Oh. My. Goodness.

Warning: Pic overload... It's been awhile!

I have been so absent from this little blog. I feel like a lot has changed, but then again, not too much has really changed. We have just been really busy.

Time is officially flying and the little man we so eagerly and patiently not so patiently waited for will already be 9 months next week. Where has the time gone??? I have been cherishing every moment with him. That's a good reason to be gone right? He is doing so much now and I am completely exhausted at the end of every day. We both look so forward to daddio returning home from work at night. We have his 9 month appointment next week and I'll post his stats then. We are both rejoicing that this is a "no shot" appointment! I am so sad that its the last one before his 1 year though... Cannot. Believe. It. :(

Currently, at 8 months and 2.5 weeks he is crawling all of the place, not just your regular crawl though. It's a half crawl, half crab walk. He uses one leg to push off and the other for balance, he's so quick too! Whatever works. :o) He also has 5 teeth--2 bottom, 2 top and his left "i" tooth. The only ones that were painful, or that affected him were his bottom 2, which happened to cut through when daddy went out of town for business for 10 days. So happy. The other 3 really didn't give him any troubles.

He has also just begun to stand on his own. It was literally an overnight achievement. He has to already be standing against something and let go. No standing from sitting just yet. :)

He sleeps like his mama. :) He goes down around 9 and wakes up anywhere from 12-14 hours later. He stays awake long enough to eat breakfast and drink a bottle then demands to go back down about an hour and a half later. His afternoon naps is usually 3-4 hours long. He's normally pretty accommodating if we have somewhere to be in the afternoon for a little boy, but the boy loves his sleep. Thank goodness! It took awhile to get there, but once we did, we were both content.

I'm knocking on wood as we speak, but he has been off of his reflux meds since this past Friday. At 6 months he was officially diagnosed with extreme acid reflux and put on one medicine, which didn't work, then 2 weeks later switched to a more expensive medicine that "kinda" worked. So glad to be past that. It was pretty stressful on this momma. At 5.5 months I noticed a difference in him and the way he was nursing. He was irritable/fussy, my supply was steadily dropping and he was losing the chubbiness he was born with. He was a 10 pounder at birth! I had mentioned it to my pedi at his 4 month appt, but was assured it was just something babies did. At 6 months, she finally agreed with me that this was not normal and he was put on meds. I can officially say now though that he has gained the weight back and is his normal *very* happy little self.

He eats like a champ. He was picky at first, but I slowly started retrying all of the foods he hated in the beginning and now he doesn't turn anything down. He will eat his meal then demands to have whatever we are eating as well. If you don't want to share you cannot eat in front of him haha.

This little boy brings so much joy to us it's ridiculous. I never could have ever imagined the amount of joy we have received from this little person in a million years.

We hope your holidays are starting out wonderful and cannot believe it's already Thanksgiving week. I started early with the Christmas decorations because I wasn't sure how much he was going to let me get done and we are busy the 2 weekends after Thanksgiving. Plus, with all that work you should be able to enjoy it as long as possible. :)

In case you're wondering what I do during his nap time, check this out. (Shameless plug!)

Grant: Week 2

Week 2:

March 7-March 13 

Stats:

We had another check-up on Friday to check his jaundice levels and he was 9.10 lbs. Almost back to his birth weight!

Milestones:

Still lifting his head like a pro, not too much control, but he's strong. He recognizes my voice when I enter the room and if he's crying he calms down when he hears me. 

Feeding:

Every 2 hours, how long he feeds still depends on how tired he is. It can be anywhere from 15-30 on each side. I've noticed he cluster feeds more in the evenings. Thank goodness for pumping, I'm able to get a little bit of sleep when Mark takes a night time feeding.

Sleep:

Definitely not one of our strong points. My mom left Saturday and I definitely cried when she left. Marks' work hours are so crazy that since Monday it's just been me and G. The lack of sleep is def beginning to wear.

Behavior:

Still easy-going as long as he is changed and fed. Still hates diaper changes though and I dread them, it doesn't take much to calm him down though.

Clothes:

Still in 0-3 month clothes and able to fit in the newborn outfits from Target and size 1 diapers.

Favorite Moments:

Snuggling his sweet baby-smelling self. 

Most Challenging:

Still sleep, but we'll get there slowly but surely. He still has upset tummy issues every once in awhile, but very rarely. I know it's just his new digestive system adapting.

Looking Forward To:

Longer stretches of sleep and feeling comfortable enough to get out on our own.

Firsts:

His first bath was Saturday before Kaylee and Jared came over to take newborn pictures! His umbilical cord fell off Thursday and his circumcision cover fell off Friday night.

Week 3 coming *hopefully* tomorrow! Along with week 4 which has the possibility of being on time. I'm also still working on the birth story.

Grant: Week 1

I know I am wayyyy behind on these but I want to start from the beginning. :o) 

Meet Grant Joseph Badora

Week 1:

February 29-March 6

Stats:

We were released on Saturday from the hospital and he weighed 9.7 lbs., but we had appointments Monday and Tuesday to check his bilirubin levels from the jaundice and he was back up to 9.10 lbs. He was 21 inches still and his head circumference was 36 cm.

Milestones:

He has been able to lift his head almost from day one, he has continued to do this.

Feeding:

Every 1.5 to 2 hours, how long he feeds depends on how tired he is. It can be anywhere from 15-30 on each side. I've noticed he cluster feeds more in the evenings.

Sleep:

Definitely not one of our strong points. Thank goodness my mom is here. She came down the night before I was induced and will be here til Saturday! She has been a big help since little G has only been sleeping short stretches of 2ish hours. She normally takes the 5-6 am shift when Mark gets up to go to work. Hopefully this will improve!

Behavior:

Overall, he's pretty easy-going as long as he is fed and changed. He HATES diaper changes though. I'm always trying to decide if I want to piss him off before or after I nurse him if a diaper change is questionable. I think we (me, Mark, and my mom) have all been pee'd on so far. He has done pretty well when we have had family and friends over.

Clothes:

From the beginning he has, for the most part, been in 0-3 month clothes. The only newborn outfits he can fit in are those from  Target, they run bigger for some reason. There are quite a few outfits he will never wear. :o( One of my fave outfits is the one he came home from the hospital in, I had it made with his monogram on it. He's also been in size 1 diapers from the beginning. Since he has lost a few ounces since birth I'm able to put him in newborn diapers for a few days.

Favorite Moments:

Coming home from the hospital Saturday and late night snuggles.

Most Challenging:

Lack of sleep, and nighttime. Our first night home, Saturday night, was the worst. I think he was having tummy issues and it was heartbreaking to see him in so much pain and not really be able to do anything about it. :o(

Looking Forward To:

His umbilical cord stump falling off and longer stretches of sleep. Oh, and I know this is a ways off, but I cannot wait for him to start smiling!

Firsts:

First time to leave the house since being home from the hospital was Monday, it was just to the doctor, but it counts. :o)

33 Week Bumpdate!

I'm growing day by day. Literally. My kiddos at school make it a point to make sure they tell me that I look bigger than I did the day before. Thanks ;o)


Today I'm 33 weeks 2 days, technically, but who is counting??

How far along? 33 Weeks!  
(January 22 to January 28)

Size of baby: Baby is the size of a Pineapple!

Estimated 19 to 22 in., 4.9 lbs.

Here is what we have been up to this week:

Weight Gain: 45 pounds still as far as I'm concerned since I haven't been back to the doctor.

Maternity Clothes : Of course, also hubs' t-shirts :o)

Sleep: Same, still struggling. I wake up on average 3-4 times every night. It's a chore getting out of bed and getting back into bed. Since I am limited to sleeping on my side I have to switch sides often because my legs and hips go numb. I have to say that the number one thing I miss is sleeping on my stomach.

Best Moment of this week: maternity pictures and spending the weekend in Austin with your daddy. Probably the last weekend we will get to spend as just the 2 of us. We have something going on every weekend until you get here. We had dinner at The Oasis.

I love, love, love Lake Travis. I have so many wonderful childhood memories from there. Going to The Oasis is definitely one of them.

Movement: All the time. It feels like you are sleeping less in comparison to last week. You move now even when I'm moving around. Up until now, as long as I was up and walking around you were still. Now you respond to me when I poke around. Your movements are so pronounced that my entire belly shakes, it's like you can see limbs poking out. Soooo cute! And feels so weird! Haha

Food cravings:  Same. Nothing in particular. Just when I want it, I need it NOW.

What I miss: I can breathe now! He's dropped a little. The only thing I miss now is just being able to sleep. If we could get that under control then all will be well!


Symptoms: More stretch marks :o( A few Braxton Hicks every now and then, mainly at night, nothing too painful though.

Gender: Still all boy!

What I'm looking forward to: My 2nd baby shower this weekend in Brenham and being one week closer. :o)

 Baby bump: 

Taken Sunday at exactly 33 weeks. I was exhausted from a day of traveling home from Austin.

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YOUR BABY IN WEEK 33 OF PREGNANCY

Your baby is still gaining weight (about half a pound a week), and she could grow up to another full inch this week. With that much baby inside your uterus, your amniotic-fluid level has maxed out, which explains why some of her pokes and kicks feel pretty sharp these days. (There's less fluid to cushion the blows.) Antibodies are being passed from you to your little one as she continues to develop her own fetal immune system, which will come in handy once she's outside the womb and fending off all sorts of germs.

YOUR BODY IN WEEK 33 OF PREGNANCY

With midnight bathroom runs, leg cramps, heartburn, and your basketball-sized belly, it's no wonder sleep is elusive. 3rd trimester insomnia strikes about three-quarters of pregnant women (who may also be coping with a mind that races all night long thinking about your to-do-before-the-baby-comes list). But your body needs rest, so do your best to get comfy — before bed and when you get in it. Grab a pile of pillows, wedge them where you need to, and look on the bright side: Pregnancy insomnia is great training for those sleepless nights to come!

32 Weeks

I feel like I grew overnight from Saturday to Sunday. And I am sooo sad to say that a few ugly stretch marks are beginning to rear their ugly heads. Can we say surgery in the future?! Anyways, everything has been smooth sailing. I had a doctor's appointment this past Tuesday and Doc said we were right on track. I seem to think that we are ahead of the track, but I digress... We will have our last ultrasound the 31st of this month to check his growth. It feels like he is already out of room, but we have about 8 weeks to go. Although, I would be happy if he arrived March 1st. :o) I just want a March baby, it doesn't have to be the 11th ;o)

How far along? 32 Weeks!  
(January 15 to January 21)

Size of baby: Baby is the size of a Honeydew Melon!

Estimated 19 in., 4.5 lbs.

Here is what we have been up to this week:

Weight Gain: 45 pounds, since we're being honest. Really though, my clothes are still fitting the same.

Maternity Clothes : Of course, also hubs' t-shirts :o)

Sleep: Struggling. I wake up on average 3-4 times every night. It's a chore getting out of bed and getting back into bed. Since I am limited to sleeping on my side I have to switch sides often because my legs and hips go numb. I have to say that the number one thing I miss is sleeping on my stomach.

Best Moment of this week: getting closer to having the nursery finished, our baby shower and I have to add last weeks, we finally saw you in 3d and you were soooo active and are (b)adorable, of course. I could watch the video and look at pictures of you all day long. We cannot wait to see what you actually look like.

Movement: All the time. You sleep a little more these days, but when you are awake, boy, there is no mistaking you. Your legs love to spend most of their time in my ribs, pretty sure they're going to have bruises by the time we are said and done. You don't kick so much anymore, they feel more like shoves, which leads me to believe that you are running out of room.

Food cravings:  Nothing in particular. Just when I want it, I need it NOW.

What I miss: Being able to take a deep breath. It feels like I am constantly gasping for air. Along with that comes, being able to put of my shoes and bending over, etc.


Symptoms: Shortness of breath, round ligament pain, and a few stretch marks :o(

Gender: Still all boy!

What I'm looking forward to: Maternity pics in Austin this weekend and getting away one last time with the hubs.

 Baby bump: 

And a couple of 3D pics, these were taken at 31 weeks:

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Your Baby in Week 32 of Pregnancy

What's up with your baby? She's starting to get ready for her big debut, tipping the scales at almost four pounds and topping out at just about 19 inches. In these past few weeks, it's all about practice, practice, practice as she hones the skills she'll need to thrive outside the womb — from swallowing and breathing to kicking and sucking. And speaking of sucking, your little one has been able to suck her thumb for a while now. Something else to note: As more and more fat accumulates under your baby's skin, she's becoming less transparent and more opaque.

Your Body in Week 32 of Pregnancy

This week, your body may start prepping for delivery day by flexing its muscles — literally. If you feel your uterus bunching or hardening periodically, those are practice contractions, otherwise known as Braxton Hicks. These rehearsals (typically experienced earlier and with more intensity in women who've been pregnant before) feel like a tightening sensation that begins at the top of your uterus and then spreads downward, lasting from 15 to 30 seconds (though they can sometimes last two minutes or more). How do you know these contractions aren’t the real thing? They’ll stop if you change position (try getting up if you’re lying down or walking if you’ve been sitting).

A bit behind, but catching up nonetheless :o)

So I realize that it's been awhile, but we have been busy bee's getting ready for our tiny's arrival, which might I add, IS LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AWAY!

Baby boy has been growing like crazy it feels like. We won't find out until the 31st how big the doctor estimates he really is.

So far I have had 1 shower, this past weekend, and it was awesome. This little boy is already so blessed and loved by everyone around him. We got so many great things! I have 2 more showers coming up, one at the end of January and one in the middle of February, I cannot wait! I get so excited like a little kid on Christmas. :o)

Pics from the shower this weekend:

The yummy cake! 

Natalie and I 

The "Grant" tree 

The adorable diaper cake made by my sisser 

Blue punch! Super easy recipe if you want it ;o) 

Allyson and I 

Me and the daddy-to-be 

BFF Alicia and I 

Holding Kara's sweet baby girl, Cali

This next weekend we are going to Austin to have maternity pictures taken by this amazingly talented girl. I can't wait to see her! It has literally been since graduation in 2008.

I will leave you with some current pics of how the nursery is coming along and maybe a pic of the growing bump. :o)

This was taken at 30 weeks.

31 weeks

Here's a few sneak peaks of the room:

So far... 

Prints given to me by Kaylee

Sweet guestbook frame made by my friend Kaylee for my shower.

Weekly update coming soon. I cannot believe I'm over 32 weeks already! Where is the time going?!?!