Book Club

On Thursday, Caden and I had our first outing by ourselves. We went to visit our friends at book club. I was a little nervous to take him - what if he cried or was fussy?!? My friend Jessica convinced me that this would be the best first outing - our book club is full of grandmas that don't mind crying. Perfect!

I shouldn't have worried, Caden was a perfect angel. I fed him right before we left (always a good idea) and then he fussed a little bit when I put him in his car seat (he likes the car seat, he just forgets sometimes), but fell asleep as soon as I turned on the car and the radio. We got there around 6:15 (only 45 min. late, oops!) and he slept in the car seat until 7:30. He started to stir and we got him out quickly before he hollered. We passed him around and then popped a bottle in his mouth while I opened some baby presents from my gals (what a surprise, more on that later...). Afterwards I put the sleepy boy back in his car seat without so much as a squeal, plopped him back in the car, drove 30 min. home, and then he slept in his car seat another hour once we were home. Good show bubby!

The gals in my book club rock! They are all current or former teachers from Shaffer. Most of us aren't there anymore (I haven't been there for the last 4 years) and it is so fun to still get together with them. These ladies have watched me get married, struggle with infertility, and now are celebrating and loving on our little guy. A room full of mommies and grammies, what more could we ask for?

I was so surprised at the creativity of the group - not their thoughtfulness (that isn't surprising!), but the creativity for sure. They each came up with a milestone that Caden will go through and then found a picture book that went along with the milestone and created a scrapbook page to along with it too. I now have books and scrapbook pages for his first bath, trip to church, solid food, etc. Do they know me well or what?!? Thanks to all of you for your generosity, creativity, and for loving Caden as much as you love me. I promise that one day I'll be able to actually read the books and participate in the discussion...just not today. :)

Caden with his future mother-in-law, Jessica. Jess had sweet Lorelei in February, and we have decided that dating is too hard. We're just going to arrange a marriage for our kiddos - or at least a Prom date.

Opening gifts while Lisa feeds the baby. She has the grandma snuggle!

Pay no attention to my closed eyes - this was the best picture of the darling scrapbook pages everyone made. I can't wait to use them!

This was just too cute not to post. Julie showing off her ruby red heels. Don't all kindergarten teachers wear sparkly, red high heels?

We Did It!

Yesterday we actually made it out of the house before noon - we went to church AND to breakfast at our favorite restaurant. We were only about 15 min. late for the service and Caden put on a great show. Our pastor introduced him to everyone and he only made on little grunt during the service. The rest of the time he slept in my arms like a little angel. Even after the service, with everyone oohing and aahing over him, he didn't make a peep. We decided to push our luck a little bit more and took him to our favorite Mexican restaurant for breakfast (we missed you Megan!). Caden ate with the rest of us and we made it through without so much as a squeal from our little man.

There was something so normal about us going to church and breakfast that has really helped to lift my cloud of "baby blues." I can now envision us doing more than just sitting around looking at each other. I no longer feel like I'm going to be stuck in the house forever. Things will be different, but I did it yesterday, I can do it today too.

All dressed up and ready for church!

Family picture at church

Meeting our pastor, "Auntie Mimers" for the first time

Breakfast anyone?

The Stats

Last Thursday we took Caden in for his 2 week check up. We were supposed to go on Friday, but Thursday afternoon we noticed some blood coming from his circumcision. The doctor very kindly took us a day early so we didn't have to panic for another day.

His circumcision was infected, so he is now on antibiotics three times a day for 10 days. It took about 24 hours for the antibiotics to get into his system, but he seems to be feeling much better now. We couldn't figure out where our sweet little boy had gone. For a few days he seemed to have been replaced by "screamy-non-sleepy-head." The doctor told us that he was very uncomfortable and every time he would pee, it would burn. He was unable to really get to sleep because he would pee and wake himself up. Poor baby! We're also finding that he is not as gassy as we originally thought. We assumed that the reason he was scrunching up his legs was due to gas. Turns out it was because he was in pain. Ouch!

The doctor also took his measurements. He was 7 pounds 14 ounces (27% - up from 7 pounds 10 ounces at birth), 19.5 inches ( 13% - same as his birth length), and his head circumference was 14 inches (23%). The doctor was pleased with his growth and said he looked great! He was still pretty uncomfortable at that point, so he was not the best patient. Who can blame him? He also had to get his heel pricked. I don't think he likes the doctor very much. Hopefully our next visit to the doctor won't be until the beginning of July.

Happy Birthday Daddy

Dear Daddy,

I'm so glad I got to be here to celebrate your birthday with you. You are the best daddy ever! I love it when you let me watch basketball with you, rock me to sleep, and then let me sleep on your chest. I don't even mind that my poopy diapers make you gag and throw up. At least you try!

I hope you had a wonderful birthday and that you enjoy the hiking backpack. I can't wait for us to use it together.

I love you,

Caden

Happy Mother's Day - Better Late Than Never

Well, I'm a little late on this post, but I still want to share the lovely Mother's Day gift my boys gave me. We came home from the hospital on Mother's Day. It was all a blur and I, unfortunately, don't remember much of Mother's Day this year. Next year will be different...Caden will be a year old!

A few days after Mother's Day, when I had actually gotten a few hours of sleep under my belt, the boys presented me with a beautiful Mother's Day gift - a diamond and emerald necklace. Jeremy (with a little help from my mom and dad) designed it at a local jewelry store. The diamond is from my original engagement ring (the one he proposed with!) and the three emeralds are in honor of Caden (emerald is the birthstone for May!).

I, of course, cried (was it the thoughtfulness? Hormones? A combination of both?) and love to wear it any chance I get. I have to be careful though, little fingers love to grab at it!

A Few Questions...

Now that I've been doing this "mom" thing for a few weeks, I have a few unanswered questions for those a little more experienced than me:

Why does air seem to encourage projectile pooping and peeing?

Why are newborns so noisy when they sleep?

When will I figure out the noise that means "feed me" and how it is different from the one that means "snuggle me."

Will I ever be able to turn off my brain long enough to REALLY sleep for a few hours?

Could I create a new perfume? It would be a lovely combination of milk and spit up - I think I could call is "Eau de New Mom."

Why does everything that hurts him hurt me twice as much? Seriously, a 12 day old with an infected circumcision? That's just not fair! Luckily, we were able to get him on some antibiotics and we're ALL a lot happier!

Will I ever be able to get out of the house before noon?

Will he ever be able to sleep in his bed by himself?

How can one little guy be so darn cute?!?

Why can't we get this breastfeeding thing down? If I pump and bottle feed him does that mean I'm a bad mom? Will I regret that I gave up too quickly? On that front, we have a lot going against us - some of it is due to the size and shape of me (I'll just say it, huge breasts and flat nipples), and some of it is due to his gassiness. They want me to feed him so he is sitting up. Hmm, that is tricky! Why does something so natural feel so unnatural?

Will I be able to go more than two days without feeling overwhelmed and crying?

Will I ever love anything or anyone as much as I love him?

Our First Few Days at Home

Caden is now one week old. Our big outings have been a walk around the block and a visit to downtown Golden. Here are a few pictures from our first few days at home.

Swingin'

In his big boy crib - only for a few quiet naps

Milk coma!

Going on a walk

Wide awake

A sleepy angel

And The Winner Is...

Thank you to everyone that participated in our online baby pool. It was a lot of fun to see everyone's guesses - although some of you were just plain mean - a week late and over 9 pounds?!?

The big winner of our game is (drum roll please...)

Grammy Brazil!

To see how you did in the pool, check out the link below

http://www.expectnet.com/games/J_L_Zahrte

He's Here! Meet Caden Paul Zahrte

Caden Paul made his debut into the world on Friday, May 8 at 4:30 pm, weighing in at 7 pounds 10 ounces, 19.5 inches long. I started having contractions around 11:30pm on Thursday and, after a quick call to labor and delivery, we headed to the hospital around 3:00am. I was dilated to 3cm when I arrived and they decided my bag of waters had not ruptured as I had originally thought, however, I was contracting regularly. After waiting and being rechecked at at 6:00, I had progressed to 4cm and they admitted me. I was given an epidural and pitocin around 9:30 am. At 2:30 I was 8cm, and at 3:00 I was 10cm and ready to push! An hour and a half later our little bundle arrived. The coolest part was that our OB was on call (that hardly ever happens!) and she let JZ help deliver Caden. With a little help from Dr. Panzarella, Jeremy got to catch him and then cut the umbilical cord.

Thank you to everyone for their thoughts and prayers. We are all adjusting to each other and doing our best to try to figure this stuff out without an instruction manual. If we haven't gotten a chance to call or see you, we will soon. Right now the hours of the day are just slipping by and we're trying to enjoy as many of them as we can.

In the meantime, here are a few pictures from the big day!

We are now in full labor - Caden's heart rate is on the top, and my contractions are on the bottom. Thank goodness for an epidural!

Catching a few last ZZZZ's before pushing

Hope this one isn't too graphic - all private parts have been cut out! This shows JZ's arm on the bottom catching him as he comes out.

Our first moments together. For anyone that is wondering about my fear of not "recognizing" him and "knowing" it was my son when he first came out, don't worry, I did. How could I not? He looks just like his daddy!



Kim and Nana Z



Proud Papa

Grammy and Caden

My favorite little guy!

Sleeping with Daddy

Handsome boy

Our Life in Pictures

Here are a few pictures from the last week or so...

We went to a fundraiser for the WOW! Children's' Museum in Lafayette. Our friend Katie works there, and a group of us have gone for the past 3 years. Once again, we had a great time - open bar, dinner, a live and silent auction, and gambling - a recipe for fun! This year there was a western theme. JZ borrowed his entire outfit from a variety of people, and he looked great! Check him out!

Yeehaw!

I dressed up as a fully clothed, clean, 38 week pregnant gal. That was the best I could offer! We ended up winning some cool stuff from the auction. Thanks to the recession, our little group was one of the high rollers. Good for us, but sad for WOW! Our best win was a guys poker night - beer, cigars, tables, cards, and dealers for 20.

We also celebrated the 1st Birthday of our Goddaughter, Brianna. Her mom and dad threw her a humdinger of a party and she had a great time! Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Yummo! Go get it Brianna!

Guess who is feeling better? Yup, Belle finished all of her meds and is feeling like her old self again. Here she is in her favorite place in the world - on our bed snuggling with her Daddy (see Daddy's hair sticking out the top of the covers?). What you can't see is the ottoman that is on the side of our bed so she could have a step to get from the floor to the bed.

JZ (with LOTS of help from my dad!) has been working around the clock on "honey-do" projects. He has been traveling non-stop since February, and lots of household projects were pushed to the side. He has a list a mile long and is working intently on trying to get them marked off. Unfortunately, for every item he marks off, he finds another one to add. "Turn on sprinklers" turned into "fix broken pipe." I'm so glad everything decided to wait and break until he got home full time. When I say everything, I mean everything - satellite receiver, sprinkler, dishwasher...

And me? I've been very busy too! I have gotten my nails and eyebrows done, had a facial, massage, and a haircut. Whew, I'm exhausted! Just kidding - I mean I still did all of those things, but I have been doing my share of nesting as well. We've had the carpets cleaned, shaved the dog, and cleaned, cleaned, cleaned. We're trying to get as much done this week as possible. Then we can just sit around and wait for this turkey to pop! I think I'm pretty much cooked. Last week I actually burned my belly on the stove. There was a pan cooking on the stove and I reached up to the cabinet above the stove. Suddenly my belly was on fire! I even got a mark - through my shirt and my panel. Oops, sorry Caden!

We Have Progress!

Today was our 38 week appointment. I was PRAYING there would be some sort of progress - at least enough to keep me hopeful. Yeah, yeah, yeah, there was! I was 50% effaced and his head is now in the -1 pelvic station. She couldn't get a good reading on my cervix because his head has dropped in front of my cervix. This is very normal (I came home and quickly did some Google research!) and it should come forward as I continue to dilate. She guessed that I am a few centimeters dilated, but again she couldn't tell for sure. She said she could try to get to my cervix, but it would probably be painful and not necessary since I'm not having active contractions. Not necessary? Painful? No thanks!

She also estimated that he is about 7 1/2 pounds and that if I go to my due date, he'll probably be 8 1/2. A good size kiddo, but totally deliverable. Not the 10 pound whale I have been bracing myself for!

We go back for our next appointment in 9 days. Do you think we'll make it?!?