Oh baby

... weight that is.  


I was so excited to lose over 50% of what I'd gained within the first two weeks, but now at just over 3 weeks postpartum the losing has slowed down for sure.  The girl who tries hard to be flexible and easy going says "give it time Sarah-- you just had a BABY and it's only been 3 weeks for goodness sake."  Then there's that super competitive type A person who conquers my thoughts most of the time saying "It's been 3 weeks; you haven't lost that yet?  You have HOW MUCH to lose to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight?" ~sigh~


I've been fortunate that my weight hasn't really fluctuated that much in my lifetime.  My pre-pregnancy weight was just 1 or 2 lbs away from my high school graduation weight.  Sure I've weighed much less (typically during a break-up) and I've also weighed a little more (post-marital bliss), so this is really the first time such a large number is staring me in the face.  The good news is I've started using My Fitness Pal and have "friends" from my online pregnancy community to help keep me accountable.  I also started running last week and will absolutely continue building on my runs and workouts.  I also have a loving husband who tells me I look great-- even when I wear the same fricking "fat jeans" every time we go somewhere ;)


And little Jonah...?  He's amazing.  Thankfully I'm over my bout of baby blues and beginning to enjoy his daily changes rather than cry and worry about how quickly he's going to grow up.  We conquered some pretty big feats while learning how to breastfeed (if you ever need advice on that PLEASE ask.  I'm not going to bore you with the details but you can't have enough help and support, that's for sure).  Sleeping is going pretty well too!  He likes to stay up a little later, so that's a little challenging now that Dustin is back to work and it's my job to stay up with him, but we're getting to bed around 11pm, waking up just once during the night between 2-4am to eat and then back to sleep again :) We have a good baby for sure.  And so. stinking. cute.


SO my mom is coming to visit today and I have a few things I need to do before she comes... I promise to post photos of Mr. Jonah soon.  We won't talk about the 2000+ photos I somehow deleted from my Mac this morning :-/ xoxo

Week 3

After spending the first two weeks at home with us Dustin returned to work this week.  Jonah and I were sad to see him go, and spent a little more time cuddling and less time being productive :)

Going for a walk!

Dustin and Jonah's secret language

"neighbor boy" Ben

Jonah's first bottle!

Wow my feet are big :D

Week 2 and Dustin's first Father's Day!

So alert at such a young age 

Uncle Josh

Grandpa Jim

Thanks Grandma for the cookies :)

Meeting GGma Grabe

Grandma Becky

Jonah's social security card!!!

Four generations on Father's Day!

I snuck up on GGpa Grabe having a little conversation with Jonah :)

Jonah's first week

Great Uncles Todd and Brad

"Aunt" Jenni the amazing photographer 

Kyle and the proud papa

I really hate pictures of me right after giving birth (pushing doesn't make you pretty!)
...but this is our first family photo and I may like it someday.

Grandma Leslee meets her grandson :)

Grandpa Mark

We're home...!

Diesel and Chopper didn't know what to think

all swaddled... we call him our bean burrito :)

He's HERE~!!!

I'm very pleased and proud as punch to introduce our little bundle of joy who arrived TWO WHOLE weeks before his due date.

Jonah James Grabe
born 6-2-12 @1116
8lbs 5 oz, 20.5" long

This post will be a bit more graphic than others... so don't say I didn't warn you!  I want to be sure and document Jonah's birth story before I forget it.  Until the latter part of my pregnancy I didn't understand why women seem to be obsessed with sharing their labor and delivery experience; now I totally get it.  Here's our story:

Early in the morning of June 2nd (12:30 am to be exact) I was awakened by a little squirt in my pj's.  My first thought was that I peed in my sleep. I went to the bathroom, a little embarrassed but quickly determining at 9+ months pregnant I could pee my pants if I want to. I went back to bed and just moments later felt a little "pop" followed by a GUSH of fluid. Dustin was sound asleep so I said "hey babe... can you get the dogs out of here? My water just broke" (yes we sleep with our dogs; don't judge).

Dustin proceeded to call Labor & Delivery at the Maple Grove Hospital (a.k.a. the best hospital on the planet) and since I wasn't really contracting yet we both took showers.  I may have also done some laundry and emptied the dishwasher ;)  

We got to the hospital at 0200 and I was dilated to 4cm.  My contractions started kicking in and by the time we got to our room it was 0300.  My birth plan was to go as long as I could go without an epidural because I didn't like the idea of lying in bed, and to receive no systemic drugs the baby would get the effects of.  

Even though we took childbirth classes I was really surprised at the intensity of my contractions.  It was the equivalent of being underwater and then coming up for air, but not quite getting a full breath and going back under again.  The pain was weird... it wasn't at all like period cramps or poop pains but more like someone was coring me out from my cervix on up.  By 0500 my pain level was at a 7/10 and I was ready for some pain control.  I was dilated to 5cm. I've now determined the epidural is the absolute best invention EVER.  I understand that natural birth is important to some women, but I believe God created epidurals for a reason.  After the catheter was placed I felt absolutely no pain.  I was texting my mom, eating popsicles and trying to sleep although I was so excited that wasn't quite possible.  At 0700 the nurse came to check me again and was shocked to find me complete!  I wasn't feeling the urge to push yet, so they let me "labor down" (meaning letting my uterus do all the work to push baby Jonah into my birth canal).  I ended up laboring down for nearly 3 hours feeling nothing.  The nurses turned down my epidural and at 0950 the pushing began.  It was very strange to try to flex those muscles when you can't really feel anything, and it took a little bit to get the hang of it.  About half way into the pushing they turned my epidural down even more and I could feel the contractions again.  I think I'm a pretty strong woman, but it still took a solid hour and a half to push all of Jonah's 8 pound 5 ounce body out of mine.  At 1116 Mr. Jonah graced us with his presence.  You can see this exact moment captured on video (no money shots I promise). I've watched it at least a dozen times and cry every. single. time :*) We also have my and Jonah's first skin to skin experience shortly after birth on video as well. Another tearjerker.

My cousin Jenni is an amazing photographer, and had offered to take photos of Jonah's birth if the timing was right.  I'm so glad it was.  I'm so glad she did.  She is so talented.  We're very fortunate to have this special moment captured to relive over and over.  You can view the still shots of our labor & delivery on her Jenni O Photography blog.

So now Jonah is 6 days old and Dustin and I are really loving parenthood. We had some pretty rough times with breastfeeding but I believe we've just about got that conquered. We're also lucky in that Jonah is a great baby... at night he wakes up when he's hungry, but after burping and a diaper change he goes right back to sleep :)

I am forever grateful for this little miracle. I am humbled at the opportunity to be Jonah's mother.  This whole experience has given me a new appreciation for the wonderful man I married.  I am so truly blessed <3

sprint to the finish!

Well folks we're officially 37 w 2 d~!  That means baby is full term and labor is considered normal and welcome at any time (do you hear that Baby?!)  I was surprised to find out my cervix is already dilated some at our appointment on Friday.  That is awesome.  I've had friends who never dilated past 1 even when being induced and ended up with a c-section, so it's great to learn my body is revving up. I credit Baby Grabe who has been punching me where it counts on a daily basis lately =p  We also learned we won't go past our due date because of the gestational diabetes, so we know Baby will be here sometime in the next 19 days.  It seems so surreal.


Our bags are packed, the car seat is in the car, our ceilings are vacuumed... I think we're about as ready as we can be.  


I thought I'd post some of our maternity photos... some are a bit too racy for Facebook ;)  We had some studio shots taken at Jill Christine Photography when we were home for Easter, and my cousin Jenni took some amazing shots right before we left for Boca.  

Although I was excited to show off my naked belly for the studio shots, they really don't hold a candle to Jenni's work as you can see for yourself.

 I had a dream a while back that our baby was born on June 1st... which is this coming Friday.  I'm not going to hold my breath but I sure will be walking, bouncing on my exercise ball and doing other fun activities known to start labor :-D xx

are we there yet?

Holy 34 weeks~!  I'm sitting in my hotel room in Tuscon on my last trip for business before baby, kind of relishing in my alone time.  I spent the miserable 3.5 hour plane ride organizing my life via "notes" on my ipad: what to pack in my hospital bag, Dustin's bag, baby's bag...things we need to get done around the house before baby. Meanwhile Baby was kicking my diaphragm AND punching my bladder all at the same time :D

Last weekend we had a swanky little co-ed shower in Minneapolis and received so many more great gifts. Although I'm sort of a slug in the evenings anymore (I haven't been to the gym since Boca) I find energy to do the weirdest things. Yesterday I had a grand 'ol time cleaning out the cupboards in the bathroom in addition to washing all of Baby's clothes and putting them in their place, while burning a baby powder scented candle in the nursery. I may have even done a few puppet shows for the dogs with the tiny little outfits :~D  I'm sure they think I'm nuts.

This week will bring some fun starting with some Mommy and Me time tomorrow night!  Since we're so close, Mom is driving over from Phoenix after I'm done working tomorrow. She hasn't seen me since Thanksgiving and I've changed a lot since then :)  It will be a nice little treat just in time for Mother's Day.

what better way to celebrate an early Mother's Day than with Mexican food and Pedicures?! :)

Dustin and I have our final Lamaze class on Wednesday-- that six weeks has certainly flown by!  I remember people saying how much they enjoyed those classes and not understanding why... now I can say I would highly recommend them to any expectant couple.  We've learned so much about labor, each other, and what to expect from Baby. Dustin says the more he learns the more nervous he gets, but I'm pretty sure he's enjoying himself too. 

Only six more weeks to grow~!!! xx