Thursday, December 17, 2015

Merry Christmas

It's the most wonderful time of the year!  My heart is exploding with fulfillment when I get to hold my boys each night with Eddie by my side.  I have a rewarding job for a wonderful, growing company.  I have a supportive family who makes all of this possible.  I feel so blessed and fortunate. This past year has truly been a great one. 

Elliott's 19 Week Sonogram



Anthony's 1st Haircut


Celebrating with my SIL in NYC
Celebrating at Christina and Mike's Wedding


Anthony's 1st Birthday Celebration

With the surprise of Elliott, I'd spend most of the year pregnant.  Eddie and I had our first weekend get-away away from Anthony Valentines' weekend to spend it with friends for a wedding in Charleston, SC.  Then Anthony and I (with Elliott in tow) traveled to Chicago twice, once by plane which I'm sure he won't have a memory of but I have pics to show him as he grows older.  We celebrated the marriage of Christina & Mike.  Anthony had his first birthday and shortly after that learned to walk, use a fork and spoon and go down a slide by himself.  His first word was "more"!  Mama and Dada are coming in second....

We celebrated the birth of Elliott in September.  Halloween was new and Anthony got to one neighbors house to trick or treat and then was bored with it, but his Halloween costume was a tradition in the making....Homemade!!! 

Thanksgiving was spent with Grandpa Cas and Grammy Briggs came to town.  Christmas this year will be celebrated with Uncle Mike, Aunt Christina and Grandma and Grandpa Cas.  I'm so excited to start traditions with my boys.  This will be the second year we will have the feast of the 7 fishes on Christmas Eve.

I did not have the time to create Christmas cards this year, so from our home to yours, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!



Anthony with Mama



Daddy & Anthony

Anthony
Elliott

FAMILY!!!
My love


Anthony Halloween 2015
Elliott's 1st Halloween
Meeting Santa for the first time


 
 MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Elliott's Birth Story - 40 Weeks & Beyond

How far along? 40 Weeks and 3 months Postpartum.

Total weight gain/loss: I gained a total of 23 lbs during pregnancy.  1 Week after birth I was down 17 lbs of those 23.  4 Weeks postpartum I am down 18 lbs.
Maternity clothes? I'm still wearing maternity jeans because they are comfy, but I can get into most of my pre-pregnancy things.
Stretch marks? No stretch marks!  But my belly button is still weirdly misshapen.
Sleep: Elliott so far has been a great sleeper.  From birth he has given me 3 1/2 - 6 hour stretches at night between feedings.   More than Anthony which I thought Anthony was really good as a newborn.  Anthony was predictable.  He was every two hours...Elliott goes for longer stretches so I really feel well rested.  He now only wakes once to eat at night.

Miss Anything? I don't miss being pregnant, but it's all very surreal that within a day, boom, it's over.  I had been longing for so many weeks to go into labor and now...no longer pregnant, I can see those tiny feet  that were kicking my ribs, the tiny hands or fists that were punching my bladder. 

Food cravings: I am consuming a large amount of food post birth, but no true cravings.  It's true what they say about breastfeeding burning a ton of calories.  I'm eating a lot, and losing weight which is AWESOME! But have unfortunately hit a plateau on the weight loss.  Time to start crossfit again! 
Anything making you queasy or sick: No I've been feeling really great, other than pangs of extreme thirst while breastfeeding again like I did with Anthony.  While he drinks, I drink.

Special things I'm focusing on: Eating healthy, fueling my body for both myself, my milk production and feeding Elliott as healthy as possible through my daily choices.  I've been eager to work out, and started a workout regimen back in October, but I think I pushed my self too hard too soon, because I started bleeding again.  Once I cut back the workouts, it stopped again.  Oopsie.  So I'm slowly starting up again.

Belly Button in or out? Out.  BOO!  Go back in!!  It's like a weird misshapen belly button now...what the heck!!?

Wedding rings on or off? The wedding rings this time around I didn't start wearing until almost 6 weeks after Elliott's birth.  Might have been some water retention or just baby weight.
Happy or Moody most of the time:  I had some days of  the "baby blues" following Elliott's birth around day 5 postpartum this time.  The placenta encapsulator I hired, once again had come to the rescue with that.  Within an hour after taking placenta pills I started feeling myself again.  Having a baby is very life changing...what you used to do daily changes...and that my friend, made me wacky for a bit.  Having Anthony and Elliott alone was a new challenge that even know I knew it was coming, you can't plan for it...I didn't know what to expect, so those pills kept my hormones in check when I needed it the most learning how to care for both of them.  Whether eating my placenta is a placebo effect or not...it worked for me.   
 Elliott Briggs's - Birth Story

This is the birth story how I remember it...

9.5.2015 ~ 11:30pm

I woke up with a sharp quick contraction and the urge to go the bathroom, as I stood up, I heard Anthony cry out, and I was already standing but out of routine Eddie jumped up out of bed and went to Anthony to give him his pacifier and came back to bed.  I went to the bathroom and came back and laid back in bed, but I had a feeling that that first contraction would be followed by another one very soon.  I laid there for about 15 minutes and the urge to go the bathroom came again so I went to go, but nothing would come out.  Then I had another contraction.  I went back to my bedside table and grabbed my phone, downloaded a contraction timer and waited for the next one.  Not even 5 minutes went by and another contraction came.  Contractions had started and they lasted anywhere from 20-30 seconds long.  By 12:30 Eddie had to deal with Anthony losing the pacifier again and when he came back to the bedroom I told him, "I think we need to call your parents to come over .... I'm going to need to go the hospital very soon."  He questioned my contraction timing and by then they were 2-3 minutes apart lasting 45 seconds or longer.  I ran a warm bath and got in while he phoned his parents. 

My parents were visiting at the time, so he went down the hall to wake up my mom to let her know what was going on.  My Dad chose to stay behind with Grandpa Cas to hang back with Anthony.  Grandma and Grandpa Cas came over with Aunt Christina, for she was visiting as well.  Elliott's due date was September 4th, so everyone had anticipated his arrival a little early but 1 day late and it was go time.  By 1:15am Eddie and I were on our way to the hospital with the Grandmas' and Aunt Christina following closely behind us to meet us there.

I was in a lot of pain.  Riding in a car during contractions is terrible.  Eddie and I arrived at the hospital around 2:30am.  We didn't go to the ER.  Oh no.... I walked.  I walked the looooooong corridor during 4 contractions, stopped and breathed during each of those contractions, and stopped at the bathroom to pee as well until we reached the elevators to go to the labor and delivery floor. 

9.6.2015 ~ 2:45am - Registration

I don't know whose idea it was to make a woman in labor answer a bunch of stupid insurance questions and sign papers during labor....But I'd like to hit him.  I'm pretty sure it was a him.  Eddie did most of the talking, my contractions felt like they were 1 minute apart, but by this point, I stopped looking at the timer.  By 3 am they brought us back to check me to see how far dilated I was.  I had to go the bathroom again.  I had two contractions in the bathroom in the 5 minutes or less that I was in there.  

They made me get on the bed (which I hated).  Having contractions laying down I found, also very painful.  The doctor or midwife maybe I guess it was, came in and checked me.  8 1/2 cm dilated.  WHOA.  They asked me if I wanted a wheel chair to go down the hall to the delivery room.  "Ummmmm, no I'll walk."  I think the nurses eyes bugged out when I said that...then the other nurse in there was like, "Really we can even just wheel you down on this bed, you don't have to get up."  So this tid bit of walking or being wheeled down to the delivery room I could not remember how it played out.  I had to ask Eddie, what was the verdict!?  How did I get to the delivery room?  He said I tried walking and basically got in a few steps and then, "yeah no, wheel me down on the bed, but I'm getting off the bed once I get in the delivery room."  The nurses felt better about this decision.  Once we went down, literally like three doors down the hall, a flood of nurses came in followed by my Mom, Eddie's Mom and Aunt Christina.  There were so many nurses in the delivery room, I think Jackie made a comment to the effects, "wow, it's a party in here!  It's a birthday party!!"

9.6.2015 ` 3:30 - Labor and Delivery

I chose to go medication free again, but the hospital still insisted on putting a heplock in my arm "just in case".  This woman assigned to getting that in my arm had her hands full with me.  My contractions were so close, I couldn't sit still on a bed long enough for her to complete the task.  She must have jabbed me like 4 times and I finally yelled at her to just leave it out, "I don't need it!"  But of course, she had to put it in.  I asked for the lights to be dimmed  but with all the commotion of all the other nurses, someone did hear me about the lights and turned them down and then the girl really couldn't see what she was doing.  She did finally get the heplock in, but it was painful. 

The contractions were long and hard, I went from standing on the side of the bed to sitting on an exercise ball like I did with Anthony.  I was doing a lot of moaning to block out any discussions going on in the room.  Eddie, my Mom and Jackie were all taking turns with hip squeezes on me, or holding my hand.  Aunt Christina was fixing my hair when it kept falling in my face.  Everyone had a part.  My legs became very, very tired and I couldn't stand anymore.  I got on the bed, very uncomfortably and went through what seemed like hours of contractions and felt like nothing was progressing.  I faced backwards on the bed with my knees in the mattress.  I kept asking the nurse, "Am I doing something wrong?"  Why isn't he moving down.  I remember her saying, "you're not doing anything wrong, you're over 8 1/2 cm dilated and not taking any medication, I'd say you're doing pretty fantastic!"  Even though that was a compliment, at the time it didn't make me feel any better.  So I convinced myself I needed to stand again, Gravity, gravity, gravity was my mantra, I needed to stand for him to get closer.  So I stood again, leaning on the bed.  There were no breaks in contractions at this point and I had doubts.  "I can't do it this time.   It hurts too bad, he's not coming down."  Eddie kept telling me I can do it, "you did it with Anthony and you're doing it now."  I remember thinking, it's different this time, it hurts so much more!  I got on the bed again, I was so tired and exhausted.  My legs were trembling.  I still had not seen my doctor.  The resident  came in to check me.  I told her I was afraid to know where I was at.  She told me "well, let me check so we can be better prepared for you and the baby."  I was 9 1/2 cm.  She said, I could break your water and things will progress quicker.  I asked her if it would hurt.  I was initially so against breaking my water but the exhaustion at this point I was afraid I wouldn't have any strength to push him out.  She told me, it wouldn't hurt any more than the amount of pain I was already in, but the delivery would go much quicker.  So I agreed.  Eddie held my hand and my Mom and Jackie were on the bedsides too.    She broke my water and I was anticipating the moment of euphoria  after my water broke with Anthony where all the pain disappeared for a few minutes.  But this time that didn't happen.  My waters trickled out, then a huge burst of water gushed out and boy did I have the urge push!  The resident told me to push and I did.  "Good" everyone shouted.  But then the pushing urge remained, it didn't stop even though I wasn't physically pushing anymore, and the resident yelled, "stop pushing, where's the Doctor?!!!" I yelled back, "I'm not pushing, he's coming out!!! I can't stop him!"  I started rolling over to Eddie, I felt so scared and it hurt, I wanted to close my legs together and roll on my side to stop it all, but the nurses moved everyone away, pushed my legs back to my ears and I just screamed, I felt like I was being split in two and I just stared in Jackie's eyes.  She remained up at the head of the bed and continue to talk to me.  I can't remember what she was saying to me but I just focused in on her eyes until Elliott was out which was a matter of seconds.  Very slow moving seconds... 

9.6.2015 5:12am  Elliott was born

The doctor walked in, the Resident had panicked because the doctor didn't make it in for Elliott's birth.  She cut the umbilical cord, which Eddie was suppose to do.  I was very sad for Eddie to not have that initial bonding moment with his second son.  I couldn't believe he was out, he was crying, I could hear him, but I couldn't see him, and they didn't bring him to me, and I needed to know that he was ok.  "Is he OK??" Yes they are just cleaning out some fluid that he swallowed.  A few minutes later they brought him over to me.  He was already in a blanket.  I was again sad that I didn't have that initial skin to skin bond immediately following birth.  Then I heard the doctor say, "No, no tears."  I said, "What?  I didn't tear???"  She repeated, "No, no tears!"  I couldn't believe it!  I was so happy, after what I had just felt, I imagined I tore worse than with Anthony.

After some clean up, my support group (aunt Christina, mom and Jackie) all went home leaving Eddie and I to bond with our new little boy.  He was so skinny!   Compared to Anthony, anyway...but that's all we had to go by.  We needed to figure out a name for this little guy.  It didn't take us too long because we had toyed with the ideas of several possibilities and Elliott stuck perfectly to this little man.

It amazes me how time changes things so quickly.....



And just like that I'm a mother of two.
 
 




Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Dear Anthony

 
Dear Anthony,
Everyone says how quickly the first year flies by and, boy, are they right.  You've changed so much in just one year.


   


12 Months






When you came into this world at 1:09 PM on Tuesday, June 24th, I was so excited to meet you, yet in such shock that you were actually in my arms and no longer in my belly.  The happiness I felt to meet you face to face was indescribable.  You looked up at my wailing and I remember saying to you, "Don't cry baby, I'm your Mommy, everything is going to be alright."  You didn't have a name yet...Daddy and I couldn't decide what to call you! 


You were incredibly perfect and my heart practically exploded when I saw your Daddy follow you over to the table where the doctor's checked you over and he reached his hand out to you and you grabbed onto his finger. I am so fortunate to have had Kristin there to capture our first moments as a family on camera.


You've grown so quickly and everyday I catch myself staring at you in amazement that you came from me...and now...how smart you are and how quickly you catch on to things!  You simply amaze me everyday!  You've started repeating sounds, mostly laughters which is so funny, but you also imitate talking on the telephone whether it be with your arm up to your ear or with your fake cell phone.  You shake your head back and forth and tell us "no" however, you never nod yes.  You keep me and Daddy on our toes because you're so curious and eager to explore you're into everything, and quick at that!  You've taken steps on your own, but you're not quite walking yet, but we think you will be very soon. 

Over the past year you've accumulated a lot of nicknames.  Stinker, Monkey, Tony 1 sock, Tony 1 tooth which recently has changed to Tony 2 tooths!  I imagine this trend will continue with your happy personality and silly demeanor.

It's been a challenging year with so many changes, not just for me and your Daddy, but for your grandparents and Aunts and Uncles, too.  You mean the world to them, just as much as you do to me and Daddy.  You've touched so many lives in such a short time.  We all love you so very much. 

Soon your little brother will be joining us and I'm so happy that you will be there to help lead the way for him.  I hope you two will be the best of friends.

 
 
I'm so blessed and thankful to be your Mommy and look forward to the next year ahead with all it's new adventures for us.


Newborn
1 Month old

2 Months old
3 months old
 


4 months old



5 months old
 
6 months old
Anthony, Mommy and Daddy love you very much.  Happy birthday, little stinker!
 
Love,
Mommy

7 months old




8 months old


9 months old


10 months old


11 months old
 

Friday, June 5, 2015

27 Weeks - Baby C2

Just a quick update!

Total weight gain/loss: Still18 lbs.  I feel huge.  And uncomfortable.

27 Weeks Baby C 2


27 Weeks Baby C 2


27 Weeks pregnant with Anthony

Stretch marks? None!

Sleep:  I've been sleeping good, but getting up to go to the bathroom my hips pop and my belly aches when I get out of bed.  Then it takes me a second to actually move when I get on my feet.  I feel sore all the time.




Miss Anything?  I miss feeling comfortable in my skin.  Ha!


Movement: Lot's of movement.  He's been getting stuck in my ribs on my right side, so uncomfortable, I try to bribe him with cookies to move, but that doesn't always work.  But he does like his desserts.  



Food cravings: Desserts.  But it's time to clean up my diet.  Time to prep for the marathon of birth only 13ish weeks away.
 
Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nope, no more nausea.

Special things I'm focusing on:  Drinking more water!!! Eating healthy!


Labor Signs: No contractions or Braxton hicks, but a little cramping.  I have a lot of pressure every now and then really low like I did the last month of being pregnant with Anthony.


Wedding rings on or off? Still On!
 
Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy and excited for the future.

Looking forward to:   Anthony's birthday celebration is quickly approaching!  I can't believe he's going to be 1 years old!!

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

24 Weeks - Baby C2

Hey everyone!  Happy Spring, almost summer!  WOO HOO!!  I can't believe I'm in my third trimester, can you?  This pregnancy is going by so quickly.  Anthony definitely keeps my mind off of it and we've had a lot going on this spring to fill in the rest of my time to think.  HA HA 


Anthony in his first tux in Aunt Christina's Wedding

Party time at Aunt Christina's wedding!
Look at these studs!

I feel guilty for not having much spare time to blog about this pregnancy.  I can hear it in the future already, "Mom, how come you didn't write about me when I was in your tummy?"  :/  But I keep telling myself, it's about being in the present,  in all the moments happening in front of me.  Anthony doesn't leave us many dull moments.  He's a very busy, curious, little boy.  He's had many firsts the past couple months.  First flight, first guys weekend with Daddy, first road trip, First tuxedo and his first visit with our family from Italy!


Anthony with Nonna Pina and Cugina Gianni


How far along?  24 weeks
24 Week BabyC2
24 Weeks BabyC2





24 Weeks Pregnant with Anthony
Total weight gain/loss: Last I knew (3 weeks ago) I was up 18 lbs.  I feel huge.

Stretch marks? None, hooray!

Sleep:  Sleep has been OK, a little rough with Anthony.  Teething and a little viral cold he caught has given him some fussy nights. But he seems to be getting back on track with the help of Grandma's chicken soup to the rescue!




Miss Anything?  Cold, frothy beer on these warms spring evenings.  I also miss my friends.  It's been forever since I've had a girls night or gotten together with them.


Movement: He's moving a lot these days.  Lots of kicks and jabs.



Food cravings: Sweets and milk.  I crave a glass of milk almost nightly.  I find that unusual because for a long time I was only on Almond Milk...but now I want cow's milk.  A nice cold glass of it.  Yum!
 
Anything making you queasy or sick:  Not anymore, I've been feeling wonderful and energized.


Special things I'm focusing on:  Drinking more water!!! Eating healthy!

I've also been researching double strollers.  I'm in love with my stroller we received for Anthony (The City Mini GT), so I'm kind of wanting the same one in the double.  I've heard mixed reviews of train versus side by side, but I'm really leaning towards the side by side and figure I'll be carrying the baby around in an Ergo carrier for a bit if I have a place to go where corners will be tight where I can still use the single stroller.  Most of the reviews I've read said they haven't had any issues getting through standard doorways.  Clothing racks, yes...but nothing else.  For the most part, we use the stroller for walks and outdoorsy kind of things.  Plus these strollers will hold an infant to a kid up to 65 lbs.... that's crazy impressive to me...and this stroller is so light 20 lbs as a single, 30 lbs as a double and easy to maneuver and close and open.  There's not a lot of storage, but that hasn't been a problem for us so far.

Anthony's current Stroller

The Double stroller version

Labor Signs: Nope, just cramping and some pressure sitting low already.



Wedding rings on or off? On
 
Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy and excited for the future.

Looking forward to:   Anthony's bedroom makeover!!!  I've been doing a lot of planning and pinning on pinterest...but nothing has actually started.  We will need another crib and I'm planning on maneuvering some furniture around for the new makeover. 

Also We're looking forward to celebrating this guy's first birthday!!! Just about a month away from 1 year old!!  Where does the time go~~??!!!
Anthony waving 'hello!'
 

Thursday, April 16, 2015

20 Weeks - Baby C2

Hello everyone!  Life has definitely changed pace and is moving quickly....the past 10 weeks have flown by, and I cannot believe I'm halfway through this pregnancy already.  Anthony is 9 1/2 months old, almost walking, crawling everywhere and into EVERYTHING!  No blog updates you say?  Sure, right after I pull Anthony out of the dogs water dish. 


Anthony 9 1/2 Months - April 2015
Isn't he just the cutest??



How far along?  20 weeks


20 Weeks - April 2015
20 Weeks Pregnant with Anthony



Total weight gain/loss: 13 lbs, however with Anthony, I had already gained 18 lbs...

Maternity clothes? Yes.  I've been wearing maternity clothes a majority of the time since around 12 or 13 weeks for comfort.  This baby bump is just huge...and it worries me to be this big already only halfway through the pregnancy.  Does this mean the baby will come early?  Does it mean he's going to be bigger than Anthony?

Stretch marks? None yet!

Sleep: I get enough rest.  I have noticed that I tire  more quickly this time around, but I am sure that has a lot to do with keeping up with Anthony.  I pretty much go to bed within a half hour to hour after he goes to bed.  He sleeps almost all night long...with maybe one wake up just to get the pacifier put back in his mouth and tucked back in and Eddie does that, so I don't have to get out of bed.  BEST HUSBAND and Daddy!!

I'm averaging 6 hours of sleep per night.  I sleep comfortably so far as well and am using my pregnancy pillow again.  I've been doing my sleep training again since 10 weeks which is sleeping on my side since it's better for baby that I sleep on my left side because of better blood flow.




Miss Anything?   I miss Crossfit terribly.  I've been actively working out when I can from home.  During the first trimester I felt so awful and tired all the time and with taking care of Anthony too, I just didn't have the energy to go.  Since my office location moved, I can't get to the box during the work week.  My best options have been lots of walking with Anthony in the stroller, I also gave myself 3 different challenges a squat, plank and arm challenge to try to stay in shape.  So far, I'd say I'm doing pretty good.  I go to the gym at work during lunch a couple days per week, so I have to give myself credit for doing something.



Movement: I have been feeling a lot of little kicks and moves...during our sonogram last week he was moving all over the place.  The technician said he was a well behaved baby though because he moved in all the right places for her to get all the pictures she needed to check for any abnormalities.  Baby C2 looks happy and very healthy she said, and right on target in weight.  10 oz! 

Really? 10oz?  That's it? 


Baby C 2 19 Weeks


Anthony @ 20 Weeks
Anthony 20 Weeks
 
Baby C 2
 

Baby C 2 19 Weeks

























Food cravings: I crave a lot of fruit again, and sweets...ice cream. 
 
Anything making you queasy or sick:  Not recently, I've been feeling "normal" again. 

Have you started to show yet: Yes, it's clear I'm pregnant.
 
Gender: It's a boy!!  My instinct was correct once again.
 
Special things I'm focusing on:  Staying active and eating healthy.  I REALLY need to start getting better at drinking more water.  I've been very bad about it this go around.

Labor Signs: No, just cramping.


Belly Button in or out? OUT!  Already it's out....ridiculous...

Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time:  I've been happy most of the time, hormones have leveled off nicely.

Looking forward to:   Now that we know it's a boy... we'll be moving the baby into Anthony's current room and changing Anthony's room to a Superhero theme....Daddy's request.  ;)