hey.baby

tiger baby

2009-10-25T21:32:00.000-07:00

10 down, 3386 to go.

2009-07-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

We've all made it 10 months! Victory fist pump. This sweet little montage was from a sweet little encounter with a child not wanting to eat, but "feed himself" aka smoosh gooey stuff on every available body part. This kid has sauce. I love it and hate it. It's great for entertainment and funny faces, not so great when it comes to nap time. Jameson has a set of pipes and unfortunately our upstairs neighbors know FAR too well. I'm sorry, but I'm not.

Our set of tricks include: clapping, standing, crazy head, some African tongue clicking thing, waving, and buzzing lips. I'm sure most or all of these are irrelevant to outsiders, but each one brings me joy. He also crawls across the room with great speed and ease.

We've been doing our BabySigns for a few months now, especially when eating. And there's no reciprocation...zip, zilch, nada. Oh well, verbal words will come eventually. But overall we've got a decent routine, bouts of crabbiness, and a generally well dispositioned child.

happy saturday.

2009-06-28T11:06:00.001-07:00

I know YOU hope to wake up to this every Saturday before 7am...

A couple of notes:
a: no that's not chocolate on his face.
b: the obvious culprit is the diaper on the floor, not on the child.
c: this child must have some swine genes because I've never seen him happier.
d: i win marital accolades for not waking matt up to help.

This and that.

2009-04-24T19:48:00.000-07:00

I don't ever have enough coherent, collected thoughts to compose a complete post, beginning to end. Sorry folks. On the upside, I am now regularly getting 6-7 hours straight of sleep! Unfortunately I think my body has adjusted and I still wake exhausted. After many months of frustration and coma-like states during daytime hours, I resorted to letting Jameson cry out his 5am feeding for a few nights. But we arrived, and I couldn't be happier. So for all of you who care, our current sleep schedule is 7-11p, feeding, then 11-7ish. He seems more well rested, not tired immediately after waking up, so I think it's good.

The first morning I walked in to find him sitting up...I knew it was the beginning of the end.

We made a trip up north to the Baltimore/DC area and were able to have a great time with Matt's parents and some oldie but goodie friends. We met J's future BFF Whitaker Lee who showed us up by atleast 10+ pounds. It's surreal to watch a best friend walk with you through the different phases of life from a college girl in the dorm to young adults rubbing pennies with degrees to our children taking baths together. I am blessed, love you Jac.

Some more BFFs on a wonderful Sunday morning in Capital Hill. I miss these people almost as much as I miss pedestrian cities.

One of those people put me on the top 3 references for government security clearance. I was honored. That's friend love. He's also suspicious with a beard, but apparently they didn't care.

My old roommate Dana came to visit, and got some QT with Jameson. This was the one who was congratulated at my first prenatal visit sans Matt. :) Story cracks me up every time.

And last but not least, Jameson busts a fun little move called The Snake that comes out in VERY good moods, and very bad ones too. Never in the middle though.

Upcoming trips: Girlfriends and weddings in Nashville, Brother Jon's graduation in St. Louis (20 car hours!!!), and baby-free weekend for Em's wedding in Louisana, and West Coast trip to my old life. My excitement is ever growing!

disclaimer: may be boring to non-grandparents

2009-03-07T18:55:00.000-08:00

here's a couple of videos of our little man. yes, i like to and will continue to try to teach him tricks.

Another one of him enjoying the bouncer. He's never this quiet...

dada wins.

2009-02-11T20:31:00.000-08:00

Looks can be deceiving.

2009-02-03T12:43:00.000-08:00

What's in that bottle?

Lima beans, rat poison, diaper doo? Nope, just apple juice. Dr. Whatshername (in a pediatric "group" you request doctors, but never get them) said we can start him with apple juice and rice cereal. I'm not sure if it's denial that he's growing up, or just that we've FINALLY come to a equilibrium with the nursing (ie: stays latched, goes for more than 5 minutes, etc.) that makes me hesitant to change anything.

He's on his way to being immunized. Per Dr. NurseMom's advice we're spacing out the immunizations, doing them one at a time to gauge any negative reactions. I feel like a hippynut every time I have to explain it, but Dr. Whatshername said as long as he's getting the shots in anyway shape or form, she's happy. He generally runs a small fever and is cranky that day, but we survive. Last stop was meningitis because, "with that outbreak in Minnesota you just never know...". I can tell you that between our living room, the Winn Dixie behind us, and the third floor of the cafe where I work, that I KNOW minnesotaian meningitis isn't hiding behind any corners. That's the beauty of still being carless...you can't risk life-threatening diseases in foreign places like Target, Barnes & Noble and TJMaxx (tear).

things your children will regret...

2009-02-01T20:05:00.000-08:00

no, it was a gift. no, i don't think they'll ever see this. and no, it has been used its first and last time. or atleast until i need another pick me up...

26 is the (unofficial) number

2009-01-24T10:41:00.000-08:00

From this...
To this...
Matt and I unofficially measured J (via the measuring tape from matt's tool kit) at 26 inches today (from 20.5 at birth). Yes, the jailhouse PJs are for reference. Granted that Whitaker takes the beefeater award, but maybe it's just because I'm a new mom, or maybe we're just growing a basketball player (Matt would prefer volleyball)...but we've got a weed. Half the world tells me J is puny, the other half tells me he's a giant. Matt says that means he's average. Either way, he's a great time. He sat up for the first time the other night on his own...we were sitting there at work, J was in a tv trance, and I look over and he's just sitting up on his own. It's somewhat surreal watching this creature learning life.

Warning cheesy mom moment: Sometimes I'll just hold him after he's asleep and just kinda sit in awe. It amazes me that his mere existence gives me joy. I put that into the greater scope of how my mom looks at me, even God, and it blows my mind that they just enjoy me for being alive. Sans the black bleach-splattered sweatpants, grouchy mornings, and primarily unkempt hair...it's turning out to be a good thing, this motherhood bit.

Happy 4 Months(ish)!

2009-01-06T23:27:00.000-08:00

My little man is 4 months old, crazy! My family has caught onto calling him babyman because he is anything but baby. You can't cradle him, and all he wants to do is stand. He seems frustrated that his body won't cooperate with his will to run and jump. He is a good time, and makes me smile constantly between the hours of 9am and 12am (not so much inbetween). This motherhood thing has grown on me. I think part of it is time, part God, and part the goodness of children.This picture makes me laugh. Carrie did it. Sorry J.

Aunt Carrie (aka Tia Caria because Jameson speaks spanish in my world) seems to have taught him to meow one night... http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=55700127&k=62M2656YSYVM5FD1YJ5XX4

A review of our holiday...
Christmas in Jackson, TN with the Mackey fam. I survived my first Christmas as an in-law. Babies don't take vacations, so sleeping in wasn't involved with mine. Luckily this side of the family is nice enough to take him when they wake and give me a little more zzz time (the Bogdanoff's are less kind sleepyheads). Home for one day and then off to CA...which I'll make another post.

2008-10-28T08:01:00.000-07:00

being woken up 4 times between 12-6am...

you realize you've been spit up on five times...

a bout with shooting poo...

and then he learns how to do this:

and it's okay.

not cute.

2008-10-02T09:56:00.000-07:00

J and I went to bible study monday morning. I'm still nervous to take him out in situations where things can go terribly wrong (ie: him screaming and me running out the door flustered). Our first grocery trip went off without a hitch, but I was constantly in fear of having to ditch a full grocery cart. So monday I was quitely trying to leave early for a denstist appointment. First word: quiet. This kid is not quite. He grunts, moans and growls constantly...sleeping or otherwise. I never knew a baby could be so vocal! So as we were tiptoeing out I look down and see something on the couch where we were sitting. An umbillical cord. I shreiked. Obviously the attention and mood of the room shifted. And yes, my last attachment to my son was lying there pathetically on the couch. All I could say was gross and disgusting. There was a brief thought to keep it and make a necklace for Matt, but that thought went away with the tissue and nub into the trash. Luckily we could all laugh about it. And the women told me if that's disgusting, to just wait. Oh life, never a dull...

PS after the fact i realize that yes, Miranda Hobbs, had a similar experience involving a cat and a misplaced umbilical cord as well.

is this thing on?

2008-09-19T09:51:00.000-07:00

We've hit the 2 week survival mark, MY survival mark. It's been a whirlwind, and I'm sorry for not updating sooner.

I was due Sunday the 31st, and that day came and went. That Thursday we went in for a checkup. The amount of tests ran on me during this pregnancy is epic, God bless insurance. Anyways, something came back questionable. One doctor said one thing, another said another. The recommendation for C-section came in, and Dr. McDonald said we could do it in a couple hours. WHAT? No, no. I need more than 3 hours to mentally prepare for this. Additionally, my mom was flying in at 5pm that night, and her missing it wasn't an option. So Friday morning at 5 we were due at the hospital. A frantic phone call to my mom, a Red Lobster dinner (tacky indulgences, I know), and a sleepless night eventually got us to Friday.

I was scared out of my wits. We got there at 530, after a frantic search for the correct entrance. (We only planned for the ER). And a few hours of waiting till 9am, blast off hour. Surrounded by friends and family in the hospital room pre-surgery we were blissfully scared out of our minds. I felt like a snob introducing "our photographer" and friend Bryan, to the surgeon. A few pre-baby pictures were taken. And we found out they were going to allow Matt and my mom into the surgery room.

The operating room was like a horror movie... bright, sterile, cold. Unlike other surgeries when you get wheeled in already knocked out, this I got to experience from start to end. I sat hunched on the operating table while they dug around my spinal column to insert the spinal epidural cathetar...not fun. Soon my legs turn to logs, they inserted the vag cathetar after (upon request) in a fashion that was anything but ladylike (think frog legs).

The first few minutes of surgery were horendous: an all over awful feeling, throwing up into a sucking tube, and my arms tethered down in a Jesus fashion. A moment I will never forget is looking through the door, probably my most pitiful state in life, getting cut open (I was blocked by a curtain), and seeing Matt's supportive but scared face wanting to do something... anything, but not being able to do a thing. They said they were cutting and brought Matt and my mom in for delivery. Matt videotaped it, not because he wanted to, but because I said it happens once and can always be deleted. I felt a huge release of pressure and they said he was out. I heard his cry. The emotion of that moment cannot be explained. It was every happiness, fear, pain and anxiousness imaginable. I waited for a few sobbing minutes before I saw Jameson. Heard them weighing him, Matt and mom telling me he was perfect, and of course the throaty cry over and over. I just kept telling myself that he's real and actually here. The first thing I saw in my son was Matt's nose. I haven't watched the video yet, but soon. They let Matt carry him to the nursery, cue photographer Bryan. I'm so grateful for these pictures.

That night was a mess. I had excruciating pain, apparently from the gas that enters the body from surgery, for hours on end. I thought it was a heart attack, that I might die. Doctors and doctors came in and out, trying everything. Morphine, X-rays, CT scans, everything. And nothing was found except this unexplained pain. I'm grateful my mom was there, my medical advocate. She fought and fought for something to be found, to be done. I remember screaming in pain, looking over at Matt's helpless face. It was an awful night, but one that eventually ended. The pain continued in lesser form for the following days. I was in the hospital for 4 days post-op, and relished the room service, pain meds, and nursery. Matt is a champ with the diaper changes, and to my delight got peed on during the first one :) Breast feeding was initially a HUGE struggle, physically and emotionally, but J and I are working it out. It's still not fun, but there is something gratifying about being THE person that can calm and satisfy this child.

Apparently Jameson screamed the entire first night in the nursery, coming into the world with a vengance, which is not suprising. The first night home was a rough one. Matt tried to let me sleep and took the first shift. A couple hours of crying with Matt led me to find both of them on blankets on the nursery floor: Matt exaughsted and Jameson crying. I took over for the next few hours, painfully tiptoeing through breast feeding and minding a huge abdominal incision. What a night. The physical, emotional and mental implications of it all were overwhelming.

My mom was here last week, and what a blessing. They say you want your mom, and what a truth. She was a guide and a support. Additionally, an amazing babysitter that gave me bouts of sanity away from the baby and some nice lunches out with Matt. Matt's mom is here now for a few days, and I'm anxious for when the training wheels come off next week when she leaves. I can't believe we've survived, and I'm not sure I could do it over. But life is getting worked out, and God has been good.

Can't wait for you all to meet our little guy. He's generally mellow when gas isn't involved. Has his days and nights mixed up...not fun. Pees and poos like a champ. Is incredibly cute while sleeping. Makes ridiculous faces. And is just generally amazing. Life is good.

Here's some of my favorites...all of them can be seen at photos.youvebeencaptured.com

the day after d-day

2008-09-01T12:20:00.001-07:00

me thinks i looks ridiculous.

stats:
overdue
3 movies from blockbuster
1 vacation day for matt
73 degree apartment
carmel ricecakes galore
a need for Ben & Jerry
some downtime before the storm

stretch marks

2008-08-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

with 5 hypothetical days left??? are you kidding me. pregnancy, you continue to be so uncute.

38.935785 weeks

2008-08-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

The latest on the home front. According to the random lady at the thrift store, I'm hiding a basketball under there. Thanks lady, and stop poking it. It kinda freaks me out every time I see it in a mirror. As of last Thursday I'm not dilated at all. I'm not counting on the 31st, but time will tell. I try to mentally prepare by inserting a infant into every action I do, and it just doesn't hit. And apparently it won't...until it's too late. Till then I try to savor my sleep.

An erie calm before the storm has hit. Life has gone pretty haywire these last few weeks, and throwing a pending labor and child into the mix has made it not so stress-free. This last week I've been without a car, which is frustrating because of a pending to-do list, but has also forced me to relax and watch too much TV, too. In the end I'm trusting God's got it all in control, and that my stress does little.

The baby's room is pretty set...

I love the crib! Mom and Dad Mackey totally blessed us with it. Matt thinks it's depressing, and I say who cares...I'll console our blind infant out of his depression.

One of my favorite things is this blue frog. Thomas, (aka Thomas the Toilet) one of my kindergartners in Korea, colored it. All the rest of the class had green frogs, he was intent on his blue...if you get my drift. (I actually stole it from him, but that's another lesson) I intend on making it some poignant metaphor for my kid someday, but chances are he won't care.

And last is the return of the tiger. This ginormous stuffed animal comes with a story: When I first met Matt apparently he could never remember my name. He'd always call me Tiger, which I thought was just an affectionate nickname. In reality, he could never remember my name. True love. Flash forward a year when we had started dating and I receive this huge Valentine's package. Lo and behold, our striped friend was stuffed inside. My tiny dorm room had to house this giant for a long year. It later ended up a conversation piece in our house on Rivermont...the type of conversation depended on whether Matt and I were speaking. Eventually we moved out, I left the country, and assumed my Tiger went to dumpster heaven. Yet another suspiciously huge package came my way this spring, from my sweet friend Erin Bell...and hence, the Tiger returned. And now our child will love it. Such a strange and beautiful world we live in.

36 weeks

2008-08-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

some not-so-glamorous sunday afternoon shots...
it just keeps growing and growing.

the front shot is less impressive. (this was my football stance...i could give a mean tackle with this lump)

and the parents-to-be. we laugh. i cry. it's love. he makes my life incredible. i can't begin to tell you the amount of excitement about the thought of going through life with matt brings. i get selfish about our time together right now, knowing the inexplicable amount of change a child is going to bring. but in the end, it's us doing life together, the thing we've always wanted.

holy cannoli.

2008-08-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

As of August 1st, I have 30 days left. Sweet Jesus. I've stopped counting in weeks, because the number is too few. Last Thursday marked the end of school. My official trophy for getting a Master's is riding on the front of me. 20 pounds as of last visit; pregnancy is truly the end of vanity. Pictures tomorrow.

my humps.

2008-07-28T23:29:00.000-07:00

Carrie asked for a belly update. I need to do it when I'm feeling fresh...no sense in documenting horror. The most recent on my camera from end of June...so probably 30 weeks...I'll get ya some recent ones stat.

Carrie asked for a belly update. I need to do it when I'm feeling fresh...no sense in documenting horror. The most recent on my camera from end of June...so probably 30 weeks...

sweet child o' mine

2008-07-28T23:02:00.000-07:00

Last week my girlfriends, Dana and Rachel, were sweet enough to throw me a shower. Obviously looking at the parents, we know this child is not coming out normal, per say. And by looking at the father, there may be a hint of diva in this sweet child. Needless to say, it was a rockstar themed baby shower. Love it. I don't do the themed characters cheese well. All the girls in my program came out and it was a good time. All the snacks a preggo could dream of...7 layer dip, Zaxby's chicken finger, and oh the fruit salad. I don't know if I'm craving fruit all the time, or just giving into my natural desire. But grow it on a tree, vine, or the ground, and I'm sure to eat it. I got sparkling grape juice while jealously watching the rest of the crowd sip champagne. The rockstar cupcakes came complete with blue booties.
We're not much of a game crowd, but Dana and Rach hit the spot with the onesie contest. Each girl got a onesie and some markers and created their own, to be judged by me for the win. Loved it. Fun favors for me at 2am in a few months, and a sweet reminder of people I love. Check out the wares. Awkward Em won with "A little mess...I pooped." The Beatles, mowhawks, and a smiley face on crack were also involved. Thank you girls. I'm not good with the cheesiness of life, but I truly appreciated all the love and laughs. It was a last hurrah of sorts before the majority of them enter life in the workplace and as I enter life on other terms.
Em, the winner:

Cassie's instistence on 2nd place in the middle:
A replica of Matt's "New Hampshire for Damnsure" on the left, and the Beatles on the right:

Rachel encouraging him already, and Shannon with our Crimson Tide:

Bessie's mowhawk love, Meredith's crack smiley, and Bree's rendition of the Man:
And the group.

baby blue upchuck.

2008-07-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

I am unfit. I had a dream last night I had a baby the size of my palm. He got smothered by his blanket and stopped breathing. He started turning black like frostbite, and I couldn't recussitate him. Welcome to my dreams. Pleasant, right?

Anyways, at my marketing internship I further found out I was unfit. I learned last week that you actually have to bring baby clothes to the hospital. Poor kid would have been streaking without a cause. I'm sure Matt and his scissors would have created something Tarzan-ish from betsheets. Anyways, this week I learn you have to have a door sign at the hospital. Well, okay not HAVE, but apparently it's what the cool babies get. My co-worker had our designer make this rockin poster-sized shabby-chic thing of cuteness. I look online to see what it's all about, and I find this...and this...

If not having these makes me an unfit parent, then handcuff me. I'd urge anyone to send sushi, cocktails, or a live-in nanny in lieu of these vomitus creations.

it's like christmas.

2008-06-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

So we've been rocked with some pretty amazing gifts thus far.

My BFF GFs gave me this. It was said that any girl who is required to carry around a bag of milk and diapers, that it better be a friggin cute bag. And they obliged. And I love it. And Matt said it wasn't too frou frou that he wouldn't carry it. How kind. Thank you Turns, Bell, Rae & Cait!

My mom made us this blanket. And I love it, too. Super soft. I knew I wanted it striped, either gender. Blue/grey for a boy, olive/grey for a girl (let's be real...I don't do pink, nor would my infant daughter). Anyways, mom insisted on blue before we knew. She's got insight...

And lastly, our friend Mellie created the apple of Matt's eye...

infant replicas of his infamous v-neck shirts. We all know I'm not marrying a J.Crew model, but he has this uncanny ability to cut all articles of clothing. Apparently crew neck shirts are "too restricting." Luckily, our child will not feel restricted either.

just peachy.

2008-06-19T10:47:00.001-07:00

No, I am not a gleeful preggo. I whine and moan and ache at any variable moment during the day. Jabbing pains and constant motion in my belly is not my idea of a good time. I mostly keep my complaints within Matt's earshot, in hopes that any hint of sympathy grows. I had read about and noticed early on the presence of more body hair. I looked at my shoulder yesterday and realized I am covered in peach fuzz. Not cute. Luckily, it's nothing a 6th grade boy would be jealous of. But probably that woman in Liberty's Financial Aid department would (she had a ferocious beard). I'm hoping it falls out later, or else we're going to be talking some serious laser hair removal in the future. No woman should be fuzzy.

Hello Stranger.

2008-06-01T20:13:00.000-07:00

January: Matt calls this picture the beginning of the end... what a ride it's been. Vomiting greets me promptly at 7am and lasts beyond any notion of morning. It's not cute. My roommate accompanies me to my first appointment and we get mistaken for life partners. Cute.

February: 9 weeks. Waist so small... Lot's of saltines and ginger ale by this point. The nurses yell at me for losing weight. I'm sick and miserably tired at this point, but no worries, master's degrees don't require much of anything.

February: He asked. I answered. After 7 years anything is possible.
Diamonds AND lobster. That's happiness.

March: Matty hits the big 2-5... geez we're old. St. Patrick's day was quite bleak without any green beer.

April: 19 weeks...my heap of wheat is a little heapy-ier. I don't really pass for pregnant yet. My dry heaves disagree though. God bless the anti-nausea medication they created for chemo patients AND pregnant women! Unfortunately they are as stingy with it as kids with candy, which puts me sick for only HALF the month now. Baby steps.

Late April: Matt's parents visit...I'm a little fat, a little preggo. The boobs have made their full-fledged entrance. I complained to my mom and she laughed and said it only gets worse.

We also find out its a he, with a wee! We were both SUPER happy to delay the idea of a boy-crazy, 13-year-old, PMS-ing terror for a few more years. We acted like kids on Christmas day, I think the nurse believes we're unfit.

Kinda looks like he's flipping the camera off, don't you say?
I think he's got matt's belly.
Those aren't walnuts...
He's looking at you. Creepy baby.
Yea, not sure what this is. But it's inside me.

June: 27 weeks and belly-baring... I'm starting to get consistent looks and pity, too. The heat hit 101 degrees today. It's going to be an AWESOME summer in the south.

I'll be a good blogger from here on out. Promise.

oh, baby.

2008-01-09T22:05:00.001-08:00