1 Week Old

One Week Old

 

   Thank you to my sister, Kelly, for doing such a great job with your weekly blog and inspiring me to keep up with Cannon the way you did with Ramona. The above pictures are Cannon at one week old. In his first week we've taken hundreds (literally) of pictures of him. He's just so cute!!! Here are some highlights of Cannon's first week in the world.

 

We love you from your head to your toes.

 In the hospital. Cozy and lounging.

Coming home from the hospital.

He's just a tiny little thing in that big car seat. Dad was extra careful driving home that day.

Our little glowbug on the bilirubin light.

Cannon was a bit jaundice and had to be on a bili light for about 5 days.

 

First bath at home.

Cannon didn't like being cold, but he did like getting his hair washed.

Just like Dad. 

Anthony twists the hair on the top of his head when he concentrates. I caught Cannon playing with his hair. Except, instead of twisting he was pulling. He pulled his own hair hard enough to make him cry.

 What a personality.

 Handsome boy.

The Spud Has Arrived!

Welcome to the World 

Cannon Marc Armstrong

Born: Wednesday, April 11th, 8:58pm

7lbs. 3oz.  18 3/4" long

I woke up at 6:48am on the 11th and realized my water broke. Anthony was still asleep, so I woke him up and asked "do you want to have a baby today?" He was still a little fogged in and thought I was just implying that it would be a good day to have the baby, and he rolled over to go back to sleep.

"My water broke," I said. Anthony couldn't have shot up any faster!
"Do I have time to take a shower?" he asked.

And before I even finished calling my mom and Anthony's mom to tell them the news Anthony was in and out of the shower and already dressed.  I called the hospital and they told me that since I wasn't feeling contractions yet to walk around and try to get things started.

My doctor called and told us to head up to the hospital around 9:00am so I could get on pitocin. It was a long, slow morning staying dilated at 4cm (from 2 weeks ago) and 90% effacement until about 4:00pm. As the doctor put it "you look entirely too comfortable to be in labor."

The nurse continued to up the dosage of my pitocin IV (from 3 to 17 over the course of the morning) until all of a sudden around 4pm I went from 4cm to 9cm in about an hour. It was so quick I got a pretty good dose of contractions before the anesthesiologist made it in my room.

When it was time to push I was really happy to have so much support from friends and family in the room. Anthony and Macie Robison (one of my best friends) counted for me and Lisa and Alyssa (mom-in-law and sis-in-law) gave words of encouragement from the sidelines and were ready to go with cameras when the moment arrived.

Some people tell me they think it's weird to have people in the room when you are delivering. Macie was kind enough to invite me to the birth of her daughter, Layla. And after having that experience I wanted to be able to share it with others. There is nothing that compares to the moments of first seeing a new life come into the world, fresh from heaven. It is the most spiritual, loving moment, as you can see from the faces of those who were there.

Many thanks to Macie, Lisa and Alyssa for helping me to capture this moment. 

Macie & Lisa

1st moments with Cannon. He grabbed my finger so tight.

 

Our happy little family

Dad holding Cannon for the first time

With Gram

with Macie

with Aunt Alyssa

Letter to the tenant

Dear Peanut:
It has certainly been wonderful sharing space with you, in fact I wouldn't mind having you stay longer, and you do seem to be comfortable and enjoying your stay. However; since we have all been anticipating your move for quite some time now I'm sure you can understand the rest of us are all ready and waiting. We would very much appreciate your cooperation in our efforts to help you move and settle you into your new space.

Thank You,
The Landlord (aka Mom)

39 weeks & 4 days

We went to the doctor yesterday afternoon for our weekly check. I am 4cm dilated and 70% effaced and feeling....fine. No baby yet. That really seems to be the theme this week, "no baby yet." I've typed it in dozens of text messages and have to start every phone call with that phrase so the person on the other line doesn't think I'm calling to tell them I'm in labor.

The doc stripped my membranes yesterday so for the evening I was feeling pretty heavy and thought for sure it would get things started. I got pretty tired to so I went to bed early, 9:00pm. I was so uncomfortable that I thought for sure labor would start. But I woke up at midnight to a content baby kicking in my ribs. I went downstairs and watched Jimmy Falon's late night show and bounced on the yoga ball to try to encourage Cannon back down again. It seems he prefers higher ground and is very content to stay put. Even the 1 1/2 mile walk at the gym this morning and the walk at the park this afternoon didn't move him.

I have really wanted baby to come on his own time,  but we also want Anthony to be able to spend several days at home with baby and me before school starts again on the 17th, so we started talking about induction. I hadn't been planning on medical induction and had really hoped to start labor on my own, but none of the bouncing, swimming, spicy foods, etc. have worked. We called the office hoping for an induction time available on baby's due date, the 13th, but there were no times available for Friday. The longer we wait the less time Anthony has at home, so we are scheduled for Thursday at 11:00am. If baby doesn't come tonight or tomorrow then he's officially coming on the 12th!

39 Weeks! Still waiting on Cannonball

Anthony put together an additional website for those who don't use Twitter to get up-to-date feed on baby progress. We've also listed guesses people have made on Cannon's birth date, weight and height. Feel free to check it out: aandb1.com/abc

39 Weeks!!!

All week long we've had beautiful, sunny weather. It was finally starting to feel like summer. Then yesterday morning we woke up to snow storm! And not just a few flakes, this was like winter wonderland all over again.

I've told that changes in the weather like that can send women into labor. I had had contractions during the night and was totally feeling the vibe we would have a baby. I was so hopeful I stayed home from work. I spent most of the morning jogging up and down the stairs, doing jumping jacks, bouncing on a yoga ball and dancing around the kitchen to Michael Jackson pandora station. Nothing... well except that I just ended up sweaty and tired and needed to take a nap. Our hopeful day went a bit downhill from there. But hey, we were grateful to get the whole day together to just hang out.

Anthony used my leg to prop the iPad on and it left a dent. My poor swollen legs and feet.

So here we are Saturday morning after a restful nights sleep. Restful enough that I'm pretty sure I only woke up once and from 10:30pm-7:00am. Everyone keeps warning me I better enjoy my sleep while I can, so I do. So I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed by 7:00am. Anthony is still asleep, so I decided to get some stuff done.

I did some more organizing to the baby's room, ate breakfast, wrote in my journal, did 2 loads of laundry, added a few more items to my hospital bag and started putting the crib together....and it's 9:10am. I decided I better slow down. :) So I'm waiting for Anthony to wake up so he can help me with the crib.

My guesses? Probably no Armstrong baby today. But who really knows? Babies come when they come. I just hope I don't go crazy before then. :)

Later today...

We got the crib all put together! My picture frame on the wall looks so little now. I'll have to finish putting up the other decorations on the wall. 

Bonus post! Only 1/2 way through the week. :)

This is a mid-week blog update. Kind of cheating, I know. but it's 3:40am and I can't sleep. And besides, I took this cute picture today so I might as well post it. So this is me at 38 weeks and 5 days. I would have posted a picture of Anthony, since today is his birthday, but I just realized that we didn't take any pictures of him today. Boo. :(  I'll have to take one tomorrow and add it on to the next post.

So in the last 2 pictures you can see my rocker/recliner in the background of the photo. The last couple weeks I've battled night-time nausea and heartburn as well as the fact that sleep just sometimes decides to elude me (like tonight). I've always been one to appreciate (and need) a good 8 hours of sleep at night. In fact, Anthony and I have had many a battle over sleepless nights because 1. he snores and 2. I'm a light sleeper and picky about my sleeping conditions. But anyway...Now that pregnancy is coming to an end I'm feeling more anxious, tired and nauseous (just to name a few) so depending on the night I either sleep really well, like 11 hours and only one trip to the bathroom, or not so well, like waking up for the 2nd or 3rd time and it's only 2:00am and I can't go back to sleep.

One night last week was particularly difficult. I went to bed around 10pm and woke up at midnight with my stomach churning and really bad heartburn. Every time I tried to lay down I would throw up. That's when my wonderful husband decided to haul the recliner up to our room by himself and in the middle of the night so I could sleep without having to lay down. Again....my hero. :)

So depending on the night I bounce around and either sleep in our bed, the chair in our bedroom, or the guest bedroom because the bed is much softer and no one snores in there...well...besides me. I'd like to think I don't snore, but I'm told that I now do. I guess packing on an extra 22lbs will do that to a person.

Also, today was Anthony's 29th birthday as well as his last day of school/finals!! Hooray!!  And wouldn't you know...I started having contractions tonight. But alas, it was short lived. They started out every 4-6 minutes apart, but then grew farther apart and eventually stopped after about an hour. It was a good practice run for us though. And our history together shows that Anthony and I usually need a practice run at life-events in order to feel comfortable when the real one hits. We are convinced (ok....really hoping) that Cannon decides to come this weekend. 

Today was also my first day starting my leave of absence at work and only doing half days. I have to say...after almost 7 years of working full-time in the same office it was AMAZING to only go in from 10am-2pm and not have to worry about work for the rest of the day. Tuesday was so long and stressful that deciding to go part-time couldn't have come at a better time. I'm absolutely ready for a break from work and to focus on family time.

4cm Already

38 Weeks (and 3 days)

We went to the doctor today and found out I'm 4cm dilated already! The families are getting excited and have started submitting their guesses for birth date, weight and length. We are, of course, a bundle of emotions ranging from nervous to elated.

Anthony will be done with his finals tomorrow at noon. So if Cannon can hold off just a little longer we eagerly welcome him any time after that. We would be thrilled to have him this week, especially since Wednesday is Anthony's 29th birthday. I've already asked and Anthony said he wouldn't mind sharing his special day. :)

This last weekend was such a good one. We were able to get some cleaning and projects done and thoroughly enjoyed listening to General Conference. So many good talks and inspiration. We really appreciated hearing so many uplifting words about forever families and making our family life the first priority.

It's been surprising to me that since I've been pregnant so many people feel the need to tell us all the worst parts of parenting or how we should enjoy life before its not just the two of us anymore. I have to say its disappointing to think that that is the advice someone thinks is helpful for expecting parents. Although pregnancy has definitely had its challenges I have to say that I have loved the experience. So many times I sit and stare in amazement at my growing belly and feel so close and bonded to my baby and my Heavenly Father. How could you not enjoy that?

Finally Full-Term!

37 Weeks!

Well the big belly has finally made it's arrival. I ran into a co-worker of mine that I haven't seen in a couple of weeks.  He made the comment that during this whole pregnancy I really haven't looked different, but now all of a sudden I have the belly to prove it. :)

At my appointment earlier this week, while the nurse was measuring my belly, Peanut got wiggly and decided to stick his bum straight out where the nurse was trying to measure. It startled her a little bit and she made a comment like, "oh, I wonder  what that bump is." The doctor checked and Cannon is head-down and ready to go. He told the nurse it was baby's rear that was making that cute little lump. That little prankster was mooning us! :)

I'm having lots more nausea and contractions this week.  Peanut still has a ways to drop though, so even though he could come at any time I'm thinking it won't be in the next few days. Aside from the nausea and contractions this last week has been the best I've felt in a while. My back hasn't hurt in a couple weeks and I have more energy. From what I hear it seems that I'm "nesting." I've folded and refolded Cannon's clothes, put up curtains, and moved furniture (with Anthony's help of course).

We are getting so excited to meet our lil' Peanut baby! We talk about what we thing he'll look like and how great it's going to be to hold him. When life gets overwhelming, working all day, reading baby books and doing work at home in the evenings, etc... it helps me calm down and put life back in perspective to just close my eyes and imagine holding this red, wrinkly, warm little bundle of joy! All the crazy, stressful things in life seem to melt away and don't seem so important anymore. 

Waiting for his arrival also has me thinking about our home and our lives. I am becoming more aware of what kind of environment this new little spirit will be coming into, and feeling more sensitive to the need to keep our home an environment of peace and comfort. 

We are also getting really excited as our families are now making plans to come out and visit this summer. Anthony's mom is going to come stay with us as soon as Cannon is born and help us with the adjustment of being new parents. My mom teaches school and doesn't get out until May 31st, so she is planning a visit for a couple weeks in June when it's time for Cannon's blessing. 

Kelly and little Ramona just bought tickets to come out and see us for a long weekend in May!! So excited! Kelly and Laurel get Ramona and Liam together for "cousin time" pretty regularly. I've been a little sad thinking that because we live so far away from both mine and Anthony's families that our kids won't have many opportunities to know their extended families. So of course I am stoked to have family come out and see us and take lots of pictures!