Hux: 3 Months

Daddy took this picture, but you can see he is smiling at mommy! :) 

Hux is 3 months old! He is getting so big and is so happy and smily! He loves baths and Charlotte loves taking them with him and helping me bathe him. Just about every time we take a bath, he pees and we get a good laugh!

First day in Bubblefish

Hux is happiest when Charlotte is right in front of him. He is very easily entertained by her and loves her so much! They already have a very special relationship. Here is Charlotte at 3 months! She had already been on her first plane ride at 3 months! Poor Hux, second child problems!  

Still not quite sure who he looks like. 

Weight:  about 14 lbs according to our scale at home. We go back to the doctor next month!
Diaper Size: still size 2!Clothing Size: 3-6 months. He is definitely filling out. 
Nickname: I've been calling him Huxie and bud or buddySleeping Habits: Some nights/days are better than others. He is a very low-key baby. He loves little cat naps of 20-30 minutes during the day. He is still getting up 2-3 times per night, but hopefully those stretches will become longer soon!Adventures this Month: Hux started in his Bubblefish classroom! He has done great so far! We also visited the strawberry patch for u-pick strawberries! Visitors: Papa visited during his work trip! Hoping for more visitors soon.Milestones: Smiling, cooing, tracking us as we walk around, close to rolling over, but not quite yet. He loves his sister and is always looking for attention from her. I am also able to "brush" his hair and do a little part! Favorite Toy: Still loves his playmate and the activity bar on his carseat. He loves just staring and talking to us. He also likes stroller walks/runs! Looking forward to: Our summer trips to San Diego and Lake Tahoe! Should be lots of fun! Mommy also turns 30 next month! Yikes! 

Hux: 2 Months

My handsome boy!

April has been a much better month for us! Hux celebrated his first Easter and went to church for the first time and I got my PICC line out the day before! The ladies in the nursery love him! My mom went home the day before Easter and that was bittersweet! I miss her and wish we lived closer, to all of our family for that matter. 

An outtake! So happy! 

These two! :) 

Hux continues to be a great eater and sweet little baby. He rarely fusses. I just had my first uncontrollable moment with him the other day. It was a first at 2 months old! 

My handsome boy!

Weight: 12lbs. 1.5 oz. 
Diaper Size: Size 2
Clothing Size: Still squeezing into some NB things, but going all the way up to 6 months!
Sleeping Habits: His longest stretch has been about 4 hours. He usually does a long stretch in the morning. We are surviving for now! 
Adventures this Month: He had his first day at school. Just for 3 hours, but he did great. He went to the church nursery for the first time and slept his way through several dinners, too!
Visitors: No visitors this month, but looking forward to more coming soon! 
Milestones: He started smiling and loves to coo. He follows things with his eyes and can hold his head up very well!
Favorite Toy: He loves his playmat and looking up at the lights and animals. He also loves his Rocky and Play and sitting propped up on his Boppy and watching me put on my makeup and do my hair! :) 
Looking forward to: Summer vacation! We have some fun trips planned with our friends! 

My Top 10 Baby Must-Haves

Baby Hux, 5 days new! Look at that tush!
Photo Credit: Mint Portrait Studio 

I had Charlotte in 2014 and ALOT has changed in the baby world in 4 years. You can read an endless amount of blogs and articles about what you need for baby, but I am big believer that every parent and child is different and what works for you, may not work for others. I've narrowed it down to my top 10 and have linked up the items on Amazon! Be sure to price compare on other sites and on your registry

1. Fisher- Price Rock and Play - This is a lifesaver! Charlotte loved this and so does Hux. Because we have a 2 story home, we registered for another one of these and got the plug-in one that actually rocks. I would highly suggest it! It has a timer and perfect to help soothe baby and fall asleep!

Taking a snooze in the Rock and Play!

2. Wipes Warmer - I know some moms who laugh at the thought of this, but I absolutely love it! We just have one upstairs, but it makes middle of the night changes so much better!

3. Nose Frieda - Hux has already been a little stuffy and this really helps with getting the gunk out. The concept is a little weird, but there is a filter, I promise!

4. Dr. Brown's Bottles - We used these with Charlotte and although the parts are a pain to clean, I really think they help with gas! Hux became a champ at bottle feeding while I was in the hospital and pumping!

5. Ergo Carrier - I love my Ergo! Sadly I haven't had the chance to use it with Hux, yet, but it is great for trips to Target when they get tired of the carseat! Don't forget the infant insert, too!

Rockin the Ergo at the Beach in Hawaii with Charlotte! 

6. Boppy - this pillow makes breastfeeding practically hands free! I would highly suggest one for your living room and one for your bedroom or nursery. Amazon has tons of cover options, too!

The Boppy also makes for a perfect prop for big sister to hold baby! 

7. Spectra S1 (S2) Breast Pump- This is an amazing pump and was literally my best friend in the hospital. I had a Medela hospital grade pump in the room too and both pumps produced the same. I don't know how I messed this up, but make sure you get the S1 as it is portable/battery is chargeable. The S2 is not! I was super bummed I didn't read the descriptions properly! I also highly recommend using The Breastfeeding Shop to order your pump. Look for a post later this year on Military Moms Blog about this service! I keep my pump upstairs in my bathroom and use this awesome hands free nursing bra to pump while I get ready!

8. Carseat/ Nursing Cover - I love this new style! It's more of a t-shirt material and doubles as a nursing cover. The material is lightweight and easy to throw in the wash. It is also super affordable at $9! You can buy multiple!

9. Boon Lawn/Grass Drying Rack - I upgraded to the lawn since we have more bottles and items with Charlotte's cups too. This is great for drying everything. Don't forget the Twig and Stem attachments to hang the parts on!

10. Infant Play Gym  - Charlotte used this as a baby and Hux is loving it now, too. He will lay under it for 20-30 minutes and it really buys me some time to be hands free!

Playing together!

If you had to pick a favorite baby item, what would it be? 

Hux Ashton Chance

The morning after he was born, we finally took a decent photo. Boy do we look exhausted! 

Wow, it is almost 2 weeks after Hux was born and I am just opening my laptop to attempt to write this post. I don't even know where to start, but I will and hopefully it won't be too long, but you may want to grab some drinks or snacks. :) Edit: it has now been over a month and I FINALLY finishing this post! Oh and here is Charlotte's birth story, which is a drastically different story!

We had a regular OB check on Tuesday, February 13th. I went to MOPS that morning, got my car washed, did a little work and then met Kyle at my doctor's office. I had plans to meet my broker to grab a check and then drive to Toro Park to show a house, but Hux and my doctor had other plans. They took my blood pressure and it was a little high and within the range of pre-eclampsia range (140/90-- I don't think I'll ever forget these numbers). I also was having weekly ultrasounds to monitor my amniotic fluid. Normal range is 5-25, and mine was reading at 26, which is considered polyhydramnios. I was super relived when  I had the ultrasound to know that my fluid level had gone done to 22. Awesome! I was in the clear! I went into the exam room and my doctor drops the bomb that I need to go to the hospital for blood work and for a NST. Um, what? No, I have a house to show and I have bunco tonight. This can't be happening. I really was in shock. He assured me it was just for monitoring and if all checked out, I could go home.

So, Kyle and I drove together to the hospital. On the way there, I couldn't believe that this may be IT! When we arrived to the hospital, I was a little panicky. The nurses were slow to react to us because we weren't an emergency. They got us settled into a room and started monitoring my blood pressure every 10 minutes. Of course, I was super nervous so it was super high. The nurse covered up the monitor so I couldn't see the numbers and I just tried to relax. They took a urine sample and also drew blood (my favorite). Little did I know that I would have blood draws EVERY 6 hours for the next week. Hence the bruises ALL OVER my arms. My labs came back with protein in my urine and my blood pressure continued to be high. Kyle went home to gather our bags (which were not packed) and pick Charlotte up from school. Meanwhile my doctor came to the hospital and gave me the news, I would not be leaving and it was time to induce. I cried. This is not how I had thought this would go at all. Especially after my birth experience with Charlotte. I fought hard and one of my nurses played mediator between my doctor and I while Kyle was on speakerphone. At this point, it was a safety concern for my health and for the baby's. So, with that, we started the Cervadil to start to induce labor, which before that even started, I was having some mild contractions.

Kyle got back to the hospital after dropping Charlotte off at her friend's house. Our friends the Crowells were seriously lifesavers in helping us with Charlotte. We are forever grateful of their help with her. Kyle brought back dinner and we just waited. My doctor had mentioned that the induction could take up to 3 days. Wow! Again, not what I planned. It got pretty late and it was just hard for me to sleep. I was so anxious and didn't know what was to come and then of course, in the back of my head I was just praying I wouldn't have to have a c-section. I was woken up all night by nurses and labs, but finally got a longer stretch of sleep around 2am.

Morning came and I couldn't wait to see my progress from the Cervadil. The contractions had continued, but nothing too painful. At 9am, the Cervadil had been in for 12 hours. It was time to check my progress. Well, I was completely disappointed to find out that the nurse couldn't even reach my cervix. So, we awaited my doctor to see what was next. While we waited, we watched Titanic from beginning to end (5 hours with commercials on TV). My lunch arrived and we were still awaiting my doctor and the next thing I knew, in walked my mom and sister! Wow, I was so surprised. They booked tickets the night before and flew out first thing in the morning. It was so great to see them and totally lifted my spirits. My doctor came and checked me and I was 1-2cm. So excited! Now, when I got to the hospital with Charlotte I was already 5cm, so you can see how different this labor was going.

Laboring and get ready for the big day!

At this point, we also got to switch rooms, which was also a wonderful thing. The room we were in didn't have a window and was super tiny. So we were very happy with the upgrade! We got all of our stuff moved over and realized it was probably time to get Charlotte from school. My mom, sister and Kyle left to go surprise her at school and I tried to get some rest. The Parkland School shooting was unfolding and all over the news. So sad. I had started feeling stronger contractions and the monitor was showing them between 2-5 minutes apart. I texted our doula, Krista, that maybe it was time for her to come up to the hospital. Shortly after that, my contractions literally stopped. It was so frustrating. She came and brought me a birth ball and hung out for a bit, then headed back home so we could both get some rest. Kyle returned to the hospital, we ate dinner, Facetime'd Char and just waited... I got checked again at 9pm, after another 12 hour round of Cervadil. I was just 2 cm dilated. I was so frustrated. I decided to get in the shower to refresh and relieve some of the pain. Then I bounced on the ball and Kyle and I walked the halls. Kyle was a great coach and helped with the contractions. We would stop at this world map on one of the walls and talk about places we've been to try and take my mind off of the contractions. Around 10:30pm, we decided to call Krista back up to the hospital. This allowed Kyle to get a short break while Krista kept me company and walked the halls with me. Once I would stop walking, the contractions would subside or get further apart. I was really tired at this point and something had to give. I was going on over 24 hours of not really sleeping. I don't recall the time, but I think it was 1am or 2am where I had a breakdown and my nurse, doctor and I decided it was time to start Pitocin, which for me, meant it was time to get an epidural. I hadn't had Pitocin before and really didn't want to have to experience it without some type of pain meds. At this point, my labor literally felt like a bad dream that just wouldn't end. The birth of our son just seemed SO far away.

The anesthesiologist came in and began to prep for my epidural. I was so nervous and just began to cry. He asked me if I wanted to get the epidural and of course I did, I was just a wreck. After prepping my back and placing the plastic wrap on my back, it was time. Thankfully, it was not as bad as I thought it would be and similar to my experience with Charlotte, except this time, it worked and my pain was relieved! I got a catheter and then the nurse and Kyle moved me onto my back and I tried to get comfortable and get some rest. This was challenging as the nurses and lab techs were constantly coming in to draw blood and check vitals. Kyle, Krista and I all got some rest and the next thing we knew it was morning and I was 5.5cm! Finally some progress!

My mom and sister came back up to the hospital and we just hung out and waited for progress, especially for my water to break. I was diagnosed with polyhdramnios ( high amniotic fluid) towards the end of my pregnancy which also meant weekly ultrasounds to look at the fluid. At my appt. on Tuesday, the AFI was finally down within normal range, but I was warned that when my water broke, it would be a lot! Around 11am, I started to prep for delivery! I freshened up, put on some makeup and brushed my hair. I was going on almost 12 hours of being in the bed and was getting a little bored. At this point, I also couldn't eat, but was able to have water. I was checked again and at 7cm. We talked about breaking my water, but needed my doctor so waited for him to get to the hospital. But, that wouldn't  be necessary because it broke on its own! My belly practically went flat! Yes, there was alot of fluid. My doctor arrived shortly after and this is where my labor started to take a turn. At this point I was 8-9 and almost ready to push, but Baby Hux had other plans. His heart started to decelerate with every contraction. Electrodes were placed inside of me and on his head to get a better reading of his heart. Then they put an oxygen max on me. I started to cry. I was so nervous. My doctor placed another set of electrodes on his head and after more decelerations determined that the cord must be wrapped around the baby's neck. He said let's wait for one more contraction, but I declined, I didn't want to wait any longer. The next thing I knew, they were wheeling me out for an emergency c-section.

Oxygen mask on, not sure what was happening at this point, but Hux's heart was beginning to drop.

The next few hours are such a blur. Kyle got suited up and I was taken into the OR. It was cold and bright and there were at least 20 people rushing around. They moved me to the table and put my arms out like a T. At this point, Hux's heart rate was down to 60. The same anesthesiologist came in who did my epidural. My OB pinched my stomach and asked if I could feel him doing that and I could. At this point, I'm pretty sure I was lifting my back/butt off the table because I was so scared and didn't want to feel them slicing me open. The anesthesiologist gave me more pain meds and my OB called for Kyle to come in. The next 3 minutes are some that I don't ever want to have to re-live and I will spare the details of what it felt like to get the baby out. One thing I will say is that his head was already engaged into the birth canal, which meant one of the nurses had to go inside to push his head back up the other way! I didn't feel it, but she told me that later. All was made better when we heard Hux crying. I could see absolutely nothing, but Kyle saw him being taken over to the warmer. He was OK!  Kyle went over to check on him and the process of sewing me back up started.

7lbs 2oz, the same weight as big sister Charlotte!

After a quick check, Kyle and a nurse brought the baby over to me. The blue drape was so far in my face there wasn't even a spot to put the baby on my chest. I saw his face and tried to kiss him and then they left and went into the nursery. We didn't even get a picture. Kyle said goodbye to me and planned to see me in about 20 minutes...but, my body had other plans.

As I laid on the table and felt them sewing me up, I remember asking one of the anesthesiologists how much longer it would be. He said about 15 minutes. He asked if I wanted something to relax. Yes, that would be great!  He put a nose cannula on me and gave me what I think was fentanyl. But, right before that, I threw up. Throwing up bile while on your back is really not fun. Thankfully I was able to turn my head and get it into a basin. I remember hearing the doctors and nurses ask if they got all of the placenta out and that is really the last thing I remember.

Hux was born at 3:29pm. Once I got the fentanyl, I don't remember anything until I woke up at 7:00pm in the PACU. The first thing I asked Kyle was, "Do I still have my uterus?".

So, what exactly happened? Well here is a recap of what happened during those 3.5 hours once I fell asleep. As they were stitching me back up, my uterus continued to bleed and would not contract, which is a condition known as uterine atony, which is likely related to the preeclampsia. At this point, my platelets were also running low so my blood was not clotting. I was re-opened and a D&C performed as a precaution to ensure there were no placenta parts left. Once you see my placenta, you will understand why. It was mangled and the cord was barely hanging on. Had I had a vaginal delivery, things could have gone very differently. I really believe that God intervened.

My placenta. Not anything how it is supposed to look, with the cord barely attached. 

I continued to bleed and lost 2000cc of blood volume, about half of my total blood volume. After two blood transfusions, things started to turn a corner. At this point I was intubated and under general anesthesia. I remember nothing. My uterus was still floppy and so a Bakri balloon was inserted into my uterus to stop the bleeding and I was finally closed back up.

Waking up in PACU, I was super groggy and delirious. During the time I was in surgery, my family cared for Hux. His first meal was a bottle of formula, I would have never guessed that would be how it went, but it did and he did great! They also weren't given much information about me at all. It was a very hard and difficult couple of hours for them. I really feel so lucky to still have my uterus and to be alive. My doctor and the team of nurses really saved my life. Once the surgery got complicated, there were 4 OBs and 2 anesthesiologists caring for me. I owe them everything.

Finally at 7:05pm, I got to hold my sweet baby Hux! My body could barely move, but he melted right into my body. Holding him instantly restored me. Kyle and I finally took our first picture with him. We were all ok.

I will continue the recovery in another post. I am truly so grateful for all of the prayers and support from friends and family from all over the world. In this huge mess of a situation, I am so grateful for everyone and everything.

Hux: 1 Month

Wow, what a month it has been! I am STILL working on the birth story and now have my lovely recovery story to share, too. Hux's first month has been quite uneventful for him. We have barely left the house because I have been so sick. Charlotte had been all over by the time she was a month old. You can read her 1 month post here. 

Hux is such a sweet and chill baby! He is quite content and really only cries during his diaper changes and if he is hungry! He's been in his carseat several times and doesn't complain too much! It took three different sessions get his newborn photos done! He did not want to fall asleep! We got some really amazing photos of him (and Char too) and I can't wait to share them. 

Weight: Last Friday, March 9th, he weighed in at 8lbs 6.9oz. 
Diaper Size: While I was in the hospital, he graduated to size 1 diapers! 
Clothing Size: NB and some 0-3 outfits. It's crazy how things that were huge on him are now getting tight!
Eye Color: Blue so far!
Sleeping Habits: He is sleeping pretty well. He sometimes will even put himself to sleep all by himself. He will be awake and then the next thing I know, he has closed his eyes and called asleep.
Adventures this Month: Poor Hux. Due to my health, we haven't done much! He hasn't even been to Target yet. His adventures include going to his doctor's appt, newborn photos, hanging in the parking garage while I was in the ER and going to Mission Ranch for brunch. He's definitely a homebody! 
Visitors: So far Gaga has been here twice, Aunt Ashley and Papa and Grammy visited too! 
Milestones: Taking a bottle like a champ! We switched to Dr. Brown's from the Haberman's nipple, he can lift his head up off of our chest, he follows voices and even made eye contact when I Facetime'd with him. He also smiles in his sleep or when you rub his cheek! 
Favorite Toy: He is taking a paci (same one as Char) and loves snuggling soft blankies.
Looking forward to: Aunt Ashley, Uncle Bob and our cousins come next week to visit! We can't wait! 

Baby Boy's Nautical Nursery

I am so excited to share our Baby Boy's nursery! I think Charlotte's room was done before I was even 20 weeks pregnant with her. Baby's room is the smallest in our home, so it definitely took some creative thinking to get everything to fit! It's cozy, but super cute!

We finally put the finishing touches on the room yesterday (after I had to ask Kyle to move some things on the wall around) Whoops! Hanging projects are one of his least favorite things, but I am so happy with how it all turned out and he did a great job. We just need to get some of his newborn photos printed when he does arrive and we will be good to go!

We moved Charlotte's daybed into his room and I'm so glad we did! Its a great extra spot and this IKEA Hemnes daybed has 3 large storage doors underneath that are amazing for keeping toys, blankets, etc. One of us ends up in here between midnight to 3am when we can't sleep because of snoring! 

The shelf above his table is holding his tiny diapers! 

His dresser is on the smaller size, but it really all that the room allowed. Thankfully boys don't have quite as many accessories as girls, so I think we will be ok. I also got this over the door shoe organizer and it has been an awesome addition to store shoes, bowties, hats, swaddles, etc. 

I was able to repurpose Charlotte's chair from her nursery! My mom cleaned it up while she was out visiting and it looks brand new! This custom nautical pillow from Etsy is one of my favorites in his room!

I've linked up all the items I purchased for his room below:

Crib in Rustic White -Target

Dresser in Rustic White - Target

Crib Bedding (Bumper and Crib Skirt) - Pottery Barn Kids

Anchor Crib Sheet - Amazon

Daybed Bedding - PB Teen

Daybed Accent Pillows- Home Goods

Custom Nautical Flag Pillow - Etsy

Anchor Monogram - Etsy

Wooden Shelves with Rope Accents - Michaels (these were BOGO Free, when I purchased)

Rug - Amazon/ Safavieh

Anchor Lamp - Hobby Lobby

Vintage Map Wood Wall Decor- Hobby Lobby

Bumpdate: 37 Weeks

Well, we made it to "full term"! Not much to report here, just waiting on baby. Here is my 37 Week Bumpdate with Charlotte. A lot more eventful than this go round. We moved into a different house when Charlotte 10 days old, which was a huge blessing, but I am so happy to not be doing that this time! 

Today I have a doctor's appointment and we will finally check out the hospital and do our pre-registration paperwork, too. Sadly, I've only driven past the hospital, but have no idea where to go when I do go into labor. Once again, second child! 

His room is ready, diaper bag is packed, but still need to finalize our bags for the hospital and Charlotte's bag to go stay with her little friend! We also need to get the car seat installed!

How far along? 37 Weeks
Maternity clothes: Yes and I got to wear dresses over the last week because the weather has been soooo nice!
Total weight gain/loss:  up 15 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight! I've gained more than I did with Charlotte and I'm definitely not making excuses, but I have a high level of amniotic fluid that is also a contributing factor. Normal range is 5-25 and last week I measured at 26! I seriously feel like I am about to pop lol!
Stretch marks? Still none! I thought I had one the other day, but it was an indentation from the tights I was wearing! When I woke up the next day it was gone! Continuing to lather up with lotion!
Sleep? I have sadly started snoring (like really loud). Kyle even has a video recording to prove it! It's so bad and has caused me to pretty much have a permanent sore throat. I definitely am not sleeping well. Up 4-6 times a night to use the bathroom and then not being able to get comfortable. Either Kyle or I have been moving to the baby's room during the night, which makes me SO happy we decided to keep our daybed in there! 
Miss Anything? Moving, walking without feeling like the baby is going to fall out, WINE!
Movement: Yes, lots of movement. 
Food cravings? Girl Scout cookies! Did you know that there are different varieties on the east vs. west coast, also like most things our cookies are more expensive here! Surprise, surprise! 
Gender: Boy! 
Symptoms: Shooting pain down my legs, back pain, my rib isn't as numb constantly which may be a sign he is dropping. 
Belly button in or out? Out!
Wedding rings on or off? On, but tighter. I am definitely swelling a little as some of my shoes feel a little tighter. 
Happy or moody most of the time? Pretty happy knowing the end is in sight!
Worst moment this week:  Not sleeping very well!
Best moment this week: The weather being absolutely amazing and having visitors in town! We had Kyle's best friend Rob and his girlfriend and Kyle's dad simultaneously, but it was a blast and Charlotte loved all the attention! We did some exploring and spent most of our time outside. If the weather was like this all the time, I could handle living here. 
Looking forward to: His arrival! I can't believe we are in the home stretch. This may be the last bumpdate I do!
Labor signs? Things are definitely moving towards that!
Anything making you sick or queasy? Eating too much and getting too full. With all my fluid I already sometimes feel like my stomach is in my throat!
Baby info: He's the size of Swiss chard, weighing in at about 6 1/3 lbs. 

Baby Boy's Nautical Shower

All of the ladies! Thanks Gretchen for snapping this photo and taking photos of the shower!
Photo Credits: Captured by Christopherson

Baby Showers are one of my favorite things. Well, really any chance to plan or attend a party is fun for me! My sweet friends in Monterey threw me a baby shower last weekend and it could not have been more perfect! Since I am doing a nautical theme for the baby's room, they followed the same theme for the shower!

We played a few games, including measuring my belly, Don't Say "Baby" and the Candy Diaper game!

Yummy Cookies and Cake by Baked Sweetly by Lizzy Rae! She's the best! 

 

My favorite flower, Stargazer Lillies

My friend, Morgan, made this adorable diaper motorcycle!

Char made a special appearance and was so excited!

All of the details were so beautiful!

A HUGE thank you to Jessica, Gretchen and Mariam for hosting the shower and to my friends who attended. It meant so much to me! We received some awesome gifts for baby boy and I think we have enough diapers for the first few months!