Life plus one!

Welcome little 7 Lbs. 10 oz. Wyatt Lee Parker Coates to our little family!  

We are so blessed to have you, and thankful for the peaceful way you entered the world on December 31, 2010.  For many reasons that was a perfect day:
1) Any later they were going to induce you
2) Your Sweetie B, Papa B and Auntie Maggie were all able to meet you less than an hour after you were born - The hospital wasn't supposed to let them, but no other babies were being born so they bent the rules
3) We got tax benefits for all of 2010 because you were born 4 hours and 27 minutes before 2011
4) We got to start 2011 as a family together!

It is now March 13, and you are 10 weeks old, 13 lbs, and 3 inches taller than when you were born; you laugh, you have different cries for different needs, you love to play with mommy and daddy, you love daddy's silly faces, and when mommy or daddy comes home, you look around for us when we talk.  You learn new things every day and are strong enough to face forward in the baby bjorn and take in the world around you... though you only last about 10 minutes before you are sleeping. 

10 weeks!  Big boy

Right now you are taking your second nap in your crib.  It only took an hour and a half of rocking and singing to get you there.  You finally fell asleep to some Italian arias.  You have good taste in music already preferring Mozart.

You have filled our lives with a joy that was unimaginable before you, and continue to surprise us with the deepening of love each and every day you grow with us.

Mom and Dad are finally getting to a sleep schedule that slightly resembles a normal sleep at night, wake at day pattern and very grateful.

First Daddy snuggle!

The Coates family if bigger and better than ever!
 

3 days old

Oh Boy...

36 weeks

Well, I knew I would be terrible at updating this.  For one, I don't like writing.  Secondly, work consumes most of my waking hours.  The others, not devoted to sleeping, are spent trying to relax and forget about work.  I want to be better so that when our little one arrives, it is a good place to share pictures, videos and updates.

Speaking of sleep, not so much of that has happened in the last few weeks.  At half-way through week 36, this 'little man' is no longer little.  He fills up every nook and cranny now.  When I finally do get to sleep, he often wakes me op by kicking/pushing/flip-flopping side to side against the mattress and then I'll realize that I have to take another late night trip to the restroom.

I'm not complaining.  I love feeling that he's active and healthy in there.  Lately, he's enjoyed punching against some nerve that sends charlie-horse pains down the inside of my leg.  That, I will complain about! The sudden shooting pain literally crumbles me in my tracks.  What is up with that?  Newborns aren't strong... maybe the name we've chosen for him needs to be changed to David.  I am clearly the Goliath in this relationship at the moment.

We met with our wonderful Douala, Melissa this weekend.  I am really glad that we will have someone that calm and knowledgeable there during the birth.  I mostly think I need someone to remind me that I am not dying, and that this is normal.

On Saturday, we had maternity photos done.  Paul and Amanda are awesome.  I can't wait to see the photos.  It was fun to have some friends behind the camera; not nearly as awkward.  Cody is such a goof, of course the whole time was spent laughing.  Smokey even got his cute mug in some shots. 

Only 2 more weeks of work.  I'll miss those kid-o-s, but am SO ready to fully concentrate on our expected arrival and family.

Mopped, vacuumed, dusted, polished - the house still looks dirty.  I guess that's an old house for ya.  After spending hours scrubbing the walls a couple weekends ago, I realized that they just aren't white - or even off-white.  They are yellow/beige - blech.

With the recent cold snap, poor Smokeydoo has been spending a great deal of time in the house.  Now that it has warmed up, there is less fluff and t.p. scattered around the house when we get home.

Rocket Man Suit

Birth and Babies classes started three weeks ago.  Cody is an absorbent sponge for information.  He can spout stats and info back like nobodies business.  Some of the info is SCARY.  The way I figure it - this has been happening for millions of years.  Some people aren't fortunate to have such a great husband by their side through it, so I know we'll be alright.   

For our Little Bear

Now I feel like we're just playing the waiting game.

End of Summer

I'm sad to see summer going, but the weather hasn't been that great, and sitting inside NOT spending money has gotten a little monotonous.  I've read a lot of books, and much to Cody's chagrin, I now have to read for a while so I can fall asleep at night.

Our karate kid is in sync with our little dog.  6 AM sharp is the wake up call.  That could be a good thing in a few days here.  All the little movements are becoming more and more noticeable as the weeks go on. 

At my last Dr's appointment I was upset to learn there was an even more extensive list of things you need to "avoid during pregnancy".  That list now includes, but is CERTAINLY NOT LIMITED to: coffee (caffeine actually - how do they really think you can keep track of tea, coffee, chocolate, diet/regular pop etc. intake?  Caffeine fuels the world - but you have to quit), sushi, smoked meats, deli meats, soft cheeses, alcohol, soy (or plant estrogens - whatever else those are in), lots of tuna, lots of kinds of fish actually.  And THEN I was told that I SHOULD eat fish once a week - no more - no less, red meat, often but not every day and lots of protein. 

At this point I am wondering how on earth you are supposed to GAIN weight (I'm sure I'll eat these words soon) when all you can eat are vegetables and fruit (watch those pounds just pack on), chicken and turkey (both of which I used to love, and now loathe.  I am an oppressed omnivore. 

I  used to like cooking, now I hate planning meals and grocery shopping.  I have however found many tasty renditions of an egg/well-cooked turkey bacon sandwich with lots of veggies.  All I have to say is poor Cody.  He actually stopped at the grocery just to pick up a package of bratwursts this week. 

Were there not healthy babies born before any of this was studied?  I certainly don't think any of my ancestors or relatives are horribly disfigured or failed to thrive because their mother ate sandwich meat, or drank coffee AND had diet pop.    But how horrible would it would be to get listeria from sandwich meat?  I could never forgive my self.  I'll stick with these wacky eating rules for the next 17 weeks and then... Bring on the good stuff - I'm sure they have some weird diet for breastfeeding too.

This week was the first time strangers could tell I was pregnant and commented.  It feels nice to look pregnant instead of looking like I have a penchant for fast food, or a beer gut.

                                                        22 weeks and finally a sunny day!

Welcome

21 Weeks

Welcome family and friends!  I'm so far away from many of you these days, I wanted to post all of the exciting changes that are happening to our little family.  Cody, Lil' Smokie and I are expanding our little brood on December 26th, 2010.  We've been told it's a little boy!  I'm officially outnumbered.  I guess that's fair since girls outnumbered boys 4 to 2 growing up.

If my husband is any indication of how energetic this little boy is going to be, we just might be in for it.  He's not happy unless he has projectS on the go.

We recently started going through a baby name book and highlighting the names we liked, so that we don't sit together and just shoot name choices down.  It's amazing how tainted some names can be for you by the time you are 26.  Some names I used to love, I could never use because of people I have meet/know.   Anyway, Cody highlighted "Hannibal" as one of the names he liked.  My heart sunk; this just may be more of a challenge that I thought.  What seemed like an eternity later, and after a strong and convincing defense of the name, the next morning he told me it was a joke.  PHEWF.

I start work again in a couple weeks and am anxious to get as much done for our arrival as I can before then.  The school year comes on with a BANG.  September jumps right into reading assessments and curriculum objectives, Health Committee and Choir.   First report cards are handed in 9 weeks after the school year starts.   Then there's the swimming week... (which I love, but have not done with grades one and two before).  Oh, and have I mentioned that this year we are writing and performing our own Production to be put on in early December?  Health Committee also puts on a big to-do 'Haunted House' at Halloween and plans a school Wide Winterfest (super fun outdoor winter carnival).  I think there is enough work done at our school from September to December 17th for the entire school year.

The more I think about it, the less guilty I feel about spending my summer in Houston relaxing, and at home walking the doggy and going to the gym.  I do truly appreciate these luxuries while they exist.  I imagine next summer will be quite different.

XOXO

Lil' Smokes is lying at my feet right now, keeping the warm and cozy.  This sweet little face is in for some changes too.  He's a spoiled rotten wiener dog with a heart of gold.

Or Lil' Smoke Monster says 'hi' to his Texas buds!