Back to the daily grind...

Well, I officially started working again this week...I have been working at home since about 4 weeks after delivery, but I started back in the office this week. I was really nervous about it but everything has gone very smoothly. I went to visit the daycare again to fill out paperwork last week and after visiting again, I was 100% confident in my decision with the place I had chosen. If I have to leave my precious baby girl somewhere, I am happy to leave her here. I really like the people, it is clean, affordable, and I am looking at it as an investment in her future...much like I would if it were private school or even college. I know it is early to be thinking that way but that is what makes it all OK for me.

Devin has done really well her first week in daycare. She has been exhausted but happy as a lark all week when she gets home. She is starting to go to sleep a little earlier each day and is sleeping longer at night. I am typically only waking up once to feed her each night which is fabulous. I know not to get too excited b/c this can change at any time but I am going to be happy while it is happening!

Work has been going well for me too. Fortunately, it is tax season and my favorite part of my job. Unfortunately it requires more than the standard 40 hours a week. I am lucky b/c I can work at home on the weekends which means I can spend a little more time with Devin on the weekends while she is home and awake. I missed her so much each day this week while I was at work. It feels like she got 10 times bigger over the week and is no longer a tiny infant baby but an little baby girl.

Her little personality is just blossoming! She smiles very regularly now which everyone is enjoying to the fullest. I finally convinced my mom this week to not hold her and to let her lay on the bed and play with her. When she holds her she just goes to sleep. On the bed my mom and my dad both got to witness her smiling and talking. Daddy must have really enjoyed it b/c when I came over again today he told me to bring her in his room and while I was in the other room putting her bag down I heard him arfing and making silly noises at her. She thought is was humorous enough to give him a lot of smiles....still didn't get a laugh out of her. I can't ever seem to catch a smile on camera though!

Speaking of laughs, I am doing anything and everything that I can that I think she might find funny to get a laugh out of her. She has had two small laughs after a bath many weeks ago but nothing recently. I can hardly wait for her to start laughing regularly!

Last weekend my cousin came in town and we started going through my aunt's garage. Man, you can actually enter the house through the garage now. It is strange every time you see someone come through the garage door rather than the front door. The garage was a huge mess but we got it cleaned and organized and found a ton of treasures from our childhood which was so much fun! Alison and I both got really excited about some of the items we came across. I can't believe Bird saved ALL of that stuff! She must have saved everything Alison and Clay every had!

Ok, enough rambling...onto the pictures!

My little valentine! I think my mom may have been right, her hair looks like it is turning red to me now.

From February 09

From February 09

The thing I miss most about working at home.

From February 09

From February 09

From February 09

A wonderful surprise from both of my valentines! :)

From February 09

8 weeks...no way!

I tell you what, this baby is growing up way too fast for me. I am not sure I like the speed at which all of this goes. I will say that each new day brings more new fun discoveries which we are all enjoying immensely.

Things are going well in the Morris household. I started working from home a few weeks ago, with a week break in between when my aunt passed away, and it is going pretty well. Devin goes back to the pediatrician next week and starts going to daycare the week after. I am not looking forward to not spending my entire day with her while I work, but I am convincing myself (because I have no other choice) that it will be good for both of us.

Everyone asks me if I will be taking her to work with me. I am so incredibly fortunate to have a boss that would let me do this. The problem is that I would most likely get even less accomplished there than I do at home where I have all of her stuff...plus, in the office I can't walk around nursing her with no regard for anyone else. I may be eating my words in a few weeks when I have to leave my precious baby girl with someone other than myself, but I have to be realistic about the next few months ahead of me and how busy they will be. I have been fortunate enough to be able to stay home with Devin until she is almost 10 weeks old though. I couldn't ask for a better situation. I think about all the moms who return to work at 6 weeks and I am still not sure I am fit for work at 10 weeks. More on that one later though.

So I have become more and more brave about venturing out on my own. Kortnee went out one day with me and Devin when she was only 2 weeks old. Thank god for Kortnee b/c I was still in a total baby daze and could barely function. She held everything together for me on that little outing and laughed about how silly I acted. I am sure she was just so glad to get out of the house for a few hours that she would do anything! Then my cousin went out with me when she was about 4 weeks old. We took the stroller in one store and Devin proceeded to fall apart. I handled it all just fine but it was nice to know there was someone there to help me if I needed it and helped to confirm that I could indeed handle being on my own. So since then we have been out quite a bit. I have found that I prefer to wear her in my Moby wrap if there will be no weird lifting like getting water at the store. I always get a lot of comments about her and how cute it is etc etc. Even men comment on how I am wearing her and how neat the wrap is. She even went for my weekly grocery shopping this past weekend with me b/c Chris was working diligently on his most fabulous ribs for the Super Bowl which needed his full attention.

We have started meeting people for lunch and Chris and I have even gone out to dinner with her a few times. Life seems like it is all falling into place with a very loose routine. Last week Devin and I went to a Mommy and Me Nia class that we both really enjoyed. I got some exercise while she got a GREAT nap!

As for being fit for returning to work...last weekend Chris and I got dressed up and ready for a party we were invited to. We drove all the way there only to discover that there were no other cars, and we were at least 30 minutes later than the start time. I looked at my email on my phone only to discover that it was the next weekend! OOOPPPSS! Chris was a great sport and just laughed about it but it was so unlike me to make such a mistake!

OK, enough of the rambling...on to the pictures!

Here is a video from today. It is way longer than I want but I don't know how to shorten them. We just discovered an extra button on Devin's mirror today and she really liked it as you can see...she coos and smiles as it plays in the beginning. Then Izzy joins in which is distracting.


Here she is in the moby wrap:

From January 09

From February 09

And her newest accomplishment is sitting in the Bumbo and having a taste of her elephant!

From February 09

From February 09

And happy to see daddy!

From February 09

From February 09

6 weeks already?!?!?!

How in the world did it happen? My sweet baby girl is already 6 weeks old! Before I know it, I am going to be sending her off to college. When people tell you that they grow up too fast they really mean it!

Devin has been such a blessing for me during the past few weeks. With such a difficult and emotional time while Aunt Bird was sick, that baby girl needed me and there was no doubt that she could always put a smile on my face when I was feeling down. Aunt Bird was so excited about this baby and thankfully got to meet her twice. The circle of life can be so bittersweet sometimes.

She is starting to smile at us for real and it is quite a treat when she does it. Over the past weekend, a few other people were able to get one of those big gummy smiles out of her too.

If I didn't know better, I would almost swear she is starting the teething process. I hope it holds off a little longer but she is a drooling machine for sure and she likes to bite down whenever she has the chance! Not so nice for mommy when we are eating.

Here is a pic of her with one of those smiles. She was quite happy here.

From January 09

My cousin Alison gave her the cutest little hat. It just so happens to be just like a hat my dad had when we were little that Edward would put on then proclaim "I'm baby Didi!" Here she is in hers.

From January 09

And of course a few while admiring herself in the mirror.

From January 09

From January 09

And a few more smiles

From January 09

From December 08

From December 08

We will miss you Aunt Bird

It has been awhile since I have posted. My family has had a loss that we will all suffer so greatly from. Aunt Bird has been sick since Christmas and lost her battle last Friday surrounded by her loved ones. The past month has been an emotional roller coaster for all of us. I am glad that she is at peace now.

From January 09

Aunt Bird's house was a place that you could always find the family gathering when people where in town. She loved to cook and entertain and most importantly, she loved to bring the family together. Her family was everything to her. She loved and adored Rick, Alison and Clay and it was so apparent to anyone that knew her. She loved her brothers, sisters, neices, nephews and close friends almost as diligently. She is probably one of the reasons that our large family is so close.

Bird never met a stranger and welcomed newcomers with open arms. She always made sure you felt at home and was so generous with her affection. She was thoughtful and would always pay attention to your likes so she could cater to them the next time you came to her house. That was just one of the special things she did for those who came around often. Bird could always make you feel better if you were feeling blue.

She and Alison and I loved to go to a couple of really special places and meet for a girly lunch and it was always fine dining and an even better time. This will be something that Alison and I will continue doing together and with our children in her memory and honor. She will be so missed but would have loved that we continued to go, as she was a chef and always appreciated and wonderful meal.

If she loved you, you knew it and she would go to the end of the world for you. If you were blessed enough to have her in your life, you got to experience her kindness, generosity and and sense of humor. She had a bright personality and LOVED to laugh. Some of my fondest memories of our adult years are the times when Alison was in town and we would get together and laugh hysterically all night long. When I think of Bird, I think of her beaming smile and her laughing personality.

Fly Free Sweet Bird. You will be so dearly missed and never forgotten. We all love you so much and will keep you in our hearts forever.

Almost 3 weeks old...

First of all, I hope everyone had a Happy Holidays! We sure did...here's my dad with he and his friend Johnny's creation!

From December 08

It is hard to believe our little girl is already almost 3 weeks old! Things have been going well and having a newborn has been a lot of fun and a little exhausting as well. Chris and I are both adjusting to the interrupted and no sleep thing still...especially me who does all of the feeding since I am nursing and he has to go to work.

Devin's favorite pastimes are looking at herself in the mirror, any mirror will do! She reaches for herself in the mirror which she loves to do while listening to music that has been likened to being on a tropical island which is the case when in her tummy time toy. She makes faces at whoever is holding her. Our favorite faces are the ones that usually result in a dirty diaper but the faces are so cute and that smile would make anyone smile with her! At times she will make eye contact and maintain it for a minute. I always smile and look back. She doesn't cry much unless she is hungry or mad but is quite fussy and gassy which we think go hand in hand. She also likes to look at the fan and lights on the Christmas tree which unfortunately will be coming down soon. She can grab onto certain toys if you place them in her hand.

I am still in a baby daze and find my days are gone before I know it. When you ask Kortnee what she thinks about her little sister she always replies with "she's ok" but Chris and I have both heard her holding her and cooing and singing to her so we know she is growing on her...slowly but surely! She has been an awesome helper being here although I know she is probably bored b/c we usually go go go the entire time she is here.

Here are some recent pics. It is hard to pick just a few but there are more in my album.

Go Auburn Tigers! Daddy's favorite college football team.

From December 08

In her bonnet Grandma Cherry gave her

From December 08

With her boyfriend Gavin. I had a picture with her at my shower when we were both pregnant.

From December 08

With Daddy

From December 08

Welcome home Devin!

OK, so it has been a week since the whirlwind started. Here is my official birth story for those of you who like details! This will probably be a long one! Don't read this if you are currently pregnant and don't want all the details of my birth. It really isn't as scary as it sounds. I have already forgotten the pain of labor and would happily have another child!

Last Monday afternoon I went to my weekly appt and Dr. B wasn't happy with my blood pressure again. She sent me home and put me to bed the next day. She gave me permission to run to the office to pick up some work but I had to report to her first my waking BP and my BP right before leaving the house. I texted her my numbers that morning and hadn't even gotten down the street before she was calling me back. She told me that I failed, turn around, get your bag and go to the hospital. We are having a baby today. WOW! So I turned around and told Chris he wasn't going to work today. I finished getting things together for my hospital bag and he freaked out a little and started calling people. I was still in a little bit of disbelief about all of this happening so fast. I think we both were.

So we got to the hospital and met with her and had some IV's put in. They had quite a few woman come through whose water had broken so they kept me in observation for awhile. Around 11 we went to labor and delivery and they started the pitocin around noon. By 1 I was having regular contractions that were anywhere from 1 1/2 to 3 minutes apart consistently all afternoon. At this point I was still only dilated to a 1 but was 90% effaced. Around 4 PM Dr. B came to check on me and broke my water. If I remember correctly, I was 100% effaced and dilated to a 2 or 3 when she did this. It all really picked up then. Within 15 minutes the contractions where quite strong. Our nurse who was in the room with us all day knew I wanted an epidural at some point. She could see I was really starting to have to breath through them and in quite a bit of discomfort. She asked if I wanted to go ahead and get it and couldn't have asked at a better time b/c I was wondering with every contraction if it was too early to get one.

So they came in and gave me an epidural shortly after. I was having contractions one on top of the other while they were trying to put this huge needle into my back. They made Chris sit on the couch but did let him watch. My nurse helped hold my body in place b/c my reactions had also gotten really jerky with the pitocin so I jumped everytime they poked me. My nurses during labor were both really awesome. So they got that nightmare done and another one started. The epidural only worked on one side of my body. I could feel everything on my left side still while my right was quite numb. They moved me around trying to get it to move to my left side and after 2 hours of this decided to re put in the epidural. Apparently this is really common. I had to sit through that big needle again, although I was already a little numb so it wasn't half as bad the second time around. Finally, a little relief on the left side too. They suggested that I try to get some rest b/c we had a long night ahead of us. I sent Chris to get himself some dinner, I watched House and talked to Dr B who was now hanging out in my room watching the contractions and baby's heartbeat to make sure everything was going OK after the 2 hour fiasco we just had. I snoozed here and there. The epidural machine kept beeping at them telling them something was blocked and finally they untaped everything and got it fixed.

After this I have no real perception of time. Sometime after 8 they came and moved me to a different room b/c the heartbeat monitor on the baby had a short in it and was spontaneously picking her up and wasn't making any noise. Right before they moved me, I had started feeling a little bit more cramping and after they moved me, I really started feeling it gradually more and more until I was feeling full contractions again on my left side. They dosed me up again and got it under control for about another hour. At this point I had progressed to 6cm in an hour and a half which was really fast. I had been told earlier that the average was 1 cm per hour to hour and a half. So I was golden for about another hour and then they made me change sides from my left to my right side. Well you guessed it, the epidural wore off again on the left side. So they moved me back to my left side but it was too late, so they dosed me again with a different medicine. All I can say is thank God for my awesome husband and coach. He did a great job of getting me through the contractions when I was feeling them. I didn't scream or say mean things to him through the process. In fact, I was really calm and quiet. I wanted to cry one time and he told me it was OK to but I told him I needed to be able to breath. I didn't want to waste any energy crying or screaming b/c it wouldn't do any good. I was exhausted from the contractions. I never felt the need to scream or say mean things. The epidural wearing off is just something weird about my anatomy.

All I remember at this point was that soon after the last dose of the epidural, Dr B came and checked me and told me it was time for me to push. I had been a 9 in there somewhere but can't remember exactly where. I had gotten into a zone with breathing through the contractions and entering a different stage of labor. My eye was on the goal and that was it! So I did look at the clock when I started pushing and it was 10 till midnight. Wow, a full 6 hours before she thought we would be delivering. I pushed for 20 minutes. My legs were so numb that I couldn't feel anything, but I was able to focus my pushes into the right region b/c the Dr, nurse and Chris would all yell out "good push" so I would mimic that. They stopped and got me a mirror so I could see what it looked like when she was crowning. I had my eyes closed through most of the pushing but did look a few times. It was such an amazing sight. Chris watched the entire thing and his rendition of my giving birth is better than mine b/c like I said, I was in some sort of a zone by this time. After about 20 minutes of pushing, which didn't seem that long, I heard the baby's hart beat dropping. She told me we had to get her out and got the forceps and had her out in a matter of minutes. I think her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck. Dr. B said 10 more minutes and I would have had her on my own. Chris tells me that all I said when she came out was to take good care of her. The whole thing was really dramatic to Chris and I but I think it is just b/c we have never had a baby and everything seemed to happen so fast. I don't remember a lot of details from the next 2 days in the hospital b/c they had me on some pretty strong pain killers.

Devin Elain M. was born at 12:07 AM on 12/10/08 at 7 lbs 10 ozs and 20 inches long. Anyway, she is here, safe and sound and we couldn't love and adore her more. We got to go home Thursday afternoon and I have been feeling better each day. I was feeling really bad the first day so we really didn't have a lot of visitors. She is adjusting well to being home. We are so thankful not to have any complications thus far. The dogs are both really curious about her...especially Izzy who loves to smell her for dirty diapers and try to lick her anywhere she can. The only thing missing through all of this was Kortnee but she will be here this weekend to join us with her little sister. I have posted some pics over the past few days and will post more soon!

A couple pictures

Devin, daddy and I are home and doing well. Grandma came to town to visit and help us out this first week which we are so thankful for. The first few days home have been a whirlwind. No one could have prepared me for the exhaustion that follows having and bringing a newborn, but the miracle and blessing of it motherhood is so overwhelming that it takes over.

Here are a few of my favorite pics from the past few days. It is REALLY hard to get a good picture of a newborn with their eyes open!

From December 08

From December 08

She was absolutely enthralled with the fan here.

From December 08

From December 08

From December 08

From December 08

I will post my birth story soon. I just haven't had a lot of free time at the computer between visitors, phone calls, nursing and everything else going on.

She's here....quick update

Devin is safely here. They started inducing me at noon on Tuesday afternoon and she was delivered at 12:07 AM on Wednesday 12/10. I will come up with more of an update later. I have a 4th degree laceration and am still pretty exhausted from the last 36 hours. Hopefully we will get to go home tonight. We are all doing great!

From December 08

Nesting...or something like it!

I think I must be nesting. Chris doesn't agree b/c his idea of me nesting is having an amazing amount of energy and being Super Woman and my idea is having about 100 lists of things to get done and having the energy to get a lot done but there is no possible way I could get 100% of it done without his help. What he must not realize is that I am already Super Woman around here anyway and there is not a lot of extra free time left to add anymore things to do. So I have found that the best way to get him to do some of the things I have asked him to do a few times is to just do it myself, while making a racket, and when he realizes I have climbed up on a stool and am in a compromising position he does it for me and asks me whatever else I want done in that room. He has been playing his video game so much that he is oblivious to how much I have already accomplished! I did finally get him to move some heavy items out of the closet in the nursery so I could finish putting things away and getting things ready.

I went and got a haircut and a fabulous pedicure yesterday. They were both most needed. I had planned on the haircut and the other night, while I was having a burst into tears moment, Chris suggested I get a pedi too b/c my feet are so swollen and hurt and they had an opening so I took it. The lady I go to used to work for a podiatrist so she always does an awesome job and gives the best foot massages ever!

Well, I am off to clean the house top to bottom and organize some cabinets in the kitchen! I would love it if I could get Chris to paint the laundry room and our bedroom. Those are the only rooms untouched...but I think that might me wishful thinking. Poor guy, good thing for him that this will be over pretty soon. He isn't used to the "extra" amount of work I have for him to do lately! I think I might make some banana bread this morning too if I have all the ingredients I need.

Waiting game....

It seems to me that once you hit that last month of pregnancy you start to play the hurry up and wait game. I had my baby shower in mid November and got a lot of great stuff! I went to the Dr that Tuesday and my blood pressure had jumped, my weight increased more than usual and my swelling was significant. Dr. B put me to bed an extra 4 hours a day until my next appt. It really put into perspective that at this point, Devin could enter the world at any time! This freaked me out a little, so Chris and I went that night and exchanged some things and finished the items that we needed on our registry.

He has been such a good sport. When told that I had to be in bed an extra 4 hours a day, I wanted to burst into tears. (If you have ever been pregnant, you know this is a pretty normal occurrence near the end.) So when I got in the car I did just that and called Chris. Of course, me being such a planner, I had so much left to do, and there was no way to get it all done if I was in bed! He had promised to go to BRU to help with some of the heavier items but kept telling me not to worry, I could give him the list and he would go if he had to. Anyway, we went that night and he escorted me...2 shopping carts+ later he told me he was glad I went b/c he never would have been able to get all that stuff in an hour! hahaha...at least he knows his way around there now. That place overwhelmed me the first time I went to but now I know where everything is! He has since been back with me b/c apparently I am the most indecisive person in the world now...and to think of all the reviews I read, and I still keep changing my mind! Or maybe it is just my way of shopping.

Anyway, my blood pressure and weight had stayed about the same by the next week and my swelling wasn't quite as bad so the Dr told me that I didn't have to do an extra 4 hours a day but that I do need to be sure I am taking the time to rest and not pushing myself the way I tend to do. This was music to my ears! I was so worried she would put me on full bed rest which would have been one of my worst nightmares....besides a C-Section!

We had a nice Thanksgiving at my parent's house. Mom kept asking me to do things and I put my foot down b/c she had told me before I came she just wanted me to take it easy and rest. Thankfully my cousin was there to pick up the slack and take care of the things my mom usually has me do for her! We spent the rest of the weekend taking it easy and hanging out with my Aunt Bird and Cousin Awol.

I have just about finished my Christmas shopping now. I am still feeling the pressure of time and would rather have the shopping outside of the house done. I have a few more gifts to get but nothing Chris couldn't handle for me if needed.

Chris put the tree up last weekend and put on all the lights and ornaments. I just don't have it in me this year but I always really enjoy it so I am glad he did it. And he did a great job!

I went to the Dr yesterday again and my blood pressure is still about the same. My swelling is still pretty excessive but there aren't any other changes or signs that make my Dr think pre-eclampsia anymore. She did check me and I am 90% effaced and fingertip dilated. Last week I was NOTHING. This doesn't necessarily mean anything other than my body is starting to get ready which is better than it continuing to do nothing. I have been having a lot of braxton hicks lately and Devin has definitely dropped and entered the birth canal. It literally all happened over night. I took a pic of my belly the other night and by the next night everything had changed.

I have about 100 lists of things I need to get done going so I have been busy resting and doing those things for the past few weeks. I am feeling pretty good and not completely miserable, although I am increasingly more uncomfortable. The only thing that really bothers me is when I am getting dressed and none of my shirts are long enough to cover my belly! I am having to get creative these days and I had to give in a buy a few long sleeve shirts last weekend. My friend let me borrow some but she was early in her pregnancy in the winter so none of hers are long enough either!

I feel like I have written a novel. Time to go pack my hospital bag!

Here are some of my belly from this week. These are of my bare belly...oh my!

This is before I think I dropped:

From Sono and Belly Pics

And this is after:

From Sono and Belly Pics