Yes, I kept my placenta.

Yes I kept my placenta. It belonged to Toby and me so why wouldn't I want it? Besides, do you know what my placenta did? Let me tell you about my placenta.

Placentas are awesome. According to Wikipedia (so scientific, I know), "The placenta is an organ that connects the developing [baby] to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply." Further, the placenta plays a key role in determining the length of pregnancy.

So, basically, my placenta was responsible for feeding my son and keeping him alive and healthy. It did a great job at that, if you ask me. However, I have a love:hate relationship with my placenta because one thing it didn't do a great job at was managing my sugars. My placenta gave me "diabeetus." You see, the placenta produces its own glucose, Toby produced glucose and I produce glucose. My body couldn't manage all three at the same time, thus, enter diabetes. So, while I appreciate all the work the placenta did to keep Toby nourished, I'm kind of miffed that it couldn't do me a solid and allow me to consume whoopie pies throughout my pregnancy.

I kid, I kid. But, with the diagnosis of diabetes we really had to monitor my placenta to make sure it was remaining healthy. People who have diabetes run the risk of their placenta breaking down earlier than usual, or not working as efficiently. So, throughout my pregnancy, I had to be mindful that I was taking care of Toby and my placenta.

There are many things one can do with a placenta. Some people eat it (um, no thanks), some people have it dehydrated and made into pills that they take as vitamins, others make jewelry out of it, some plant it, and some make art with it.

We did the two latter.

If you want to keep your placenta there are a few things you need to know. First off, we had to make sure all the medical personnel in our delivery room knew that we wanted to keep it as they are usually disposed of shortly after the birth of your baby; it is considered medical waste. Further, it's not easy to leave the hospital with an organ so we had to sign consent forms so we were able to take it with us. You basically take it home in a red hazmat doggy bag.

Being that Aaron and I are both nature lovers, we knew one thing we wanted to do was to plant the placenta. So, we went online and ordered a Hawthorn Tree, the tree of May (Toby's birth month.) The hawthorn is a beautiful flowering tree that blooms in late spring/early summer (just like Toby) and is known to attract birds. When this tree arrives (it won't be shipped until late fall when it's the best planting time) we are going to bring it to camp and plant the tree along with the placenta. Each time we go to camp, Toby will be able to watch his tree grow and know that his placenta nourished the tree, just like it nourished him.

We also wanted a way to keep the memory of the placenta close to home so we went online to find ideas for artwork. Of course YouTube offered ways to do this. So we made a "placenta tree of life" using acid free canvas and the placenta as a "stamp" per se.

I've never been so sentimental in my entire life. I guess having a baby grew this Grinch's heart. After talking a lot about it, Aaron and I decided we really wanted to memorialize our placenta. After all, when you think of the miracle of life/birth you have to understand what an integral role the placenta plays in all of it.

Warning: If you proceed past this point and you have a weak stomach, I would turn back now.

So, this is the placenta. It had a pretty big job. If you click on the picture you can see the big veins and capillaries that kept the organ functioning and healthy. The long cord is the umbilical cord that connected me to my son. It's just so neat to think that not only did I grow a baby but, my body made a brand new organ. The human body is so amazing.

The first print I made was just the "blood print" for his scrapbook.

Then I painted the placenta with water-based paint

and I kept the cord natural (blood)

I pressed an 11X14 acid free canvas on the placenta 

This is the finished product. I had it professionally framed with special glass to protect it from the sun and air as the trunk of the tree (umbilical cord) is blood and would have faded over time.

We will also make a day of planting our tree and burying the placenta this fall. We'll be sure to take pictures of the tree and its progress as it grows with Toby.

So, at the risk of sounding like a total weirdo, I think it's the most beautiful thing we could have done. Many people may think it's gross or odd that we chose to keep our placenta so, feel free to judge us and throw your placenta away. We couldn't think of a more beautiful way to welcome Toby to the world than planting a tree in his honor and creating art that one day he may appreciate. The process of doing this was very theraputic for me. As I said, I really enjoyed all the beauty of pregnancy; this seemed like one final way to honor the miracle of birth.

You know you're a new parent when:

We're kind of distracted lately ;)

Toby: One Month Old

On Saturday, May 23rd, Mr. Mister turned one month old. It is absolutely absurd that he has been here for one month already. That's 1/9 of the time it took for me to cook him!

Here are some updates/facts about his first month:

• He has had 210 diaper changes.
• He now eats about 3-4 oz. per setting (not including what I give him from the breast.)
• He has been to Daddy's work and Mama's work for a visit.
• He has met lots and lots of people who love him! (Still a few left to meet!)
• He went on one of his first (of many) trips to Boston yesterday.
• Although he is still in newborn clothing sizes, he will soon be out of them (SAD FACE!)
• He is starting to show more personality; making new facial expressions and noises.
• In the last couple of weeks we gave him a binky. He holds it in his mouth with his little hand so it doesn't fall out. Yeah, my kid is a genius.
• He loves to get a bath.
• He is still super calm, relaxed and easy going. (I am beyond thankful.)
• He doesn't care for air conditioning (just like Mama.)
• He has absolutely NO problem going between the breast and the bottle.
• He sleeps in four hour increments (we're getting there!)
• Aaron already clipped his fingernails (I couldn't do it!!)

Updates about Mama & Daddy:

• I celebrated my 31st birthday and got the best gift ever this year.
• Aaron celebrated his first father's day.
• I had a terrible cold/allergies/plague (I'm still recovering!) and I couldn't hold my baby for 24 hours... that was the worst 24 hours!!
• I went shopping for the first time since I had Toby. Let me tell you, it was all I could do not to ball my eyes out. But, I'm trying to be realistic. It has been a month. I'm going to rock a muffin top and golf ball thighs for a while. Besides, what person actually looks attractive in the mirrors at Old Navy?
• We have brought him on a few day trips and are gearing up for a couple of vacations this summer; the first "overnights" with baby.
• Daddy has read Toby several books and Mama likes to take him on walks.
• I've pumped 40 oz. of breast milk out of my milk jugs since Toby was born (not including what he has helped himself to.) In reality, that's not a lot by any means but, I'm really proud of it because I'm trying so hard!!
• Manny absolutely adores him.

Manny always helps me nurse/feed. EVERY SINGLE TIME

This picture looks scary but Manny is licking Toby, not biting. Manny would lick Toby head-to-toe if I let him.

Uncle Matt & Uncle Nellie love Toby!

Unhappy Mr. Mister

Titles

I have always prided myself on my education, career accomplishments, and titles. Every time I sign something, "Jessi Molloy, MA, LCMHC, MLADC" or see one of my students raise their hands and hear them accompany it with, "Professor Molloy," I beam. I have an awesome resume including professor, clinical supervisor and the recently added "Director" at the new practice.

None of these come close to my newest title, "Mama." I had no idea this little boy would come into my work-obsessed world and completely turn it upside down. I thought I had my priorities straight until Toby came along and became the most important thing.

My work used to define me. Now I've (re)defined it as a way to support my son and family. Yes, I will go back to work, eventually, but from this point forward my life's work is raising my son.

I totally didn't see that coming and I couldn't be happier.

A Bittersweet Father's Day

This year was Aaron's first father's day. While I enjoyed spending the day honoring him (and I even had his favorite beer shipped to him as you can't buy it East of the Mississippi- I am an awesome wife!!) it was a really, really hard day for me.

I haven't spoken publicly about this, as it has been so difficult to process and heal, but this was my first father's day without my Pepe. Pepe died on Memorial Day. He died 5 days after Toby was born. Many of you know that he was, arguably, my very favorite person in the whole world. I fully believe Pepe waited for Toby's birth before he passed.

Below is the last picture I took of him. It was taken May 6th when I brought him out for his 90th birthday. Normally, I would drive to Portland AT LEAST once per month to visit with him and take him out to lunch. This particular day I brought him on a picnic at Fort Williams, a place where he used to bring me every summer when I was younger. When I dropped him off at his condo after the picnic we had the following conversation:

P: Can you write down the baby's name on this piece of paper for me?
J: Yes, of course (writing down Tobias "Toby" Herbert Molloy).
P: (smiling) He has my name as his middle name.
J: (teary) Yes, of course. You know why. (this wasn't a question)
P: I know. I do you too, Dear.

P: When do you think he'll be born?
J: Well, his due date is May 30th.
P: But when do you think that latest is that he will come? If you had to guess?
J: Oh, I would say he'd be here by May 26th, if I HAD to guess.
P: Write that down for me, okay?

When my Mom went to see him a couple of weeks later he still had the piece of paper; he showed it to her. He was already seriously declining. The Friday after I gave birth my Mom went to see him and showed him pictures of Toby. She said he was really happy. Three days later he was gone.

I am so grateful that I had such a wonderful man in my life. He meant the world to me. He inspired me and he taught me more about life than anyone else has to date. When I think of Pepe, I always think of two things. One, a seahorse. Male Seahorses are the ones who carry, birth and raise their young. He made me who I am today. He was my seahorse. Second, I think of an anchor. He was my anchor; because of him I will never go adrift.

Pepe never told me he loved me. He would never say "I love you." In the last few years of his life, the thought of him slipping away from me became so painful that neither of us would often say "I love you" I'd simply say, "Hey, Pepe... you know what?" and he'd say, "Yes, Dear. I do you too."

My son carries the name of a great man. I am so happy that Pepe was able to hear of the birth of his namesake before he slipped away.

The the last thing I whispered to him when I kissed him goodbye at his funeral?

"I do you too, Pepe."

And I do. I will. Forever.

 

Toby's Birth Story

I had a pretty amazing pregnancy (except for the diabetes). I had an even more impressive labor. I am going to be completely blunt, therefore, if you are easily offended or grossed out, turn back now. Consider yourself warned.

On Tuesday, May 22nd, I went to my regularly scheduled non-stress test appointment. I had two of these every single week for the last nine weeks of my pregnancy because of the gestational diabetes. I had expected that this appointment would be completely uneventful; they all had been up until now. We had been discussing the possibility of being induced early but, I plead my case that I wanted to go naturally and hopefully wait until 40 weeks. We all agreed that I would try to go to 40 unless something happened but, the doctors had warned, that they would NOT let me go past 40. I thought that was a fine compromise.

On Tuesday, the non-stress test went as I predicted, uneventful. It wasn't until I went to see the doctor that things changed. I gained 3 pounds in 5 days. Given that I followed my diet religiously it was nearly impossible the weight gain was due to diet so, this concerned the doctor. The last time Toby's weight had been estimated was two weeks prior and he was tipping the scales at 5lbs 8oz. This was almost three weeks later so, they were thinking he was going to be huge.

Then they discussed the fact that I was already 2cm dilated, 75% effaced and, with the long holiday weekend coming, I wasn't going to be seen again for a week. My doctor said "You're going to be induced tomorrow at 7:30AM." She scraped my cervix to speed up the process of labor for the next day and then sent me on my way.

Whoa.

Just like that. I left the office feeling like I had been hit by a truck. I called Aaron, hysterical, (and I DO NOT cry easily). I could not wrap my head around the fact that tomorrow, May 23rd, I was going to be induced. I could possibly have a baby on the 23rd. I had mere hours left to be selfish with this tiny little life inside me. I wasn't prepared to say goodbye to him in that way yet. It sounds weird, maybe it doesn't make sense but, I wasn't ready to let him go.

I was a mess.
I still had so much to do.
I needed to prepare.
This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen.
I didn't have control over this and it KILLED me.

In true Jessi fashion I licked my wounds for about 45 minutes, cried on Aaron's shoulder (he loves when I have emotional outbursts and "share my feelings") then, just as quickly as it happened, I was done processing it. I had to change gears and get into the mindset that tomorrow I would meet my son.

At 7:30 the next morning we checked into the hospital and I asked my doctor, "I really want to have the baby on a Wednesday. Do you think I'll have him today?" She said, "Nope, very, VERY unlikely." That was all I needed to hear. My first thoughts were, "Well, we'll see about that, won't we?" I was  2+cm and started on pitocin at 8AM. At 8:30 I yelled to my nurse. "Excuse me, I think I just peed the bed!" She laughed and looked under my sheets and said, "Nope, your water just broke."

Then it all happened so fast. Before I knew it I was being checked and rechecked. At 3+cm I ordered breakfast and ate it in between contractions. At 5cm the pain was really kicking in and I threw up my breakfast. At 5 and 6cm they offered me an epidural but I refused. The pain was awful but not yet completely unbearable. At 7cm they offered me an epidural again, and I refused opting to climb into the tub instead; which helped immensely. At 8cm I yelled at Aaron because my contractions were right on top of each other and he dared to replace the bloody blanket I was sitting on with a fresh one: "That's how I know I'm making progress, I need to see that... DON'T EVER TOUCH MY BLANKET AGAIN!" Later, when he was coaching me on how to breathe I said, "I don't need a lesson on how to breathe. I've been doing it my whole life! This IS how I breathe!"

I think those were the last words I spoke. I literally had to step out of myself in order to deal with the pain. I'm not going to lie or sugar coat it; the pain was bad. At almost 9 cm I thought for a split second I would cave and ask for an epidural but, I held out, I had already gone this long without one. I must state here, clearly, that I have absolutely no judgements about epidurals or medications during labor. For me, it just wasn't something I wanted to do. I really wanted to experience labor in its most authentic state (and the thought of losing the ability to move my legs terrified me more than labor pain).

Finally, FINALLY, around 1:30, I felt the urge to push. Nothing relieves the terrible pain of contractions like pushing. It is such a weird sensation and, looking back, I think it's because the pain of the contractions are masked by the burning/searing pain of a head the size of a melon coming out of something the size of a lemon. But, really, if I had to say which pain was worse, I would say contractions. Contractions, for me, were terrible. Perhaps it's because they pumped me so full of pitocin that I didn't have time to breathe in between each contraction; they came on fast and strong!

At some point, (I'm not sure when because, like I said, it was like an out-of-body-experience and I'm really foggy) they rolled out a mirror so I could see his head "crowning." My entire body just looked like such a mess I asked them to take the mirror away because it was breaking my concentration.

Occasionally I'll recall something about the rest of the labor such as the fact that some nurse (who was not my nurse) came in and whispered something into the ear of my nurse. I "came to" long enough to hear the word "intern" and I yelled "NO!" before my nurse even had the opportunity to ask me if I would allow an observer in my delivery room.

There is very little I remember about the rest of the labor but, according to Aaron, around 2pm I ripped off all my clothes and conducted the rest of the delivery naked, which is really odd because I am incredibly modest.

One moment, which I clearly remember, was when Toby's head was crowing and I felt this very odd and very familiar sensation. I said out loud, "He has the hiccups." Basically, my little boy was stuck in my vaginal canal, hiccuping away. Both my doctor and my nurse were laughing and my doctor, who has delivered thousands of babies said, "I have never seen that before."  Then she said, "Okay, I want this baby out in 2 more pushes." I did as I was told.

Toby was born 8 hours and 24 minutes after I arrived at the hospital. He was 6.4lbs and 19.5 inches long. Toby cried immediately and passed his Apgar score with an 8. While Aaron was tending to the baby; cutting the cord, watching him be weighed, I was delivering the placenta and being stitched up by the doctor. I had 3rd degree tears (Yowza!!) My blood pressure dropped, extremely low, and I remember being scared about that (it was somewhere around 60/42). But really, a lot of things are foggy. I was exhausted and in pain. Sadly, Toby also had really low blood sugar (damn diabetes) and unless his sugar raised, he'd have to go to the NICU. I was terrified but, they gave him a couple of hours and a little bit of formula and he pulled through.

Labor was such an exhilarating and excruciating experience. The best part, by far, which I remember clear as day, was when I gave the final push to get Toby's shoulders out of me. It was like the final goodbye before I had to share him with the rest of the world. This amazing sense of relief and love rushed out of me. Immediately, I was no longer part of just a couple... I was part of a family. When I first saw my baby it was like I knew him all along. My heart was busting at the seems; I was overflowing with love for Toby and my husband.

Finally, about my birth partner, Aaron. He has now truly seen me at my very worst. I was in so much pain, crying, moaning, and sweating with multiple bodily substances and liquids coming out of every single exit point of my body. He watched my body stretch and yield beyond capacity. Still, he was THE BEST partner I could have asked for. For 8+ hours he never left my side. He massaged my body; he coached me in every way possible. He kept saying over and over, "You are doing so good, you are so awesome, you can do this, I love you so much, you are so beautiful." That was exactly what I needed to hear. He was perfect. He made himself such a part of the labor I really felt like I wasn't alone in the birthing process.

I can't explain what it's like to be a mother; there really aren't any words. I loved every minute of my pregnancy. I loved labor and bringing Toby into this world. I viewed it as the last thing I had to do to bring my son here. The moment I met him he completely convinced this non-believer that "love at first sight" does exist.

Wednesday, Oui? 3 weeks!

Mister Man is 3 weeks old today! I can't believe he has been here that long! When I sign into Facebook and see my profile picture (one of the maternity ones taken when I was pregnant with him) it's so weird to think that just THREE weeks ago he was all snuggled up in my womb and I didn't know what he would look like.

It's also funny to think about how much I thought I loved him then. Yes, I loved and adored him so much when I was pregnant but, it was NOTHING compared to how much I love him now. Unbelievably, I love him more and more each day. Everyone always told me, "You will love him more than you ever thought possible" and it's completely true.

Here are some Toby updates:

• He's eating like a champ. We fluctuate between feeding him 2 to 2.5 oz. of formula after each breastfeeding session. (We found out that I don't have very many working milk ducts so, I have no choice but to give him a supplement along with breastfeeding, or he'd starve!) 
• I've pumped about 20 oz. of milk out of my breasts (besides what I've fed him!) I'm dang proud!
• He's sleeping a little bit longer at night; sometimes giving us 4 hours in a row! Thank you, Toby!
• He has had 138 diaper changes.
• We put him in his baby swing for the first time and he loved it!
• He still only cries when he needs something. He is so chill (knock on wood!) I've heard all these horror stories about "My baby cried, and cried, and cried (colic) and there was nothing I could do to soothe them." That has not been my experience.
• He gets the hiccups more than any person I've ever known.
• Last Thursday, we (I) thought he may have had a temperature so I beckoned Aaron out of the shower to help me (I hadn't done a rectal temperature before.) As Aaron was holding him (Aaron was in just a towel) Toby decided to poop and pee all over Daddy. I couldn't stop laughing because it was dripping down Aaron's naked chest onto the towel. All Aaron could say was, "Just take the temperature so I can go back in the shower!!"
• Toby met his Iya, Uncle and cousins over the weekend. It was really cute to see Sarah and Xander hold a tiny little baby. They were really good with him! However, I had to check my sister's bags before she left my house to make sure she wasn't trying to confiscate Toby. She loved him.

Updates about Mama & Daddy:

• I've packed away all my maternity clothes with the exception of a few pairs of maternity pants. I'm at that terrible "in between" where I don't fit into my maternity, or my pre-pregnancy clothes. Thank God for yoga pants. I swear, that's all I can wear right now.
• I'm tiring less easily so I know my body is almost fully recovered from labor. I can stand and walk for longer periods of time which is nice because now I can run errands and get out of the house a bit.
• Aaron is taking advantage of his paternity leave; getting a lot of things done around the house and yard! Aaron's last day of work was May 22nd and, being a teacher, he can take all of his sick days for paternity leave. He had over 40 days and only needed to use around 20 to get him through until summer came. So, he doesn't have to go back to school until the fall and he will still have about 20 sick days when he goes back!
• We have yet to drop Toby off with anyone for him to be "babysat." I just can't bring myself to do it. The other day I wanted to go to Michaels to pick up a custom framing order (I had some of my maternity pictures custom framed) and it took me about 4 hours to leave the house and I cried a little bit. Crazy!
• I'm spending A LOT of time with his baby books, photo albums and scrapbook. I don't have those things from when I was a baby so, I am documenting everything and putting it all together in nice books and albums for him. It will be great to look back on the little details and say "Oh yeah, I remember when that happened." Or if/when I have another child I can remember how old Toby was when he did this or that so I have a baseline for milestones.

You know you're a new Mama when:

• In a moment of pure exhaustion you dab your baby's bottle to your wrist to check the temperature of his formula, then rub your wrists together and touch them to your neck out of habit... forgetting that you're dealing with milk... not perfume.
• You take a rolled up pair of yoga pants from the hamper, eyeball them and smell them before deciding they are safe to wear just one more time. You're not going anywhere and you don't have time for laundry anyway.
• You know what time is it just from hearing what's on the TV playing in the other room. "In the case of Baby Elijah... Devon.. you ARE the father." Okay, thanks Maury, now I know it's 11AM.
•  You have this conversation at the dinner table and think absolutely nothing of it.

A: Did Toby poop recently?
J: Yes he did (proudly). Just before lunch. Why?
A: Because (trying not to laugh) it's on your neck.
J: Hmm. I wonder how it got there. Oh well, I'll clean it up after lunch.

• You remain shirtless for a good hour after breastfeeding because it's only a matter of time before you need to perform your duties as milkmaid again. Anyway, dressing and undressing is just too much work. 
• You have to check your cell phone to know what day of the week it is (maternity leave messes with my internal clock!)
• You put the baby to sleep and settle down to watch a movie with your husband but end up like this before the opening credits.

Sound asleep

(Disregard my giant milk-jugs, please)

Postcards from the Bump

Pregnancy is truly an amazing thing. What the human body, or I should say, a woman's body can do amazed me throughout the entire 39 weeks I carried Toby. I loved being pregnant. Granted, I didn't have the easiest time with my gestational diabetes and a severely restricted diet but, every single second was worth it to get the reward I received at the end of it all. I really enjoyed watching my body change. (Don't confuse that with enjoying the changes my body underwent.)

Overall I gained 29 pounds (by my calculations) 24 pounds (by my doctor's calculations.)

I did not get one stretch mark!!! (Thank you, Burt's Bees)

I didn't get that ugly pregnancy line

Weirdly, I got a few new moles/freckles

My hips are now wider

I loved sharing my body with Toby and I'm a little sad to be "alone" now. Don't get me wrong, I love, Love, LOVE having him here but, it was kind of nice to not have to share him for 39 weeks. He's the only person in the world who knows what my heartbeat sounds like from the inside and we will always have a bond that I will never have with another person (unless he has a sibling.)

Going through pregnancy and labor helped me to realize just how strong, physically and mentally, I am. I really surprised myself with the amount of strength I had throughout my pregnancy. I've always believed I could do anything I set my mind to and this was no exception.

Below, find the final installment of "Postcards from the bump." :(

I began taking pictures at 10 weeks all the way to 2 weeks post baby.

I'm getting there! 9 more pounds and I've lost all my baby weight... 19 more and I'm at my goal. (I carried about 10 pounds more than I would have liked to before I got pregnant.)

So, for now, bye-bye bump and hello Toby!

Rod Stewart, a spider web in the face, and other arguments

Aaron and I have a saying/comparison we often use: "That's like a spider web in the face." This all started a while ago when we both figured out (after years together) that we are of the same opinion regarding one of the very worst things that can happen to a person.

Are you ready?

In our opinion among the worst is getting a spider web in the face. I know y'all know exactly what I'm talking about. It happens when you walk between two objects, like a tree and your car (usually first thing in the morning). You see, overnight a spider has worked its ass off building that invisible string; bridging the gap between the two objects. Then you come along, like a big dummy, blindly walking right through it getting the spider string across your face and neck.

And then you're not the same for the rest of the day.

The original conversation, in which we made this mutual discovery, went something like this:

Aaron: "How was your day?"
Jessi: "Eh, completely uneventful, except I got a spider web in the face."
A: "Huh?"
J: "I walked between your truck and my favorite tree and I got that stupid spider string across my face!"
A: "OH! I know what you mean. I hate that. It happens to me all the time when I ride my mountain bike in the woods. Spider strings are everywhere. That is the worst!"
J: "Isn't it?!"

Anyway...

I am super competitive. It's bad. I become a (playful/obnoxious) monster whenever I get the "game on" signal or, if I think I'm right.

Below, I've supplied some evidence:

This particular conversation happened a couple of years ago and we still talk about it often.

Aaron: (quoting the lyrics of a Rod Stewart song, but using an English accent.)
Jessi: "Why are you all English?"
A: "Rod Stewart is English."
J: "No he's not!"
A: "Yes he is."
J: "Um, no."
A:"Well, (in disbelief) where do you think he's from?"
J: (with a tone of absolute certainty) "Um, California."
A: "When we get home, we'll google it."
J: "Oh, yes we will!"

Okay, so it turns out Rod Stewart IS English! Did you know this? Dang. That's a spider web in the face if I've ever seen one!

Then, just a couple of days before I gave birth I told Aaron I needed him to get the purple storage bin out of the closet because I wanted to put a few gift bags in it (we store tissue paper and gift wrap/bags in this Tupperware.)

A: "It's not in the closet."
J: "Yes it is."
A: "No, it's not. I just cleaned that closet out."
J: "Yes, and I watched you slide it waaayyyyyy in the back corner. It's there."
A: "No, it's not."
J: "Okay, Aaron. It's not. It's gone. Lost forever."

So, I left the gift bags on my dresser for a few days because the Tupperware was M.I.A. Then, one night, I noticed they were gone and I panicked (I hoard gift bags and wrapping paper.)

J: (Slight worry in my tone) "Hey, where'd you put those gift bags?" (Hoping he didn't throw them away.)
A: "In the purple thing."
J: (Sigh of relief followed immediately by suspicion) "And where was it?"
A: (sheepishly) "In the back of the closet."
J: (grinning) "HA! I told you!" (then I strutted off like what I thought looked like a proud rooster.)
A: (playfully and laughing) You know, Babe, gloating about being right then waddling off massively pregnant isn't very effective to prove a point."
J: "Yeah, well.... Rod Stewart is English, you know!"

Wednesday, Oui: 2 Weeks Old

My little man is 2 weeks old today! I can't believe it! Time has flown by and I have relished in every single second of motherhood.

Here are some updates and pictures of our little piece of perfection:

• He is now a whopping 6lbs 10oz.
• He sleeps in 2-3 hour intervals (Mama and Daddy do too!)
• Yesterday, his belly button cord fell off and I died on the inside a little (yes, I kept it.)
• His temperament is awesome.
• We have changed his diaper 83 times since we brought him home from the hospital.
• In terms of percentile: His weight is 11.6% (peanut) Head = 40% and length = 60%
• Friday, our family photographer, Nate, of Nathan Moreau Photography is coming to take some pictures of Toby in our home. We can't wait to get this little guy in photos.
• Toby is starting to focus on our faces and even seems to respond to our voices.

Mama and Daddy are doing well too.

• I've officially lost 20 pounds of baby weight. 9 more pounds will bring me to my prebaby weight, 19 will bring me to my goal weight.
• I feel pretty good in terms of healing. I had five stitches (more on that later) and I am in less and less physical pain daily.
• Nursing is going okay. My milk is stubborn but it's all about supply and demand so I'm working with a great team of lactation consultants, drinking 3 cups of Mother's Milk Tea daily and taking Fenugreek vitamins 3 times per day.
• Did I mention how much I love my husband? He is the best partner I could ever ask for. I have never (EVER) had to get up in the middle of the night without him getting up with me. He caters to every little thing either of us need. Every time I look at Toby, and the amazing gift he is to this world, I fall in love with Aaron all over again.

Here are some pictures of the delicious little devil:

Three generations of Molloy Men (three of my favorite men alive)

Meeting Auntie Q

Meeting Great Grandma

Meeting my best friend from high school (Auntie Steph)

That's all for now as Mama duties, again, call.

 (I may officially change my name to Milkmaid Molloy, thoughts?)

We'll keep you posted on this delicious little creature. Oui?