Christmas Pictures

Here are some pictures from Christmas Day at my parents house...

Merry Christmas from the Morans! Besides Mickey screaming (he really hates having hiccups), this would have been a great Christmas card photo

Mickey snuggling with his Pepe

Mickey doesn't know what to think of Christmas yet

Mickey with his favorite thing of all time...his pacey!

Merry Christmas!

Mickey had his first Christmas yesterday! It wasn't too exciting to him, but Chris and I enjoyed it for him...I'm sure he'll enjoy his toys eventually! It was really cool to be able to have a baby here for Christmas though. It's going to be so much fun to build family traditions with Mickey and see the excitement that he shows (yesterday he just wanted to sleep). Mickey gave us a nice present...He let us have a good night's sleep! He only got up once in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve!

We've found out that Mickey really likes music! Whenever he starts crying really hard, we put on music and it calms him right down (and even puts him to sleep sometimes)! It's really cute too because it's usually rock music which you would think would keep him awake. We think it's because Chris and I listened to music so much while I was pregnant because he likes one of the bands Chris played a lot. Maybe we will have another musician!

Mickey had his first trip to church this weekend as well! He did very well, although he slept most of the time. Chris and I enjoyed showing off our beautiful boy!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! God bless!!

Pictures

What an adorable face!!

Mickey looking out the window

Daddy and Mickey taking a nap

More Pictures...

Mickey and Mommy snuggling and watching "White Christmas" at Meme's house

Mickey sleeping in the basket at his Meme's house (he won't fit much longer!)

Happy Birthday, Mickey!

Today is Mickey's 2 week birthday! I can't believe it was two weeks ago that I had him...I feel like we just got home from the hospital. I guess it's because he's been keeping me so busy...although he didn't like it too much, we had to celebrate by going to the pediatrician's office. The doctor says everything still looks really good and he weighed in at 10 lbs 2 oz! My little porker!! He goes in January 30th for the ultrasound of his back, so you can still be praying for him. The doctor again reassured me that 95% of the time it turns out to be nothing, but they want to be safe.

Mickey liked having his grandpa here to spoil him!! No one can stop kissing his chubby cheeks! He doesn't mind too much though. He likes all the attention and cuddling.

I've started getting a persistant schedule set up for him! I was really getting frustrated because I felt like he was hungry too soon and that he wasn't having consistent nap times. I've been reading the Baby Wise book and it really helps...he's now eating every 3 hours which means I have plenty of time to build up enough so he isn't hungry. He's napping between feedings too which helps because I know when he eats and when he sleeps and can therefore actually plan my day accordingly!

Thanks for Your Prayers

Well, I have been doing much better! My mom told me that drinking water and getting rest really help. I was surprised how much water can help my mood and my energy level, but it really does! She came over today and helped me out with Mickey which was so nice! It's great to have other women to talk to who know what it's like with a newborn and who can give great advice!

Mickey is definately starting to get a routine down which is great. He got up every two hours for a feeding last night, but he went right back to sleep afterwards which he hadn't been doing. He's also been being more awake during the mornings and evenings which helps him have a better afternoon nap schedule and bedtime schedule...so thank you God for how he is blessing me with helping get Mickey more scheduled! Please continue to pray that God leads Chris and I in wisdom for parenting and that He gives me the rest I need!

Mickey's grandpa (Chris's dad) is flying down to meet him and will be staying with us for the weekend, which we are very excited about!

Prayer Request

Mickey did much better sleeping last night (thankfully)! I only had two feedings between going to bed and waking up...I was definately thankful for the sleep and I think Chris was thankful for the sleep as well. I am hoping he will keep this up! It certainly seems like he is starting to get used to his bed and going to sleep. Not that he doesn't fight us on it a little, but it's better. So please pray that he continues to get the sleep the whole family needs :)

Please pray for me...I am starting to have some of the post pardum hormonal stuff...yesterday was really hard on me. I think it was because Mickey was being pretty fussy and I wasn't able to have much rest, but I was pretty weepy. Chris was great when he got home and took over so I could rest, but just pray that God gives me the rest I need to take care of Mickey. And also for the grace to do it without resentment! I love our little boy very, very much and I want to be able to serve him in his needs without being depressed...lol...so, please just pray that God gives me some relief from the changing hormones and for grace for Chris as I walk through this! We both prayed last night and I am doing MUCH better today...It's at least good to know that this is my hormones and that it won't last forever. And, God is stronger than everything and can give me the relief and rest that I need. Thanks!

What A Cutie!!

Thought you all might want to see a couple of pictures of Mickey not in the hospital...this was taken Monday, December 11th

What a face this guys has! He makes such cute facial expressions all the time...

He is our sweetie...who could say no to this face??

Pediatrician Appointment

Mickey had his follow up doctor's appointment today. He went in Saturday and he had lost 2 oz so they wanted me to come back today just to check and make sure he had started gaining weight. I guess it's customary for babies to lose a little weight until the milk comes in so when he left the hospital he was 9 lbs 1 oz and Saturday he was 8 lbs 15 oz. Well, he has been eating like crazy so we weren't worried about it at all, but we prayed anyways that everything would go well. They weighed him today and he's at 9 lbs 4.6 oz! The doctor was calling him a little porker...lol...that's my boy! Anyways, that's a great weight gain (the doctor said he's showing off a little), so thank you Lord that he's eating well.

Everything looks really good according to the doctor. He has a small birth mark right above his tail bone which the doctor said looks fine, but they want to do an ultrasound of his spine just to make sure it looks good. He said if there was a problem there would be more evidence around the area (which there isn't) but they still recommend an ultrasound. So, just pray for that. Again, the doctor really isn't concerned and he said it's probably just a mark from being born, but prayer would still be appreciated! Besides that though, Mickey looks very healthy which we are extremely thankful to God for! He has truly blessed us with the most beautiful and wonderful baby boy :)

Keep praying for him with scheduling! He has his days and nights a little confused right now, but the doctor said he should faze out of that. He slept better (which means so did I) last night, but please continue to pray for grace for Chris and I as well as wisdom. Thanks!

His First Few Nights Home

We've been surviving the first few days (and nights) home with little Mickey! He is actually a very content and happy baby and doesn't cry that much except for when he's hungry or when he needs his diaper changed. He loves to cuddle with his mommy and daddy too. He actually loves to sleep on Mommy's chest instead of in his bassinet...he still has his days and nights confused a little and doesn't like for his mommy to sleep much (he just wants her to cuddle him) but he's doing better. Feeding has been going extremely well too, thanks be to God. Mickey is just a wonderful baby to have around. Chris and I can't stop kissing on him.

We went to the pediatrician's office today for his first visit and they said that he looks really great. His weight went down 2 oz so they want to see him Monday just to see how things are going, but it's not a big deal because babies tend to lose some weight the first week. Mickey was a real trooper through it, he didn't cry at all! I will keep updating you on our precious baby and add pictures as they come!

Introducing Mickey Seamus Cooligan Moran

Mickey Seamus Cooligan Moran
Born 12.05.06
9 lbs 10 oz 22 inchesMommy and Daddy's first picture with Mickey

Mickey was a very peaceful baby and took time to stare into his mommy's eyes

Although extremely tired, Chris was a great help and was very proud of his baby boy

Mickey is Finally Here!!

Monday night around 10 pm I started going into labor! I wasn't quiet sure if it was real or not, but when the contractions started getting worse and closer together, we decided to go to the hospital and got there around 2:10 am. God was so faithful and extremely awesome during the whole labor! I received my first epidural not too long after I arrived because I was already 4 cm when I got there. It was working very well which was helping. Jamie came into work around 7 am and was able to come on as my nurse!! My epidural tube had come out somewhat because they kept retaping it, so I received a second one because the pain was getting intense. They put me on a pitocin drip to help make my contractions a little stronger and also broke my water. By then I was 5 cm.

The doctor came in after awhile to check on me and I had only gone up .5 cm and was not really effaced any more than I had been. It was then that she told me that she believed I was going to need a c-section! Although Mickey was doing fine, he hadn't dropped down into the pelvis anymore and my contractions weren't doing much although they were intense. Dr. Wind said she believed he was just too big for me. She said we could wait an hour and see if anything changed, but she really doubted it would. Jamie encouraged me to wait the hour and we'd pray. So, my mom, Chris, Jamie, and I began praying that God would do a miracle and make it to where I would be able to deliver without surgery. (Thank you to all who were also praying on our behalf...)

The doctor came back in forty five minutes later and checked and I was 7 cm dialated, fully effaced, and he was right where he needed to be!! What an awesome God!! The doctor said I was fine and would probably be able to deliver naturally. Around 11:10 she came back and checked and said I was ready to push! I was extremely exhausted and had been dozing, so I didn't even believe her at first...God was again faithful and gave me the strength to push and even some pain so I was able to feel when and how to push! The doctor told me to be prepared to push for up to 2.5 hours, but again God was full of grace and 20 minutes later Mickey Seamus Cooligan Moran made his appearance into the world to be greated by his mommy, daddy, and two of his grandmothers!

Appointment with Dr. Wind

I had my last doctor's appointment today with Dr. Wind...that's a relief to know I finished and next time I go there for my 6 week check up, I will have a baby...

She said that I am 3 cm dialated and about 80% effaced which is great! His head is fully engaged which means that he is right where he needs to be for labor and delivery! She stripped my membranes in the office too which she said, if my body is ready (which it seems to be), should bring on labor. So, we are hopeful and prayerful! In case I don't go into labor, they have scheduled an induction for Monday the 11th for me, but I am hoping I don't have to wait that long. At least there is an end in sight though and I know I don't have to wait longer than that! Just keep praying for Mickey to hurry it up and that everything would go smoothly and according to God's perfect purpose!

At Least it's Getting Closer...

We're still hanging in there! Chris and I didn't go to church today just in case, but nothing happened. It was nice to get some rest though. It's very uncomfortable to sit in those chairs for an hour when you're nine months pregnant! It will be very nice to be thin again (and able to see my feet, and actually have ankles..)!!

Chris is going with me to the doctor's office tomorrow which will be nice. They should be planning an induction for me to happen in the next couple of days. It will be nice to have an end in sight and actually know when we should be having Mickey. Just pray that everything goes well tomorrow and that they are able to plan the induction and that it wouldn't be too far away. Pray for me to continue to trust God and His timing. I know this will all be worth it and I can't wait to hold my baby boy!

I will keep you updated on what the doctor says and when I should be getting induced (if I don't go into labor before then). And, we will let you know once I go into labor and when the baby comes. If anyone wants to visit us in the hospital, we can try and schedule it if you call us once he's born. We probably aren't going to be passing the baby around at church (sorry, I am a paranoid soon-to-be-mother) but we would like close friends and family to be able to get a chance to see him and hold him.

Thanks for your prayers!!

Mickey's Room

Here are some pictures of Mickey's Nursary for all the women out there who like to see these sort of things...sorry to the guys who don't!

He has great shelves in his room for blankets and toys

Here is the guest bed that will be great for getting up with him

Here's a view of his dresser that has all his pajamas, shoes, socks, and other things like that

Here's his crib! We love the elephants...

Due Dates Come and Go

Well, as you can see, he didn't come on his due date...he just wants his mommy to be all the more excited to see him by making her wait even longer! Sorry to those of you who guessed Friday or Saturday afternoon (including myself) for him to be born. He's being a little stubborn. My mother-in-law reminded me today that the more he's in there, the stronger and healthier he'll be...I can't complain about that! It's weird, however, because I was telling Chris that it feels like since he wasn't born before or on his due date, he isn't coming at all, which is NOT true! It's weird to think that, but it's like I missed it or something. It's really going to be a relief once I am laying in the hospital bed and they say I am really in labor (and once the epidural kicks in...lol...) I hope everyone is having a wonderful day on this beautiful Saturday afternoon!!