Announcing...

Lucy Janel Varela

Born Tuesday, April 2, at 7:12 a.m.
6 pounds, 9 ounces
20 inches long



I'm posting from our hospital room, where we had quite a morning! I can't wait to relay the labor/birth story--it was exciting and ended perfectly with our sweet little girl.

I'm an eBay addict

How cute is this diaper bag? There are a bunch of handmade bags on eBay I could use as diaper bags. I've been browsing ones made with fabrics I like (this one has Amy Butler fabrics). I'm really tempted to bid on this one but I will have to wait to see if I have a girl!



Edit: I found some even cuter bags, too--ones I can have custom embroidered with the baby's name. Oh I can barely wait! I've been having some contractions tonight (Sunday) for a couple of hours, but they are pretty far apart and not very painful, so it's probably nothing.

No news

Baby is still hanging on tight with barely any contractions. OH! But I'm pretty positive we did settle on a boy name, so I'm not so worried about whether it's a boy or girl now.

Still here

I've been having some contractions, but nothing regular yet. As of my appointment yesterday, I am 3 cm dilated--yay for progress! C'mon baby, we want to meet you!

Still pregnant

No baby or any signs of labor! Tomorrow I'll be 38 weeks. (Nate was born at 37 weeks 1 day.) I'm feeling pretty uncomfortable and think I'm ready to have this baby any time now. Plus I rrrreally want to know if it's a boy or a girl!

Thank you to many of you for your encouraging notes and e-mails you sent after I posted the last post. We are doing well!

No baby yet

I didn't realize I had gone so many days without a post!

I had an OB appointment on Monday, and everything looks great with the baby. I've been having a few mild contractions here and there over the past weeks, but I'm only 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced, so the baby's still pretty snug. I, on the other hand, am less and less comfortable. It's just hard getting around with 35 extra pounds hanging off my front (and sides and legs and everywhere else)!

aaaaaaaaaaa

(above from Nate)

We had Nate's appointment with the pediatric neurologist today. It was good. I'm definitely still processing all the information, so I'll probably post about it in a few days.

Update

This week has been another good week at therapy (excluding Monday, when Nate cried and cried for most of the hour and a half. He actually did better when I left for the last 20 minutes, so I'm not going to go in with him anymore I think). It's still tiring, and Nate still would choose not to go if he had the choice, but it's getting better. Next week starts our new schedule! Tuesday morning is two hours of ABA at our house; Wednesday and Thursday are 9:30-11:00 at the center. I'm interested to see how Nate does with so many days (Friday-Monday) in between therapy sessions, because I think one reason Mondays have been hard for him is that he hasn't been in therapy since the previous Thursday...

Baby #2 update
I hit 36 weeks earlier this week. I feel like there is no possible way my body could expand for four more weeks. Skin isn't supposed to be able to stretch like that! I think Jon and I might have come up with two possible boy names we like last night, so that gives me a bit more peace of mind if this is a boy. Overall, though, I still am leaning slightly toward guessing it's a girl.

Preparation progress
Clean Nate’s closet--both sides
Clean my closet (DONE)
Goodwill clothes (DONE)
Find boppy (DONE)
Get out and set up:
-bassinet (DONE)
-car seat (mostly done)
-neutral newborn clothes (DONE)
Pack hospital bag
Pack overnight bag for Nate (to last 2 days)
Make and freeze some meals to have for dinners after baby comes
To buy:
Plastic drawers for clothes (DONE)
Diapers (DONE)
Nursing things
Wash cloths?

Here is Nate's contribution to today's post: ssszzzzcccccccc x

Baby update

I'm feeling pretty good and getting nice and big! This baby is strong and likes to keep me from taking a nap by kicking and punching up a storm if I lie down. That's the baby news right now. At 34 weeks, I'm definitely at the waddling stage. Nate was born at 37 weeks, but I'm hoping to make it farther than that this time, mostly because I can't fathom having another baby already three weeks from now. Here's what my to-do list looks like:

Clean Nate’s closet--both sides
Clean my closet (partially done. This is where I will keep some of the new baby's clothes until our housing situation is changed.)
Goodwill clothes (DONE)
Find boppy
Get out and set up:
-bassinet (need sheets?)
-car seat (adjust straps)
-neutral newborn clothes (wash)
Pack hospital bag
-Travel-size toiletries
-One boy & one girl outfit
-Flute phone numbers (input into phone?)
Pack overnight bag for Nate (to last 2 days)
Make and freeze some meals to have for dinners after baby comes

To buy:
Plastic drawers for clothes (DONE. Eventually, Nate will get the dresser Jon uses now, and Baby will get Nate's dresser. My dad is going to build a new one for Jon and me!--no hurry, though.)
Diapers
Nursing things
Wash cloths?

From one to two

We are getting pretty close to being a family of four! My due date is two months from tomorrow.

I am nervous about having two. Although I feel like taking care of Nate at the beginning came relatively naturally to me (especially because he was an easy-going infant), I'm anxious about doing all of that and having a toddler at the same time. The sleep deprivation at night was OK with Nate, because then I could sleep during the day when he napped. Nursing was generally relaxing and easy, because it meant sitting down and being quiet with no distractions. Sticking to a schedule/routine was natural and effortless, because the only child who mattered was Nate, and he thrived on the schedule I put him on. Not so this time. Sleeping during the day won't be an option most of the time. I'm hopeful that nursing won't be a stressful time, that Nate won't be too jealous, that this baby will eat quickly (some take 45 minutes each time, some 10!). As far as routine goes, I really like and need structure, but I know I'll learn to be more flexible too (already have a little bit).

I guess I'm mostly nervous about having two because I now know how much effort, energy, and selflessness go into having just one. And now I'm about to start over again! And of course I ask the question I've heard so many parents ask: "How can I love another child as much as I love my first?" It's true. Nate is my pumpkin, my sweet boy, my laughing partner... and I don't even know the name of this next baby. At this point, I think more about how the next child will affect Nate, and not how much I'm sure we're going to love him/her and how much joy he/she will bring to our family. I'm just nervous!

Home

I don't know how I ended up with such a great little traveler, but Nate did great again yesterday for our flights home. I was pretty miserable not being able to breathe (I caught Nate's sickness with a vengeance over the last 3 or 4 days), but I'd much rather be the one who is sick (not Nate). I'm feeling pretty terrible again today, but I'm hopeful that tomorrow will be better.

Here is Nate on a walk with Grandpa:


And playing with Mimi:


I'm 30 weeks along today! That means the baby is close to 3 pounds and over 15 inches along. He/she is still a mover and shaker, especially when I sit down or lie down. I feel huge but know I'll still get much bigger from here...

Better

Today was the first day in nearly a week that Nate slept until later than 6:00 a.m. Who knew I would ever rejoice to get to "sleep in" until 7:00?

Night before last, I had a vivid dream that I had our baby, and it was a boy--but we still hadn't picked out even one boy name we liked, so the baby went nameless for a few days. In the dream, I ended up calling him Eli, but I think that's because my friend Ricci's 4-month-old son is named Eli (Elijah).

Update

Jon is in Buena Park at this moment possibly buying a car. Our Sentra has been great 'til now, but the only way it will fit the new baby's car seat and Nate's car seat is if the passenger seat is pushed up all the way, leaving essentially no leg room (I'd have to sit Indian style somehow). So Scott is with Jon right now as an impartial voice of reason and because Scott is a great haggler.

I've been searching for different fabrics to use for crib bedding if this baby is a girl. I want to do green and pink and have found some really cute ones. I'll choose between the first two paisleys (either the simpler just pink and green one or the more elaborate one) and try to find coordinating fabrics like the ones below those.















Nate has an appointment with an audiologist next week (1/9) for a hearing screening. Jon and I are both sure he hears just fine, but this is a "rule it out first" precaution I guess. My mom and grandfather have genetic hearing loss, so it is of course a possibility. The referral for the pediatric neurologist has also been approved, so now it's a matter of deciding whether we want to take Nate. The pediatrician told me that every child he refers to the ped neurologist does get diagnosed with autism--it's like every child has some sort of symptom that could be assessed that way. So he said that, if we do take Nate, we should take the diagnosis with a grain of salt. The reason we would still take him is that, with a diagnosis, Nate is ensured the highest quality therapy (at no cost to us). So we'll see.

21 weeks

A few people have asked to see a "belly picture" like the ones we took when I was pregnant with Nate. Here is my best attempt at one today by myself. I didn't purposely exclude my face, but hey, oh well. I'm definitely showing now.

10/30

I've been feeling the baby move quite a bit for the past few days! I feel it sometimes when I lie down, but usually when I'm sitting straight up in a chair. Feeling the baby move was one of my favorite things about being pregnant the first time, and it's the same now!

Nate went home with Grammy and Grampy from church yesterday, and then they took him to Disneyland for the rest of the day (they said he liked looking at the lights and sat back and observed on the couple of rides they took him on). He slept over at their house last night while Jon and I went with two friends to a Clippers season ticket holder appreciation night at Universal Studios. The event wasn't anything great (especially since Jon got carsick on the way up and then got really sick after going on a simulated motion ride), but it was just nice to get out and be together, and then to come home and sleep soundly without listening to the baby monitor!

I picked Nate up this morning. He's down for a nap right now, but I'm looking forward to playing with him after he wakes up--I missed him yesterday!

My energy returns?

Today is the first day I've felt like "getting something done" while Nate naps. I mopped! I did dishes! It's either that second trimester energy finally kicking in, or it's the half a can of regular Coke (my first this pregnancy other than a few sips here and there) I drank earlier.

I'm exactly 4 months along today. Oh, and I think I felt the baby move yesterday morning, but it's hard to be sure this early on. I have my next appointment tomorrow and look forward to hearing the heartbeat and getting a good report from the doctor.

Still no boy names have popped into my head. Feel free to tell me your favorite(s)--but I might steal it!

Better

Things are a lot better in the Varela household today. Jon stayed home from work on Monday to recover, but he was back at work and nearly back to normal on Tuesday. Nate, on the other hand, has taken a while to recover. He got sick on Friday and is still not himself today. He's fussy and clingy and doesn't want to eat (shocker!). I'm praying he is back to his chipper self by Friday, though, because that's when my parents are coming. They will be here for a quick visit (until Tuesday morning), and I'm really looking forward to it. Of course, I have completely neglected the housework this week (just like Sara when her boys were sick this past weekend--I love the baked potato part), as nearly every waking minute has to be devoted to Nate, but I'm sure my parents won't notice since they'll be too caught up with Nate.

I have my 12-week prenatal appointment today and will get to hear the heartbeat--yay! I remember the first time around, when I was pregnant with Nate, I thought about it all the time (at least once an hour)--how big the baby was that day, what was developing that week, what we should name him/her, when and where I should register, etc. But I'm finding with this pregnancy that I've sometimes forgotten I'm pregnant (if I'm not having morning sickness)! I guess I just don't have time to think about it. I receive weekly e-mails about the pregnancy and how the baby is developing, but I have time only to skim them (before, I'd read them in-depth and click through all the links).

Oh, and about names: I absolutely cannot think of a boy name I like. I've mentioned a few to Jon, but he has voted no on them, which is fine because I'm not really attached to them anyway. With Nate, we didn't know if he was a boy or girl, and I couldn't settle on a girl name. Does this mean I just need to think harder or does it mean I'm having a girl? :)

Pregnancy

I had my first prenatal appointment this week, and it went well. Nothing too exciting happens at the 8-week visit, since the baby is still too small (kidney beanish) to hear its heartbeat with the Doppler or anything like that. I do get to go back on Tuesday, though, for an ultrasound where they will verify my due date. I had an ultrasound with Nate at this stage, too; the baby looks like a little blob with arm buds and leg buds, but you can see the beating heart! That's pretty cool.

I've been feeling relatively good as far as morning sickness goes. I've pulled out all my old tricks I learned while pregnant with Nate (like keeping food by the bed and eating right when I wake up in the morning--ahem, I mean right when Nate wakes up--so that I have something in my stomach). I'm pretty tired and still feel somewhat queasy most of the day, but so far so good!

Announcement

I've been meaning to post the news for a few days but haven't had the time... We are expecting our second little Varela! :) I'm due April 10, and we're very excited!