Les Miserables

Dear Dominic,

Judging by the intensity with which you pay attention to Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? I'm guessing you're going to be a bookworm like your mom.  Someday, when you borrow my beautifully translated, hardcover edition of Les Miserables you'll notice some yellowishness on the side of the pages.

Let me explain.

I was changing you, as I do about a million times a day.  You had a poop and pee filled diaper.  As I was wiping your cute little bum, you pushed and let lose a stream of wickedness only a mother would't be horrified by.  It completely cleared your pack and play, hitting the armchair, carpet, and my beloved copy of Les Miserables.  This was your first of many projectile poops, and I'm so glad we have a physical, permanent reminder.

I used clorox, so although it's stained, I think it's sanitized.

Enjoy the book, it's in my top 10!  When you finish we'll hit a cafe with a bottle of red and discuss!

Love, Mom  

Look Who's 1 Month!

Our little friend survived 1 month under our care!  Happy birthday to him, and a nice pat on the back to us!

There are times when I feel like the time has completely flown by.  It seems like just yesterday we were headed to the hospital with a haphazardly packed overnight bag and car seat instructions.  Then there are other times when it seems like he's always been here.  Was there really a time when we could go to bed when we wanted, or cook a meal at a relaxed pace because we weren't trying to beat the clock (read: trying to get everything done before the little milk monster wakes up).

It's amazing to look at his pictures from the hospital.  It's only been a month.  30 days.  Yet he's changed so much.

He just looks older.

I see his eyes focus, and when I'm talking to him he's looking at me instead of just in my general direction.

We're starting to get a few real smiles - especially when we have playtime on the activity mat.  There's a certain brightly colored monkey that he finds fascinating.

He's awake for longer periods of time.  We have a stretch in the morning, mid-afternoon, and evening.  He has kept those very alert and curious eyes - I think he's going to be a quizzy kind of kid.

I continue to love him more every day.  As I become more comfortable in the mommy role, and I am able to predict how he will act, we're starting to have more fun together.  (In most cases, I know what to do to get him to calm down if he gets fussy - and I've come to learn if there's stuff to look at, a bottle handy, or the stroller/car to ride in we're most likely going to be okay.)

I've gone from not liking this little newborn stage all that much to really enjoying it.  I think the smiles and indications towards recognition of my face and voice really help.  It's nice to start having more fun with him!

Places we've visited in the first month:
The Hospital (mainly to the lactation office)
The Doctor
Mimi's house
Nana's house
Barnes & Noble in Salem
Barnes & Noble in Nashua
Market Basket
Trader Joe's
The beach (Pirate's Cove)
Prescott Park in Portsmouth
Our neighborhood (in the stroller)
Grammy's house
Dennis' company picnic in Strafford

Names we have for Dominic:
The cub
The loaf (when he's all swaddled)
Milk Monster
Belly Boy (that one's mine because I think his belly and bellybutton are adorable)

I can't wait to see the changes that take place as we head into month 2!

Warm Baby

Dear Dominic,

While you were peacefully sleeping in the pack 'n play last night I got it into my head that your head felt warm.  I'm so sorry that I shoved the baby thermometer under your armpit causing you to wake up and scream bloody murder.  I'm also sorry that I didn't trust said thermometer and changed your diaper under false pretenses so I could take your temperature "more accurately".  Translation: with the "rectal" adapter on the thermometer.  You didn't like this much either, but oddly the armpit tampering bothered you a lot more...

Rest assured you were a beautiful 98.4.

But you were also awake, screaming, and needed to be fed an hour early. 

Sorry, buddy. 

Love, Mumma

Dominic John - A Birth Story

I copied and pasted Dominic's story from Kate's Library!

I was expecting a baby boy due August 30.  Well, he decided he just couldn't wait around in there and greeted the world 3 weeks and 1 day early, on August 8!  Dominic John, 6 pounds, 3 ounces, 19.5 inches.

So since he's snoozing in his little bouncy thing at the table with me, and I'm sitting at the computer for the first time in 3 weeks, I feel compelled to share his story with all of you!.

Dennis and I were up early on August 7.  He had a dentist appointment, and I wanted to get some work done before picking up Grammy and heading to UNH to run a few errands.  Something felt a little "off" that morning and I told Dennis that I'll be calling the OB just to double check.  He left, and about 40 minutes later when I stood up to get a cup of coffee my water broke!  I called Dennis (who was just about to go into a dentist appointment - good thing I caught him!) and as he drove home I busied myself gathering the essentials.  I packed our hospital bag (because that was on my "to-do" list for the week... plenty of time!), grabbed our car seat and instruction manual (once again... plenty of time... it was on my to-do list for the week!), and paced anxiously.

The doctor confirmed that yes, my water had indeed broken, and I should head next door to the hospital.  Now.  I wasn't having any contractions.  Only 2 cm dilated.  Most people would have gone home and wait for things to get rolling.  However, I had tested positive for some kind of topical strep infection, so I needed to get started on an antibiotic IV.  So we spent the day at the hospital.  In the deliver room.  Without contractions.  Just waiting for things to get going.

We waited all day.

Finally around 5pm or so we decided it was time to start the ol' petocin.  By 11pm we had regular, strong contractions.  Yay!  Mumma got her epidural.  Yay!  (I know there are many who are all about the natural childbirth.  But I have to tell you.  The epidural was pure magic.  I could feel everything that was going on but didn't have pain.  We were joking with the doctor and nurses between pushes at the end.  So happy I did it!)  Fun fact - the anesthesiologist who administered the epidural looked and sounded like Bill Murray.  And he explained everything he was doing to this needle-phobic gal.  And he was funny.  We loved him!  Oh yeah, he also took the pain away. 

Epidural working its magic, the nurses put Dennis and I to bed.  Told us to get some sleep - this baby wasn't going to arrive until morning.  So Dennis napped on a cot.  And I napped in the bed - and was only slightly annoyed by the blood pressure cuff taking my reading every 20 minutes.  My mom and sister-in-law were camped out for the night in the waiting room.  Fun fact - if you visit a hospital cafeteria at 3:00am you'll find an odd assortment of fare.  Eggs.  Bacon.  Toast.  Chicken fingers.  French Fries.  It all depends on what end of your day you're visiting... are you there really early, or up really late?  (This is my sister-in-law's picture... I wasn't in labor taking pics in the cafeteria!)

4:00am arrives and the doc proclaims me to be 6cm dilated!  Woo-hoo!  She goes to the OR to deliver twins.  10 minutes later my monitors start doing some funny stuff and the nurses come in and announce that I've moved to 10cm.  In 10 minutes.  We give the doctor a few minutes to finish up with the twins - they prep the room, I assure them I can certainly hold off pushing, Dennis downs two Red Bulls and gets his game face on.

2 hours of pushing that seem to go by in a flash.  Like I said, because of my magic drug we're laughing and making jokes between pushes.  Dennis is absolutely amazing - a rock-solid presence for me.  Encouraging and making me smile.  Who could ask for more?

And the next thing you know, we get this little guy...

Alert and curious - minutes after his arrival!

He's even cuter after his first bath - he was covered in that cheesy-looking stuff because he was so early.  Here's some more cuteness.

We love him!  He's a good baby.  So far he eats just fine, sleeps fine, and only fusses and cries when something's up like a wet diaper, gas, or hunger.  Otherwise he'll be awake and alert.  Every time he's looking up at me expectantly at 3 am I remind myself that there are people who have a screaming baby instead of one that's just super awake and alert!  We're lucky!  

He's a huge adjustment, of course.  Who knew poo could shoot so far across a room?  Who knew that breastfeeding does not really come naturally - it's really hard to figure out?

Here are things we know about Dominic so far.  He hates having his arms confined - swaddle from the armpits down, please!  He likes to take walks and ride in the car - and by "likes" I mean "sleeps".  If you put him in his tub and cover him with a wet, warm cloth diaper he just chillaxes.  He burps like an old man after a few cans of Bud.  

90% of the time I feel great.  The other 10% I'm completely overwhelmed.  But I've been told that's how it's supposed to go.  Dennis is fantastic with him.  I'm lucky in two arenas.

So, this has been occupying my days.  And nights.  For the past three weeks.  Although I am finding time to read!  I'm thankful for the Kindle during those late-night feedings.  I'm getting in some Les Miserables time, although I think it goes without saying that my post for July is long overdue and the next one will probably be late too.  I'll get them posted as I get to those parts of the book.

Hope everyone is well.  I'm not going through my google reader as in-depth as usual, but I am keeping up with your posts.  Moms and Dads out there - reassure me that life will never be the same, but will return to some kind of normal.  I won't be a food source every 3 hours forever, right?  :)

Home Alone 3

Dominic is 3 weeks old today! 

...and believe it or not, this is actually the third day we've been home alone together.  We have such supportive family and friends - and everyone's been helpful visiting and lending a hand.  My mom has been pretty helpful - mostly as a grounding force for me.  She visits but lets me do my "mommy stuff" and offers help or suggestions in a good way. 

Yesterday we went to Barnes & Noble with Grammy.  While Gram was browsing cards she could see my anxiety - out in a public place with a baby who just had a bottle but could cry at any second and looks like he's getting antsy... Finally she asked me what's the worst thing that could happen (he could totally flip out and start crying in this quiet cafe), and what would you do (I'd just keep carrying him, put my diaper bag in the stroller, wheel him outside, and get him in the carrier outside away from everyone in the cafe).  So there, nothing to be nervous about.  I have an escape route.

So today has been a good day for me mentally because I'm doing my normal stuff for the first time, only with a baby here at home.  It's a lot of work trying to figure out how, as it says in my subheading, not to lose myself when the day is a blur of nursing and diapers.  It's something Dennis and I talked a lot about before we decided to have a baby.  It's important for both of us to retain personality beyond "Mommy and Daddy".  I'm overwhelmed less when I feel like we're able to do things we did before - only this time with a baby, and with a lot more prep and thought.  No more running to the beach on a whim, or taking a drive to work to grab something I need.  I can still do these things, but with more preparation. 

Today was a good start.

Look who's 3 weeks!

Hello world!  I'm 3 weeks old today!!!  I stole this idea from Summer and her bunny pictures with her Maddybear.  Since I don't have a stuffed animal big enough to do the job, I thought this was appropriate!  :)

We had to have a costume change after an unfortunate incident involving pee and a wet onesie.  Let's see if we get him to pose like this when he's 18.  ;)

Spreading the news

I had so much fun telling my students the good news today!  The reactions I received were pretty wonderful.  

One guitar class was somewhat unenthused... and they proceeded to suggest I name the child their name (first and last. Not the brightest bulbs...).

The other guitar class was really excited.  One kid guessed right away because he thought he overheard me telling Carl (our wonderful chorus teacher) a few weeks ago.  He said he wasn't sure so he didn't tell anyone. They asked actual questions and were psyched.  

Orchestra was really excited.  I had to tell them in two groups because some kids were going to be filming something in the PAC.  I told those kids first while they were in my office.  Cheers all around.  I told the rest of the orchestra in the form of a hangman on the board.  "Mrs. Comeau is having a baby in August!"  Ironically they got "baby" completely spelled out in three moves and totally lost it and started clapping.  It's neat to have the support of those terrific kids. 

Fourth grade was excited too.  They got the hangman puzzle too, but of course they're in fourth grade so they spelled most of it out before guessing.  Cheers there too.  

Great day!  I posted a picture of a green olive on my office door, and intend to change it as the weeks go by. I'm also posting a big piece of chart paper inside my office (because if it's outside my office someone will write something inappropriate and/or draw a penis on it...) where the kids can write down baby name suggestions.  They liked that idea too.  

The fun continues!

Week 9

So many exciting things!

Week 9 - baby is officially a fetus instead of an embryo!  Woo-hoo baby!  Baby is the size of a green olive (mmmm...).Baby's growing a liver, speen, and gallbladder this week.


We had our first doctor appointment today, and after sharing that I'm a little anxious to get going and have an ultrasound the nurse offered to have it done today!  Excited does not begin to describe!!  


I know it doesn't look like much yet (although pretty cute, I must say), but we have a head, little arm and leg buds, and a really fast heart!  (The fast heart is normal - it was 170 bpm, which is "presto" according to my metronome.)  It was pretty cool seeing the heart pumping away and seeing blood moving in the umbilical cord.  We were able to hear the heart too, which was pretty amazing.  


Wonderful day!  Here's the little jellybean's first photograph!  (Head's on the top in this shot.)  

Week 8

It's the beginning of week 8 - and I know you're all wondering what's going on in my belly.

Baby is the size of a large raspberry this week (the fruit is getting more delicious as we move through the weeks!).  This week baby will be growing at about a millimeter per day!

What's growing on baby?  The tail is pretty much gone, so he/she is looking less like a reptile and more like a human.  (Although the fingers and toes are still webbed, so the verdict is still out on that...)  Lips, nose, eyelids, legs and back are taking shape.

Baby's heart is beating at 150 beats per minute!  To give you perspective, that's about twice as fast as mine (and yours).  

Baby is also starting to move this week, although I won't be able to feel it for many weeks.  The movements are kind of like spasms in the arms and legs, which is kind of neat to think about.  Of course this moving combined with high hormones could cause increased morning sickness.  Let's see if my good luck continues to hold this week!

I think I've been pretty lucky in the morning sickness department.  Most of the time I feel pretty good thanks to the suggestion of both Ma (Joanne) and Mum (...Mum) to munch absorbent things all day and try not to let the stomach get empty.  I brought pita chips Monday and Tuesday (delicious) and pretzels yesterday and today.  When I start to get that watery-mouth-omg-I-want-to-puke feeling I munch a little and it usually settles down.  Luckily I'm so busy at work it's kept me thinking of other things which helps a lot too.  I'm still liking most foods, although we bought a rotisserie chicken on our way home from the wedding and the smell in the car was really grossing me out.  The smell of the refrigerator in the teacher's room is grossing me out too so I hold my breath when I take stuff out of there.  I've also had a few times when my coffee has really turned me off and I've only had a few sips or half a cup.  (Not today though - I have a Dunks iced!)  

Oh, I'm also tired.  I reached a new low today and packed my make-up to put on in the bathroom because I needed extra sleep this morning.  (Not too tired to hit the BSO though - so excited to be going back to hear beautiful music tonight!)

How creepy is this picture... I hope my baby doesn't have shifty eyes like that. 

Week 7

Week 7 and baby is the size of a blueberry!

Dennis and I are gearing up for our first doctor's appointments.  

The first is on January 23 with a nurse practitioner.  The topic will be family history, blood tests and an internal exam (how fun!).  So, if there's any family history I should know about, please pass on the information before then!

The second appointment is on February 16 with Heidi, one of the doctors in the practice.  I'm assuming there's an ultrasound, but I'm not 100% sure... I'll have to call and double check, or possibly ask at the first appointment.

What's happening in week 7?  Baby is 10,000 times bigger than it was at conception, most of the growth being concentrated in the head.  (Thank god babys' proportions will even out by August!)  How cool is this - brain cells are being generated at 100 cells per minute!  

Baby's mouth and tongue are forming, arm and leg buds are sprouting (and dividing into segments for shoulders, arms, wrists, knees, etc), and kidneys are starting to kick into gear.  Did you know that in this short amount of time baby is on its third set of kidneys?  These are the final set, and by the end of the week baby will start producing urine.  This sounds gross - but baby excretes urine into the amniotic fluid, swallows it, processes it, and excretes it again in one continuous cycle.  Kind of disgusting but it's getting the organs to do their jobs, right?

Baby still looks a little like a blob, but less than last week, I think.