Friday, November 30, 2012

dear turkey day, i miss you already & target holiday collection

I really do miss it.  No day is better spent then sitting around with your family eating yummy food and sharing what you're grateful for.

This year for Thanksgiving eve instead of heading out to the bar, like all the wild a crazy kids we hung out at home and little sister Natalie came over to stay the night before she was in the Thanksgiving Day Parade and hang out with her nephew.  DJ left for a little while to play hockey, Hank took a nap, so Natalie and I enjoyed a little girl time by watching The Vow, painting our nails and doing her hair.  I'm pretty sure she only watched The Vow for my sake though.  She's more of a horror movie fan, just like DJ.
hair done, nails done, everything did
On Thanksgiving DJ got up bright and early to drop Natalie off with her roller derby girls for the parade.  Did you watch the parade?  Natalie's group was sponsored by Lafayette Coney Island and was skating around as a hot dog!!  Haha, she was the cutest little weenie!
Once DJ got home Hank and I were awake and in full on turkey day mode.  Hank was a perfect little helper.  He sat in his rocker and looked on curiously as I described every move I made in an annoying sing song voice.  He LOVED it.  Later on family arrived and basically took over.  Hank was the main attraction and if someone wasn't holding him they were in the kitchen taking over.  I can't really complain.  We ate, we laughed and then we ate again.  Perfection.
turkey slayer

B-Rad


clearly it was nap time


my FAVORITE

I cannot believe these boys are so big!

my mama with Brad & Jake

cute is their name - begging is their game

'Til next year turkey day.  Gobble gobble!

OH and in case you forgot or weren't aware, Target and Neiman Marcus are releasing a holiday collection at both Target and Neiman Marcus stores TOMORROW, December 1st that includes fifty limited edition products from major designers like Diane Von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Alice & Olivia and more.  Go get you some, but don't you dare go to the Canton Target unless you want to see me trampling you for these bad boys.
photo source


photo source

photo source
photo source

Thursday, November 29, 2012

weekend inventory...um super late

Well we survived the holiday weekend and we still have leftovers to show for it.  No pecan pie though.  The pecan pie was gone by Friday night.  Friday night was a big night over here.  Not only did we finish off the pecan pie, but Hank rolled over as well!  Must have been all the good turkey day food.

Saturday we went to a friends house and watched some college football while Hank met his baby buddy River.  River was born about five weeks before Hank and they were beyond cute hanging out together.  River's mommy, Cara, and I told told them to hug and hold hands.  It was slightly a joke because...well...they are infants. Wouldn't you know it, those babes placed their tiny precious hands right on top of one another?!  Of course I forgot my camera AND phone at home.  Mommy brain: 1 - Laura: 0.  Cara got lots of photos though and promised to send them my way so I'll share when I can.

Sunday was my sweet soul sister, Marianne's, baby shower.  She is pregnant with baby Hank's BFF and he was so excited to meet her.  Hank, Grandma Nancy and I all arrived at the same time and walked in to see the most adorable decorations and favors ever!  Marianne is so incredibly creative and her shower was a perfect example.  Hank was the only boy allowed at the party and the ladies loved him.  Baby Worlow's grandma and great grandma even got some practice in before he arrives :)
Since my lovely friend was in town we Bloomingburg's took full advantage.  Monday, Marianne came over to take some photos of my precious boy and Tuesday was taco  night at her sister's house!  We missed Mr. Worlow but it was so nice seeing my friend with her little baby boy in her belly. She has that mommy glow for sure! I'm so sad she had to leave, but it gives us a perfect excuse to get our butts to Austin!  Miss you already Marianne!
 I really can't believe it's Thursday already.  How did that happen?  Thanksgiving was already a week ago! 

Friday, November 23, 2012

currently

 Did you have the best Thanksgiving?  Did you shop til you dropped?  We had the very best Turkey day, but we did not however hit the sales last night. We thought about a divide and conquer type strategy.  DJ would leave to hunt for the things we "needed" and I would stay home with my sweet baby boy.  Instead though we layed on the couch in a tryptophan coma and ate more pie.  We hit a few sales today though.  I literally can't stop buying Mr. Henry Bloomingburg more outfits.  And why should I?  I'm his mom.  So there.  Besides my lovely holiday here is what is going on currently...
true love
Watching:  X-Factor and many other horrible shows.  I can't keep up with anything that involves my attention too seriously for a long period of time unless I choose to sacrifice some sleep or household duties, so instead I yell obscenities at the trash on X-Factor.

Listening to:  A mix of Fleetwood Mac, Christmas music, The Lumineers and Of Monsters & Men.  Recently DJ and I have been going to the library 3-4 times a week to search through their music selection, new and old, to fatten up our iPods.  It's free and anything we want that they don't have at our local library they will either order or tell us what library in the area we can get it from. 

Planning:  Introducing Hank to his crib before I have to go back to work in January. (ugh)  Now that Hank has set himself a pretty decent sleep schedule I think it's a good time to start getting him used to his crib.  Before, when he woke up 3 or 4 (or 5 or 6) times a night, it was much easier to soothe him while he was laying in his bassinet.  Now, however Hank wakes up once a night (2 times max) but sometimes he just is a loud little sleeper.  He grunts and will cry out, but is still asleep.  This mama wakes up every time he so much as stretches.  Therefor I think it's time to make the transition.  I'm nervous but hopeful that with ample amounts of time we can get it done.

Thinking about: I think a lot about what I am doing daily with Hank.  I have read a lot about how you "should" or "shouldn't" raise your child.  I worry that I am not giving him enough tummy time (because he hates it most of the time) or that he's not getting enough stimulation.  Then I worry that maybe I am spoiling him and holding him too much.  I can't tell you how many days I was certain he wasn't getting enough to eat.  Don't get me started on the day that he didn't poop all day and I thought I broke him.  Then, what if he's sleeping too much during the day?  Google is my best friend and worst enemy. 

Looking forward to:  Christmas!  It's another "first" for Hank to be anxious for.  Having a brand new baby, breaths new life into holidays and other events.  Not because he will remember it, but rather because DJ and I have started a new chapter and it feels oh-so-good.

Reading: Still in the middle of Operating Instructions.  It's a nice and easy read, but still quiet alone time is not always free flowing 'round here.

Making me happy:  Being a mommy!  Holy crap I can't get enough. I was meant to do this in the biggest way.  Hank makes me happier than I have ever been.  I've never known a love like this.  Nothing can compare to the love I have for my son.  Happy isn't even a big enough word.

Other than that, ginger bread pop tarts, leftover thanksgiving dinner, sweaters on my dogs, Hank smiles, Christmas lights, the smell of evergreen and sleeping for five hours straight is making me happy right now.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

happy thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.  I have so much to be thankful for this year.  I can't even begin to describe how consumed with love I am.  My husband is the best husband any woman could ask for.  Truly.  He has given me everything I ever wanted and only tries harder every day to keep myself and our new son happy.  It's amazing and for him I am the most grateful wife and mother.  It must be said, of course that I am over the moon grateful for my son, Hank.  Hank is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.  I can't imagine a life without him.  My world revolves around his every smile, coo and cry.  I feel like if someone poked me I would burst from the enormous amounts of love I have inside of me.  I am also grateful for my friends and entire family.  My side of the family, DJ's side, our fur family, my lovely friends and DJ's as well.  We are so lucky to have such a support system behind us.  I hope you all have lots to be thankful for today and I really hope you can forgive all this mushy talk.  I can't help myself. ;)



vegetarians avert your eyes

Sunday afternoon after our company had left DJ, Hank and I made our way to Roperti's Turkey Farm.  These turkeys are free range and corn fed.  People that buy their turkey from this farm swear that they will never buy a frozen turkey from the grocery store ever again.  Over the past 5 years that DJ and I have been hosting Thanksgiving we have considered buying a turkey from Roperti's, but the cost is quite a bit more so we usually shyed away.  This year however we decided that it was really important to us to not only buy a healthier form of turkey, but also to support local businesses.

This was Sunday and there were tons of turkeys gobbling around.


Today we picked up our turkey and there were NO turkeys remaining.  I know that I should have expected it, but it was a little shocking.  However we picked up the Big Lebowski of turkeys.  Hey 30 pounder!  Have an amazing turkey day you turkeys and be grateful!




Tuesday, November 20, 2012

weekend inventory

Hmmm last weekend...

source unknown
Henry decided to throw his awesome sleep schedule out the window for a few days.

Grandma Nancy (I think Hank should call her Nana or Nan. What do you think mom?) came over on Friday and brought us all kinds of stuff.  Then she grooved to Fleetwood Mac with Hank while I got some cleaning done.

DJ played hockey all weekend and even got into a fight at one game :(

Sunday we had Henry's great aunt and uncle over.

We went to the turkey farm to pick out a beast of a turkey for Thanksgiving. (more on that tomorrow)

I finally convinced DJ to watch You've Got Mail.  He fell asleep at the very end, but he still agreed it was good.

I started working on a puzzle.  Yes, a 1000 piece Christmas Puzzle.  I don't know why I wanted to work on a puzzle so badly, but now that I've started I'm realizing that it's much harder than I remember.  Also, good luck with piecing a puzzle together with a newborn.

My mom bought me one of those Suave hair straightening kits and while DJ watched (a sleeping) Hank, I went through the whole process.  I haven't washed my hair out yet to see how it dries naturally but I will say that it was so easy to dry my completely soaking wet hair after the initial application.

So yeah, it was a boring weekend again.  So what?  Can you believe that Thanksgiving is two days away?  I'm hosting at our house for the 5th year.  I love Thanksgiving.  Everyone just sitting around eating, chatting and cruising the sale ads for Black Friday.  Are you going shopping on Friday (or Thursday night)?  We can't decide yet what we're going to do.  Probably won't go until Friday afternoon.  If there isn't anything leftover than it wasn't meant to be.  We'll have plenty of food leftover and that's all I'm really concerned about anyway.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

precious moments

In an effort to remember all these precious and sometimes not so precious moments with Hank, I went out and bought a journal today.  I've been reading Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year based on the recommendation of one of my favorite bloggers Holly at Zucchero Zucchero.  It made me realize how much I want to be able to look back, or rather read back, what exactly Hank was doing on certain days or weeks, how I was feeling or what our life as a family was like.  And maybe someday Hank would want to know these things.
mesmerized by the lights on the tree
It made me really wish I had written a journal while I was pregnant and started this journal right when Hank was first born.  I know it would have been helpful when DJ and I try again.  Hopefully my mommy brain will still allow me to remember things from the first 5 weeks of Hank's life.
my new journal
Anyway, I hope you're having a good week.  I will mention we have discovered this week that Hank loves music and if he's a little fussy and needs to take a nap, turn on anything off of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours and goodnight Hank.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

weekend inventory

We have the strangest weather in Michigan.  It will never stop surprising me to spend the weekend enjoying temperatures in the high 60's, just to be greeted with temperatures in the 30's on Tuesday.

We took advantage of our warmish weather and put up all of our xmas decorations, both inside and out.  We were really in the holiday spirit and headed to the hardware store for more decorations just to discover that Santa was there!  He was a good one too.  I could not pass up getting Hank's very first picture with Santa.  Santa let daddy DJ and I join in too.  I think he was a little nervous to be holding such a tiny newborn.
whyyy didn't Santa tell me my sunglasses were still on??

Sunday I felt super domestic and took to Pinterest to find some recipes!  We made crack weenies, apple crisp and french bread pizzas.  It was a terribly gluttonous way to spend a Sunday.  Just the way I like it.

Friday, November 9, 2012

a labor of love - henry davis

I fell asleep on October 9th at 1am, woke up at 2:56am, 3:42am and then finally at 4:45am I got out of bed.  I took a shower, did my hair, my make-up, got dressed and ate breakfast.  DJ woke up shortly after me and loaded up the car with the hospital bag.  It was very silent in our house.  I think we were both extremely nervous.  I had no idea what to expect at the hospital and a million questions ran through my mind as I got ready that day.

We got to the hospital just before 7am and I walked waddled down the long hall to the elevators.  We got to the third floor, labor and delivery, called the nurses station, "Um hi, I'm here to be induced."  The double doors swung open and we headed to the desk, where we were greeted by our nurse, Iman, and she led us to room 331.



 Iman was AWESOME!  She made both of us laugh and melt some nerves away.  Her best friend was working also and came in to help her.  She put in my I.V. and blew up one of my veins but whatever.  They told me that there was another woman that came in at the same time as me and was also being induced.  She was also dilated to 3cm.  Did I ever tell you that I was competitive?  It was on.  I was so going to have my baby before her.  Ha!
 Nurse Iman, hooked me up to two monitors on my belly.  One was monitoring Hank's heartbeat (don't ask my how many times that thing slipped off and I freaked out).  The other monitor was monitoring contractions.  Iman asked me if I could feel the contractions I was having (before being on pitocin).  I couldn't.  She then introduced me to the smiley/frowney faces on the wall that indicated how much pain you are in.  I was at a smiley 1.  After about an hour I was all hooked up and they started the pitocin.  DJ and I watched the news and then Live with Kelly and Michael.  A few interns and residents came in and out.  They did an ultrasound to check to make sure that Hank was still head down and facing the back.  The intern gave the thumbs up to say everything was all good.  At about noon the resident came in to break my water and nurse Iman came in to tell me that the other woman and I were still neck and neck.  We were both having our water broken artificially and we had both progressed to about 4cm. (darn)  Having your water broken is a bizarre feeling and I just felt like a leaky mess from that moment on.  Nurse Iman told me that my contractions would likely be getting stronger now.  I told her I was still at a smiley 3 on the pain scale so I was still feeling good.  DJ and I had brought our DVD player and started watching our Friends box set.  I chose to watch the episodes when Rachel was pregnant.  It just seemed fitting.
About an hour and a half later I was curled over the side of my bed in a frowney face 10 on the pain scale with only about 20 seconds of relief between contractions.  I was shaking and dry heaving while gripping the rail on the bed with the strongest of death grips.  DJ kept asking me if I was OK and I had so little time to recover between contractions it took about four contractions before I finally cried out that I NEEDED the epidural.  Nurse Iman, came right in and called down for the anesthesiologist, who came pretty quickly.  It took everything in me to sit still and breathe through my contractions as the doctor gave me the epidural.  When the doctor finished I felt instant relief on my left side, but I could still feel the full strength of the contractions on my right side.  Both nurse Iman and the anesthesiology nurse told me to try laying on my right side for a while to give the medicine a chance to start working.  Within the hour I thought it was some dirty trick someone was playing on me.  Yes, you can have an epidural Laura, but it's only going to work on one side, muahahaha.  I told nurse Iman and she gave me the saddest puppy dog look, knowing that they were going to have to take the current epidural out and put a new one in.  Ugh.  This time a new doctor came in and first tried moving it over and giving me another dose.  This successfully made my left leg a dead leg.  D-E-A-D.  However no relief whatsoever came to the right side.  The epidural indeed had to be removed and this new doctor started over.  Despite it taking two tries once that sucker was in correctly I felt amazing.  I was so relaxed.  I even took a little nap.  DJ and I watched Friends all afternoon.  Finally around 6pm when nurse Iman was getting ready to leave I asked if she would check me to see how far dilated I was.  She did and guess what...10cm!!!  Baby Hank was ready!  My doctor came in for his shift at 6:30pm so since I was still feeling quite comfortable and not too much pressure they recommended I "labor down" and allow my body to do some of the work for me.  Nurse Iman said that I didn't have to worry because I would know when it was time.  She assured me that the epidural would not take away the enormous amount of pressure I would feel.  At that point I really had no idea what kind of pressure I was about to feel.

My doctor came in at 6:30pm right when he arrived at the hospital and I was so happy to see him.  He said that he would come back in an hour or so to give me time to "labor down".  DJ and I called family and friends to let them know that it would be soon.  By the time we finished making calls it was about 7pm and I looked at DJ and said, "I have to push."  He gave me a look that indicated he did not believe me and said, "Laura, the doctor said he would be back in an hour."  I told him there was no way I was going to last that long and that I NEEDED to push right then.  I called the nurses station and told them I needed to push.  The doctor and a new nurse (Pam) came in (Pam had red hair so I knew I would like her).  They immediately set everything up and Pam started giving DJ and I instructions.  DJ needed to hold my leg and count down from 10 each time I pushed.  I needed to hold the back of my legs, take a deep breath and push for a count of ten, three times for every contraction.  I started pushing at 7:09pm.  I got through the first contraction and the second.  I was dry heaving again and started to cry that I couldn't do it.  DJ gave me the biggest kiss and told me I was doing so good and to keep going.  Nurse Pam put cold wash cloths on my chest and head and before I knew it I made it through the third contraction.  Nurse Pam asked if I wanted to feel his head.  His head?  He was already crowning??  I was so happy!  I felt the next contraction coming on and I took the deepest breath possible.  I pushed for the first count of ten and that's when my doctor started instructing me to breath, push, breath, push...At 7:21pm Henry Davis was officially born.  Daddy DJ cut the umbilical cord and they placed Henry on my chest.  He was making the sweetest newborn cry.  I could not believe this precious little boy was mine.  He was here and I loved him so.
umbilical cord cutting / the best doctor ever

Nurse Pam!!


oh that poor little cone headed babe





I love this picture.  I don't even care that I have a double chin.

heaven


proud daddy

Hank came face up, posterior position.  According to the doctor and everything I have read this is not common and typically makes it much harder to deliver without assistance or a c-section.  The doctor and nurse Pam both joked that the next time I give birth I better get to the hospital quick because if it only took me twelve minutes to deliver Hank in that position that my next baby would likely come very quickly.  The other part of this story is that although DJ was sure he wouldn't want to see anything, he watched the whole thing. (Just like everyone said he would)  He was so glad he did too.  He tells everyone how at first he could see the head and it was so small (cone head, remember) and he was so worried something was wrong with Hank.  Then when he could see the rest of his head he was expecting to see the back of his head because they had told us he was in the correct position earlier that day, so he was so confused and thought it looked so wrinkly.  The next thing he saw was Hank open his eyes and mouth at once and DJ says it was like he morphed into a baby right in front of his eyes.  He was seeing his son be born and it was amazing.

October 9th has been the most influential day of my life.  Both of the greatest life changing moments for me have happened on this day.

Oh and if you were wondering I totally beat that other lady in labor. ;)