CLEAVERS

CLEAVERS

Monday, July 12, 2010

Lists and Pictures

Things I've Learned/Noticed Since Smith

1. I will never have enough burp rags (and as a result.....)
2. It is impossible to get 100% caught up on laundry.
3. Smith has most definitely learned to fake cry.
4. Having a baby has inspired what I like to call "bathroom humor" with Derek.
5. Exercising has become a chore, not an activity .
6. I love Baby Wise.
7. Changing into a clean outfit invokes a new mess....vicious cycle.
8. I had some set strong ideals on parenting---easier said then done.
9. I'm willing to do just about anything to get Smith to smile.
10. Being a mom is downright fun.
11. I live in Alaska-so I deserve (ok maybe just want) one of these.

and
12. Everyone wants to see the baby, not you!!  So here you go!


Mmmm, I just LOVE his eyes.  Love em.





We just couldn't get a picture yesterday without him yawning or closing his eyes.  But we still wanted to show his cute outfit.  Polo onsies are my current favorite. 



So sweet. 
We were trying to get the stereotypical sleeping baby shot (I'm not creative, ok), but he suprised us all and stayed awake until I put his clothes back on.


Monday, July 5, 2010

More Smith!!!!

I know I need to be better about keeping this up to date...but believe it or not, I've been rather busy!
Smith is getting big, almost 11 lbs now!  He's starting to smile, which has been a blast.  We just haven't been able to capture it on camera yet...so smiling pictures will have to wait.  So, not much in writing from me today, but I will get some pictures up!



Lyric was one of Smith's first visitors!!  After Lyric left, Smith had to learn to sleep without being held.


Lyric, Smith and I at Beluga Point.


Naked time!


Baby burrito.  Best baby gift ever.  Thanks Katie!



He's starting to smile....it's so fun.  Although we can't get him to smile on Skype yet.


Blessing outfit.  It's the same one my brothers all wore. 


Thursday, May 13, 2010

Smith Gavin Cleaver

On April 28, I ended up going into the hospital, thinking I was in labor (2 minute apart contractions are supposed to mean labor, right?), was admitted, since I was 6 cm dilated already.  Derek and I started to get excited, thinking we were having our baby that night....5 long and boring days of daytime television and hospital food later, I went back home.  Still pregnant.  I was only over 36 weeks pregnant, so I couldn't be too upset that he hadn't come yet, but I just hadn't pictured coming home without that baby!    At my regular doctor's appointment the next day, my (wonderful) doctor told me that if I was still pregnant by May 12, she'd induce me.  At least at that point, there was an end in sight! 

On the morning of May 7, I was having some more contractions, nothing new.  They started having a little bit of pressure, but like always, no pain, so I didn't think much of them.  I was NOT going to go back to the hospital and let them keep me prisoner again for days if it wasn't the real thing.  So I called Mom and Aunt Kim, (who were dealing with their own drama for the day, my mom put a sewing needle through her finger and the end broke off inside!), and they told me I should probably head in.  Still putting it off, I called my nurse, and she said the same thing, so I decided to wait until Derek had his lunch break, then we could both head in.  

We get to the hospital a little after 1:00, and a while later, find out I'm over 7 cm, so this baby is definately coming today!  But, apparently I picked a popular afternoon to have a baby, because every Labor and Delivery room was full.  So, they were taking me to a TEMPORARY room until they moved someone who was moving along slower than me.  My temporary room had about the ambiance of a closet.  It was full and cluttered and extra linens, office chairs, totes and trays.  Just a mess.  No real hospital bed, but a nice stretcher.  And, since it wasn't a real labor/delivery room, no one had the decency to knock, making for a rather public experience.  I think I met more then my fair share of hospital staff.  My doctor arrived to check me out, and the plan was to break my waters just to keep progress going, since I have had a tendency to speed up, but then slow way down, then I was going to get an epidural.  But, that didn't happen.  I went from no pain, to lots of pain real fast, and that baby was coming soon, so-no epidural.  Not in the plan.  But what can you do?  Smith came at 3:15.    So from the time I got to the hospital to having a baby was 2 hours! 

He's been a wonderful baby.  He eats and sleeps so well.  And he's sooooo cute!  No cone head or yellow baby for me.  He is truly adorable.  Mom got here that night, which has been great.  Skype has been super fun, letting us show Smith off to Dad and thekids at home.  Although I still wish they could come up here in person, the camera just can't do him justice!


Friday, April 9, 2010

It's Been A While....

I know I haven't blogged in a while, but we just haven't done anything lately that seemed deserving of it's own blog.  But, there are a few things that are new and exciting (at least to us) these days.

1.  We now have light from around 6:30 in the morning, to a little after 9:00 at night.  And I love it.  I can't decide what I like better about spring- the warmer weather or increasing light.  It's not all that much warmer yet, in the 40's, but it's enough to melt some snow.  Only problem is that there is SOOOO much leftover snow to melt I'm afraid it will take all of April to get rid of it all.

2.  We started our pre-garden garden.  Our landlords are letting us use some of their garden space this spring/summer, but since we are in Alaska, you have to give your garden a headstart indoors.  We here that they can go outside around Memorial weekend.  Almost everything is still alive, so we are feeling pretty sucessful.


3.  Derek's co-workers threw us a baby shower and we got some really nice and cute gifts!  We're going to have one well dressed baby! 


4.  I'm over 33 weeks!  This whole time we've been shooting for 34 weeks, so we're pretty excited.  Everything has been going really well and we're awfully close now and I've got the belly to prove it!