Hmm, start at the bottom

sorry about the order of these - pics should have probably come after the intro. But I don't know if i can change it. I think I need blogging lessons from Stephanie.
But this first week has gone by fast - and relatively relaxing. We are figuring out the ways of Max, feeding, sleeping and really just being lazy. Breast feeding is going well if not slightly painful. I am so grateful for all the gifts and support we have gotten. I didn't know how grateful i was until we started using the things we received. My friend Nicole made us dinner, Jessica took the dog for the first week, which was priceless. Friends from home dropping things off....its wonderful to be able to share what is the best thing in our world with those we love. And just everyone checking on us has made me notice again what great people I have surrounding me. Thanks everyone.

Baby's first bath at home. He loves it, don't be fooled.

We LOVEEEE his hat from Uncle Jared and Aunt Stephanie. Its his traveling hat. And boy does he love to travel...he will sleep for hours in the car.

One of my favorite pics

This is where the angel sleeps - you can't afford this bassinett...

Sleepy....

8 days - Max Leonardo Cortez

I think I missed a few weeks in between - but I forgive myself because I've been busy/just really wanting to do other things than blog. But Baby Max Leonardo Cortez was born January 16, 2011 at 11:35am. He is a really cool kid. Sleeps great, eats well (I think), screams well when his diaper is being changed and has these big cool eyes that I love. He likes to have his hair combed.

I was very anxious to be in labor - and then when it started I decided I could wait a little bit longer :) But it started about 5pm on Saturday night. We were shopping and went home to watch some movies. about 715 I started timing the contractions and they were 5 minutes apart and about 40 seconds. Pretty consistant for the next 3 hours. ( well really 7), but I decided to shower and get some rest about 1030 because I knew that if it wasn't that night, we would be going in the morning to the hospital. Well instead of resting, we decided to watch another movie - A-Team. I enjoyed it. But by the end, I decided that 7 hours of 4-5 minute apart contractions was probably reason enough to go to the hospital and at least check the babe out and make sure he was ok. Erick had decided that since I wasn't screaming and rolling on the floor, that they weren't 'real' contractions, so he didn't think we would be staying. I said we should pack as if we weren't coming back. He kind of rolled his eyes, but indulged me. So we got the bags and car seat in the car and ended up at the hospital at 230am. For my records sake (nobody probably really wants to know this) but I had had just a little bloody show to this point, not much. But by the time they had me change into the robe so they could check me, my mucus plug had come out. They said I was dialated to 4cm and they were admitting me because i was definitely in labor. Crazy. Part of me realy thought they would send me home. And i problby could have made it through a few more hours at home, but being my first, I was anxious enough as it was to make sure Baby Max was ok. Called my friend Jessica who came down to be with me through the whole thing. She made it amazing. I was able to relax, chat a bit and just kind of wait it out. At bout 530, I decided that if this process was going to take another 4-5 hours plus the birth ontop of that, I was getting the epidural. I had really wanted to do it naturally but at the same time, I wasn't going to go crazy for hours just to say I did. Epidural did pretty well, but didn't numb my right side completely - so i could still feel some of the contractions. But the next 4 hours were pretty tranquil. Doc came in and broke my water about 7:00. They wanted to give me Pitocin to make sure labor continued but every time they tried, Max's heart rate would drop, so they had to turn it off. Didn't matter much beacuse I was dialating well on my own. But 900 I was at a 9 and at about 11 I was fully dialated and the nurse started to explain what would happen when i had to start pushing. I asked how long pushing would last and she said 'ooohh well 2nd time mom's can be as fast as 1/2 hour but it can last up to 2 hours sometimes'. I said 'oh i was thinking like 10 minutes'. she laughed. Well, doc came in, we all got in position and I started pushing. 9 pushes and 8 minutes later, Max Leonardo slid out to an almost unprepared doctor. Quite the feeling to hear that first cry. They put him on my chest and gave me about an hour with him before they took him for weighing and stuff. 7 lbs, 13 oz, 21 inches long, dark hair and eyes wide open. Love those eyes.

Christmas 2010

So I pulled out the Christmas decor that I have been hauling around with me for years, 4-5 apartments and never actually getting a place to put them up. I go out every year after christmas and buy a little bit each year. So it was like Christmas all over again pulling out the decor I've never used. And I got a tree! Which I think is just a bit enormous for my living room - which I was not even considering when I bought it. Then of course the trial of the lights....and as Stephanie found out, these new 'warm' and 'cool' white lights are slightly weird. Both of them actually. I was thinking the warm was the equivalent of the old-school ones but no. So that is my tree for now. I really dig the star. 10.00 at Wal-mart. I really love Christmas but am kind of bummed that I really don't have any Christmas music to play since my laptop broke with all my music on it....but I fill the void. It will be a sad day this year since I can't go to Washington, but I am excited at the same time to play Santa Claus to me and my Erick. In fact, santa bought me a purse yesterday :D Although I think Santa Claus should have maybe let me in on how expensive filling a stocking can be....I don't think I was prepared.

34 weeks...

So I think I took these pictures at 34 weeks....which was last week. Things are going great. Getting uncomfortable after I eat and definitely more tired in the evening. Trying to keep up the motivation to get stuff done around the house but mostly don't want to. I got to go to Alabama for Thanksgiving and see my 1-week old niece and it helped alot to talk to my sister-in-law and mom about how they handled pregnancy and birth. I - cross your fingers - think i will be more like them than most of the people i've spoken with. Which is to say instead of freaking out and thinking everything is going to be horribly painful and dramatic, I know there are those out there that handle it well. Not to say the drama queens don't. i'm just saying. But I reserve all rights to whatever the hell i want when the time comes. Just saying.

31 Weeks - and finally feeling pregnant

So in trying to be comparative with my sister-in-law, I thought i should post pictures of my belly at 28 weeks. That was 3 weeks ago. But it would have been cool. So here is me at 31 weeks (on Monday) and no i don't know how to put cool writing on the pics like Stephanie. In fact, the more I share in my families blogs, the less inclined to blog I get because I get depressed at how much better bloggers they are than me. But Whatev. I took these this morning, no i did not put any makeup on, I think we are lucky I combed my hair? which may or may not have made a difference.....

Here I am striking the classic 'pregnant pose'. I used to think it was because women's back hurt and they couldn't stand any other way. I now know its just because there is no waist to put your hand on. And i'm trying to define the front of the belly so you know where it stops...


I can say I now feel pregnant, but I had no clue what I really looked like until I saw these pictures....most people still freak out when I tell them I'm 7 1/2 months along....but now I think they are just blind.


Front shot- probably why I was dillusional about my size...this is what I see everyday and I think 'Eh, still about the same.'


Slightly angled shot....and I'm pushing it out here just so you know. Seriously.

And this was all after I had to scrounge up my camera manual to figure out to use the self-timer...so that is why it looks like a 3 foot 6 person is taking these pictures.