Please take a moment (and a stamp)…

I read the following message as my friend Karen’s Facebook status this morning and I quickly copied and pasted it as my own:

Diana Harrison Biorkman has a 5-yr old son in his last stages of a 2.5 yr battle w/ Neuroblastoma cancer. They are celebrating Christmas next weekend (November 7-8) and Noah ♥ Christmas cards. It would be a great thing to send a card from somewhere new for him. Please send To : Noah Biorkman, 1141 Fountain View Circle, South Lyon MI 48178. Thanks! PLEASE REPOST!

I am going to send a card to little Noah.  Please spread the word and help make Noah’s Christmas the best ever!

UPDATE 11/5/09: I put our card to Noah in the mail this morning

Prematurity Awareness Month

Doctors check out Porter moments after birth.

Porter meets daddy.

I never thought my baby would be born prematurely.  Sure, I thought he would come a little earlier than expected–but by no means did I think he would be 5 weeks early.

Aaron and I are lucky that Porter was born healthy (aside from the jaundice issue that arose on day 5.)  Lots of families aren’t so lucky.  One of my co-workers and his wife are also the parents of a premature baby.  She never made it into her third trimester–their son was due to be born in January 2009, but arrived in October 2008 instead.  Their little boy lived in the hospital for about two months in the neonatal intensive care unit.  It was a struggle for their family, but I am happy to say that their son just turned 1 year old a few weeks ago.

November is Prematurity Awareness Month through the March of Dimes. I have made a donation in honor of Porter with the hope of helping other babies and their families through the challenges of prematurity.  If you would like to help support the March of Dimes and their fight for preemies, you can make a donation on Porter’s page or you can make a donation with someone else in mind.  Thanks for your help and even if you can’t donate, please keep these babies and families in your thoughts.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Our costumes:

Porter, the Lobster.  Lori, the cook and proprietor of Porter’s Lobster Shack.  Aaron, the seafood craving tourist.

At our daycare provider's Halloween party.

The party was actually our last stop, first we went to the grocery store.

In the Publix parking lot.

You can actually Trick or Treat through the departments, so we went right to Seafood.  Hey it looks like “Small Lobster Tails” are $4.99…

Actually, as soon as we walked into the store one of the cashier’s squealed when she saw us.  She then found us later and took our picture (she was dressed as a hunter–full camo, safety orange vest, mustache–the whole nine yards.)

So cute, I could eat him up!

Once we actually got the costume on him (it is a little hard to put a baby dressed as a lobster in a car seat, so we waited until we got to Publix to dress him up) he was surprisingly chill.  I think he was in shock.  He was pretty quiet all night–even at the party (he was completely confused by his babysitter who had a crazy wig and lots of makeup on.)  Maybe he was just so cozy in his costume that he was content.  Once we got him home, however, he was chatty and active as usual.

We haven’t had a chance to carve our pumpkins yet, but we will tomorrow.  We spent today scrambling for stuff to make our apron and “Porter’s Lobster Shack” logo and iron-ons (Aaron’s lobster bib is made from an old t-shirt.)  And I had to go into work for a little while, so that sort of put a kink in our plans today.  All in all, though, a great Halloween!  And we really can’t wait for Halloweens to come–it is going to be so fun with our little crustacean!

My favorite time of year…

I have been crazy busy these last few weeks and I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel (and I really hope that light isn’t a speeding train…)  Because I worked all weekend, I managed to sneak out early this week to finally buy our pumpkins for Halloween.

I LOVE HALLOWEEN.  It is my favorite holiday, hands down.  I love the costumes and the decorations.  I like the cool, crisp weather and the smell of dried autumn leaves in the air (sadly, I don’t get to experience much of this in Florida where I now live.)  I like that it is a little spooky and a little creepy.  And candy–I’ll take any excuse to eat candy…

Unfortunately, we don’t get Trick or Treaters at my house.  We live on a small dead-end street off of a major, dark road with no sidewalks so all the parents in the neighborhood take their little ghouls and goblins to a more Trick or Treat friendly neighborhood where their kids can walk around safely through several large housing developments for optimal candy-gather opportunities.

Of course, Porter is too little to properly Trick or Treat, but we are going to celebrate anyway!  Tonight is the night we will carve our pumpkins!  We each have a pumpkin to carve (though I will probably be doing Porter’s carving for him–under his artistic direction, of course.)

Here is a photo of Porter posing at the pumpkin patch with his perfectly picked pumpkin:

I seriously can't believe how cute this kid is!

I will be updating you all shortly on our Halloween hullabaloo, but before I do, I have some new tidbits to share with you (WHOA.  I totally was just possessed by the spirit of Dr. Seuss!)

- Our little puddin’ pop just cut teeth 5 and 6 the other day!  Two more top teeth!

- Porter laughs in his sleep!  Last weekend, in the wee Sunday hours, I swear that I heard him laugh over the baby monitor while I was in bed.  Now I was groggy and wasn’t totally sure of what I heard, but I asked Aaron and he thought he heard it too.  Yesterday evening Porter and I were playing on a quilt on the floor after we came home from work/daycare.  He was on his belly and was getting cranky.  I gave him his pacifier and he felt right to sleep.  I laid on the floor just watching him–and then he laughed!  With his pacifier still in his mouth, he giggled and went back to sucking on his pacifier–all while never waking up!  It was fantastic!

(For the record, I have been known to laugh in my sleep too!)

6 months postpartum–what I have learned…

I  have learned that I am stronger than I ever imagined I could be.

I have learned that it is okay to ask for help.  It doesn’t mean I am weak.

I have learned that the female body is a pretty rad baby-baking machine.

I have learned to accept my body for what it is right now.

I have learned to take things as they come.

I have learned that I couldn’t have made it through the last 6 months without my husband.

I have learned that sleep is precious–and very necessary.

I have learned to cherish the times I am up before sunrise.

I have learned to look forward to that first smile I get from my baby boy each morning.

I have learned that it is possible for me to leave work at work.

I have learned to check my shirt for drool stains before I leave the house.

I have learned that what is best for my son is a mother who is healthy–emotionally, mentally and physically.

I have learned that crises can be averted if I make sure a certain something is pointing downward when the diaper goes on.

I have learned that spending time with my husband without my son is important for us.

I have learned that spending time without my husband and son is important for me.

I have learned that I am not alone in my struggles.

I have learned that people actually read this blog and I thank all of you who have followed me on this journey!

If you are a parent, what has parenthood taught you?

So much to share, so little time…

Oh blog readers, October has been quite the month so far.  Work is busy and all three of us have been sick for the last few days,  leaving very little time for blogging.  However, I wanted to give you a bit of an update since Porter went to the doctor yesterday for his 6 month well-baby check up:

-Our baby boy is now 18.5 lbs!

-He is also measuring at 26.5 inches!

-Porter has a bit of baby eczema.  He has had some rough, red patches of skin on his chest and back, which I just thought was a reaction to his soap or maybe having a bath everyday was irritating his skin.  It seemed to improve once we changed soaps (to an oatmeal based body soap) and put some lotion on him every night (an oatmeal based lotion.)  Once Porter got this  head cold, he developed a rash on his cheek which the doctor diagnosed as eczema.  I bought some cream for it and put in on him before he went to bed last night and the rash is improving.  I also wonder if he got this rash on his cheek from his new sleeping position–on his belly with his face in a puddle of his own teething baby drool (probably doesn’t help things.)  Interesting side note: I also have had eczema outbreaks ever since I had Porter–never before.  I only have gotten it on my hands though (a small patch on the heel of each hand.)

- His ears and eyes are looking good (I am always concerned about the ears since my brother was plagued with ear infections as a baby.)

- He was able to received all the necessary shots and vaccinations.

And the whole family also received the H1N1 (AKA swine flu) shot yesterday for free!

I wanted us all to get the flu shot, too, but our doctor was out of the vaccine.  She said there was a shortage because the production of the regular flu shot was put on hold to make the H1N1 vaccine.  I hope we can all go back next month for the flu shot.  Apparently, Porter’s flu shot will be in two parts which he will have to get a month apart.

Porter also cut his 4th tooth on Friday–making this his second top tooth.  He actually cut he two top teeth in the same week!  This kid is unstoppable!

And what else…oh, he tried bananas this weekend and LOVES them.  I wonder if that has something to do with all the bananas I ate while I was pregnant…?

Sorry for the short update–I hope to write more soon!

Aunt Flo is such a jerk.

Here I am, six months postpartum.  I am still adjusting to the return of my monthly “friend.”  While I was breastfeeding, I was on a mini-pill or a POP (a progesterone only pill) and I wasn’t getting a period at all.  After I was diagnosed with PPD and stopped breastfeeding, I switched back to my regular pill and begun riding the monthly crimson wave again.

Is it any different since having a baby?

Oh HELL yes!

Before my periods were pretty predictable.  No matter if I am was on or off the pill, my periods were pretty uneventful.  No real cramps to speak of.  No moody PMS phase.  I would just become totally exhausted and my face would breakout.

NOW, however, my flow is definitely heavier.  I am more moody.  I crave chocolate.  My face still breaks out and I am still tired.  BUT here is the worst part: I now become nauseated just before getting my period!!!

This only happened to me on rare occasions before.  But for the last 2 periods, I have had instances of throwing up or near throwing up.  It seriously is like morning sickness ALL.  OVER.  AGAIN.  Just for 30 minutes or so.  Last week, I almost had to have Aaron pull over on our way to work because I seriously thought I was going to puke at any moment.

Has this happened to any of you, dear blog readers?  Or I am the weirdo?  Wait, don’t answer that last question…

P at just about 6 months

I know that this is a few days early, but I just have to tell you all about what Porter is doing now that he is just about 6 months old while I have the time (work is CRAZY right now.  I can’t wait for October to finish!)  He officially turns 6 months on Thursday.

So far, Porter has tried rice cereal, peaches, pears, carrots and green beans.  Here is his reaction to carrots:

'mom. i hate this.'

Carrots didn’t go over so well.  And they stain everything.

Now we are on to green beans.  He did slightly better:

'what IS this?!'

He actually seems to enjoy the green beans more than carrots–though you can’t really tell from this picture.

He is rolling all over the place now.  Only one way–back to front.  Even in his crib–which scares me a little.  He is working on holding up his torso and sometimes we see him trying to figure out how to get his butt in the air and his knees underneath him.  He still has quite a way to go before crawling.

We are working on getting him to sit independently.  He is getting better, but isn’t there yet.

Every time we change his diaper these days, he puts his hand down there as if to say, ‘good. that thing is still where i left it!’

He is definitely filling out 6 month old clothes.

As of last night, tooth number 3 cut through his gums making this his first top tooth!  He is still drooling all over the place.

His hair is continuing to fill in.  It is still blondish.

Porter is really fine tuning his motor skills.  I have seen him pick up his pacifier and put it in his mouth CORRECTLY!  While in his exersaucer, he is pulling at things and picking up objects.

He is just beginning to reach out to people that he wants to hold him.

And this may be my favorite advancement: he now gives me kisses!

This weekend marked our first weekend away from Porter.  Aaron and I went to a wedding in NY and we left Porter at home with my in-laws, Aaron’s sister and her 2 kids.  Although I missed him a lot, I totally trusted that Porter was being well cared for.  Big step for Mommy and Daddy!

And for our next trick: pears!

'this isn't peaches!'

Despite the expression on his face, P really likes the pears.  Unfortunately, all the photos Aaron took documenting Porter’s pear experience look as though our little boy is in total agony.  Like this:

'grr! get in my belly, pears!'

But really–he likes them!  I swear!  He just looks as though he detests them.

To find out or not to find out…

One of my best friends, Hilary, is currently hard at work growing her second person!  She recently found out the sex of this baby, but with her first she decided to be surprised.

In fact, a few of my close friends chose not to find out the sex of their little one until he/she decided to join the rest of us on the outside.

I really liked not knowing the sex of the baby while pregnant.  Aaron and I thought it was really fun–and I found that not knowing the gender really inspired me during labor.  I just wanted to finally hear the words, “It’s a….!”

Aaron and I are definitely planning to try and grow a little sibling for Porter at some point.  Some point–not, like, tomorrow or anything. I often wonder if we would choose to keep it a surprise again?  Would it be easier for Porter to understand if we knew he was getting a brother or a sister?

How ’bout you:  Did you find out the sex of your baby beforehand?  If so, why did you choose to do so?  If you haven’t had a baby yet, what do you think you would do?