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Quarantine birthday

By • On • In Pandemic • 1 min read

No parties or visitors this year. But Jackson was a perfect listener at both nap time and bed time, plus we tried out a new Italian restaurant that seemed pretty authentic.

Our feast included: arancini, a pear salad with goat cheese, almonds and a lemon vinaigrette, homemade pasta with prosciutto, asparagus and a vodka cream sauce, and then a slice of cheesecake made with homemade ricotta cheese.

I’d say my birthday was a success!

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Isolating begins

By • On • In Pandemic, Pregnancy • 1 min read

Once I hit 37 weeks, we started strict quarantine measures since we are potentially 2 to 3 weeks away from delivery, and I do NOT want to test positive for the virus when I go to that hospital!

The policies have been changing wildly at hospitals across the country, but where it stands now for me is that all moms are tested for COVID prior to admission. If you test positive, you are not allowed a support person (in other words, Justin could not come with me inside the hospital for the birth) and the baby is immediately taken away from you and transferred to the NICU as soon as it’s born.

Hence our strict measures. We have taken it pretty seriously already, but now we are getting our groceries delivered so Justin doesn’t have to go inside any stores. I do still have to go OB appointments, but other than that we aren’t leaving the house or seeing any people. I don’t even want to go for a walk around the block because there’s so many people out there!

Unfortunately the same is true for my mom, dad and Emily since my mom will be watching Jackson while we’re at the hospital. All this while the rest of the state has officially started opening things back up.

Another thing that has come up is that many women are getting induced at 39 weeks due to coronavirus concerns. Basically my doctor said elective inductions at 39 were already a thing prior to the virus, but that with COVID they’re more popular now because you have a scheduled date and can more easily quarantine beforehand (you and any other caregivers). Also if you do happen to test positive, you may be able to go back home and wait another two weeks before coming back to the hospital. And an earlier delivery means fewer OB appointments and fewer chances of catching it.

“I’m really glad I’m not pregnant right now having to make these decisions,” my doctor told me. Sheesh, thanks lady!

I reaaaaaally wanted to avoid another induction this time, so hopefully baby #2 will just come early on its own!!

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Progress report

By • On • In Pregnancy • 1 min read

At 37 weeks, I was 1 cm dilated, 70 percent effaced and the baby was very low. The doctor thought that was all encouraging news.

However, I wasn’t as convinced. That is the exact same report I got back for Jackson — and he was 10 days late, haha.

I still feel like this baby may come early though — just to throw me for a loop. As far as timing goes, I’ve been getting curveballs with this one since the beginning.

First, when I thought I may be pregnant, I took a pregnancy test that came back negative. I waited another day and got another negative test — assuming at that point I must not be pregnant after all. It wasn’t until several days later when I ultimately did get a positive.

Then at my first ultrasound, the doctor said I was measuring two weeks behind the point I thought I was at. She had me come back for another ultrasound two weeks later, and to all of our surprise, I was back on target for the original due date: June 16.

Fast forward to my last ultrasound, and this time the baby was several days ahead.

So who knows what is going on in there, but I’m expecting another surprise ahead!

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Big boy room: Full-time status

By • On • In Kids • 1 min read

At first Jackson was just sleeping in his big boy room during naps. At night time, we’d give him the choice and ask him which bed he wanted to sleep in. Usually he’d say the crib.

After about a week or two, though, he actually said he wanted to sleep in his big boy room at night — and then never went back. Again, he kind of surprised me in that I thought it would be a much longer and more difficult process.

That being said, some days are harder than others. It’s definitely trickier now that we can’t just trap him in the crib. Once he’s in his big boy bed, he does stay there (and interestingly enough, when he wakes up, he stays in his bed, too) — but it’s getting him in that can be the challenge. He has become the king of stalling.

Here’s just one instance from the other day, all the things he said when I (repeatedly) told him to climb in bed:

“No, I’m gonna check for worms.”

“No, I think the turtle is coming.”

“No, Daddy and Jackson were going to the moon.”

“No, first I just want to find some worms.”

Then there are times when he surprises us by how good he lays down. Just the other night, Justin and I were both in his room saying goodnight when he told us, “Ok, can you go downstairs please?”

So it looks like now we have officially checked off 2/3 from our parenting list. Next up: potty training. Ahhhh!

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Outdoor fun

By • On • In Kids, Pandemic • 1 min read

Everybody’s stocking up on fun things to do in the backyard as many of the regular summer activities will be canceled. Pools, splash pads and playgrounds, for example, will be closed. No park district classes, no baseball games, no horse races at the track, no festivals and likely no vacations.

I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen in my local Facebook groups who are now all of a sudden getting their own pools installed in their yards. And nearly all the kiddie pools are already sold out online!

We got Jackson this cute little playhouse, along with a kids picnic table, which will hopefully be here soon but it’s already been delayed in shipping by over a month now. I did have a bit of a hard time at first, but I was able to snag a blow-up pool as well — we just haven’t tried it out yet.

The house, with its working doorbell, has been a hit. Believe it or not, Justin put it together all by himself! lol

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Protein shake

By • On • In Pandemic, Pregnancy • 1 min read

You can’t necessarily get whatever you want from the grocery store these days. Especially when Justin is trying to get in and get out as quickly as possible.

So when I reaaaaally had a taste for chocolate peanut butter ice cream and ended up with plain chocolate, I had to make my own. Pretty sure that’s not exactly what the NutriBullet is supposed to be for, but I used it to blend together a chocolate peanut butter milkshake with chocolate chips and whipped cream on top.

As Jackson would say, deeeeelicious!

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Whyyyyyyyyyyy

By • On • In Pets, Pregnancy • 1 min read

Trying to tackle my to-do list, I finally went through Jackson’s old baby clothes to pull out the newborn sizes and do some laundry. Definitely one of the more fun tasks when it comes to getting ready!

When I opened up the dryer door, however, I was hit with a nasty odor — like a really bad perfume. And it was STRONG!

I was expecting that wonderful new baby smell from the baby detergent, Dreft. I checked online to see if I was imagining things or not, and it turns out Dreft did change their formula!!! Why in the world they would do that is beyond me! I thought that everyone used Dreft solely because of the sweet, subtle smell.

Turns out I was not the only one unhappy. I noticed dozens and dozens of messages on Facebook with moms pleading for them to change the formula back. Or at the very least, why not offer both scents???? Makes no sense!

Of course I had been trying to stock up, so I had bought the mega size bottle, too. Soooooo bummed!!!

Luc apparently likes the smell.
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Dispatches from bed

By • On • In Kids • 1 min read

Jackson, awake during his nap (before he went to sleep): 

“I think I’m tired. My tummy is really hungry. But Mommy closed the door. 
Lamb, I’m really tired. I’m tired from all that dancing. Lamb, I’m just tired. 
I think we’re going to tell Mommy it’s time to wake up. 
We’re just waiting and waiting. We’re waiting because we’re really tired. 
Lamb is sleeping already. But Jackson is hungry. But the animals, they don’t care. 

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Late-night snack

By • On • In Pandemic • 1 min read

I was on another Zoom call with friends when at about 11 pm I told them I had to go so I could finally eat dinner. They were pretty shocked to see what was on the menu!

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Too much YouTube

By • On • In Kids • 1 min read

Jackson asked for CocoMelon on YouTube and then requested the two different videos he wanted to watch:

 “First dinosaurs, then ABC Song U.S. Version.” 

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Mother’s Day cravings

By • On • In Pandemic, Pregnancy • 1 min read

It’s been a lot harder to indulge in random cravings for this pregnancy compared to the last one, which is probably for the best but still can be frustrating.

I haven’t liked my morning cup of coffee for the longest time, in part maybe due to the pregnancy but also with Justin doing all the shopping it’s harder to get the right flavors.

So for Mother’s Day I really wanted a good cup of coffee I knew I would enjoy. In other words, a vanilla latte. I also requested a slice of cream pie, such as chocolate or peanut butter. Just because that sounded delicious.

That morning I ordered breakfast for delivery — including a vanilla latte — but more than two hours later they canceled my order saying the restaurant wasn’t doing deliveries. Why they didn’t tell me this when I initially placed the order is beyond me.

So at this point I’m starving and haven’t had any caffeine — not good!

Justin, thankfully, went to Panera to get me my latte. He came back, however, with a tall black coffee and a turkey sandwich! Apparently they handed him the wrong order and he didn’t realize it. He claims he’s too focused on not catching the coronavirus so he gets away from people quickly.

I’ve given up on yummy coffee at this point and go for the pie. But it’s key lime pie! Probably the only kind of pie I don’t like. And no where near chocolate or peanut butter. I realize this all sounds silly now, but to a pregnant lady in the moment, this was a huge blow!!!

Justin did make up for it during his next shopping outing. He found a chocolate pie, plus lots of other goodies, and boxes of k-cup vanilla lattes so I can make one every day now.

I also did begrudgingly try the key lime pie, and it really wasn’t too bad, haha.

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I guess it’s never too early to brainstorm costumes

By • On • In Kids • 1 min read

Jackson during breakfast: “Mommy, what are you going to be for Halloween?”

Me: “Oh, good question. What should I be for Halloween?”

Jackson: “Do you want to be a doggie? I’m going to be a wolf and I’m going to be a dinosaur. And I’m going to be a doggie. I’m going to be Luc!” 

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Baby’s early arrival?

By • On • In Kids, Pregnancy • 1 min read

Jackson in the bathtub, ready to get out: “Mommy, we have to hurry!”

Me: “Oh, why do we have to hurry?”

Jackson: “Plus the baby is coming! He’s going to say, ‘What’s happening?’”

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Rome reunion

By • On • In Kids, Pandemic • 1 min read

Another Zoom call with friends: Kristine and her new baby, Elle, as well as Katie and her two girls, Julia and Ellie. So fun to get all the kids together, even if it’s virtually.

Also note to self: Hide the recorder before any future Zoom calls.

Jackson at one point runs up to the camera, “Guys, do you know the muffin man?”
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Spoke too soon

By • On • In Kids • 1 min read

The second day napping in his big boy room was a bit more challenging than the first. He wouldn’t stay put in his bed, so ultimately I just left and closed the door while he was still out and about.

It was hysterical watching him through the monitor — he played with his abacas, read a book and peaked outside the door a few times although luckily never tried to leave. At one point he started messing with the camera — I thought for sure he was going to turn it off!

Eventually I went back up and tucked him in, and then he slept in there just fine. I already miss being able to trap him in his crib — bed time used to be a breeze!

fyi – Not a video….just a screenshot from a video
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Sleeping in the big boy room

By • On • In Kids • 1 min read

Jackson’s first nap in his big boy room went better than I thought it would. At first he was super excited getting it all ready. He wanted the bed totally stripped down and threw off the comforter, sheets and pillows. Then we brought in his old blankets, the sound machine, the monitor and the humidifier from his old room.

He did start delaying with “let’s do this” or “let’s do that,” and we ended up doing story time on the chair in his old room so I thought for sure he’d end up back in the crib.

But after the book I just asked him which bed he wanted to sleep in and he said his big boy bed, and it went pretty smoothly from there. Initially he did get up out of his bed saying he wanted dinner, but then he asked me, “Are you going to go downstairs?”

“Yep, I’m going to go downstairs and you and Lamb are going to take a nap here in your big boy bed,” I told him.

“And I will wait for the beep, and when it beeps it’s time to get up,” he responded.

I have no idea where that came from, but yes — sounds good to me!

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