Spicy Magnolia

A Welcomed Breather

<deep, deep sigh> I think I'm coming up for a bit of air...about 2 hours worth before my little guy wakes up.  My days are all topsy-turvy, and I find I no longer have a day.  They either go by too quickly, or the time I think I'll have for a brief moment for an outlet (i.e. blogging), is taken from me just as quickly as Brennan can create a new, dirty diaper.  I'm adjusting.  Not so gracefully, I might add.  But I'm trying ever so hard. 

Ok, so the chances of me answering all your wonderful questions in one sitting are strikingly null and void, so I decided to take few questions at a time and see where that lands us.  So here we go:

If given the choice between cutting Brennan's nails and Molly's nails, which would you choose? 
Brennan had his first full bath today and it was also the first time I've had the nerve to cut his nails.  But after my experience with Brennan today, I would much, much, much rather trim his nails than Molly's!  Molly absolutely hates her nails being trimmed and even growls on occasion.  It's obvious I've unintentionally tormented the poor girl by how many times I've injured her.  Thus, I've succumbed to having the vet do it for me.  My Momma taught me a trick today to cutting Brennan's nails:  instead of using the clippers, we used curved blade cuticle scissors (Revlon's brand).  You have to be careful because they're sharp, but it definitely wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and gives a smooth trim.

What kind of help do we have?
A dear, dear lady by the name of Meems (a.k.a. my Momma) has been here with us since last Monday.  She went back to San Antonio for the weekend, but came back yesterday morning and will be here until Friday.  Pops (a.k.a. my Daddy) took last Friday off to be with us and we all ate outside at Potbelly for a little outing.  I think Pops is going to take this Friday off as well.  But he only helps with holding Brennan.  <grin>  My Momma has been super Momma, working on our laundry, homemade meals every night, cleaning, watering plants, Brennan's feedings, etc...  I do not know what I would do without her!!  I'm pretty much dreading next Monday when I'll be on my own.  I can't even think about it.

How are the nighttimes?  How is he sleeping? 
Currently, we are feeding him every 3-3.5 hours during the day and every four hours during the night.  So we have a feeding about midnight and then 4 a.m.  One thing Brennan is not, is fussy, which I am deeply thankful for!  On top of that, he's able to quickly fall back to sleep after those feedings.  Loud noises, including Molly's bark, do not bother him; he sleeps pretty soundly.  I have a sleepy baby, so it's actually harder sometimes to wake him up for a feeding than to get him back to sleep.  There have been more difficult nighttime feedings where we've finished a feeding and changed a diaper, to have him immediately dirty another one and mess up his clothes.  Or sometimes, we have to walk or rock him a bit before he lays down again, but for the most part, we can put him right back into his pack n' play.  He's a pretty chill, laid-back fella.  The most adorable part is watching his facial expressions and stretching movements as he tries to wake up. 

Am I tired?
Yes.  I am able to get a pretty decent amount of sleep during the night because of Brennan's demeanor, having some helpers, and having only 2 middle-of-the-night feedings.  I also get an hour's nap during the day, but yes, I'm tired.

One thing to pray about for us:
This wasn't a question, and I'm sure I'm taking a bold step in posting this across the world wide web, but I would appreciate your prayers...not so much advice, but prayers.  Because of Brennan's weight loss last week, we were instructed to start supplementing with formula and to meet with a lactation consultant.  We discovered several things with the lactation consultant:  because of Brennan's short tongue and bubble palate, we weren't transferring milk like I thought we were.  Thus, he was getting most of his nutrition and weight gain, if not all of it, through the formula.  It also explained why he was so fussy trying to latch...it was a very frustrating experience for us both.  In addition, because I wasn't transferring the milk I thought I was and not pumping enough, my milk supply began to dry up.  I can't tell you how crushing this has been to me, because I had it.  And I could have been pumping more often to maintain the supply, but didn't know I should have been.  It's also been crushing to me to have nursing be such a frustrating and difficult experience to my baby. 

Over the last few days, we've been working on trying to build back up my milk supply through pumping regularly and through some medication.  Pray that my supply can be built back up again.  I am also scared to keep trying to nurse because it really wears the little guy out and it's not a fun experience for either of us.  But we're practicing, and my hope is that one day he'll be able to latch.   So pray also for the protection over my emotions and thoughts and that he and I wouldn't be scared to keep trying.  Please, I know that it is not the end of the world if I can't nurse, but it has been very emotional to me, and I would love to do it.  One praise is that for the last few feedings, I've had enough milk to not have to supplement with formula...my hope is that I can at least do that.  Thanks for your prayers and thoughts! 

And thanks for your prayers for Kelly and little Harper!  They continue to see amazing things happen...what an awesome testimony that little girl already has!

Any Resemblance?

We've had quite an eventful two days...all is well, but the emotions of everything and my adrenaline finally running out have hit me.  I'll expound a little more about it in the Q&A I'm working on based upon your wonderful questions, which I've thoroughly enjoyed!  (If you have any more to add, go for it.)  I gotta work on not being so verbose and giving you a whole essay per question.  If you've read this blog long enough, you may know that that is a very hard thing for me to do!  But I'm workin' on it; for ya'll's sake, I'm workin' on it. 

Of course, one of the first things people talk about when having a baby is, "Who does the baby look like?"  As a baby, I didn't resemble anyone, so they said.  As I've gotten older, I'm nearly the spitting image of my Momma; I can't even count the number of times people have remarked how closely we look like each other or they've had to do a double take.  Some of you have already commented about who you think Brennan looks like, but I thought I'd drag out some baby pictures of me and hubby and get your thoughts based upon the pics.  The picture of me was the best close up I could find right now...sorry for the scrunchy, burpy face. 

What Do You Think?  What, if any, resemblances do you see?


Baby Brennan


Matt with his Grandma and Aunt Janet


Me with my Momma

One Week Later...

And we're surviving...and thriving!  Hello, very dearly missed Internet peeps.  I have wanted to blog so much since our little Brennan was born, but every time I try to get on, something happens with my precious baby boy that directs my attention elsewhere.  My own agenda has quickly gone by the wayside, but thanks to my Momma right now, I am getting a spare moment to get online.

I haven't even had a chance to go through all of the comments ya'll have left over the past week, but I can't wait to read them.  Thank you for all of your prayers, encouragement, and congrats!  Know that deep in my heart, I want to personally respond to each of your comments as they mean so much to me.  But I know that's not gonna happen right now, but thank you! thank you! thank you! 

We were discharged from the hospital on Sunday and brought Brennan home to be introduced to Molly who was waiting at the street corner with my folks.  She's already given him lots of lops and Brennan loves 'em.  We've also enjoyed a walk each day with Moos as well...she's getting more walks now than what we were able to give her the weeks leading up to Brennan's birth.  We've been making strides with feeding; he lost 12 ounces between Friday and his first doctor's appointment on Tuesday and was only having one or two wet diapers a day, so we've been at the pediatrician's office each day since to have a weigh in.  Yesterday he hadn't gained anything, but today it showed he'd regained 5 ounces!!  What a munch-munch champ.  <grin> 

I have taken to being a mommy much more than I ever envisioned...what a relief and answer to prayer, I must say.  It has been a true joy for me to love this little fella, and he really is a good baby.  I'm soaking up each and every day, knowing it's already going by so quickly.  Truly, I could write about so much over the past week that I have no idea where to begin.  So...I figured the best way to know what to write about the past 6 days is to hear from you.  What are your questions?  What do you want to know?  About his personality?  What the first night was like?  How is Molly with him?  Your questions will help guide me in a specific direction on what to write about.

Before I close, let me officially announce the winner of Polka's birth day giveaway.  My goofball (and dear) friend Josh wins with a guess of January 16th at 3:30 p.m.  Brennan was born on the 16th at 6:47 p.m.!   So Joshy, let me know what you want your $40 gift card for:  either Amazon.com, Starbucks, or in honor of Brennan, Babies R' Us or Gymboree (either for clothes or the play and music classes). 

Also, I was laying in my hospital bed on Friday night eager to check on my bloggy friend, Kelly's, status on the birth of her baby girl, Harper.  Kelly was supposed to be induced on Friday morning, and it turns out that Harper was born just about 15 minutes after Brennan.  But little baby Harper was born with pneumonia and was flown to a hospital out of their State for care; she was in very serious and critical condition.  Most of you all have probably been reading Kelly's blog with all of the status updates lately...wonderful status updates by the way!  But my heart was deeply moved in a way I can't adequately describe as I read about little Harper...just mere hours after Brennan was born.  You'll notice the "Praying for Harper" button on my left sidebar.  You can click on that sidebar to be directed to Kelly's blog to read the status updates on Harper and know best how to pray for Scott, Kelly and Harper. 

And without further ado, here are some of my favorite pictures from Brennan's first week.  Enjoy!  I hope to get into a bloggy groove shortly; I just can't stay away from ya'll too long!  Hope you are well, dear ones!

Our first family photo...we just need Molly


Presenting Brennan to his Meems


Pops & Brennan


My little angel


Introducing Molly to some of Brennan's smells using his hat


Getting ready to leave the hospital.  Brennan is wearing the cutest "little acorn" outfit given to us by his aunt Julie. 


In his car seat on the way home...sleeping, which he does a lot!  Sometimes I have to be a really mean mommy and use a wet wash cloth on his skin to awaken him to eat. 


Molly meeting her new best friend--see that big lop?


With Pops


My two babies


A bit of tummy time
Oh, I love him!

Ok, so what do you want to know?

A Drum Roll, please...

Introducing for the first time, the newest member of this spicy family, Brennan Matthew!  Our baby boy was born on Friday evening at 6:47 PM CST.  He weighed in at 7 lbs, 15 oz, and is 19 3/4" in length.  This handsome baby boy is already very loved and we are thankful that he and Mommy are healthy and doing well.  Each passing moment we are learning new things, a reoccurring lesson is realzing how much more we have to learn!  (I think that one will last a lifetime).  But it has been a joy to experience so many "firsts" and to learn how we all can work together as a family.

Thank you all for your many prayers and encouraging words throughout this pregnancy.  Below is your first peak at our new son. 

Sunday will be a fun day as we anticipate introducing Brennan to Molly!  Once we can recognize which direction is up again, Meg will post some of her own words about her new beloved baby.

*** This message was brought to you by "coach Matt" ***

You'll Never Guess Where I Am

Well, what was supposed to be a quick, 7:30 a.m. doctor's appointment turned into a 2 hour visit and a most unexpected turn of events!  Putting me on the fetal monitor showed that for the past 24 hours I guess I've been in early labor (I had contractions all day yesterday, but I couldn't ever pick up a regular pattern), and I progressed to a point where I should head on over to the hospital!  I couldn't believe it!  I even told Matt to stay home, that he didn't need to come to this appointment, and I was headed to my first MOPS meeting afterward.  It also turns out that my doctor is working at the hospital today in surgery and is available to deliver (hoping that Polka comes before he leaves for the night).  So the nurse called him up and told him my status and he said, "Let's do this thing!"

So Matt came right away with my bag, my stuffed Molly and a picture of my real baby girl <grin>, and we have been in my room now since 10:00 a.m.  I'm hooked up to an IV, my doctor broke my water, and I'm on a bit of Pitocin to keep things progressing at a healthy rate.  This is absolutely crazy and the last thing I expected today...but here's to embracing the wonderfully unexpected!!

I can't wait to introduce you to baby Polka!! 

Coming out From Under My Shell

Happy Thursday afternoon, Internet peeps!  Thank you for your patience with my lack of posting updates.  The week has turned out to be one where this introvert has secluded herself purposefully into her turtle shell.  I deeply appreciate all of the emails, phone calls, IM inquiries, Facebook messages, etc...They mean so much to me to know there are many of you who care about and love me!  I simply needed to go into hiding for a couple of days, but this little turtle's head is peeking ever so slightly out from under her shell.

Our doctor's appointment yesterday went well; Polka continues to be very content and fortunately, my body has slightly made some progression:  I am now 2 cm dilated and 60% effaced.  I've spent the last 24 hours waiting to hear back from the doctor's office as to whether an induction would be scheduled for tomorrow or Monday.  If Polka doesn't arrive between now and Monday, me and hubby will make our way down to the hospital at 5:00 a.m. on Monday, the 19th for a scheduled induction.  Monday is a special day as it is:  it is hubby's 31st birthday!  So we just might have two January 19th birthdays in this family!    Matt kept asking me for a baby for his birthday; well, he literally may get one!

My doctor is not in the office tomorrow, nor on call this weekend, so that has me in a bit of an anxious state and hoping Polka holds off until Monday.  But it's just another thing over the past month...and this week...that I am having to surrender and trust the Lord with.  I have another doctor's appointment tomorrow morning to make sure everything still looks good, but I won't post any updates on that front unless there is real news to report.

My bloggy friend, Kelly, is supposed to go in for her induction tomorrow!  Can't wait to hear about the birth of her little girl, Harper! 

Blessings to you all, dear Internet peeps!  Thank you again for your encouragement...what a time to need it more than ever!  <grin>

Sweet & Sour Chicken...and More Linky Love

Greetings, Internet peeps!  I wanted to take a bit of time to share with you some linky love that might be of interest to you and also would be a huge blessing to others.

• I made Sweet and Sour Chicken this past weekend.  If you're looking for a quick, tasty, and healthy meal, I would suggest you check out this recipe from Cooking Light.  I was quite pleased with how it turned out.  I served it with brown rice, and you could either go the steamed broccoli or tossed green salad route to get in some greens.
• Amanda, at Baby Bangs, is coordinating a Blessing Book for some friends of hers, Chuck and Kristi.  Just after the birth of their third son, Kristi was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer with metastasis in the liver, spine, and pelvis.  If you have a desire to encourage this dear family or want to lift them up in prayer, read this post for more information on how to pray for this family and/or participate in the Blessing Book.
• I've jumped on the Big Mama, BooMama bandwagon:  I'm addicted to the Facebook game, PathWords.  It's awesome!  I'm tryin' to build up my score and am stuck in a rut.  Any of you playing?  Any tips or strategies you suggest?  
• If you're interested in intercultural studies or cross-cultural communication (and want a good laugh), I'd recommend the movie Outsourced.  Anyone seen it?  Granted, there were a couple of situations that I'm not sure how accurate they are and we would have much rather had them left out of the movie, but overall, it was quite entertaining to me and hubby.  With the trips we've taken overseas, particularly to South Asia, it was a riot to us to watch this young American step into the South Asian world without a hint of knowing what he was doing or what to expect!  We thought that at least the first 30 minutes of the film would be a great visual resource to use in training teams to go overseas or in intercultural studies classes. 
  

It's another beautiful day here in Austin and the puppy is waiting patiently for her walk.  Must attend to puppy.  <grin>  Take care!

p.s. It's come to my attention that some of you are having trouble viewing the comments on Spicy Magnolia.  We (me and my tech savvy hubby) think it might be a Typepad bug that will work itself out.  If the problem persists, please let me know so I can follow up with Typepad. 

p.p.s. It's also not quite clear how to leave a comment on Spicy Magnolia.  Some of you have inquired as to how to leave them, and since comments are one of my most favorite things ever, I most certainly will oblige with the request!  To leave a comment, click on the word "comments" at the very bottom of a post (it's found in gray font in the same area the date of posting is found).  Or, you can actually click on the title of a blog post and it will take you to a separate page where you can scroll down to the text box to leave your comment.  Please let me know if you have more questions!  Thank you for all of your comments and emails; I LOVE them!

Three Days Late...and Counting

UPDATE

Hey, Internet peeps!  So our appointment this morning wasn't quite what we expected, only because our doctor ended up not being there.  So we weren't able to get a good read on what the week might hold.  Polka was moving like crazy and so it was hard to get a good read on the non-stress test, but from what it looked like, Polka is still a happy camper.  I haven't made any progress whatsoever; I'm still 1 cm dilated and 40% effaced.  I go back in Wednesday afternoon for another exam and non-stress test.  We do know, however, that on Wednesday we're looking at likely scheduling something by the end of the week, if not early next week:  either an induction if I'm at least 3-4 cm dilated and have made some significant progression, or a c-section if I haven't made much progression.  I'm still processing everything right now...I'm not sure what to think about it all.  No contractions today yet...just lots of Polka moving and stretching.  Thanks for all the comments of love, encouragement, and cheering on!  As for tonight, we'll be catching some more 24 and maybe some spicy Mexican food from Chuy's!

Any of you catch 24 last night?  Oh.  My.  Word.  Jack Bauer is back, baby!  He's sure been missed.  And if watching the second half of the intense season premiere tonight doesn't send me into labor, then I don't know what will! 

It's been AWESOME having extra days with the hubby and puppy before Polka comes.  And the puppy has sure been spoiled.  We've played, walked, brought her up into bed with us to watch a movie, and she's been smothered with lovies.  

Hubby and I made it out to go baby clothes shopping!  Thanks to the recommendation of my dear friend, Lindsey, Matt and I each picked out one outfit for each gender.  We first ventured out to find some outfits on Friday night and it ended rather dastardly with me in tears and nothing bought.  What was to be a fun date turned into a night of overwhelming pressure that carried through until mid-day Saturday.  It was a typical "Meghan" thing to have happen.  I was simply gripped by fear, comparison, and the pressure to have everything figured out...yes, about the baby clothes because I had NO idea what I was doing, as well as parenting itself.  After Lindsey's sweet, encouraging email in response to my outpouring of emotion, Matt and I felt like we should give it another go, and it turned out much better! 

Janie and Jack was having an awesome sale and had a great selection of little girl clothes!  I must say, both me and hubby are much more excited about the little girl clothes we bought than we are the boy ones.  We ventured over to Baby Gap for the boy clothes.  They didn't have that great of a selection, but we still found some cute things.  I kept inadvertently saying to Matt, "I can't wait to go shopping for an Easter dress!"  But I don't know if I'm gonna go Easter dress shopping yet!  I might be shopping for a little Easter suit!

So I'm off to a doctor's appointment later this morning to have another non-stress test and to see how we're progressing.  For the past several days, I'll have an hour's worth of regular contractions and then they fade out.  Polka's a little tease...just like his/her Mommy!  I'll post an update later this afternoon.  In the meantime, I sent Matt off to work, which was the last place he thought he'd be today and where he'll get slammed with questions like, "Where's the baby??".  I, on the other hand, am enjoying a glass of chocolate, chocolate, chocolate milk in the quiet stillness of my home before getting ready for the day and walking Moos.  She's just too irresistible not to! 

Due Date=Shopping Spree

UPDATE

Thank you for all of your baby clothes suggestions; they have been so much fun to read, and I'm thoroughly enjoying perusing the websites you suggested as well.  Hubby better be ready to hit the stores tomorrow!  My doctor's appointment went really well today.  I've made a little progression:  I'm now 40% effaced and 1 (whoopin') cm dilated.  Oh, I still have a long way to go!  The results of the non-stress test (NST) turned out well.  With some cramping and contractions taking place during the test, the doctor said it could be likely Polka could come this weekend, but I have a feeling he/she will hold out until next week.  But guess what...I know nothing!  If nothing takes place this weekend, I have another NST scheduled for Monday and we might be able to determine a day to induce then.  Until then, me and hubby are sleeping, relaxing, going on dates...and SHOPPIN'!  Have a blessed weekend, Internet peeps!

Today is our due date!  I am officially 40 weeks; the "Polka" counter has stopped counting down; the baby in the pea pod is about ready to be unseen; and I wonder if the ticker starts keeping track of a baby's tardiness.  <grin>

It's a good morning here, ya'll.  I am going to eat breakfast, get ready for the day, and walk Molly before heading to my doctor's appointment for my non-stress test.  I've gotta run some errands afterward, but when I get home, I'll post a little update for you about our status.  I asked hubby out on a little date tonight to do one of his most favorite things:  hang out at a bookstore, like Barnes & Nobles.  BUT, I wittingly came up with a date night I'd rather go on.  Hee hee!  He'd be so bummed if I didn't take him out on his date, so we'll stick with that game plan tonight, but maybe I've showed enough enthusiasm about my date idea that he'll take me up on it tomorrow.

You see, it has been most fun and exciting for us to wait to find out whether Polka is a boy or a girl!  Sure, there were moments of sheer temptation to find out, but around 30 weeks, we got over that hump.  And now, we just can't wait to know!!  But I am DYING to go baby clothes shopping!  For awhile, I felt rather nonchalant about the baby clothes because of not knowing boy or girl and not wanting to get too carried away.  But my excitement is bursting forth at this point!  So I want to go on a mini baby clothes shopping spree this weekend.  We'll buy a few cute little outfits for each gender and then return the ones we won't need.  So, here is where YOU all, dear Internet peeps, come in:

Where are your favorite places to buy baby clothes?  For any reason whatsoever (i.e. cost, quality, cuteness), where would you go on a mini baby clothes shopping spree?  Even give me Internet suggestions.  Ooo, I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this one!

Will catch you later, and thank you for sharing in the excitement with me!  Just be sure to do one thing for me:  you gotta hold me accountable to not do this again!

It's Time...

For Some Football!

Oh, was that cruel?  I'm sorry.  I just couldn't resist setting up the title as a little tease!  I don't get to do that very often, so it was fun for me.  Sorry that it had to be at my Internet peeps' expense.  <chuckle>  <big grin>

But yes, time for some football!  Anyone catching the BCS National Championship game tonight with Florida and Oklahoma?  If so, are you watching it in the comforts of your own home or going out and watching it with friends?  Hubby and I did make it out to Jasper's last night and boy, it was all that yumminess I thought it would be and more so!  And tonight we'll settle in for the bowl game and a pepperoni and pineapple pizza, courtesy of Sam's Club and a can of Dole's pineapple.  I guess I'm writing a lot about food lately, huh?  Oh, the comfort of food I tell ya.  You should have heard me leaving the restaurant last night, reminiscing about each tasty bite I had of the Texas peach barbecued pork tenderloin with bourbon creamed sweet corn and the two chocolate dipped chocolate chip cookies I savored.  Seriously, the longer Polka takes to get here, the more my defenses are down about the food I eat!  Dangerous, oh so dangerous.  At least I'm walking Molly still...and because it's been unseasonably warm in Texas right now, she's running out of energy before me!  You would have thought she was the pregnant one!

So here's to another night at home, puttin' our feet up!  And don't worry, next time there's a title such as the one I used today, it will be for the real thing!  <grin> 

Happy Thursday (a.k.a. "the beginning of the weekend", if you're like me)!