4 Months! (June 16th-July 16th)

Violet's 4th month of life was an exciting one! She weighs in around 13 pounds and is 23.5 inches long. This little girl has figured out how to get everywhere with only the ability to roll around and perform a semi-crawl, which is great because she is learning how to amuse herself when she gets bored with certain toys and just moves on to the next fascinating thing. She loves to be on the go (she gets that from Daddy), and seems to be the most amused when she is out and about, people watching. I would say baths and binging on milk are still her two most favorite things.

During the 4th month we noticed that Violet now HATES riding in the car. I am talking full blown, bloody murder screams every time we put her in the car. It makes running simple errands a pure joy! She is not that fond of naps anymore either. She manages to get a few in per day, lasting anywhere from 20-40 minutes. This makes getting things done around the house pretty difficult, which is why I am so fortunate to have a nanny come help me out not only with the baby, but with household duties too (I know......I am spoiled). 

One of the most exciting things we did in the 4th month was the introduction to solid foods. She took to eating rather well, and has liked everything she has tried so far. We are anxious to hit the 6 month age so that we can broaden her palate even more. 

Here are a few things Violet experienced during month number 4!

*Her second trip to Disneyland

*Another trip to the zoo

*A trip to the Del Mar fair

*Her 4 month Doctor appt. (She was a trooper for her vaccines)

*Learning how to use her high pitched screaming voice (Super fun)

*Her first swimming pool excursion

*Father's Day and Fourth of July

My little girl is growing by the day! She has now entered her 5th month of life. Updates to come on all the exciting things she does during this month! For now, here are some pics to show you what she has been up to!

    

3 Months Old!! (May 16th- June 16th)

I am so behind with my Violet updates, but here are all the big moments at 3 months. Violet is weighing in somewhere between 11-12 pounds! She is getting so big, and almost too heavy to carry now in her infant car seat. Her big achievement of the month was rolling over from her tummy to her back (I will post a video of that). She tries really hard to roll from her back to tummy but she doesn't quite get it yet. She is reaching out and grabbing almost everything, and of course, when she gets ahold of it, it immediately goes right in her mouth. I am pretty convinced that the teething process has begun. She is way more alert now at this point in her life, and her naps have gone from several 1-2 hour naps a day, to four 30 minute naps per day. She makes it a lot more difficult to get stuff done now. I would say that nursing and bath time are her two favorite things she does everyday! 

We were lucky enough to have several people visit us during this time in Violet's life. My best friend, Jessica, and her family (including Violet's potential first husband) came to spend an awesome 5 days with us. We all went to Disneyland and I am pretty sure Violet had a blast! My mom also came down and spent a week with us celebrating her and John's birthdays. It was a very busy month for Violet. 

I continue to enjoy every second I have with my little girl. She is such a joy. The bigger she gets, the more animated and interactive she is. She is at such a fun and exciting age right now.

2 Months!

My big girl Violet is now 2 months old! Where has the time gone? She now weighs 10 pounds, 13 ounces and is 22 3/4 inches long. She is extremely healthy and meeting all the milestones she should be meeting at 2 months. Here are a few highlights from the last month.......

*Violet is a great napper and is now sleeping anywhere from 6-9 hours at night. John and I are always told how lucky we are to have such a great sleeper and we couldn't agree more. She is still sleeping in our room and has moved out of our bed into her own little bed. 

*She is smiling so much and coos up a storm. She has the sweetest little voice. She is starting to recognize when mommy and daddy are in the room and lights up when she sees us. 

*Her newborn clothes are becoming quite tight on her. It is so hard to get rid of them. She doesn't quite fit into the 3 month size yet but we are almost there. 

*Her 2 month doctors appointment was awesome and horrible at the same time. It was so refreshing to hear that she is healthy and meeting all of her milestones, but then the vaccines came and I thought I was going to lose it. I had to fight the urge to leave the room. She did so great though. She was so brave. 

*She still loves her baths. She loves to lay in her crib and look and her mobile, and she is now enjoying her new play mat where she can kick a piano that plays music. We both love going to the parent movie morning every Thursday at the local theater. 

I can't believe how fast she is growing. We are so lucky to have such an amazing little girl. I am excited to see what the next month brings! 

Lola the Babysitter

I am so lucky to have a live in babysitter to take care of my sweet baby......

Violet's first Easter

We spent Easter with my family this year. It was their first time meeting Violet, and of course, they instantly fell in love. Maybe it was the ridiculously cute outfit we put her in that I am sure she will only wear once. It was a very nice afternoon!

St. Patty's Day

She apparently does not like this holiday....

Violet @ 1month

Violets first month went by so fast. The first two weeks are still a blur to me (probably due to the massive amounts of crying I did). Getting through the first week was one of the biggest challenges of my life. Between breastfeeding, lack of sleep and recovering from surgery, I felt completely clueless on my abilities as a mom. Thank goodness that subsided after a few weeks once we were able to establish a routine. Here are a few highlights from her first month.

First Pediatricians appointment- Violet visited her doctor for the first time when she was 11 days old for her newborn checkup. Her weight was 7 pounds, 6 ounces. She was still not back to her birth weight yet which had me a bit concerned, but the doctor assured me that it was quite normal and to not worry. The big highlight of the appointment was her umbilical cord falling off only to go missing, then to be discovered attached to the nurses scrubs. She nicely removed it from her arm and placed it in a cup for us to take home.

Bath Time- Violet hated her first bath; she screamed and was unable to be consoled. It lasted about 2 minutes as my mom and I raced to wash her down and snap a few pictures. Who knew you could sweat that much after very little activity? Her second bath was much better, and she has enjoyed her baths ever since. It is a nightly ritual now!

Her first outings- Violet went to see her Great Grandma Eva when she was 12 days old. Grandma Eva was completely smitten with her. She also took a trip to the farmers market in Little Italy. I have enjoyed taking her to the weekly breastfeeding support group at the hospital and meeting other moms with new babies too. It is so fun to see how much she weighs every week and knowing that she is getting enough during her feedings.

Things she loves/likes- She loves to eat (of course), and take naps with mommy and daddy. She enjoys watching her mobile in her crib and checking out every black and white picture she can.

I am beyond thrilled with my new job as a mom. She is the most amazing baby! John has been a great support. We can’t wait for the months ahead and all of the milestones she will be reaching.

Pictures of Violet...

Here are a few snapshots of Violet...

Violet's Big Debut!

It is about time I posted a little something on the birth of our amazing daughter! Violet Isela Lynn Rivera made her big debut on February 16th, 2012 at 11:29am. She weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Here is a recap of the big day.......

I made the decision in early pregnancy that if I did not go into labor by her due date, then I would have an elective cesarean section to avoid having an induction. Since her due date was on a weekend (and they don't schedule c-sections on the weekend), I scheduled the c-section for Thursday, February 16th. I never went into labor, so I woke up extremely anxious on the 16th, knowing that it was the big day to meet my little girl. I arrived at the hospital around 0830am and got all checked in. The good thing about having a planned birth was that all of my labor and delivery friends were able to be there to help me get prepped for surgery. I changed into my hospital gown and climbed into bed to have my vital signs taken. Of course, my blood pressure and pulse were sky high through the whole prep period. My friend Jaime attempted to start my IV, but unfortunately, my veins were not cooperating. The second IV was a success, but I had to have my blood drawn 3 more times due to crappy veins! My arms were quite bruised for a few days. I signed all the paperwork, answered some questions, took some last minute pictures, and off we went to the OR. I got myself into position for the spinal anesthetic, while Jaime sat with me holding my hand (John had to wait in the waiting room). The spinal was done before I knew it, but I could still feel my legs so I was a little concerned (the anesthesiologist was too.) They began prepping me for surgery, which included placing a foley catheter in my pee-pee hole, which I totally felt! At that point, the anesthesiologist decided to do my spinal again. I was beyond numb at that point! John was brought in at that point and was able to sit right next to me. Before I knew it, the procedure had started, and within minutes, my baby girl was out. It was so quick. I heard her cry, which made me cry, but I never busted out with the ugly cry so I am proud of myself for that. They brought her over to me for a few minutes, then John and her went to the nursery while they finished my surgery. I was wheeled into the PACU shortly thereafter to begin my recovery. I was able to snuggle with my baby right away. It was beyond surreal. The next several hours consisted of picture taking, snuggling, breastfeeding, and waiting for my dang legs to get the feeling back in them. Most women stay in the PACU for about 2 hours (the amount of time it takes to get feeling back in the legs). I was there for close to 5 hours! Getting 2 spinal anesthetics really sucked!

We finally went to the postpartum room and got all settled in for our 3 day stay. We did not sleep the whole first night; there was so much going on. Violet was so alert the first day. I couldn't stop staring at her. She was so worth losing sleep over.

Recovering from surgery was not nearly as bad as I expected. I was up and out of bed, walking around within 12 hours of the procedure. I was taking pain pills while in the hospital, but soon found out that they actually made me feel worse, so I stopped taking them as soon as I got home and just took Motrin when I needed it. The worst part of the whole experience was the feeling of helplessness for the first 2 weeks. I was advised not to drive or lift anything other then my baby for the first few weeks. John and my mom had to wait on me quite a bit, which I did not like because I am so used to fending for myself. They were beyond helpful and I am so grateful that I had them both there.

The first week postpartum is somewhat of a blur. I know I cried ALOT!!! Breastfeeding was definitely a challenge in the first week, which made me cry even more. But we made it through okay.

Violet's birth was the most spectacular thing I have ever experienced. I definitely felt like my purpose in life was established at that point. The bond I have with my daughter and with John is something I cannot put into words. I will always love you Princess Violet!!

Our last night as a twosome....

So tomorrow is our daughters big debut! I decided a long time ago that if I did not have this baby by my due date, that I would proceed with a scheduled Cesarean Section instead of opting for an induction of labor. Not everyone will understand my choice in doing this, but for me, it just made the most sense. So now we have arrived at the day before my delivery date and I am beyond nervous. I don't know if I am more nervous about the procedure, or the fact that I am finally going to meet my daughter (I am sure it is a combination of both.) I have seen this surgery hundreds of times, and I know exactly how it will probably play out, but I am still extremely anxious.

John is as calm as can be. I don't think it will truly hit him until we are in the operating room tomorrow. He says it is all still very surreal to him, so he isn't quite sure how he is going to process it all yet. His love and support is definitely calming me down....somewhat! Let's see how well he sleeps tonight?

So this will be my last post before Baby Rivera is finally here. Almost 40 weeks of waiting and the big day is upon us. Hopefully I can get some rest tonight and wake up refreshed and ready. My baby girl is coming tomorrow!!!

39 Weeks!

How far along? 39 weeks! Baby Rivera is 20 inches, give or take an inch or so, and probably a little over 7 pounds!

Total weight gain/loss? 23 pounds! I lost a pound this week, which is common late in pregnancy.

Feeling Sick/Signs of Labor? I am so ready for this little girl to be out! I am tired, nauseous, and the heartburn is driving me crazy! I am having a lot of contractions, but unfortunately they are doing nothing. I have been 0.5 cm dilated for a month now. I feel like I have tried everything to get this labor going, but my efforts have failed. So sad. She will be here soon though!

Clothing? I have still been able to utilize some of my sundresses this week. They are so comfortable. I am so happy that I did not have to buy a single pair of full panel maternity pants my whole pregnancy. In actuality, I bought very few maternity items. Yay me. Oh how excited I am to get back into my old clothes.

Stretch Marks? Nope.

Sleep? My sleep schedule is routine now. I fall asleep usually by 10pm and am up every morning no later then 0730am. I wake up 2-3 times to use the little girl’s room, and sometimes an additional time due to uncomfortable contractions.

Movement? I still love every one of her movements. She is such an active little girl.

Cravings? ICE. ICE. and more ICE. Crushed ice is my favorite thing ever!

Gender? GIRL!

What I miss? The ability to breathe deeply. It is so difficult to catch my breath with this big belly hogging up all of the room where my other internal organs used to reside.

Upcoming Events? My Daughters big debut!!! I am scheduled for a Cesarean Section on Thursday if she doesn’t come before that! I can’t wait!

Best moment of the week? Spending one on one time with John, and enjoying our last few days as a twosome.

38 weeks!

How far along? 38 weeks! Baby Rivera is 20 inches, give or take an inch or so, and close to 7 pounds!

Total weight gain/loss? 24 pounds!

Feeling Sick/Signs of Labor? Feeling tired and low on energy. I am up bright and early every morning, anxious to get my day going, but I always hit a wall around 4pm and have no desire to do anything. I continue to contract, but nothing is happening from them yet.

Clothing? I have been able to utilize a lot of my sundresses over stretchy pants lately because the weather has been so nice. I just can’t wait to shop once this baby comes out. I am getting annoyed with having to dress this belly everyday.

Stretch Marks? Nope.

Sleep? Sleep has been okay lately. I wake up once or twice to use the little ladies room, but I am able to fall back asleep quickly. I do wake up at 7am every single morning. I no longer have the ability to sleep in.

Movement? I have a racehorse growing inside of me.

Cravings? I still love chewing ice. It is amazing.

Gender? All princess! I can’t wait to meet her. I think she is going to look like daddy!

What I miss? Not feeling fatigued and worn out. I may never have tons of energy again (because I will be chasing after a baby), but I just want to feel like I can walk up the stairs without feeling short of breath.

Upcoming Events? I continue to have my weekly non-stress tests and OB appointments. Maybe she will show up this week!!

Best moment of the week? It was a great week. I celebrated my 30^th birthday with my closest friends and family. It can only get better from here.

A few last minute maternity photos

The weather has been absolutely amazing in San Diego, so what better way to spend the day then in Balboa Park taking maternity photos. My mom got some great shots of John and I, as well as, some individual shots of me and the belly.

Belly Cast

Had a blast on Thursday doing a belly cast with my girlfriends. The kit was very easy to use and the mold turned out great. I can't wait to paint it!

37 Weeks!

How far along? 37 weeks! Full-term! Baby Rivera is pretty much done growing length wise (she is probably still around 20 inches), and somewhere between 6-7 pounds!

Total weight gain/loss? 22 pounds!

Feeling Sick/Signs of Labor? It was unusually hot in San Diego today, so today kind of sucked (this was one reason I avoided being 9 months pregnant in the summer time, but obviously I could not avoid that, as it is 80 degrees here in January.) I am definitely contracting, some are painful and some are not, but I am definitely tracking them and looking for regularity, but nothing that stands out yet.

Clothing? I am running out of things to wear! Especially in this warm weather we are having. All of my cute sundresses I was able to wear in the summer are now to short in the front (due to my big belly). Bummer. I am pretty sure I can manage through the next couple of weeks though. I am anxiously awaiting the day I get my body back and can buy a whole new post-baby wardrobe.

Stretch Marks? Nope.

Sleep? As long as I don’t have horrendous heartburn, I am sleeping decently through the night. I have noticed that I am now waking up every morning at 7am. Not my ideal time to wakeup, but I guess it is my body’s way of teaching me that sleeping in will be a thing of the past.

Movement? Lots!!!

Cravings? I am obsessed with chewing ice. It is very strange, but crushed ice is my new best friend.

Gender? I am getting more and more excited to meet Princess Rivera. This week I painted my toenails hot pink and put hot pink streaks in my hair in her honor.

What I miss? Not having a baby in my ribs. She must love short ribs because she is constantly in mine. She definitely makes it hard for her mommy to breathe sometimes.

Upcoming Events? So.many.appointments. I am trying to squeeze everything in before this baby gets here, so I feel like I have a different appointment everyday.

Best moment of the week? I had my first NST on Monday and was able to hear 40 minutes of her little heart beating. She sounds amazing. I also had a really nice dinner and dessert party with my girlfriends. It was a great week!

36 Weeks!

How far along? 36 weeks! Baby Rivera is roughly 20 inches from head to toe, and about 6 pounds!

Total weight gain/loss? 21 pounds!

Feeling Sick/Signs of Labor? I am feeling great now that I am on maternity leave. I have had more time to relax. I continue to contract daily; some are feeling more painful then others. The doctor told me on Thursday that I am 0.5 cm, 50 percent effaced and that she is really low. I could stay this way for the next few weeks or this could be the start to something. Bring it on!

Clothing? Well at least I don’t have to wear my scrubs anymore. I wouldn’t have lasted another week wearing them. I continue to strut around in my camisoles and stretchy pants, not sexy at all, but comfortable. My mom and I went shopping for hospital attire today and also looked at some cute things to wear once I get my pre-pregnancy body back. I can’t wait.

Stretch Marks? Nope.

Sleep? HAHAHA. I dream about sleeping through the night.

Movement? Wiggle worm! I still love her movements, except for the kicks to my bladder. Those don’t feel so good.

Cravings? I love lemon treats. Lemon bars, lemon cake, lemoncello crème torte from Cheesecake factory. YUM!

Gender? I can’t stop saying “my daughter.” It’s so strange to think I will have a daughter in just a few short weeks.

What I miss? I saw the cutest sequin shorts today at Forever 21 and wanted to try them on, and then I remembered that I have a BIG belly. Not so hot. I miss my little belly and can’t wait to get back in to my little clothes (of course mom appropriate now).

Upcoming Events? I start my weekly non-stress tests this week, as well as, my weekly OB appointments. I also have my third baby shower on Friday.

Best moment of the week? This week has been a bit overwhelming, but I would have to say that hearing my little girl’s heartbeat made all of my other feelings seem minuscule.

35 Weeks!

How far along? 35 weeks! Baby Rivera is roughly 20 inches from head to toe, and somewhere between 5.5 and 6 pounds!

Total weight gain/loss? 21 pounds!

Feeling Sick/Signs of Labor? I had last week off so I actually felt good most of the week. The last few nights I experienced a few painful contractions (ones that felt very different compared to my usual Braxton Hicks). They were painful enough that they woke me up out of my sleep, and John woke up as well due to my heavy breathing. Some water and a gentle back massage seemed to fix the issue.

Clothing? I am still extremely excited that I have not had to wear full panel maternity pants, actually, I haven’t had to wear many maternity items at all. I continue to love my stretchy pants and camisoles, and when I am home, I prefer to run around in the least amount of clothing as possible and snuggle up in my robe.

Stretch Marks? Nope.

Sleep? I am convinced that I will never sleep well again. Luckily, I function pretty well on very little sleep. I have one more week of work left and not much to do except prep for this baby to arrive, so hopefully I can get back on a normal schedule and get a good nights rest before she arrives.

Movement? This little girl is preparing for Juilliard’s dance program right now! She is such a wiggler. She is perfecting her jazz hands.

Cravings? No cravings. I still have a strong desire for sweets. I eat them daily.

Gender? I had a formal growth ultrasound this past week, and once again, she showed her lady parts to Grammy, Daddy, and I.

What I miss? I am starting to really miss my pre-pregnancy body. I just feel bloated and swollen, and even though I love my stretchy pant and camisoles, they don’t do much in the sex appeal department.

Upcoming Events? It is my last week of work! YAY! I am going to start my weekly OB appointments, as well as, my weekly non-stress tests.

Best moment of the week? My Baby Shower! It turned out beautifully. I have such a great mommy and a great group of friends. Their hard work made the event truly amazing. I will post a blog update all about the special day.

34 Weeks!

How far along? 34 weeks! Baby Rivera is 19 inches from head to toe, and close to 5 pounds!

Total weight gain/loss? Still around 20 pounds!!

Feeling Sick/Signs of Labor? I am getting really tired and not sleeping well, but otherwise I feel pretty good. I am still contracting pretty regularly, but at this point I am not too concerned. At this point, very little intervention would be performed if she was born early.

Clothing? Stretchy pants and camisoles! My sense of style has been limited during this pregnancy, but who cares, I am all about comfort at this point. Thank goodness I only have a few shifts left at work because I definitely running out of scrubs that fit.

Stretch Marks? Nope.

Sleep? Horrible. I sleep a few hours here and a few hours there, I just sleep whenever I have a free chance. I am hoping when I stop working I can get back into a good sleep routine (at least until the baby gets here).

Movement? All. The. Time. This girl gets the hiccups constantly too. I love every kick, punch, and roll I feel.

Cravings? Not really craving much. I had a friend at work tell me that sprite helped her with her constant heartburn, so I have been drinking that more frequently.

Gender? I am so excited to be having a baby girl! I think about her constantly. I can’t wait to meet her.

What I miss? I miss sleeping!

Upcoming Events? The big baby shower is next weekend. I am really excited to celebrate this little girls upcoming arrival. My mom will also be back in town for an extended stay.

Best moment of the week? My 34 week OB appt. was great. The baby sounds great and I am measuring right on track.

33 Weeks!

How far along? 33 weeks! Baby Rivera is 19 inches from head to toe, and over 4 pounds in weight (She is actually measuring around 4 lbs. 12 ounces according to the ultrasound this week).

Total weight gain/loss? About 20 pounds!!

Feeling Sick/Signs of Labor? I am feeling tired more than anything. I could sleep all day long if I could. The contractions are still coming frequently, but I was reassured again this week that they aren’t doing anything. My cervix is still long and closed! Good.

Clothing? I love my Ugg boots that John bought me for Christmas. My shoes are getting snug and they fit me perfectly. Plus they keep my feet extremely warm. I am still very comfortable in my elastic waist pants and have not had to move on to full panel pants yet. Yay. I went out on Friday to shop for a few dresses for my upcoming showers and was shocked to find out that out of 6 dresses I tried on (all from forever 21, size small), 5 fit me perfectly. I just couldn’t pick which few I liked best so I bought 4 of them. I definitely have options for my baby showers.

Stretch Marks? Nope.

Sleep? I am sleeping well at night, except for when John is working. I seem to be more restless when I am trying to sleep in bed alone at night. What can I say, his snoring is soothing to me. I still am not sleeping great during the day, but I only have a few more weeks left of work and then I can get on a better schedule.

Movement? She is kicking me right now, and I am still giddy inside every time I feel her kick. It is such a great feeling.

Cravings? No new cravings. I am still enjoying all of the same things I have been for a while.

Gender? I am happy to say that she flashed us again on this weeks ultrasound.

What I miss? Not missing much this week. The year ended very well and I feel very loved. I am getting quite used to all of the annoyances in pregnancy so I am not going to complain about those things anymore because I am sure I will never feel “normal” again.

Upcoming Events? January is going to be crazy in the Elkins-Rivera house. I have another OB appt. on Friday, followed by the first of four baby showers. My mom is leaving next weekend to come down for an extended stay to help John and I prep for the baby.

Best moment of the week? The Holidays were fantastic. We had a great Christmas and New Years. Actually one of the nicest things this week was having several family members and friends rub my belly and tell me how beautiful I look. You don’t always feel pretty when you are 8 months pregnant, but it sure does feel nice to have people tell you that you do.