Ivy Update, its been a while!!!

Hello everyone, I apologize as I have gotten lazy and haven't updated this blog in such a long time. I am not even sure anyone is following this blog anymore.  Any way, instead of posting a whole bunch about what is  going on I figure I will post pictures of Ivy, followed by a video, to get you up to date on her. Then I will keep up with this blog from here on out and tell you more about what is going on in our lives.  The last I posted was April, Ivy was about 3 months old. She is not 8 1/2 months old.  So here are some pictures of her through out the months.  I hope you enjoy, and I will do a better job at keeping you up on what is going on with us and our family. 

4 Months Old

5 Months Old

6 Months Old

7 Months Old

 Current 8 1/2 months Old

Here is what she started doing as of this week.  She is going to be walking on her own before we know it.

A New Me!!!

Hi Everyone, much apologies for not keeping up with this blog.  I have been in a bit of a slump lately and just haven't felt motivated to do much.  My neighbor lost her 2 year battle with stomach cancer on Friday June 15th.  It was a sad day, but I am so glad she is no longer struggling. On top of that  I have been frustrated with the last 14lbs of my pregnancy weight and how I can't seem to shred the weight. Yet what I am cooking is healthy and Kevin seems to be losing and is the lightest he has been in years.  I found out that its because I was breastfeeding and some people hold onto the weight in order to produce milk. Well unfortunately, Ivy has decided she doesn't want to breastfeed any longer so as of this week that is officially over. I would like to lose 5 more lbs on top of the 14.  So I have decided to move forward and get out of this slump I am in. So starting this week, I am working on a New me. Working from the inside to the out!!  I am starting with my spiritual side and working on my body as well.  I am excited and will update you as I take on this journey!! I will try to do weekly Ivy posts as well. I know that is why most of you check this blog to begin with. I didn't have very many people reading this blog until she came along.  I am so behind. So in the next few days I will post some pics and videos of her to get you up to speed. I will not just post about her like I have since she has been born. I will blog about other things in our life as well!!  Tomorrow I will blog about the fires and get you up to date on them as well!! I have added a ticker on here so you can see my goal and the progress I am making on my weight loss. If its anything like the last few months it will start out going up and down until my hormones get back to normal when my milk dries up!! Sorry if I am sharing more information then you want to read but as most of you know me I just say what I am thinking and there is no TMI in my world!!! As you can see I put on 2 lbs which I am sure it water weight!!  Just a side not the picture on my ticker is a pic from the lake years ago , I think even before Kevin and I were married. We were on a boat ride!! Its one of my favorite pics and since my goal is to be bikini worthy again I thought it was a great pic!!

Videos, Pictures, and bargains, Oh My!!!

Well I figured out how to add a video correctly.  If you go back to the last post the video is now working.  I have been in the habit of taking videos as well as pictures.  So you will get weekly pictures as well as videos unless I don't see something I want to record.  So to start this post here is an adorable video of Ivy talking as she is playing on her play mat. I can't take credit for this video, Kevin took it while he was playing with her. 

Ivy just found her feet this week and finds them fascinating. I took this picture of her yesterday when she woke up from her walk she found her feet. It was just to cute not to post!!

She is so cute looking at her stinky feet!! I love her!!!   A lady at work gave me what is called baby paper, I call it crinkle paper.  She loves it I did get a video today of her playing with it, but since it takes so long to upload,  I will save it for this weekend. In the mean time here is a picture of her playing.

Well today Ivy and I went shopping. I had a gift card to Macy's and thought I would use it.  When we got there they were having a 40-50% off sale with an additional 25% off at check out.   They should have never told me that because of course I went crazy.  This is the first time I went shopping for her. I could have gotten more, but I had to stop myself.  I have decided to take back the long sleeve tee shirts and pants.  Most of it I will keep. I thought Kevin was going to kill me for getting so much stuff, but to my surprise he was ok with it.  Here is what I got.  It was a steal. Most outfits were $7-$8.

I got some pretty cute outfits and I am happy with my purchases.  Its a good start, I am sure I will find a few more things over the next few months to buy her.  Ok that is it for now.  I will try to keep posting, and I promise they won't all be about Ivy!!! Although I am sure that is what most of you are hoping to see!!

Ivy Lynn Sours

Well, Its been a long time since I have posted in here. I do apologize.  Being a first time mom and having a needy little girl its taken me some time to get organized and post.  I was going to post my birth story but since its been so long I'll give you the brief story and post pics of Ivy since I know that is what you really want to see.  I started having contractions on Friday February the 10th at 4pm. I left work thinking this was it.  I did have serious contractions 1-3 minutes apart but in between I felt good so Kev and I agreed that it was not the real thing and around 3am my contractions started to subside.  I had them on and off all weekend.  Sunday the 12th, I was tired and crampy and rested all day. About 7pm I lost my mucus plug.  At 8 pm I started labor contractions, by 2am we called the on call nurse and she told us to go to the hospital.  When I got there I was 3 cm dilated. They said since my contractions were so close they were keeping me for 2 hours.  If I dilated more they would admit me if not they were sending me home. My plan was to go natural and not use any meds.   I got to 5 cm and they had to break my water, which immediately moved me to 6 cm. After many hours of no progress and a total of 18-20 hrs of labor I broke down in tears when they said I had no progressed. Ivy was head down but face up causing the birth to slow down.  I was so devastated and frustrated at this point I decided to get the epidural.  I was proud of myself for going this far with no help, but after no progress I just couldn't do it any more. Everyone tells you that the epidural slows things down, but in my case it actually sped them up. With in no time they were coming in and telling me I was 9.5 cm, it was like 2-3 hours later. Before I knew it I was pushing.  I have to say the epidural did nothing for the contractions and they had to give me 2 bolus if other meds.  I was numb for pushing , it just didn't elevate my contraction pain. After 1.5 hours of pushing I met my beautiful baby girl!!  It was love at first sight, I was so mesmerized by her I didn't realize what was going on. Next thing  I knew they were taking her out of my arms and there were 2 doctors and 5 nurses. My placenta had not come out like it was suppose to, I had a retained placenta.  They had to remove it manually and follow it by a d&c.  I have to say I would take the contractions over that any day. That was by far the worse pain of the whole experience.  It was worth every part of it and I am so thankful for her each and every day!! I loved the hospital we delivered in and I will hopefully be able to deliver there again if we are so lucky to have another.   Yes, that was the short version. Enough writing here are some pictures of our little baby girl, followed by a video!! I hope you enjoy  

Birthday!!

 Taking a nap in my pack n play

 Playing on my play mat

 My hat is too big, but I still look cute!

 Taking a stroll wearing my pumpkin hat my mom made me!!

 

 This was taken today. She was talking up a storm until I put the camera on her, but its still worth showing!!

I will start posting weekly again, if not more often!!

33 Weeks

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!! Sorry I haven't posted in quite some time. With preparing for the holidays I have been extremely busy.  I missed taking a picture at 32 weeks but I did take two pictures this week , 33 weeks.  I have grown quite a bit since my last post at 28 weeks.  The baby is moving quite a bit.  It was breeched at 17 weeks and I know it had plenty of time to flip, however for weeks my movement was so low and I couldn't see the baby moving. On December 14th, I had bad painful braxton hicks contractions. I called the Dr and she told me that if its just one not to worry and to relax and get plenty of water.  Later that day I noticed and felt movement in my belly.  It was so amazing to see and feel I burst out in tears.  Glad no one at work saw me.  Any way, I feel the baby turned and the Dr said it was likely the pain was caused by the baby turning. Now, I have no proof of any of this but intuition and just how I felt.  The position of the baby will be checked on Jan 17th at 36 weeks. Here are some belly pics for you to enjoy!!!

I am feeling pretty good. The baby has been on my sciatic nerve but this week I have had some relief.   I have gained about 25-27 lbs so far. It fluctuates.  I have 6 1/2 weeks left until my due date!! I can't believe its getting so close!!!   I hope to have some nursery craft pics and updates for you in the next week or so.

30 Weeks with only 10 more to go!!!!

Well its hard to believe that I have reached the 30 week point!! Its going buy so quickly!! In 10 weeks we will get to meet this little one kicking, turning, and hiccuping inside me daily.  We are looking forward to meeting this miracle.  Things are getting harder and I am more uncomfortable these days.  Sunday I did the outside Christmas light with Kevin's help but he really didn't want me to do them.  I should have listened. My back was so painful I couldn't even walk I was in tears and had to crawl that night. I felt so much better the next day, but now I know that I am very limited as to what I can do.  Over all I am feeling pretty well, my energy has lowered but that is to expected.  Below is a picture of my belly as of today. I really think it looks like I have swallowed a basketball.

Below is a picture of a maternity top I had knitted this summer. It was a regular tank that I made larger to fit for maternity.  I may have shown this earlier in my posts, but it fits much better now!

I hope to have an update on some baby items for you in a few days!!!

A Visit with my Sister and her family

Normally on Thanksgiving we have a big dinner here at our house and Mom and Dad Sours come to visit.  This year with me being pregnant and not wanting to leave all the work to Kevin, we decided to go visit my sister, BIL, niece and nephew for Thanksgiving. The main reason we went is so my sister and I could get some quality time together which was much needed. The past 4 years have been nothing but stress and taking care of some issue either with health of a family member or some item that needed to be cared for.  It was really nice to see her and the family and relax and talk.  We all had a wonderful time. Thanksgiving we went to my sister's IL for dinner.  Then Friday the weather was so gorgeous that we spent the whole day outside. Kevin and Russ raked while Amy put lights on her bushes, and the kids and I played.  Then Saturday was even more gorgeous so we went for a walk on the Ocean City, NJ board walk and played putt putt.  That evening we visited Pat and Amy Costello and met Spencer. Sadly I left my camera at my sister's house and didn't get any of them. Sunday we went to my church then I helped my sister with her tree.  It took us 4 hours to cut lights off her pre-lit Christmas tree. Half of the lights she replaced last year and this year we did the other half.  We had a nice dinner and played games with the kids.  Monday we flew home. Kevin and I had a nice time and I am very thankful  I got to spend the long weekend with them. Below are  a few pictures I took while we were there.

Thanksgiving day

Dance Party and Dress up!

 Gertie

 

 The kids in front of their own special tree

Since we have been back I have been busy trying to get the house decorated for Christmas and doing my Christmas cards.