Friday, April 26, 2013

Our visit from the stork

Our precious angel is finally here and in our arms. Monday April 15, 2013 at 5:22 pm, Lincoln Jay LaCoss arrived, checking in at a birth weight of 8 lb 10 oz. My labor was mostly uneventful except for the fact that I pushed for 2.5 hours. No one can ever, ever prepare you for the birthing experience. I have been present for all of my sister's deliveries and never could have been prepared to endure my own. It's scary, exciting and painful and unless you have gone through it before it is a completely new experience that you could never begin to understand until it is happening. Scott was there by my side, speaking encouraging words the entire time, and my yoga breathing practices definitely came in to play. It is a surreal experience to say the least- that moment when they placed him on my chest, and he reached up and touched my face, my heart was his. 

Our first several days we have faced a few challenges, aside from the normal adjusting to little sleep and the many feedings that our days and nights have come to revolve around. Lincoln had jaundice and we had to take him to get blood work done on Friday and Saturday the first week he was home. Luckily enough we were able to get it under control and bring his bilirubin numbers down by supplementing his feedings with formula and we were able to avoid the hospital lights. Lincoln went back to the doctors this week because of some congestion. Nothing serious, but he sounds pitiful breathing though his stuffy nose. It's enough to break your heart! Otherwise, Lincoln is a pretty content baby and Scott and I find ourselves just staring at him and caressing his soft skin. It's pretty amazing to think that we created him and that he is ours forever and ever.

Lincoln loves to move his arms and has already found his thumb a few times and also uses the back of his hand to hold his pacifier in his mouth. He has passed his birth weight, checking in at 9 lb at his most recent Dr. appointment. He is already a fan of Scott's silly, made-up songs and loves to listen to us talk.

I do not miss my belly at all like I thought I might. In place of feeling his little hiccups in my belly, I get to hear them, and cuddle him until they pass. Instead of feeling his hand work its way across my stomach, I get to touch each one of his tiny toes and tiny fingers. One amazing thing has been replaced by another even more amazing thing. As much as I was looking forward to sleeping on my stomach, no one informed me that this would not be happening; that my boobs would grow so much, that they would be sore and that I would have no desire to sleep on my stomach, placing pressure on my new body and possibly forcing milk to leak out onto my clothes and sheets. The fun things that no one tells you about!

Every day we learn a little bit more and every moment Lincoln gives us the opportunity to realize that we are his parents and that this is a learning game for everyone; that every diaper change will get a little quicker and with every cry we are one step closer to decipher one cry from another and what they all mean. Sometimes I get nervous because I feel as though I have no clue what I am doing. Then I find myself being able to soothe him and every little voice in my mind, making me question myself, goes away.

Here are just a few of the many, many photos from Lincoln's first several days with us :)





Our new family
Lincoln and his delivering Dr

Lincoln, mommy and Bip

Going home!

At home with Dad

3 Generation of LaCoss'


Checking out his new world


<3






Thursday, April 11, 2013

Our final days

Lincoln has still not made his arrival, but he will be here before we know it. Since he hasn't come yet, the Dr. is pretty sure that he will come this weekend. However, if he doesn't, I am scheduled for induction bright and early Monday morning.

I am a ball of emotions! Anxious, excited, nervous and I am in awe and wonder about meeting our little one at last. We have been waiting to meet him for about 7 months now, and he has been growing inside of me for 9. It is amazing to think about the incredible feat that we have performed. Scott and I have created a human being that has grown from a clump of cells into a little baby, with a brain and a beating heart.

I will miss feeling him move inside of me but I cannot even imagine how it will feel to see his face, feel his skin and to fall in love.

Our lives will never again be the same. Our days will be filled with dirty diapers, crying, and lots of bottles, but they will also be filled with joy and pride. We will get to feel the excitement when he first rolls over, takes his first steps, says his first word. Our eyes may burn from the lack of sleep from times to time, but our cheeks will hurt from smiling and laughing. We will learn what we are really made of and grow to love each other in a brand new way.

Lincoln, we can't wait to meet you. We love you so much already.

 
12 Weeks
 


39 Weeks

Monday, April 8, 2013

Week X


  • How far along? Who knows anymore! My count is 37, the Dr. is saying that I am at the end of 38 weeks. All that really matters at this point is that we are close to the end and the beginning :)
  • Baby is the size of a: real baby 
  • Total weight gain/loss: 39. Must be Lincoln ;)
  • The Bump: is getting some of it's very own stretch marks, just when I thought I was in the clear! Could be way worse. And, is it not totally worth it!?
  • Symptoms: restlessness, heartburn, general discomfort, lots of practice contractions, some mild swelling in my feet
  • Food Cravings: Rita's mango ice still.
  • Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: nope
  • Sleep: Thinking about calling Mr. Sandman
  • What I miss: A few things, but I have been thinking a lot how I will miss my bump once Lincoln comes :( At least I'll have someone super cute to keep my mind off of that, and as my sister emphasized to me- it's not like my belly is going away immediately ;)
  • Weddings Rings On or Off: Off.
  • Movement: A little less frequent due to his lack of wiggle room, but it is still my most favorite things in the world to feel him move!
  • Best Moment of the Week: Hearing from the Dr. that things are progressing a bit! I am now more dilated and 75% effaced (had to look that one up once we got home). He is fairly confident that we won't make it to next Thursday. Let the betting begin! 
  • What I’m excited about/looking forward to: having him in our arms, touching him and smelling his baby skin (bath first, please), seeing the cats reaction to him, everything! 



  • Mom this week: Researchers have found that brain cell volume of pregnant women in their third trimester actually decreases. In other words, hormones actually shrink your brain at this stage in pregnancy, and your brain doesn't plump back up until a few months after delivery. Choline is a good fix for this hormonal change, which is usually in most pre-natal vitamins.

    Baby this week: Sitting pretty low and definitely hitting some sensitive nerves from time to time! There is actually a term for this- "Lightning Crotch". I laughed out loud when I read this, but it describes it perfectly!  He is shedding his vernix (that white layer of protection) but will probably still have some when born, as well as shedding his baby fur, or lanugo. Lincoln is producing more surfactant, which keeps his lung sacs from sticking together as he starts to breath and is continuing to add fat. His head is now the same circumference as his abdomen. All of his organs are ready for life outside of the womb!



    Blogging tips