Micah

Micah is two weeks old today.  Even though he is still new it already seems like he has been part of the family forever.  Everyone has enjoyed helping to spoil him and I am so in love.  He is the sweetest little boy in the world and is a great baby.  Rarely does he cry or fuss.  We have been very blessed.  We had a great pregnancy without complication, had a quick, event free labor and delivery, and have a well behaved, happy baby.

Labor and delivery really wasn't bad, although I did end up opting for an epidural after the doctor broke my water.  I regret it a little but am glad that it had started to wear off by the time it was time to push so that I could actually halfway tell if I was pushing effectively.  I had lots of great support during labor.  Both of our moms, Nanny and Kristi were there to give us support.  Scott, Dr. Whittle and Regina (our nurse) were all great support during delivery.  I couldn't have done as well as I did without them. 

Seeing Micah for the first time and seeing the smile on Scott's face during delivery and once Micah arrived were very emotion.  It is hard to believe Scott and I created this new little man.  It is truly amazing.  Scott was positively glowing as soon as he found out I was 10 cm.  He was as giddy as kid in a candy store.  The time we spent together in labor and delivery is priceless and those memories will be with me always.

I have always known Scott would be a great dad, which he is, but he has thoroughly surprised me at how big of a help he has been.  We have taken on duties that either one of us handle for a large part for Micah.  I feed, he changes diapers.  I pump, he stores.  I bath and dress, he buckles in the car seat.  Parenting is easy, yet hard (kind of like labor).  I can't wait to see what the future holds for us.

We have tried to document our pregnancy with pictures by Kim Kelley Photography.   Here are some of my favorites, along with a couple of Micah.

Micah Aiden Dean

Micah Aiden Dean

April 28, 2011

7 lbs. 12 oz.

22 1/4 in.

Time is ticking away!

 
Pregnancy-Countdowns

Blessings keep pouring down

With all of the blessings being handed down how can anyone not believe in God?

Timothy and Anna found out that they are expecting again.  Gracie is so excited that she is going to be a big sister.  Right now they aren't sure when the due date will be because they haven't been to the doctor yet.  I'm excited that Micah is going to have a little cousin.  Timothy and Anna will be happy with either. They just want a healthy baby.  Gracie wants a little sister if she has to choose, although she told me they might have two.  In that case she wants one of each.  There is really no reason to think they are going to have twins...just wishful thinking on her part.  I will be thrilled with a new niece or nephew, but secretly hope there is another little boy to throw in the mix.  Well, guess it isn't so secretly.  lol  It's amazing how excited I still get over nieces and nephews with 20 something of them.  Keep 'em coming y'all!!!

Today was match day for Jennifer.  She matched with UMC for general surgery so they won't be moving away.  I was hoping that they would get to stay, and I'm thrilled they are going to.  I'm not sure how busy she will be with her residency, but hopefully she will have some time to visit and help spoil Micah.  :-)

Other blessings are happening too. We sold our mobile home so we got to cancel our insurance on it.  Woohoo!  It was moved to the new owner's land today.  I know it will look strange when we visit Scott's family.  It was strange enough when they took our old mailbox down.  I still haven't gotten use to it not being there.  We paid off our car (already posted about that) and Micah should be here in around 7 weeks.  Things are going great!

New class and equipment

A new exercise class has been started at the church on Tuesday nights.  I went last night and really enjoyed it.  I had to modify a few of the exercises and couldn't participate in the ab portion but still got a good workout.  I can't wait until I can hit it full force!  There was a great turn out for the class and I think everyone really enjoyed it.  Scott also got my exercise equipment moved over to the new house.  He had no choice since we sold the mobile home (hallelujah!).  It's still in pieces but at least it is over here now.  Now to just get it put together and get electricity to it!  Maybe by the time I get to the point I can really exercise it will be ready for me!

Sometimes we let life move too fast

Sometimes we let life move by too fast.  We need to stop and take time to enjoy our family and friends.  Let those you love know how much they mean to you and show a true interest in their lives.  I know I am guilty of getting so caught up and busy that I forget to ask about my family and friends.  I hope each of you know how much I love y'all.  One of my resolutions was geared towards this.  Although I have slowed down, I still have room for improvement.  Family and friends are important.  We need to remember that.

Birthing classes

Scott and I started attending birthing classes February 17th.  What have we learned?

Class 1:  Mumbo jumbo about pregnancy that we already knew.  We also were told what we would be covering in each class.  Biggest shock:  Trust me, you don't want to know.

Class 2:  We watched a labor and delivery video that outlined 5 birth stories.  Seemed like the video took forever and wasn't all that interesting to me.  Nothing Scott and I hadn't seen before but apparently we were the only ones.  I think a couple of the group were rethinking this whole baby thing.  Too late!  We then took a tour of the Women's Pavilion.  It was nice to see where we needed to go and be walked through the process we would encounter.  We covered where we would go given a routine delivery and a c-section.  When we returned to the classroom we were told what equipment is available to us for use during labor...tub, birthing ball, etc.  After delivery Scott and I will have an hour alone with Micah where we will work on feeding and spend time bonding.  (They say newborns are most alert right after delivery).  After that hour Scott will strut to the nursery with Micah where he will be weighed, measured, etc.  Biggest shock:  Micah will have to stay in the nursery for 3 hours for monitoring!

Class 3:  We went over the epidural and iv drugs available and the process for giving them. We we also told what to expect as far as recovery time in the labor and delivery room.  Not looking forward to them pushing around on a uterus that I am sure will be sore from delivery but understand they have to.  We also went back to the rooms.  Class 2 all of the postpartum rooms were full so this was the first time for us to tour one of them.  Funny, the one we toured isn't as nice as I remember them being when my niece was born.  Then we went back to the labor and delivery room again to see how the bed breaks down and learn more about the incubator.  We all agreed the bed looked like a medieval torture device.  Who knew they broke down like they do!  Also got more details on what happens to Micah during his 3 hour nursery stay and that there is wireless access in some parts of the hospital.  While Micah is in the room, which I plan for him to room-in, there can be no children present and only three people (including Scott) can be in the room with us while he is there.  If he isn't there we can have the room packed out if we want.  I know some little girls who will be very disappointed they won't get to see him.  Guess they will have to settle for seeing him through the nursery room window until he gets home!


Class 4:  Our final class focused on breastfeeding.  I've done so much research on this that I knew most of what they discussed.  Biggest shock:  Okay, so no real shocks this class.  But I did find out that if you take decongestants for allergies it will also dry up your milk supply some.  Guess I will be suffering through my allergies/sinuses this summer!

We had a really good class with some great people.  I hope to stay in touch with them all through facebook and maybe out children can even have some play dates in the future.  I'm really glad that we decided to do birthing classes.  I feel much better about things and definitely feel more comfortable with what will happen at the hospital once we arrive.

Final ultrasound

Yesterday we had our final ultrasound.  This was the first with the ultrasound technician.  She did a really good job but we left without any indication of where Micah is on weight.  Dr. Whittle stopped in to check on us and see how everything was going before heading up to the hospital (we were suppose to meet with him afterward). While he was there, he did tell us that Micah is in the 51 percentile, which is good.  I might add, that is around where he always is and he has always measured slightly bigger than what all of the emails I get say he should be at.  At 32 weeks (where we will be tomorrow) the emails are saying he should weigh around four pounds. 

Finally got to see Micha's face.  Although, it isn't very clear due to the way he was laying (too close to placenta) I can see that he looks like his daddy.  He was sleeping and so sweet.  He kept smiling and sticking out his tongue.

I got great news about sticking my finger yesterday too.  Dr. Whittle asked how my sugar levels were looking and was pleased enough that I had proved I could diet control my gestational diabetes.  Now I only have to check my sugar levels first thing in the morning and two hours after supper.  Yay!  I'm so glad Scott reminded him I was checking continuously!

There really isn't much more to tell.  I didn't have my blood pressure, weight or anything done.  I think him being called out to the hospital made everyone forget they didn't do that.  Oh well.  I am confident my weight is on track and that my blood pressure is still good.  :-) 

Sleeping peacefully.

Kissy face.

Sticking out his tongue/licking lips.

Baby Shower

Family and friends are invited to a baby shower that Tomnolen Baptist Church is hosting in honor of our miracle, Micah Aiden, on March 27th.  To view the invitation and add your name to the guest list CLICK HERE. 

The belly is getting heavy!

I absolutely LOVE being pregnant.  But the belly is starting to get really heavy!  From the very beginning Micah has loved to hang out as low as he can go.  The bigger he gets, the more uncomfortable that gets.  I'm just hoping with him being low I'll have a quick delivery!  I don't think it'd be as bad if he would get into position, ready for delivery.  But that would be too easy so he constantly flips back and forth.  One day he might be head down, the next sideways, or even butt down.  You never know with my little man.  He is definitely one active little fella.  Supposedly at this stage in my pregnancy he should be sleeping more and I should be feeling him move less.  Not so with Micah.  Of course, I have never been in the majority, so why should Micah be any different?  I can't even blame his hyperness on sugar any more since all of the sweets have been cut out.  It is so funny to watch my stomach change shapes on a daily basis.  Some days I look absolutely huge, while others I don't.  It all depends on how he lays.  Okay, so maybe I always look big.  But some days I look bigger than usual.  It is hard to believe I have gained 14 inches in my waist (last I measured) and so funny to look at pictures from before when I've gotten use to Micah being with me.  Check out how flat my stomach use to be!

June 2010 - before conception

February 2011 - 29+ weeks in

Google security

Apparently someone hijacked my Google account somehow.  When I got up this morning my email had been disabled due to suspicious activity.  I tried to follow the steps to reactivate my account with little luck.  The only option I had left was to complete an electronic form and submit it to Google support.  I was hoping and praying that my account could be enabled again because that account is used for my email and two blogs.  Let me tell you, that form asked all kinds of questions about my Google account that even I wasn't sure about the answers for some.  I just answered as closely as I could and prayed they had enough from me to reactivate the account.  I am so very thankful for their security measures!  My account has been restored, I changed my password, and we are back in business! 

Working towards freedom

I am so excited that when my car payment was withdrawn from my bank account today it was the last one!  I had intentions of paying my car off early but I never could seem to pay extra on it.  There was always something else to put our "extra" money on.  Well, five years have come and gone since purchasing my car so it is officially paid off.  Hallelujah!  It will be nice not to have that payment hanging over my head.

So what do I plan to do with the extra money we'll be saving each month?  I have made arrangements to pay extra towards the principal on Scott's truck every month.  I know if I didn't make arrangements that extra money would vanish into thin air anyway and we'd be left wondering where in the world it went.  If I've figured things correctly, we should have Scott's truck paid off within six months or so.  Once that is paid off we will have the house left to pay off.  If all goes well, I will take the money that had been going towards the truck and apply it towards the house as a principal only payment.

Even though I still won't be seeing that extra money every month, I will be seeing the debt on Scott's truck quickly going down.  Oh to be debt free!

Summer vacation

I am soooo ready for a vacation.  I would love to go somewhere just to get away from the routine of day-to-day living.  Nothing extravagant...just somewhere different.  I would settle for a nice camping trip on the river.  I think I'm just longing for summer.

We had big plans for this summer.  We were going to travel to Jamaica with several friends and stay at an all-inclusive resort.  We would have nothing to worry about but relaxing and kicking up our heels.  Obviously, God had bigger plans than we ever dreamed possible so Jamaica is not in the picture for this summer.  But I wouldn't have it any other way.

I can't wait to spend my summer with Scott and Micah.  I am really looking forward to getting to know our little man.  I plan to spoil him rotten on love.  For 12 weeks I will be with him every day.  I'm not sure yet how much times Scott plans to take off from work, but even if he doesn't take off he'll be with us more than not.  It will be nice to have most of the summer at home.  I haven't experienced that in 10 years.  I know Micah will require a lot of attention but I am hoping we can still spend time doing things like hiking Little Mountain and camping.  The past few years we haven't been able to do much camping between Scott and my schedules.  Even with Micah in-tow life should be much slower paced than it has been.  It will just be a totally different pace.

When I have to pry myself away from Micah and back to work at the end of the summer, Scott will keep Micah on his off days and I will keep him the other days.  I have some wonderful bosses who have agreed to let me work from home on those days.  I am already dreading having to leave him but love the fact that he and Scott will get to spend so much time together, just the two of them.

Gardens and Flower Beds

This milder weather we have been having has really gotten me in the mood to get some flowerbeds going in the yard.  For years I have put off doing too much with the yard because we had plans to either build or buy and I didn't want to put too much effort into it.  Now that we are settled and I know we won't be having any more major adjustments that will affect the landscape any time soon I plan to make my yard pretty.  I know the areas I want to start with.  Now I just have to figure out the flowers and color schemes I want to go with (and get Scott to get the ground ready).  My main focus will be in front of the house.  I think I will be safe doing in front of the porch and along the walkway.  I want to make a huge flowerbed between the walkway and the house.  For now, I'll just stick with going along the walkway since Scott plans to close the carport in his summer.  I would also like to have a vegetable garden, have flowers around our portable building, put some climbing plants along our camper shed, and have a few flowers towards the road.  I will do a little at a time.  Maybe I can get a good bit done this summer during Micah's naps if I'm not too exhausted.  Or if I'm lucky, maybe Scott will help me get a good bit done this Spring.  We've got 10 weeks, give or take a little, before he arrives to get started.

Beautiful Days

Yesterday was such a beautiful day.  I took off work to spend some much needed time with Scott and so that I could better track and measure my food to see what I needed to take with me each day.  I am so glad yesterday was the day I did that, because the weather was absolutely gorgeous.  After spending the morning at home together we decided to load up and take the four wheeler out to check for some good rabbit hunting spots for Scott.  It was wonderful just riding together in the nice warm sun taking in nature.  I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day.  To me, the sights and sounds of nature are the best.  We were relaxing, enjoying our ride when we heard some frogs croaking.  We stopped for a bit to take in their sounds, then continued on our way.  We had a little adventure with a creek ditch and lots of pushing/pulling (Scott, not me) and shoving sticks under tires for traction before we were finally on our way again.  While Scott was struggling with the four wheeler I enjoyed my mandatory snack so we got stuck at a very opportune time.  I did feel bad not being able to do any more to help than I could.  I was basically left with the job of pushing the gas.  Had I not been pregnant I would have been pushing and pulling just as much as Scott was.  Getting stuck is a regular occurrence for us when we ride.  We get stuck in the mud...stuck on my leg...stuck on stumps...stuck in the ditch.  Hmmm, that might make for a good Dr. Seuss style nursery rhyme for Micah about Mom and Dad's adventures.

After we got unstuck we enjoyed a little more riding before loading up and heading back home.  All in all, it was a great day.  And I got the pictures below, which are very comical to me!

Couldn't pass up this reflection!  I think I need to retire this maternity shirt until next time!!!

Yikes!!!!  Preggo silhouettes are not flattering in the least!

Orange filled Valentine's Candy

Isn't it funny how sometimes we want something and go to great measures to find it, then when it is in abundant supply we can't have it?  During this pregnancy I have only had one true craving.  That craving was back several months ago and was for the orange filling of the Valentine's chocolate covered candies.  Obviously, I wasn't going to find any of those back before Christmas (way before Christmas) so we racked our brains trying to figure out what would give me the flavor I wanted.  I finally did find something to satisfy that craving, although I can't remember what it was for the life of me.  I'm thinking it may have been an orange creme savers candy but I honestly don't remember for sure.  I was just happy to finally have found the flavor I was looking for!  Now here we are just past Valentine's Day.  Chocolate covered candy with orange fillings are in abundant supply.  I even have a box of candy in my desk drawer, testing my will power.  So instead of gorging on candy like I normally would this time of year, I'm watching every little thing I put in my mouth and stressing over my glucose readings being too high or too low. It's funny how life works out.  I imagine I will make sacrifices on a daily basis for this little one.  In the end it will be worth watching every bite to have a healthy baby boy and a happy child.
Happy Belated Valentine's Day friends!

Growing up Micah: My Baby Registry

Growing up Micah: My Baby Registry: "Mommy has created a Baby Registry for me at Amazon. Since showers in my honor will be right around the corner I thought she should sha..."

Goodbye January

I hate to see the year going by so fast already.  I have no clue where January went.  I swear it was just New Year's Day and then we were just returning to work!  I wonder why it seems like the older we get, the quicker time goes by.  I use to think it was because we got busier as we got older, but I have slowed down significantly the past several months.  Time is still ticking by so fast.  I don't mind it so much now because it brings me closer to many things, but I wish there was a way to slow it down come May.  So many wonderful things are happening this year (for me and friends).

Bunko girls are the best

This past Tuesday night was our January Bunko meeting.  I was surprised with a house warming shower before the games began.  It was a great surprise and I got lots of really pretty and useful things for my house.  Micah even got a sweet pair of pants.  I never in  a million years thought anyone would throw us a house warming.  My Bunko girls are the best!

New Blog

Since this blog has morphed into talking about Micah (and he isn't even here) I decided to create a blog dedicated especially to him.  Growing up Micah will share milestones and such for Micah.  Please feel free to follow his journey growing up.  It is sure to be an exciting one!  His estimated arrival is only 99 days away!