Back in the swing of things

Last night PJ slept for 3 hours straight!! I woke up at 4:50, fed him, and by 6 am I wasn't even tired because I felt so refreshed from a "long" period of sleep.  However... i did force myself to go back to bed, I do have to take full advantage of all naps.  This morning Pete was watching Tour de France and had PJ with him, so I enjoyed a nice, quiet breakfast outside:

I made a dippy egg, fried some turkey lunch meat, and added some bacon and mustard all on two slices of good bakery bread

Yuummm!! I enjoy cooking breakfast every morning but haven't really had the opportunity to do so lately, so this was a nice treat! Yesterday Mikay, PJ and I all went to my friend Maureens house to swim, and here's a photo of Mikay and Daisy, Maureens doggie:

Now on the agenda today is to find some clothes that fit!! I REALLY need to drop 20 lbs, and would like to drop 30, but its hard because if I don't keep up my caloric intake my body wont produce PJ's food... so for now I'm going to bite the bullet and just buy some bigger clothes since I don't fit in anything I own.  Boo. I cant start running again until I get cleared by the doctor, but I have been walking.

PJ!!

Peter Andrew Vottis Jr. was born on June 23rd at 10:05 pm.  Pete (Sr..hahha) and I went into the hospital to be induced at 6am that same day.  I was in labor for 14 hours total... and only had to push for 1 hr 15 minutes.  I was so super nervous to go into the hospital and give birth again, I pretty much had anxiety over doing it, however, it was a piece of cake compared to the first child! Its true what they say... the second is much, much easier!

What really shocked me is after PJ was born I had Pete and the nurses taking a guess at how much he weighed... I guess something around 8 lbs... and when they weighed him he was 9 lbs 9 oz and 21 1/2" long!! Holy cow, I never ever expected that! Just to compare it to Mikayla Christine, she was born Oct 17th 2005 after 26 hrs of labor, 4 of those hours pushing... and she was born 9.7 and 22" long. 

I feel pretty fantastic after giving birth this time, the first time I didn't think I could really even walk after two weeks... but this time I was up after one hour and even took a shower the next day!

Being home and breastfeeding is both fulfilling and overwhelming.  I did not breastfeed with Mikayla because it just didn't work out for me, and my heart wasn't in it, but PJ decided he enjoyed it as soon as he was born, he took to it really well.  He eats about every 2 hours for about 45 minutes, giving me a solid hour of sleep at a time, all night, even now.  I try to pump as much as possible and wasn't really getting ahead, but I looked up tips online and managed to freeze about 11 oz so far.  I want to have it in case I ever leave my lil munchkin I want to leave Pete some food for him!

My husband has been so super-duper fantastic throughout this pregnancy and birth.  Am I surprised?... absolutely not.  He wakes up during the night and provided I am able to leave him a bottle he will feed and change PJ and then walk around with him until he goes back to sleep... unfortunately some nights I am unable to provide this and just do it all night anyway.  But my husband is a dream, he is just so in love with PJ and takes really good care of him.  If it wasn't for the breastfeeding I know he would do even more!

I was able to cook dinner yesterday... and nap two times... and I feel like I'm actually beginning to get into the swing of things.  Its been 3 weeks today (!!!) and is taking this long to adjust.  I read that it can take 6 to 10 weeks for your milk to be in sync with your child, and I feel my body is beginning to do so. 

PJ is just such a joy, he is not a crier and is overall a really good baby.  Mikayla has been such a great big sister, we bought her Mario Kart for the Wii and her and Pete have been playing a lot lately, since we pretty much hang out together as a family (and all I do is breastfeed/pump on the couch!!).  But she doesn't seem to have any issues, she is pretty independent anyway. 

my fav...sleeping together in the hospital

big sissy gift

lil superhero

bath time!!

found his thumb

Hopefully I will start blogging again, because its something I enjoy doing!

My Last night Preggers

Tomorrow I am being induced... so tonight is my last night as a pregnant woman (but not forever!).  I had originally planned to spend the afternoon at a pool with Mikayla, but it was pretty crappy outside today, so I couldn't.  We did get to spend the day at the pool on Tuesday, and here are the last photos you will see of me pregnant!

A turkey playing in the yard!

Hot Pocket

Wow... by this time tomorrow I will have my little baby boy in my arms!! Cant wait... so anxious!

Last long day

Today was kind of a sad day because it was Mikaylas last full day as a kindergartner this year.  She is so excited to go into 1st grade, and I'm excited and sad!! She wanted to wear a pretty dress to school (of course) and sparkly shoes.

This is her one of the last times she will be walking into school...

Doesn't she look so tiny?? I cant believe how independent she is, and has always been.  I dropped off the pups to the vet to get another round of shots today, then met the hubster for lunch (Chinese). Mmmm.

Today was an alone day, but I didn't actually get to spend it at home, which is fine with me.  The hour I was home I sat outside and read a trashy magazine, and soon Mikayla gets off the bus for the LAST time this year at 3:20! Im planning on spending the afternoon outside with her... and having as many "Mikayla and Mommy" days as possible before the baby comes.

Happy Step-Fathers Day!

We had a pretty special weekend so far.  Delia came over on Friday, and dinner was fantastic.  Mikayla was happy that I made hot dogs and mac and cheese...

 and pickles and tomatoes and grapes and corn.  My child is such an amazing eater, she just eats everything and anything. I, too, ate a Nathans hot dog... healthified Chicago style

 With lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, ketchup and mustard.  Delish!

 Yesterday we celebrated Step-Fathers day, because Mikayla would be with her father for Fathers Day... and Pete is more of her father anyway.  For breakfast we made him super chocolately choc chip pancakes (white and reg chips) with walnuts... and a fried egg.

 Mikayla just loves making pancakes into faces, thanks to one single trip to IHOP that allows you to do that.

 That would be two huge chocolately pancakes with a fried egg on top... such a good way to start a special day! Next, we geared up and took a "hike" on the bike path.  Pete rode his bike (wayyy more miles then we walked) and Mikay, the pups and I walked about 2 miles.  The bike path is literally a 2 minute walk from where we live, and a nice, scenic, easy walk is from our apartment to one of the Locks on the Mohawk River.

 39 weeks baby!

 The SECOND we left our apartment, Mikayla found a bunch of "baby toads" hopping around, so naturally she handed over the dogs leash and picked one up to take it on a walk. Poor thing died in about 2 minutes.  She squishes EVERYTHING she holds.  She pretty much carried a dead frog for about one mile. 

 Its still alive here... this is when it wanted to hop.  Soon after this photo, the frog "didn't really feel like hopping anymore". ahhh, kids.

 Pete caught up with us after he was finished riding, and walked us home.

 When we got back from our walk the puppies were super tired, so we caged them up and packed for an afternoon at the beach.  It ended up being a beauuutiful day out. Pete scoped out places to drop in his sailboat and I relaxed on the beach and swam stood in the water with Mikayla.

I caved...

Just remember... I am 39 weeks pregnant.

After dropping Mikayla off to school today I took a quick run to Price Chopper.  Mikayla is having her BFF over after school today, and she has been giving me explicit instructions on what she wants them to eat for dinner.  Here's what $21.00 bought me today at the store:

That's right.. you see hot dogs.  She said her friend Delia loooooves them, so I had to buy them.  She jumped on this too... "Mom, this means we NEED ketchup".  Grr... fine, child.  I was going to buy butcher hot dogs, but Pete said he would eat Nathans hot dogs.  I also got hot dog buns, but a slightly healthier kind... as in, not the cheapest package I could find.  I bought two boxes of Annie's Mac N Cheese, which is always a welcomed favorite.  Rice Krispies because I'm home all day and if I have marshmallows Id love to whip up some 'Kripsy treats.  I also bough Goldfish (remember the explicit instructions?!), Capri Suns, and an ice cream treat.... Strawberry shortcake bars. Eggs were $1 for 12, so I had to buy those.  Not my normal shopping trip, but I refuse to let my child be the kid that eats weird.  (Don't you worry... as soon as they walk in I will fill them up with fresh, cut up fruit anyhow..).

Ahhh... so you see that mini-Friendlys ice cream sundae, do you?

 I call that breakfast.  It was mint chocolate ice cream with fudge and crushed Keebler grasshopper cookies on top.  When I got home it was already perfect ruined and all melty, so I had to immediately dig in.

Yeah, I ate about half before I realized eating sugar doesn't make me feel good after I eat it, so into my freezer it went.

Last night we utilized our NY State Park Season pass and drove up to Moreau Lake as a family, minus the dogs.  We made it with about a little over an hour to swim in the lake.  I feel I need to do these things now, before the baby comes! After swimming we let Mikayla play on the playground for a few but Pete and I were getting eaten alive by mosquito's so we had to leave. 

When we came home we worked on the bedroom a lil more (to make room for the babes) and I popped a frozen pizza in the oven.  I also roasted some broc, and cooked up some zucchini.  I bought two emergency frozen pizzas in case Pete and Mikayla needed something to eat, but we already used them both! Ha.

Yeah right.. I ate that pizza x's two! With a huge side of crushed red pepper... my flavorite!

Leftovers

Last night I couldn't sleep and had to be up bright and early to drive Mikayla to school today.  I had high hopes for today, because I accomplished so much yesterday, but the lack of sleep from last night is already slowing me down.  I got Mikayla to school on time.... I hate how sometimes 9am seems so early, because I know its not!! I really wanted to keep her home with me today, but I didn't because she only has 3 full days of school left, and I know these are the fun days!

I came home and cooked up a hearty breakfast, because I was starving! I made an amazing egg sandwich, with 2 eggs, fresh mozz cheese, some leftover Brushetta Salsa stuff, lettuce and some hot sauce.

I should have went with my instinct and only made half... I haven't been hungry or eating a lot lately.  Seriously.  Yesterday I pretty much snacked on some watermelon, which kept me full until dinner.  Pregnancy sure does some fun things to you!!