Day 49 September 19th, 2010

Today, we have had a lazy and relaxing Sunday watching football and spending quality time together!  This is Zander with his first experience in his bouncer.  He absolutely loved it and was completely content when I put him in it.  The only problem with this was the one that I have sits up way too high and since he is so small it didn't support his head very good.  So I talked to my cousin Robin because I knew that she still had her baby stuff from when her kids were smaller to see if she had one I could buy off her.  She did and it's much better and lays back.  He absolutely loved that one too and it worked much better for him so I'm glad that I found one and that it keeps him so happy.  We also started warming his bottles yesterday to see if that would help his tummy so he wasn't so fussy and miserable and so far it is seeming to work well.  He is sleeping alot which worries me because I don't want him to get his days and nights mixed up again, but I'm hoping it's just natural for him to sleep alot and that he hadn't been because he was so miserable!  I love being a mommy so much and couldn't ask for anything more in my life!  My life is completely perfect and filled with love!

Day 48 September 18th, 2010

Okay, so this is Saturday's picture and I couldn't resist taking it!  Yesterday, my mom and I took Zander and we went to Quincy to the mall!  We didn't really need anything, but we just felt like going and looking around and spending a day out of the house.  Plus, I wanted to go to the Walmart there to get some more drop in bottles and slow flow nipples (In Macomb they only have pink and purple bottles and no nipples) so I finally got them!  Anyways, I dressed Zander warm because in the morning it was chilly out and I figured it would stay that way for the majority of the day, but it ended up getting hot (which I had to buy a new shirt too because I wore a sweater and was dying) so I was taking the sweater off of him and just letting him wear his short sleeve onsie.  Zander's head is hard to get things on and off of so when we went to pull the sweater off this is the face that he made so we couldn't resist taking a picture of it!  We had lots of fun shopping though and of course Nana Porter had to spoil the baby and buy him 3 new outfits that are extremely cute :)

Day 47 September 17th, 2010

Well, I ended up 2 days behind on my blog so I'm trying to play catch up!  It gets really hard to get online when you're busy with a baby!  So this would have been Friday's picture and Friday we spent the day with Grandma Margie!  Mommy didn't wan't to stay at home alone all night so we thought it would be a good idea.  Although, it was a bit hetic at her house because she was babysitting Ava and then Jadalyn lives there it was nice to be able to have adult conversation.  I think that's the part that is the most difficult with a new baby is having to sit at home alone and not having anyone to talk too.  Having someone to talk to makes dealing with the stress of having a new little baby much easier!  So anyways, we had a nice relaxing evening at her house and she ordered pizza and we all just hung out!  Zander and I enjoyed ourselves very much!

Day 46 September 16th, 2010

This is my other baby Princess and I.  I took her picture to send to her dad because since the baby she has felt pretty neglected.  In fact she refuses to sleep in my room because of having to get up in the middle of the night so she has been sleeping with my brother.  I try to spread my attention between her and the baby, but of course the babies needs must come first so she gets very jealous.  I'm hoping as Zander gets a bit older they will adust better and learn to share the attention.  I also think it will be easier once we are back in North Carolina and her dad can give her attention while I'm giving the baby attention or vice versa.  Zander and I had a good day hanging out with Jennifer and we went to a candle party and he slept the whole time and was a very good boy!  Jennifer is going to go to Peoria with us next week too so I can get Zander enrolled in Deers so he is covered on our insurance!  We are both very appreciative of all of our friends and family :)

Day 45 September 15th, 2010

Today, we went and visited Zander's grandma and great-grandma!  We had a really nice time and it was nice to get out of the house and not have to be at home alone.  It's been a rough couple of days because Zander has been constipated, but the doctor suggested we switch his formula today to Gentlease for gas and fussiness.  So far it hasn't given him much relief, but I'm hoping after a few days too adjust to the new formula it will help him some.  It sucks so bad seeing your baby in pain and knowing that nothing you are doing is giving him any relief!  He did poop a little bit this morning and was completely content and not fussy at all afterwards until this afternoon so I know that he has a belly ache.  But this picture was taken at the nursing home when we went out there for supper!  Zander loves spending time with his grandma and great-grandma and they both love seeing him :)

Day 44 September 14th, 2010

Baby Z and I are not feeling well today so we decided that we were going to lounge around in P.J.s and not leave the house.  I got my online test taken and my other homework done this morning, and I'm almost done with my laundry so I did get something accomplished today.  Zander is a bit cranky today and is down for a nap now so I'm hoping that he wakes up a bit more happy this afternoon!  Anyways, this picture is a picture we sent to daddy this morning and I thought it was adorable because his hand is in the symbol of I love you in sign language.  I just happened to look down when I was feeding him his bottle and saw his hand and instantly took a picture to send to Chris.  Chris called immediatly to see if I had put his hands that way or if Zander had done it himself.  I told him that he was just wanting to tell his daddy that he loved him!  We are both really missing Chris right now and we are counting the days until we get to go visit!  Only 44 days left until we go and see him and it's going to be the best test ever!

Day 43 September 13th, 2010

I'm still a day behind but I'm catching up today!  Yesterday, was a very busy day for us!  We went to lunch with my sister in law at the pub at 12:30 and had a very nice time!  Zander was a well behaved baby and slept the whole time during lunch!  Then we had to go to baby Z's WIC appointment which took quite awhile.  We got there at 1:30 and didn't get gone until 2:30.  After that we went to see my mom at work because all of her friends wanted to see the new little man.  I finally got into the chiropractor yesterday so my mom rode with us to the chiropractors office so she could keep an eye on little man while I got my back adjusted (which feels so much better thankfully).  Afterwards, we had to run out to Walmart for a few things!  I got some shirts because mine fit but they are a little tighter than I would like for them to be so until I lose the weight I got a few new things.  I also tried to get some more bottle nipples, but they were out of the slow flow ones of course so we will have to try back again later!  Anyways, finally on to the picture!  This was after we finally got home from all of that and I told Zander to say hi to daddy so we could send him a picture and he started streaching as soon as I said that and it looked like he was waving.  I snapped a picture and sent it to his dad!  Our little man is too cute for words :)

Day 42 September 12th, 2010

This is baby Zander after he had his bath last night!  Sorry for the day of lateness on my blog but I barely got a free moment for anything yesterday!  We went to see my father in law and his girlfriend Shannon for lunch yesterday, and then we drove to Roseville so Zander could meet his other great grandma!  I never knew how many people would want to see the baby after he was actually here and how hetic it would be trying to make sure they all got too!  We got home around 4 in the afternoon and grandma kept an eye on the baby while mommy did some much overdue homework!  After we ate supper baby Z got his bath which he absolutely loves.  His towels are a little big and kinda take over his whole body but I couldn't resist taking a snapshot of this picture because he just looked so darn cute!  I have noticed that about every blog from the time of his arrival has been a photo of him, but how can it not be because he is my whole life and I wouldn't change on second of my days with him!

Day 41 September 11th, 2010

Tonight, I went to the balloon glow in Macomb with Shelby and Harlow.  It was pretty cool!  Zander and I went to Shelby and Harlow's new apartment before the balloon glow and Shelby cooked us dinner which was delcious!  Then we sat and talked and caught up on everything which is always nice to do!  Zander slept the whole time we were at Shelby's and during the whole balloon glow!  He slept for 5 hours straight despite my efforts to wake him up so I hope that he will sleep tonight like he has been but I don't know!  Harlow was pretty fasanated with the balloons though and it was cute to see her watch!  I can't wait until Zander is a little bigger and gets to enjoy things like this a little more although I'm in no hurry for him to grow up anytime soon!  We had a great night and it was nice getting out and doing something with a friend for a change!  Can't wait until the 4 of us get together again!  Would also like to say in observance of 9/11 that the ones who were lost will never be forgotten and thank you to all the brave men and women who continue to serve our country and defend our freedom...especially my husband!!  Your sacrfices are greatly appreaciated!

Day 40 September 10th, 2010

Tonight little man and I went to the nursing home to see Zander's great grandma Ford and Great Aunt Becky, then we went over to his grandma's Margie and had dinner.  Zander slept away for 4 hours during alot of his visits, but he finally decided to wake up and be social half way through the night.  He got to see his cousins Jadalyn and Ava, and his Aunt Patsy, Tasha, and Uncle Wayne!  We had alot of fun and dinner was really good!!  He got to wear his new rockstar outfit and his skull stocking cap that Jessica got for him!  He takes after his daddy and is his daddy's little rockstar!  It's been a long and eventful day, but that's okay because we like to spend time with the family!  Now, Zander is sleeping peacefully and I need to get my butt to bed if I want to get any sleep.  I'm hoping since he slept so much during the day that he will still sleep tonight!

Day 39 September 9th, 2010

This is me with my two babies.  It took a few days for Princess to adjust to having a new baby brother because she is used to getting all the attention so when we brought the baby home she wasn't very happy.  She is a very hyper dog even though she isn't a puppy anymore and has been fixed and she wanted to jump on me and everything else as soon as I got home from the hospital.  It's safe to say I was pretty sore so I couldn't let her jump all over me!  Now, though that I'm not really sore anymore she gets on my lap when Zander is being held because she wants attention too.  It's been an adjustment for all of us but we are finally getting the hang of things and she has actually calmed down around the baby.  She just likes to snife his head and his butt like he is another dog, but she doesn't try to jump all over him anymore!  I hope things keep going well between the two of them because it makes things alot less stressful when you don't have to worry about the dog hurting the baby!! 

Day 38 September 8th, 2010

Today, wasn't the best day in the world because I have been really sick all day, but we did go to Grandma Margie's house so that she could see baby Zander.  This is him after he had his bottle and he was completely content and happy laying with his grandma.  I gave up on breastfeeding.  I know I probably shouldn't have but it was stressing me out way too much and that wasn't good on Zander or I plus he wouldn't get satisfied off my breast milk so we are hoping that formula works out for us.  So far he seems to be a completely different and happy baby and he has taken the bottle really good so we are keeping our fingers crossed.  Zander really enjoyed his visit with his grandma, aunt, and great grandma!! 

Day 37 September 7th, 2010

 

This is my little boy sleeping like an angel!  I know I'm suppose to sleep when he sleeps but it's so hard because he is so beautiful and peaceful when he is sleeping and it's hard to not just want to stare at him.  Yesterday, was a pretty eventful because we had to go have Zander's jaundice test done and I cried more than he did.  It was hard watching them cause pain to my little man :(  We are still having some issues with the breastfeeding but last night was much better so I'm crossing my fingers that today will be good too and we will start getting the hang of things!!  Obviously, this blog is a day behind but that might happen some now that the baby is here because babies are lots of work but I think it's the most rewarding kind of job that I have every had and I wouldn't change my profession for anything :)

Day 36 September 6th, 2010

This is Zander and his first shopping adventure to Walmart.  I can tell that he is more like me than his daddy.  His daddy loves to go to Walmart and would pretty much go everyday if he could, but I dread going to Walmart because it's always busy and crowded!  I must say though that Zander was the angel baby while we were shopping and he slept during the whole adventure!  Everyone keeps telling me I need to rest during the day when he is sleeping (because so far we have been up 2 nights in a row all night) but the only time he seems to want to sleep is when we are on the move.  I guess that is because I was on the go alot while I was pregnant and they say that movement puts the baby to sleep while they are in the womb so maybe that's why.  He has done better today and seems a bit more satisfied because my milk finally came in so maybe we will have a better night, but either way I don't care because I love him so freaking much!  I could stare at him all day long :)

Day 35 September 5th, 2010

This is Zander at his first Labor Day parade.  He didn't really care about it though and he slept through the whole thing.  He didn't even wake up when the fire trucks went by and honked their horns.  He loves to be pushed in his stroller and today that seemed like the only time that he wasn't fussy so I was happy for that!  We also went up to the talent show this evening and he slept through all of that too.  We are getting ready for bed though because momma is exhausted and hopefully we will have a little more successful night tonight than we did last night, but either way I love him to pieces!!

Day 34 September 4th, 2010

This is Zander in his car seat for the first time and I just think he looks so darn small!!  Don't get me wrong he was a very healthy baby at birth but the carseat just swallows him up and he looks so tiny!!  We got to come home from the hospital on Saturday even though they really like you to stay for 48 hours they made an exception for us.  Chris had to leave at 3:00 in the morning and we really wanted to spend our last few hours together at home as a family.  The doctor came in and checked Zander and he passed all his first infant tests, we went over everything to watch for or to bring him back in for, and we also went over his discharge instructions and my discharge instructions.  The doctor was comfortable with letting us leave early because he did score high on all his infant testing and breastfeeding was going really well for both of us.  They called him the most natural nurser they had seen in a really long time so that made us feel good!!  Anyways, this was his first trip outside in the real world and we even went to see his great grandma Ford for a few minutes and took a walk uptown for Labor Day so mommy and daddy could get a lemonade shake up!!  Our first night home from the hospital was a little rough with Chris leaving and Zander has his days and nights mixed up (which they said lots of babies do) so we have to work on getting him on a schedule and awake more during the day, but other than that everything is perfect and him and I are both healthy!!

Day 33 September 3rd, 2010

Baby Zander has finally made is arrival and mommy and daddy couldn't be more happy!!  This picture was taken Friday evening after all the guests had left and it was just us three (our own little family).  It's so weird to see our first family photo with baby Zander in it after waiting 9 long months to finally get to meet him!!  Friday night (reluctantly) we let the nurses take the baby around 11 p.m. so we could get some sleep.  Labor started at about 7 that morning and we didn't have a nap at all that day because of all our visitors that came to see us so we were pretty tired.  They brought Zander in once around 2:00 a.m. to nurse and then we were up for the day around 6:00 a.m.  Chris told me the next morning that I handled letting the nurses take him better than he did because after I fell asleep he got up and went to the nursery to check on him and watch him for awhile!  It was nice getting some rest at the hospital, but by the next morning we were both more than ready to have him back in our arms.  You really can't get enough of having a new baby to care for!!

Day 32 September 2nd, 2010

I'm behind on my blog because we were admitted on Thursday to start the induction of our baby boy!!  This is a picture of me all hooked up to the monitors on Thursday night and waiting for them to start the cervidal.  I went in at 8:00 pm on Thursday and after all the admitting process they put the cervidal in about 11:00 pm.  I was dilated to 3 cm and 60% effaced when I went into the hospital and the cervidal did it's job and I started feeling intense contractions around 6:45 am the next day.  I slept pretty much through all the minor contractions that started a couple hours after the cervadil was in place.  I was dialated to 6 cm when they checked me in the morning and by 10:30 a.m. I was 10 cm dilated and ready to push.  Zander Michael Ray Ford arrived at 11:06 a.m. on Friday Septemeber 3rd, 2010.  He weighed 8lbs and 13 oz, and was 20.5 inches long!!  Labor was a bit intense because I didn't have an epidural (she was scared it would slow down the process and he wouldn't make it in time to see daddy), but looking back I'm kind of glad I had him nautrally!!  We couldn't be more happy to have him in this world :)

Day 31 September 1st, 2010

Today, is a picture of my husband and I because we spent the whole day together just enjoying being together!  We visited my Aunt Rhonda this morning, then we went to lunch together, and came back home and relaxed together.  We really want Zander to come but it has been nice to enjoy some alone time with my husband.  We went on 2 long walks today and I'm feeling a lot of pressure in my pelvis tonight but we shall see what we find out tomorrow at the doctor's appointment.  Regardless, we know we will have a little one by this weekend, we were just hoping that he would come a little sooner so that way his daddy would have more time with him.  God just has other plans, and I have faith that he will be here in time for Chris to at least spend a few hours with him.  Anyways, we enjoyed a nice dinner at my mother in laws and watched Letter's to God and then came home for our second walk!!  All in all it was a nice night and we both enjoyed getting to be with each other <3

Day 30 August 31st, 2010

I'm a day behind on my blog again because my husband and I are sharing my laptop for him to do school work but this is last night's picture of the West Prairie Volleyball girls.  My husband and I went to see my cousin Erica play and because it was Cyclones versues the Bombers which is my old high school team and my husband's old high school team!  Unfortunatly, the Cyclones didn't beat Macomb but they did play a good game and Erica looked really good.  The only thing I forgot is how hot West Prairie gym gets!!  At almost 40 weeks pregnant I thought I was going to die of a heat stroke!!