Dominic's D-Day

Well, mister Dominic has been here a little over two weeks.  I really thought he was going to come early.  Then once my due date passed I figured he would be like Roman a couple days late.  But time kept on dragging and he literally made no moves to get out.  I never felt contractions, braxton hicks, nothing.  He just chilled in my tummy and kept getting bigger and bigger.  So when my doctor scheduled an induction for ten days past due I was like I won't get that far along, yah right.  So here's Mr. Dominic's birth story.

I woke up Monday, June 22nd very nervous.  I read online about inductions and some people said they hurt worse, the labor dragged on forever and a lot of times they end in c-sections since the baby gets distressed.  I had to stop reading because the stories were stressing me out.  Also, getting stressed because the baby wasn't moving as much as before but since there was very little space in there that made sense.  We arrived at the hospital at 7:30am.  This time we signed in, the nurse took us to my room and got me all hooked up on the machines.  Surprisingly she told me once I was hooked up that I was having regular contractions.  They were so mild I couldn't even feel them.  So she started me on pitocin to pick things up around 9:00am.  I tell you what I was having a pretty good morning.  Joking around with the nurse, talking to Mike.  At 11:30 my mom and Sharon arrived.  We were all having a good ol' time catching up.  Meanwhile the nurse keeps turning up my dose every 1/2 hour.  Finally at 1:30 I started feeling the contractions.  At 2:00 I had to ask the nurse to give me some pain meds.  No more joking around anymore, time to get serious.  Even though I was still able to hold a conversation in between contractions.  Then at 3:00 all bets were off, all I can focus on is the pain and I'm telling my new nurse (the really nice one had a shift change, so I got this non friendly one, who I really didn't like.  I told Mike after I get the epidural to ask for a new nurse but...) that I need an epidural.  So she goes about ordering it and getting the Doctor up there to administer the dose, shot, needle or whatever you call it.  He was really nice compared the brute I had with Roman.  As soon as he is done, I swear I have to go the bathroom.  I'm still in pain, and this urge is unreal.  Finally the nurse checks me and is like, oh, you are fully dilated.  Well lady, maybe you should've checked before I got the epidural.  So they bring this whole team in.  Because when my doctor broke my water earlier they detected meconium so the baby was going to have to be checked right away and have his airways cleared so he didn't aspirate it into his lungs.  This was a bummer for Mike because once again he couldn't cut the cord.  They had me start pushing right away.  Now because I got the epidural so late I wasn't completely numb, I couldn't feel the contractions but I could definitely feel the baby and all that wonderful pain.  This time I actually was yelling, Mike said I told the  nurses and doctor to just pull the baby out.  I mean he was right there why couldn't they pull him out?  Right?  So a quick 30 minutes of pushing and he was out at 4:51pm.  Just like Roman he had the cord wrapped around his neck.  I don't know what's up with my kids doing that.  Such a relief to finally get him out.  While they are working on him the doctor is checking on me.  My placenta didn't want to detach so when it finally came out I was bleeding really bad and had massive clots.  I had to go on antibiotics to make sure I didn't get an infection.  So that was it, Mr. Dominic's birth story.  The induction wasn't as scary as I thought it would be and other than getting an unnecessary epidural it went really well. Here some pictures from that day.

Before gong to the hospital

So tired

Proud papa

9.4 lbs, 22 1/2 inches long

Welcome to the world, little boy, we love you.

38 weeks and some change

Here we are nearing the finish line.  According to my baby bump app we are 11 days away from d-day!  At my doctor visit last week she said the baby was low but other than that pretty comfy in there.  So even though I'm hoping he'll come a week early, he probably won't.  We are just super eager to meet the little dude.  We've been working on his room, the crib and dresser are all set up.  I've washed and put away all the clothes for the first few months.  We just need a nightstand, lamp and a few photos and his room will be all done.  Not that he'll be sleeping in there for a few months its just nice to have ready.  When I go in there I get a little nostalgic.  I know Roman's time as the only baby will be over soon.  Makes me sad.  I spoke with my doctor about my feelings, she said its normal to feel anxious and sad.  Usually those feelings go away the  minute the baby is born.

Otherwise, everything is humming along in that department.  Just a waiting game now.  The most annoying thing right now are the back spasms.  If I'm sitting I'm fine.  The minute I get up or try to get up I have crippling lower back pain.  Its been on and off the last few months.  But Saturday after service its really kicked in.  I put some heat on it last night and it felt better but its back again this morning.  Oh well, only a little under two weeks, I can do this. 

I was definitely sticking out more with Roman at this point.  Either way, I feel huge. 

In Roman news, he is now 20 months, or 1 year 8 months.  Almost a 2 year old!  Ahh I can't take it.  No wonder our parents always say, it seems like just yesterday you were a little girl.  Yah, I can totally believe that now.  He is trying to assert his little authority more as well.  Guess getting us ready for the terrible two's.  So trying to keep that in check.  Letting him know he can't be throwing things and just dropping his bottle wherever he wants.  Spent 5 minutes yesterday making him pick up his banana that he wanted so bad then threw on the floor.  He finally picked it up and threw it away.  After many tears and it being the end of the world because his mom is so mean.  Other than the mini power trips he is doing really well.  Took him to the pool on Saturday, he had a blast.  Even though I think he had more fun kicking the beach ball around then being in the water.  He thinks everything is a microphone lately and puts things up to his mouth and mumbles into them.  Its so adorable.  He's noticing cartoons a lot more.  Mainly colorful and musical ones.  So far he likes Rio, Horton Hears a Who and Despicable Me.  The minions were cracking him up, but seriously, who doesn't love those little guys.  I think that's it in Roman news.  He's starting to stretch again, his little legs look so long sometimes.  Here's some recent photos of our little guy.

I love his chilling pose at the top.

Life is great!

First time he's ever fallen asleep at the table.

 And finally, Roman talking into his microphone. lol!

  Well next time we catch up, we will be a family of four!  Stay tuned!

Ponderings and Worries

Well here we are the almost end of this pregnancy.  Well not quite yet, I still have seven-ish weeks left give or take some days.  I will have to say this pregnancy has literally flown by, I feel kind of bad for the little guy, haven't really paid too much attention to him.  Too busy focusing on life and chasing after Roman.  But he reminds me he is around by the constant heartburn, indigestion, excruciating back spasms that make me walk like an orangutan and his dislike of basically everything I eat.  The hunger finally came on around 29/30 weeks.  I have had an insatiable appetite when I'm not grossed out by all that surrounds me.  Confusing right?  So this puts me in the running to gaining even more weight than I gained with Roman, hooray!  On top of that when I go in for my bi-weekly checkups with the doctor they have noticed I have more glucose in my pee test.  So now I get to retake the glucose/diabetes test this week to see if I have developed late stage gestational diabetes.  So over it but my doctor said she doesn't want me pushing out a ten pounder which I would have to agree with her on that, it doesn't sound like a pleasant experience.  Otherwise, we are finally trying to get things ready for the little guy.  Cleared out the office space in the spare bedroom to make room for another nursery.  We have the crib and dresser just need to put them together.  We also still need to paint and decorate the room, but still plenty of time right?  I think so.  Not to mention the other various house projects going on at the moment (finishing the new office space downstairs, refinishing the dining room table/chairs, etc).

So I've been thinking a lot lately when I'm awake after my 5:00 am bathroom break and I worry about raising two kids.  I think everyone has these worries when they go from one kid to two.  I worry about giving them enough attention, not neglecting Roman.  He is so used to being the center of attention and I love him being the center of attention.  Now to share it with another baby.  Juggling a toddler and a baby.  I just don't want Roman to feel left out.  He does really well with little babies so I think he'll be ok, he's very gentle and likes to share.  But I imagine it'll be different once there is a little one in the house 24/7.  I guess we will adjust and it will be ok.  Right?  Any advice from parents with more than one kid and how their transition went would be welcome.

As for Mr. Roman, he is growing every second, he's 19 months (1 1/2 years for those who don't do month counting).  His gibberish is starting to make more sense, he says "let's see", "uh'oh", "all done", and a few other phrases which I can't think of right now.  I guess I should write those down.  He lets us know when he has a dirty diaper so we really need to start potty training but gah I'm so tired I haven't the energy but I need to push through because I am over changing his diaper somedays.  He absolutely loves playing outside especially if he has his soccer ball or another type of ball to throw around.  He gets real clingy sometimes and its impossible to put him down because he locks on around you.  Little man still loves to eat.  He has his breakfast routine down pat, fruit, eggs, toast or waffle and some kind of breakfast meat, usually sausage its his favorite.  Lunch is usually light, a yogurt and fruit or pb&j.  Dinner is whatever is on hand unless I make something I know he won't eat. Then we open a can of beans and rice with broccoli and call it a night.  He did surprisingly well on our trip to Pennsylvania, its a ten hour drive.  But we stopped twice at rest areas and let him run around and he was fine.  He only had one meltdown each way so I would say it was a success :)  His love of music hasn't diminished.  We saw a band on Saturday and he was fascinated by the guitar player.  He likes to give high-fives and blow kisses, but only when he's in the mood.  Other times he's like yah, dude, I don't know what your doing but I don't do that.  I think our bedroom routine is my favorite part of the day.  After his bath, we read a couple books, turn out the light, do our prayer and snuggle for a few minutes.  He's already getting grown on me, before we had to rock him to sleep now after a bit he points at his crib and is like, hey put me in there I want to go to bed.  So I'm trying to treasure these moments because I know it'll pass fast.  So that about brings us up to date.  I'll try to post one more time before baby boy #2 arrives.

Right top picture he's dancing around in the breadcrumbs he spilled all over the floor.

29 weeks with Roman and 33 weeks with #2

March Already?

Wasn't it just January or February 1st?  I mean seriously, what gives? Anyhoo, sitting here this Monday morning trying to not fall asleep on my keyboard so figured I'd do a little update on the Regina household.  Mr. Roman is 17 months now!  So almost a year and half, I can't believe it.  Yes I will continue to be amazed every time he gets older.  Mike was saying the other day "just think when Roman will be all grown up and doing his own thing".  Of course that made me cry and be super depressed.  No, I refuse to think of him being a grown man and leaving.  He's my baby, don't rush it!  I'm already impressed by how much he has changed in a year and half.  He likes to imitate what we are doing all the time.  Mike and him were at the table and Mike crossed his arms and laid his head down and Roman did the same thing.  So adorable.  Or him and my mom were bending over and looking at each other.  He knows how we lock the doors but can't quite turn the lock himself, but he's trying.  I love when he stretches up on his tippy toes to reach something.  He's getting better at listening if we tell him not to touch something or to put something back or pick up his toys and put them away.  Even though that doesn't apply to the dog's water dish which he still likes to splash around in.  He likes to help with the laundry i.e. he pulls everything out of the dryer and climbs on the clothes while I'm folding, lol.  He plays with the pots and pans, mainly the pots, he pulls them out and arranges them on the table or living room floor and puts things in them.  Sometimes when he's done he puts them away too.  His new favorite thing to say is zeta.  When he really likes something or gets excited he goes "Zetaaaaa!" I have no idea where he got that from.  He also likes to say uva (which is grape in spanish).  He climbs onto the dining room chair and sits down when he is hungry and ready to eat.  At bedtime he likes to pick out the book we are going to read to him.  He claps for everything.  Still loves music, we were jamming to some spanish rock the other night.  Music and dancing come in handy when he starts to have his little meltdowns.  He loves to watch Caleb and Sophia videos and especially the children's songs on the JW site.  He climbs onto everything and is extremely curious and doesn't forget.  If we are trying to redirect his attention he stills goes for the original object or goes in search of it if we moved it.  I've tried to get him interested in coloring but all he wants to do is eat the crayons.  So for now we stick with his dollar store drawing board, which entertains him for a bit.  He also enjoys torturing his cat, Vader, by either laying or sitting on him.  Which I think the cat is partially to blame since he is too stupid to move.  Because our big cat, Padme, stays as far away from Roman as possible.  I really want to get Roman involved in activities outside the home.  I think swimming classes would be great since he loves the water.  Oh and lastly he likes carrying our dumbbells around the house, which he has been doing since he could crawl.  He picks up my 5 lb weights and moves them around and the 3 lb he carries around like its nothing.  Little muscle man.  I think that about brings us up to date on Roman shenanigans. 

Reading, wearing daddy's boots and in service

Generally cute all around

 As for baby no. 2, he's coming right along.  I'm at 25 weeks, almost 26 weeks, which is about 6 1/2 months.  Which would explain the increasingly larger baby bump, roughly the size of a soccer ball according to BabyBumpapp.com.  I still don't know if I'll get as big as I was with Roman but only time will tell.  I've just started mild swelling in my fingers.  My wedding rings are getting quite snug.  Also, my feet aren't swollen but they feel wider.  Hooray for platypus feet (please note sarcasm).  The shoes I have on today definitely feel tight.  My back is easily aggravated with simple chores of just sweeping the floor.  I've always had lower back problems but they are worse while being pregnant.  One thing that I don't have this go around, splitting pelvis!  Last time I felt like my pelvis was being ripped apart and it clicked when I walked, not this time, thank goodness.  Even though you still won't catch me doing a 5K.  I can feel little baby boy moving now, not crazy movement like some moms mention but I feel a pulse or thumping in my lower abdomen.  I'm always trying to figure out what he's doing when that happens, is he stretching or kicking me, possibly punching me?  Umm what else?  According to my babyapp he's the size of a rutabaga and weighs around 1.5 lbs.  That's all I can think of for right now.  So till next time kids :)

My mom tells me I don't have a double chin this time around, thanks mom!

We are having another boy!

Well take that people!  Everyone is all like, you are having a girl because of this and that blah blah blah.  As the doctors say and all the books say every pregnancy is different and doesn't mean a thing when it comes to gender. I'm just happy he looks super healthy and no problems so far :)

I wish I could find the video clip of this, hilarious!

This pregnancy I haven't gained the weight like I did with Roman.  I was a massive whale with Roman and swollen from day 1.  Basically wearing flip flops and crocs the last 5 months lol!  This time around, I've put on weight but mainly just the belly.  No swelling yet but I'm sure that will come.  Not craving tuna or Bojangles this time.  I don't really have any specific cravings, like I need to eat this or I'm dying.  Usually I'm just like, I need to eat.  Definitely more food aversions, like fish, blech.  I'm off potato chips, how sad is that?  I love potato chips.  sniff sniff.  This morning everything in the fridge looked disgusting.  I had to make myself eat a bagel so I wouldn't starve.  More emotional this time around, like sobbing into the pillow emotional.  Why you ask?  Because my hair is flat or some stupid reason who knows, hormones!  Umm what else?  Let's see I'm 19 weeks, so almost half way!  I've felt the baby move a few times.  Definitely more active than Roman.  At the ultrasound appointment he was all over the place.  I'm really tired but I think that's more of a combination of keeping up with a toddler and being pregnant. I think that's all there is to report this time around.  Its so nice knowing the gender, now we can actually start planning everything out.  I don't get it when people like being surprised.  The suspense would kill me.

Mr. Roman update:  He is almost 16 months! Well, really 15 1/2 months.  Someone asked me the other day how old he was and I said 15 months and they paused for a minute then said, oh 1 year 3 months :p It'll be nice when he's a year and a half and I can just say that instead.  Right now I'm in that weird in between stage with his age.  So he's definitely keeping us on our toes.  He figured out how to climb onto the couch which means he's figured out how to climb onto everything.  He can climb into my mom's bed by balancing his feet on the sideboard and grabbing hold of the armchair and bed.  He climbed onto the desk in the office the other day and grabbed hold of the "empty" ink cartridges and proceeded to get ink everywhere after falling off said desk.  He still has a fascination with catfood and eats it every chance he gets.  Actually he puts everything into his mouth.  Right now he likes grabbing hold of the lotion or diaper cream and opening and closing the lid and licking what's on top.  I tell him he's weird.  He loves books, he likes turning the pages and pointing at things.  Sometimes he mumbles to himself like he's reading.  The board books they make for kids frustrate him because he has a hard time turning the pages.  He does pretty good with normal book pages.  I need to get him some Dr. Suess books, he'll love those.  Right now he likes to hear his Llama Llama story before bed.  He doesn't say no yet which is great but he does say uh-uh or if you're talking to him he'll go, huh? Every single time.  He's also adding some more words to his vocabulary, he learned the word vacuum the other week, why that stuck in his head and not more common words is beyond me.  Its still a struggle at the meetings, it feels like its getting worse instead of better.  We are going to have to incorporate some quiet time at home so he can get the hang of this.  He just wants to get down and walk and that's his main frustration.  He's probably thinking, why do I have to sit?  This is bananas.  Speaking of sitting, we are flying to California tomorrow so I'm not looking forward to that.  Here's to hoping he sleeps the majority of the flight. lol!  So that about catches us up.  Till next time!

Into everything

Am I "smizing" in that first photo? Looking crazy lol. 5 month comparison shot

End of Year Wrap Up

Is it really almost the end of 2014? Is it just me or did this year just fly by? Seriously, I blinked and it was over. Not sure if its because I'm in my thirties (which everyone says time goes faster the older you get) or if its because we have a kid now (everyone says time goes faster when you have a kid). Maybe a combination of both. Boh! So nothing too interesting going on at the moment. Roman is getting bigger, he's almost 15 months. When do I stop telling people how many months he is and just start saying years? When he's like a year and half? I don't want to be one of those moms saying "oh he's 34 months".

He's reaching the stage were he's super clingy and if we don't pick him up he just goes into hysterics. I just let him have his moment he usually calms down after a minute or two. Its kind of funny we just step over him and leave him there on the floor throwing a fit. Then he opens his eyes and is like, hey? They didn't pay attention to me, oh well and goes about playing with a toy or doing something else. Now at the meetings he's getting very fidgety. He'll sit for a little bit, like 15 minutes at the beginning then he's like, ok I'm done. Put me down. Then he starts twisting and turning and making all kinds of noise and we have to get up with him to the back. Please tell me this phase doesn't last forever. We can distract him with books for a few minutes but then he throws everything on the floor. So I'm at a lost what to do. Any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated. He really is a good kid though, even though I made him sound like a little terror up there. lol. He loves playing outside and just exploring around the yard. He follows Leela everywhere its so cute. He's getting slightly better about throwing his food on the floor when he eats. Now he only does it when he's done eating. Hooray, progress! He loves music, he stomps his little feet and claps his hands when there is music on.

His vocabulary is still the same, mama, daddy, doggie, see and dank-eww (thank you). He also says uh-uh all the time, he'll say it for anything.  He doesn't really get the concept of no yet.  But if we don't want him to touch something we tell him its hot.  He knows what that means.  It was funny last night at the meeting he was sitting on Shelly's lap and he wanted to grab her earrings but we told him no that they were hot and he shook his hand like oooh hot and wouldn't touch them.  Mmm what else, what else.  That's all I can think of right now.  We want to start trying to potty train him.  It scares me a little bit but I know it has to be done at some point and I would really like him potty trained before baby number two arrives. So that'll be interesting.

As far as pregnancy number two goes, its coming along.  Once I hit 12 weeks the nausea finally passed, Thank Goodness!  Its horrible feeling nauseous all the time.  Besides being ravenously hungry I forget there is a baby in my belly.  With Roman I had time to sit around and read a bunch of pregnancy books/websites and think about the little life that was growing.  I read my baby tracking apps being like, oh today he's the size of a lemon or whatever.  Now I'm chasing after roman and when I do sit around I take a nap, lol!   My doctor's office was just like oh baby number two you already know all the rules so your good.  And meanwhile I'm thinking, hey where's my little care package for new moms with all the instructions I'm supposed to follow.  I know its only been a year and half but I forgot half the stuff I'm not supposed to eat.  All I can remember there is something about fish/shellfish and all meat needs to be well done.  Good thing I'm totally off fish right now, the sight of them grosses me out.  No particular cravings, well maybe McDonald's cheeseburgers but that's about it.  Which is funny because with Roman I couldn't eat hamburgers I just ate my weight in chicken tenders from Bojangles and spicy chicken sandwiches from Wendy's.  Which I do still enjoy but I don't crave them like last time. Of course now that I'm writing about it I want a chicken sandwich.  So, so far so good.  All my tests have checked out normal and baby is growing fine.  I am managing to exercise this pregnancy and since I started out smaller then when I got pregnant with Roman I'm keeping my weight down.  I'm hoping not to gain 50 pounds this pregnancy but if I do, oh well.  We find out what we are having on January 15th.  Taking all guesses on what you think we are having ;)  So that's about it.  Until next year.  And I leave you with this comparison shot, I was three and half months pregnant with Roman in the first picture.

13 1/2 Months

Sorry guys, I've been meaning to update the blog with Roman's latest milestones, like turning a year! But work and life kept me busy and I didn't have a chance.  So I'm taking an opportunity on this gloomy Monday morning at work to bring ya'll up to speed.  So let's see what's been happening since the 10 month check up.

Ok, last time Roman took his first few steps, well he's been walking since 11 months so he's basically an expert now.  He practically runs around the house.  He loves it when we chase him, we tell him, I'm gonna get ya! And he takes off running and giggling hysterically.  Another fun game is telling him to get Thumper (my mom's shih tsu) and he chases him around the living room trying to catch him.  I'm not sure its that fun for Thumper, lol.  He likes to crawl up the steps but we have to be with him because he hasn't mastered coming down yet.  Well he'll come down but not the right way.  He really likes being outdoors and playing in the yard, just exploring and checking things out.  With us being in Autumn, he likes crunching around in the leaves.  When we are out in a public place I don't like putting him down because he doesn't want to hold our hand and he just takes off.  Little chubby face of determination not even looking where he is going but where ever he is headed he's going full speed.

As far as food, he's usually pretty agreeable with most meals.  He always wants what we have so I don't really make him separate baby food, just a smaller portion of our dinner.  Since he only has 4 teeth he can't chew somethings so unless the chicken is really tender he'll spit it out.  Even though he can eat crackers and pizza crust just fine, hmm, little trickster.  We can tell when he's done because he starts playing with his food and throwing it on the floor for the dogs.  They hover like satellites around the table when we eat now.  He's also completely weaned now (at 13 months) and drinks his milk, juice and water out of sippy cups.  Its so nice.  His new thing, which he has been doing for about the past month, if we don't give him something fast enough or what he wants, he falls over to the side and cries or screams.  Sometimes its funny but I  try not to laugh so I don't encourage him.  It only lasts a few seconds then he manages to compose himself and he likes oh, what I wanted was right here the whole time.  He does it when he's playing too and wants something, we just ignore him and he stops after a few seconds and goes right on playing.  I read its just a phase and I sure hope so. 

Umm what else?  He says mama now along with dadd-deee.  I think he said Nana the other day for grandma but I'm not sure.  He also says dank eww for thank you, he's really good at saying that for various things.  The funniest thing when he's talking baby talk and just babbling, if he's really into what he's saying he gestures like crazy, like he's trying to get his point across.  I tell Mike, Roman is so Italian because I sure don't gesture like that.  At his last checkup he weighed in just over 25 pounds and I think 30 inches tall.  So still a big boy, wearing 18 month old clothes and size 6 shoes, sniff.  His little tiny feet got big so quick.  Another cute thing is our bedtime routine.  He gets his bath and all ready for bed.  Then we pick out a book and he brings it to me and climbs on my lap and we read a story before bed.  Its so precious.

Well I think that brings us up to speed.  I'll still try to do semi regular updates on Roman along with updates on how pregnancy #2 is progressing.  So stay tuned...

11 Months and everything in the mouth

Assembly and knocked out

Everything is funny

Little man