Owen 4 months

Our sweet boy is 4 months old now!!!!  He has gotten so long and I think he is going to be tall like his daddy.  He is measuring at 26 inches long and is in the 88th percentile.  Whoa!  He is weighing in at 14 lbs. 12 oz. and is just growing so fast.  Our pediatrician said he is meeting all of his developmental milestones great and that he is such a happy baby!

This month he learned to roll over from his stomach to his back and from his back to his side.  When he is on his tummy, he pushes up as high as he can go and starts to look around.  He is also starting to try to move his knees in preparation for crawling. 

He started giggling just this week!  That is the sweetest sound in the whole world.  His first 3 months of life he would smile, but he was also very serious.  Now, any time he sees me, his daddy, or any other familiar face, not only will he smile, but he will giggle or start talking to them!  He loves to blow bubbles and will have a whole conversation with you for as long as you will listen.

He loves to stare at his bunny that sings "Jesus Loves Me" and will even talk to it sometimes.  I tell him that the bunny is his best friend.  He is starting to reach for things and holds rattles now (although he doesn't know he is holding them yet.)  He loves his toy cow in his carseat and will stare at it and talk to it forever in the car.  He also still loves to stare at himself in the mirror.  I think he knows that he is the cutest baby in the world. 

He is sleeping 10-12 hours at night and takes 3 naps a day.  He is down to 5-6 feedings a day now.  The pediatrician told us we could start him on cereal anytime within the next two months.  He still seems pretty satisfied with breast milk, so we might wait for him to start acting hungrier. 

Owen 3 months

Owen is 3 months old now.  Wow where does the time go?  He weighs somewhere around 13 pounds now (we have only weighed him on our scale).  He did not get any shots this month, but goes back at 4 months for his next round of them.  :-(  He is smiling a lot more now, loves to follow people with his eyes, and coos really loud!  He is kicking his legs and flailing his arms all over the place and turns his head from side to side.  He loves to watch fans, loves his play gym, and loves staring and observing different things.  Owen has figured out his hands this month and loves to stick them in his mouth and stare at them.  He has just begun grasping onto rattles, but doesn't realize he is the one shaking it yet.  When on his tummy, he will try to kick his leg behind his back, but isn't rolling over yet, although I know this will happen really soon!  He also is doing push ups and lifting his head up while on his belly.  When we hold him, he holds his head up for a long time!  He is such an easy going baby and we love him so, so, so much!  It is hard to imagine ever not having him in our lives. 

Owen 2 months

Owen is growing so fast!!!  He had his 2 month appointment and shots on Tuesday.  He weighed in at 10 pounds, 12 ounces and 22 inches long.  So, he has gained quite a bit of weight and length!  He was such a brave boy and only cried for a second. 

He was given the regular shots as well as oral medication, which is an anti diarrhea medicine.  The pediatrician also told us to start him on vitamins with iron.  We think the combination of the shots and vitamins gave him really bad stomach issues.  So, we will try the vitamins again in a couple of days and see if they settle better in his little tummy.

Grant and I are starting a routine with little man.  I have gotten the advice by several people and books to feed, play, then sleep.  He has a pretty regular routine where he wakes up between 4-5am and eats, then goes back to sleep until 7 or 8 and eats again.  Then, he wakes up and has tummy/back/swing time for a while.  Then, he usually falls asleep for his first nap.  After his nap, he eats, then is up a little longer.  Around lunch time, he falls asleep again, then eats, then he wakes up for a couple more hours.  He takes another nap around dinner time, then eats, then plays.  Then, he might squeeze another nap in early evening, but sometimes he doesn't.  We start his bedtime routine at 8 that includes rocking, story, lullaby CD, feeding, bath (every couple of days).  I think he is really getting used to the routine and knows that when we go into his room where it is quiet and dark, this signals bedtime.  We lay him down when he is almost asleep, but isn't fully asleep yet.  This way, he learns to put himself to sleep and isn't relying on us to get him fully asleep.  I usually go in around 10 to sneak in another feeding and he usually stays asleep during it.  This way, it tops him off and he sleeps longer stretches. 

He is almost down to 6-7 feedings and 2 naps a day.  When he is at this point, we plan to adjust the routine and to stay consistent with his nap times.  We are big believers in routines and consistency, but also know that flexibility is a must too. 

He is such a sweet and happy baby with such a good temperament.  He really is very laid back and loves to be talked to and held.  His favorite games right now include talking to himself in the mirror, laying on his back and talking to anything around him that will listen, and watching mommy and daddy talk to him.  We ordered him a play gym that should be here soon.  I am excited to see him stare at the hanging animals, because he loves to stare at the hanging animals on his bouncer. 

We love him and can't wait to update you on his milestones to come!

Owen-first few weeks

You have been such a joy to our lives so far!  You are 3 1/2 weeks old and time has already flown by way too fast!  You are an easy going baby who usually only cries during diaper changes (you hate being undressed) or when you're gassy.   You love being held and talked to and this past week you have started talking back by cooing.  You are focusing on faces and will turn your head to try and see who is talking.  You are starting to smile in your sleep and make the funniest facial expressions.  We love you our little Owen Gabriel.  You are such a sweetie pie!

Owen Birth Story

On March 3rd, 2010, we had our weekly doctors appointment.  Daddy went to almost every appointment with mommy, but couldn't make this one because he had to work.  At the appointment, the doctor let mommy know that she was dilated to a 1 and 60% effaced.  I was frustrated because I hadn't made any progress since the week before.  The doctor had been telling me how low you were, and at this appointment you were still low.  So, I left this appointment thinking that I still had a couple of weeks to prepare for you arrival and that I still had time to finish up last minute details.

On March 4th, 2010, I was 36 weeks and 6 days pregnant.  I got up to get ready for work just like any other day.  I taught all day, doing dances with the students and walking up and down the hallways.  At 3:15, I walked out the door on my way to my car and started to feel something dripping out of me.  I had just gone to the restroom and thought that I somehow hadn't gotten all of my pee out.  I realized when I got outside that I hadn't parked where I usually do because I had gotten sonic for lunch, so I began my trek to walk around the outside of the school to the other parking lot where I had parked.  While I was walking, the wetness continued coming out.  When I got in my car, I realized that this must be my water breaking!  So, I immediately called Grant and let him know.  He was just as shocked as I was and I let him know that I was going to call the hospital and to meet me there.  I called the hospital and told them that I think my water broke and they told me to come straight there.  Your daddy and I then called and texted every family member and close friend to let them know that you were on your way!  Everyone was so excited and couldn't believe that you had decided to make your entrance 3 weeks early!!!! 

I got to the hospital at about 3:40 and they wheeled me up to the labor/delivery floor.  I got changed into my robe and they went ahead and put me in a labor room, since I didn't need to be examined to make sure I was really in labor because your mommy left a puddle.  Then, your daddy showed up and that is when the nurses started hooking you and I up to all of the machines. The nurses were super nice and helpful in getting me situated.   After three attempts, the IV finally got put into my arm.  The nurse staff told me that I couldn't get an epidural until I had gone through a bag and a half of IV fluid.  I asked who the doctor on call was, and guess what, it was Dr. Sorensen, mommy's doctor!!!  She informed the nurses to start pitocin on mommy because although my water had broke, I was still not dilated very much.  So, at about 4:45, they checked me and I was dilated to a 3.  I was starting to feel contractions at this point, and they weren't too bad at this point.  Luckily I remembered how to breathe to get through contractions in my labor class.  I'm so glad I paid attention!  Your daddy kept calling everyone at this point, and mommy was texting her family too!  Your maw maw and paw paw, mimi, and aunt janna and uncle justin all headed to the hospital as soon as they heard!  At about 6:30, they checked me again and I was at a 5!  At this point, I was starting to really feel the contractions and they were about 30 seconds apart.  The anesthesiologist got to the hospital at around 7:30 and gave mommy an epidural.  I am so glad that they let daddy stay in the room with me because it was so nice to have his support.  After the epidural, I was able to relax but my legs got really shaky.  The nurses told me that it was a reaction to the drugs and that is normal.  I had been having shaky legs and had been cold, but after the epidural it got a lot more intense.  I started to take a little nap, because I thought I still had a while until it was time to push.  The nurse came to check on me and to see how I was doing at around 9.  I asked her if she could check me and she said she would but that it probably wasn't necessary at that point because it hadn't been that long since the last check.  She checked me and I was already a 9 1/2!  So, that means only 1/2 a centimeter until it was time to push!  Your daddy had gone to the waiting room to talk to family and I called him and told him he needed to come back.  Everyone was surprised at how far I had progressed and how quickly!  At around 9:30, I started pushing.  It took several pushed to get you out because when you were finally born, your hand was by your face.  You always liked to have that hand in front of your face at your ultrasounds so that didn't surprise me at all.  You were born at 10:27pm at 6 pounds 10 ounces and 20 inches long.  You were amazingly adorable and mommy and daddy loved you instantly.  We couldn't believe you were ours.

We stayed at the hospital until Saturday, March 6th.  You got shots and blood drawn, and we learned how to feed you and to change your diaper.  You were already such a good sleeper, but we had to help you eat.  You didn't want to latch on so mommy and daddy were taught by the nurses to put a pacifier in your mouth with a syringe of pumped colostrum.  We only pumped the colostrum into your mouth when you would suck on the pacifier.  This way, you learned how to suck when you were latched on to the breast.  We couldn't wait to bring you home and when we did, it just felt so right to have you here sweet little man!

Owen Pregnancy

I fell off the band wagon with updating this blog throughout my pregnancy, so we will do a recap of the whole thing. 

During the first trimester, I didn't throw up at all.  The only way I knew I was pregnant is because my boobs started hurting and I started to feel more tired than normal.  I didn't feel you move inside of me yet baby boy, but I knew you were there. I craved Taco Bell all of the time!  I think your daddy got sick of eating this, but he did it for me.  We had an ultrasound every four weeks during this trimester to make sure everything was ok, and you were growing great!  Every time we saw that screen, we were in total amazement that you were our child growing in there!

When the second trimester hit, I felt like I had more energy and baby boy, you started to make my belly grow more.  We found out at 15 weeks that you were a boy!  You were not very bashful and had your legs seperated and that is when we saw your "third leg".  After wearing my regular pants and stretching out the zipper part with a rubberband for as long as I could, I had to start wearing maternity pants. 

The third trimester started, and mommy's calves started hurting really bad.  Your maw maw Joanne said she had also had calf pain in her pregnancies, so I think I got that from her.  I also had lower back and foot pain.  Your daddy was so sweet to massage me as much as I needed so I could feel better.  My belly started getting huge and I started to feel like I couldn't wear any pants comfortably anymore.  I always wanted reeses peanut butter cups and puffy cheetos.  Mmm...

Also during the third trimester, I started getting nervous.  Reality started hitting that I was going to be a mommy and I had never done this before.  Your daddy was very calm, cool, and collected as usual and this was very helpful to your mommy.  We took a breastfeeding, CPR/infant safety, labor/delivery, and newborn classes to prepare for your arrival.  We also read books, online articles, spent a lot of time in prayer, and asked a million questions before you were born so we could make sure we could prepare ourselves to be the best parents we could be.  We knew we wouldn't know how to do everything, but we wanted to feel as prepared as possible. 

I felt so privileged as your mommy to carry you in my belly.  I am still in awe that you grew inside of me and we both love you very much!

Owen-Finding out we were pregnant!

So, we found out on Saturday, July 25th that we are pregnant! We took a pregnancy test that morning, and much to both of our surprise, the test was positive! God is so good! I am 13.5 weeks along and we are due on March 26th!
Grant and I have been praying and trusting God so much these last few months. I have had doctors tell me that I would have a difficult time getting pregnant. So, instead of trusting them, I trusted God. I have had irregular periods, so therefore I never even knew if I ovulated. Well, God had a plan, and he blessed us with a child! There is so much to do between now and then but I know that we will get everything organized and ready with no problems.
Baby Peresta, mommy and daddy are so excited to meet you. I can't wait to feel you move in mommy's belly!