I am woman, hear me complain.

In bullet formation...

* Now, I am a self-proclaimed procrastinator, but hubby and I understood the importance of finding a good daycare and getting on a waiting list early. We were checking places out before I even started to show, and ended up selecting our dream daycare and putting our name on the waiting list in September... 7+ months in advance. Then we called them almost monthly to keep our names top-of-mind with them. The last time we spoke to them (in January), we were assured that April shouldn't be a problem.

So, hubby called our daycare today to let them know that Harrison has arrived and we will begin needing daycare the week of April 30. Um, yeah. According to them, the earliest they can get us in is late May or June, as they are all booked (with children of staff members). Now, I understand that daycare is one perk that daycare employees should receive, but didn't they know in advance that there wasn't going to be any room for us? So now we are back at square 1 - we will be checking out daycares tomorrow. Again.

* Just because hubby works from home and not in an office doesn't mean that he is not working. He has a lot of responsibilities and puts in 40+ hours each week, just like the rest of us. And - just like the rest of us - he values his weekends as a time to relax, unwind and spend time with his family. So expecting him to devote hours of his free time to do something for you - without even asking him if he would mind first - is a little inconsiderate. Just my opinion.

* I promised my doctor that I would follow her rules and take it easy for six weeks after baby. Um, does anyone know how long six weeks really is?!? I can only leave the house if hubby comes with me, since I can't carry the infant carrier with Harrison in it. And it's not even nice enough to go for a walk around the block, which is one thing that I can do. I am just going a little stir-crazy here... hopefully the weather gets nicer during the next four weeks.

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest - in the grand scheme of things, it's no big deal, but it matters to me.

On a happier note, we took baby Harrison home from the hospital two weeks ago today. Here he is...

(Representin' Saratoga Hospital, yo.)

For two of our favorite bloggers...

Dear Aunt Debby and Aunt Laura:

Thank you so much for my new clothes... I love them! Mommy dressed me in the overalls yesterday and I let her take this picture of me before I spit up all over myself.

(Don't I look cute just chillin' in my swing?)

Mommy said that she will be sending you a real thank you note soon, but wanted to show off my new outfit to everyone. Thanks again! Love - Harrison

What day is it?!?

It has been a week since hubby and I arrived home with little Harrison. These past few days have been a blur - in fact, I turned to hubby this morning and said, "Today is Tuesday, right?" Sigh.

In other news, things have been going really well. Still can't drive until Friday, so hubby drove me to the doctor's this morning and then we stopped by the hospital to drop cookies off to all of the nurses in the maternity ward... just our little way of saying "thank you."

Harrison is a little love. Right now, his tummy is full and he is chilling out in his little baby swing. He has been eating every 90 minutes-2 hours during the day, but managing to go 3+ hours between feedings at night. It is awesome... we are so lucky.

Some thoughts and observations during these past few weeks:

* Television: since I can't do too much until my incision heals, I have been watching a lot of TV. What is up with Maury and his paternity test shows? I cannot believe that there are that many women out there who can't figure out who their babydaddy is! And what about all of the judge shows out there? Now, I love Judge Judy and the People's Court, but there is Judge Mathis, Christina's Court, Divorce Court, Texas Justice... you name it!

* Baby Fashion: God, baby clothes are so cute! When I was pregnant, I envisioned dressing him in all of his adorable little outfits, just like I used to with my Cabbage Patch Kids. But nobody told me that multiple wardrobe changes were a necessity with all of the spit up and other bodily functions a 11-day-old baby produces.

* My Post-Partum Body: I admit that it is fun to jump on the scale every morning and watch it go down (especially when I came home from the hospital a whopping 3 pounds lighter than what I weighed going in... keep in mind that Harrison was over 8 pounds). But I look so...flabby. And I can't work out for another 4+ weeks. Ick. Thank God for Weight Watchers.

* Laundry: oh my God! Between multiple baby changes, multiple Mommy and Daddy changes (we have experienced projectile everything over the past week), and multiple sheet changes, our washer and dryer is getting quite a workout. Crazy.

Here I am with the love of my life (please ignore the sleep-deprived expression on my face - some lipstick would've worked wonders on me!):

Update

Today is Day 9 of life with Baby Harrison. These days at home have been a blur of feeding, sleeping and changing dirty diapers, but things are really going great. Harrison is such a good little boy - not too fussy and very content to nap in his pack-n-play, sit in his swing, or be cuddled by me or hubby. We are doing very well with the feedings, which is a good thing - I was worried about having trouble nursing as a result of the c-section, but that hasn't happened. He is also sleeping pretty well at night - going between 3-4 hours between feedings, which is allowing me to get some rest as well (when I am not watching him sleep).

He had his first doctor's appointment on Friday. It went well - he is now at 8 pounds, 8 ounces and doing fantastic. He managed to impress the doctor with his stinky diapers and his voracious appetite, even though I fed and changed him right before we left the house (the office is only a few miles away).

The first semi-public feeding went as well as could be expected... I asked hubby to close the door to the examination room so I could nurse in peace. He walked to the doorway, informed me that there was no door, and stood in front of me and held Harrison's blanket up like a shield so nobody could see me. The doctor stopped in while Harrison was eating to see if everything was going well - then closed the door behind her. Seems that hubby didn't realize that the room had pocket doors - it was funny. At least hubby is committed to helping me maintain my privacy.

In other news... the pups have adjusted pretty well to life with the little one. Daisy is already in love with him - she is always trying to kiss his hands and feet and insists on sitting right next to us at all times. Stanley is a bit less interested, although he will randomly stick his head into the pack-n-play to make sure that everything is okay while the baby naps.

Hubby has been nothing short of fantastic these past few days. He is always willing to change a stinky diaper, straighten up the house, pick up items at the grocery store, or anything else that needs to get done. I am very lucky to have him.

Our first Valentine's Day with Harrison was pretty low-key. We got walloped by our first major snowstorm of the year - more than 2 feet - so we just stayed in all day (not like we would be going out anywhere anyway).

Here's a picture of the little one the day he left the hospital... I can't believe that it has almost been a week already! You can also view his hospital photo here (scroll about half-way down the page).

(I'm so cute!)

Things you may not have known about me.....

Sent to me by my friend Cheryl (and easier than actually putting some thought into a post)...

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Sales person/cashier (at Caldor, Steinbach's and KB Toys)
2. RA (for three years!)
3. Bank teller (in college)
4. Supervisor at Breugger's Bagels (also in college)

Four Movies I have watched over and over:
1. Pee Wee's Big Adventure
2. Billy Madison
3. Adventures in Babysitting
4. Breakfast at Tiffany's

Four places I have lived:
1. Long Beach, CA
2. Madison, NJ
3. Rockaway, NJ
4. Clifton Park, NY

Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. Monk
2. My Super Sweet Sixteen
3. Judge Judy
4. How I Met Your Mother

Four places I have been on vacation:
1. St. Lucia
2. California
3. Florida
4. Cape Cod

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Pizza
2. McDonald's cheeseburgers
3. Burritos
4. Chocolate sheet cake with sugary white frosting

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Taking a shower
2. Relaxing by the pool (if it wasn't February, of course!)
3. Disney World!
4. Nowhere - being at home with my hubby, little Harrison and the pups is perfect

Four People Who Will Probably Respond:
Not sure...

McNugget has arrived!

Just a quick post while the little one sleeps...

Harrison Aaron was born on Friday, 2/9 at 2:15 p.m. He weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces (yikes!) and has a full head of black hair. Good Lord, he is just adorable.

The whole birth experience was better than I ever could've imagined, even though it wasn't what I expected. I was very nervous and a little bit cranky prior to the surgery, but my doctor, and the nursing staff were just so wonderful throughout it all.

Hubby was beyond fantastic - both at the hospital, and in the days leading up to the big day where I was probably more than just a little difficult to deal with. He is already a great father and I love him so much.

And little Harrison - wow, I don't even know what to say. He is just wonderful. I swear, I never thought that I could love someone as much as I love him.

Well, the little one is starting to fuss, so I better go. But I promise to fill you in on some of the more exciting details in the coming days - like the first time hubby changed a diaper (it was priceless).

Thanks again for all of your well wishes!

One hour...

... until McNugget's birth day! We need to be at the hospital for 10:30 a.m. tomorrow.

Over the past couple of days, I have had a bunch of people tell me that at least I will be able to get some sleep tonight and be all refreshed for the "delivery." Um, not without an Ambien (or twelve), I won't. How can I possibly sleep, knowing that I will be having a BABY tomorrow?!? Seriously. (And the fact that I am going to be all carved up like a turkey...shudder...but anyway...)

So, in honor of McNugget's arrival, we had McDonald's for dinner tonight. Chicken McNuggets. And some fries for me. And a shake for the hubby. And some ice cream. What the heck, I only have a good excuse for stuffing my face for one more day - then it is back to Weight Watchers.

We'll fill you in on all of the exciting details when we get home.

Stork Watch 2007

So, McNugget still hasn't made his big entrance yet. We spent yesterday morning at the doctor's office, having a non-stress test and an ultrasound done. Everything is fine, except for one thing - the little one is breech, so a c-section is mandatory. Therefore, he will be arriving on Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

Now, don't get me wrong - I am definitely excited for McNugget to arrive. As for the c-section and the surrounding circumstances? I am disappointed, I am unhappy, and I am pissed off.

Yesterday was the first time that I had heard about the baby being in a breech position. This is after three internal exams - the most recent one being on Friday - where I was told that everything was just fine. When I let the doctor know how shocked I was that the baby flipped over the course of a weekend, he informed me that the baby has likely been in a breech position for weeks and sometimes it can be difficult to tell. Maybe for me, but as an OB, shouldn't you be able to tell the position of a baby? That's kinda your job.

My next thought? No problem - doctors can perform a procedure that will flip a breech baby so he can be delivered without a c-section. Well, it turns out when you don't find out your baby is breech until almost 41 weeks, there's nothing you can do about it. So a c-section it is.

(Warning: here comes my inner brat - and please do not take offense to this if you have had a c-section... it really is nothing personal.) Now I know that there is nothing wrong with having a c-section, and if I had a dollar for every glowing c-section story I have heard over the past 24 hours, I would have enough money to bribe McNugget to shift into the correct position. However, it is not what I wanted - at all.

I spent the whole pregnancy doing everything I was supposed to do - eating well, taking my vitamins, working out, staying healthy. I went to every single one of my childbirth classes, even when I was tired after a long day at work and didn't really feel like it. My tests were perfect, my weight gain was perfect. I had a birth plan and it was one that did not include a c-section, unless it was a true emergency - regardless of whether or not I was tired, whether or not it hurt, and whether or not it was taking too long. I just feel like such a failure. It really sucks.

So, Friday it is. And when McNugget comes out, he is sooo grounded.

It's about time!

We finally got some snow last night! Not too much (only about 3-4 inches), but enough to make everything look pretty (and for the roads to be treacherous last night).

Everyone is so excited about it - hubby is outside with the snowblower now (I'm not sure if it is really necessary, but it makes him happy), the little red dog ran around outside for about 30 minutes last night (pushing the snow aside with her chest - she's our little snowblower) and the spaniel enjoyed it as well.

Last night, we went to visit our friends who had their baby last week. His name is Connor and he is just so cute. She has the same doctor as we do, so it was nice to hear about her labor/delivery experience.

One thing that annoyed me last night - on our way to our friends' house, we stopped to pick up some flowers. It was really snowing out, so hubby volunteered to run in and pick everything up while I stayed in the car - but I wanted to help, so I insisted that I come in as well. So, while we're walking into the store, some lady starts telling me that I shouldn't be walking around outside and telling hubby that he should've let me wait in the car. I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it, but I am sick of total strangers commenting on what I should/shouldn't be doing. Anyway...

So, our favorite doctor is on-call this weekend, so please send labor vibes for today/tomorrow, okay?