4 Generations

Mommy and Baby

Bon Jovi Baby Again

Aunt Amy and Katie

Kaitlyn in Buffalo

Daddy and Baby

Bon Jovi Baby

The Cutest Baby Ever...

Baby in the Bath Tub

Baby in a Car Seat

Baby in a Headband

Grandma A and Grandma B

Kaitlyn at 3 days old...

Kaitlyn is perfect!! We can't stop looking at her and admiring her. Mommy, daddy, and nanna are very proud. She likes to have her clothes off...and she likes to poop when her clothes are off. We've had some very exciting diapering experiences so far!

Pictures of Our Little Angel

Kaitlyn Marie Block

Here is our precious little girl. She is absolutely perfect!! She weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces at birth and is 18.5 inches in length. She measured a 9 out of 10 for the Apgar test - 10's are rarely given.

My water broke at 12:30am on Thursday morning and I had the baby at 5:22pm that same day. I labored for 12 hours and was told that I was only dilated to 1 cm. It was then that I decided to get a shot of narcotics. They also decided to give me pitocin...and then I decided what the heck I'll get the epidural. That helped out tremendously. By 3pm I was dilated to 6 cm and by 4:40 I was at 10 cm. I pushed for 45 minutes and it wasn't all that bad. More to come later...

Belly at 41 Weeks...

We made a dry run to the hospital today. Since I was having so many contractions my doctor told me to get checked out at the hospital. Mike, mom, and I went there around 3pm and I got hooked up to the monitors. They checked for amniotic fluid and found none. They checked for dilation and there was none...but I swear the nurse touched my vocal cords when she did the check. By 4pm we were on our way home. I was told that unless the contractions are painful I should not waste my time timing them. All the sleep Mike and I didn't get the past few nights was all for nothing. We're putting the stopwatch away!

I can safely say that we will definitely have a baby by next Thursday. We are scheduling an induction for Wednesday the 23rd...hopefully that will not take place and it will happen before then. My Mom is getting very impatient waiting for this baby...I won't lie - I am slightly impatient as well. The 8 gallons of wine we bought 2 days ago is almost gone! Maybe that's why the baby won't come out. My mom has cleaned my whole house and I just put her on bedrest because she is sore and her wrist is wrapped up in an ace bandage. How is she going to hold the baby like that?

Is Today the Day?

I feel like today is going to be the day. I've had contractions since about 5pm yesterday evening. They were at about 10-15 minutes apart and as the night progressed they got closer in time. By the time I was getting ready to go to bed they were about 4-5 minutes apart. They went on all night, although I did sleep most of the night so that was nice. The only problem is that the contractions aren't very intense...unless I just have a very high pain tolerance. Let's see...April 3rd was dad's birthday, April 6th was Zack's birthday, April 10th was Joe's birthday, and April 15th was the Pope's birthday. Maybe she wants her own birthday. Maybe it will be today. If not, you all may see a picture of Mike's belly online tonight...I wonder if he'll agree to that?!?

No Baby Yet

I'm sorry to report that I have not had the baby yet. I've had contractions for hours at a time where I could actually time them consistently, but they never go any further. With any luck she will be here tomorrow and I will be able to post a picture of her instead of my big belly again! Stay tuned...

Belly at 40 Weeks...

I guess everyone is wondering what happened at the doctor's office yesterday. Nothing. The nurse practitioner came in and started off by telling me she has short fingers...which aren't very good for checking to see if your cervix is dilated. Needless to say, my cervix is not dilated. My belly measurement, however has increased by 4 centimeters from last week. I was shocked to hear that. We are patiently waiting for our little girl. I walked around Target for an hour today, then went grocery shopping, then walked around the block twice. Hopefully that will help her along a bit. We'll see.

Where is this baby?

I've decided that no news is not good news...and I don't have any news besides the fact that our baby seems like she is going to burst right out of the front of my stomach at times! I think she's getting too big to be in there. She likes to stretch out a lot and that puts a lot of pressure...well, EVERYWHERE. I don't have just one limb sighting at a time anymore...I have whole body sightings! And this whole round ligament thing that takes place...how it stretches and pulls in my groin area...that's not cool at all. I find myself cringing over for, oh I don't know, 2 second intervals, at least 20 times a day. It's a sharp pain in the groin that comes and goes when it wants to. It makes Mike nervous when it happens. I've had plenty of contractions, but they don't seem to go anywhere or have any rhythm. With any luck (like Aunt Cathy had with Tommy) I will go in for my appointment tomorrow and they will tell me I am 8 cm dilated. Wouldn't that be nice? And then my water will break on my way home and I will have the baby an hour later. What are the chances of that happening?

Cat in the Cradle...

The door to the baby's room stays shut at all times...and will continue to do so when the baby comes. The reason for this is to keep the cats out of the room. All I have to say is that I am glad I wasn't the one that let the cat in the room by mistake...but I am the one that found her. I did take her out of the cradle immediately...well, after I took a picture of course!

BAD DUSTY!!

Belly at 39 Weeks...

The Baby has Dropped...

Well, I went for my appointment today and did the usual...got my weight checked, peed in a cup, got my blood pressure taken (100/58), and then the doctor came in. He took my measurement, which was 34.5 cm. I questioned it because it was bigger last week. He said it's because the baby dropped. It was funny because before I left the house I was looking at my belly in the mirror and thought it looked a bit lower. And with all the pain I was having last night and the pressure I felt this morning I thought something had changed. Yep...it did (must have been the glass of wine I had yesterday). Now the baby is pressing down on my pelvic bones and bladder. It's even harder to get around, but I can still manage to get to the freezer where we're stocked with popsicles and ice cream. Then the doctor proceeded to check my cervix...not a comfortable experience since the baby managed to tip my uterus forward, which caused my cervix to move back. Needless to say, he couldn't really reach it, but he did say it's open for business. I also found out that I am allowed to take Tylenol PM - yeah!!! now maybe I can get some sleep tonight.

The furniture has arrived...

Well, the furniture arrived yesterday. It was supposed to be delivered between 9-11am and didn't end up coming until 7pm. We put the crib together in about 35 minutes and then went to buy the mattress. We put the bedding on during commercial breaks while we were watching Top Chef and eating Chinese food. I'm up to 37 pounds now and growing every day. The baby puts on an ounce a day while I put on a pound a day. Popsicles are my new favorite food - grape and creamsicles. Raisin Bran is for losers!! I'm washing my last load of baby items so I can fill the new dresser drawers. And then when my mother arrives we will need to purchase an additional dresser so we have room for the wardrobe she is bringing for the baby! I love having a retired mother that loves to go shopping...what a blessing!

Belly at 38 Weeks...

Concerned Aunt Carol forced me to give an explanation of the room that's under construction...

This is actually the basement. Mike is in the process of sheetrocking the basement so we have an extra room down there as well as a finished laundry room. He's a hard worker. I figurerd I would give him a good laugh to brighten up his long day of work by having him take pictures of me. And I wanted to show off his great workmanship.

Belly at 37 Weeks...

My last blog until next time

Well I can't wait for the baby. Dawn is having so much fun blogging that she says I have to continue blogging as well. It is actually scary letting everyone into our twisted humor. We have had a lot of laughs through this growing time but there is the thoughts that no one else will get our humor. Once the baby is born obviously everything will change and we will have to be responsible and become somewhat normal so that the children will talk to us and think we are cool. But until then I have to say it was very humorous watching Dawn drive through the grocery store, stop in the meat department, and lift up her shirt to show off her belly to a shopper.
We have almost everything in place now except the baby furniture. Peter and Agnes spent a fortune on the furniture (thanks again)and it was made in Europe and sent to Atlanta. It was ordered ten weeks ago and is finally on a truck to Minnesota. Once that is installed in the room we can decorate everything and finish up all the last minute touches (nesting). The problem with the furniture though is that now we need all new furniture in the house to match the quality of the baby furniture. It seems to be a never ending struggle to keep up with Kaitlyn but one that seems to give new meaning to life these days.

Grocery Shopping inStyle...

We go to the grocery store atleast 5 times a week now - Mike goes with me about half of the time. When he is with me I ride one of those larks...if I am by myself I feel silly riding it. It's hard for me to get around that big store by foot - I start having contractions and then I have to lay down when I get home. It's very...ummm I don't know...not like something a 31 year old, athlete should be admitting to. I like the lark, but I will say that everyone stares - I can't imagine why. We actually saw people we knew on our trip to the store today...that was a real treat. Forgetting that I was pregnant, the woman asked if I was injured!! I said "No, I'm just fat!" And I showed her my belly. That was slightly embarrassing. And then I have Mike videotaping me riding around the aisles. He thinks it's funny to take me through the bakery section and then tell me I can only look...no buying. He then proceeds to take me down the bulk candy aisle where he tells me that he is going to get himself a treat...but again, I can only look. I'm just joking...he doesn't put any eating restrictions on me - but it certainly doesn't help when he comes home with 3 boxes of Girl Scout cookies! I'm at 34 pounds now and I don't want to go over 35. That could be tricky since I have absolutely no will power. Just wait ladies...you think you're doing so good now with your heathy eating habits and nutritious foods...pretty soon you will be drinking Pepsi to wash down a large Blizzard and then cleansing your pallet with a sleeve of Thin Mints.

Help

Dawn wanted me to write some more on the website I think to make her feel better or else make her laugh so here goes... If she wants to laugh she should look in the mirror...Ha ha. Really though I think if you tell the truth about the happenings periodically in the house it takes the pressure off the situation. Like two nights ago when I wanted the t.v. on past 11:00 pm for an hour to try and fall asleep. Now neither one of us has slept through the night for a couple months but lately is has been Dawn waking up every hour or two to get comfortable, etc... So we are exhausted but I needed the fricking tv on one night to go to sleep and I haven't done that in six months because of compromising since Dawn is pregnant. She got out of bed mad, made me feel bad but not bad enough to turn the tv off. At about 2 am I was awakened by a flying object hitting me and almost knocking me out. Obviously I was alarmed and scared, man having a baby is hard work on a guy.

Help me Peter...

Belly at 36 Weeks...

Well, here we are into the 37th week already. I feel like both a whale and a snale at the same time...big and slow. I've been very emotional and anxious lately. I don't sleep at night...which makes it hard for Mike to sleep too. He's been a trooper though - he is very accomodating and understanding. He wakes me up to ask if everything is ok when he hears me moaning in my sleep. I tell him I'm just having dreams about having contractions and delivering the baby - no need to worry. My back is hurting a lot and I am constantly walking on one balloon (otherwise known as my right foot). The baby wants to get out - she kicks and kicks all day long - and especially when I'm trying to sleep. I could see little extremities poking out every day - mostly on my right side, which means it's her feet or knees. She is positioned head down, her back is on my left side, her butt in under my solar plexus (meow meow meow), and her feet are on my right. Who are these women that say they just love being pregnant? Am I missing something? I feel very blessed to be growing God's work inside of me, but it's not an easy job! Sarah and Karen...I can't wait until you are at 36 weeks...then you'll really know what it's like to be uncomfortable! I think the second pregnancy will be easier - knowing that the first 7 months isn't really that uncomfortable compared to the last 2.

Belly at 35 Weeks...

Pappy speaks

Well I have read Dawn's posting and she has asked me to report in on the website. First of all I have to say it has been fun reading and seeing Sarah, Ray, and Karen's postings. I would love to hear what Bob has to say about everything...

Anyway, I have read Dawn's posting and feel bad that she doesn't have enough clothes to wear. Then I think about all the hours she has spent shopping and buying clothes and then bringing them back to the store and I don't know what to say or do. If I say something she has a moment if you know what I mean and if I don't then she posts that she only has one outfit to wear and I look like I am cheap and not letting her buy any outfits. I didn't know having this baby was going to be this hard on me.

Anyway enough about Dawn I want to talk about me after 8 months of baby talk. I want to follow Ray's comments and air how I feel and what is going on in my life. My life is great right now. I am enjoying watching Dawn become a mother and admire how she is handling the changes in her body and how diligent she has been on her diet, exercise, job, and keeping the house in order. I truly don't know how she gets everything done but I am very glad she does...Well that is what is going on with me--a whole lot of admiring Dawn and being amazed that someone so small can have a stomach stick out that far!!

Signed Pappy

The Moving Belly

Well, I am nearly there! I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions along with regular contractions classified as preterm labor. I had a doctor's appointment today and was told to take it easy for the next week. After that...anything goes. If the baby wants to come out in a week the doctor will not try to stop her. With the way she's kicking around in there, I think she wants out! I've been very uncomfortable and my horomones are taking over...in a bad way. I actually walked out of the doctor's office today because I was waiting for an hour while I watched the doctor go in and out of everyone else's room but mine. That was my first meltdown of the day. My second one occurred when I dripped nailpolish on my shirt (everything drips on my shirt these days). The problem is that I only have 2 shirts that fit me anymore...now I only have one. I'm curious to see what will set me off next! Oh, but I'm sure I'll forget about all this silly stuff once I see that little girl...

Belly at 34 Weeks...

Belly at 33 Weeks...

Belly at 32 Weeks...

Ultrasound Video

3D Ultrasound

3D Ultrasound Day!!!

Here are some head shots. My face isn't really as fat as it looks in the pictures. And although my milkers are very large, they look small since my belly sticks out so much! Today is the day we go for the 3D Ultrasound!! Obviously I am somewhat distacted by that and I'm having trouble working. Not really - I just took a break to post these pics and share my excitement. Off to an appointment now and then the ultrasound. Hopefully I will be able to post some live footage of our little girl (or boy - we will soon find out).

Belly at 31 Weeks...