Two weeks WOW

Today baby Alexander is two weeks old. Time goes so fast. Tomorrow we go for his two week check up and I can't wait to see how much he weights. I see little changes in him every day. Today he seemed to notice my camera (which is in his face all the time). It's red, and I think he likes it. It works out great for getting pictures of him looking at me!

One Week Old Two Weeks Old

A Very Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas as a family of 3! It felt amazing to have Alex this Christmas, and I bet next year is going to be even more fun. We love him so much. He is such a good baby, and is the most precious gift ever!
Since I was short on time, I was not able to get Christmas cards out this year. I did have a photo shoot with Alex though. Then I printed the pictures and brought copies to my family. I do plan to do some kind of birth announcement after the new year.We spent Christmas Eve at my parents house. It was a long day, but a lot of fun. It was great to see how much Alex's two cousins love him. On the way home we even got to stop at my grandpa and grandma's house. Alexander loved the bonding time he got with his great grandma!
On Christmas day we had a super relaxing day. We hung out in our pjs most of the day. Alex got to see what Santa brought him, and read his new books. It was a very nice way to spend our first Christmas day as a family!

Ho Ho Ho

What you and I, have been waiting for!

Baby Alexander Joseph

12/15/09

2:34 am

8 pounds 2.5 oz

21 inches long

and red hair!

Happy Mommy!

Happy Daddy

First Feeding, and First Family Picture

Time to give it a try!

We got the call this morning! Birth-mom had her check up and ultra sound this morning. She text me at 8:30 and said it was going well, and that she would call me later. I fell back asleep before she called. I can't believe it, but I was super tired because I had the worst nights sleep. I didn't want to answer when she called so I let my voicemail get it while I tried to wake up. When I checked my voicemail, she said they were going to start the process to induce her tonight at 8pm. I called my parents, mother-in-law, aunt and 3 sisters, then I called her back. I wanted to make sure I sounded awake when I talked to her. She sounded excited and said that they will have a room for us and that I can go back and forth between our room and her room. We also plan to go to Joe's aunts house if we can not get any rest at the hospital.
From what I have heard this morning, inducing can take a long time, or it can go really fast. One person said she had the baby 2 hours later, and someone else said it took two tries and two days the second time. I don't have my heart set on him coming tonight, or even tomorrow. I am just so happy to get to see birth-mom and to start the process.
Today my husband and I are both off from work. I plan to take a little nap if I can fall asleep, while I wait for Joe to get up. Then we have a little running around to do. Our friend/dog sitter will be at our house at 6. We will go through everything with him, and then head south. I am really excited, but nervous and probably 100 other emotions! I will update when I can! :)

Can it never, just be good?

I wish I would have posted yesterday, but it was one of those days!

Wednesday, day 3 after due date, was such a devastating day. We had thought the baby would have come on the due date, or early, so when that didn't happen it was a hard day. Then we thought for sure, when she went in on Wednesday they would want to induce her that day, or at least this week. When we found out it wasn't even going to be this week, that really stung! We ended up staying in bed together most of Wednesday. Then we got hit with a pretty bad ice/snow storm. I decided to stay home on Thursday. It was already planned that I would be off from Wednesday through the New Year, for the baby. I stayed in bed all day and just had one of those days. It was nice, but I did feel a little guilty for not doing anything. I didn't do house work, I didn't organize, I didn't write the last of my thank yous, I really did nothing. Well, I did make dinner for Joe and I, and I did clean up a little after he got home, but before 6pm I did nothing.
Late last night, it hit me that it was the 10th. It was 1 year ago, yesterday, that we had decided to go ahead with adoption. It was the next day, the 11th, that I spent the day on the Internet searching all the info I could get on adoption. I called all the agencies in town, and did a ton of research. It's amazing to think that 1 year ago we agreed to start the process to adopt, and now our son is due any day.
On the other hand, yesterday was another horrible day. Joe texted me at 11:30am with this "My store is closing at the end of January. Will u please search jobs for me today if u get a chance? I knew it. Talk to u later". Yep, we knew this might happen, but had high hopes that his store would not be one of the ones that was closing. The worst part is that he found out through an email. At the bottom of the email Joe saw this "closing prep, Jan 28th, store number ####". Could you imagine seeing that, and it's your store, and no one told you! Right away he called and emailed his boss, and another guy. Later he got a call back from the guy, and it was confirmed. The goal is to place Joe and all of his employees into other stores in the company. Some times this works out, but not always. Joe went through a store closing before. He had to take a step down, but was able to keep the same pay. Since then he has moved up a lot, and we do not think they will keep him at the same pay this time. My wish is that Joe finds a good job in a different company. He has not been happy working for this company for awhile now, and I just think this would be a great time to part ways. Of course he will need to find another job, doing something he enjoys, with close to the same pay, to be able to do this. He has been with this company for almost 13 years, so I am sure it will be hard for him to move on, but it's time! He is a very hard worker and I think any company would be lucky to have him!
Now here we are 5 days past due date! Who would have thought! Joe thinks the 6th was really just a guess, so he is not surprised that he is not here yet. I am excited to here how Monday's appointment goes, but I do not have my hopes set on her being induced on Monday. She said that she will ask to be induced that day, but we see how that went last time. I know they will pick a date to induce her, but I just don't know when it will be. I guess any time next week. He is going to be so tiny at Christmas! He is really making it hard to get my Christmas cards out! Maybe I should put every ones address on the computer and print them on sticky labels so I can just stick them to the envelope and stick them in the mail as soon as we take his picture!
I am at work today, and it is going well. Turns out it is much better for my mental heath to be at work and not just at home in bed! Who would have thought. I probably won't post again until Monday. I am going to keep busy this weekend. I have a scrapbook day planned for Saturday, and plan to put my Christmas tree up Sunday. So have a great weekend blog world friends, and I hope to have something really exciting to post early next week!

Check up at 1pm

Birth-mom goes in for a check up at 1 today. I am very anxious to hear from her, and see what they say. Joe and I are both home today. We were due to get a snow storm last night, so I thought it would be best to be home so we could leave right away if we needed too. Turns out she did not go into labor last night, and we did not get a bad snow storm. Instead I woke up to melting snow.
Now the really bad snow storm is due to hit later today and tomorrow. The plan is to head down to Joe's aunt's house tonight so we are in the same town and ready when we need to be.
I will have all the details for you after 1 today.

Update: Heart breaking! B-mom texted me at 1:30 and said they will not induce her. She is not dilated enough. They are sending her home and will do an ultra sound Monday morning, and we will go from there. Monday Morning! Do you know how far away that is? That is four very long days away. Joe and I both spent the day in bed together watching movies, and napping. We are both very upset. Later she called and said that they would induce her but she could be in labor for days, and it would be really bad for her and the baby. She said that she told the doctor that the babies parents were on pins and needles. She is also upset that this is taking so long. She also told us that the doctor said it was not likely that she would go into labor over the weekend. She is still at a 1 and is "hard". I don't know a lot about labor, but I know that this little boy is taking his sweet time!
Not much else to tell at this point. I will write again tomorrow.

+2 and another snow storm on the way.

It's the second day past the due date of our baby boy. We are hanging in there, but barely. I am at work again today, and it is going well. The girls are all being very good, and are now next door playing. I hope today goes by fast and that we hear from b-mom today.
Since there is not a lot to talk about at this point, b-mom and I have decided to text each other, instead of calling, until it's time for "the call". I am glad about this because the last couple of phone conversations have seemed strange and forced. Yesterday, while texting, I found out that she has not been able to keep food down and has called and asked for a medication to help with this. I think the doctor did call her in something, and told her that it is all the hormones changing that are making her sick. She asked if I was ok with her asking to be induced on Thursday. I joking said "lets do it today". lol She said she would love to be induced that day. She has an appointment tomorrow at 1 and if they do not suggest inducing her, she is going to ask to be.
I am praying that she goes into labor today, or tonight. We are due to get a really bad ice/snow storm over night and tomorrow, which would make it really hard for us to get an hour south very fast. Plus we might be home by the weekend if she had him today, or tomorrow, so that we be an added bonus. I just really hope that we can get there in time, so I do not miss my baby being born! I guess if the plan is to induce her that would give us time to get there before, but I would just really love if she went into labor naturally, and it were today!
In the mean time we are stillllll waitinggggg!

+1

Today I am back at work! I had really hoped I would not be here today! Not that I don't love my job, or the girls that I take care of, but I was really looking forward to Friday being my last day before baby! Now that I am here, I am trying to keep my mind busy with other stuff, but that it's even harder now, then it was last week.
My mother-in-law called at 9:30am, even though I have a "no calls" allowed rule on my phone! It's just too hard to talk to people right now. I really have nothing to say. I am at work, there is no baby, and I will call you if anything happens, is about it! I know she is just excited as we are, but she didn't have anything to talk about either! Plus every time my phone rings my heart skips a beat!
Today should be fine at work. It's tomorrow that I am really dreading. Today I have to take the 3 year old to preschool, and pick her up so that gives me an extra something to keep busy with. There is also more cleaning to do on Mondays so that helps. Tomorrow it's me and all three girls at home all day. It's Tuesday's that go really slow.
Tonight I don't have any plans. Just relax, and maybe do a little more cleaning. We have a friend coming to stay at our house with the dogs, while we are out of town for the baby, so I need to make sure the house is ready for him.
Until next time, I am still just WAITING.

December 6th is the day, but that doesn't mean anything!

Here we are. We made it to December 6th! It doesn't look like anything is going to happen today though! I woke up way to early. I watched a bunch of TV that I should not have watched! It was all about people having babies, and it made me very sad! I called b-mom but she did not answer. That is not like her, but I am trying to not read into it, and I will just wait to hear from her. I took a shower, than laid down to try to take a nap. I could not get my mind to stop long enough to fall asleep, so now I am going to clean.
I really did not want to have to go through another "normal" week, or even another day. It looks like I am going to have to. I talked to my boss about being off this week even if the baby doesn't come. She said I could, but then I felt bad and said I would work. It's 3:33pm now, and I guess there is still a chance that we could get a call before 8am tomorrow.
Now I am off to clean, and I will update later if I hear anything. :)

7:30pm Update: I talked to Birth-mom around 5. She was having some mild cramping, but other then that she feels fine. So it's off to work for me tomorrow! Darn it! Waiting is NO fun!

1 day until baby, maybe

Tomorrow is the big DD! Tomorrow his our babies due date. If I do not hear from b-mom by 4pm tomorrow I will call her. I wonder if she notice that I always call her at 4?
We went out and got a baby gate last night. I think that was about the last thing we needed. Then we went over to a friends house to hang out with 3 other couples and 3 crazy dogs. Everyone kept joking that we were going to get the call while we were there. We did not think that was funny because we did not have our bag in the car.
Today I am suppose to be getting some things done. I need to go to a couple of stores and clean the house but I am moving very slow. Later we are having dinner with some very good friends again, and then maybe another game night.
So it's noon on Saturday and no baby, yet. I will keep you posted!~

2 days and a big snow storm!

If she does indeed have him in the next two days, I hope this snow lets up a little! We are going to be in a big hurry to drive an hour south, but that's not going to happen very fast if it keeps snowing like this! Not that it matters because it looks like the snow is going to keep coming just like this for the next week. I guess it's going to be a slow drive either way!

I talked to b-mom today and she is still feeling fine. I asked her to call me if anything happens this weekend. She said ok. I don't mind if he doesn't come this weekend, but the thought of going to work on Monday morning is not sounding good.

I am glad I have lots of plans to keep busy this weekend. Plus I have a lot of stuff to get done before we head south. I hope to stay very busy this weekend! Don't be surprised if I don't post over the weekend. I don't get online as much. I will try to keep you posted!

3 days......maybe?

It's 3 days until the due date! Is that right? That seems crazy to say. It doesn't feel like "only 3 days". I wish I could know for sure! It would be so nice to know if he was going to come on his due date, or before, or the dreaded......after. Yesterday was hard on me! It's just hard for me to be at work right now.


Last night when I got out of work I picked Joe up from home, went to my bank, went to Joe's bank, then picked up a bo.ppy that I bought off Craigs List. I love C.L! I have gotten some really nice things off from there, plus I have sold somethings too! Last night I got a bo.ppy pillow, two covers, and a infant pillow from the bo.ppy line all for $15! It was a great steal. Joe and I registered for a bo.ppy and it cost $35, plus the cover we wanted was an extra $25!


When we got back to the house we relaxed in bed and watched a few shows. Then I took a nap. I am sick of not sleeping at night so I am taking naps now too. Joe said "If you take a nap, you will not sleep tonight" lol I am not sleeping at night anyway. It turns out I can't sleep for naps either! I was so tired, yet I took a very lame hour nap. Mostly I just tossed and turned. I got a little better nights sleep last night. I fell asleep around 12:30, and woke up around 6. Sadly my alarm does not go off until 7:30 so I just laid there and pet the dogs until my alarm went off.


Back to last night, after my nap I worked on baby stuff. Surprise surprise! My oldest sister found a large box of baby clothes that had been left in her basement when she had her garage sale this past summer. Lucky for me, because it was full of very nice baby boy clothes! I washed all of them last night, sorted them into sizes, pj's, outfits, and so on, then I hung them or put them in his dresser. Joe and I tried to pick out an outfit to bring him home in, but we had no luck. He wants a sweater and pant set that his mom got for us, but I would reather it be a one piece. Plus the sweat set looks like it would be too big even though it's newborn size. Tonight I have a few more things to exchange so maybe I will find the perfect outfit for him.

D.D. in 4 days!

This wait is not getting any easier! Each time I make it through a day it feels like a big accomplishment. I don't feel any closer to getting a baby though, because I don't know when he will be here!
I started to pack my bag last night, and Joe asked if I was excited. I said I was not because it's too hard to be excited for something, when you don't know when it is going to happen. I feel like I went from 7 days until his due date, to only 4 days until his due date, but he may not come until next Wednesday and if that is the case then it's like starting my 7 day wait all over again! Get it?
Last night we did take the boys to get their nails cut, but I feel like it was for nothing. The lady just cut the tips off, so I will be back up there in another week or two. I never have very good luck at that pet store, but it's the closest one to my house. I was also there to get muzzles, but they were out of the smallest size so I will have to go back for those. I also wanted to stock up on meal worms, but the boys were so naughty and I got too flustered and ended up walking out without worms!
When I got home I got out a cabbage patch baby to start training the boys. I had read somewhere that it is a good idea to carry a doll around, just as you would a baby, for a week or two before you bring a baby home. At first the boys did not care. Joe had given them raw hides, so that was keeping them busy. Once he took the raw hides away they did want to know what I was doing. Neither of them liked when I rocked the doll, or when I made pretend crying sounds. They boy cried a little and looked nervous. I don't know if pretending with the baby is going to help really. I think they are both in for a big shock when we bring him home. I told Joe that I think it is our fault for babying them, he said "but they are our babies"! Wish us luck with that!
I talked to birth-mom today. It was a very short talk. A minute maybe. I just asked how she was feeling. She said good. I asked how the kids were and she said good. I told her I would call her again on Friday.
Man, this wait is killing me! I have been on the verge of tears all day. It is so emotional. I really just want to be done with work. Sitting at work for 9 and a half hours every day is really getting to me. There is nothing I can do at work to get ready for the baby and that bothers me. I feel unless I am doing something to prepare for him, then whatever I am doing doesn't matter. I know a lot of my frustration comes from being so tired. For the past three nights I have just tossed and turned all night. I am not getting good sleep and it is starting to wear on me! I plan to get into bed early tonight.
The wait is not getting any easier! I just wish he was here.

Due date is in five days.

It's Tuesday! I can't believe I made it through Monday! That was rough. I knew birth-mom had a check-up yesterday, but I didn't know what time it was at. I was watching my phone all day waiting for her call. Finally at 4:15 she called me. Turns out her appointment had been in the morning, but she had gotten busy. Little does she know, I was sitting here freaking out, waiting for her call. She said that she is dilated to 1. I know that this could mean nothing, and that some woman sit at a 1 for a week or more. Other people have told me that woman on their 3rd child do not sit at 1 for long, and that it could be any day. I try not to think about it, but that is all I think about! Birth-mom also said that the few days leading up to having the other 2 kids that she would feel really sick, and be very tired, yet not be able to sleep. She said that is how she has been feeling now, but again, that does not mean it will be today! She asked how I was doing and I told her I was good. Then the call was lost. When she called back, she asked me again, and I told the truth. I told her I have been freaking out, that I am not sleeping at night, and that I check my phone in the middle of the night to make sure I did not miss her call. She laughed, said I was cute, and said she was happy to hear that I was excited. Joe seems to think my excitement is part of the reason she loves us so much. Our social worker has said a couple different times that "birth-mom adores you guys". I am glad she feels that we are a perfect match. Birth-mom also reassured me that when she goes into labor that she would "blow up" my phone, and that it will not be just one missed call. I was glad to hear this, but I still worry. I told her I would call and check on her every other day until she goes into labor.
I have told my family and friends not to call me until I call them with some news. Sunday night my phone rang at 9:30 and I thought for sure it was birth-mom. Turned out to be a cousin. Then today while I was at work, I called my boss and she told me the same thing. She said every time I call her, she is sure it's to say the baby is coming. Seems I am not the only one on pins and needles!
Now I am just trying to stay busy while I wait. It's hardest when I am at work. My minds stays on the baby and birth-mom, and it is hard for me to think about anything else. At home it's not so bad. I still think about them constantly, but I am able to do other things too. Tonight we are taking the boys to get their nails cut, see if we can find muzzles for them, and to stock up on meal worms for the gecko. I also need to pack my bag, and finish my thank you cards from the shower. I really try to stay busy when I am at home.
My mother-in-law is doing a baby pool. I think that is what they are called. We each picked a day and time, for when we think the baby will be born. I said Saturday at 2:30pm. Joe picked Thursday at 3:30pm, and said Saturday would be no good for him. But we will see. I think she will go into labor in the middle of the night, and Joe hopes she doesn't!
I will post more on how this wait is going tomorrow! :)