Taj Benjamin is here!

Baby Taj Benjamin arrived on Monday, December 19th, 2011 at 4:37PM. Weight: 8 lbs 14 oz
Length: 21 1/4 inches

Is today our delivery date?

I'm waiting here at home to call the L&D Charge Nurse again. I was told according to my "AM Induction Instructions" to call at 5AM if I had not heard from them yet.

Well she told me at that time they could not get me in first thing, so I should call back by 9AM if I have not heard from them...Gosh, its so close! But now this also means this induction could happen tomorrow...we'll see...I keep telling myself only God knows when this baby's true birthdate will be. (Picture taken at 39 weeks, 2 days.)

Fat Fingers while Prego!

Boy am I glad Robbins Bros. relocated again back to Houston. I can finally get my ring cleaned! Haha. I made a trip there while I was going those last errands I could possibly manage being enormous.

Yes, climbed the stairs up and everything.

Yes, embarassed myself by barely being able to get off my engagement ring.

Yes, browsed around and even tried on the FIRST band I've ever seen that actually went with my engagement ring.

Yes, I'm showing you here despite my ring finger being so red it may burst.

Yes, that's me trying to fit it with my 'big girl' James Avery silver band that is worn when Felicia gets truly pregnant. I bought it when pregnant with Asher.Oh well, I was so happy to finally find something Simon G made to fit my ring! I love that it doesn't go flush around my ring covering up my diamonds. He mentioned sodering it on but I cannot imagine covering up my original engagement ring...namely because of the diamonds surrounding it. :)

Now...what anniversary should I ask for it on?...

Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

Doug has been awesome at accepting that we will always having a fresh tree each year. I grew up with them vs. a pre-lit tree you keep in your attic, so I'm happy that our boys can enjoy the fresh tree scent. (Of course I'm not judging those who have pre-lit trees...I do envy how early you're able to get your trees out and how clean they are! Plus with all the delicous Christmas candles out there, we can all have a fresh tree scent in our homes.) The boys do have a small pre-lit tree in their room. It now also serves as Asher's night light. We were able to get this one up pretty early, so we did have an early feeling of Christmas in the house.
Asher and I went to Hobby Lobby to find his ornaments. He chose most of them and I chose a few for 'the boys'.

Pics from Ryan & Stephanie's Wedding

Yes I'm awful and took these from their facebook pages...I had to get something posted on here after all!

Wedding in NYC! Congrats Ryan & Stephanie!

We survived Doug's trip to NYC to see his brother Ryan get married! I'm so glad Taj decided to cooperate...here is a collection of some pics I got from Doug's text messages.

Doug & big sister Lauren.
Doug at Rockefeller Center.

The groom-to-be!

Reception Hall in Dumbo.

Choosing a name for our boy: Taj Benjamin

"Taj" was always a name Doug and I talked about before we even got pregnant. I don't think we ever seriously considered it while pregnant with Asher...why I'm not sure. Taj Burrow is an professional surfer from Australia born to American parents.

"Taj" means "Crown" in Sanskrit & Indian. Its pronounced like Taj Majal. (I imagine I'll be saying that like alot). Haha.

"Benjamin" is a name I've always liked, and it is coincidentally a son of Jacob and leader of the 12 tribes as well (Asher is a son of Jacob in the Bible and one of the leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel).

Other names we liked were: Owen (me), Diego (Doug), Corb Blake (after Doug's grandfather), James (me), & not too many others unfortunately. Doug's rationale: "its hard to choose something like Asher (such a winner) and pair it with a...blah...name". Yes, that makes sense to me.

If Taj does not appreciate his name as a professional during interviews, he could always make himself T. Benjamin on paper. That has a nice ring to it too!

We never had anything monogrammed for Asher before he was born because we told ourselves, "we want to meet him first". Well this time it was decided one evening that yes, we would in fact choose Taj, so I jumped on to Etsy, ordered him the grey cap you see below...then it just blew up from there. I guess having Christmas right around the corner added to the shopping frenzy.


Stocking to match the rest of ours...
First ornmanent...
And a nice hat to keep himself warm in at the hospital...(the first thing I ordered for him!)
Big brother needed something too... And some more shopping...(this is actually now on sale at Pottery Barn Kids for anyone else whose child is celebrating their first Christmas).
Super-cheap at Hobby Lobby!
And one more thing is being shipped here today I hope! A monogrammed stroller blanket with all things daddy loves: argyle & sock monkeys!

37+ weeks

Well, its Sunday night and I have survived the weekend so far. I hear there is a full moon on Saturday, December 10th. Let's just hope if I do follow the stereotype I will be in labor long enough to get Doug home. He flies back home from NYC that Sunday night.

And now I wait...37 weeks

I do not like to call-in and miss work. In my 4 years of high school I think I missed one day, and I never missed a day of work as a U.S. Marine. I sprained my ankle once before a PFT (Physical Fitness Test) and didn't run it, but I was dressed and out there in my crutches!

So now I think I've called-in officially twice during this pregnancy. Yuck...

I'm here at home, 37 weeks, with on and off crampiness I've been experiencing the past couple of nights. My stomach was very hard for much of last night but I think that was owed to the huge piece of salmon I ate plus a bowl of cereal...embarassing...yes...

I'm also suddenly realizing that Doug will be gone this coming Wed-Sun for his brother's wedding in NYC. I really want this baby BEFORE or AFTER he comes back. Yes, its selfish, but I want Doug here to enjoy him for a bit--or to not get a call from me letting him know I'm going to the hospital while he's so far away.

I said I didn't want to interrupt the trip--he's a groomsman afterall-- and I really don't want to pay the cost of changing his flight to back home.

I honestly didn't think I'd still be pregnant I guess. When I went in last week at 3-4 cm and effaced, I thought 'any day now'. Well this week I was a solid 4 cm...but you still sit that way for a while.

I worked yesterday and yes I had a very nice assignment but I still find it hard to just SIT. I'm due to return to work on Monday, then Thursday-Friday again.

My OB appt is on Wed, within the same hour Doug is leaving to NYC. I called hoping to get an appt with my OB today but instead spoke a long time to the WHNP regarding my concerns and how I was physically feeling. She said that yes, I can still go into labor at any time, and they will NOT induce me unless medically necessary before 39 weeks. She said if the baby is not here by the time Doug leaves I should really just take it easy and not do much to not progress labor along. Well, now my predicament is whether I push myself to do my regular things--and maybe more--in the meantime? Then what if the baby is not here by Wed and suddenly my activity does drive me into labor?!

Sheesh...not an easy situation. I've remained mostly calm throughout this because when I'm troubled with something I just put it in God's hands...and let His will be done. He knows when this baby's birthdate is. I need to just relax, keep doing things like normal and just pray for the best. Thanks for allowing me to vent...

In the meantime I will wrap Christmas presents :)

Oh please don't let me go into labor at work...35+ weeks

35+ weeks...at my doctor's appt this week I found out I am 3-4 cm dilated and 70-80% effaced. She suggested I do not go out of town this weekend (as I was hoping to).

I do work the next two days, Turkey Day & Black Friday, so let's all hope I don't create a biohazard in a patient's room or at the nurse's station if I go into labor at work.

Oh boy...

I have been steadily measuring 2 1/2 weeks past my dates, so here's hoping this baby is actually the size developmentally of a 38 weeker.

Christmas Card 2011

We went with Shutterfly this year. Merry Christmas!

Labor is progressing! 34+ weeks

I went to my doctor's appt today with Dr. Shroeder. I'm offically 34 weeks and 5 days but still measuring 2 weeks ahead, so the belly of a 37 weeker. I'm sure my 'more than expected' weight gain could be a factor in that equation!

Baby has also started dilating. She estimated me at 2-3 cm! Whoo hoo! I know this doesn't mean I'll be laboring soon...I want this baby boy's lungs to mature more after all...but it's nice to see he's moving along as he should. Asher did this for weeks also before I was induced, so I do feel I still have some more time to go.

Plus, if anything, it's given my husband another 'kind kick in the pants reminder' he needs to finish painting Asher's new room! Or else I'm about to go Marine Drill instructor on him. haha.
I also finally invested in compression socks! Yes, a bit late as I started RN school over 4 years ago. Being on my feet (DID I MENTION PREGNANT) as a staff RN for 13+ hours is much different than being a nursing student.

Family Photos!

New rooms for 'the boys'

New baby boy #2 will be moving into Asher's room. I think the stripes that are there already will fit nicely with the caterpillr theme. Now instead of it being a Dr. Seuss room, it'll be a storybook room. Asher will be moving to our spare bedroom, which already had 2 twin beds in it. We've chosen the sheets the boys will have! They were sold out online, but we were able to go to the store yesterday, grab one of the last vintage airplane sets there, then ordered a set at The Woodlands store to be mailed to us. Thank goodness because if they were sold out, we were scrambing to find a new idea for them that was similar, yet different.

Here is Asher's set: And baby boy #2 when he's old enough:

Here is an idea of some of the other contenders if we were not able to find our vintage train & airplane set at Pottery Barn. They're from Restoration Hardware and BOY was there a price difference!

Here's one we liked from Land of Nod:

32+ weeks!

I did the Monster Mash Fun Run (2 mile Zombie Walk) while Doug did the 15K. I pushed Asher and boy was it draining! I'm still waddling around at work. Everyone asks me "how long do you plan to work?" Well, I'd like to say as long as this baby will allow so I can take full advantage of the 12 weeks I get for FMLA. We'll see what 'baby #2 think'. Of course I have some swelling in my feet after my shift, but so would teachers, and anyone else whose job demands they're on their feet most their day.

On my 4 days off, I try to do at least one spinning class--since the absolute last place I will be is on a bike after delivery-- have one "Asher and Mommy day" as we've always had, then rest as much as possible. 'Rest'= a full day of housecleaning and still trying to get our spare bedroom cleared out so we can move Asher into it.

Fun with work friends!

Here are some of my co-workers and I at a Halloween Party. Can you believe 3 of the chicas in this photo are pregnant?! Fortunately only 2 of us will be on Maternity Leave when I'm out. One will start in November and I start in December. One of these girls will start in March and the other in May!

We're an example of something!

Our photographer is starting to add holiday cards to the services she offeres. I saw on her facebook site she chose us as one of the examples!

Family Photos: DONE

Yes, we finished them today! After scheduling these in July, we were still up late in the Galleria last night getting some last minute things for my boys--namely DOUG! Ha. I had Asher's stuff ordered, shipped here, and washed way before this weekend. Needless to say, Daddy and Mommy did get haircuts (mommy got her hair did as usual for these events...since she is clueless on how to use a blowdryer & straightener), mani/pedi, facial a couple weeks ago, and make-up done today at MAC (my first time using them).

We used our 'regulars', DW Photoz/DW Little Bitty Photography. We met up in the Hermann Park & Japanese Garden area. It was swarming with mosquitos! Disgusting. We eventually made it to downtown, but by then it was getting dark...thanks to the scattered showers that came down on us by the end of the night. Either way, I was very happy I could still fit into my wedding/engagement ring & heels.

Note: I feel very spoiled. I was just having some unwind time and saw our photographer put a preview up of one of Asher's photos! I'm so happy already :)

Did that count as my Babymoon?

My trip to NYC this past weekend is what I'm referring to...hmmm...

Happy 5th Birthday Brandon!