Pregnancy

I summed up Henry’s birth story with this thought:   Labor was, by far, the most emotionally and physically intense moment of my life.  But I look at Henry now and know it worth it.  The entire pregnancy, the labor – it was worth it.  I really believe that all women should be very proud [...]

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The other day, I tried to wrap my hands around Henry’s torso and discovered that my fingertips no longer touched.  He is getting so big and packin’ on the ounces like it’s his job! As of yesterday, Henry is eight weeks old.  It’s crazy that eight weeks have already passed… but at the same time, [...]

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Everyone talks about how mommas-to-be experience an urge to ‘nest’ right before their baby comes – and part of this nesting phenomenon is buying baby gear.  I know that I really worried about buying all the right gadgets and gizmos – as well as the right necessities, too.  Being stocked up and supplied makes you [...]

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I have a feeling that I’ll begin every post this way, but seriously – how has a month after passed since I gave birth to Henry?!   He cannot possibly be four weeks old yet!  He’s growing up too fast.   You can check out my first post-pregnancy update here – Mind and Body After Baby [...]

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Waiting to Find Out: Boy or Girl?

I have always known that I wouldn’t want to find out my baby’s sex while pregnant.  Even when I was a teenager, I knew I wanted to be surprised.   There were multiple reasons for waiting:  I liked the mystery of waiting; I thought waiting would be a good motivator during labor; and, to a [...]

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Week 39 of my pregnancy compared to Week 1 of Henry’s life:   I really cannot fathom that a little person came out of my pregnant belly.  So strange!  Also, it’s really hard for me to grasp that it’s been a week since I went into labor and delivered Henry.  Where did the time go?  [...]

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Missed Part I?  Here it is!   Where did we leave off?  Oh yes.  My water had broken, I had been contracting for seven hours, and I truly believed I’d be holding my baby soon.  That’s when things started to get intense.  Truthfully, the beginning of labor isn’t so bad.  Contractions aren’t long and are [...]

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This is the story of how Henry was born… We have a mattress topper that I lovingly refer to as “the cloud.”  The cloud is a memory foam topper and is, quite possibly, the most amazing possession that I own.  I can’t sleep well without it.  Throughout my third trimester, I became obsessed with the [...]

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The Second Morning

We all survived the second night – and now it’s our baby’s second morning.  Well, the night and the morning kind of ran into one another, if you know what I mean.  However, all things considering, I’m feeling much, much better than I did yesterday – as does the Husband and Henry.   Yes – [...]

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Baby Boyle

Our six pound, eleven ounce baby boy is here! It’s been over 12 hours and he’s still nameless.  We’re working on it.  I can’t wait to share our birth story with you all in the next few days.  It was everything and nothing like I expected it to be. Thank you so much for all [...]

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This Is It

I woke up in the middle of the night and just knew it was about to happen.  And then I moved my legs and it did.  My water broke, very dramatically – just like the movies.  A few hours later, early labor began.  So – June 12.  Sounds like a good day to have a [...]

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BabyHTP: 39 Weeks

On one of my biggest parenting concerns…   My, my.  How things have changed.   Today marks Week 39 of my pregnancy.  I’m due in a week.  This, of course, means nothing.  Did you know that only 5% of babies are born on their actual due date?  For what it’s worth, I was one of [...]

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On post-baby birth control   I really do feel like I’m in the homestretch now.  Only two weeks ‘til my due date, although I’m telling myself that I won’t go until at least 41 weeks so I don’t get too antsy.  Considering how fast the days go by, I have a feeling the next few [...]

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BabyHTP: 37 Weeks

Pregnancy: My expectations v. my reality   Today is a very big day, indeed!  Today marks 37 weeks of pregnancy. That means that I’m officially ‘term’ (although I’m not due until 40 weeks), and if BabyHTP was born today, he or she would not be considered premature.  What a relief!  There are, of course, many [...]

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