One month old

Lincoln,

I can't believe that you are 1 month old already! In such a short time, you have given us so much joy.

As your mom, and a new mom, I know that I have had it much easier than some, maybe even most. However, it has not been all smooth sailing. Breastfeeding is hard. Really hard. People make it seem like a  something that comes naturally and easily. Even though I love having that special time with you, it is not as easy as some make it seem, and it is something I have spent many days and nights struggling with, especially at first. It is all-consuming. My nipples bled and got chapped at first (TMI?). I have leaked through many shirts, luckily not in public (yet). There are days when I feel like a milk cow- when I am not feeding you (just about every 2 hours!), I am pumping so that your daddy can feed you some nights and on the weekend. Sometimes you get into a feeding frenzy and throw your hands around, grasping at whatever you can get your little hands on. I have to struggle with you just to get you settled. Most times, along with your grasping hands, you also make growling and grunting noises. During these moments we call you a gremlin because you sound just a little monster! Through the struggles, I simply adore looking down at you, seeing your little chubby cheeks moving with each suck and swallow. You look so peaceful and it is amazing to know that I grew you inside of my body and now am able to nourish you with it too. It is a learning process for both you and I, and we continue to learn every day.

You love me, and I know it. But boy, do you love your daddy. Some nights it takes me forever to get you to sleep and to lay down, and just when I get you to sleep, you are ready to eat again. Just after I lay you in your crib you are so quick to cry and scream until I pick you up (we are working on this!). With him you fall into deep sleep so easily. He must have a very calming affect on you, just like he does with me :) He also sings to you a lot. He makes up silly songs about your pacifiers, or the clothes you are wearing that day or anything else that comes to mind. You love to look and listen to us talk to you, watching so intently, and in turn we love to talk to you and watch you watch us. We could watch you, touch your soft skin and kiss your chubby cheeks all day long. Kisses flow freely in our home every single day.

You are steadily gaining weight and are healthy and generally a happy baby, unless you are hungry or suffering from a bought of gas. Your dark hair is thinning out on just the top of your head, but it seems obvious that you will have dark brown hair. Your grey-blue eyes are also turning into what seems to be brown. Your neck is so strong and you are constantly lifting your head and flailing your arms and hands around. You also like to sleep with one arm up by your face.

You love your swing, getting lotion massaged on your feet and are starting to enjoy baths as well. And boy, do you love your pacifiers, one in particular that your daddy sings to you about- he calls it your green-apple tootie. The cats are slowly, but surely getting used to you but George does not like it when you cry. We have ventured out a few times, to buy daddy's new car (you threw up all over yourself and the carseat at the dealership, of course), we went out to eat with you for our first time together in downtown Frederick (Daddy was nervous you would wake up and start crying at any moment) and we went to the MD Sheep and Wool Festival, which you found extremely boring, as well as visiting a few people's homes and stores. I am getting more comfortable having you out and about, changing and feeding you outside of the comfort of our own home :)

 

You do not like the sun, as we discovered. Once the sun hits your face or your eyes, you get very stiff and stick your arms straight out like a zombie or a mummy. It is hilarious! Your cousin, Camden, LOVES to touch your soft skin and to hold you- she isn't even phased by your crying. Cordelia is a little more aprehensive and will only touch you briefly with one finger, more like a poke.

Our sunshine and the sunshine video

This month we celebrated my very first Mother's Day. I feel so special and blessed to have you as a son and to have a reason as sweet as you to give me cause to celebrate.

 

The evening of Mother's Day you rolled over! You were a few days shy of one month old and you  rolled from your tummy to your back while we were having tummy time. And...you did it again the very next day!

Our first month with you has flown by so fast and we have already made so many memories. We look forward to making so many more with you, our special boy.

 

 

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

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

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!

Slowcooker Freezer cooking

I have done this a few times before and it always blows my mind how easy preparing meals can be. There are recipes you can follow, and places you can go, to cook meals to then freeze for later use. This is way better :)  Combine your ingredients into freezer bags, raw, and then freeze. Once you are ready to eat, thaw and put in the crock pot. The preparations involve no cooking (mostly) and the hardest part is cutting up all of the veggies! I knew I wanted to plan on making a few meals before Lincoln arrived just because they are so simple and helpful when you just don't feel like cooking but want a homemade meal.

I found out about this easy method over a year ago, from the blog, Mama and Baby Love (I even bought her e-cookbook with freezer-slow cooker recipes) and have found other blogs and websites to pull recipes from, since then. This time around, I chose our favorite few and some that I haven't tried before. Check out the recipes and also check out the source websites, there may be other recipes that you will enjoy just as much I enjoy some of these!

I pre-cooked the ground beef a day or two prior, just to get it out of the way. I had a 4 lb pack of ground beef but only needed 1 lb for my freezer cooking, so I separated the other 3 lbs into 3 smaller Ziplocs and froze them too, for use in BBQ, tacos, etc. I have been collecting some of the canned goods over the past few weeks, but did most of my shopping all in one trip. I usually use raw, fresh meat, but this time I used frozen chicken breasts because I needed about 10-12 lbs and it was a bit less expensive for me to do it that way. It is up to you, but either way works great. Aside from cooking the ground beef previously, the whole process took me about 2 hours and yielded me 9 meals, plus I am sure most meals will have left-overs! Clean up is a cinch, since you aren't really cooking much and you do all of your mixing directly in the freezer Ziploc, which I appreciate greatly (we don't have a dishwasher). Here are the recipes and some pictures I took along the way.

Source: Mama and Baby Love

Healthy Mama BBQ Chicken

Split all ingredients between 2 gallon bags

2 Lbs Chicken thighs (I use breasts)

3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled or unpeeled, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

2 large green peppers, cut into strips

1 large red pepper, cut into strips

2 zucchini, chopped

2 cups chopped onion, cut into chunks

2 tablespoons quick cooking tapioca

2 15-oz cans of tomato sauce

4 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons ground yellow mustard

6 cloves of garlic, finely minced

1 teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients into two separate one-gallon freezer bags, lay flat, label and freeze.

Day of cooking: dump into slowcooker and cook on high for 4 hrs or low for 8 hrs.

My alterations: Im not crazy about the zucchini and we like the sweet potatoes and onions best, so I omit the zucchini and use large potatoes instead of medium, and 3 onions, split between the two bags.

This is definately one of my favorites!

Chicken n' Cherries

Split all ingredients between 2 gallon bags

4-5 lbs chicket breats or strips

2 cans of pittted cherries (or 2 bags of fresh cherries, pitted)

chili sauce

1/4 cup brown sugar

Add as much chili sauce as you want to each bag, I usually add about 3-4 tablespoons.

Combine all ingredients into two separate one-gsallon freezer bags, lay flat, label, freeze.

Day of cooking: dump into slowcooker and cook on high for 4 hrs or low for 8 hrs. Shred chicken or leave in larger portions. This is Scott's favorite.

Source: The Test Kitchen of Melissa Fallis (I've also made the vegetable beef soup from this website which was pretty good!)

Stephanie's Goulash/Beef Stew (this was adapted from a Mama and Baby Love recipe which uses beets)

Split all ingredients between 2 bags

1 green pepper

2 chooped onions

4 carrots chopped

4 minced cloves of garlic

3 lbs beef stew meat

12 oz Tomato paste4 tsp Paprika

1/2 tsp black pepper

Dump into crockpot and cook on high for 4 hrs or low for 8 hrs. Add 1/2 cup of sour cream about 10 minutes priot to serving.

Source: Six Sisters Stuff

Black Bean Taco Soup

Makes 1 bag

1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)

1 medium onion, chopped

1 package taco seasoning mix

16 oz bag frozen corn

16 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

(2) 14 oz cans stewed tomatoes

8 oz can tomato sauce

4 oz can diced green chillis

Brown meat and onion, drain and let cool, then add to freezer bag. Add all remaining ingredients, mix, lay flat, label and freeze.

Day of cooking: thaw for 24 hours in fridge, cook on high for 1-2 hours of low for 2-3.5 hrs. Serve with tortilla chiops, cheese, cour cream and guacamole.

Chicken Cacciatore

Makes 1 bag

1 lb chicken breasts

26 oz jar of chunky vegetable-style spagetti sauce

1 zucchini, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

1 sweet onion, chopped

Add all ingredients to freezer bag, mix, lay flat, label and freeze.

Day of cooking: thaw in fridge for 24 hours, cook on low for 6-8 hours.

French Dip Sandwiches

Makes 1 bag

2-3 lb beef chuck roast

30 oz beef consume

Place roast in freezer bag and add consume.

Day of cooking: thaw in fridge for 24 hours, cook on low for 8-11 hours or high for 5-7. Remove roast from slowcooker and shred. Save juice for dipping. Serve on sandwich buns.

*In typing these recipes, I realized there were a few things I forgot (I didn't add brown sugar to the chicken n' cherries and didn't use enough stewed tomatoes in the taco soup) but usually these recipes are pretty forgiving. At least I can still blame baby brain ;)

 

Freezer stocked, check!

These are all the dishes I ended up with!!

Lincoln's nursery

How far along? 36/37 Weeks

Baby is the size of a: a winter melon 

Total weight gain/loss: 35

The Bump: and I are in a love/hate relationship

Symptoms: back aches, hips discomfort, heartburn, tired, emotional...the list goes on. Still woundn't trade it for anything :)

Food Cravings: Rita's mango ice

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: nope

Sleep: what sleep?

What I miss: walking like a normal person

Weddings Rings On or Off: Off. They still fit sometimes, depending on the time of day, but I'm keeping them off so they don't get stuck!

Any Names Picked Out Yet: Lincoln

Gender: Boy

Movement: He still gets hiccups but less frequently. Now when he moves, you can see him all over, instead of just one spot. He is definatley using all of the space provided!

Maternity Clothes: wearing a mix of 'regular' clothes and maternity clothes

Best Moment of the Week: Finally feeling like everything I wanted to get done, is done. Scott got the carseat installed, which was actually quite easy and Lincoln's nursery is done! Everything checked out great at this weeks doc appt. and he still thinks I will be delivering early.  

What I’m excited about/looking forward to: meeting our little one.

We have been working on getting Lincoln's room done, piece by piece. I am so happy with the special place we have created for him and am so thankful for all of our family and friends who have made it possible! Here are some pictures of Lincoln's nursery:



 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

And me and Lincoln on Scott's Birthday:

 

 

 

My Hospital Bag Packing List

When you think of the 'it's time' moment, many think of THE HOSPITAL BAG; mom or dad grabbing it as they rush out of the house. I've been doing some research on what to pack for a few weeks now, but when our Dr. informed us of our possible early delivery, I figured I'd better throw at least one or two things in my bag. During my research I found all types of hospital bag packing lists (oh, the many uses of Pinterest!); everything from the minimalist's bag to the bag that has everything you might need if you were giving birth in the woods during the dead of winter. There are even hospital bags that are pre-packed and available for purchase- you can find anything online! I have checked out a few lists and taken advice from friends and family and finally have my bags all packed (aside from the items I am still using). Here are my lists. Feel free to make suggestions and recommendations, I'd love to hear them! :)

Lincoln's Bag (packed for the hospital, not for every day usage...yet):

Ju-Ju-Be BFF Diaper Bag and Paci Pod

- 2 Receiving blankets (I know the hospital will give us some but these we will use for Scott to bring home for the cats to smell the baby, before we bring him home)
- 2 burp clothes
- Lincoln's giraffe blanket, to use as a backdrop for some cute pics and for some super soft cuddling :)
- a few pacifiers, travel size diaper ointment and baby powder
- a bunch of clothes; onesies, gowns and outfits- we don't know what size he'll be and I just have no idea what I will want to put him in, it's not like we live close to the hospital or anything ;)

Hospital will be providing necessities such as diapers, wipes, and more receiving blankets. And of course we will have the car seat :)


My Bag:

Ju-Ju-Be Super Be tote

- A robe and slippers that I don't mind sacrificing to the cause
- A roll of Quarters, compliments of Grammy, in case we (Scott) need vending machine $
- a few pairs of underwear and a few pads (although I am pretty sure the hospital will provide me with most of the post-pregnancy care items that I need)
- 2 nursing tanks from Target as well as a nursing sports bra, a nursing t-shirt, a pair of fleece lounge pants and a pair of grippy socks
- a nursing apron, nipple pads and Motherlove nipple cream that my amazing hubby bought me
- my camera charger
- an extra, empty bag to take things home in that we receive at the hospital
- a cotton maxi dress to wear home
- a SimplySarah cosmetic bag containing toiletries: lotion, shampoo, conditioner, a toothbrush, elastic hair ties and headbands, hair clips, and deodorant
- Lincoln's baby book in case I can get the nurses to put his footprints in it

Things I will add when 'it's time'!- my makeup, cell phone charger, laptop for access to the Spotify play list I've made and to other music
Things I will have in my purse already- my camera, insurance info (although I have already pre-registered at the hospital)


I'm  not sure that I'll need or use everything but at least I'll have it, and if there are things I need but don't have, we are close to home and stores to pick up anything. Scott's not packing anything, as most packing lists recommend, since we do live so close to the hospital (1.66 miles to be exact!).

* I've gotten some compliments on my bags and wanted to take a moment to talk about them. My sister introduced me to the brand, Ju-Ju-Be, as it is what she has uses as her diaper bag. She has a purse from them too. I own the BFF, Super Be tote, Paci pod and the Be Quick and even though I haven't actually used any of them outside of the house, I know that they are all going to be great! My diaper bag can be carried as a handbag, a shoulder bag or a backpack. The patterns that Ju-Ju-Be offers are really fun and I love the material of the fabric, which is also anti-microbial. Sorry- that's starting to sound like a sales pitch! Check out their website- they have videos that explain every bag! I checked out a bunch of diaper bags and wanted to make sure I picked one that was going to last and was cute but still functional. It came down to the BFF and the Skip Hop studio tote- so far I am really happy with my decision. I'm glad I have a sister to give me good advice! :)