First month with Dean

-Average sleep schedule: sleep 2 hours, eat 1 hour, sleep 2 hours, etc.
-recently started having more awake-alert time where he likes to just be on his back, kick his legs, and look around.
-very strong. Holds up his head for a good minute. You have to be careful if he's laying on your lap because his kicks are so strong he could push himself off.
-very busy and wiggly
-likes baths but hates getting his hair washed and lotion put on
-constantly wants to eat
-has never really liked being swaddled unless he is super tired
-still gets hiccups a lot
-sneezes a lot, usually 3 sneezes in a row
-likes to squirt pee while getting his diaper changed
-makes eye contact and tries to talk to you
-smiles a lot right after eating when he is falling asleep
-makes squeak toy noises. Sometimes he does a couple in a row and it sounds like he's laughing, especially when he is smiling
-Generally a good, easy, happy baby. Couldn't ask for more!

First of many sleeping-with-dad pictures, I'm sure

One of my favorite parts of being a mom

Dean's first trip to California
Another "first of many"

Rasmussen baby shower

Pictures by my Aunt Sandi

Click to see more

First beach day: Table Rock in Laguna
(also where alex and I took engagement pictures
more than 2 years ago)

5 Generations

The Putmans

The Carters

If you weren't sure who he is looking like.....

Ally Mommy Baby Dean

(hiding behind his arm are my lips and chin)

Thanks baby, for a great start to mommyhood!

'Twas the night before May...I had a contraction

Friday April 30th

The week had been a pretty relaxing one with me off work and Mom here staying with us, helping keep me busy and distracted as we waited for 'Bean' to be born. On Friday Alex, Mom, and I slept in, showered, hung out at home, saw "How to Train Your Dragon" with Alex's mom and brother Andy then went to Iggy's for dinner. After that we went to Andy's house to hang out and watched Astroboy. We had just gotten there when I had a weird stomach cramp. It could have been that I had just downed a Philly cheese steak sandwich, or it could have been that I was sitting twisted funny on the couch to pet the cat sitting behind me. Either way, I didn't think anything of it.

On the 25 minute drive home and I had 3 more of those weird stomach cramps.

So mom and I turned on "What's Up Doc" with Barbra Streisand when cramps turned to contractions. It's true...you know it when you feel it; and I felt it mostly below my belly button, between my hips and around my tailbone. Alex and I had been told to go the hospital when contractions were 5-7 minutes apart and lasted for at least one minute. By 2am we were there and on our way to the hospital.

Alex, mom, and I got to the hospital, headed to Labor and Delivery where I did the urine sample, changed into the lovely gown, and answered a bunch of questions. But when they did the exam I was only 2cm dilated. We waited an hour to see if anything changed, but an hour later...2 cm. So home we went with instructions to focus more on intensity rather than timing of contractions, and to wait until they were hurting up high and not just below my belly button. I hated it. I was so mad and disappointed. I had always told myself I wasn't going to be Annie Banks (Father of the Bride 2) and drag everyone to the hospital for false alarms. Nope. I would be sure before I went.

False Alarm: thought this would be my last chance to get a picture before he came out. Wrong.

Saturday May 1st

We got home around 5am, slept in (some sleeping better than others) until noon, and had another relaxed day. Except this time I had contractions every 8 minutes. So we laid low, watched shows, and hung out until 5 when we went to the Drakes for hamburgers...still with contractions. Now they were getting a little stronger, but were still low on my belly.

On the way home they got stronger. I'd push my feet against the floor to get my bottom off the seat. When I got home I took a bath which the nurses had suggested for comfort the night before. It helped a little. So mom and I turned on "About a Boy" and my contractions kept getting stronger. I did fall asleep for parts of the movie which was nice, but at the end I was hurting. So I tried another bath but this one was zero help.

2am we tried going to bed, and I tried every position imaginable. Contractions were now 6-8 minutes and there was no way I would get even a wink of sleep that night. It hurt bad enough that even feeling Alex rolling over in bed bothered me. I hesitated going to the hospital again because I was afraid of what they would say. But I finally decided that even if I wasn't admitted, I could at least get something for the pain. So Alex and I loaded the car but left mom behind to get some sleep, sure it'd be another night like Friday and we'd be back in an hour or two.

So we drove the 25 minutes to the hospital IN THE SNOW. Yes, snow in May. Between the weather and the mistake of leaving mom in Bountiful I should have known this would be my night. I watch enough movies to know that important things always happen in the worst conditions.

After the gown change and pee in the cup, the big moment arrived...the exam. The nurse came in and my stomach sank as the same nurse from the night before walked in. Dang. Now i'll really be mad/disappointed/embarrassed if I hadn't made more progress. "No," I kept thinking to the nurse, "I'm not a crazy first-time-pregnant-lady or an over-anxious-cry-baby. It REALLY DOES hurt more."

She was doing her thing, checking things out, and looked at me. I swear time paused. "Do you want some really good news? You're a 6!" Somewhere between 3-3:30am I was admitted. By 4 I had my epidural, and everything was happy. I took a nap, talked to the soon-to-be-grandmas, and waited to finish the process. By 8:30am I was pushing and by 9:30 Dean Michael Drake was here. 8 lbs 7 oz. 22 inches long.

Thoughts on delivery....Epidurals are from heaven. I never realized how heavy my legs were. I think the nurse you have can make a huge difference. On shows like TLC's "Baby Story" I've seen nurses almost yell "Come on, push harder" or are loud about counting to 10 while pushing, stuff like that. I knew that would not fly with me. I needed positive reinforcement, calm counting, and someone optimistic that just explained everything that was happening. I got her. Her name was Paulette.

Here are the pictures. Chronological order even.

"My Happy Place" by Epidural

Love love love Alex's face

Grandma Suzy

Grandma Lori

Grandpa Ken

Nicole & Rob

Our Family

Zach & Aly

Uncle Andy

Kelsey (also notice amazing flowers from my friends at work)

My favorite way to nap

Skype with the Carters in CA

Things that stand out

-How good the first shower felt
-Most beautiful flowers sent by the girls at work
-Labor was easier than nursing
-Alex's dad bringing Einstein bagels that first morning, Andy bringing Rumbi, Lori bringing pasta salad, Zach and Aly bringing cookies! Yum.
-Not all nurses are created equal
-The necessity of pain killers during recovery
-how glad I was to have my "just in case I want them" pjs from home
-how much I hated nurses taking Dean out of the room for check-ups, even if it was for 10 minutes
-how much my mom enjoyed the cookie of the day (chocolate chip), how much I enjoyed the lime sherbert
-how long you can go on very little sleep
-me AND alex could fit and sleep in my hospital bed
-how quickly Dean took to nursing
-how much I enjoyed grape juice


Just wanted to say thank you to all of our family and friends who have supported us through my pregnancy and now with the arrival of Dean. You guys rock!

In the single digits

I am less than 10 days away from my due date! Sometimes I can't remember what it feels like to NOT be pregnant, but at the same time I think pregnancy went pretty quickly. Here's to hoping this last week (or so) goes fast as well. Though, that's how I feel right now. I definitely go through the roller coaster of getting excited, anxious, nervous, and "what the heck are we doing?!" Today...definitely excited. I got my pedicure, my hair done, baby things in their places, now we're just waiting for the kid. I think i'm ready as I'll ever be :) The thing that i'm most excited for right now...playing with his little feet and holding him when he's sleeping.

36 weeks: bedding DONE! Feels so good.

38 weeks: ready and waiting.

BEDDING:
equally happy with how it turned out as it being done

Pregnancy

35 weeks and counting! Here's the update:

Cravings:
-Capri Sun
-String Cheese
-Almond Joy
-M&M McFlurry (ok, not just a pregnancy craving)
-Pei Wei Lettuce Wraps
-Outback Coconut Shrimp
-Drumsticks Ice Cream
-Juice it up
-Costco food court hot dogs
-Milkshakes
-Fresh fruits and veggies (fruits is a new pregnancy addition to the veggies)
-Cold cereal

Non-cravings (whatever is opposite of cravings/things I used to like, but haven't liked while pregnant)
-Cafe Rio/Costa Vida. They sound kind of gross but I enjoy while eating. Costa Vida nachos were the first food item to make me nauseous that first trimester. I worry it'll never be the same.
-Pizza. 2nd food item to make me gag the first trimester. Now I eat it, but don't crave it.
-Eggs. I used to enjoy fried eggs, tolerate scrambled, but now just not interested.
-Lays Chips. LOVED Sour Cream & Onion and BBQ, but there's something about the oily-ness, or the random overcooked/small brown colored ones that bother me these days.
-Milk...love hate relationship. Sometimes I love it, other times it tastes funny no matter how new the carton or how low the % (I'm a fat free drinker)
-Meat. Starting to get more picky about what I like and don't like.

Things I know about our Baby Drake (at least for now):
-hiccups 1-2 times a day.
-athlete. Very wiggly and strong.
-Shy (hopefully not just stubborn). Will NOT move for my friend Nicole whenever she tries to feel.
-already makes mom cry frequently. Ok... could just be the hormones.
-pain in my side...my right side specifically. There's a foot, or knee, or some hard body part that he likes to poke out right above my right hip.
-Cooperative. At my last appointment he was already upside down and facing my back. Just hope he is as cooperative at the hospital when it really counts.
-Either really playful or easily annoyed. He moves and kicks when we put our hands where he is sticking out.
-Don't know for sure yet, but he sure feels like he's going to be really big and really tall

PICTURES!

33 weeks:
working on a Christmas present project for Alex's brother Andy

Finished!

34 1/2 weeks: Church outfit...getting more and more limited in choices

Favorite every day shirt. Urban Outfitters! (And turkey-timer of a belly button)

Sneak peek of my current project... currently working out a kink that's stopping production. Anyone have good tips on dying things grey? Or where to find silver colored crib sheets?

My lovely baby bump

Here it is...the progression and update of the baby bump...

12 weeks: The "before" picture

18 1/2 weeks: Finally! First signs of a growing baby! I woke up one morning and saw this... a bump! Love it even if it is lopsided!

19 weeks: a little more pokey-outtie

22 weeks: looking more pregnant. Just in time for Christmas.

26 weeks:

31 weeks: group picture in CA, but you definitely can't miss the belly!
It's hard for me to believe I'm going to get even bigger. Baby too! It feels like there already isn't room for him in there!

Additions: birthday and CA Christmas

First. Thank you Alex for the sweet post. He is the best ever. I had the best day....had lunch at Citrus Grill with Aunt Laura, bought fabric to make baby bedding, ate a Rasberry-Strawberry-Banana shake from Iceberg, watched Tarzan, played Mancala, and ate Oliver Garden, played Rook, and had fondue with Aly and Zach.

Second. I finally finished the California Christmas post I started weeks ago, so scroll down past Alex's love note and enjoy.

Happy Birthday Al.....

I just wanted to express how much I love Ally on her birthday and thank her for being so cool. Here are a few of my favorite things about Al...

-She is so darn creative/crafty/hands on (she is making our own crib bedding that is going to look sweet!) and p.s. Sorry this post looks so un-creative and un-cool compared to what Ally's usually looks like.

-Al pushes me to be better. (I have a lot of weaknesses and she is alright with that but also tries to make me work on being better)

-Ally is sooo freaking smart/intelligent. (I always tease her that she should be the one going to med school, not me)

-Patient with me. (I have my weird quirks... and Al puts up with them/me)

-Al can get ready very, very, very quickly (if needed) and still look like a HOT momma!!! (I figured that has to be every guys dream... until I realized she can get ready faster than me)

-My wife knows how and when to put me in my place. (and she does it so well- I'm grateful for a wife that will do that every so often even though it's not fun)

-Obviously Al is a hottie, but I just had to list two things... her beautiful green eyes and her sexy long legs in heels... gotta love em'!

-Ally knows how to care for me. (Plain and simple... my wife can read me and understands me- she knows what to do if I'm mad/sad/frustrated/or anything else)

-She loves me! (Thanks Al)

I better wrap this up... I was going to write this while Al was sleeping in, but she got an early phone call and woke up. So now I'm doing it while she showers. Thanks again and happy birthday Al.

-Alex