A Baby Story

I can't believe it's been a month since this new little person entered our lives. I have been meaning to blog, but just haven't had the time. We are overcome with joy and love for our new baby! The birth was unexpected, difficult, but amazing at the same time.

On Saturday December 20th I worked out and took pictures of my giant belly. We went to dinner and binge watched TV shows all night. I had accepted that the baby might not come before Christmas as I had hoped and that we might even still be waiting on New Years Eve. The due date was December 30th.

I woke up at 5am on Sunday December 21st to feel my water had broken. I was pretty sure and yelled  to Dan from the bathroom the good news. We called the doctor who said to take our time, but to head to the hospital. From some of my friend's experiences I knew we had a little time. We both showered, got ready, ate breakfast and finished packing. We headed to the hospital around 6:30 am.

We spent some time in triage to confirm my water had broken. I was not, however dilated. Once confirmed, we were admitted to the hospital and my contractions started. I labored for a few hours, but was still only dilated at 1. We began Pitocin to speed up the process after several hours of not dilating past 2. I continued to labor all day and finally made the decision around 5pm to get an epidural. I thought I was only dilated at 2, but I was actually at 5. The Pitocin had worked! Once I had the epidural, I felt SO much better! Seriously I don't know why people (and myself) force ourselves to wait. Contractions are awful!

I continued to labor, but felt nothing! Woohoo! Around this time the baby's heart rate was dropping as we continued with the Pitocin. Things got a little blurry for me during this time. They stopped giving me Pitocin and I had to wear an oxygen mask. Once things were settled we had to decide how to proceed. The nurses helped me lay in different positions to get the baby to drop and dilate more. Since backing off the Pitocin things were not progressing. We started the Pitocin again and monitored the baby's heart rate with an internal monitor. Again, the heart rate would drop.

During this time the doctor spoke to us about the possibility of having a C-section. We discussed our options and decided to continue to try some things to get the labor to progress. After a few hours we realized it wasn't working and the C-section was the best option. Admittedly, I did not want a C-section but knew it was the healthiest option for both the baby and I. After 20 hours of labor, I put aside my fears and went confidently into surgery.

I can't speak highly enough of our surgical team. From the nurses, to the anesthesiologist, and the doctor. It all went so well! I couldn't feel a thing, but was aware of everything going on. Everyone was so nice and so excited and happy for us. It was such a great experience!

During the surgery the nurses got all excited and started commenting on all the hair the baby had as they pulled him out. In my head I thought, here it comes they are going to say "it's a girl" but instead the doctor announced "it's a boy". I have never been so shocked and thrilled in my life. Dan and I were ecstatic! Our baby boy was born Monday December 22nd at 1:04am! He weighed 8 pounds and measured 21 inches.

Dan happily announced to our waiting families the good news and returned to me and the baby. I spent the night recovering from the C-Section. By morning we decided to name him Roman Oliver. Over the next few days our parents visited and the nurses took great care of us. We asked to leave early on Christmas Eve and made our way home as a family of 3.

Laboring

3 Generations

 Since being home we have had so many wonderful visitors! We celebrated Christmas with both of our families at our house and then had the quietest New Years Eve we have ever had.

We are certainly exhausted, sometimes frustrated but overall thrilled with our new son! We take a million pictures and comment "awwww" all day long at his every movement. What a miracle and blessing we have!

 

Roman is 1 month old today! He weighs 10 pounds and 2 oz.

 

Peanut Butter Fudge

This is THE BEST peanut butter fudge recipe there is! I promise. My mom has had this recipe for years and it does not compare the to microwave "easy" recipes out there. It's simply delicious. It makes a full 9x13" pan, so there's plenty to share or take to a holiday outing.

Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe
Ingredients: 
4 cups of sugar
1 stick of butter
2 T Karo syrup
2 cups peanut butter
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 tsp cocoa

Directions:
Mix sugar and cocoa well. Add syrup and milk. Cook on medium heat until it comes to a boil. Add butter. Cook until soft ball stage (see note below). Add peanut butter and remove from heat. Use a whisk to beat until it starts to thicken and lose gloss. Pour into buttered 9x13" pan. Cool in fridge. Cut and Enjoy!

*Note* If you have never made candy before on the stove top you might not know what "soft ball stage" refers to. I had no idea and I called my mom in a panic after waiting for what seemed like forever for it to cook.

Soft Ball stage refers to a specific temperature range when cooking sugar syrups. Soft-Ball Stage occurs at 235-245 degrees. (you do not need a thermometer) This stage can be determined by dropping a spoonful of hot syrup into a bowl of very cold water. In the water, use your fingers to gather the cooled syrup into a ball. If it has reached soft-ball stage, the syrup easily forms a ball while in the cold water, but flattens once removed from the water.

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

I made this pie for our family Thanksgiving and it was wonderful! Last year I had a bit of difficulty making a pecan pie. For some reason it just wouldn't set. I was nervous about making another one this year, but this was such an easy recipe and turned out perfectly!

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
Original Recipe HERE

Ingredients:
(1) 9" prepared (unbaked) pie crust
3 eggs
3/4 c. light corn syrup
4 T butter, melted
3/4 c. light brown sugar firmly packed
2 T bourbon
2 T flour
1 T. vanilla
1 1/4 c. chopped pecans
1/2 c. chocolate chips

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

-In a large bowl mix eggs, corn syrup, butter, light brown sugar, bourbon, flour and vanilla until well combined.

-Add pecans and chocolate chip.  Mix well.

-Pour into prepared pie crust.

-Bake on the bottom rack for 15 minutes at 425 degrees.

-After 15 minutes, reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for another 45 minutes.

Let pie cool at least an hour.

Enjoy!!!

Weekend

 We decorated our tree this weekend. 

 Pancho hates wearing clothes, so he was pretty mad when I put him in this Santa costume. 

 On Saturday we had a few friends over to hang out and we went a little overboard with the food. 

 Dan put together a nice looking meat and cheese tray! 

 I made the most amazing peanut butter fudge! I will post the recipe on the blog this week. I also made turtle treats and red velvet cookies.

Holiday Party Looks

This is my absolute favorite time of year for shopping, both for myself and others! I get so excited for the festive holiday dresses and outfits. I had to accept months ago that dressing is no longer fun and that there's always next year, post pregnancy.  I still get bummed that I can't buy anything or wear all the cute dressy holiday clothes this year. I could say it a million times, but there is a such a lack of trendy, quality, and affordable maternity clothing.

Since the baby is due this month, we don't have the usual amount of holiday events. We only have one company party, and I dread dressing for it. Nothing says fun like dressing up your 38 week pregnant self for a party you can't enjoy alcoholic drinks and certainly won't be embarrassing yourself by dancing at. ha! While trying to find something appropriate to wear I found LOTS of great non-maternity options.

If you are NOT pregnant and still looking for fun holiday options, here are so great ones!

Sequins

 

Top Row: all H &M
Bottom Row: ASOS dress
// Nordstrom Skirt // Victoria's Secret Pants // Nasty Gal Blazer
// ASOS jumpsuit

Feathers

Dillards Skirt // Dillards Dress // Revolve Clothing Dress// Dillards Dress // Topshop dress

Leather Dresses

Forever 21 // Ann Taylor // Forever 21 // Revolve Clothing // Nordstrom

 

Jumpsuit

Express // Ann Taylor // Loft

Maternity Holiday Look
 

Destination Maternity lace sleeve dress // H&M blazer (non- maternity) // H&M dress (fits like top) // Pea in the Pod faux leather maternity leggings // Macy's fur clutch purse

Nursery Progress

Since the beginning we have been busy designing the nursery. We have gone through countless ideas and colors and with 4 weeks to go we are still trying to get it finished. Dan has done a good majority of the work himself. I can't wait for everything to be finished! It may or may not happen before the baby comes home but we are at least ready with the necessities now.

 

Dan putting the crib together.

 

Precisely measuring the wall and attaching the decals.

 

A friend of mine is having a quilt made for us in the colors we have chosen above. I am SO excited to get it and tie all the other colors in the nursery together!

Mint green DIY changing table dresser.

 

I'll take some more pictures with my good camera and post as soon as it's a little closer to being finished!

Kardashian Kids

I have never really been into the Kardashian's style, but I recently looked up their kids line and I think it's pretty cute! I would imagine their Babies R Us kids line will go over better than their Sears women's line. I really like the neutrals with a touch of edge like the faux leather patch pants. Dan might not approve, but if we have a girl I could see myself buying a few pieces of the collection. They have a new boys line coming out too.