Survey -- 11 weeks tomorrow

How far along? 10 weeks, 6 days

How big is baby? Size of a lime, 1.2 inches

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  Not sure -- nothing as of my last appointment.

Next Appointment:  Next Saturday

Maternity Clothes:  I need to bust them out.  Wore a couple shirts already, but the work pants are getting tight.   You get bigger faster with Twig #2.

Sleep:  Early to bed, wake up to pee at 10:30, 12, 2, 4, 5, ....you get the picture

Best Moment This Week:  Not throwing up daily.

Movement:  None really

Food Cravings: Grilled cheese

Planning/Preparation:  Nothing yet really.

Belly Button In/Out:  In

Gender: Not sure yet

What I Miss:  Nothing really.

What I'm Looking Forward To:   Feeling Twig KICK!
Contractions: Nope

Milestones? Nothing yet!

So one year ago today...

I came home from the hospital.   For those of you pregnant ladies or future pregnant ladies, a couple tips on the day you come home from the hospital.

First, do not,  under any circumstance, allow people to be at your house less than two hours after you get there.  TELL YOUR HUSBAND THIS.   My husband did not realize that the last thing I wanted to do when I got home was have people there.   But I didn't tell him so lo and behold, MIL and SIL and nephew show up within minutes after us arriving home.  I wanted to shower.   Hang out with my son and husband in our home.  Nope.  I did insist my MIL bring lunch, but still.  TELL YOUR HUSBAND BEFORE LEAVING THE HOSPITAL THAT NO ONE CAN COME OVER TILL LATER.

Second, while you are in the hospital, have your husband go get the following:

• Tucks Pads
• The largest size ALWAYS pads, the next smallest, and the next smallest.
• Any snack that you think you will enjoy (I was hooked on graham crackers).
• The softest toilet paper he can find (cashmere, if they make it).
• Your favorite beverage
• If your baby takes a pacifier, make him go buy 5-6 of the pacifiers the hospital gives, and have them in every room in your house, the car, and your purse.

He might have to suck it up.  Be DESCRIPTIVE when it comes to the pads.  Tell him EXACTLY what is on the package, what colors it is, etc.  Don't leave anything out or he will undoubtedly come home with Depends.

Third, if someone asks what you need, tell them food.  My MIL made us three meals and it was fantastic.  John just had to heat it up.   If 10 people ask you what you need, and they each make you one dish, you are set for a week.  Trust me.

Fourth, and this is the big one.  If you are breastfeeding, and someone is visiting DO NOT get up and go to another room.  This is YOUR home, this is YOUR child, and you need to feed your baby where it works for you.  If they don't like it, THEY can go in a different room.

Happy 1st Birthday PJ!! (Yesterday)

My little guy turned one yesterday.   My happiness.  I cannot even believe it.   We celebrated by taking him to the Children's museum, where he had a blast.   Then we went to Toys R Us and got him a sandbox, a water table and a couple other toys.

After reflecting on the first year of my son's life, and my first year as a mother, I learned a lot of things.  I made a lot of mistakes, but I think all in all, I did pretty good.  A few things I learned.

It's really not that hard to go on a little sleep.  Yes, you are tired.  But when your baby needs you, you have the strength of 100 women.

There is nothing in the world more amazing than the first time your child smiles at you.

And then the first time they recognize you.

And then the first time they reach for you.

And then the first time they hug you.

The amount of love you feel the moment your child is born is undescribable.  Only other parents will understand.  I look at PJ now, and think, wow, and I thought I loved you then. 

There is nothing I wouldn't do, nothing I wouldn't give up, nothing I wouldn't sacrifice for the happiness and well being of my child.  

I  know it's cliche, I know people say it all the time.  But time just goes by so quickly once you have children.  Cherish every minute with your kids.   Cherish every minute with your husband.   You have created a life and you need to nourish it, care for it, and teach that life to be the best person they can be.

And in 20 years, you'll look back and say, I thought I loved you then.

"To have a child is to forever have a piece of your heart walking around outside your body."

So breastfeeding is over.

PJ went all day yesterday with no boob -- none before bed, none in the middle of the night, nada.   I am happy that now, such as last night when he woke up at 11, that John can calm him and put him back to bed.  But it's bittersweet.  I'm gonna miss that "me & PJ" time we always had, but I know I'll make up for it in other ways.

Of course being an emotional hormonal wreck, after he went to sleep without the boob, I said to John, "Our little guy doesn't need me anymore."  To which, of course, John replied, "OF COURSE he does!! He'll always need his mommy."  Yes, yes he will.   And I am a pretty kick ass mommy, so there you go.

One year ago today was my last day of work.  This of course, was unknown to me at the time.  Since my happiness decided to come 16 days early.   I cannot believe PJ is going to be one year old on Monday.  It is really amazing.  He's going to be walking real soon, he's so vocal, I just love him so much.  Being a mom is by far the best and most amazing thing that can happen to you.  Although I respect the people who don't want children, I cannot understand it.

A lot of bad things have happened in my life, especially in the past couple years.  But PJ makes up for ALL OF IT.   There is nothing a smile from him can't cure.

I really need to put up some pics.

The problem is I usually update my blog at work, and my pics are at home.   Oh well.  I'll get to it some day!  If you're reading this though, you're probably my FB friend, so you can see them there, dammit!

I think I have a little bit of a belly, it's definitely protruding more than before and definitely sooner than with PJ.  I'll have John take a pic tonight and I will POST IT.  Hahaha.  Still nauseous, and dry heaving, which is just really, such a great time.  I think I'll be switching to full on maternity close in a few weeks.   Which is fine with me, because really, maternity clothes are like pajamas.  And they are pretty cute nowadays, so I really have no issues with it whatesoever.  I am also peeing like crazy which is just so much fun.   Really.  You should try it.

My happiness turns ONE year old a week from today.  I can't even begin to wrap my head around that.   It's just amazing how much joy, happiness and fun he has brought into our lives.  I honestly think that with everything that has happened in the past year or so I would not be able to have gotten through without that smiling face and that adorable laugh to cheer me up.   No matter what happens, a smile from PJ makes me feel better, no matter what went on. 

It's amazing how different things were a year ago.  A year ago, my mom could walk on her own.  She was working.  She could utilize her left hand at least.   She was able to get dressed, go to the bathroom, do things for herself.  Now she can't even stand up from a sitting position.    She'll never be able to pick up PJ or anything, and that still is hard for me.

Enough about that.  This is a happy post.

1st prenatal appointment

I had my first prenatal appointment yesterday.  After going through pages and pages of paperwork (no, I don't smoke, yes I drink occasionally, no not right now), I stripped down to my birthday suit and donned the ever so stylish pink paper gown and hopped up on the table.

I gained two pounds (I think, based on the last time I weighed myself -- which was a couple months ago), had my boobies checked out, had my uterus checked out, gave some blood.  You know the usual 1st prenatal checkup.  Everything looks good.   Get to go back on April 3and we will hear the heartbeat, which is always good times.

PJ is so close to walking on his own.   Of course he lets go to stand and gets scared and falls forward, but we are working on it! 

PJ's taking steps!

Holding on to the table, or whatever it might be, but those little legs are moving!! Once he stops being scared of letting go, I think he'll be able to walk on his own!  He also got his first haircut Saturday, and he was a very good boy.  He looks so cute with his new haircut.   He's also been quite funny and active the past few days.   I can't believe he's turning 1 in just two weeks.

Still feeling super nauseous.  I am really hoping it goes away once the second trimester hits, but that is still 5 weeks away.   It's all worth it, but man.

On the bright side, I discovered laughing cow cheese.  UM YUM.