2 Months (09/14/11)

Lucas,

     You are two months old today

Stats:

Height - 22 inches (25th percentile)

Weight - 9 lbs 9.5 oz (10th percentile)

Head Circumference -14.5

Food:

Nursing exclusively. We have given you a bottle once or twice. As great as it would be for dad to share in the joy of feeding you, I am feeding you all the time and loving every minute of it. I am pumping daily b/c over the next few weeks, we will start to give you bottles every so often as I prepare to return to work. Based on the bottles Dad has given you thus far, it  seems like you will have no problem. You are just a great eater.

Clothes:

It looks like you are starting to grow out of your newborn clothes. I'm sure it will be time to pack them up within the next week or so. You are growing up so quickly

Diapers:

You have been in size 0 newborn diapers, but it looks like it may be about time to move you up to size 1. Over the past week I have had to put you in size 1's at night because the newborn diapers just weren't enough as you started waking up soaking wet every morning. I can't believe you are getting so big so quickly, but it just means that you are a very healthy baby

Milestones:

You are smiling more frequently which always brightens my day. You are becoming a happier baby in the evening which means smiles for dad when he gets home which makes him melt. You are such a strong baby and since you sleep on your tummy you have started scooting quite a bit in the crib. I always find you on the opposite side of the crib/co-sleeper when you wake up in the morning or from a nap. In fact once I put you on your play mat and you were so upset that the added energy helped you to flip over to your back which surprised us both. You are still eating every 3 hrs. Instead of waking you up from your naps, I now let you sleep and simply feed you once you wake-up. This seems to have helped us with the evening as you are now allowing us to put you down earlier in the evenings (between 9-11). I'm guessing you were so tired that you couldn't sleep

You still love to be held. Once you hit 8 lbs, I was finally able to start using the Baby Bjorn. This is great for shopping trips as you still are not a fan of the car seat. I still love the K'Tan as it keeps you close and snuggled against me (I think you really like it too b/c it always relaxes you) but it doesn't truly allow me to be hands free as it does not provide the best head support. I do always hold you in the K'Tan at Mass b/c you are less likely to cry and more easily soothed which always warms my heart (although I know Gran would prefer to be holding you:)

Sleeping:
You are ready for a nap 1 1/2 hrs after waking up from the previous nap. At that moment, you start to whimper and start to bury your head in my chest. All it takes is for me to cradle you and give you a paci and you are usually asleep within minutes. You typically take 2 1 hr naps (8:30,11:30) and a longer 2-3 hr nap later in the afternoon (3:30).

The past two months have flown by. Your dad and I have been so blessed to have you in our lives we just couldn't imagine it any other way. We can't wait to see what the future holds.


Love,


Mom and Dad

Lucas' Birth Story

    On Wednesday, 07/13/11 around 6:15 pm,  I was laying on a raft in the pool with my sister ,Sara, when Doug came running out of the house with my phone letting me know it was my Dr. We had been awaiting her call, but we just weren't sure when that would be. She immediately asked what we were doing the next morning on 07/14/11...to which I replied, "It looks like we're having a baby!" My Dr. gave us the details and told us to get there by 8am. There is no stranger feeling than to know when you will be going to the hospital to have your baby. I was still holding out hope that Lucas would decide to come on his own over night, but no such luck. So, instead of our normal Wed night dinner at the club, we decided we would go have our last dinner out as a family of 2.

   We arrived at the hospital the next morning and got all checked in. I was still 2 1/2 cm dilated when they started the Pitocin. I didn't have much of a birth plan except that I did really want to wait until I was  5 cm dilated before getting the epidural only b/c  I did not want to stall labor. Several hours passed and I wasn't making much progress except that the contractions steadily became more intense to the point that I just couldn't take the pain any longer.  Both the nurse and my Doctor both said that they didn’t know many women who could withstand that level of pain which made me feel a little better. Honestly, I probably could have held out longer if it had not been for the back labor (which made me worried about the babies’ position). So, around noon I decided to get the epidural. I had not realized how scared I was to get the epidural until the time came.  As the Dr was inserting the catheter in my back, a few contractions came and went and then mom showed up. I was holding a pillow in my lap and after hearing her voice, I just broke out in tears (not the best time to start crying when a Dr is inserting a needle in your back). It just goes to show that no matter how old you may be, your mother is always your mom and will always provide that sense of relief when needed.  She was, of course asked to leave until they were done which was probably a good thing. A few hours later, I realized I was in trouble when I was starting to feel the contractions through the epidural even after pressing that pump several times. My doctor was right though…with the epidural doing it’s job, my labor actually began to progress as I was no longer fighting through the pain of each contraction. I had quickly gone from a 3 to a 7 and before I knew it I was at a 9 ½. By 7pm, the nurse went to turn on the baby warmer and said I was almost a ten. Seeing the baby warmer turned on sent both Doug and I crying. The time had come and soon we would be holding our baby boy in our arms. I was concerned though about the pain I was in, so they had the Anesthesiologist come and administer a "delivery dose". I think that stuff worked too well b/c I couldn't feel my legs AT ALL which I really hated. The nurse came in warning me that b/c this was my first child, not to expect this to be over too quickly. It could likely take about 1 1/2 hrs or so. Which meant it wouldn't hurt to try to relax and center myself. I had Doug turn on my phone to the spa music I had downloaded.  After 10 min or so of  focusing on the relaxing music and doing some breathing exercises, the nurse decided to have me give a test push... it was go time!!!

   As I gave my first push, she immediately had me stop as Lucas was ready to greet the world. She was blown away and called to have my Dr. paged immediately as we were ready to deliver.  Seriously my nurse was beside herself. My Dr. showed up a few minutes later (thank goodness she lives just around the corner from the hospital) and after the second push, she had me stop. Lucas’ head was out and his cord was tightly wrapped around his neck not once, but twice. I had no idea. I looked at Doug and by his expression, I just thought he was in complete awe of what was happening. The Dr just said “Sorry dad, you don’t get to cut this cord today” which is when I pretty much figured out what was going on. Without blinking, my Dr had quickly and smoothly cut the cord off Lucas’ neck and then handed him immediately to the Baby Nurse. He looked SOOO tiny. Lucas gave a little whimper and thank goodness he did not even need the assistance of oxygen. He was perfectly healthy and BEAUTIFUL!! This was a moment I don’t ever want to forget. For months I had been looking forward to this day. At times I had been nervous, but the anxiety was about the taking on the responsibility of raising our son. I had always been looking forward to experiencing the birth process. Some say I’m crazy to not want to forget anything about that day as it was truly a miraculous event that I was able to share with my best friend, my husband. Talk about AMAZING. At 7:58 pm, Lucas Edward York was born weighing 5 lbs 12 oz and 18.5 inches long

. 

    Dad – I know your were and always will be looking down on us. You finally have your bambino who will carry your name with him always and your ears J He is the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on. He is a spitting image of his dad, Doug. I have had a tough time seeing my features in him, but realized that he has my ears which are a little Morrison and a little Hamlet.

    

    A few minutes after delivery, Lucas was placed on my chest so we could do skin to skin. Doug and I spent the next hour cooing over our precious miracle. Doug and I had neglected to tell our parents of the hr of uninterrupted skin to skin time we would have after delivery. So, around 9pm, my mom broke in the room dying to see her grandson. They were worried something had gone wrong so we told them to give us a little more time and then we would let them in. We just wanted a little more quiet time with our sweet boy

                                                                 

This guy is so fortunate to have so many people in his life who love him.

Lucas and Gran

Aunt Carrie

GiGi and Pops

Aunt Sara

GiGi and Gran

The Yorks

 

Lucas Update: July 12 - 39 weeks and 4 days...and counting

   As some of you may or may not know, I had my 39 week appt this past friday and the sono results were not favorable; showing VERY low fluid levels and an unhealthy placenta. I had not made any progress beyond 1 cm which has been the case for about 2 weeks now. My Dr. did not agree with the Sono results as I am and have been in great health this entire pregnancy. So, since things weren't adding up, she sent me upstairs immediately to see a maternal-fetal medicine specialist to get another opinion. So, after a second sono, the results were better than the 1st, but still had my fluid levels on the low end of normal (just not as low as the initial sono that morning). Overall, she was not too concerned with the results. She called my Dr and after a brief discussion they decided that there was no immediate need to admit me. I was sent home with orders to drink LOTS of fluids, to rest and to return for a f/u appointment with my Dr on Tuesday (today).

  So, over the weekend I did very little except lay around and drown myself in water. I went back to the Dr today with bags packed and Doug in tow as we were told that pending results of today's sono, there would be a chance that I may be admitted. Apparently the massive amts of water I have been drinking has paid off b/c my fluid levels doubled since friday and the sono showed that Lucas was doing great. Great relief, but I arrived with bags packed just in case and kind of hoping to get things moving... However, I have progressed to 2 1/2 cm from 1 on Fri so she is hopeful he may arrive soon. It looks like we are going to induce if he doesn't come in the next few days as there is great speculation as to his size....a slight worry that he isn't as big as we think he is/ should be.
 
  I would prefer that Lucas come on his own, so I donned my running shoes and hit the pavement this evening for a good 3 mile walk. Talk about much needed. It was great to get some energy back and clear my mind. I should hear back from my Dr. tomorrow as to when she has scheduled the induction. Until then, this momma-to-be will be walking.