Colin Everett: Two Months

Weight: 14 pounds, 8 oz.
Length:  24.75 inches

Head Circumference:  15.5 inches


Clothes: 3 month and 6 month,  Size 2 Diapers

Sleep:  Takes short naps throughout the day and is sleeping at night 5-8 hours straight.  He usually goes down for the night between 10-10:30 and then sleeps through until around 5am or so.  He does a short feed and then goes back down for two hours. 

Schedule:  We still are not on a set schedule until I go back to work when he's 3 months.  He is eating every 3 hours or so and staying awake much longer during the day. 

Health:  Doing great! Colin checked out great at his 2 month appointment.  We also had a followup ultrasound and appointment with his pediatric urologist about his enlarged right kidney.  So far everything seems to be okay.  The right kidney is still larger than the left, but everything seems to be functioning properly.  We are scheduled to do another ultrasound in 6 months. 

Crying:  This has improved a great deal once you hit 6 weeks.  Don't get me wrong - you still have the loudest scream in town, but you seem to be doing much better.  We seemed to have found a great balance of gripe water and Gerber Soothe (probiotic) drops that are helping with your colic/gas/tummy issues. The spitting up is still out of control, but I'm hoping this will improve around 3-4 months. 

Feeding:  Nursing is still going great.  You are 100% breastfed at this point and doing great.  I've had a few supply issues when I was taking certain medications after being sick, but we are still going strong!

Likes:  

• Being held and cuddling
• Watching your brother
• Rainforest Playmat

Dislikes:

• Tummy time
• Evenings

Milestones:  The smiles and the coos have officially started this month!  You also slept through the night a few times which I greatly needed and appreciated!

Places You've Gone:  This month was big because you had your first visit to Nordstrom and your first ladies lunch!

Visitors:  You met Grandma Clem from Arkansas this month and we all welcomed Baby Cameron into the world.

Postpartum:  My body is bouncing back great.  My c-section incision is totally healed and looking great.  My weight is back to what it was this time last year a month before I got pregnant.  It's still not where I want to be, especially with my flabby stomach, but I'm happy with the progress so far especially since I haven't done any type of diet or exercise yet. 


Life with Two: Oh life with two...just when I thought I was getting the hang of things, your big brother (and me) got sick...really sick.  It was overwhelming for a new mom of two to deal with your big brother having an ear infection, strep and HF&M...trying to comfort him and keep you two apart for fear of you catching something was difficult, but we got through it and as I type this, you are healthy and did not catch anything, including my upper respiratory infection. 

Special Memories this Month:  

• Your first Christmas
• Playing Baby Jesus in our church Christmas Pageant at the Christmas Eve service
• First Nordstrom trip
• First ladies lunch
• First time sleeping through the night

Colin's One Month

Just for fun ::  Jack's Two Month Update

Colin's Birth Story

On Tuesday, October 27 at 8am Jason and I checked into the hospital.  I was a mess that morning - nervous for the surgery, but mostly anxious about leaving Jack and how he would handle this big change.  As soon as our nanny walked in the door that morning I burst into tears.  It's funny because I actually had almost the same experience right before leaving our house to have Jack, but my anxiety and tears came from leaving Tucker {our chihuahua}!

One last bump picture the morning of the surgery!

As soon as we checked in, the amazing hospital staff took my mind off of these worries.  First the check-in nurse was so friendly and talkative and then our wonderful nurse.  We did all of the normal stuff that I remembered from last time...changing into the hospital gown, IV, lots of paperwork and questions, blood-work.

We were supposed to have the c-section at 10am, but things were running behind.  The time passed fast with the family that was already up at the hospital.  My mom, dad and stepmom and Jason's moms were all there and hanging in the room.  Telling stories and being silly.  My mom brought some gorgeous flowers to cheer up the room.

I was getting nervous about the epidural.  It wasn't a big deal the first time, but for some reason I was still nervous about it.  I met the anesthesiologist and really liked him.  Finally around 11:30 I walked to the OR with my wonderful nurse to get started.  Jason would join later after my epidural was done - standard procedure just like last time.  I said bye to all of our family as I walked to the OR, another different experience from last time.

Once in the OR, everything went so smoothly.  I saw my doctor who I loved and we talked about the "Glen episode" of The Walking Dead from that past Sunday.  Every nurse and assistant who was in the room was so warm, reassuring and helpful.  Once the epidural was done, I felt great about everything, happy and relaxed.  At one point I thought I was going to be sick, but I told the anesthesiologist and he gave me medicine to make it go away - which it did within seconds.

At exactly 12:00 p.m. Colin came out screaming!  His loud cry was so reassuring to me that he was alive and well since I couldn't see him yet.  The downside of a c-section is that you can't see your baby right away since you are strapped to a table with a big curtain from your neck down.  While they are checking on the baby and getting him measured, etc. you are being worked on and stitched up.  Jason was able to see him immediately and took lots of pictures.  He kept bringing the camera to me so I could see him.  Finally they brought him to me for a short minute and I was in love.  He looked nothing like what I was expecting which was lots of dark hair and basically just a similar version of Jack.  He didn't look like me or Jason, but was a perfect little, beautiful baby doll.

Pleasantly, I was able to see him within the hour (another different experience from Jack which took hours to see).  He was the perfect baby.  He nursed so naturally and perfectly from the start.  The next two days were great.  I made sure to stay on top of the meds so I was never in terrible pain.  For some reason I was worried that a c-section the second time around would hurt worse and be a harder recovery, but it wasn't, maybe even the opposite.

I walked when I was supposed to and all the docs and nurses said I was a rock-star.  I took a shower the second day when all of my tubes and IV's were out and even gave myself a blowout and did a little makeup (more than I can say for the first time around). 

The afternoon of the first day, Jack came up to the hospital to meet Colin.  He was perfect.  He was excited, sweet and understanding that mommy was in bed and couldn't get up.  I was nervous that he wouldn't want to leave the hospital without us, but he was great.  I think he was just having so much fun with my mom that he was in heaven.  I'm so thankful to her for not only keeping him those two nights, but making it so fun for him that he wasn't upset.

Jack brought Colin a balloon and a stuffed animal and wore his Big Brother shirt.  He loved his gifts too from Colin especially the digital camera!

Jack came back up for a short while on Day Two and again did great.  We took some pictures and let him hold him.  What an amazing moment!

We met with the amazing Lactation Consultant on Day Two.  I just wanted reassurance that all was okay since we had the help there at our disposal.  She gave me some tips and products but said Colin was a champ!   I was not in much pain this time around, yay!

Colin wasn't thrilled to leave the hospital either and showed us by spitting up all over his precious going home outfit when seconds of putting it on!

We stayed in the hospital for two nights. I almost wanted to stay another night just for the pampering - everything is brought to you including meals and your baby!  I probably could have stayed another night if I would have insisted, but the docs and nurses seemed confident that I was good to be released and I knew Jason was anxious to get home and I missed Jack so home we went to start out life as a family of four!

We went home on Thursday, 10/29 and were greeted by this gorgeous sign by Sassy Storks!  Jack joined us and we spent the next few days getting adjusted and celebrating Halloween.

You can read Jack's birth story here!

{Last} Pregnancy #2 Update :: 38 Weeks and Beyond!

38 Weeks, 5 Days

At 38 weeks and 5 days we went to the hospital for a c-section to meet our little man.  At 38 weeks I was feeling all the normal things...tired, anxious, uncomfortable, but nothing out of the ordinary.  Just a little background about that week to catch you up...

At my 37 week appointment we did an ultrasound to get an idea for how big Colin was measuring.  At this ultrasound they discovered that his right kidney was larger than it should be.  After speaking to a specialist my doctor decided that I should come back in 24 hours for a repeat ultrasound to see if the enlarged kidney was a fluke or something we needed to worry about.  24 hours later it was still enlarged.   Our doctor wanted to speak to another specialist and told us we may have the baby in two days.  So we waited...

The next day we learmed that it didn't seem urgent enough to go that week.  We would wait until Tuesday when I was 38 weeks and 5 days to have him. At that point we would do an ultrasound on Colin when he was born and go from there.  We notified our pediatrician and had a plan!  

More about what came next is coming up in another post with Colin's birth story!

Read about my 38 week and 39 week update from my first pregnancy!

Introducing Colin Everett

At 38 weeks, 5 days we checked into the hospital for a scheduled c-section.  All went well and we are so proud to introduce Colin Everett to you!  Everyone is doing well including Jack who is already the best big brother! 

 Happy Birthday Colin!

7 lbs, 10 oz.

20 inches long

You can find more pictures and updates on my Instagram account {@ChelseaPurifoy} for now.  I plan to write a full birth story and lots of postpartum updates, but sleep and snuggles are taking priority over the blog for now. 

Pregnancy #2 Update :: 37 Weeks

 

How far along: 37 Weeks
Size of Coffee Bean:  19-22 inches, 6.5 pounds

Fruit/Vegetable Comparison: Winter melon {Whatever the heck that is}...we'll go with Watermelon since that's how I feel!

Gender:  BOY!
Showing:  Um yes!
Maternity Clothes:  Lots of stretchy pants, tunics and maternity tees...and even all of these are getting tighter.  You know it's about time when your "long" maternity tanks are too short!  
Sleep: Just okay.  I haven't' had any trouble falling asleep, but I'm up often either needing to pee or find a more comfortable position.  Getting out of bed is no joke these days!

Movement:  Slowing down probably because he's running out of room, but I still feel him all day.  Instead of "kicks" it's more like slow shifts across my belly.  I'm sure he's having a hard time getting comfortable too. 

Food Cravings:  Cookies, ice water with lemon or lime, comfort foods
Anything Making You Sick/Queasy: Only when I panic about having TWO kids soon!
Weddings Rings On or Off: Officially OFF as of 35 weeks - I can put them on most mornings, but throughout the day they get tight so I just don't even bother anymore.

Mood:  Up and down with panic and excitement

Best Moment This Week:  Pumpkin patch trip with my family and attending Jack's Parent Lunch/Hayride this week...I've been hoping my body would hold on long enough to make this!

Strange Experiences:  Ups and downs this week thinking he may be coming earlier than expected due to some findings on an ultrasound.  Seems he is still coming early, but not as early as we originally were told this week.  What a roller coaster!

Looking Forward To:  Meeting sweet baby boy Colin!  I'm at the point now where he could come anytime and we can't wait to welcome him into our family.  

Read about my 37 week update from my first pregnancy!

Maternity Photos with Baby #2

Truth be told, I wasn't really looking forward to taking maternity pictures this go-around.  It just seemed like yet another thing I had to do on my ever-growing maternity to-do list.  But every time I thought about opting out I knew that I wanted to capture this special time in our lives when we were a family of three waiting for our second baby boy to make his arrival.  In all likelihood this will be my last pregnancy so I wanted some pictures to document it.

Boy did Amanda of Momma's Gonna Snap Photography hit these out of the ballpark!  In just a short 30 minute or so session, she grabbed tons of beautiful images between me and Jack, me and Jason, all three of us and just me.

I wanted to take pictures at Discovery Green Park in downtown Houston since it's within walking distance of Jason's office and is close to where we took our engagement photos.   I love how we were in the middle of the city we love yet in some it looks like we are in the middle of a country field. 

I waited to the very last minute to pull everyone's outfits together (Ashley can attest to this) but I'm so happy with how it all came together!

Here are just a few of my faves...

 

Checkout our maternity session with Jack a few years ago! 

Pregnancy #2 Update :: 36 Weeks

How far along: 36 Weeks
Size of Coffee Bean:  19-22 inches, 6 pounds

Fruit/Vegetable Comparison: Large cantaloupe

Gender:  BOY!
Showing:  Um yes!
Maternity Clothes: Mostly wearing my black skinny pants from Gap with cool, flowy tops to work and jeans and maternity Target tees on the weekends.  Fewer things are fitting but just a few more weeks to go!
Sleep: Not great - the usual tossing and turning with anxiety, a million trips to pee and top that off with a small head cold and stuffy nose!  I'm proud of myself for getting more sleep than usual the past few days and getting my feet up as often as I can.  It really does help with the swelling!

Movement:  Lots and starting to get uncomfortable
Food Cravings:  Salad, fruit, eggs...and chocolate chip cookies! 
Anything Making You Sick/Queasy: Only when I panic about having TWO kids soon!
Weddings Rings On or Off: Officially OFF as of 35 weeks

Mood:  Up and down - excitement one minute and anxiety the next.  Fairly normal for me!

Best Moment This Week:  Lots of great moments, but having a nice dinner and date night with Jason tops the list!

Strange Experiences:  Nothing new - just love receiving the stupid comments from people, but honestly this week the comments were overall very encouraging.  I've found if I tell people he's coming in a couple of weeks or any day now, it gets a better reaction than the saying the end of the month.  People hear that I'm close and give me an encouraging smile....usually!  I have had a few people tell me that I've started to swell up in my face this week - when is this acceptable to say!?!?  My response is gee thanks...you know how to make a girl feel good and then they feel bad about it and I get a little chuckle.  
Looking Forward To: An ultrasound next week to get an estimate on how big baby is.  We have a busy week at Jack's school next week with parent/teacher conferences and the annual Parent picnic so I'm hoping Baby Colin wants to stay put a little longer in order to get these things done!  Plus I have a hair appointment this Friday to get a little pre-baby trim and desperately-needed color so little one, please stay put!

Read about my 35 and 36 week update from my first pregnancy!

I have to say, it's so funny how similar my pregnancies seem to be.  I always type my updates before I go back and read the updates from my first pregnancy.  My 36 weeks both times could not be more similar with the swelling, cravings and feelings.  Let's just hope I'm not on my way to bed rest next week as I was this time with Jack!  I just had my 36 week checkup and everything looked good...fingers crossed it stays that way!

Five on Friday :: Freezer Meals, Baby Prep, Christmas {Gasp} and Drugstore Finds

Happy Friday everyone!  I'm officially 35 weeks as of yesterday and will have this baby by 39 weeks so that means we are at the 4 week countdown!  My family including Jason are all convinced that Colin will make an earlier surprise appearance due to the simple fact that I'm HUGE and I don't think they can fathom me getting much bigger.  You never know, but my doctor doesn't seem convinced that will be the case.  Since I was induced the first time around and then rushed to an emergency c-section, I never had that "water break, labor pains or tons of contractions moment."  I really don't know what to expect if that does happen!

Until then, I'm preparing our home, hearts and minds as much as one can and enjoying our last few weeks with an only child. 

Now let's get to some Friday Five!

ONE - Freezer Meals

One of the things I found to be the hardest when Jack was born was food.  We all still needed to eat, but it was sometimes stressful to find time to eat (Jack was a constant nurser), much less prepare an entire meal for me and Jason - especially around dinner time when Jack was the fussiest.  I was lucky enough to have my mom make tons of dinners for us plus friends brought some too, but I don't want to count on this assistance every single night!

My hope is that in the coming weeks I can find some time to make a handful of freezer meals on those days when I just can't get it together.  How easy is it to pop a freezer meal in the crockpot or oven and voila...home-cooked meal!   I'm linking some of the meals I plan to make, but please let me know if you have any other suggestions...and no, while these meals are not waistline friendly they will do their job in that first month when we are in survival mode...I'll worry about diets another time!  You can always throw a salad or some fresh fruit with any of these meals and feel a little better about what you're serving your family!

You can also follow my Slow Cooker/Freezer Meal Pinterest Board.

Baked Ziti

Cranberry Chicken

French Dip Sandwiches

King Ranch Chicken

Hawaiian Meatballs

Turkey Sloppy Joes

Breakfast Burritos

Non-Freezer Meals That I Plan to Have on Hand:

Lactation Cookies

Energy Balls

TWO - Gift Basket for L&D Nurses

When Jack was born I took lots of time and made cute little gift bags to take to the hospital for the L&D nurses.  This time around I'd like to do something for them as they SO deserve it, but don't want to spend a ton of money {or time} preparing it as I'm starting to slow down!

What did you do if anything?  I've thought about just ordering a tray of cookies from Jason's Deli or somewhere near the hospital or having some cute sugar cookies custom made (if time allows). Any nurses out there want to weight in on things you like vs. hate to receive from patients?




THREE - Infant Carrier

I totally stripped our infant carrier {Chicco Keyfit 30} this week to wash everything.  Considering Jack was in it just about everyday when he was an infant it is still in awesome shape and barely looks used.  I can't say enough good things about the Chicco Keyfit and Chicco Caddy Stroller Frame by the way if you are in the market.  I used this YouTube tutorial to help me strip everything off correctly...and then this video to get it back on!  I'm sure I could have figured it out on my own, but this saved me lots of time.

Once I installed it into my car I realized that soon I am going to need a larger car!  But that's a worry for another day...


FOUR - Christmas Decor

I did something this week that I swore I would never do.  I not only thought about, but ordered Christmas decor before Halloween!  Growing up I was always adamant about not thinking about an upcoming holiday until you are done with the other.  First is Halloween so no Thanksgiving talk; then it's Thanksgiving so no Christmas talk, etc.  But I've also come to learn as an adult {mostly as a parent} that one must plan way ahead in order to be on the ball with sales, sellouts and wait lists.  Yes, I had to line up a company to hang our Christmas lights this year back in July as we missed the window the past two years!

Anyway, this week I bit the bullet and ordered Colin his Christmas stocking to match ours from Ballard Designs when I received a catalog in the mail and realized they were on sale now for ordering so early.  Had to get him a matching stocking hanger too - also on sale now!  


FIVE - Drugstore Finds

I'm no beauty blogger, but wear makeup everyday...even if it's just a little concealer, blush and lipstick on the weekends so I consider myself worthy of letting you in on a fantastic drugstore dupe!

The Maybelline Fit Me Concealer ($6.99) is an excellent dupe for the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($29).  Just for comparison, I wear Sand in the Maybelline version and Custard in NARS.  I own both and have actually been grabbing for the Maybelline version as it goes on a little smoother and lasts a bit longer in my opinion.    

I've also have the NYX Butter Gloss ($4.99) in Red Velvet on heavy rotation these days to transition my makeup to a more fall-ish look.  I love the Butter Gloss line because they are so easy to wear everyday - even in the more bold colors.  I found this particular color at Target, but you can find these typically at any CVS, Walgreens or Grocery store. 

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 SCARF SWAPPERS!!!  Just a reminder that you need to have your scarf for your partner purchased and shipped by this Tuesday, 10/6.  So that means if you haven't found that perfect scarf yet, I'm officially putting it on your to-do list this weekend!  I have some of my favorite scarves linked on this post if you need ideas.  Nordstrom has SOOOO many great ones available at and under your $35 price limit and I've also spied great finds at Target and Loft.  I've heard Forever 21 has some great blanket scarves in stores too.  

Basically, you shouldn't have any trouble...Happy swapping! 

Step 1:  Leave a comment below with your name, email, blog link (if applicable) and any other social media handles you would like to share for your partner to get to know you with by Wednesday, 9/16 (one week from today). 

Step 2:  Partners will be posted on this blog on Friday, 9/18

Step 3:  Reach out to your partner via email and follow their blog and social media accounts to get to know each other and get an idea for what type of scarf they might like or opt to totally surprise each other!  You have a little over two weeks to shop for a scarf and send it their way.  If you don't hear from your partner by Tuesday, 9/22, please let me know via email so we can match you with someone else...I promise no one will be left behind!  perfectcatchblog {at} gmail {dot} com

Step 4:  Get the scarf in the mail to your partner by Tuesday, October 6
Step 5:  Come back here to The Perfect Catch Blog on Thursday, 10/15 and link-up to reveal your new scarf and see what everyone else received...this is my favorite part!  Also join us on Instagram using #2015fallscarfswap.  This part is optional, but oh so fun!

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Linking up:

Pregnancy #2 Update :: 34 Weeks

How far along: 34 Weeks
Size of Coffee Bean:  19-22 inches, 4.9 pounds
Fruit/Vegetable Comparison: Pineapple
Gender:  BOY!
Showing:  Um yes!
Maternity Clothes:  Getting sick of wearing the same things over and over.  Looking forward to post-pregnancy, maternity leave attire of leggings and non-maternity tunics!
Sleep: Just okay - trying to appreciate it though even as uncomfortable as I sometimes am because I know very soon I'll be praying for just a few hours of it.  
Movement:  Lots! 
Food Cravings:  Comfort food like soups and cornbread

Anything Making You Sick/Queasy: Only when I panic about having TWO kids soon!
Weddings Rings On or Off: On - just the engagement ring

Mood:  All over the place honestly. Some moments I'm perfectly happy and content, feeling like I have a great handle on things.  Then others I'm stressing out with things I still "need" to get done before baby comes.  I'm treating this last month as if the world is going to end once the baby arrives and I won't be able to do anything.  It's great to prepare as much as you can, but I realize I'm being dramatic with all of my baby prep.  

Best Moment This Week:  Baby Sprinkle and learning that I lost 3 pounds at my last appointment...I had gained 4 pounds at my previous appointment and was majorly freaked out!  
Strange Experiences:  Just all of the strangers who feel it's okay to touch my belly.  Strangers - it's never okay.  
Looking Forward To:  Having our carseats professionally checked this week - yes I am actually looking forward to that and some cooler fall temps!

Read about my 34 week update from my first pregnancy!

Colin's Baby Sprinkle :: An Afternoon Tea

On Saturday my amazing girlfriends that I met years ago while volunteering in the Junior League Tea Room threw me and Colin a Baby Sprinkle.  It was an afternoon tea at Adrienne's home and just perfect!  My mom joined the fun too.  If you remember, they spoiled me when I was pregnant with Jack with a gorgeous shower at the Junior League Tea Room.

I'm one lucky girl to have such awesome friends.

We had the most delicious tea and food that included scones and jam, tea sandwiches, deviled eggs, petit fours, fruit tarts and macarons  #heaven

All of the decorations looked just like Colin's nursery with yellow, gray and gray/white chevron...they even incorporated yellow ducks into the tea, another nursery theme of mine!  Colin and I were showered with gifts and everyone wrote wishes for Colin just as they did for Jack several years ago.

What a special day with special people.