Week Two Pics

Well, Dave went back to work last week Thursday, so it was the end of our 2 week adventure in parenthood together. Ethan and I managed to cope....although we cried a lot because we missed Daddy! :-) Honestly, everything went well...the first day I was pretty lazy just laying around the house. I try to take a picture of Ethan each day and send to Dave at work so he can see him while he's working. I know it at least gives him a cheerful part of his day! I honestly can't believe I've already been with him for 2 weeks and I am just sure the rest of these weeks are going to fly by. But, I will just enjoy the time I have with him and when mid-January comes, I will try to be a trooper and go back to work.

Here are two cute photos from the past week. One shows of Ethan's strength during tummy time and the other didn't quite capture what I saw when I took it....a fuzzy head of hair. It was right after his bath and his hair wasn't combed down. But, the background is too dark to see the thin little hair standing on end! But, his facial expression is cute enough to post.

Sunday Pictures

Ethan was able to meet Uncle Breck and Uncle Adam on Sunday...he was also sporting his Bears uniform. He's got a bit of growing to do, but he does look cute!! We also tried out his little travel swing, which he likes!!

1st week of Parenthood

Dave and I have officially made it through our first week of parenthood and I think we're getting better and better each day...although of course I'm a bit biased. Ethan had his first doc appointment on Monday and hadn't started gaining his birth weight back, so we got some additional help with the feeding and went back for a second weigh-in and he was up 4 oz in 2 days, which is great. And I can testify that the little one no longer seems to have eating problems!! Dave and I ventured out with Ethan to JCPenney today for his 'newborn' photos that I had scheduled. He was such a good boy and the pics turned out adorable. Can't wait to send out our birth announcements in a few weeks when they come in.

Dave's been the GREATEST husband and father that I could ever ask for!! Helping with Ethan all the time, keeping up with the housework for me and he also did a Target run by himself to pick up diapers, baby blankets...oh yes and he picked up a Bears outfit for Ethan to sport on game days! Normally I'd oppose this move due to the fact that I'm a Packer fan, but I've learned to also love the Bears in recent years since Dave is a fan. :)

Here are a few pics from this past week. Most are sleepy Ethan. The one that looks like he has gas pain is actually a grimace while he was sleeping that I happened to catch.

Cute Pics

Everything is going good here at the Hickman household with the new arrival. I have learned to function with a lot less sleep and Ethan is definitely worth the lack of sleep. It's nice to be back at home and to start trying to get some sort of a routine going versus sitting in a hospital bed all day. We had lots of visitors at the hospital and we now have our official gender specific wardrobe started thanks to the many great gifts! We've also been lucky enough to have great neighbors who have brought over pre-cooked/prepared meals and desserts for us. We've enjoyed brownies, banana bread, tacos and lasagna so far...

Here are just some pics of the Grandparents with Ethan at the hospital.























Here are some cute pics of Ethan after his first bath at home and also a pic after Daddy posed him while sleeping...he definitely looks in deep thought!!

Ethan William Hickman - Oct. 11, 2007

Eventful Appointment

I guess before I get to the story about my appointment, I should say that I think everyone around me at work is "cheering" for me and anxious for Baby Hickman to arrive. I have at least 5 people a day come up to me now and say "you're still here"?! I have to remind them that I'm not actually due until Sunday, so they can't really make that comment until I come in on Monday. But, it was quite funny today when I got up to leave work early for my appointment and a large group of people looked at me and someone yelled out "are you leaving, Jamie??!!" As if I'd be calmly packing my computer etc. up if I was in labor...HELLO!! Anyway, it made me laugh and realize how many people are quite anxious to hear the good news.

My second funny story of the day came at the doctor's office. I was patiently waiting in the exam room for the doctor when all the sudden the fire alarm starts to go off and lights are flashing everywhere. My gosh...I wasn't sure what to really do. I glanced outside the door and asked the nurse if I was supposed to leave and they confirmed that was the case. I just thought it was rather amusing with the timing. Anyway, the whole building was evacuated for only about 10-15 minutes and then we went back in. So, my 10 minute appointment turned into an hour after the whole ordeal. The appointment was fine..no real change. Still 2-3 cm dilated and 90% effaced. So, just waiting for the rest to kick into action. I have one more appointment scheduled next Thursday where I'll also take a "stress test" to ensure everything is still okay with the baby. After that we'll at least have a date scheduled to induce me. They let me go a week and a half past my due date. So the longest would a little less than 2 weeks from today for inducing. Let's hope it doesn't come to that, but we'll take this Baby however...ha ha.

Hopefully my next blog will be with baby pics...

Out of Town Visitors

Last week my friend that moved out to Oregon came into town to visit with her family. Dave and I had a nice time visiting and we didn't even realize our house was so "kid friendly". I honestly don't think we'll need to buy any toys for the Baby, as our house was very entertaining for a 3-year and 1 1/2-year old for a couple of hours!! Amazing what two staircases and some beanie babies can do for little ones!

38 Weeks

Although we keep taking pics every two weeks, I sure feel like I really can't possibly get any bigger! But, by the measuring tape at the doctor's office, I am still slowly growing to accomodate the little one growing inside of me. So, here I am...at 38 weeks. Really just a few more weeks to go and then hopefully these pictures of the growing belly will start to be the shrinking belly...all in good time.

This week's doctor's appointment showed progress. I still hadn't gained any weight but I am now 90% efaced, almost 2cm dilated and the baby has moved from -2 to position 0. Dave went with me this time, which was nice...so he got to hear the baby's heartbeat again, it was 142. It's funny because I feel like since I'm making progress I'm sure to go into labor soon, but you just can't tell about these things. Whether the doctor really has no clue or they don't want to excite or depress you, they just don't give you a clue on whether your progress is normal/ahead of schedule etc. I did ask about the latest induction timeframe and they usually do let you go at least 1 1/2 weeks past your due date. So, I guess we can guarantee that in about 3 1/2 weeks we'll for sure be parents!!

On a "daddy" note...Dave insisted on putting the packed bags in my car this weekend. I've had them packed since last weekend, but that's not good enough (in case I go into labor at work or something). He's also been searching out cigars for the last two weeks. He tells me that it's a tradition that he refuses to miss out on! So, whether they end up being bubble gum, chocolate or real cigars...watch out boys because you're getting one!!

Baby Room Complete

Final touches made this weekend...we're offiically "Baby Ready". I also got a pic of Dave (Daddy) putting together his first Baby toy!! Exciting!!

Almost 37 Weeks....and Nesting!

So, I got home yesterday from work and decided to do another load of the Baby's laundry...get all those onsies washed. I think it was around 8p.m. when Dave stopped me, gave me a hug and said, "Honey, you're nesting real bad!" I hadn't stopped doing things for the Baby since I got home almost...laundry, unpacking more items from the shower, organizing the room etc. I guess it fully sunk in this morning when I decided to stay home after being on my 3rd day of a stupid cold and around 7:30 a.m. I went into the junk drawer to get a pen and decided the drawer just needed to be organized. Um...okay, I think I may be nesting!!?? Anyway, I guess it's just part of being pregnant. And no, I am not open for business to come to anyone else's house to organize and clean. :)

Went to the doctor today and no update from last week really. The baby's heartbeat was 142, I stayed the same weight exactly to the ounce and no progress from last week. Although, what I wasn't told last week was that besides being 1cm dilated, I'm 75% efaced and the baby is in a -2 position (which is apparently very low - lower than some babies are when women go into labor). So, hopefully this all goes in my favor once the "BIG" day does arrive.

I hope to put final Baby room pics up on the blog after this weekend. So, stay tuned...

36 Weeks

This weekend was one of the busiest so far, as far as getting ready for the Baby! Saturday was our all day Childbirth marathon class. We were supposed to have class on Sunday also, but since only half the couples showed up, we were able to get done all in one day, which was nice! Dave and I were pretty overwhelmed with everything and it definitely hit home that we're in the final weeks of pregnancy!! I've already pre-apologized to Dave if I turn into "Evil Jamie" during the process and he's vowed to do whatever I need at that point to help with the situation. Overall, I think the class was good for both of us and now we'll just wait to put our knowledge to work.

This weekend was also my family & friend shower, where Dave and I got almost everything we'll need to care for the Baby at least the first few months. I had a great time and there was a great turnout of people!! Everyone was way too generous in their gifts - this Baby is already spoiled! We received many handmade blankets, some of our larger items we needed (pack-n-play, mattress, stroller/carseat combo), crib sheets, towels, cute little bathrobes and MORE!!! Thank you again to EVERYONE!! I'm going tomorrow to finish up everything we absolutely NEED prior to the Baby arriving so we'll be all set.

Thursday is my next doc appointment, so we'll see if there is any progress there. At 37 weeks they consider the baby "full term" so it's great that we're at the point where the baby will be healthy if I were to go into labor early. Speaking of...Dave and I have yet to pack our bag. That was a "to do" item for this past weekend, but time just got away from us, so something I will do this week!!

Baby Room Progress

The room isn't complete yet, but thought I'd put some pics of the progress...we now have the bedding and mattress, so we put the bed together this weekend. We had hung the wall decorations last weekend. We picked up the rocking chair last weekend and Dave put that together (a gift from Dave's grandpa!!).

8 Month Appointment

Today I started my every week appointments at the doctor's. It's very exciting and a little scary all at the same time! I gained another 2 1/2 lbs. this time, bringing the total to 26. The doctor said the baby is definitely head down, which has been the case for the last few appointments, but the baby could still move. The doctor said the baby will probably stay head down from now on, because things are getting more cramped. I swear the way this child moves sometimes, there is no way Baby is that cramped...I think the baby will come out doing acrobatics sometimes!! The baby's heartbeat was 143 this time and it was funny because Baby had hiccups while they were measuring the heartbeat, so we could hear the noise through the heartbeat monitor. The doctor's estimate is that the baby is about 5 lbs. now and will probably be between 7-8 lbs at birth, so I can't complain about that. :-) And probably "TMI" (too much information) for some of you, but something I think is pretty cool is that I'm 1cm dilated. Obviously this doesn't mean that I'm close to having the baby or anything, but just exciting to know that things are progressing. 1cm down, 9 to go. If only the rest of the way was as non-painful..ha ha. Anyway, that's all the update for now. This weekend is of course the 36 week picture and plenty of pics from my shower this coming Sunday with friends and family!

Work Shower

Today my co-workers had a shower for me and I got lots of great things for the Baby! Dave now has his first item to put together, the Jumperoo...although the Baby probably won't even use this until early next year. But, this is the first of many things he'll put together for his child as a Dad!! I was quite self-conscious today being the center of attention, but luckily we had cake to feed everyone so I wasn't 100% of the focus the whole time. We're slowly coming together on all these items we need as parents. Now it's time to start putting the room together so it's in workable order as soon as the little one arrives. Up until now, I've put everything in the Baby's room to store there, but now it's time to get everything organized.

34 Weeks

Here we are, at another 2 week update! I had my doctor's appointment this past Tuesday and nothing new to tell. I have one more 2-week appointment before I start going every week!!! Dave and I are definitely getting excited that we will be parents soon..we just go into the Baby's room and look around sometimes and realize there will be a little one in there before we know it. Dave is growing increasingly watchful over me. Whenever I walk or drive anywhere, I am reminded that I need to "pick up my feet when I walk" or to "drive safely". And, I'm only allowed to go on walks where there are houses in our subdivision so "no one takes me". I look at this as his form of nesting. :-)

This weekend was one of the busier ones for us. We had a wedding on Saturday evening for one of Dave's co-workers. It was a Greek wedding, which was interesting.

Sunday, we went to my Grandma's 80th bday celebration in Wisconsin. It's amazing how large my family is and I love when we can all get together! My grandma has 7 children, 19 grandchildren and we have her 7th great-grandchild on the way! Makes for a HUGE family reunion when everyone is there with significant others etc.! Here are pics of me with my mom and grandma and my grandma with all my girl cousins.

"Mini" Shower Pic

A picture from my shower last weekend with friends.. my next shower will be Aug 28th at work!

32 Weeks

My oh my, I honestly can't believe I have only 8 more weeks to go! But, here I am...at 32 weeks. Dave insisted we take the picture somewhere new, as the front door background is just 'boring'. So, what better place to take the picture than in front of the Baby's crib.

This weekend was great for us! I had brunch with some high school girlfriends and they surprised me with a mini shower. So, we got our first wave of tiny Baby items. Honestly the thing I couldn't stop smiling about was the size of the newborn diapers! I of course took a picture of all the little items they got me and have posted below.

On another note, Dave is quite eager to make sure we're prepared for the Baby. He keeps reminding me that we need to pack our bag and all sorts of other things. He makes me laugh sometimes....but he is right, we do need to start preparing. What better weekend to designate to some final baby preparations than "Labor Day" weekend. That's our plan for now, to ensure we have most of the preparations completed by then. Back to the baby names, we have taken at least 5-7 names off the boy list and a few from the girls - so we're working our way down.

2 month countdown...

Today was the start of my 2 week appointments vs. only once a month. Not much new to report. I gained 3 1/2 lbs. in the last 3 weeks, so a total of 23 1/2 to date! The nurse was able to find Baby's heartbeat as soon as she put the little machine to my belly and it was 150bpm this time. We talked about pediatricians, so now Dave and I have a bit of "homework" to do to pick which doctor we want to see our baby when we're at the hospital. I printed out all the bios for the doctors that are at the location closest to our house and there are 6 to choose from, so I think we're good to go. It's funny because my friends at work talk about how I'm all organized with printing out my lists of things for the baby and doctor options etc. but yet I didn't find out the sex of the baby to be the "most organized" that I possibly could be. I laugh too because it's a good point. I just think this is the last big surprise we have and when we call everyone to give them the news, there will be that much more anticipation for us to tell you what we actually had!

On another note, a friend gave us a baby name book to use and I'm not sure if it's helping or hindering...so far we've made it through all the boy names and we have 21 options! Now, I know the baby needs a first and middle name, but 21 names is definitely excessive. We haven't started even going through the girl names and we already have 10-12 names! I told Dave we need to narrow the list down to at least 5 of each sex and if we still can't decide, we'll bring the list to the hospital....Baby can always be "Baby Hickman" for the first few hours of life. One thing I can count on Dave for is if the name has anything to do with a car part manufacturer, he tends to like it....he cracks me up!! I think we'll definitely be able to narrow the field down in the next 2 months though.

That's it for now...this weekend is the 32 week picture time and in another 2 weeks I'll maybe have some new doctor update.

30 Weeks

Time for another picture of my expanding belly! We've officially hit the 30 week mark, so that leaves roughly 10 more, depending on when the active little one inside me decides to greet the BIG world!

This weekend Dave and I visited with my Mom and family - I got a picture with my brother Adam once more, as this is the last time I'll see him before he heads off to his second year at college in a few weeks!! After that, we went to a friend's bbq. While we were out visiting and hanging with friends, Sasha stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Hickman....soon it won't just be Sasha going to the Grandparents, hopefully she doesn't mind sharing the attention with Baby! :-)

Beautiful Quilt!

Dave's Aunt Peggy made Baby a beautiful quilt and sent it this week! I can't believe how perfect the quilt matches the theme of the turtle bedding we picked out! The colors are beautiful and bright and I just know that Baby will LOVE to play on the quilt!! I took a picture of it hanging on the crib for everyone to see..