As a tech heavy family, this especially rang true when I upgraded my phone and had over 1,000 files, 90% were of Sophia since birth. I used my phone heavily for recording these moments as it was always at hand versus my digital SLR. Thankfully, I’m getting better about keeping my SLR closer at hand now.

As I prepared to get the new phone, I scanned through each image and I realized how much she’s grown and changed. I thought this was the best way to share those images and celebrate Sophia’s growth through the year.

We will be doing a traditional bbq with hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. Please bring a lawn chair or two.

Instead, I got up at 5:15am and fed Sophia, took the dogs out and made my own coffee (though I did kick it up a notch for the occasion with a cappuccino).

After explaining why I was upset about Josh working today of all days, I know he got it and felt bad but it still doesn’t change anything. I’ll never have another First Mother’s Day and he’ll never know how it feels since Father’s Day is not one of his companies key holidays.

I guess I should look at it as spending quality time just me and Sophia because that is what being a Mother is all about. I can also appreciate the little wins I get, like the odd day I get to sleep in (if Josh gets Sophia fast enough), the dinners that are made and the clean cloths and dishes. So, I guess it comes down do perspective. Do we really need a special day or should we appreciate the little things everyday?

PS, I haven’t lacked for gifts from Sophia via daycare and dad this week considering it’s a combo birthday and Mother’s day.

Maybe we should apply this same philosophy to our bed rooms. Why must we read a book or watch TV before going to bed? I definitely do the later and if you know me well, you know that for a long time I slept with the TV on all night.

Since marrying Josh, this has ended. Though we do watch TV when we go to bed, it is getting a bit less and is being turned off a bit earlier. Will we ever get the TV out of our bedroom? Only time will tell.

• How will the baby be while traveling (flying or driving)?
• What if we are delayed?
• How do you entertain an infant in a hotel?
• What do I need to pack?
• Where will the baby sleep?
• How can I make this easy?

Yes, I literally will think about how to make my life easier. In this case it was how to make the ride pleasant which meant planning our drive time around when Sophia should be napping. Also, we bought Sophia her big girl car seat for our maiden voyage of long distance travel. It’s the top of the line in travel comfort, the Britax Boulevard 70CS. Heck, I kind of wish I could sit in it but I don’t even think my left cheek would fit in it.

As for sleeping arraignments, I called the hotel and they have a crib I can request at check in but I have a feeling we will be taking the pack and play as a back up. Why? Well, the crib could be out-dated or just icky so we’ll play it safe.

Entertainment is pretty simple, lots of toys and possibly Sophia’s first trip to the Baltimore Aquarium.

So why are we embarking on this trip? I have a sorority conference and I am just not ready to leave Sophia for 3 days. I know the day will come (actually it will be April 15-17 when I travel up to Plattsburgh, NY via Burlington, VT) but in this instance since I can avoid leaving her at home, I will.

A lot has changed in our lives. They say how having a kid changes your life but it really does CHANGE your life.

I was shell shocked at first. It was very HARD work. So hard, I wanted to go back to work and let someone else handle it. It wasn’t just the demands of having the baby but feeding it as well.

I was recently talking to a mommy to be about whether or not she was going to breast feed and she said she really had to think about it because it’s such a commitment. I wish someone worded it to me the same way before I decided. I didn’t realize the type of commitment that went into breastfeeding.

You are literally stuck in a chair for up to an hour each time you feed and they feed every three hours. I felt like I was going to live in my rocking recliner (glad we splurged on it, worth every penny). Normally after I fed her, she fell asleep so then I continued to be stuck in my chair for the next 30mins to an hour. It was crazy.

Though, I really had a hard time adjusting to the demands, there are times that I miss those days of doing nothing but sitting in that chair with Sophia. Thank goodness for weekends!

We think our daughter is going to be tall because she can simultaneously push on Steph’s rib cage and kick her in the bladder. That’s pretty talented too.

As a husband watching these events unfold, I really am starting to feel sorry for her. Something is constantly hurting, whether it be her back, legs or swollen feet. I wish I could do something for her other than get the heating pad and constantly telling her to sit down and relax.

I think we both just keep remembering that all the pain is for a wonderful cause.

On a side note, the baby shower is next weekend, April 18th and there are still quite a few people who have not RSVPed. If you are one of those folks, please RSVP either by calling Katherine White at 395-2633 or email frostywhite0920@gmail.com or Debbie Hemmann at 292-2138 or email ddhemmann@comcast.net or RSVP via the website.

The issue with this and me in general is I had gastric bypass surgery and sugars in large quantities do not agree with me. When the NP/Midwife first talked to me about this test 3 weeks ago, I reminded her about the gastric bypass and if there were other options. She said I’d be fine but if I wanted to, I could fast 10 hours prior (my appointment was at 2pm). With that said, fasting really wasn’t an option so I figured if she said I’d be fine, I’d be fine.

Well, I get there and this time I met first with a nurse and then the doctor. This nurse has worked closely with the doctor and knew that she would not want me to drink the orange substance due to the potential repercussions. Not only that but my concerns about vitamin deficiencies during pregnancy because of the gastric bypass were well warranted and I should be a high risk patient and only see doctors…. ummm I asked at my first appointment. I also asked at the last appointment about doing a panel to ensure I wasn’t having any vitamin deficiencies.

It was really frustrating because I was sure to provide them this information and ask multiple times and it takes my 28 week exam with a new doctor to have these concerns come to light from the doctor’s POV. Half of me wanted to hug her because it let me know that my concerns were valid but I was upset at the same time because patients can only say and do so much to be advocates for themselves.

So from now on, I’m only allowed to see doctors. Even with that, they each have their one POV of patient care and others may not be as concerned about a 5 year post op gastric bypass patient.

PS, I was hoping to not have the swelling feet due to giving birth in early summer but I did not miss that train. In fact, everyday when I get home I have to put my feet up because they have swollen so much. Yesterday I was working at my dining room table and my foot swelled so much that the skin felt like it was going to crack (very painful). So I won’t be using my dining room table much in the next few months.

Isn't he cute.

We got one of our first big baby gifts on Easter Sunday. It was our travel system.

Josh had the esteem pleasure of putting it together under the watchful eye of his father. It was quite entertaining as Josh had issues with the instructions and his dad kept egging him on but in the end, the job was done.

Not only do we now have a great stroller and car seat for our little girl but in the mean time, we can take Riley on a walk.

As for preparing for baby girl Hemmann, we started washing some clothing we purchased or were given and we are still on the hunt for the right name.

We are also starting to increase our doctor’s appointments to every 3 weeks. Tomorrow is my “28″ week appointment and I get the pleasures of taking the infamous glucose test. I’m hoping to ace it (in a good way) but it’s not the type of test you can study for sadly.

Wish me luck!

So, with a fear we might be over thinking the entire thing, we are looking for names again. I guess my who fear is, this kid is going to have whatever name we give her for the rest of her life. It’s going to shape who she is and how she will be know as a person. It will be her identity…. I think I am over thinking it.

Any thoughts or words of encouragement?

Have an awesome weekend and enjoy the wonderful weather.