Our First Week: Ten Things

1. Evelyn Esther is our daughter's name. We chose it first and foremost because it is the beautiful and dignified name that was written on our hearts for this child for a long time. Evelyn is a tricky name etymologically, but some sources say it means "desired" and no baby was more longed-for than this little girl! We also liked that it incorporated a nod to Lynn, my middle name and a name that many women in my family share. Esther was an easy middle name to choose, as it is my beloved grandmother's middle name and it means "star" - pretty perfect for a baby born on Christmas Eve! Finally, her initials are EEB, which she shares with her paternal grandfather - a special nod to someone with whom she almost shared a birthday (but thank goodness she didn't decide to wait the four days necessary to do so, as I was so eager to have her out!!). Many have asked us about the baby's name, so there's the back story!
2. There is no smell on earth more delicious than that of my baby's head. Covered in downy, fluffy black hair, I wish I could sit and sniff her all day long. That, and nibble on her toes, kiss her perfect ears, and snuggle her tiny, soft body. I want to remember everything about the amazing and perfect tiny person that she is right now. I've never been so instantly in love.
3. Newborns can't consciously smile, I know they can't, but I swear E does and it shatters my heart into a million tiny pieces every time she does. She has one giant dimple on the lower part of her right cheek and I'm telling you now, this girl will be dangerous when she flashes her smile in the future!
4. R is a natural as a dad and don't tell him I told you, but he's over the moon for his little girl. Hearing him talk to her like an adult (but in a sweet and doting way) makes me smile every time. I think his favorite word to describe her is precious, and he's right! One favorite memory from this week: R was a little vigorous with the diaper ointment one day and E ended up with what looked like a white paste diaper. R sort of mournfully looked at me and exclaimed, "I made her butt look like a lifeguard's nose!" I laughed so hard I cried!
5. I am notorious for nicknaming the people in my life that I love, though the nicknames usually fly fast and furious (i.e., I seldom stick with them). E already has a few nicknames from me: Squeaks or Squeaker, because of the sounds she made a lot in those first few days, and lately I've taken to calling her Birdie because she chirps like a little bird all the time. Also, she gives a scream when she's angry that sounds uncannily like an eagle. Interestingly, one of the other thoughts on the meaning of Evelyn is that it's from French and Latin origins and means 'bird" or "little bird" - very fitting!
6. E had some challenges during her first week of life, losing weight faster and more dramatically than is healthy. We had four appointments in four days this week to get some help with this problem and - to make a long story short - we're now in the clear! Baby E is eating, pooping and gaining weight like a champ. (Side note: a lactation consultant we met with a few times this week referred to E as a "barracuda baby" because she's got such a strong, powerful latch and sucks with authority!) She's a pretty amazing baby and we're so relieved to see her thriving.
7. We've noticed that E is a remarkably strong baby. She lifts and throws her head around during tummy time and she can tuck and roll from her back onto her side. It's vaguely terrifying, as we thought newborns weren't able to do these tasks, but we've been told by several medical professionals that big babies are often very strong babies and will hit many milestones early. So, although I've been joking all along that E will be an overachiever, it seems to be true!
8. The puppies are equal parts smitten with and taken aback by the baby. They run to her at every chirp and coo, they watch her carefully, and they love to gently sniff and tentatively lick her in an effort to place what she is. The other day, E lay quietly awake in her crib and then started hiccuping. Cooper ran into her room, watched her - tilting his head from side to side with curiosity - then gave one startled "BARK!" They dote on her already, but I think it will take some time for them to figure her out!
9. Allow me to be selfish for a moment and talk about myself rather than the baby: in the one week since E was born, I have lost 30 pounds (*shh* I know those were the easy pounds to lose!) and - most exciting of all - I have ankles again! I sometimes sit holding the baby and staring at my slender ankles, as I truly do not recognize them as my own! I'm starting to feel so human again! Knowing how much I want to get back to pre-baby shape, R gifted me personal training sessions at our gym. I have to be cleared by the doctor to start working out, but I am really excited for and motivated by this goal!
10. We are tired. So, so tired. Although it is New Year's Eve and we expected to be wide awake with the baby at midnight, with any luck we will all be sound asleep. That said, here are my thoughts to close out the year: 2011 was the best year of our lives so far because it brought us our incredible daughter. I cherish every memory and moment of carrying her, but I am so relieved to have her here with us in the world now. I cannot wait to dive into 2012 and watch her grow, change and become the person she will be. We are so blessed by this baby!

And then there were three!

We welcomed Evelyn Esther to the world on Saturday, December 24, 2011 at 10:10 p.m. She weighed in at 9 pounds, 3 ounces and was 21.5 inches long. She is just perfect in every way and we feel so blessed to have her in our lives and as a part of our family.

We will share the story of her arrival here when we have a few free minutes. In the meantime, here are some photos of Evelyn's first days!

Thirty-Nine Weeks

I'll cut to the chase this week: we're still waiting for the baby! We made it through Week 39 without many signs that our daughter is interested in making her appearance, much to my chagrin. I was very hopeful that she'd arrive by or before her due date, so every day that passes has chipped away at my good humor. I find myself increasingly short and frustrated, but am trying hard to stay in the moment and trust that this baby will come when she's good and ready. I said all of that in part to capture my current mindset (there's a not-insignificant part of me that believes I'll go on being pregnant forever), but also to set up the explanation for this week's bump photos... first though, how about some highlights from the week?

• Farewell to Work: The first day of Week 39 was my last day of work! I'm on vacation until the baby comes, at which time my 12 weeks of maternity leave begin. R started vacation this week as well, also until the baby comes, after which time he's taking another couple of weeks to spend with us. It's so nice to have the mental separation from work to really start preparing for this baby. There have been errands to run and things we needed to do around the house, but more than that, we are trying to just soak in these moments and memories before everything changes for good!
• Christmas Cheer: I intended to skip holiday baking this year, but after a frustrating Week 39 doctor appointment, R suggested we collaborate on some sweets to help pass the time. I picked two simple recipes (dark and white chocolate peppermint bark and frosted sugar cookies) and lo and behold, it's beginning to seem a lot more like Christmas around here! (Bonus: it has been a balm to my discouraged soul to have a little sweet treat before bed most evenings - yum!)
• Stocked and Ready: In what is perhaps the truest form of nesting so far, R and I spent hours over the past few days preparing meals for our freezer. We have 30+ servings of various healthy and hearty foods carefully wrapped, labeled and waiting in the deep freezer in the basement. It should make eating foods we like and feel good about easier during the haze of those first few days. It was such a satisfying feeling that I sort of wish we'd started being this organized and proactive a long time ago!
• Capture the Moment: R and I had a casual and sweet maternity photo shoot this week. We have some surprisingly lovely natural morning light in the house, so I was able to be comfortable and enjoy the cozy surroundings in which I've spent so much of the past 10 months growing this baby. R shared a preview with me of some of the images he captured and I'm so glad we took the time to do it. Once he has time to process the photos, I'll be sure to share. It's nice to have a few more sweet and sentimental images to share with the baby someday!
• Waiting Game: And that's it - we're just waiting! I spend much of each day resting, napping, running errands, tackling a project here and there and analyzing every twinge, ache and contraction for a sign that labor is starting. I simultaneously want this baby out immediately and am a little intimidated by how much things are about to change once she's out here in the world with us. That tiny little sliver of fear is what keeps me sane when day after day slowly tiptoes by without any signs of progress... I think that's what they mean when they say "a healthy dose of fear." Anyway, we are trying to take each day as it comes and patiently wait for the day that will forever after be one of the most important days of our life.

Okay, on to the tracker and the aforementioned photos...

Week: 39

Weight: +42 pounds (in total)

Baby is the Size of a(n): a mini watermelon!! My original plan was to use the watermelon for Week 40, but we ran into a few issues: 1) watermelon are hard to come by this time of year, especially of a size large enough to represent a full-term baby and 2) I really did think I would have the baby before we got to Week 40 and we'd miss the chance to do the watermelon photo! Alas, that didn't quite turn out as planned!

Symptoms: frequently hungry, terrible abdominal cramps, really achy pelvis (SPD), breathlessness, outrageously swollen feet, mental lapses, wacky dreams, trouble sleeping comfortably through the night, general moodiness (noteworthy breakdown this week: total sobbing and incoherent meltdown while walking the dogs with R one night because I'm *still* pregnant and was convinced that I might be pregnant forever...), carpal tunnel tingling and numbness in my hands and arms at night, frequent (though not painful) contractions, and a fair amount of pain in response to the baby's strong, emphatic movements

Current Obsession: citrus fruit, milk, fresh vegetables, peppermint and protein, protein, protein!

Current Aversion: the Arby's Reuben sandwich commercials... so gross.

Thinking About: who our little girl will take after; seeing the actual little elbows, knees, hands and feet she's using to poke and jab at me; what labor and delivery will be like; and when our daughter's birthday might be!

Picture(s): 

Thirty-Eight Weeks

It's pretty shocking to realize that we hit single-digit days on the countdown this week! The baby's arrival is so close I can feel it (literally), and we are ready in so many ways. I'll explain further in this week's highlights:

• Showered with Love: Baby Girl was the lucky recipient of not one but two generous and fun showers this week! The first was thrown by a group of colleagues-turned-girlfriends. They had sweetly planned games (a celebrity parents & babies guessing game and Baby Catch Phrase!), a delectable ice cream cake, and really thoughtful gifts! The baby received her Boppy, her going-home outfit (see below - too cute not to share!), some stroller toys and books - so many useful and special items. Those ladies, each and every one of them, are keepers. 

The next day, my current team at work threw a big shower for us, and R was even able to attend! For a game, every team member guessed the baby's birth date, weight and name, which have been so amusing to read. We had a Pizza Luce feast for lunch, a scrumptious and adorable cake, fun (and funny!) conversation, and more sweet gifts. This time we received our diaper disposal system, diaper bag, some bath and first aid items, and some really cute outfits and books for the baby. Again, I just cannot overstate how thoughtful, generous and kind my friends and colleagues are. I appreciate them all and cannot wait to share the big news of the baby's arrival soon!

• Locked and Loaded: Two meanings for this particular highlight!
• I can't remember if I have shared this already, but we received nearly ten different shipments of baby supplies this week! The multitude of boxes contained everything from a bath tub and hooded towels to diapers and a cozy car seat cover, not to mention several items I will need for nursing the baby. After washing, folding and putting everything away, we officially have all of the bringing-baby-home essentials ready to go! That means this little girl can come any time she darn well pleases now... hopefully it pleases her to come sooner rather than later!!
• As mentioned last week, we had an ultrasound scheduled for this week to confirm the baby's position. It was with much excitement and a tiny bit of trepidation that we settled in for one last prenatal look at our baby. (I felt fairly confident that the baby was in position, so I wasn't overly worried). Immediately, the sonographer announced, "There's a head! Baby is head down!" and we could breathe easier. After that, it was fun! We were able to get some images of her profile (including some thumb sucking!), head-on photos of her chubby cheeks, button nose and pouty lips, and confirmation that she is - in fact - still a girl (at which point R really started breathing easier). We watched her perfect little heart beat fast and furious (at just shy of 140 bpm), which I would happily sit and admire all day. Finally, the placenta position and amniotic fluid were measured (all good) and we were on our merry way, photos in hand! We visited with the CNP who confirmed that all continues to be well with the baby, so we can just continue to wait for her to arrive now... again, we're ready!
• Old Wives Tales: Given how ready we feel, I'm suddenly very open to hearing about and (within reason) trying various old wives tales to encourage the baby to make her appearance. This week, two in particular lined up beautifully: a full moon and a dinner party with R's colleagues wherein the hostess served some spicy green beans that have purportedly resulted in three previous dinner party guests going into labor! In spite of a generous helping of said green beans (which were delicious!), I woke up still decidedly pregnant this morning... ah well. I continue to sit, squirm and bounce on my exercise ball several times a day and take nightly walks with R and the dogs, but so far nothing seems to be encouraging this little girl to make her big debut. We'll see what this week brings!
• Farewell Work (Clothes): I have 3-4 days left to tie up work loose ends, after which I am on vacation until the baby comes. I have made plans to work from home for those days and it's not an exaggeration to say that I am giddy at the prospect. Waking up early every day, getting ready, squeezing my gigantic feet into painfully uncomfortable professional shoes, and dragging my exhausted body to the office was starting to take an unpleasant toll on me. In fact, at my Week 38 appointment, I mentioned how bad my feet and ankles have become to the CNP and, as I showed them to her, she gasped and said, "I'm not going to lie to you, that's a really bad case of edema!" I don't think most people would believe how horrifying my lower extremities have become, so I've asked R to take some photos. I certainly won't be posting them anywhere (you're welcome), but I just need photographic evidence so I don't forget! I said all of that to say that sitting with my feet up for the week is the perfect way to close out this pre-baby chapter of my career.

I have a few nursery projects still to share (the gorgeous handmade quilt from my Mom and the pretty snazzy changing pad tray that R built for the dresser), but we haven't yet taken pictures of them... stay tuned! Until then, enjoy this week's tracker and photos and check back next week for updates.

Week: 38

Weight: +40 pounds (in total) and I'm okay with that... the end is near!

Baby is the Size of a(n): a stalk of celery (19.6" from head to heel; she's also getting heavier: 6.8 pounds (according to averages))

Symptoms: frequently hungry (R is impressed with my insatiable appetite, though I suspect he's not necessarily impressed in a good way!), heavy and full belly pains, really achy pelvis (SPD), breathlessness, outrageously swollen feet, mental lapses, wacky dreams, trouble sleeping comfortably through the night, general moodiness (noteworthy breakdown this week: cried in response to a commercial again, though I don't even remember which one...), carpal tunnel tingling and numbness in my hands and arms at night, and a fair amount of pain in response to the baby's strong, emphatic movements

Current Obsession: citrus fruit, milk, vegetables and protein, protein, protein!

Current Aversion: pretty much nothing...

Thinking About: who our little girl will take after; seeing the actual little elbows, knees, hands and feet she's using to poke and jab at me; friends' guesses in our Baby Pool; and when her birthday might be!

Picture(s): 

Thirty-Seven Weeks

It seems the milestones are flying fast and furious lately! 37 weeks means the baby is officially full-term and can safely come whenever she wants... key phrase there: whenever she wants. We just don't know when that will be, so now we wait! There's plenty for us to do while waiting, though. Some of the highlights from this week included:

• A Fine Tradition: A few years ago, R and I started making trips in December to the Käthe Wohlfahrt store in Stillwater, MN. It's the only U.S. location of a lovely little German Christmas store with delicate and detailed handmade wooden ornaments and other charming decorations. We purchased 10 ornaments our first year, and now we go back every year to add a few more to our collection. Those ornaments and some really cute felt ornaments are all that we put on our tree... it's fun to see it fill up a little more every year, and the time we spend together on these little jaunts is very special to me. We went this weekend and in addition to some other adorable finds, we added one very special ornament this year!

• It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas: As we left the Christmas store in Stillwater, big fat snowflakes began falling and continued through the night. When we made it home, we finally put up our Christmas decorations while the snow softly and quietly piled up. Sitting in our cozy living room now with the tree twinkling and the stockings hanging by the chimney, I'm thinking the only thing missing is a sweet baby to hold and sing Christmas carols to. (Side note: I relate to the song "(Baby) All I Want for Christmas is You" a whole lot more than usual!) No matter what happens this year - whether the baby arrives before or after Christmas - our holidays will never be the same! So much of the magic of the season is best experienced through the innocent joy of kids and I can't wait to see and share that with our daughter in the years to come.
• Stocked and Ready: Because we are feeling the pressure of being so close to the end of this pregnancy, R and I went on a buying spree this week and ordered or purchased the last of the necessities for the baby's arrival. By Wednesday of this week we should have all of the diapers, blankets, towels, first aid products, bath items and nursing supplies we could initially need. What's more, we purchased the remaining items I need for my hospital bag(s), so by 38 weeks we should be all set to grab a bag and head for the hospital at the drop of a hat (though I suspect we'll have a fair amount  of warning). It's nice to at least feel like we're physically ready for the baby... the rest will hopefully happen one day at a time once she's here!
• Flipping Out: So the (only) big surprise from this week's OB appointment was some uncertainty by the C.N.P. we saw as to whether the baby is head down or possibly breech. All along, the doctors have been asserting that she's been head down, but the C.N.P. was unconvinced. As such, we now have an ultrasound scheduled at our Week 38 appointment to check the baby's position. We're sure hoping the baby is oriented correctly, as we'd like to avoid the discomfort of attempting an external version or a scheduled C-section. As crazy as it sounds, I'd like to experience labor! I'm not terribly concerned, as I still think she is head down, but we'll feel much better after seeing for ourselves next week! (Also, getting to see the baby once more before delivery is an unexpected bonus!) More to come as we learn more...

And with that, I'm sleepy and my *last* pre-baby week in the office starts bright and early tomorrow. Time for the tracker!

Week: 37

Weight: +37 pounds (in total) - the C.N.P. reassured me this week that several of those pounds are likely water weight from all of my swelling (you guys, the swelling is SO gross!!), so not to stress about this too much. I'm trying!

Baby is the Size of a(n): a stalk of kale (just over 19" from head to heel; thank goodness we're briefly flipping back to length instead of weight, as she's weighing in at approximately 6 1/3 pounds this week (according to averages))

Symptoms: frequently hungry, heavy and full belly pains, really achy pelvis (SPD), extreme shortness of breath, outrageously swollen feet, mental lapses, wacky dreams, trouble sleeping comfortably through the night, general moodiness (noteworthy breakdown this week: ended up staying rather late at work one night this week and cried mournful, hungry, overwhelmed tears all the way home - woe is me!), and a fair amount of pain in response to the baby's strong, emphatic movements

Current Obsession: fruit, milk, and anything from Victory 44 (we met some dear friends there for breakfast this morning - what a treat!)... that's pretty much it! I'm forcing down a fair amount of protein lately, as I understand it to be quite important at this point for the baby's brain development. 

Current Aversion: not much (we even had salmon for dinner tonight - unheard of)!

Thinking About: who our little girl will take after; seeing the actual little elbows, knees, hands and feet she's using to poke and jab at me; securing a pediatrician; having our car seat installation checked for safety; writing some thank you notes; packing a hospital bag; and encouraging this kiddo to get and stay head down!

Picture(s):