Time has been flying by... Cohen is already 10 weeks old and had his 2 month check up on Brook and I's 2 year anniversary. Not only has 2 years gone by super fast (it feels like just last month I was in a wedding dress, hugging people I didn't know :oP hehe), but the last 2 months of mommyhood has gone by faster than I expected. In a way, I feel like our little Cohen has been with us the entire time, but then again I can't believe he's 10 weeks old... makes me feel that much older ;o)

Cohen's 1 month check up went really well - so well ... that I kind of forgot to update you. My memory has been more focused on when I last fed him and trying to remember to eat myself. I had a million questions for the pediatrician for month one. I can imagine how annoying I was, but I'm sure the Dr. hears this all of the time. Then again, maybe she doesn't... we do live in Ottumwa (only joking...seriously). For month two, I had one concern. Cohen has a bit of an issue with his right eye. Every morning it is caked in goobers and throughout the day I have to clean it out after napping sessions. It comes and goes for how severe it is on a daily basis, but I wasn't sure if it was caused by allergies or just from being a newborn, new to all of the elements. She confirmed that he probably just has a smaller tear duct that hasn't fully developed and will grow with him. We should just give it a few more months and he will probably get it all figured out. If not, we're keeping an eye on it!

Little C is... well, little. He's gaining weight, and is very healthy - but is still on the skinny side for a baby. The nurses said we have homework to do b/c they'd much rather give shots to a baby with chubby thighs than to skinny chicken legs like he currently has. Oh well - he's cute as a button to me and if the Dr. has no worries about his weight/size, then I don't! I'm just glad I can gradually get used to his weight gain because even at his current stats, he gets heavy after awhile to handle!

Here are his current growth stats (I will update this once I find the rest of the stats!)

• Birth: 
• 7 lbs. 9 oz.
• 21" long
• head: 36 cm
• 1 Week: 
• 7 lbs. 1 oz. 
• 21" long
• 1 Month: 
• 8 lbs. 1 oz. 
• 21 1/2" long
• 2 Months: 
• 10 lbs. 7 1/2 oz. (10%)
• 23 3/4" long (25-50%)
• head: 15 1/2" (25-50%)

7 week toes!

sleepy boy

Don't you dare take my binky!

He has such skinny legs :o)

Business in the front

Proof that he's cranky every once in awhile

Cohen's favorite part of the day - walking with daddy!

First official family photo (including Cody this time)

Tiny smirk... he'll be such a big flirt

Twins.

Grandpa and Grandma Bahnsen came to visit :o)

Whoopsie Poopsie!

As weird as this posting might be, some of the moms out there might understand where I'm coming from when they read this. From what I read throughout my pregnancy, I THOUGHT that a breastfed baby was supposed to have more dirty diapers than a formula fed one... according to my pediatrician, this is not the case. Breastfed babies tend to have less dirty diapers and can sometimes even go up to a week before having a BM. Awesome - this is where the HUGE blow outs come in.

For awhile (and when I say 'awhile' I mean... the past couple of weeks) Brook and I have just assumed that Cohen has my genes when it comes to our digestive system. He's gassy like his daddy, but it could be several days before you see anything besides a hundred wet diapers. It worried me, but Cohen's Dr. keeps telling us it is totally normal as he is growing. Anyway - he had gone almost four days before having anything in his diaper and Cohen loves to choose the PERFECT time to let it all go! We were out celebrating my mother-in-law's birthday and having a nice dinner with family and friends when I looked over at Cohen's car seat and noticed that there was something yellow-ish on it. I immediately looked at Brook's plate to see if he had anything from his meal that may have spilled. Nothing...

Huh - what in the world is that? Wait a second... gross! I opened up Cohen's blanket and WHOA - it was all there waiting for me. probably a week of built up awesomeness left for me to clean up in a public restroom. We weren't prepared at all! I used to keep extra clothes and blankets in his diaper bag, but have given up on them since he was growing so fast that I needed to get the newborn sized clothing out and had yet to replace them with the 0-3 month sizes. My bad! Cohen had blown through his diaper, onesie, shorts and blanket...did i mention, the awesomeness of this? I spent the next 15 minutes using every wipe in the diaper bag to clean up his legs, butt and clothes.

The very next day, he was at it again. We took a trip to Menards on Sunday afternoon to grab some home improvement essentials and a few sale items from their newspaper ad. I had him in a front carrier the entire time, just chillin' as we strolled through the aisles. As we were checking out, I felt a little rumble and thought nothing of it, then more and much much bigger rumbles as he let out a big 'ol SIGH. Uh oh. I started laughing, hoping that we could just get him in the car and get home quick. Just incase, I wanted to check it out to see if it would be an emergency melt down as we drive across town. Little C just gave me some raised eyebrows as I quickly realized he had blown through his diaper once again and it was about to come through his bodysuit. Luckily, we made it home and into the nursery before he started to fuss about his dirty attire. Needless to say, laundry was done ASAP after that one!

What really lead me to write this blog about Cohen's last few days was our trip to the local YMCA this morning. I did my usual routine, fed Cohen, changed him and quickly fled to the gym so that I know I have at least two hours of 'me' time to get whatever I need to done while the ladies at the Kids Cove watch him. He was sleeping as we arrived so I knew it would be another easy day for them to watch. As I finished my workout and headed back to the Cove to pick him up, I noticed that his diaper bag was moved from the little lockers and brought into the play area. The two ladies working there were just staring at him and snickering. I started thinking... oh great - what happened?! As I walk up... I see my son in a light pink onesie. He was fast asleep and all bundled in to his car seat, ready to go. I looked back up and the women started laughing. One of them started to tell me that she heard him farting a little bit so she had picked him up to change him. Apparently, she decided to take the diaper off a little too quickly and Cohen had blown out, without a diaper on. She said he had not only gotten poop all over the changing station, the walls and himself... he managed to get it in her hair! I immediately started laughing, then appologized - but come on, even I know better than to let him go diaperless after a few toots!

Cohen: 3 ... Us: 0

Here are a few photos to share the laugh. Cohen will hate me when he's older and I have proof out in cyberspace that he was put in a pink onesie in public... that will be my blackmail when he's older, finally settling the score :o)

Thumbs up mom! Check out my sweet new outfit!

"I was like... oh no you DIDN'T take my diaper off... pssh!"

Wait... are you actually zooming in. Stop. Now.

Now this is more like it!

For the record: I'm a tiger, not a princess in pink.

Enough with the pictures... it's almost my nap time.

Welcome back to reality :o)

I suppose it is about time that I update this blog.... whoops - its been 5.5 weeks since our little one was born and way too long since coming back to this site to update my fellow readers/stalkers ;o) hehe.

Looks like I won't have much time to write up crazy long stories or rant about the new parenthood life that has been thrown at us, but I'll try to update much more often, with more photos and tips and tricks of what we're learning along the way. AKA... I can only do what I have time for, between feedings, naps and a child screaming in the next room.

Here's what you've missed so far:

Cohen Christopher Richardson was born on June 21, 2011 - yes, the first day of Summer! What a great way to start off the season, with a newborn - stuck inside the house while we get through the heat wave of the Summer months. It has been such a blessing - although I miss the sunshine and the feeling of a sauna when I walk outside to let the dog out, I see this as an excuse for another year without skin cancer! I would most likely be hanging out at a friend's pool, soaking up the sun in baby oil and bronzer instead of SPF 30+ or staying inside like I should. So - thank you in advance, Cohen, for keeping us safely indoors, and pale as hell :o)

Just a couple of hours old. Proud Daddy holding his son :o)

Daddy dressing Cohen before we leave the hospital.

Holding Daddy's hand

Already liking a 'binky' - YIKES!

All wrapped up and ready to rock 'n roll.

 

First car ride home.

Cohen gets to meet his big brother, Cody...

And now... here come the last few weeks:

First tummy time (cheating on the Boppy pillow)

Cohen got this awesome owl hat from our friend Amy! Love!!

He's just chillin'

3 weeks old - hanging out on the changing table.

That's all for now - more photos and updates will come later. Now it's time for Mommy to get on her treadmill and try to burn off the large thighs that decided to stick around after this pregnancy was over!

Playing the waiting game

Aww...

Just wanted to do a quick update of this week. Week 39 has come and ALMOST gone - and still nothing. I keep getting phone calls and text messages for people, which I totally appreciate - but I'm much more impatient than they are and I just keep telling them 'no news really means... NO NEWS!'

I finally had my week 39 check up. Lost 3lbs since last week (must have been retaining water for the last month like crazy) and my blood pressure was abnormally high for the first time of this entire pregnancy. It was a hot day yesterday, and I spent some time outside in the sun. I'm not in the medical field or anything, but I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary of how I felt... even though the doctors started asking me tons of questions, trying to rule out preeclampsia. Just to be on the safe side, I had my blood drawn for tests and am collecting my urine for 24 hours. Gross. Once I started actually paying attention, I realized that even though I was going to the bathroom a million times yesterday, nothing much was coming out. Not to mention, my urine was really dark for all of the water I had been consuming throughout the day.

At this appointment, I am progressing - but nothing too exciting. I am dilated 2cm, 50% effaced and Baby is at 0 station. We're finally engaged! Maybe this means I'll stop feeling the banging around in there while the head was floating. It was still a little disappointing to hear that I am only at 2cm, but that is better than still being stuck at 1cm - which is where I was a month ago. I keep telling the LO that we're running out of time and on deadlines here, so lets kick it into gear and get the show on the road. Literally. Once Baby R has arrived, we have weddings to attend. July 2 is officially 2 weeks away and I have a bridesmaid dress to fit into!

Brook and I spent the evening trimming tree branches and loading them in the truck to take out to the landfill. When I say that WE were working... I mean Brook. I wasn't trimming, just dragging branches across the yard trying to keep myself busy. Otherwise I'd be pacing the house looking for something to do with myself. I could do laundry, maybe clean - but I'm not that type of nester. I'm more of a cooking/baking type and we don't have room in the fridge. Not to mention, my urine is being stored in there :o) mmMMmm

No photos have been taken lately. So I have no belly updates. I guess I could take them myself, but maybe I'll take one tonight and post tomorrow. Probably not ;o) hehe I'll just add a few images from our pregnancy photoshoot a few weeks back. Kelli Jo Heimer is awesome - and even though it was raining out when we were doing outdoor shots - it was still a bunch of fun. We had photos taken in Nora Springs, Iowa. This is the town I grew up in, and where KJ lives - so we spent some time in the park, in her studio and by some good 'ol fashioned grain bins. I love them - I just can't pick which ones I like the most to actually purchase!

Heart.

 

My favorite book as a child.

Are We There Yet?

This week marks the final stretch... I've made it to 37 weeks, and then some. Baby R is full-term and will be perfectly healthy if we decide to have an early arrival. As I keep checking my non-existent wrist watch, any time now... would be great.

Last week we had the cultures tested for Strep B. I haven't heard anything back, so I'm going to assume as always - no news, is good news. If you've ever experienced this, you know how I felt at this dreaded appointment. Enough said. Anyway - I was also 1cm dilated! Whoop Whoop! Not that 1cm is anything to be excited about - I still have a ways to go, but it was good to hear we're somewhat on the way to a delivery. Some extra walks were put into our weekly schedule and maybe a few more next week will help get this little one moving.

The doctor ordered yet another ultra sound to make sure baby was in a good position and to check the size/weight. I am apparently measuring a little smaller these last couple of visits and haven't been gaining much weight. I look at this as a good thing - as my stomach kept gaining inches around, even if the scale wasn't moving. Less for me to work off when we're done right?! :o)

This week's appointment and ultra sound went as everyone thought it would. Baby is growing just fine, we're measuring a few days ahead of schedule - which means nothing. We could go into labor any minute, or wait out the 40+ weeks. I've been trying to coax the little one out, bribing my belly with all sorts of fun promises. He/she just hasn't been listening. I may get a kick here or there, "Shut up mom... I'll be there when I'm good and ready.' Seems to be taking after me, and not Brook. I'm not sure this is a good trait - as I am ALWAYS at least 10 minutes late for everything. I can just see our family trips going down hill from here as Brook is impatiently waiting in the car for the rest of us to finish packing and pacing the house to make sure we don't forget the pack of gum we just bought. Good luck with that hubby.... I'll sympathize for you now, but I can't promise to be better prepared tomorrow.

The ultra sound also estimated that this little one is about 7 lbs, 4 oz at the moment.... which means I could have over a 9 lb. baby if we go to the full 40 weeks before delivery. I know this baby's cousin was 10 lbs., but I"m just really praying they're way off with the prediction and I'm not actually going to have a baby that huge the first time. Wanting this as natural as possible without epidurals or pain meds, we may be in BIG BIG trouble! Let's just hope for an early delivery.

I'm off to do some squats and maybe go walk on the treadmill for a bit. I'll check back in next week with an update. With my luck, I'll still be dilated to 1cm and this baby won't want to come out until July. In the meantime, here are some belly shots. These were taken at 36.5 weeks (last weekend).

36.5 weeks

36.5 weeks

 

 

 

Belly stats: At 36.5 weeks I was measuring 37 inches around. Oh, and I've gained 28 lbs so far (on a good day) LOL

Epic Fail...

Once again, I managed to avoid this blog for far too long. I apologize. It's a huge FAIL on my to-do list of things that have yet to be checked off as 'done'. The more I thought about all of the things that I should have written in this blog every week, the more I wanted to avoid coming back - lol... oh well. The excuse of - "Hey, I'm busy baking a bun in this oven" has been used way too much lately, so I'm back and finally ready to update. I think :o)

Not a whole lot has changed. Doctor visits have been uneventful and kind of boring. The typical stomach check, hear the heartbeat (still way cool every time) and then measurements and we're out the door. Last week, I finally met the LAST doctor in my clinic - who ironically is from NC, southern accent and all. We made a few jokes, talked about the good 'ol days of real southern BBQ, and said our goodbyes. I liked him, but I'll be excited to get back to my main doctor and into my once a week visits until this little creature inside arrives.

I've been feeling EVERY move the LO makes. Every move. I'm not sure if this is a sign that maybe this baby is bigger than we think, I'm further along than we think, or I'm just THIS lucky to be able to feel every stretch, kick, roll, and hiccup throughout the day. Most are not painful, but I can definitely tell where his/her feet are hanging out while I'm trying to sit. A few days I've been convinced that it's toes were stuck in my ribcage. Again - nothing painful, just uncomfortable. I'm actually really surprised at how well this pregnancy has been going for me. I'm not the warm cuddly type, and get totally claustrophobic when I'm uncomfortable in certain situations. I always thought that pregnancy would be awful for me, but oddly enough - I enjoy when Brook comes up and talks to my belly or wants to touch my stomach. It makes it fun, especially to know that he is just as excited to finally see and hold this little girl/guy that we're having.

I'm officially 35 weeks and 2 days and feeling every bit of that. Finally slowing down and losing my breath when walking up and down the stairs. Ugh - what a drag. 2 weekends ago we had the annual Race for the Cure 5K which Brook and I, and my mother walked in. My mother has such long legs that I was actually needing to jog for a few seconds just to keep up. It was fun. Brook and I decided to jog the last mile to the finish line and it felt AWESOME to be able to do it. The weather has been so nice lately and I haven't been able to get out and just RUN like I used to. Walking our dog Cody is great, but nothing like the exercise I used to do on a daily basis - aka 3-6 mile runs. Oh...the joys of my new life to come! At least our stroller is capable of jogging in, if we want to.

Here are some pics to keep you updated.

Kisses from Cody!

Side view of 30 weeks

Getting big (and super excited about it)

Belly view! 30 weeks

Baby shower at 31 weeks - Saturday before Easter.

My belly at 31 weeks

Diaper smelling game = guess the melted chocolate candy

Me thinking... I know this, but it looks gross.

Soon to be grandmas - also playing the diaper game :o)

Taryn helping open the gifts

Having trouble bending over... yes.

My Boppy!

Aunt Sheila hoping this kid will be a Twins fan...

Thanks for all of the gifts and the mess to clean up after!

Since Easter weekend, I have been busy landscaping the yard (yep... major overhaul), turning 26 (on week 33!) and having another shower with friends here in Ottumwa. More photos will come.... if I ever get them from those with a camera :o)