Jameson is 1 month old!!

So this is a little late... his one month mark was actually last week but so goes being a new mom.  Since he doesn't go into the pediatrician again for another few weeks, I don't have any 'stats' or anything.  From what I can tell, he's grown quite a bit in the last couple of weeks.  He's almost completely out of 0-3 month clothing and into the 3-6 month stuff.  I tried to measure him the other day while he was sleeping and I'm thinking he's somewhere around 23-24" long.  I already feel like he's getting to be so big and my arm muscles will testify that he definitely has gained weight.  

Anyway, because I don't really have anything interesting to blog about, I'm just going to post the most recent pictures of Jamie.  I've been really making an effort to take more of them.

Looking handsome as usual

Tummy time with Dad

This is the face he makes right before he starts crying

A much happier and sleepier face

Being a little vocal after his bath

Looking clean

I love this crocodile outfit!

This is how he fell asleep the other night

I think he's starting to get the hang of the camera now

Ready for our daily walk!

Baby Dreams

It's been 3 1/2 weeks since I became a mom. These last 3 1/2 weeks have been the absolute longest weeks of my life - and I mean that in the best way possible. It's been such an adventure to learn about this new little baby and try to figure out his little quirks and habits. The other fun part is trying to figure out how to function on half the amount of sleep that I used to get. Our nights usually consist of 3-4 feedings over a 12 hour period for which I obviously have to be awake. I try to let Spencer sleep through all this on weekdays so that he can be operating at a high enough level to make it through work. Whether or not he gets this sleep, I have noticed that he now seems to get at least one baby dream every night.

I'm sure every new parent has experienced the baby dreams that involve extremely random situations in which your baby is in peril and it is your job to fix the situation. I haven't had these so much as Spencer has - let me give a few examples of Spencer's dreams.

Most common is the dreams where Spencer "wakes up" and starts digging feverishly through all of the pillows that surround me on the bed. For some reason, these dreams involve my complete incompetance as a parent and usually end with the baby buried in pillows as I've forgotten to put him back in his crib after a feeding. When I wake up to this, I can't help but do the mental check of his last feeding to make sure I can recall putting him back to sleep in his bed.

The other night, Spencer woke up to start digging inside of his actual pillowcase to try to find the baby. I would really like to know what sort of incompetant thing that I did in this dream that would end up with the baby being inside a pillowcase. Do I really come across as that poor of a parent?

One night, Jameson was particularly fussy and I spent the better part of several hours trying to get him to sleep. I had just gotten him in his crib and quieted down when Spencer woke up and got out of bed. He started to walk towards the crib and all I could do was whisper-yell "No! No! No!!!" and to get back in bed while I watched him reach into the crib and touch the baby. Immediately, Jameson starts crying again and Spencer finally realizes what he had just done.

I don't blame Spencer for having these dreams. In fact, I am starting to wonder why it is that I haven't had dreams like that. Does that make me a bad parent? Do I not have that natural instinct? Or does it mean that I'm just that good that I don't need to worry about it? I'm pulling for the latter.

More pictures of my cute baby!!

Yes, I am alive. Sorry I had to take a break from posting for a while, but I feel much better now and more adjusted to my new schedule. Being a mom is really great, but it definitely helps to have such a cute baby. It really makes all the trials of pregnancy worth it. And while labor is probably one of the hardest things I've ever been through, I would never trade that day for anything. I'm so thankful to have had a healthy and happy baby after 9 months of worries and stress.

Anyway, on to the latest pictures. I know that's why you're really all here reading this. We haven't been the most diligent of picture-takers, but I try to take pictures when I remember and when I'm around a camera.

Grammy with her first grandson

Jameson in his too-big take home outfit - still cute

Couch time with Dad (probably watching football)

One of the few times he's awake and not eating

Looking cute and chubby in his hat - he loves hats

Snuggle time with Dad before bedtime

Baby Jameson Taylor Coles

The following was posted by Dad.

Jameson Taylor Coles

Mom and Jameson

Dad and Jameson

Baby Jameson Taylor Coles came into the world at 8:25 pm on September 5th. He weighed a healthy 8 pounds and 7 ounces and measured a long 21.5 inches. Mom was amazing through the whole experience and my eyes were opened even further to her incredible strength. She started her contractions at 1 am and she was admitted into the hospital at 5 am where she began her long day. After hours of trying to get the baby out, the doctor decided it was time to do a Cesarean at 8 pm. When our son finally arrived the tears flowed uncontrollably for both of us. He was finally here and it was definitely the best day in our lives.

And the score is... Baby 1, Mommy 0

For those of you who pay attention to my alien-baby timer on the side of my blog, you may have noticed that it says "0" today. And yes, I am home and still babyless to blog about it. I have really been trying to induce labor on my own, but things haven't really worked out the way I had hoped.

It's been four grueling weeks of doctors visits that typically leave me feeling pretty depressed. The first three visits left me feeling like a complete and utter failure as a mother-to-be since nothing seemed to be happening. But the fourth visit is when things started to change for the better. I finally was dilated (1 cm - not much but a huge difference from a big fat zero) and was 80% effaced. I was so excited that things had started to change so quickly that I was sure I'd have the baby on Labor Day weekend.

Our first attempt at inducing labor was to go to Trio (recommended by a nurse at my OB's office) to have the Garlic Chicken Pizza. Apparently, it's nicknamed the "Induction Pizza." Pretty much, that's all a big fat lie. And I had to ingest around 4 full BULBS (not cloves, bulbs) of garlic in the process of eating it. Huge disappoinment.

All weekend I ran errands with my mom or with Spencer trying to get as much walking and bumpy road driving in as possible. Also no such luck.

I was hopeful that the storm that blew in over the holiday weekend would trigger something (the psychic masseuse told me that full moons and storms trigger labor). Also a big fat lie.

Meanwhile, I have spent the last few weeks getting news of all of you who have had your babies super early (and you all know who you are). Given my own disappointment, it's a bit hard to swallow, but I really am totally and completely happy for you all - even the ones who delivered a full 3 weeks early. I'm just jealous of your relief from the side effects of pregnancy - well, that and the cute little babies you now all get to play with all the time.

But for serious, pregnancy hasn't been too kind in the last few weeks. I was so excited to be super cute for post-birth hospital pics, but I'm afraid it's not going to happen. Unless there's some magic pill to dissolve all the water retainage I've got going on, I'm pretty much going to look very different from what I had hoped for.

Anyway, my fifth and final visit to the doctor was yesterday and it was quite the experience. I started off my day feeling normal and un-labor-like. Everything was fine until I walked in the door of the OB office and then I literally started to fall apart. It was like my emotional sanity got stuck on some jagged splinter in the door and continued to unravel all the way back to the exam rooms until I had no logic or reason left in my swollen body. I was like some half-crazed lunatic while I was getting weighed and by the time the doctor managed to ask me how I was feeling, I was a complete mental case. I really had no intention of losing control - I've been so proud of how I've been able to maintain a level head throughout this pregnancy - and I really didn't want the doctor to think that I was trying to cry my way into an induction (which I'm sure he did). After the doctor determined that there was only a 1/2 centimeter's worth of dilation progress, you might as well have just stuck a pin in all my hopes and dreams.

Anyway, I lucked out in the fact that my blood pressure had risen from it's normal 100/80 level to a 130 over something else level (I'm so not the medical genius type). The doctor is somewhat concerned with this dramatic rise and has decided to schedule an induction for the 8th. Though I'm still hoping to go into labor naturally, I can deal with this new timeline. And I think my doctor is the best ever for managing to induce me three days earlier than the hospital usually allows.

So... if you don't see alot in the way of posts over the next week, do not distress. I will be up and running again soon, complete with the not-so-cute hospital pictures of me with a much cuter looking (cross your fingers) baby.

Yay for the end of pregnancy! Well, aside from the fact that it means I have to go through labor. But at this point, I'd do anything to get rid of the achy back, frequent bathroom trips and killer heartburn.

Wish me luck... I have a feeling I'm going to need it!

Snap, Crackle, Pop!!

I have a pregnancy mystery. I’m hoping that at least one of my formerly (or currently) preggo readers may have some answers.

Every day, at least a few times a day, I hear a popping/cracking noise coming from my belly when the baby moves. It usually comes from the top half of my stomach and it’s loud enough that other people near me can hear it. Granted, it never happens when anybody that actually matters is next to me (family, friends, doctor), but it does happen pretty consistently. I’m not super worried about it, but I was hoping that someone with a little more experience or knowledge than me would be able to shed some light on the subject.

Oh, and one more thing I was hoping for some input on… anyone know a good pediatrician in the area? I have yet to set up any interviews (are these even necessary??) and I don’t even really know what kinds of questions to ask… I can’t think of anything beyond “So… you are a doctor…for babies” I know that I’m totally hopeless and I hate to use my blog as a cry for help, but time is seriously running out so any recommendations or questions to ask would be much appreciated.

Aside from that, tomorrow officially marks the beginning of the 3 week countdown… 21 days to go!! Well, hopefully only 21 days to go… Spence and I have been planning our lives around doctor’s appointments, baby shopping trips and putting together all the necessary hospital and baby items. We even are thinking we may have the nursery completely assembled by the end of this weekend! That’s not to say that it will be finished, but it’s good enough for me. I’ll post pictures when it’s all ready.

Meanwhile, I’ve been really trying to avoid any picture taking. I know that I should feel guilty for not taking the weekly belly profile shots (or any shots for that matter) but I don’t. I did make an exception for Jana’s wedding reception and posed for a picture with her, so I hope she knows just what a big deal this is. My body has been retaining water so badly in the past few weeks that I am not quite sure what to do. If I press firmly on my leg for 30 seconds, I can leave an imprint of my hand that lasts for about 20 minutes (this is definitely not an exaggeration). If I cross my ankles for an extended period of time, it looks like I’ve had entire muscles and ligaments removed from my lower legs. No, I haven’t taken pictures of this feat, but Spencer can definitely vouch for me on this one.

I’ve tried so many things… cutting way down on my sodium intake, daily foot/leg rubs from Spencer (overcoming yet another major issue of mine: people touching my feet), swimming, drinking tons of water… anything I can do, I have done. Nothing helps and it’s seriously taking over my body. My hands and feet are completely unrecognizable and my skin has taken on this whole new hyper-color status (much like the awesome t-shirts we used to wear in middle school). Isn’t pregnancy a treat??

So, with all this in mind, my new idol is… Mrs. Feodor Vassilyev. She had 69 children from 27 pregnancies which included 16 sets of twins, 7 sets of triplets and 4 sets of quadruplets. Can you even imagine??? 27 PREGNANCIES!!! Not to mention that they were all multiples… WOWZAH!

Filet o' my Dreams

I think I’ve had what could be my first official weird pregnancy craving. Let me preface by saying that I’ve never eaten this particular item ever before but I just felt like I had to have one. It’s not the most appetizing of foods, in fact some of you may be sickened and others may never want to speak to me again.

Here is the object of my most recent gastronomy necessity…

Yes people, this is a picture of a McDonald’s Filet O Fish. No, I’m not a fan of fish sticks, I have never eaten at Long John Silvers and I’m a very strong opponent of Red Lobster.

In fact, I was so concerned about becoming overwhelmed with nausea during the course of my meal, that I kept the bag in my lap just in case.

However, I do have to say that after experiencing a Filet O Fish for the first time yesterday, they really aren’t that bad.

Now, do you still want to be my friend??