Somebody has been a good boy!

 

And that somebody definitely is on Santa's nice list!  Except according to every guy who sees the picture, his outfit made the naughty list.  Oh, well. I think he is adorable!! And so did Santa, all the elves and everyone waiting in line at Castleton Square line. I mean, he's a baby.  With baby leg warmers (aka baby legs). What a good boy!

 

He is doing great- still only 2 bottom teeth but this past week he has been a little cranky.  I'm thinking his top teeth are trying to poke through.  Still BF but eating lots of food - pancakes, beans, baby foods, spaghetti, veggie puffs. Hasn't taken that first step yet, but he's super fast crawling and cruising.  And give him pots & pans in the kitchen- ah, the banging is music to my ears.   Hard to believe next week he will be 11 months next week. 

 

Luke truly is a happy, bouncy baby.  We have had recent fun with all our cousins, with little friend Jesse, went to Camille's 1st birthday party and had another play date with Reid & Camille.  Ahhhh. Such joy.

 

Thinking back to last Christmas when Matt & I were not being able to spend the day with my parents, Grandma, aunts, uncles, sisters, nieces, and cousins. As we stayed home and awaited a baby, we had no idea what the year ahead had in store for us.  It makes me extra happy how special this Christmas will be spending time with both Matt's and I's families and Luke being there to celebrate the miracle of Christmas.  What a joy he is!

 

10 months old!

Cheese!! I'm such a happy boy.

November has been a busy month that has flown by.  First year anniversaries to our good friends, family gatherings, football games, good bye parties and our first family 5k walk!

Luke turned 10 months old November 28th!!  Double digits- whooomp whoomp!   And he finally has teeth!! 2 little bottom teeth poked through.  We celebrated our 1st Thanksgiving with the Sunday before at Great Grandma's, Thanksgiving Day at Great Aunt Janice & Great Uncle Vic's, then the Sunday after at Ne-Ne and Pop-Pop's!  Love to be around all the family!! So many new things to discover, people to love on, and room to roam. Aaaah, the life of an adorable, happy baby boy.   You can just feel the love and happiness.  Look at that face.  Love.



We got to spend time too with Ruby, Emma, & Claire the weekend before Thanksgiving as we watched another Purdue victory over Illinois on Nov. 17th!

Good looking group!

 

November 18th we spent the evening at Aunt Laura's and Uncle Scotty's with Raya & Charlie as mommy & daddy went to Matt & Jenn's wedding.  He had a great time with them as usual.  And we got to see everyone again the night before Thanksgiving to celebrate Uncle Scotty's 33rd birthday.  Aunt Chris wasn't feeling well but everyone else was there and Luke had a fun time trying to keep up with Trey, Tripp, & Tagg.  And man, he just loves Uncle Dave.

 

Thanksgiving morning!! Fishers 5k! Had a great time walking with the Habels!

 

 

 It was cold that morning but I stayed nice and snuggly warm. Love the bib. Yep, I am #1. Second to none.

 

 

Had a fun, quick day for the Purdue-IU Oaken Bucket game Saturday November 24th. Grandma & Grandpa watched him, then met Aunt Laurie at Pepe's, then home again. We were in such a great mood thanks to another Boilermaker victory!

                                                                I love Aunt Laurie!!! xoxox

Our routine is still going to bed by 7:30 - but some nights it's a little earlier thanks to daylight savings.  We get home around 5:50 pm and it's dark dark by 6:00.  zzzzz.....  Getting up once in the middle of the night though, then up around 6:30 or so for the start of the day. Weening off of bf after the Great Bite of 2012. I think I jumped / screamed that it scared him. He did it once more and his over all wiggly distracted feedings have made it an easy choice to ease out of it! I only pump once a day at work and now it's kinda right before bed I'll feed him and in the morning. So I think we did a pretty good job. Very happy with everything.

Won't sit still anymore for mommy to take my picture- I love to be on the move. 

 

Standing along furniture, cruising, grabbing every non-toy around (his faves are paper, our cell phones, the remotes, and toilet paper rolls). Stood on his own for a few brief seconds- curious when he'll take that first step!

And not just during this season of Thanksgiving, but honestly every day, we cannot thank God enough that Luke came into our lives.  We are thankful for our family and friends and all the blessings. 

9 months old!

Well, Luke has officially been out of my belly as long as he was in it!  He turned 9 months old on Sunday, Oct. 28th and it was on a Colts game day- Go Horse!

Brrrr....it was cold out, so I'll just lay down.

I mean, I love these leaves!

What a pumpkin face!

Weight:  21.4 lbs -        61%
Height:   29 inches -     71%
Head:     46.4 cm -        77%

He had his 9 month appointment on Election Day 11/06/2012 and it went well (not the election, in my opinion, though)!  He is still bf, in size 3 diapers, pulls himself up, stands on his own, he cruises along the furniture/coffee table, crawls fast all over the place, da-da, ga-ga, still no ma-ma :(  But he babbles. Alot.  He does love to crawl as fast as he can away from me and plays 'momma gonna get you'.  Claps his hands, eats puffs and baby food pretty well.  Loves to try to eat leaves.  Great in the stroller on our runs, but getting a little wiggly to put in the carseat.  And SUPER squirmy when changing his didey and clothes.  I mean, super.  Still about 7:30 pm down to sleep and wakes up once a night, trying to break him of that, then back to sleep until we get up.  Oh, and a tooth FINALLY kinda, sorta poked through! I can feel it. Yay- so he won't be toothless!!  But then that means he is really getting to be a big boy.   We have so much fun in the car on the way home from daycare- we sing, we clap, we blab, or sometimes we just sleep (not me, just Luke) and zone out while listening to country music. Ah, that's my boy!
 Everyday is a milestone, everyday is an adventure, everyday I can't wait to wake up and kiss on him and then get him home to snuggle on him!! We say our prayers everyday thanking God for him and blessing our family and I let him know what Luke means to me.  We had the LUKE banner over his changing table when he was a baby (and when he would just lay there)and everyday would tell him L is for Love. Mommy & daddy and so many people love you so much.  U is for Unique. There is only one you.  K is for Kind.  Mommy wants you to be a kind, sweet boy. E is for Extraordinary.  You can do anything in the world you want to.  Now it's replaced with the ABC quilt and we do the Z is for Zebra that we will see at the Zoo, E is for the Elephant, etc.  As long as he is safe, loved, and growing, that's all I ask for.  For now.  Then when he gets older, maybe be a doctor or something :) 

Happy Halloween!!

Call me maybe?

Tiger tail.....

Man, I love leaves!

 

This Bounce house is fun!! 

We love fall!

The beautiful mums at Grandma & Grandpa's

 

 

Hanging out at Grandma & Grandpa's

 

The Pumpkin Patch w/my little pumkin pie!

(don't mind my goofy face, I was in the middle of telling Luke to smile)

 

Excited for Halloween next week- we have some parties this weekend that he'll wear his little costume! I have seriously been thinking of him going as Honey Boo Boo, but Daddy nixed that idea.  Boo! We get to see the Weaver clan at a party Saturday and get to see the Lemming side for Emma's 10th birthday party.  Now that doesn't seem possible that Emma is turning 10!!

Luke and my parents survived the first night away from both mommy & daddy- yay!  We were at Ian & Sonia's wedding - which was a blast.  And hard to believe he will be 9 months old.  He's been doing a good job eating puffs, baby food, crawling, pulling up, standing on his own for a few seconds, still bf, still no teeth but I swear his bottom fronts look like they could poke through any day, but I've been thinking that for weeks.  We go to his appt. Nov 6th so will be curious to see how big he is.  Thankfully the last few days he has been going to bed at 7:30 ish and waking around 5:00 am...we can do this.  I'm feeling better and boot camp has been awesome and we have a good routine going on right now.   We've increased our mileage and our times running.  Plus it helps that it gets dark earlier so I have to go faster before it gets too dark!!  We see lots of friends and animals out on The Monon, so that's been fun.  Taking advantage of the wonderful fall weather before it's gone. 

Luke is such a happy, sweet little boy.  We are so lucky!

 

 

8 months old...time marches on!

 

Whoa, I am 8 months old!!!! 

 

  Hangin' on to Ele the Elephant!

 

Luke turned 8 months old September 28th.    He is soooo fun.  His little personality is really coming out.  He does this 'ah, shucks!' bashful head bury thing.  It's so cute.  He is full on crawling...and super fast.  He does a great job standing and has been looking like he's interested in pulling himself up.  Still bf and eating some baby food now and then. Still size 3 diapers.  Been going to bed 7:30 - 8 pm, usually wakes up around 1:00 am (sometimes 4 am, too) and then back to sleep until around 6 -7 am when we start getting ready for work.  Really a little wiggly worm when we go to change him now.  Claps his hands, says da-da-da-da-da.   Loves the dance monkey.  We have been going for walks and good runs in the BOB.  It's great.  We can walk for hours, but I can only run about 45 minutes max (thanks, bladder!).  And he does such a great job in it.  We all got our flu shots on Wednesday and we are all doing ok.   He really is such a happy, friendly little baby.  Ian and Sonia watched him for a couple of hours while we ran errands last Sunday (and visited our friend Amy & Trevor's new sweet baby boy Ethan born September 12th! Adorable.), Uncle Dave & Aunt Chris (and Tripp and Tagg) babysat him when we went to a wedding Saturday,  and Uncle Scotty & Aunt Laura watched him for a couple of hours recently too.  Luke and Daddy went up to Ne-Ne and Pop-Pop's the other night and hung out with them.  They all say he is such a good, easy boy and love to watch him!!  I'm hoping they aren't all lying to us :) Aahhh!! 
I took him out in the yard last Sunday to get some fall pictures and he wasn't really feeling it. But they still turned out pretty cute :)

Mmm....this leaf is delicious!

Oh, mommy, enough pictures please!

We have another action packed weekend ahead- Daddy is going to BINGO with the Weavers tonight and then Sara is watching Luke all day Saturday as we go to our good friend Tara's wedding downtown.   Looking forward to watching football tomorrow, too (before the wedding)  and hoping Purdue can beat Michigan!  Then next weekend I will be heading to Homecoming vs. Wisconsin and Luke is gonna stay with my parents during the game.  Then we have Halloween parties and Emma's birthday party at end of the month.  Such a big boy, such fun.  Just when I can't imagine loving him more or having more fun with him, I do.  And it is totally awesome.

 

Little Buddies!

It was so amazing to find out last July a friend of mine was expecting.  And she was due just 2 weeks before me.  I truly was just as excited for her pregnancy as I was for mine!   She had her struggles (which I cannot even imagine), and I had mine, so it's like we really did know what we were each going through.  Plus it was a great way to keep each other in check during our pregnancies, we went to a bf class together, did a prenatal yoga class (where I vomitted), and were able to be great resources for each other.  She'd give me her updates from her appointments, and I would as well.   Here was my e-mail to her July 6, 2011...she had told me she was expecting and I was bursting at the seams.  So I had to tell her....

Well.....I have to tell you....I am 11 weeks today!  Total shock and still sinking in!  Back in April I went to Dr. Carnovale after 47 days without a cycle.  In January we had tried to do IVF w/max dose and didn’t respond...at all.  Nada, zip.   So he wanted to watch 3 natural cycles....well, didn’t know if I was ever going to freakin’ start again b/c the one thing I had going for me was ‘regular’ cycles but now it was 47 days.  So when I finally started my cycle April 10^th, I went in on day 3 and my FSH levels were high and retested the Ovarian Reserve.  I did that test in Nov. and it was ‘normal’ but at the low end, well in April it was ‘below normal’ but near the high end.  So that was that.  Just going to not be on drugs and hopefully get back on a normal schedule.  Well, May 16^th was 38 days since my last period.  So I took a pg test – totally expecting to see negative like usual- and was going to call the next day to tell them it was negative b/c they didn’t want me to go 47 days again.  So I took it and went and did laundry. B/c I know the outcome – it’s not something fun to do.  I take a test, it’s negative, then go on.   Well 20 minutes later I came back and it said ‘pregnant’ – and I looked around the bathroom like there for sure had to be a hidden camera.  I just kept looking at myself in the mirror like what is going on.  I asked Charlie dog if he had messed with it.  This wasn't right. I wasn’t even excited b/c I’m like great- freakin’ faulty test.  So I called Matt who was on his way home and told him to get another one, not digital, b/c this was obviously wrong.  Took it and it was positive.  So in disbelief we were like what?  So I called the Dr. the next day (May 17^th) and told them but was completely like ‘obviously something isn’t right’...so they did my beta and it was 130 – and anything over 100 was considered pregnant.  Told me to come repeat it on Thurs. (May 19^th)  and be cautiously optimistic b/c it needed to double in order to be viable.  It came back 278 and they were like ‘congrats!’  Had my 1^st ultra sound June 6^th and just kept praying for a heartbeat.  We thought we were about 8 weeks but measured 6 wks 5 days and the heartbeat was 133 bpm.  So we were thrilled but still nervous b/c he didn’t know if the baby was growing properly or the date was off.  Went in the next week (June 13^th) and measured 7 wks 5 days so changed my edd from Jan 15^th to Jan. 25^th.  However the heartbeat was only 99 bpm.  He was worried I was starting to miscarry (oh, and I had an awful backache).  So he scheduled me for Thursday and to be prepared to lose the baby.  But he left us with 'just pray.' We were devastated but still took away the hope that ‘wow, this happened! on our own!’.....Went in on Thurs. June 16^th fully anticipating awful news and he stopped and just said ‘this is AWESOME’  baby’s heartbeat was back up (180 bpm!) and we were cleared!!   Went in to my regular OB/GYN June 23^rd and was great- not considered high risk, can do normal things in moderation. But thankfully I have been so sick I just go home and rest!  Go back July 21^st.  UGH!!  Seems so far away after going in 4 times in like 3 weeks! So it’s been quite the roller coaster.  Until this baby is born though, I just don’t know if it seems real.   I might have to get a cerclage as well b/c I had 2 LEEP surgeries and 3 other lap/hyst surgeries so they don’t know how competent my cervix will be.  But he’s monitoring me closely.  I too am not working out b/c I am sicker than a dog- but I’ll take it.  I vomit 3-4 x’s a day and come home and sleep.  Maybe I’ll get energy later, but now, I’m doing nothing.  And I’m ok with it!  I’m trying to make it the 21^st to start telling everyone, we’ve told a handful of friends and our parents/siblings, but that’s it.  So if you can keep it a secret a little longer, I would appreciate it! 

I will keep you and baby in my prayers.  What an awesome miracle!!   And thank you for the prayers and keep them coming- you don’t know how much I appreciate them!!

So when you & I get feeling good, we honestly really need to get out and go for a walk / waddle (or eat!) J

............................................

I just cry everytime I read it - tears for the fear, tears for the joy, and tears for amazement that we both now have two healthy, sweet, cute, wonderful, and totally miraculous baby boys!! Her little man was born January 16th, we visited them in the hospital the day they were being discharged because I had an appointment. I remember holding him in my arms while my baby was in my belly and being blown away that soon, very soon, I would be holding a newborn in my arms. It seemed surreal. 

Only a few weeks old!

 

A few weeks later...

And now at 7 months-ish!!

 

So cute!  We love having playdates, which first consisted of naps & nursing, to pool time, now to crawling and a stroller ride around the neighborhood.  It's fun to see the interaction as they get older and become 'little people'.  Here's to many, many more playdates ahead and maybe future roomies at Purdue??? 

 

We are family! I got all my cousins and me!

This little guy is such a joy!  Love his giggles, his funny faces- like this:

 

 He is really getting fast crawling/scooting all around.  Itsy-Bitsy Spider is a favorite song of his and he has a new CD of 'Luke' songs Grandma & Grandma brought him back from their trip.  He did GREAT at the Purdue game over Labor Day weekend - it was super humid- I think I was having a harder time with it than him.  But daddy, Emma, & Claire were there and those girls were great helpers.  Julie & Jason came at halftime to see him.  And he was all smiles. 

Most of the time....

We stayed until the 3rd quarter then headed to Oxford to see Ruby and Aunt Nicole.  Thankfully Purdue won- big time- so that was even better! 

And then we had a wonderful Labor Day with the Weaver cousins, we missed Trey, though!  We celebrated Ne-Ne's birthday at Aunt Chris & Uncle Dave's...it was a great day to celebrate. 

Love this pic with their cute lil faces!!

Reminds me of one we did early August for Great Grandma's 79th birthday- Luke looks a little scared of those Booth girls- who can blame him really??

Oh, man!!  Girls gone wild :)

 

The weekend after Labor Day went up to Great Grandma's for a cook-out with all the cousins! 

 

Great Grandma and all her Great-Grandchildren. And Luke and Great-Grandma!

 Good times had by all!! We hadn't been all together since Easter- way too long.

 Food has been going ok- had a little problem with the rice/apple/mango Gerber mix, still bf, he had a little fever last week so he left Pam's early and couldn't go on Friday, but was fine by the weekend.  Cheered on the Colts victory at Ian's -before he got sick :(   We will be starting boot camp 2 x's a week, so he'll be an extra hour at Pam's.   We have wedding season around the corner and fall- time is flying by.  I have seriously been thinking about *gulp* his first birthday already!!  When.did.this.happen?  I love to see him grow and change, but it makes me a little sad if he's the only one I 'get' :)  I am so thankful and lucky to have him so I'm trying to not worry about the maybes.   So we are going to enjoy every minute with him and our family and friends!

7 months old...how did that happen!?

Broken record here, but amazed that he is 7 months old!!  To reach 7 months in my pregnancy took eternity.  With him here, these past 7 months have flown.  Seriously. 

We made some homemade squash from Nee-Nee and Pop-Pop's garden in the Baby Bullet.  He didn't really care for it.  But he devoured some baby food applesauce.  Mmm...  Still size 3 diapers, still bf, went to another Indians game for Meyer-Najem, going to his first Purdue game tomorrow (weather permitting- thanks a lot Hurricane Issac).  And just the past 2 days, has really started the army crawling and standing pretty solid.  Man! Look out!

Luke comes from the Latin name meaning 'light'.  And it's true, Luke is the light of our lives and I think of all the lives he has brought so much joy and light into!  Definitely. 

He'll always be my baby

I love music, mostly country.  I love the stories they tell.  I love to imagine the 'video' of my life in the words.  I love to just really listen.  It's a whole world of possibilities. 

When I was pregnant with Luke (and didn't it know it was baby boy Luke at the time!)I kept hearing 'All American Girl' by Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn ''Til you put a girl in it', and Keith Urban's 'I wanna kiss a girl'.  So I thought those were signs I was having a girl. Wrong.  But I, too, kept hearing 'Dream Weaver', Blake Shelton's 'God gave me you' and Elvis' 'Follow that Dream'.  Those were my songs that gave me hope that this baby really was coming.  Now that Luke is here, no joke, I hear Sara Evan's 'You'll Always Be My Baby' like all.the.time.   And every darn time I can't get through this last verse.  Man, tear jerker. 

"There he is, my little man
I’m sure he'll get in trouble every now and then
And I pray to God that when he does
I’ll be just as understanding, as my father was
'Cause the last thing that I wanna do
Is let him down
So instead of being angry I’m gonna
throw my arms around him and I’ll say


In the sunlight or the rain
Brightest nights or darkest days
I'll always feel the same way
Whatever road you may be on
Know you're never too far gone
My love is there, wherever you may be
Just remember that you'll always be my baby"


And then a little of  George Strait's 'I saw God today' - whoa,  bring on the Kleenex!

Happy 7 months birthday to my little man!!   Pics & stats soon!!

Uh-oh!!

So Daddy found out that Luke finds it absolutely hilarious when you say 'Uh-oh!'  I mean, this kid CRACKS up.  Funniest thing ever.
Also, he found out the joy of clapping this past weekend.  Loves to clap! Aunt Tracey watched him while we had B.O.B. fest and he wore his best B.Y.O.B.onesie and baby legs (that he's about to outgrow thanks to the chunky thighs!!) 

And he has been eating baby food and getting the hang of it.  That sweet lil tongue gets in the way, but so far, bananas, apples w/blueberries, and sweet potatoes are going down (and staying down!). 

6 months old!!! Such fun!!

Luke turned 6 months old on July 28, 2012.  And I can't believe how much fun it is to see him grow and change!  We had some bad news the night before regarding our beloved Charlie dog, but that's another post :(
He really is such a good boy.  He went through a rough patch of not sleeping well, but he thankfully right now it's back to going great again.  He's going to bed 7:30-8:00 pm ish until I wake him between 6 am - 7 am on work days! Whew. 
We tried some rice cereal at 5 months- projectile vomit.  awful.  Tried it again before his 6 mo appointment, gagged.  So not good.  We waited until his appointment w/the doctor to make sure everything was ok.  She was not worried about allergies or anything, just his little tummy didn't like it.  After 6 months of only breast milk it was a shock to his system.  He is sitting up like a big boy, like clockwork on his 6 month b-day.  He weighed in at 18 lbs 2 oz (57%) and 27 inches long (65%) and his noggin is in the 78% .  Luke is pretty darn good!
Rollin' rollin' rollin'.... good big ol' giggles....happy & reaches for us....still loves the exersaucer...anything he can get in his mouth, especially Sophie the giraffe...has a new baby cousin, Ruby born July 5 he tries to steal her paci.....went to his first Indianapolis Indians game....went to the Indiana State Fair....sat in the highchair at Friacos' on a lunchdate w/Brady and Max.....celebrated Great Grandma's 79th birthday....lots of visiting with Grandma & Grandpa and the Booth cousins...hoping to see the Weaver gang soon- Daddy will be celebrating his 36th birthday August 17th, so that should be fun! Sara & Brian will watch him that night then Aunt Tracey comes to town to watch him Saturday during the day! ...still lovin' Pam & daycare....so happy!!  We love this little guy so much!!!!! 

Teething

This week has been hard.  But Luke is so darn cute and sweet that makes it ok- but he is definitely teething!!  Chomping on everything and not sleeping well at night- up almost every 2 hours and not to eat!!  Just rock him and then when he is almost out and down in his crib he wakes up and cries, cries, cries.  Even Daddy has been getting in on the action which leaves us both so tired.  I guess that's what Mountain Dew is for ;)
But he rolls over effortlessly, loves his exersaucer (thanks cousin Raya!), and looking at Charlie dog!
And I thought my supply was diminishing so I have had a beer the past couple of nights and that is doing the trick.  Just wish I enjoyed the taste of it.  Yuck. But I'll do it.  My goal now is to make it to his 6 month appt. August 8th.  Think next week will try Oatmeal instead. 
Will also try to feed him Rice Cereal again.  We tried on the 4th of July and thought he did pretty well.  Except 2 hours later when he was in bed, I check on him right as he was gagging it up.  Covered in it. Ugh, poor baby.  So haven't tried it since!!
We will get through this...looking forward to the weekend!!  TGIF!

Birth Story- Pure Love

It was Friday, January 27th and I was 2 days over my due date.  I had a non-stress test that afternoon and scheduled to be induced Thurs. February 2nd but was on the 'waiting list' for Tuesday January 31st.  I couldn't believe it!  We had been so prepared for an early baby when I had my cerclage taken out at week 35, now they were telling me a week past my due date!!!  The longer it took this baby to get here, the harder time I was having.  At my NST they told me I had a couple of contractions, but I didn't feel them.  At work that day we had a pitch-in for lunch and I had told Kirsten that it was my last day regardless if they induced me the 31st or 2nd...I needed to just be home!   It was getting harder and harder to get motivated at work.  And I was having a hard time believing a baby was waiting for me after 9 months. 
After work I usually took a nap/relaxed for a bit but it was my nephew Trey's 8th grade basketball championship game, so we had to go!  And that meant no nap!  People would ask me when I was due and I was like, 2 days ago!  They were amazed.  I also jokingly kept saying 'oh, maybe this will be an exciting game and put me into labor!'  Well, it did go to overtime, but still wasn't feeling anything.  Afterwards, around 8:30 pm, Matt & I went to our fave BR 'bad' Chinese place to-go and got a movie at Red Box (March of Ides, Ides of March, whatever that Clooney / Gossling movie is!).  So we got home, ate, and he put in the movie, around 9.  I just nestled into my spot on the couch, and I kinda 'pee'd' my pants.  I was like, huh!  So I change outfits and about that time 9:07 pm I feel a little something on my side.  And at that time another little trickle of water!  So I told Matt, I think my water broke!  Thankfully I paid attention when they said it doesn't have to be a gush!  And at 9:14 another little something.  And I go 'I don't know what contractions feel like, but if I were to think what they might feel like, it might be this.'  So I said, I think we need to go to the hospital!!  We straightened things up, already had our bags packed for the last 2 months!!, and headed to the hospital.  About every 7 minutes I was having 'contractions'  but no more gushes of fluid.  We get to triage about 10 pm and the nurse was like 'what brings you here?'  So sometime during that as well, Matt's back goes out.  He can barely stand.  It was awful.  I'm like having contractions, hoping that really was my water that broke, and he's asking for a wheelchair...for himself!  They hook me, up check the fluid and confirm my water broke.  We look at each other like 'ok, here we go!'  We got checked into the hospital at 11 pm and we decide not to call anyone yet b/c we don't know how long this is gonna take and don't want to get anyone worried.  There is nothing they can do at 11 at night so we'll call in the morning.  I was still at 3 cm and we (I) walked laps for awhile while pushing my husband in a wheelchair.  He was so embarrassed but those nurses got a kick out of a lady in labor pushing her husband around the maternity ward!   We did that for awhile and contractions started coming stronger so decided to go back to the bed at some point.  I was now at 5 or 6 and I think got on pitocin at some point.  at 4:30 am contractions were definitely getting stronger and I decided to get the epidural.  Painless.  Figured I might as well try to rest instead of being awake.  Of all days not to have a nap when I got home from work!!  Around 6 am Saturday January 28, I called my parents to let them know I was indeed in labor.  They are an hour and a half away and didn't want my dad to go into work or something that morning and them not be able to get ahold of him.  I told them after I got checked again I would call a little later.  So I think about 8 I called back, and I was progressing well and they said were leaving around 9 am.  I had texted my sisters, too at that point.  I think Matt called his family around then as well.   Now it was feeling real!!    Well, at 10 am they were like 'time to push!'  So we did some practice pushes and I'm like I can do this!!  Around 11 the nurses said my family was there in the waiting room, I still had been pushing but I think Matt went out there to tell them I was full on pushing so any minute now!  Well I keep pushing, pushing, pushing.  They are trying different techniques, I'm playing tug of war w/them, I'm on one side, then the other side....and then at some point we notice the nurses talking and I think they are prepping me for a c-section.  Well when the doc was in she said the baby was cock-eyed and face up.  Also Matt later tells me from about 10:30 on he could see the head go in and out w/each contraction.   So the doctor says we can try w/the vacuum, explains everything to us, or we keep trying.  I opt for the vacuum b/c Evie had to have one w/her little guy and I'm like whatever it takes for safe, healthy baby!!  Had she said c-section, I would have been fine with that too.  But I just wanted this baby so badly and for everything to go well.  They get the vacuum out and she said the next couple sets of contractions we can have that baby!  So the end was insight!!  The next push, with the help of the vacuum, at 12:30 pm out came our baby.   It was surreal!  I couldn't believe I had a baby.  I heard the cry and was just like 'is everything ok?!'  The Dr. says 'well daddy, what do you have?'  And Matt has tears in his eyes and looks at me 'it's a boy!'.  I think I was in shock.  I just had a baby.  I had a boy!!!!!!!!  Oh, my I couldn't believe it.  When the put him on my chest, I just stared at him.  I was in love.  I couldn't believe I had a baby.  They do whatever they do with him and worked on me.  I was just staring over at him the whole time.  8 lbs 10 oz - are you kidding me!?  We were expecting a 7- 7 1/2 lb baby! 21 inches long- wowzers!!  Luke Russell was agreed upon.  Pure love.  After an hour they said family could come back.  Matt got my family but didn't tell them what we had.  My nieces Emma & Claire walk in first.  Everyone (my sisters, my parents, my brother-in-law) kinda tiptoed in and were looking around....so I say 'Did Uncle Matt tell you what we had?'  And they all shake their head and say no.  I say 'It's a boy!'  And I won't forget that moment everyone erupts in gasps and tears!  And I kept saying 'I have a baby boy! Can you believe it?!'   No one was expecting it.  We Lemmings just have girls.  I have 2 sisters, I have 2 nieces, my dad has 3 sisters.  I'm a girl.  The pencil test said girl.  It was going to be a girl, duh! Then I said you want to know his name...and everyone is like 'uh, yeah!'  So I looked at my dad and said 'Luke Russell'...and again tears!  Russell was my Grandpa Lemming's name and it's my dad's middle name.  The next few hours were a whirlwind with Matt's family visiting and spoiling the baby.  My world was forever changed Saturday, January 28th.

5 months old

So I will just start off with today my baby is 5 months old!!! That doesn't even seem possible!!  5 months old.   I never knew if that day of having a baby would even come.  And then it did.  And I'm amazed everyday.  I have a baby.  I have a healthy baby boy.  And I love him so much.

15 lbs 26 inches... Size 2 diapers... still bf ...rolls from belly to back / back to belly...    found him in his crib on his belly a couple of times...  loves to laugh... loves to go on walks in the stroller... stinky bottom... great head control ... very happy ...doesn't mind tummy time ... loves to look & smile at Charlie....  blows lots (and lots) of bubbles...  blabs... kicks those legs very, very fast... loves to snuggle with mommy... hot blooded - my littler heater....