Unpredictable Jonah

I’ve been back at work for 4 weeks now and our family is adjusting to our new schedule.  It’s actually been really fun to see Cody and Jonah connect during all of their time together.  Its hard sometimes to balance working from home and spending quality time with Jonah.  We realize that when we work from home that we can’t let out work define our day, but instead go with the flow of unpredictable Jonah.  I forget that often and end up really frustrated by the end of the day and have found myself already apologizing to my nearly 4 month old!  Anyway, I’m looking forward to next month off.  My parents are coming, then we’re all heading down to GA and FL for a week.  After that, we’ll head up to Park Rapids, MN to the Schimelpfenig lake place for some Q. T. It should be fun and relaxing. 

Here’s what Jonah’s been up to these days…

Laughing out loud ton!  Talking and Cooing.  Playing in his exersaucer.  Reaching for things and bringing them to his mouth.  Not taking naps, which leaves us with a tired baby and a tired mommy or daddy. 

He makes our day!  Everyday. 

 

Jonah

Here are some pictures of Jonah!  He’s such a sweet boy.  We just LOVE him! 

A stanger in our home

 

Here is a post that I wrote months ago and never posted.  I had hopes to add pictures to it before I posted it and never got around to it. It’s fun to read this two months later.  I’ll post pictures with the next post. 

Jonah is one month old now!  This past month has been so full.  We’ve ventured out into the world to go to church, Target and made a trip to Rochester to see Cody’s 94 year old grandmother.  Staying home seems much easier when the windchills hit negative numbers, but my extrovert side craves exercise when we are home-bound for a few days at time.  I’m ready for Spring!!

I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Jonah over the past few weeks and never really thought about the adjustment that it would be to have him here with us.  Cody made a reference about “things getting back to normal” and we both laughed at the realization that our old “normal” is gone and the new “normal” has come.   We’re still figuring out what that will look like.

It’s been an emotional month for me, which I guess it pretty normal.  Coming home from the hospital was one of the most emotional expereinces of my life.  I know that some people can’t wait to get out of the hospital to come home, but I felt really safe there.  There were nurses to take care of me and Jonah, someone who brought us food three times a day, nursery workers who took care of Jonah at night and a perfectly comfortable bed for Cody to sleep on right beside me.  We had lots of visitors, so I still felt like we had access to the outside world and a huge window with a view of a small part of minneapolis.  What more did we need.  Even Cody has made reference to the “safety” of the hospital. 

When we got home my emotion was overwhelming. Probably, not obvious really to Cody, his mom, or Jonah, but I was a mess.  My house all of the sudden didn’t feel as safe as it did before we left for the hospital and I was disappointed that my nesting efforts didn’t pay off a bit more.  I was pretty much couch-bound because of the surgery and I couldn’t really do anything to help my situation.  All I could do was hold this unfamiliar being in my arms, feed him and change him.  One of the nurses insisted that my only job was to take care of myself and to take care of Jonah.  That’s it!  But I still really didn’t feel like I knew how to do either one of those things well. 

Now that a few weeks have passed Jonah isn’t so unfamiliar anymore.  I’ve studied his face and his receding hairline, understand his cues, and love him like I’ve known him my entire life.  He is so precious and such a gift.  He’s been smiling at us since week two which was a surprise to us and others that held him.  Of course we believe that he is responding to us and not the bubbles in his belly. 

Papa-razzi

A few photos of our new boy and his beautiful mother, taken by the “Papa-razzi” (Jonah’s daddy)…

Welcome, little boy!

Jonah James was born Saturday morning 1:49 AM.  After over 3o hours of contractions coming at 6-13 minutes apart, Erica said, “OK, I’m ready for the epidural.”  No kidding.  Throughout the evening, the baby’s vitals dipped a few times as Erica’s body refused to cooperate with the oxytocin, and eventually Dr. B said it’s time to get him out.  Erica was prepped for the C-section, and Jonah James entered the world soon after.

 Within the first few minutes of life Jonah started rooting and looking for the food; within a few hours he was nursing like a champion. Erica has recovered rapidly, already up and walking around yesterday (Saturday) evening.   

 We were blessed with visits from Cody’s parents, excited new first-time grandparents, and the new uncle and aunties (Julie, Jessie, Ken, Anh).  And then our “cup runneth(ed) over” with a deluge of friends…we told folks we’d be open for visitors between 3-5 Pm…and they come out in force!  It was like a family reunion in the room.  But only half-a-family reunion…can’t wait for Jonah to meet the other half!

Labor

That is what they call it when a women’s whole body is trying to push out the new life within it.  And how aptly named.  Erica has been truly doing laborious work…when the contractions come they make it hard, or nearly impossible to walk, talk, think.  Yikes.  And this is considered ‘early labor’.  The hard stuff is still coming.  More regular contractions started yesterday at around noon and have continued at anywhere to 5-15 minute intervals for the last 24 hours.  Not a lot of sleep for either of us last night…lots of falling asleep and them immediately being awakened. 

We did eventually call the doctor to see how much of this was normal.  They asked us to come into to Abbot to check her and the baby out, ,put her on a monitor.  Decided to keep her here since she is supposed to come in tomorrow evening to start the induction process anyway.  So, here we are, in Room 6412, with HGTv on in the background as Erica continues to breathe her way through sporadic contractions.  The HGTv is a big bonus, Erica’s favorite.

Merry Christmas!

We’re down in Rochester, MN with Cody’s family for the holidays.  Tradition in the Schim family has it that dinner and gifts happen on Christmas Eve.  So it was a late night of fun and laughter as white elephant gifts and “real” gifts were passed.  There were 13 adutls and 4 dogs;  Kelly Ann, (the oldest) Hook, Bella, and Riley.  Next year we’ll add our almost 1 year old, human, to the mix.  It should be interesting. 

Cody and I have been talking about a lot of “last” in these fews weeks before the baby comes.  When we were on vacation a few weeks ago, Cody said, “We’ll it’s been a great 3 1/2 years of marriage.”  I agreed, but laughed because of his implication that life as we know it is over.  I know life will change, but I feel like we’re adding an addition to our lives, not taking anything away.  However, I have begun to grieve sleeping late in the morning and traveling with just a few necessary items.  (In the event of an early birth, we packed the car seat and the hospital bag for our trip down here.  Could the load possibly get bigger?!  My goodness!) 

So Christmas today so far has consisted of breakfast, a nap for me while the others walked on icey snow, and a moment to blog.  We’re thinking about going to see and movie and then over to Cody’s sister to play their new Wii.  Today doesn’t feel especially Christmasy, but it fun to be hanging out.  I did miss my family today when I called in the middle of the chaotic gift openning time.  I didn’t really say much but just listened to the typical noises that come from our Duncanson gatherings.  Ayden was so excited and they told me that he was either wearing all of his gifts already, or he was holding them in his hands. To be a child at Christmas. 

One other random thought to end on today…It’s been really interesting being pregnant during the Christmas season. Not because of all of the fun treats that you can eat wtihout really feeling guilty, but because its given me a different appreciation of Mary who carried Jesus at 15 years old, rode on a dirty donkey and give birth in an animal stable with a husband who was probably freaking out.  No drugs, no doctors, no birthing tubs or medicine balls to bounce on.  Its completely brought a new perspective for me on Jesus as a baby.  It reminds me that Jesus came into the world as the invisible God.  Its a good time to be pregnant. 

Merry Christmas!

10 Weeks Later

I’m not sure if anyone even views our blog anymore, but 10 weeks later I thought an update was long overdue.  I’m 32 weeks right now and I feel like the end is in sight.  The room is painted, some baby furniture purchased, and we have lots of cute baby things from my nephew Ayden and two showers that I’ve had.  Getting the “stuff” makes it very real. 

I’ve talked to a few women who say that they love being pregnant.  I haven’t quite found my love for it, but I’ve certainly grown in love with this growing baby inside me.  His kicks are comforting most of the time, and I like that he goes every where with us right now. There’s not a moment that he’s not with me. However, the list of not-so-glamourous things about pregnancy could go on and on…lack of the ability to easily grab the mail off the floor when I walk in house, using a public restroom and walking away with a wet ring around my belly, after washing my hands at the sink, because I still can’t gauge how far my belly sticks out.   Swollen feet, weight gain, tiredness.   But as hard as this sounds, there is incredible blessing in this entire process.  God has been knitting together a human in my womb.  My body is acting as a safety shell for his fragile body.  I’m humbled by this experience and recognize the blessing that it is to even possible to have it.  Not everyone can.  So my complaining that I’ve done in the past few weeks is done in humility.  I am so thankful for this baby and can’t wait to meet him. 

Cody and I are on vacation right now on Captiva Island near Fort Myers, FL.  We just spent the last six days with my family and with the baby coming we figured that a personal vacation was in order.  The time with my family was great and we were sad to leave.  The time always seems to fly by. 

We finally got a new camera!  Here are some picture from our time with family and of me at 32 weeks.  I’m really looking forward to the wonders of breast feeding that I hear about, namely, weight loss. 

32 weeks prego!

Self portrait on the beach

Fishing house on the pier by our cottage.

The family.

Good friend Jenn who is a week past her due date.  Ummm…It’s amazing what some people can do with pregnancy weight! 

To paint or not to paint??

First, let me share with you a slight difference between myself and Cody when it comes to planning for the arrival of the baby.  Last week, I picked up an exer-saucer at an arena sale in the city. (For those of you who are unaware of what an exer-saucers is- it’s one of those gadgets that you put the baby in. It bounces and spins around and has multiple objects that entertain on it.  See picture.) 

Anyway, Cody walked into the living room on friday afternoon and in all seriousness asked me, “Whose baby stuff is this??”  Thinking that it was obviously ours,  I less than patiently said, “CODY, we’re having a baby! We’ve been having a baby now for five months!  We own baby stuff!”   It’s so funny how differently we’re “preparing” for the baby.  For me it means the beginning of collecting baby things and getting the house ready and for him it means, foreign objects that take up space in our house.  (Now this is my interpretation.  I’m sure Cody may beg to differ.) 

So I’ve decided against trucks for the decor in the baby’s room.  Not because of Cody’s blog either.  I’ve decided that we are going with African Safari animals.  Here’s how I made up my mind.  I’ve had one shower already and received a cute stuffed lion and elephant.   Also, one of my girlfriends who spent time in Africa this summer brought back another stuffed elephant as well that was handmade by some African women with a ministry there.  So…I’ve got three figures to begin the collection and I figure I can just keep adding.  She also had pictures that she took of Giraffes and other safari animals that she said she would blow up for me.   So it was an easy decision and an easy switch.  I also figure that safari animal themed rooms are genderless as well, so we don’t have to change the room for another child down the line.  Now, my biggest dilema is whether or not to paint.  The room is a very dark navy blue, which has been perfect and enjoyable for our office.  Is that too dark for a baby?  Comments are welcome.  Here’s a pciture of the room.

 Here’s a picture of me too at 22weeks.  I’m growing!!!   

I love boys!

Well… at least now I do.  We had our ultra-sound this past week and the ratio of boys to girls in our house has quickly jumped from 1:1 to 2:1.  It’s a boy!  Cody an I both cracked up when the ultra-sound technician positively confirmed that this baby in my belly is a boy.  There was absolutely no missing the fact that he is a boy unless we want to try and convince ourselves that our baby girl has three legs! 

It was so much fun to see him for the first time.  He moved around the entire time, stretched his arms and legs and was opening and closing his mouth.  He sure is a cute little guy.  It’s amazing what you can see on the ultra-sound.  We saw the 4 chambers of the heart, the brain, lenses of the eye, kidneys, stomach and the spinal cord that has been covered with skin.  Everything seems to be where it was supposed to be and forming the way it should.  The doctor said that he’s only about a day off of the projected due date, so January 19th is still what we’ll go with.  

Just seeing him for the 45 minutes that we did created a deeper bond for us with this baby.  (I think I can speak for Cody here too.)  I pray for this baby in a different way now.  I pray that he will continue to be healthy, but I also pray that God would give Cody and I wisdom to raise a boy who will someday become a man.  For some reason, that feels like a bigger responsibility to me than raising a girl.  (not to discredit parents of girls by any means.)  My friend reminded me the other day that he will not be born as a “man.”  He will still be a baby who needs his Mother…  at least until he’s 2 or so and finds his independence!   We’ll take it moment by moment. 

There were many thoughts that went through my head at the moment that we found out.  Excitement, panic, relief…and the question-”what will I do with a boy?”  Cody kept on asking me if I was disappointed and the truthful answer to that is no.  I’m not disapointed at all.  We are blessed.  He is healthy.  I love BOYS!