The best $5 ever spent

Back when I was 5 months pregnant I went to a children's tag sale that is held twice a year in Norwalk, I had no idea what I needed or wanted or even what gender Baby O was.  There was so much stuff there and so many women rushing in the door to get all this baby stuff. It was like what I imagine a designer sample sale in the city would be. (MK we will go this year and get stuff for Baby C and Sam) It was overwhelming at first then I started sifting thru the piles and found some good stuff. It was well organized by age, size, gender and category. I ended up with a few puzzles and blocks and an activity mat that I found for only $5. I really didn't think it would be that great and it looked at little boring to me, but turns out to be Sam's favorite thing. I am sure this won't last long, but for now we have gotten our $5 worth. He loves looking at all hanging toys and I added a few links and a mirror. It lights up and plays music, he can spend about 30 minutes entertaining himself. We even do tummy time on it. I had no idea this would be such a fun toy.

Best thing ever, activity mats are a must!

Tummy Time

At first Sam didn't like tummy time.  I was getting worried because everything I was reading said how important it is for their development and muscle growth.  He would either cry or try to go to sleep.  When Auntie Erin, the fabulous OT came to visit from Ireland she taught us a new way to get him to like it and sure enough after a week or so he has improved and actually enjoys it several times a day.  She showed us to put him on our legs for just a minute and after we change his diaper.  Now he does it on his play mat and his blankets. His neck is getting stronger each day.

Lulu decided she wanted to participate in tummy time the other day and I was able to snap a few pictures.  On a side note Lulu has been really good with Sam. We were a bit nervous she would be jealous since she has always been the center of attention.  She is much more involved during the day now and most of the time is in the same room as Sam. If he cries too long she will go over to him. It is very cute. Sam doesn't seem to mind her at all and had even laughed once at her.

Sam's Monthly Photos

Sam joined our family on March 2nd and each month I will take his picture.  This little photo shoot has turned into a little project of mine and since I couldn't decide what I wanted to do with him during the photo shoot I now have 5 different poses.  I know, a little crazy, but I am having fun with it and can't wait to see what he will look like after 12 months of these. Here are the first 2 months. I am still learning my camera and how to edit the photos so they are not exactly the same, but the idea is there.  I think I will publish them into a photo book when he turns 1.

1 Month

2 Months

1 Month = Diaper

2 Months = Diaper + Onesie

Baby O is a Boy

This post is certainly overdue, but with a new baby in the house I realize that it was easier to find time to write about being pregnant than it is to write about the baby. So here is the birth story of Baby O.

Baby O was due on March 1st and sure enough I started going into labor around 3 pm on March 1st.  This Baby knew that I like to be on time. Everyone told me that you would know when it happens and well they were right, the contractions were like nothing I have ever felt before. We started timing them when Dave got home from work around 5:00 pm, I was so happy he took the early train home. They were about 5 minutes apart when we called the doctor. They told us to come to the hospital to get checked out. We arrived at around 7:30 pm and the contractions were intense now.  After waiting and getting checked in the doctor finally arrived and I was already 4 cm dilated. We were not going anywhere and by 11 pm I received the epidural.  We were able to sleep some since I was no longer in pain and the doctor estimated that by morning the baby will be born.  Well morning came and Baby O was not ready to greet the world.  By noon I was still 8 cm and Baby O was "sunny side up" which means that the baby was facing up not down.  Since 9 am they have been flipping me from side to side hoping that the baby would flip.  At 3 pm I was still 8 cm and still sunny side up.  It was at this point when the doctor told me that I was starting to go into distress and we needed to do a c section.  If we ever did get to 10 cm which at this point was unlikely, it would be a very difficult delivery because of the baby's position and we would end up in an emergency c section so it is better to just do it now.  This is not what I wanted, but since my only plan in my birth plan was to get the baby out safely this was what we were going to do.

Getting ready for the C Section

At 4 pm the team had me all prepped for the operation.  I was really scared and had no idea what to expect.  Dave got scrubbed in and sat by my head waiting for Baby O to be born.

Then all of a sudden at 4:21 pm I heard the most wonderful sound ever. Our crying baby. The doctor said" Daddy tell us what is it" and that is when Dave said "It's a boy!" I started crying and was just so overcome with such happiness, joy and love. He was put on the scale and weighted in at 9lbs 5oz and 21.5 inches long. A very big boy. There was no way he was going to be born any other way than the c- section.  The first thing the doctor said was "Look at all his hair." He had a full head of blond hair.

Dave got to hold him first then brought him over to me. I just couldn't believe that we had this beautiful baby boy.  Learning our baby's gender upon birth was so wonderful and such a surprise.

My first look at my baby boy

Dave left with the baby while I was still in surgery. When I got into the recovery room Dave brought him in from the nursery where he had his first bath. This is when I finally got to hold him and really look at him. Just adorable and so precious. My heart was so full of love. It was so amazing to hold this baby that was inside of me for the past 40 weeks.

 It was then that we got the chance to name him.  After looking at him for a bit we chose to name him Sam Kaare. We loved the named Sam and Kaare is after my Uncle and Grandfather, 2 amazing men, it is Norwegian and we loved having a family name that means something special to us.

Welcome to the world Sam Kaare

We brought Sam home 4 days later, it was surreal to think how we entered the hospital 2 people and left a family of 3.  Lulu finally got to meet her little brother.  She has been great with him and hangs out where ever he is. If he cries she will go over to him to make sure everything is alright. It is so sweet.

Leaving the hospital

Lulu meeting Sam for the first time

It has been 6 weeks and our lives are changed forever and it is just amazing.  It is an adjustment trying to figure out how to do everything, there wasn't an instruction manual. Yes, we are happy-tired and still learning as we go, but it is all worth it when I look into Sam's eye and think we made this little person. There are no words to describe the love you feel for your child. We are so blessed.

The 11th Blanket

I made another blanket. Yes, now there are 11 blankets that I have made for my unborn child.  I don't like to waste fabric so with the left over fabric from the nursery I was able to make one final blanket. I have never done a quilt like blanket so this was a nice change. 

I made it 9x9 squares that are 3 across and 5 down. The backing is yellow flannel.  It was a very easy blanket to make. This is not a thick blanket, but I think it will be nice for tummy time.  I really like how it came out.

The Other Bulldogs

Lulu is not the only Bulldog who lives with us. Yes, she is the only living one, but she has some other friends around the house.

Let's start in the kitchen where 4 others reside. They all came from a kennel called Pottery Barn!  I love PB and even love them more that they have a whole line of bulldogs.

 The Bulldog Bottle Opener, this was a great house warming gift!

The Bulldog Bottle Stopper

The Bulldog Cocktail Shaker

The Bulldog Bank

Up next in the living room on the bookcases are 2 Bulldog bookends.  I found these on sale at Home Goods.  I love the retro look of them.

In Lulu's room she has a Bulldog tassle that keeps her curtains nicely pulled back. It is very regal looking.

In the office we have a Bulldog door stopper. This is perfect because that door always seems to open and this is the cutest solution. The tassle and the stopper are birthday presents from Liz.  

Lulu can do the same pose

We can't forget the biggest bulldog in the house that lives in Baby O's room right now. Bosco the Bullie.

So there are the other 8 bulldogs that live with us and Lulu.  A few in each room!

Wine Holder

I have been meaning to write this post for a while. It is one of my favorite things in our kitchen. My Uncle is a very good woodworker. Last Christmas he made us this beautiful wine holder by hand.  It is perfectly angled to hold a bottle of wine and permanently sits on our counter. I can't tell you how it is made or how the bottle never falls over. We will usually switch it up with a different bottle of wine every once in a while to look at something different. Check out these pictures of the one of a kind wind holder.