Mom just wrote a great post, but I thought I would add a few things.
* Your first real toys were your toes. Back in July, you learned that they were A-MAY-ZING. You just loved grabbing them, and showing off how flexible you were.
* You really do spread joy - when we go to the dining hall without you, the staff asks. At the airport, random Delta employees come up and ask to hold you (and we comply). Everywhere we bring you, you bring smiles to everyone else.
* You had your first sit-down meal in the DA dining hall last week when mom was out of town, and you did great. You were pretty quiet the whole meal, smiling and looking around, until the applause at the end of a student a cappela version of Bohemian Rhapsody. You don't like sudden loud noises, like applause, or toilets flushing.
* You've recently learned that destruction is fun. You enjoy shredding paper, and eating it if you can.
* You like sitting up on my shoulders, but I don't like it so much when you grab my hair like the mane of a horse and rock back and forth with glee. My hair is going, but you're really helping it come out.
* I like to flip you around. My boss, John T., was shocked at how much I would flip you around while in the dining hall ("My wife would have never let me do that!" he said under his breath.)
* I recently discovered that I am no longer able to change your diaper if you are uncooperative. You are much too strong and flippy. That could be difficult going forward.
* When you're having a good time, you smile WIDE OPEN, like you're screaming on a roller coaster. Sometimes I like to make the same face, just to see if it makes you laugh. It usually does.
* You like trees. Bark, at least. We're hoping we're raising a little tree-hugger, but maybe you're just waiting for baby's first chain saw.
* You've probably heard me sing your lullaby "Momma and Daddy and Socha makes 3" about 7347 times so far. I often count to 100 (sticking lines of lullaby, or that day's news, or random things I made up in between the numbers) just to keep myself in the room longer, because if I leave too soon you'll suddenly wake up screaming. No fun.
* You wore a pirate hat with skull & crossbones & pom poms on your first boat ride, on the Connecticut River for a nice fall colors cruise.
* You like to rock out in your "baby einstein" bouncy playstation thing, also while chewing on large parts of it.
* Currently, your favorite toy (probably displacing your toes) is the TAG on anything. The toy is fine, but if there is a tag (like the one that tells you how to wash it), that is awesome.
* You've got 2 teeth on the bottom that were pretty rough coming in - about 2 months of pain, we think, and 2-3 weeks of it pretty bad. Tooth #3 (on top) is maybe coming in now.
* When you were teething in September, you also got a cold that I brought home from school, and gave to mom, who gave it to you. That was not a happy week.
* You can now sit up on your own, and pull yourself around your on your changing table, and sometimes army crawl a little. You will be crawling soon. We are not ready.
* More than crawling, you really want to run. There is a lot of energy pent up.
* You look like mom: fine blond hair, blue eyes, delicate furrowed brows, little cute nose. You seem to have my personality: very outgoing, likes people, wants to bounce.
* I'm looking forward to whatever cool thing you figure out next.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Some Catching Up
Socha,
Your Dad and I have been woefully inept at keeping this blog going. We have commented many times over the last several months that we need to update this blog - both with pictures/videos and with notes on your many firsts. But then we just don't seem to make the time. Partly because we're busy with work, and partly because we love spending our free time with you, which precludes us from sitting down in front of the computer to compose wonderful prose about you. The last time your Dad wrote, you were in full-bore colic mode. Life was a bit difficult for all of us - we refer to the spring as being "pretty dark." But, as everyone told us would happen, you finally grew out of your colic and have become a delight to hang out with. Your smiles brighten our days, and a lot of other people's days too. You've got such a fantastic grin that goes all the way to your eyes and helps a tired Momma or frustrated Daddy release our stress and just pour out our love for you. Your laugh is contagious and your curiosity helps us look at the world with different eyes. You bring joy wherever you go - whether that's the dining hall here on campus, or at your grandparents in Colorado, or walking down the street in Boston. I'm still wrapping my head around how I can be so in love with this tiny little creature that your Dad and I made.
You've done a lot of traveling for being only 7 months old. We drove from MA to MN this summer to visit friends and family AND go to the world's best amusement park for roller coasters (Cedar Point). In fact, you've been to half of the M-states: MA, ME, MN, MI. You've met all of the Savage/Larsen clan and much of the Jewett/Haughey clan. You've ridden the subway in Boston and flown to Colorado. You've dipped your toes in several lakes (Michigan, Superior, Huron, Sand Lake (in MN), McCollum Lake (in MI), and Lake George (in NY)), the Deerfield River, and Aunt Kathy's swimming pool. You were just starting to get somewhat comfortable in water when the summer came to an end. Luckily that comfort rolled over to baths - because we honestly probably didn't give you more than 5 baths in your first 4 months - and now you are starting to play during bathtime. Next, we need to take you in for swimming lessons so next summer you can actually jump into the water!
You've gained a lot of weight since the colic ceased. You're pretty solid now. And going through growth spurt after growth spurt. You get chubby, then you get tall, then you get chubby, then you get tall. I think you're in a tall stage right now.
Now that I'm working again, we have a nanny for you for 30 hours a week. Her name is Lori and you two get along really well. I think I'm suffering from separation anxiety more than you are. But it's really nice to have someone around who is so good with you. And it's nice to be back to work again.
So, I want to keep a record of all of your firsts and other anecdotes. I wish I could promise that I'll post something regularly or as it happens. But, the truth is, I'm a terrible blogger, so all I can do is put a list here of things up to today, and promise to try to post more regular tidbits in the future. I'll try to get your Dad to post some things too. We'll at least post monthly photo albums - we're really good about taking pictures of you. In fact, you've figured out that we like it when you smile for the camera, so you have started posing whenever the camera comes out. We could be creating a monster!
First, here's your measurements as the months progressed:
March 22 - 6 lbs 14.8 oz (32nd percentile), 20 inches (63rd percentile)
April 24 - 7 lbs 8 oz (8th percentile), 21.5 inches (63th percentile)
May 22 - 8 lbs 10 oz (6th percentile), 22.7 inches (65th percentile)
June 19 - 10 lbs 6 oz (13th percentile), 23.3 inches (49th percentile)
August 2 - 13 lbs 12 oz (44th percentile), 25.8 inches (90th percentile)
September 27 - 17 lbs (68th percentile), 27.3 inches (92nd percentile)
Your next weigh-in will be at 9 months.
Here are my very short notes on your firsts:
6/17/2012 - First true smile!
7/1/2012 - She rolled from stomach to back for the first time! Twice!
7/10/2012 - Discovery of the toes
7/14/2012 - Dip in Sand Lake with swim trunks up to chest. She was ok with it. Also, she laughed for the first time today while I blew my lips at her. We got a short video.
7/16/2012 - Lots of laughs while dad was swinging her. Got up to chin in swimming pool and stayed calm until her face went in the water. Also spent time in the pool yesterday.
7/25/2012 - First time rolling from back to front x2!
8/2/2012 - She started reaching for things and grabbing things in the last week or so.
8/6/2012 - She got her toes in her mouth
8/9/2012 - First case of thrush (hopefully only!)
8/21/2012 - First sunburn :( just right cheek
9/9/2012 - Discover of lower lip
9/29/2012 - First time sitting up on her own
10/8/2012 - First tooth starting to emerge
10/26/ 2012 - Second tooth appeared
I want to make sure all your photos are included in this blog (we've been posting some of the photo albums on our travel blog), so here are your first 7 months in pictures:
MONTH 1
MONTH 2
MONTH 3
MONTH 4
MONTH 5
MONTH 6
MONTH 7
And, last but not least, here are links to several posts we put on our travel blog, but neglected to include here:
Welcome Socha Sage Jewett Savage
Finally - some Socha photos
Socha's Second Month
Socha's first 3.25 months
Your Dad and I have been woefully inept at keeping this blog going. We have commented many times over the last several months that we need to update this blog - both with pictures/videos and with notes on your many firsts. But then we just don't seem to make the time. Partly because we're busy with work, and partly because we love spending our free time with you, which precludes us from sitting down in front of the computer to compose wonderful prose about you. The last time your Dad wrote, you were in full-bore colic mode. Life was a bit difficult for all of us - we refer to the spring as being "pretty dark." But, as everyone told us would happen, you finally grew out of your colic and have become a delight to hang out with. Your smiles brighten our days, and a lot of other people's days too. You've got such a fantastic grin that goes all the way to your eyes and helps a tired Momma or frustrated Daddy release our stress and just pour out our love for you. Your laugh is contagious and your curiosity helps us look at the world with different eyes. You bring joy wherever you go - whether that's the dining hall here on campus, or at your grandparents in Colorado, or walking down the street in Boston. I'm still wrapping my head around how I can be so in love with this tiny little creature that your Dad and I made.
You've done a lot of traveling for being only 7 months old. We drove from MA to MN this summer to visit friends and family AND go to the world's best amusement park for roller coasters (Cedar Point). In fact, you've been to half of the M-states: MA, ME, MN, MI. You've met all of the Savage/Larsen clan and much of the Jewett/Haughey clan. You've ridden the subway in Boston and flown to Colorado. You've dipped your toes in several lakes (Michigan, Superior, Huron, Sand Lake (in MN), McCollum Lake (in MI), and Lake George (in NY)), the Deerfield River, and Aunt Kathy's swimming pool. You were just starting to get somewhat comfortable in water when the summer came to an end. Luckily that comfort rolled over to baths - because we honestly probably didn't give you more than 5 baths in your first 4 months - and now you are starting to play during bathtime. Next, we need to take you in for swimming lessons so next summer you can actually jump into the water!
You've gained a lot of weight since the colic ceased. You're pretty solid now. And going through growth spurt after growth spurt. You get chubby, then you get tall, then you get chubby, then you get tall. I think you're in a tall stage right now.
Now that I'm working again, we have a nanny for you for 30 hours a week. Her name is Lori and you two get along really well. I think I'm suffering from separation anxiety more than you are. But it's really nice to have someone around who is so good with you. And it's nice to be back to work again.
So, I want to keep a record of all of your firsts and other anecdotes. I wish I could promise that I'll post something regularly or as it happens. But, the truth is, I'm a terrible blogger, so all I can do is put a list here of things up to today, and promise to try to post more regular tidbits in the future. I'll try to get your Dad to post some things too. We'll at least post monthly photo albums - we're really good about taking pictures of you. In fact, you've figured out that we like it when you smile for the camera, so you have started posing whenever the camera comes out. We could be creating a monster!
First, here's your measurements as the months progressed:
March 22 - 6 lbs 14.8 oz (32nd percentile), 20 inches (63rd percentile)
April 24 - 7 lbs 8 oz (8th percentile), 21.5 inches (63th percentile)
May 22 - 8 lbs 10 oz (6th percentile), 22.7 inches (65th percentile)
June 19 - 10 lbs 6 oz (13th percentile), 23.3 inches (49th percentile)
August 2 - 13 lbs 12 oz (44th percentile), 25.8 inches (90th percentile)
September 27 - 17 lbs (68th percentile), 27.3 inches (92nd percentile)
Your next weigh-in will be at 9 months.
Here are my very short notes on your firsts:
6/17/2012 - First true smile!
7/1/2012 - She rolled from stomach to back for the first time! Twice!
7/10/2012 - Discovery of the toes
7/14/2012 - Dip in Sand Lake with swim trunks up to chest. She was ok with it. Also, she laughed for the first time today while I blew my lips at her. We got a short video.
7/16/2012 - Lots of laughs while dad was swinging her. Got up to chin in swimming pool and stayed calm until her face went in the water. Also spent time in the pool yesterday.
7/25/2012 - First time rolling from back to front x2!
8/2/2012 - She started reaching for things and grabbing things in the last week or so.
8/6/2012 - She got her toes in her mouth
8/9/2012 - First case of thrush (hopefully only!)
8/21/2012 - First sunburn :( just right cheek
9/9/2012 - Discover of lower lip
9/29/2012 - First time sitting up on her own
10/8/2012 - First tooth starting to emerge
10/26/ 2012 - Second tooth appeared
I want to make sure all your photos are included in this blog (we've been posting some of the photo albums on our travel blog), so here are your first 7 months in pictures:
MONTH 1
MONTH 2
MONTH 3
MONTH 4
MONTH 5
MONTH 6
MONTH 7
And, last but not least, here are links to several posts we put on our travel blog, but neglected to include here:
Welcome Socha Sage Jewett Savage
Finally - some Socha photos
Socha's Second Month
Socha's first 3.25 months
And then there were three
From March 29, 2012 - Not sure why I didn't post this then...
I'm still sort of in a state of shock that I am actually a mother. I have a child. My beautiful little Socha has gotten an amazingly strong hold on my heart - it actually makes me cry to think about how much I'm in love with her. This coming from the woman who never wanted children - until she met the man of her dreams. I feel such intense feelings for Socha and additionally, I have the same incredibly intense feelings of love for my husband too. I've spent the days that we've been home from the hospital (a total of 3) crying off and on - mostly crying for the joy, but often crying from the fear that Socha might be ill or that my milk won't come in or any of the many things that could happen. Socha, your dad has been a saint to put up with my gigantic emotional rollercoaster. It's so amazing to be a family. Three of us.
I'm still sort of in a state of shock that I am actually a mother. I have a child. My beautiful little Socha has gotten an amazingly strong hold on my heart - it actually makes me cry to think about how much I'm in love with her. This coming from the woman who never wanted children - until she met the man of her dreams. I feel such intense feelings for Socha and additionally, I have the same incredibly intense feelings of love for my husband too. I've spent the days that we've been home from the hospital (a total of 3) crying off and on - mostly crying for the joy, but often crying from the fear that Socha might be ill or that my milk won't come in or any of the many things that could happen. Socha, your dad has been a saint to put up with my gigantic emotional rollercoaster. It's so amazing to be a family. Three of us.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Photos of Baby Socha
Flickr Slideshow of Baby Socha's first day.
If the embedded show doesn't work, follow this link:
http://www.flickr.com//photos/mountainpiratephoto/sets/72157629654459981/show/
If the embedded show doesn't work, follow this link:
http://www.flickr.com//photos/mountainpiratephoto/sets/72157629654459981/show/
Welcome to Socha Sage Jewett Savage
Click here for the full story of the name of our new daughter, Socha Sage Jewett Savage.
http://roadbeforeus.blogspot.com/2012/03/welcome-socha-sage-jewett-savage.html
http://roadbeforeus.blogspot.com/2012/03/welcome-socha-sage-jewett-savage.html
Baby arrives!
After 7.5 hours of active labor and then another 1.5 hours of pushing (after 2.5 exhausting days of trying to get into labor in the first place), Shannon brought our new daughter into the world. Huzzah!
The whole day was quite intense. Everyone is happy and healthy, cuddling and trying to get some sleep.
We haven't chosen a name yet (Massachusetts says we have 10 days, but we'll try to decide sooner!).
I have already enjoyed doing my first 2 diaper changes, breast feeding is happening, and Shannon is starting to recover from her ordeals. All is well. Thanks for all of the love and support from around the world during our process. FYI, our cell phones work in the hospital (mostly), so that's the best way to reach us, and we expect to go home Saturday.
The whole day was quite intense. Everyone is happy and healthy, cuddling and trying to get some sleep.
We haven't chosen a name yet (Massachusetts says we have 10 days, but we'll try to decide sooner!).
I have already enjoyed doing my first 2 diaper changes, breast feeding is happening, and Shannon is starting to recover from her ordeals. All is well. Thanks for all of the love and support from around the world during our process. FYI, our cell phones work in the hospital (mostly), so that's the best way to reach us, and we expect to go home Saturday.
Pictures and name to follow. Plus lots more stories. Shannon is already curious if daughter's tarry poop (common initially after birth) can be mined as an energy source...
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
I mean it. I'm not ready to leave the pool!
Well, it's Wednesday and we've been at the hospital for 48 hours and Junior is not budging. She likes this swimming pool and since the weather these days is quite balmy, she wants to stay there as long as she can!
As Jeff explained, last night we made a tactical retreat. Both of us got some really good rest so that we were ready to face a day of labor today. The doctor was more aggressive with the pitocin today and by noon I was at the highest dose - although I actually slept through almost all of the morning until lunch time (meaning that since I'm hooked up to the IV, I rarely woke up as they increased the dosage). I've actually napped on and off all day.
Unfortunately, even at the highest dose, I never got into a pattern with contractions. I would have a few that were fairly strong (at least strong enough to be noticeable - but nothing like Monday night and Tuesday), but mostly I never even felt any. And there has been no change in my cervix since Tuesday morning.
This morning the doctor suggested trying to break the amniotic membrane to really get this party started and after a bit of discussion, we decided to go ahead and do that. But then it turned out that my cervix is not ready for that - we tried twice today but could never get the instrument in the right place - so no membrane rupturing. Something to do with the angle of the cervix not matching the angle (or lack thereof) of the rupturing instrument.
So, once again, we found ourselves at an impasse and had to come to a decision this afternoon after 6+ hours of pitocin. At least today our decision making was a bit more coherent since we'd gotten some much needed rest. Our choices were:(1) try cervadil again tonight (what started my contractions on Monday night) with some pain relief to help me sleep and start again with the pitocin in the morning, or (2) go in for a c-section. We've talked from the beginning that we really don't want to have a c-section unless it was medically necessary. Although I'm getting tired of being here and don't want to go through this merry-go-round more than another day, I'm not ready to give in to the idea of a c-section yet. So I've stopped the pitocin for the evening and started again on the cervadil. It's possible I'm having some contractions right now, but I don't feel anything (thought I saw one pass by on the monitor a little while ago). I'll have some pain management medications this evening to help me get rest even if I am having painful contractions. And hopefully this will make my cervix more "favorable" and will help the pitocin do it's job of dilating the cervix tomorrow.
My parents arrived in Massachusetts today - they were expecting to meet a new baby, not see their daughter full-term pregnant! So I'm hoping that they don't spend the week they're here waiting to meet their granddaughter. I really hope Junior is born tomorrow not only for my sake (I'm getting bored of the scenery in this hospital room), but for Nana and Grampy's sake!
While they were here at the hospital, I was given permission to move about the hospital for a little while (with a nurse escort and me in a wheel chair - they are still concerned about the pre-eclampsia), so we went outside to the healing garden. The weather is unseasonably warm, so it was very nice to get some fresh air and enjoy the warmth outside for a few moments.
I'm going to go eat some alfredo pasta and maybe watch a movie to pass the time, then it's another early bed time for me. Hopefully by this time tomorrow I will be holding a healthy baby girl (or boy - if the ultrasound was not correct!). Until later...
As Jeff explained, last night we made a tactical retreat. Both of us got some really good rest so that we were ready to face a day of labor today. The doctor was more aggressive with the pitocin today and by noon I was at the highest dose - although I actually slept through almost all of the morning until lunch time (meaning that since I'm hooked up to the IV, I rarely woke up as they increased the dosage). I've actually napped on and off all day.
Unfortunately, even at the highest dose, I never got into a pattern with contractions. I would have a few that were fairly strong (at least strong enough to be noticeable - but nothing like Monday night and Tuesday), but mostly I never even felt any. And there has been no change in my cervix since Tuesday morning.
This morning the doctor suggested trying to break the amniotic membrane to really get this party started and after a bit of discussion, we decided to go ahead and do that. But then it turned out that my cervix is not ready for that - we tried twice today but could never get the instrument in the right place - so no membrane rupturing. Something to do with the angle of the cervix not matching the angle (or lack thereof) of the rupturing instrument.
So, once again, we found ourselves at an impasse and had to come to a decision this afternoon after 6+ hours of pitocin. At least today our decision making was a bit more coherent since we'd gotten some much needed rest. Our choices were:(1) try cervadil again tonight (what started my contractions on Monday night) with some pain relief to help me sleep and start again with the pitocin in the morning, or (2) go in for a c-section. We've talked from the beginning that we really don't want to have a c-section unless it was medically necessary. Although I'm getting tired of being here and don't want to go through this merry-go-round more than another day, I'm not ready to give in to the idea of a c-section yet. So I've stopped the pitocin for the evening and started again on the cervadil. It's possible I'm having some contractions right now, but I don't feel anything (thought I saw one pass by on the monitor a little while ago). I'll have some pain management medications this evening to help me get rest even if I am having painful contractions. And hopefully this will make my cervix more "favorable" and will help the pitocin do it's job of dilating the cervix tomorrow.
My parents arrived in Massachusetts today - they were expecting to meet a new baby, not see their daughter full-term pregnant! So I'm hoping that they don't spend the week they're here waiting to meet their granddaughter. I really hope Junior is born tomorrow not only for my sake (I'm getting bored of the scenery in this hospital room), but for Nana and Grampy's sake!
While they were here at the hospital, I was given permission to move about the hospital for a little while (with a nurse escort and me in a wheel chair - they are still concerned about the pre-eclampsia), so we went outside to the healing garden. The weather is unseasonably warm, so it was very nice to get some fresh air and enjoy the warmth outside for a few moments.
I'm going to go eat some alfredo pasta and maybe watch a movie to pass the time, then it's another early bed time for me. Hopefully by this time tomorrow I will be holding a healthy baby girl (or boy - if the ultrasound was not correct!). Until later...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)