One Month Old!

I can't believe a month has gone by already! He is getting so big and changing every day! There have been challenging days but I wouldn't trade it for the world! He focuses on his favorite toys and your face if you are talking to him. I swear he's been smiling for a few weeks already but some might argue it is just gas. With this boy, it might be :) He likes to pee on people, especially grandmas and aunts... and the wall next to his changing table. April had a hard time at first but we never really discussed sleeping arrangments prior to his arrival so kicking her out of the room and keeping her downstairs was a little tough on everyone. I would wake up to feed Matthew in the middle of the night and I could hear her crying. We discovered that she just wants to be close to us and is happy sleeping on a little bed on the floor in our room. She loves her brother. Matthew still sleeps in our room too. We had him in his crib one night but it seemed to be worse than him sleeping with us. So for right now, he will stay with us. He sleeps really well in a rock n play next to our bed. He only wakes up once in the night to eat most of the time. He is such a good boy! I can't wait to see what he learns next month!

Pictures By Abby

Pictures

 I may have misjudged his size! I didn't think he would be this small!

 Big cousin Ryan and Big sister April



Matthew Herbert Nelson is here!

It's been a long time again since I've updated this, our little boy is already one week old!
Tuesday the 22nd was just like any other day. I woke up and went to work and continued to do everything to try and get labor going...I wasn't very comfortable. I took April to the vet at 1:30, brought her home and left for our weekly doctor's appointment which was at 3:30. Robert and I were told by our doctor that she doesn't think I will be able to deliver our baby due to a small pelvic bone. I was dialated a little so we were going to schedule an induction to get him out sooner so that he didn't get any bigger. We had an ultrasound and she said he was almost 7 pounds. That shocked me since I was expecting a bigger baby. (The last couple of weeks I was craving pizza, burgers and everything was dipped in ranch dressing) They always ask if I am feeling him move and I said what I always say...sometimes. They hooked me up to a monitor to watch my contractions and his heart rate. At one point, his heart rate dropped which is normal but it is supposed to go back up and never really did quite as much as they wanted. By this time, our doctor's office was going to close and they were still working on getting a date to induce me. The doctor wasn't comfortable sending me home so we were sent to labor and delivery to continue to monitor him. While we were being monitored, the nurse asked all of the questions we will be asked if we were to be in labor so that they are in the system already and I don't have to answer questions while having contractions. (Some of these questions made us laugh, like asking if Robert is my husband and then a couple questions later asking if he is the father) During all of this, his heart rate dropped again. The nurse went and called our doctor to see what she wanted us to do. The nurse came back and said they were planning a C section in 30 minutes. I started bawling hysterically. I did not want it to be like this. Robert went and called our parents while I started signing all of the forms. We put on my gown and Robert's scrubs and off we went. A half an hour later, we had a baby boy. I didn't really get to see him until about an hour later, but he had a lot of time with his daddy. All of this happened in a matter of minutes and it was a lot to handle, but completely worth it. Our family is so perfect, Robert is a wonderful dad and I am so lucky to be his wife.
I know this was long and I left out a lot! We are also blessed to have families like ours that are supportive and helpful! We appreciate them more than they know!!
I'll have to post pictures later, I'm a little short on time now. :)

38 Week Pictures!

38 Weeks!

Two weeks left! I can't believe it, I really can't. It seems like such a long time ago that we were talking about it and finding out and now, we are almost there! The thought of labor makes me a little nervous but I think it is just because it's unknown. All I have to do is think of what we will get to look forward to and I get excited again! I consider myself really lucky. I know not every woman can get pregnant and carry a baby full term. I feel really blessed.
There are a couple of things that I love about being pregnant and a couple of things I hate. I love eating almost whatever I want, within reason. I hate only having 5 outfits to wear! I love feeling him move around but I know I will love seeing him and kissing him more! I hate not being able to eat a sandwich with deli meat on it! I hate being uncomfortable and not be able to sleep! Soon, I will be holding him and I will have no list of things I hate!
I will have to post a picture soon, I didn't take one today.
After the appointment today, the doctor said "See you in one week, if not sooner!" Wish me luck!!

36 Weeks!

Time is flying by! Only 4 weeks to go. We had another shower on Saturday with my friends from Bloomington. We invited my mom, step mom and Robert's mom to come down for it. I was pretty excited when I found out that Robert's dad, Teresa and Richard wanted to come too! I was pretty stressed on Friday getting the house ready for that much company. Everyone showed up a couple hours early and we went to lunch. My good friend Angie threw the shower for us at her house. It was nice and small and we got a lot of really cute stuff. Only one more shower to go! My coworkers are having one for me this Sunday. The baby's room is almost done and then I'll put up some pictures.
The doctor says everything looks really good! We are going once a week now. I feel lucky that I have had one of the best pregnancies! No morning sickness and, up until recently, I've been comfortable. This baby must think that my bladder is a pillow! He also must think that my rib cage is the best place for his feet! I'm still trying to walk every day. I asked a couple of people what they think will help things along and we are trying some of them. Of course, walking was one of them. We heard pineapple might help too. As many of you know, Robert doesn't really say a lot, so the other day while we were at Jewel, I walked away to get something and when I came back, there was a pineapple in the cart. Either he is as anxious as I am, or he doesn't want to hear me complain anymore! ;)

Baby Shower and Week 34!

It's been a while since I have updated this! We had our second shower on February 5th. It was thrown by my mom's friends and my sister and it was perfect. It was at one of my mom's neighbors' houses and was a little smaller than the first one. We played games and they were not any of the typical baby shower games I've played. They were fun! We got some really nice gifts too! I can't believe how many people are excited for us!



The Moms



We are also taking birth education classes, breastfeeding classes and infant care classes! We have been to a couple of birth ed classes and I think they are really helpful! We have been practicing our breathing, which I'm usually laughing at Robert through instead of breathing. We have too much fun at these classes.

We had our 34 week appointment. We go back on March 1st and then we will start going every week! The weeks are starting to go faster! Before this appointment, I told Robert he probably didn't have to go. We didn't have anything scheduled and it would probably just be me asking questions and then going back to work. So he decided at the last minute not to go. I started asking the dr my questions and mentioned that I was having a few cramps. She put some monitors on my belly, one to monitor the baby's heartbeat and one to monitor contractions, and I sat there for 10 minutes and read a magazine. A nurse came in and said I was having contractions like crazy! I didn't feel anything! Another nurse came in to make sure that I was not dialating at all and everything was fine. I was told to go home, put my feet up and drink plenty of water. Let's just say Robert will not miss anymore appointments! I still feel great, but his little guy sure knows how to kick!