Back to work...

So yesterday was my first day back to work. I knew there wouldn't be much for me to do so I took some busywork with me. Now, I assume that most mothers suffer from some type of separation anxiety once they return to work. Almost every person that saw me immediately asked how I was doing being away from the baby. They looked at me strange when I said that I was fine. The next question to follow was something to the effect of, don't you miss the baby? How many times have you called to check on him? When I would reply that I was fine and that he was doing well with his father, they looked at me like something was wrong with me. I even had a coworker look at me surprised when he asked to see pictures of the baby and I told him that I didn't have any. Does this make me a bad mother? I mean, I have him as my screen saver on my cell, but at the time I thought he was asking to see physical pictures. I could see if I had my own space where I could put up family photos to bring a smile to my face during the day, but I don't. I told my mom that I was scared to put pictures on my desk for fear that I would return and either the photos would be laying there without the frame, or the pictures and the frame would turn up missing! Sounds crazy, but it is so true. I think that the fact that Donovan is being care for by trusted persons, I don't have to worry about if he's ok, or call a million times to check on him. I was a little nervous about Francis keeping him for the first time for the entire day, but considering Francis said they had a good day, I'm fine with that. Now, had Francis called me a million times in distress, I might have different sentiments....nonetheless, we are back to work...

Mommyhood

So I haven't had the same amount of time to post blogs as I thought I would. Well, let me rephrase that, I haven't felt like blogging, because if I get down time I'd rather sleep! LOL. My little man brings me an indefinite amount of joy, its unexplainable. I have an insane amount of patience with/for him, but not for the rest of the world, which, I'm working on. But what can I say. I can see how these days go by fast. For example, he can already hold his head up and his body (as if in a crawling position). It amazed Francis and myself. We were overwhelmed with joy when we saw him smile for the first time, and even more so when he smiled at us. He has even started to try to talk (cooing) and his personality is developing. His hair has gone from straight to curly and is starting to get lighter. He still has those funny looking feet and even looks like he has a tan. I always say that's momma's baby... and he is daddy's champ. Yes, motherhood has been good to me thus far. Sure, we have those nights where he keeps me up, but that's usually when we are dealing with gas issues. And yes, I'm learning little by little to do things like keep a bib on him so that he doesn't mess up his clothes, and time his feedings so that I am prepared when he gets hungry again. But learning is half the battle, and I think I'm a good student :)

12 hour marathon

Donovan decided that he would be fussy for 12 hours straight yesterday/today. Of course, he is sleeping like no other today. We were awake since about 4pm yesterday and did not get anything that resembeled a nap until a little after 4 am this morning. Of course, when we woke up this morning I called the pediatrician, because that's just ridiculous. My initial prognosis was correct, it was gas. My poor baby is plagued by gas, which in turn is plaguing his mother, because I have yet to get any sleep between going to the hospital, etc. Aww the joys of motherhood. I had such a bad headache yesterday that my eyes hurt. I couldn't get any sleep and neither could he. Let's hope for a better night tonight :)

Yup...definitely a Whopper, lol!

5 days old

So Donovan Samuel Lopez came into this world on May 18, 2009...weighing in at 9 lbs 7.7 oz and almost 21 inches long! Francis and I went in on that Sunday at approximately 8 pm... walked for 2 hours until I was 3-4 cm dilated, and I had him the following day at 5:43 p.m. I will spare you all the horrible details of my labor, and shorten it by saying that I pushed for three hours and then had a c-section (which I felt- medications didn't work). But yes...I have been unable to blog, because I have been recovering and sleeping when he sleeps. Now..the only reason I am putting up pictures is because he doesn't look all wrinkly like most newborns...nope, my boy is a whopper that looks like he's about a month old :) He is daddy's joy and mama's angel. We couldn't have asked for anything more. Stay tuned, as time permits I think I will journal this thing called motherhood. And boy what a journey it has been so far....

The time is near....

39weeks 3days
....Or at least it seems like it. Technically we have four more days until he is due, HOWEVER, I am starting to demonstrate signs of labor. Now, whether they are pre labor or false labor, I don't know. I did have a series of contractions for most of the day/evening yesterday, and today I woke up with "show". I am going to wait until I have contractions that are 5-7 minutes apart before I call the doctor, or at least that's what I'm going to try to do unless my water breaks. Which, as a quick fact, only about 10-15% of women have their water break as they go into labor...so all that stuff we see in movies is just for show. But back to the contractions...they aren't painful, just a tightening in my stomach and pressure in my pelvis...but definitely nothing to go screaming about. I am excited that the "show" I had today resembles the "show" I read about in my book - I'm talking about the bloody show that lets you know your body is dilating/effacing. I feel great though. I'm contemplating attending the dinner and a movie with my friends tonight, and my mom is on her way to take me to run a few errands. She doesn't want me driving and having contractions at the same time. Right now as we speak my body feels like it does when that time of the month comes, but nothing more. I am going to stick to my plan of trying to labor at home for as long as possible and then hopefully by the time I get to the hospital it will be time to push. We'll see how that all works out. Originally I said that it would be nice to have the baby on my grandmother's birthday, which is tomorrow - May 17th. I might have even mentioned this in a previous blog. We'll see what the Lord wills on this one. Oh, btw, I just had a contraction as I'm typing this...I dont' forsee the baby coming past the 20th...

No Go

Well...it's Monday, and I'm blogging, which means no baby. The most I got yesterday was a few contractions, which by the way, I didn't even know where contractions until Friday. I guess Baby Lopez is telling his mother that he's gonna come when he wants to come, and no time sooner. Who knows...there are a few things that I need to get done around the house, but that notion of anxiety is starting to take over. One of my co-workers did say today that she would pray that I would at least "drop" this week...she says that I look like I'm 8 months high! I was like..hey, he is due next Wednesday, so who knows if I'll drop..plus, I may even go past my due date since most first time moms do. And that's the thing...I don't want to go past my due date. I know patience is a virtue, but anyone that knows me, knows I am not very patient. In this case I have no control over the situation so I will just have to wait. I've tried all of the old wives tales solutions to helping him come on out and still nothing. Oh well...

And yes...random strangers on the street are still telling me how I look like I'm ready to pop, how I'm due any second, not day, but any second now, and how I look like I'm having twins...even when I say there's only one in there, they ask me if I'm sure, as if I haven't had a million ultrasounds that confirm there is only one in there. I tell ya...

The Final Stretch

The final stretch it is....as of today, I am 38 weeks pregnant. I officially have a right foot that swells up often...I cannot wear my wedding band because my hands swell throughout the day, and I am officially tired. And even though I get winded easily, I am going through that nesting period, so I'm still moving around like crazy. I went to a breastfeeding meeting yesterday and was surrounded by women popping out their boobs to feed kids that ranged from 3 months to 3 years...now, don't get me wrong, and I hope not to offend anyone, but if the baby can walk and talk and wipe themselves in the bathroom, they don't need to be feeding off the nipple! I think a good year of breastfeeding should be good...but not three or more! That's just me, but we'll see.

I am also experiencing increased pelvic pressure, which I think is great, cause maybe that means he's trying to make his way out :) I am a little nervous that 50% of first time moms don't deliver until their 41st week. Which is why I called one of my girlfriends and asked what she did in delivering early. She said she did lunges and squatting for like four days before she went into labor, and she never dropped. Which is great news for me, because I haven't started dropping either. However, this whole week I've gone to bed with this notion that I am going to get up in the middle of the night and feel some contractions. So far, nothing, but I think there's hope. I guess I'm just a little nervous about pushing out a baby that the doctors say already weighs over eight pounds. That's alot of weight to come out of a small place! And as I've said before, I DO NOT want a C-section.

On a brighter note, his nursery is coming together. I had said that I wasn't going to worry about doing much to it, but we were so blessed at the baby shower that I got in the mood to decorate. So far, I must say, it looks just as adorable as can be. Francis even likes how its turning out. Too bad everything probably won't be done before the baby makes his appearance. I'm going to exercise the power of the tongue and say that Baby Lopez will be here within the next week...I'll even go so far as to say that he will be a mother's day baby. Now if I'm blogging on May 11th, then you know nothing's changed, lol.