Halloween

Owen really wanted to be a kitty cat for Halloween this year. He loves cats, he acts like a cat, he wanted to be a cat! It's really hard to find a boy-ish cat. Really hard. I did finally find one off craigslist that would do. It still had a pink-ish collar, but overall, it was fine. He's not a big costume kid anyway, so to get him into it was going to be a battle.

I was also super annoyed all with the ugly grimaces and snide-toned comments of "A kitty cat?" when someone would ask him what he was going to be for Halloween. He's 2 for Christ's sake....who cares! Let the kid be a cat and check your homophobic fears at the door please.

Here we are with our kitty cat...I think he's adorable!

He wouldn't wear it to any of our playgroup parties, but once we said that we were going trick-or-treating to get candy, he had no problem putting it on. Too bad it was 85 degrees out and the costume was thick fleece with a hood!

Nate had his "pumpkin butt" jams on and hit the road with us!

We even decorated!
The church up the street had a free festival that we hit up!

A successful first outing as a family of four, plus Grandma!!

Our first days home...

...are going surprisingly well! Owen is adjusting, he's jealous at times, but not mean. We make a huge point to give him one-on-one attention and we're keeping his routine the same (as much as possible). Seems to be working. Also, Nate is a great sleeper (so far) and we're not feeling the crazy, "I'm so tired I feel stupid" sleep deprivation! But I'm no dummy, I know this could very well be the calm before the storm.

Clearly Nate's getting a quick introduction to how we "play" here in the Robins' house. Get used to it buddy, because Owen isn't one sit still. Hanging on the couch!

Please welcome Nathan Henry!

After a long, restless pregnancy, I am so pleased introduce the newest member of the Robins Family: Nathan Henry, weighing in at a hefty 8lbs 12.4oz and 20 inches long, born on October 25 at 8:09pm. He shares a birthday with his cousin Abbigal!

Yes, all the due dates came and went. And yes, my doctor wanted me to go even longer, rather than take the October 25 induction date. And YES this kid was almost 9lbs! So yes, I stand firmly by the fact the my correct due date was and always was October 13th!

I had a fantastic induction experience. We called at 6am and they told us to be there by 7am. I was quickly checked in, met my nurses and midwife and together we decided to start with a pill that would help move me along before starting pitocin. Within the hour I was having contractions. I took the second dose at noon and then I really started having contractions. I got an epidural at 4:30pm. Started to push at 8:00pm and Nate arrived, screaming at 8:09pm (before he was even fully delivered)! It was literally, two and half pushes later and I was done! I actually said, "Wow, that was fantastic" afterwards.

I made no secret that the end my pregnancy was rough. Mentally, rough. I was exhausted and frustrated and grumpy. My mother saved my life by coming when she did. I couldn't have made it through that week without her. She came and took over, with Owen, with cleaning, with cooking, with my life and thank the Lord, because I could not take one more day of it. I almost asked my doctor for antidepressants because I felt like a horrible person and had very little control over it! But I swear to you, the moment I gave birth, I felt better. Completely and fully 100% better! It was an huge and instant relief.

Here I am right before leaving to be induced!

Snuggling Owen before leaving!
Waiting....


And waiting.... And he's finally here! The doctor and nurses were cracking us up! It really was a good time!

Nate meets Grandma Claudia!

Owen's having none of this family photo thing!

Talking with Owen... More later....

...and disgruntled pregnant lady I am!

I did have to go to my 10/22 appointment and I'm still 2cm and actually LESS effaced than I was before at only 50%-how is that even possible! We have an induction set for Sunday, so there is a light, but good grief WHY haven't I gone into labor already?!?!

At the appointment she tried to stretch and strip my cervix, which was mighty uncomfortable, but whatever needs to be done at this point I'm up for! Dr. Carlson said that it would cause lots of bleeding, cramping and hopefully contractions. And NOTHING! Not a single spot or even a mild cramp, NOTHING. I mean come on, I am 3-10 days overdue, shouldn't there be some sign of labor?

What has been great, is that Grandma Claudia came last Sunday and has been invaluable. With my crazy, hormonal, exhausted state of mind, she has saved me and Owen. So maybe it's working out for the best, we've had a great week to relax with her and then we'll have next week with baby brother.

Overall, I still feel fine. Just ready.

Yep, Still Pregnant

Here I am around 40 weeks....no on really knows.

I'm not a doctor for several hundred reasons, but most recently added to the list is predicting a baby's due date. I was going through paper work this morning and I found a different due date on THREE separate 'official' forms. One 10/13, another 10/17 and the lastly 10/20. Obviously, I put all my eggs in one basket, set to arrive on 10/13. That has come and gone and now I'm hoping that tomorrow is the big day!

I had an appointment yesterday and I am 2cm dilated and 70% effaced, with the baby's head surprising low. The midwife actually gasped as she examined me and said, "Oh my god, the head is RIGHT here." She didn't laugh when I responded "Should I push?" Although I thought I was funny! She did say she didn't think I'd need that 10/22 appointment and I can tell you know, I'll be one disgruntled pregnant lady if I do! But being dilated and effaced can mean nothing, apparently women can walk around for weeks like that, so we're just business as usual.

Busy, Busy

I'm trying so hard to keep busy and not think about being due in a matter of days and hoping it's sooner rather than later and frankly it's not working. It's just wearing me out!

Here's what we've been up to:
Last Friday we went down to Half Moon Bay with Mindy and her girls. We spent the morning at the beach and then went to Lemos Farm on our way out. It was so great to see them all and Owen had a blast. He kept talking about his "3 girl cousins" all the rest of the day. I didn't get many pictures, but here are a few:
The goats:


On the train:

On Sunday we went to the My Gym's open house. It's children's gym that lots of our friends are members of. We've taken a few classes there and he loves it. Dora was there, which was very exciting. Although Owen did not understand why her backpack was blue instead of purple. It wasn't right and he did not approve.

We've also been hitting playgroups and the park regularly.

Our neighbor, Betty, gave Owen boxes and boxes of books that her grand kids have outgrown and we have spent, HOURS reading them. Finally, I said that I needed to make dinner and Owen replied "OK, I'll read them to Jack." And he did.

Yesterday we had the car seats installed into the new car, went to the DMV (again) and a doctor's appointment, plus a park visit. We were both worn out after all that!

So yep, keeping busy! Hoping that we have a matter of days and not weeks! I'll leave you with a picture of the 39 week belly!

And Owen taking a rest on baby brother:

LOST: My patience, my motivation & soon to follow my mind!

It has to be the pregnancy hormones or at least I certainly hope so, because at least that would mean an end is in sight. But good grief, I can hardly stand myself these days.

I'm constantly 10 seconds away from my losing patience at all times. It's ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. I understand that it's normal for a 2 year old whine and have tantrums, but my nearly 39 week pregnant self can no longer deal with it in a proactive, productive way. My method at this point is to walk away before I react, but I have to say even THAT takes everything I got. Owen is actually a sweetheart and not doing anything out of the ordinary. If two months ago he dropped a box of crayons, we'd say "UH-OH, let's clean that up" and now, my blood starts to boil. Yes, it feels like the end of the world when a box of crayons tips over. So I walk away and come back when I can act appropriately, most times. Lord help us.

My motivation to cook, clean and even shower has also disappeared. The problem with that is that EVERYTHING completely disgusts me. I feel like I need to vacuum, dust and sweep week at least 3 times a day, change my clothes and/or shower 4 times a day and scrub the bathrooms 5 times a day. I just can't bring myself to do any of it so I just sit and think about how filthy everything is. Now don't worry, I do actually clean, just not to the degree I feel like it needs to be done, so then I'm annoyed that I cleaned and it's still not clean. The cooking part I've pretty much given up on, I don't want to eat, I don't want to clean it up, I don't want to deal with it. Sorry Matt.

Because I'm constantly trying to keep my patience in check and the house somewhat clean, I feel like I'm losing my mind. I know it sounds stupid and like I'm exaggerating, but I'm telling you I am barely holding on by a thread and it takes everything I have to make it through the day. So if I snap at you, burst into tears for no reason, or fall asleep mid conversation, don't say you haven't been warned.

I do however, have coping strategies. In order to keep Owen and I in pleasant moods, we keep a pretty steady stream of Dora, Diego, Mickey Mouse and Blues Clues on the TV. I am in no way proud of this, but it is better than my freak outs over nothing. That I can guarantee. As for the cleaning, I just make lists, lists that in turn make me more crazy because the lists are long, real long and real detailed.

I swear I've been told a 'nesting' instinct will kick in during the end of pregnancy, and this overwhelming need to clean, apparently comes with the boundless energy required to do it. I don't have it yet, I'm waiting, not patiently, but waiting.

So the point to my ramble is that I hope baby brother (yes still nameless) makes his appearance sooner rather than later, so that I can gain control of the hormones or take medication for it or for goodness sakes at least have a drink to relax my completly insane self!