Weekend wins...and losses....

So something was up this last weekend, 6 of the top 10 college football teams lost, the Mets choked AGAIN (2nd year in a row) and didn't make the playoffs - and - Cowboys lost to the Redskins. I didn't care about many of those games, except of course for the Mets because that determines the mood around our house. Most of you already know that Dom is a crazy Mets fan and takes them very seriously - KQ and Carrie, you both know what I'm talking about. Well, yesterday we got all geared up, wrapped Brooklyn in her Mets blanket, got some stuff to grill, and watched them choke. Dom had to go nap after the game because he was so upset by the whole ordeal. They did suck and I was even frustrated so I let him grieve for awhile. Boys will be boys.

The weekend was not an entire loss though - ACU beat Eastern New Mexico and is now 4-0. Can't wait until we can go see Richard and watch a game. Friday night we loaded up Brooklyn and went out to dinner at Ciola's. That is a win for us because it's one of our favorite spots to eat, and when she was first born I felt like we wouldn't ever be able to eat at places like that again :), at least not for awhile. But she did great, slept the whole time and him and I had great dinner. She also took a bottle this weekend which is such a relief because I can now pump and Dom can feed her every once in awhile. This means happy hour with the friends is on the horizon. Brooklyn also held her head up a lot this weekend and is growing to be so big already. Her 3 week bday is today at 5:57 p.m.

On another totally different note I was at Target today and was loading up the car ready to leave when a woman parked next to me and stopped to meet Brooklyn. She asked how old, what her name was, etc...and then she grabbed my arm and proceeded to tell me how her daughter was dying of cancer and probably wouldn't make it through the week. She told me that life is precious and to never take it for granted, and then told me that Brooklyn was the best thing I have done so far in my life and walked away. She was very sweet and caught me completely off guard but it made me reflect for a second on what it must have been like to see me with my new baby girl, and to flash back and remember when she was my age with her daughter, who now she's saying goodbye to. I cried on the way home and then called Dom, he cheered me up but I felt I should share this story as it was another reminder of how precious life is and how thankful I am for the gift I have been given.

I heart Chinese!

So I'm back! My appetite that is, as I ate Chinese food for lunch today. YAY! I was worried that it would never quite be the same after 9 months of not being able to go near it. Dom and I met Brian, Mike, and Joanna for lunch at DIN HO and if you have not been to that place you are missing out. Food is soooo good and the lovely bbq'ed ducks hanging in the window make for a nice ambiance. Brooklyn did great, she slept the whole time. Before we met them I took her up to Dom's work to meet some of the DMI folks, she slept most of the time but they got to see her cute little face and full head of hair. Such a big girl at 16 days old.

We had our first big crying session last night. Dom and I tried to watch a movie while I fed her but that movie turned out lasting 3 hours (instead of the 90 minutes it was) because B was just not a happy camper. She cried for a straight 45 minutes which hasn't happened yet. I wasn't too overwhelmed as I realize 45 minutes is nothing, I just didn't know exactly what to do to make it better for her. We concluded that she was a little backed up, one dirty diaper later she calmed down and went right to sleep. Oh to be a kiddo again - eat, sleep, poop, or cry. That's all you have to worry about.

Nap time = Me time

Alright, so two weeks down and I'm getting the hang of this. My little one is doing great and changing every day. She is trying hard to hold her head up on her own and I'm amazed at how strong she is! She stays awake and then sleeps for longer periods of time which I have quickly learned means 'me' time. Not 'me' time like lounging around and getting pedicures, more like do the dishes, straighten up, shower, jump on the computer, make a few phone calls, and figure out what to do for dinner, all in about two to three hours. Hey, I'll take it. Amazing how the apprehension about this whole experience changes over the course of just two weeks. We're not quite in a set routine yet but we're getting there, and just the change in me is drastic. I think the hormones have calmed down a bit and I'm feeling great. I am trying to soak up this time when she is so tiny and just lays around on Dom or I, needing us 100% of the time. I know that changes fast and so I'm literally taking mental snapshots of her as the days go by. I think I may venture out for lunch this week with the friends, and who knows, we may go visit Daddy at work.

Here are a few pics from over the weekend, we went out on Saturday for a little bit - lunch at Rudy's, a stop at the driving range, and then to Adrienne and Brian's for his bday celebration.

Nap time is also blog time...and guess what...she just woke up.

Learning & Loving

I have no idea how to wrap up my emotions into one suitable phrase that will describe my life as it stands today.

This time last week my beautiful baby girl was almost a full 24 hours old. A whole day - her first day in this brand new, big, scary world. She's much older now, a full week and a day and is doing great. That day that I delivered her was like nothing I could have prepared myself for. The pain was no fun, but that all goes away when you see that little face. I am grateful for the experience of carrying her, knowing that this little person that I now hold in my arms was the rugrat kicking me and causing me horrible heartburn for 9 months. I thank God that she is healthy.

What a roller coaster of emotions, all the things you read for months and months suddenly come into play and you find yourself frozen almost by all of it happening at once. Lots of learning, loving, and admiring - moments where you feel completely overwhelmed and unsure of yourself, then moments where you just know you were meant to be a mom.

She entered this world on her own time and she has already proven to be an independent spirit. I can't wait to raise her and provide the opportunity to become anything she wants. Cliche, yes, but it's truly inspiring to have this life in your hands.

Welcome to this world Brooklyn girl.

Practice breaths?

Not me - but Brooklyn. Apparently babies practice breathing before they join us, which I had read about but had no idea it would give me such a scare as it did today.

So - no labor, obviously, but I did have a Dr. apt so they could check all the things they normally do and see if I was dilated. Nothing more than 2 cm which is what I have been at for 2 weeks. Not looking likely to happen over the weekend but you never know. Because I am past my due date though my Dr. did have me go get an ultrasound so they could check on things and I learned during that exam that they look for three things: heartbeat, movement, and practice breaths. The first two she passed easily but the third - nada. They have to do the ultrasound for 3o minutes and if they don't see her try one of these breaths than they send you back downstairs for a stress test. So, 30 minutes later I was back downstairs in my Dr.'s office hooked up to a machine where they monitored her heartbeat and measured contractions. (Which by the way I was having but didn't feel - and it didn't phase Brooklyn at all). I called Dom to let him know what was up and he immediately left and came over, he was more freaked out than I was. I just had a feeling that things were going to be okay, and it turns out they are - but for about half an hour there I didn't know what to think. They send you around without telling you much until they know something, so I just followed instructions - 3 hours later I'm home and we're all good. I guess they'll keep an eye on things but they said she's fine, so I trust them. I did get to see that my baby girl has a full head of hair, and, she weighs between 7 - 8 lbs. That is crazy considering about a month ago they had me do an ultrasound because they thought she was smaller than normal, and at that time she was in the 30th percentile, guess my baby doesn't like being below average already. ;)

So it turned out to be quite the day for me, made it go by fast at least. I had to take a few breaths myself but all is well. Cheers to the weekend!

Tick...tock...

September 4th! Where are you and why are you given a 'due' date anyway? It should be something along the lines of your due month - a ballpark timeframe that has no specific day associated. I never gave much thought to going past my due date, and now I'm close to doing that. It is like being held hostage, and being the control freak that I am I can't stand it! :) Tough to blog about anything else today but I can try.

Let's see - watching the conventions? I know I am and the one thing I will say without getting into the details is that I'm looking forward to what's to come. I have followed both parties so far and have strong opinions on each, but regardless of how we all feel I think we can agree that change is needed and is coming. A few observations from the Republican convention...could McCain's wife get a greener dress? And the cowboy hats - really? REALLY.

On another 'really' note - NKOTB was on the Today show this morning. Don't pretend like you don't know what that stands for, New Kids on the Block baby. Yeah, as soon as I said their name you immediately started singing "the Right Stuff" or "Step by Step" in your head. Or, maybe Hangin tough, I don't know what you preferred but you know you knew all the words. That's okay, I admit it too - I even saw them in concert. About 20 years ago! What the hell are they doing, a come back? Gross.

Okay, off to run errands and do things to keep myself busy. I may pick up some castor oil too, haven't totally ruled that out yet. Stay tuned people.

Great labor day weekend, no labor. ;)

Well I had a wonderful long weekend starting with date night Friday with Dom. Saturday was errands and new patio furniture, thank you Mike for allowing us the luxury of using the Trooper to get around town. Love that beast. Saturday night we headed to KQ's to grill out - it was fun as always and Dom was introduced to new cider beers and had several of them, enough of them to feel it the next day. We were hoping maybe if he got hammered that Brooklyn would decide to come that night, but no luck. Sunday my parents and brother came over to grill at our house, it was great to see my dad as he was home from OK City for the weekend.

ACU Wildcats won this weekend! We streamed the game in at KQ's and were able to watch most of it - Richard did awesome and I'm so proud of him. Kicking ass as always. I so wish that I could be there to watch and support him, I'm hoping to make a few games this season but we'll have to see. They beat Northwestern Missouri who had been ranked 3rd, ACU ranked 8th - and they beat them at Missouri, who hadn't lost at home in 17 games.

http://www.acusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8900&ATCLID=1572481

No game this weekend so I may get to see him if their coaches let them off, hoping Uncle Rich can meet his niece. Again, we'll see.

So can you tell that there is a pattern of unknowns here all circling around the arrival of our little one. I'm telling you this anticipation sucks!!! Every movement, cramp, cringe, whatever I think 'maybe this is it', knowing in the back of my mind it's not. Those friends of mine that have had babies tell me when it's time - it's TIME, and you know it. So, we'll carry on and wait for her to decide what day she wants to have her "birth"day.