Merry Christmas

We spent the days leading up to Christmas decorating, singing "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," watching the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, and telling Cash what a good boy he's been this year. We are so blessed to have our little miracle this Christmas. Our hearts are truly full of joy, love, and the Christmas spirit.

BFFs

Cash already has a friend named Joey. Joey is 5 whole days older then Cash. They were born at the same hospital and delivered by the same doctor. They actually knew each other before they were even born. Joey's mom and I made great friends while we were pregnant because we were both lucky enough to live in Newport. We were yoga buddies, shopping buddies, movie buddies, and lunch buddies throughout our pregnancies. We do all the same stuff but now we just do it with our little men in toe (instead of in utero). They are so adorable to watch when they are together, it's actually quite comical. They will be the best of friends as they grow up.

2 Months

To mommies and daddies time truly flies by. At 2 months Cash is smiling all the time, sucking his thumb (and all other fingers), standing up bearing all 14 of those pounds, anticipating a coming tummy raspberry, reaching out at his toys, and having smile contests and conversations with mommy. This month is Christmas, a time when last year I could never imagine in my wildest dreams that I'd have this living, breathing, joyful baby boy in my arms. We are in awe of Cash everyday and literally can't stop starring at him.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have one little 9 week old to be oh so thankful for this year....

Some things I didn't post while I was pregnant...

Tucker turned 35, we partied, and played croquet.

I tried my hand at substitute teaching while pregnant. We can sum it up to "that was a big miss" because I was quickly reminded at how much I hate doing it.

Tucker started painting my toes because I couldn't reach my feet.

Tucker passed his license exam an is now a LCSW (proud wife).

Erin graduated from nursing school.

I called the fire department at 38 weeks pregnant because there was a burning smell downstairs and my neighbor and I couldn't find the culprit. Luckily, a huge crisis (like us homeless) was adverted and it involved a fire truck and 3 firemen at the front door (who found the electrical short with their fancy firemen technology).

First Two Weeks

We can't stop starring. Cash is such a good baby. We say this to everyone followed by knock on wood. He sleeps at night until we wake him to feed, naps here and there throughout the day, he loves to be swaddled, cuddled, bathed and kissed. He is so alert and curious about his surroundings, he minimally fusses and when he does it only takes seconds to figure out what he needs. The new parent fatigue is bearable when we know all our wildest dreams are starring right back at us with those mesmerizing deep grey eyes.
Other Events:
-Cash weighed 9.1lbs when we left the hospital and exactly a week later he weighed 10.1lbs at his first pediatrician appointment. The doctor was impressed that we achieved this feat with only breast milk.
-Cash lost his umbilical cord at 15 days (and mom cried).
-Cash will stick his tongue out on cue after starring at his goofy parents sticking their tongues out.
-Cash is already so loved by all his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is one of the luckiest babies I know.

He's Here

More than 4 years in the making:

Cash Harbor Cannon
Born October 6, 2012
at 4:59pm
8.15-9lbs 21in
(His actual birth weight is a mystery because the scale was wrong. His birth certificate states 7.4lbs.)
We are all happy & healthy in baby bliss. Birth story to come!

9 Months

At 37 weeks I finally made the comment, "I'm done being pregnant!" Little did I know we wouldn't meet Cash for another 4weeks and 1day later. I was so eager to meet the little miracle that I'd been growing, especially because we were prepared for him to come prematurely at possibly 30 weeks.
Here are some of the last bump pictures taken before Cash made his debut:

Morning Zen

A morning walk on the beach turned into a impromptu iphone photo shoot. These will probably be the only "professional" pregnancy pics that I will have. Since Tuck found Instagram he has rediscovered his knack for artistry (@fightonalum) and he snaps away at most everything (even the big preggo lady).

36 weeks:

Bed Resting

I promised myself when I finally did get pregnant I wouldn't be the pregnant lady who complains about every ailment, ache, pain, hormone swing, ect. I am so lucky, blessed (whatever you want to call it) to be able to carry a child that all the cons of pregnancy really are my pros. So, with that said, I'm writing this not to complain but to document the past 7 weeks of my pregnancy.

The second trimester was smooth (or as close to smooth as possible compared to the first).Then, at 28 weeks I began to feel a painless tightening band around my belly bump. I kept a close eye on it for a couple of days...when it began happening every 10 minutes I (of course) freaked because Braxton Hicks contractions aren't supposed to happen this early. The doctor rushed me in to have a Fetal Non-stress Test. I dragged my sobbing self to be hooked up to the monitor, sure enough, contractions, mild (but none the less contractions) every 3 minutes. Doctor diagnosed me with an "irratable uterus" (research it-I hadn't heard of it either). She said moderate bed rest for a couple of days and tons of water. I obediently followed orders and felt a little better.

At 30 weeks Labor and Delivery and I met. Lost some stuff ("stuff"=you don't want to know) and had intense Braxton Hicks contractions that I hadn't felt before. In triage they determined that 1) I was well hydrated, 2) my water didn't break, 3) I was having contractions (every 3 to 10 minutes), 4) I was not dilated. The nurse (not so politely) offered me terbutaline to stop the contractions. We asked and she said I will have rapid heart rate for 2 hours and hot flashes, but it's harmless to the baby (?). Tuck quickly researched on his phone about terbutaline and he found within minutes that it is not FDA approved to use on pregnant women and makers and doctors are facing numerous lawsuits about maternal death and babies with brain damage. We politely declined the hospitals generous offer to make me more comfortable. Anyways....doctor's orders: Bed Rest (bed rest, ?). 2 weeks of bed rest was difficult to say the least. I read books, took long baths, watched so much tv that I had certain commercials memorized, and had my wonderful husband wait on me hand and foot (he even did my laundry, a first for him). For those of you who know what Braxton Hicks feel like I was (and still am) having 20 to 30 of them everyday. Some days are worse then others and Epsom salt baths help greatly.

At my 32.6 week appointment I was not dilated and the doctor seemed to think that at this point preterm labor was not a concern. New doctor's orders were modified bed rest. We walked out of the office and did a happy dance knowing our little guy has stayed in this long and may (fingers crossed) stay in a little (or a lot) longer. After careful thought we made the decision to go on the Cannon family trip to Bass Lake. If I can bed rest here why not there?

At my 34.5 week appointment the doctor didn't bother checking me and reminded us that babies born at this time are generally in good health and spend little to no time in the NICU. Newest doctor's orders: stay hydrated, listen to your body and slowly increasing moderate workouts was okay.

I'm so grateful that our little guy has stayed in there to grow and develop and even more grateful that my body was generous enough to let him.

My Baby Shower

At one point in my pregnancy I was more then worried that Cash would arrive before my Baby Shower. Thankfully he didn't an I was able to be showered with a ripe 35 week baby bump. Marsha put the whole thing together with help from my mother-in-law, sister-in-laws and mom. Marsha and I picked a beachy theme to match Cash's whale nursery decor. I was so grateful for all the loving friends and family that gathered for the occasion. I also shed a few tears in thanking everyone for coming because I had waited for this moment for longer then anyone I know and it was finally here (finally my turn).