Photoshop

I am currently teaching myself photoshop... talk about overwhelming! See above header for my first completed project... nothing much, but it took me a while :) My next thing is to finish Matt's "create your own tumbler" from Father's Day!!! And maybe I should write in the card that I was supposed to give him, too! slacker. [me, not you.]

Mobile blog test :)

[Silas is watching The Wiggles on Netflix]

I wish I had time to be crafty! I come across so many things that I would love to do, if only I had time to do them!! I think I am just going to do it anyway!! Pretty soon here, my sister, Shea, is coming to live with us for the fall semester to watch Silas in the mornings- Matt is student teaching and, unless I want to be transferred to a different store (which I don't) I must work mornings. Not just mornings, but ugly mornings! I will be opening Monday-Friday... starting work at 4:30AM!! Buuutttttt...... that means I will always be home by 1pm, plenty of time to spend with my dear sweet Silas boy :) So when he naps, I think I am going to get crafty. And in case anyone was wondering, yes, I WOULD like a sewing machine... and Christmas is only a few months away!!

I would like to get better at my photo editing, and if I had time for it, I would take a class... but let's be real, that isn't going to happen. So, I am going to have to take about a thousand pictures of Silas to edit them all cute like. I take a bunch on my iphone, but you can't really fix poor quality too much!

I'm off to Target, but I think I am going to start working on my photos before I go to work later... I'll post a finished product if I ever finish ;)

So, this title-less blog shall update you... I don't have a bunch of time, but I thought the world should know that my glorious 5 month maternity leave has come to an end. I return to work tomorrow... I'll have to let you know how badly I miss Silas once I get home from work tomorrow. Also, I finally started to work out today (well that is technically a lie, I just bought the membership to 24 hour today, but am actually going once Matt get homes from work). I have come to terms with the fact that I am going to have to work hard to lose the rest of this baby weight... but I WILL do it :) The guy at 24 hour asked what I wanted out of a gym membership, to which I replied "a rockin' bod"... Matt said he knew I would say that! hmmmm.... in other news, Silas boy has gotten his first tooth. He is only 3 months old, and has a TOOTH! He is getting so old! A TOOTH! I still can't believe it. It has made for a *pleasant* week or so... but it seems to be better now that it has poked through the gums... it is so cute to see that bright white spot on his lower gums when he smiles!! A pic must be posted to show the cuteness, but I have to wait for it to grow a bit more... that and I am sure he is tired of me poking my fingers in there, even though he has been LOVING chewing on his own hands! Oh, and he isn't such a giant boy any more, only in the 80th percentile for weight now... he only gained almost an ounce since a month ago when he went and was diagnosed with reflux.

more to report later, and hopefully I can get to this in a timely manner :)

Hooray!!!

I got crafty and made my own (well, mine and Matt's combined) graduation announcements! I've been done, but Matt finishes in 3 weeks :)

it's been a month

Wow, I guess time really does fly by, huh? You get all that 'advice' (usually half of it you just disregard) from other mothers who claim that time will go by quickly so enjoy it while it lasts... who knew they were right? My baby is growing up quickly!! I think I feel like he is older than he really is too, since I kind of got cheated out of the new born stage, as my large-and-in-charge son came out practically a three month old. You know, being a mom changes the way you go about daily life. I mean, when else would I sit here, blogging away while he sleeps, listening to Rockabye Baby! on my itunes? You know he isn't listening to it. And actually, these things are wonderful, they are baby/lullaby versions of songs by artists such as Coldplay, Metallica, Tool, Bob Marley, The Beatles, No Doubt, U2 and so forth- if you have a child, you should definitely check them out ;)

Lets see, in this month, Silas has been chatting up a storm!! He loves to smile at us. I can hear early renditions of his laughter :) We took him to his first Dodgers game with Daniel and Marissa. We had a really nice time with them. Silas slep the entire time, even through fireworks. One night I was feeding him, I caught a picture of him giving the bird... I don't know if I should post such a graphic juvenile pic ;) Matt proudly displays it as the wallpaper on his iPhone. It's hard to think of what else.

We went to the dr this week for his 2 month check up. He got his shots, which was sad (and hard to hold down such a strong boy, Matt and I both had to do it). He did really well with them though, he wasn't really grumpy afterward. My little Silas boy is in a league of his own as far as his stats go:

Head- 17 cm. - 95th percentile
Length- 24.5- 90th percentile
Weight- 13lb. 10oz. - 90th percentile

The dr didn't believe his length so he measured him again (the nurse did it originally) and he changed it from 25in to 24.5 haha, big diff :)

Thought I would update... not much to share, unfortunately :( OH! except that I heard him laugh, well more like a giggle, I suppose, but it was sweet nonetheless. His rash is better (though you wouldn't know it in the pics below...) not completely gone, but lookin' good. Oh, and I also had my dr appt yesterday, even though it was only 5 weeks (well technically 4 weeks, 6 days) post partum and I was pleased. I have been asking Matt every day (sometimes more than once) to look at my incision and report how it was looking. I had nothing to worry about, but still, I couldn't see it very well. I was paranoid that it was healing weird, infected, or somehow had opened up. Anyhow, the DR cleared all my fear and said that it is looking really good... (good thing, cause I had been hula hooping occasionally on the wii fit- probably not the best decision, but I am anxious to work out, and that was the least I could do!). I also bought The 30 day Shred DVD- a workout by Jillian Michaels, which is supposed to kick your butt. I haven't been feeling too hot the last couple of days, so once I do, I am starting that bad boy!! Oh and she said that I was looking really pale and so she had me do a blood test to test my anemia because my levels were really low when I was discharged from the hospital- I should hear back on that soon, but for now just have to take iron twice a day. Nothing else to report ;)

He's a month old!

He is falling asleep and holding his own pacifier... doesn't happen often!


He was cooing and smiling, but would get this confused look on his face everytime I put my phone in front of him to take a picture!


Helping hold his bottle. You can't see that I am holding the end of it. He's good, but not THAT good!


Silas and I took a field trip out of the house to babies r us... isn't the greatest picture, but you can see his bright blue eyes!


I had to show one so you could see how big he is getting!

I can hardly believe that exactly a month has gone by since Silas has been born! We started off the day by going to the pediatrician because Silas has a really dry rash on his face, scalp and ears. Apparently he has Seborrheic Dermatitis... pretty much we have to use very mild soap (Cetaphil) and rub Hydrocortizone cream and Aquaphor on him... no big deal. I am glad that we know how to get rid of it, though.

Silas now weighs 11lb. 13oz. and is 23 1/4in long... that's my growing boy! He coos a lot, smiles like crazy, even at daddy now :) He is SUPER strong and is starting to recognize his hands. He holds his head up, and prefers to be held sitting upright- he knows he's a big boy! Oh, and we bought him some cute little shoes at Target- we had to buy the 3-6month size... they are a smidgebig, but will probably fit in a week or two.

Bath time!

Silas had his first real bath when he was 8 days old... he wasn't a big fan and was happy to get out!


This was Silas' 3rd bath, and he loved it, he looked like he was going to fall asleep while I was bathing him... I think it was nice and warm for him, so getting out wasn't so awesome. Once he got out though, he went right to sleep, which was nice for me because he was cranky for an hour or two before. He is still an incredible baby, but he is a little fussier than he had been- still no complaints here!



We tried to do tummy time... but someone got sleepy.


Such a cute 'little' boy!

already a week old...

You always hear people say they grow up fast- and it's true. I mean we are only celebrating the one week milestone, and boy is he different! He looks much different than he did the first day- getting bigger and getting older. Silas is sleeping quite a bit so I cherish the moments that he is awake and loves to stare back at our faces... such cute little eyes :) He slept trhough the night one night (8 hours) and other nights is waking up once... I can handle that!

He went to two Dr. appointments this week due to a newborn rash that was on his stomach. On Tuesday, his weight had dropped down to 9lb 14oz. Matt was a little concerned we had done something wrong but I assured him that all babies lose weight and shouldbe back at their birth weight by two weeks. Well, we went to the dr again on Thursday to recheck his rash (it looked great, btw) and he weighed 10lb. 10oz. an ounce above his birth weight (with a diaper on). So I guess we aren't having any problems feeding!

In other news, we had the experience of having to change his clothes about 8 times on Thursday- he spit up once and peed on himself all of the other times... even at the dr office ;) His cord fell off that same day, so we are giving him his first real bath today... pictures to come, I am sure.




We finally got a picture with his eyes open... as it does not happen often!

My Boy :)

I sit in bed as my sweet husband and precious son sleep- so cute!

I haven't blogged in a while, but I figured I should start using this thing again to hopefully keep people updated on little (giant) Silas!

I was anxiously awaiting the birth of my son and being able to tell Matt that it was time to go to the hospital. Silas had measured big (about 2 weeks ahead) at the ultrasounds at 23 and 32 weeks, based on their weight estimations. Since this was the case, we all thought he would come early, but my Dr. didn't change my due date. My mom thought he would come around the 5th, which would have been 2 weeks early. The 5th came and went, so I just kept looking out for the 19th- his due date. That came and went, too. The 22nd is my birthday so I hoped for that day... no bday gift from Silas. The 25th is my father in law's birthday (he had been rooting for Silas to come on that day!) and that came and went too. At my last appointment, she told me I would be induced on the 27th at 8:30- finally I knew that this could would be coming out!

The entire time I was eagerly awaiting him, I had never felt any contractions. I had cramps, but nothing I could call contractions or even time. I would progress a little in the last 3 weeks at each appointment, as far as dilating, but still no signs of the little man coming.

We got to the hospital at 8:30 as planned, but things didnt get started right away. I had been checked and was already 4-5 cm dilated, and apparently having regular contractions 5 mins apart that I didn't even feel. When she hooked up the monitor she said they were pretty strong and was surprised I couldn't feel them. I never knew I had a pain tolerance... I always thought I was pretty wussy. I just stayed in bed pretty comfortable. They came in and broke my water at 11:15, and at 12:15 they started the pitocin so that my contractions would be stronger and 2-3 apart to get the show on the road. She said that I would have the baby by the following afternoon. WHAT? I came in to have a baby that day!! I got an epidural at 1:45. I still wasn't feeling anything really, except some occasional pressure in my back, so I decided to get the epidural then, in fear of thinking it would be too late if I just stuck it out or that the anesthesiologist would take forever to get to me.

I sat in the room with many different people coming in and chatting with me- only 3 people at a time. At about 3:30ish, there was a shift change, so the new nurse checked me and said that I was at a 5... what? NO progression? In hearing this, we knew it would be a while, so Matt and his dad left to go get some dinner and bring it back. The room was nice and calm. The lights were low, and Shea, Patience and Cathy were in the room and we were just chatting away. Then, a nurse came up to me and said "I need you to put on this oxygen mask and turn on your side, the baby's heart rate has dropped a little bit so we want to make him a little more comfortable". As I am moving and holding the mask up, next thing I know is a doctor is checking me and says "How long has she been clotting like this?". At that moment, it was a whirlwind! In a matter of about 30 seconds there was about 12 people around me all telling me different things. "we're going to have to get the baby out NOW" "you're going to get a shot of in your arm to help stop contractions, it will make you shaky" "move your hips and slide on this other bed".... I mean, I don't know how I was bale to follow so many commands being told to me and still hear Shea right next to me calling Matt and telling him to get back to the hospital ASAP because the baby's heart rate dropped and I needed an emergency c-section. That was at 4:17. And in the midst of this, I was completely calm. I just followed whatever they said. I don't know how I stayed that calm, because a c-section was my biggest fear. I did NOT want one, as I mostly feared the recovery. I could hardly sit up after having my belly button pierced... pfft. Matt panicked and rushed back to the hospital and pulled up to the curb leaving his dad to park the car. He ran inside and somehow got all ready and dressed to come into the operating room. I was told on the way being wheeled into the secondary, small OR (they had JUST finished a c-section in the regular OR) that nobody would be allowed in because it was an emergency. Still at that news, I was just calm and at peace. I said a little prayer and got ready for things to begin. All of a sudden, the Dr. had let go of my hand and Matt was there :) Somehow he was allowed to be in there. I could see the panic in his eyes, and especially for me, because he knew I did not want a c-section. I knew, though, that it had to be done, and that I couldn't freak out because it would make things worse for the baby and myself. I told Matt that I was at peace with the whole thing, and I think it shocked him, but helped to comfort him. after 4 mins, Silas was born at 4:31pm :) As soon as they pulled him out, everyone in the room said "oh my God, he's HUGE!" at that very moment, I said the same thing. The rested him on my legs for a second while they suctioned his mouth and I said, "wow, he's BIG". He weighed 10 lbs and 9oz and was 22in long. I later found out that the circumference of his head was 15! They told Matt that I would have ended up with a c-section anyway, as there was NO way I would have been able to push that out! I am glad that I do not have to recover from attempting to!

My little man is here and I can not be happier. I learned that my placenta had abrupted and that is why I was clotting and why he was in distress. I read up on it just a pinch and learned, apparently, that it is really dangerous and most people lose their babies in that process. I was glad that everything worked out in the timing it did. getting that epidural was a good choice at that time otherwise they would have had to put me under general anesthesia.

Silas is perfect in every way, and truly a wonderful baby. He cries when he needs something and stops as soon as we fix the problem.... He sleeps well and is eating well also. Matt is a wonderful father, and things come pretty naturally to him. He loves talking to his son, and is especially glad when Silas grabs onto his finger. Silas loves to move his hands a lot and likes holding onto something at all times, even if it is his other hand, or cheek, or nose- I think it comforts him :)

Sorry this was such a novel, but I wanted a way to share with people about our experience.