Lincoln's first taste of FOOD!

This weekend was a pretty quiet one.  My mom came to Altus for the weekend, Lincoln and I got to Skype with Jack, the usual.  But the major event of the weekend happened on Sunday (18 Sep 11): Lincoln had food for the first time! Wahoo!!! I had been putting off giving Lincoln food because, well...I'm a sappy and sentimental mom.  I literally thought that once I started to give him food he would officially become a "big boy" and not need me.  Crazy right?  While Jack, on the other hand, has been pro-food since Lincoln's birth (well, let me restate that: has been pro-food for Lincoln at age 4 months since birth).   When we talked on Sunday he finally convinced me to give Lincoln a taste of what he had been "missing" for the last 4-ish weeks.  And Linc LOVED the avacado.  Oh my goodness!  I don't think I've see our baby smile and laugh so much!  He couldn't stop giggling, kept opening his mouth for more.  He didn't "eat" really--it was more of "gumming" (sucking) on the spoon.  Either way, he loved it and has not stopped love it!  Tomorrow he will get to have some butternut squash and I'm excited (who would have thought!).  Oh!  And in a few weeks I'll be announcing something very exciting!!! Now, don't go off starting rumors--it's no baby--but Jack and I are very happy with this choice...more to come later!  And of course, I'll leave you all with pictures:

Love that baby smile!

Avacado flavored kisses for my mami y papi!

Yum Yum

That's enough now! Byyyye!

Labor Day Weekend/O-H-I-O!

Lincoln and I were quite the jet setters 2 weeks ago for Labor Day Weekend.   We decided to road trip it to Dallas (our first road trip alone) and it was actually a very good ride!  Usually, it takes me 3.5 to get to Dallas and with little Linc in the back we got there in 4, wahoo!  2.5 hours in we stopped in Decatur to feed him and then we were back on our merry to Dallas.  We arrived at 1200 in full swing and ready for the weekend!  It was GREAT to be back in civilization.  Especially coming from Altus, you learn to appreciate everything in your life.  It's nice to have a Super Target instead of a Walmart down the road.  And a Whole Foods...mmmm, Whole Foods! 

But anyways, we did have an amazing weekend.  We got to be with family (Lincoln met his cousins-Bella, Ike, and Nate) and with friends (Alicia/Jessica)!  Also, we had a another first for Lincoln: The Mall!  On Sunday we went to North Park Center and walked around.  Linc could not have been more memezmorized by all the people walking around--he had never seen so many people in one place! Later that night we got hang out with Auntie Weesha (Alicia).  We cudding (her and Linc) and played and then to go get Sushi! I have missed eating Sushi.  It was my first time since I found out I was pregrant (which was a year ago!).  YUM, yum, yum!



I'm a FOX!



Tia Jessica and Lincoln





Then on Monday, we had a play date with Jessica and Ashlynn.  I couldn't believe how much she had grown.  I remember when Ash was just born...time seems to go by so much faster now that we are older.  I had so much fun visiting with them and seeing Jess love and cuddle on Linc!  Spending time with my good friend was a great way to end my weekend in Dallas.  I wish we could have stayed longer but we had to fly off to O-H-I-O!

Linc and I flew to Ohio on Thursday (we got back to Altus from Dallas on Tuesday.  Surprisingly, he was very well behaved on the plane rides.  And we had very few problems.  There was one rude lady but Lincoln was extremely polite to her and decided not to cry on the plane.  Lucky her!  Seriously, you see a mom along with a baby and you have the gall to say "Great.  There are puppies AND babies on this flight now. (then turns to me--she was in the row in front of us) I hope he stays asleep for the flight" and then turns around...RUDE.  I should have just gone Bon Qui Qui on her.  Well, not really.  I just couldn't get "crazy" like her and I don't think "sa-cuur=ity" would have listened!

But aside from her everything went very smoothly!  We landed, met cousins, aunts and uncles!  And had a blast.  Everytime I go to Ohio it's always a fun, fun time.  I love being with my in-laws and the rest of the Rufus/Krakora family. 

I'll leave you guys with some more pictures of the weekend!

Great Grandma Krakora and Linc

Love him

Cousins : )

Lincoln's 4 Months!

Lincoln had his 4 month birthday on 24 August 2011!  I seriously cannot believe my little nugget is already 4 months old!  Where did the time go??? He's had lot of firsts these past few months:

1.  Rolling Over (at 15 weeks)
2.  Smiling (At 10-12 weeks, I do not really remember) for real
3.  Having/holding a "conversation"
4.  Finding his feet
5.  Finding something else...
6.  Finding out that his fingers are about the most tasty snack in the world. 

I haven't started Lincoln on cereal yet...and I won't lie, I will not.  Come 5 or 6 months we will just go straight to veggies and fruits.  I just do not see the point of giving tastless cereal as a first food, but to each their own.  I'm actually really excited about him starting to eat!  I can't wait to make his baby food.  I went crazy and bought a bunch of Annabel Karmel baby food items!  It probably did not help that I got the entire collection of her baby making food books from my aunt as a shower gift.

But, I'm way off topic talking about food--Lincoln turning 4 months is what is important!  : )  Here are the collection of his 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th month pictures.  He's just too cute and so grown up--we just love him!

Lincoln's Birth

The week of 18-24 April was intense to say the least.  For those of you that were unaware (and I didn't tell many people anyway)  my blood pressure pre-pregnancy is fairly low.  So in the last month of my second trimester it started to slowly creep up--which was actually quite high for me.  I went to my 38th week appointment on Tuesday and was at a little over 1 cm and baby moving around like crazy.  I got a second appointment for Friday for another Fetal Stress Test (FST) and was told to call if I got any headaches or dizzy.  And here's my picture 38 week picture from Tuesday:

So, I went off along my merry way, thinking nothing of my appointment...well...I couldn't be more wrong!  Thursday I got the most horrible headache, went to Labor and Delivery and got another stress test.  My blood pressure was insane (for me at least) (138 over something) and I was puffed beyond belief.  I was hooked up to a monitor and got another FST.  The baby was fine but my blood pressure was up and down.  When it was finally back to normal I was sent home.  At the doctor's appointment the next day--actually, lack of a doctor's appointment--I was told to be prepared for an induction come Tuesday since my blood pressure could not make up it's mind. 

Well, that Sunday morning at 0130 I woke up to mild contractions and some other stuff.   Anyway, I went to bed and told Jack I was having contractions and all I got was a, "That's nice honey.  How about you go to sleep with those contractions..." And he rolled over and went back to sleep.  My contractions were pretty steady, about 5 minutes apart, and lasted about 30 to 50 seconds.   They were bearable until 0600 and then I wanted to go to the hospital.  We got, got checked and I was barely above a 2! Ahhh...so frustrating.  I didn't want to be hooked up to a monitor if that's all I was dilated to and we decided to go back home. 

Back home I danced and yoga positioned my labor away until 1400 (2:00 pm).  More stuff was passing through my system so back to the hospital we went!  Checked in, got checked out--I was at a 6, almost a 7!  Yay!  Well, they wanted to hook me up again...but I wanted to move around (I originally wanted a natural childbirth but we'll get to that).  Well, the baby was getting a little stressed in my belly so I couldn't move around like I planned.  And I decided I could not go through natural childbirth if I was not free to move and whatnot.  So, I tried to get an epidural.  The anesthesiologist stuck the catheter in, moved it around and I said "Get that s*** out of me (while huge tears rolled down my face)"  The anesthesiologist and I are were not friends.  So...on I labored!  I did get that Demoral...because it's hard being confined to a bed having contractions that you can feel and not being able to move.  But, I asked for the lowest dose possible and I hated it!  Oh, dear goodness.  I was seeing Windmills stars falling down in delivery room!! That was crazy stuff.  Anyway, I was about to be at an 8...the medicine was wearing off and the nurse asked if I wanted more.  "No!"  All the nurses thought I was insane (except for the older nurse that had all her babies natural).  Anyway,  they broke my water and on I went to breathe through my contractions. 

Let me say this, Jack was the most amazing labor coach.  In early labor he helped me move around and sway. Coached me through all my contractions and was just wonderful.  So thank you baby! 

Anyway, my contractions progressed more quickly...and suddenly I was at a 9! Woooo...it was about 6:00-ish.  And I wanted to push.  Bad.  Jack to call the nurse 3 times before she finally decided I could...and I pushed once--Lincoln crowned!  Doctor Crazy was called...ahhhh.  Don't get me started!  Anyway, once she finally got to the room I pushed again and little Lincoln arrived!   A perfect little baby and we couldn't believe he was ours!

At 1818 (6:18 pm) a baby boy weighing in at 4 lbs 13 oz came into our world and just melted our hearts.  A little bundle of joy.  We stayed at the hospital longer than anticipated but the nurses were wonderful and so helpful and encouraging.  Here's a picture of poor little Linc in the jimmy or whatever it was called.  Anyway, poor Linc couldn't catch a break!  Low blood sugar and jaundice.  But, he's come out a strong little fighter!

Blogs...

So, I finally got on this "family blog" band-wagon.  Mainly because we have so much family scattered across the States.  And also because (as many of you all know) Jack is deployed.  This is an easy way to upload some of the many pictures I take of Linc.  Although I do have a photo blog dedicated to just photographs.  http://www.jakarlarufusfamily.shutterfly.com/.  I don't pick through those pictures, I just upload! Hah...so I'll be more selective on this blog--I promise! :)