Mac is one month old!

One month ago, this very minute, I was checking into the hospital, totally unsure of what was to come. I knew we were about to be induced and imagined that we were twelve or even twenty-four hours away from meeting our sweet boy.

Little did we know that I was already in real-deal labor; I was going to have Mac on October 5th with or without Pitocin's help! Eight hours later, at 8:06 pm, Mac arrived and the last month has been a world-altering blur. I'm still in awe at the unbelievable blessing we've been given.

Happy, happy birthday, Mac! I wish I could list all of the ways you've changed our lives already and made our little family complete. That, however, would require more brainpower than I've got at the moment.

Where is my brain, you'll probably ask one day? Most of it is devoted to feeding and comforting you, reading about how best to take care of you, talking to experts (acid reflux and lactose intolerance are for the birds!) and relying on the support (long-distance and otherwise) of our friends and family. Sometimes squeezing in a nap, but more often catching up on dishes, laundry, baby book reading and, you know, eating my own meals.

We love you tremendously, little man, and can't wait to watch you grow. For now, though, please stay little...I can see you getting bigger every minute. Take your time!! (Except on the sleeping through the night stuff - feel free to do that any ol' time you're ready.)

A letter to a non-entity

Dear Daylight Savings Time,
You're screwing with my mind. I don't enjoy this dark-at-dinnertime nonsense you've thrown my way. I'm not even sure what time it is anymore. When the sun goes down, I feel a sense of pressure - have I done everything I should? is it time for bed? how could this day be over already?

You're making me tired all the time, DST. It's 8:55 and I could easily pass out with a moment's notice.

Yes, I have a newborn who wakes often to eat. (The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, DST.) And yes, I'm sure that contributes to my constant sleepiness. But you, weird time adjustment concept, aren't making it any easier.

How is it that Congress can legislate time? I mean, how full of yourself do you have to be to think you can control when the sun rises and sets? Regardless, can we please switch it back? Longer days make for happier Annes. Or at least one happy Anne -and in this house that's all we really need.

So take that, Daylight Savings Time. Hope you feel the full power of my wrath.

And if this letter is too rambling and incoherent for you to understand, perhaps you had a hand in that, you bringer-of-early-sunsets.

With that, I'm seriously contemplating turning in for the night. (Until, of course, my four-week-old wakes me with a gentle reminder that he's hungry!)

Here's hoping to see some sunshine at dinner without enjoying the Senior Citizens' 4:00 pm special!

xoxo,
A.

I know this must have been cute at the time...

Take a look at the shoes, y'all. The shoes! Weren't these high-powered career gals??

Enjoy a flashback cast shot (that seems to have been jigsaw-puzzled together in Photoshop) of the quirky nineties show Ally McBeal. I remember something about a dancing baby, a coed bathroom - and a lot of pin-thin leading ladies.

There are whispers of an Ally reunion - all I can hope is that they update their wardrobes. Sex and the City from similar years doesn't have this dated a look to it. Guess that's what Patricia Field will do to a show!

Anyhow, back to Babyland! Night, everyone!

A new trend in wedding dresses?

Take a look at this piece in a NYT blog about Ivanka Trump's lovely and modest wedding dress. Her new husband, Jared Kushner, is orthodox and Ivanka recently converted, thus the need for something a bit more covered-up. Vera Wang made Ivanka's gown, inspired by Grace Kelly's, and I think it's so pretty!

The bigger question raised, however, is whether or not strapless wedding dresses are on their way out... I can't think of a bride wearing sleeves in the last ten years and am interested to see if my strapless dress wedding photos are soon going to look dated. Thoughts?

P.S. You have to read about the lace on this dress; I bet it was just gorgeous in person. You can see larger and more photos here.

Before and After

Before:

A family of two: Bradley and I (24 weeks along) at a friend's wedding this summer.

After:

After: A family of three. Bradley (in costume), Mac (3 weeks) and I make an appearance at Trunk or Treat to support our small group.

(See here for more pictures at the Gaymons' blog. Try to find me and B hiding in the first shot! Our "redneck fishermen" did a great job giving out candy.)

Don't worry about Mac: the festival was outside, no one touched him and we were gone in a flash. I think the fresh air did us good!

Before: I needed eight and a half hours of sleep (in one stretch!) to feel fully rested. Seven and a half was pushing it, but I could cope.
After: Ha ha ha. Really... If I get eight hours of sleep in a 24 hour period, I'm amazed. And it comes in tiny little bits - but I'll take it!

Before: I drank 90 ounces of water a day (Mac must have been floating in there!) and hit the ladies' room at my office more times an hour than anyone should.
After: If I have time to swig a glass of water daily, I'm impressed. Who knew tiny babies could keep you so busy?

Before: I rolled my eyes at people who told me to sleep when the baby sleeps. That must be the most popular piece of advice to give pregnant ladies.
After: I get it. I totally get it. And I understand why people preach it - the laundry, the dishes, the dusting, the watching-your-adorable-baby-sleep - everything gets in the way. Napping when your baby naps could save your sanity. Still working on this...

Before: I waddled to the bathroom multiple times a night.
After: I wake up, incoherent, at Mac's bassinet multiple times a night. Where am I, who's crying and why? It takes a moment to figure it out...this baby must think I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed!

Before: I could have broken our digital camera, I was so against photographing my ever-growing self.
After: I have that same camera in my hands ten times a day, photographing a cute expression or a sweet sleeping baby.

Before: I didn't sympathize with people who lamented about crying babies. If you know they're full, dry and safe, put them down and know you've done your best, right? You can't win 'em all.
After: Again. Ha ha ha. Oh, judgmental Anne. How little you knew about the every-nerve-tells-me-to-fix-him instinct that kicks in when it's your baby.

Before: I loved, loved, loved babies.
After: I love, love, love this boy. Crying, screaming, middle of the night - doesn't matter. I'm amazed at what love (and a little Diet Coke!) has gotten me to do this first month of his life. Give up sleep? Sure! Skip Grey's Anatomy to take 1,000 photos? Absolutely. Pass on blogging because your brain is entirely consumed by feeding, changing, sleeping? Mmm-hmm.

Before: I pictured our son as a beautiful baby boy with a headful of dark hair.
After: I could never have imagined anyone this cute (or this light-haired) being related to me!

Before: I loved my parents.
After: I owe them more thank you notes than my still-numb-from-pregnancy hands could ever write. Who knew how much they did for us when we were little - and to this day?!

Before: I laughed at the hundreds of diapers our lovely friends gave us at baby showers.
After: I worry our son may develop a pack a day (diaper) habit. Whew! Best gift ever, y'all! It really is insane how many they go through. I guess "they" were right all along.

A final thought from Babyland: As busy as everyone is, might I recommend Mac's daily afternoon siesta? He sure looks peaceful - wonder how good we'd feel if we could manage to do the same?
Back to non-baby topics soon, I promise, though the Mac updates won't stop. It's hard to think about much else besides him these days! Thanks for all the love, prayers and good wishes - keep 'em coming!

We're here...

And we're busy! (And sleepy and overjoyed and learning so much about our little guy.)

Don't have much time to chat at the moment - or even too much to say besides thank you for all the sweet wishes and prayers. We could definitely use them as we adjust to being new parents and learning how to take care of the cutest baby we know. (Who just happens to be one week old today!)

Blue and his little brother

Packed in for a ride to the pediatrician


Finally with my eyes open!

....and back to sleep.

Hope you're all having wonderful (if rainy) Mondays!

xoxo,
A.

Baby Mac is here!!

What a whirlwind the last 36 hours have been! Bradley and I went to the doctor's office yesterday for our regular Monday morning appointment, only to be sent across the street to the hospital. Nine (short and not-so-short) hours later, sweet Mac was in our arms. And let me tell y'all - we're in love.

Sneak a peek at our son, just an hour after he was born! (More details and many more photos to follow, I promise.)

Thank you for your prayers and good wishes - can't wait to introduce each of you to him. He's absolutely precious, such a perfect little boy and a total gift from God. We're overwhelmed with gratitude!!