoming a daddy has totally lit a spark in his holiday spirit! I love it.