Alexander Stephen Hummer

Alexander Stephen Hummer was born on 12/20 at 2:54pm weighing 7.0lbs and measuring 19.3in.  I was induced that morning and started on Pitocin around 8:30 am. The labor went extremely quickly once I got my epidural, going from 3cm dilated to 10cm in just 45 min. Average progression for first time moms is about 1cm-1.25cm/hour so the original estimate was a 6-7pm delivery. Alex must have been too anxious to enter the world.

We were discharged from the hospital around lunchtime on Thursday. Alex's discharge weight was 6lbs 11oz which is only 3% down from his birth weight (under 10% is okay and expected).

On Christmas Eve morning, he had his first check up with the pediatrician. As I was undressing him on the table, he peed and pooped on the table and then spit up. When the doctor came in he peed all over her coat too. Hehe, atta boy. They weighed him again and he came in at 6lbs 15oz which is very close to his birth weight! This means he is doing fantastic and eating well and staying hydrated. Keep in mind they weighed him after he emptied himself!

Our new family

Alex the burrito 

We're home and oh so sleepy

Christmas Eve with Mommy

Cousins and future best friends. Hunter is 3mos and Alex is 4 days.  Such a difference in size!  I can't wait to take a pic of all 3 baby boy cousins when Andrew and the Dibbles visit in a few weeks!

Cousins -- Haley is almost 3

Cute sleepy head

39 Weeks

Just 3 more days.  I have to call the hospital at 5am on Tuesday morning to see what time they want me to come in.  I am hoping it is on the early side so we can get things started.

We hired Molly Maids to give our house a good clean today.  It took 2 ladies over 4 hours but it is nice to have the house clean without breaking my back trying to do it myself.  Tomorrow we will bathe the dogs and brush them.

Our cable isn't working on all the TVs in the house except the one in the office (weird) so we have an AT&T technician coming out tomorrow morning to fix.  What to do on Saturday night without TV?!?

And finally the glider is scheduled to be delivered on Monday from 11-1. I am relieved that it will be here before the baby (barely)!  This will most likely be the last pregnancy pic!

39 weeks!

Baby Hummer Update

I went to the doctor for my 37 week check up yesterday and all still looks good.  We are a go for induction on the 20th (unless he comes on his own earlier).  My doctor can classify the induction as "medical" as opposed to "elective" which means that the hospital has to take me and can't say no.  He does not agree that hypothyroidism poses any sort of risk for labor (it is classified at the same level as asthma and hypertension) but he will put it down anyway to ensure that I get in.  He said putting me down for hypothyroidism is like putting me down as a blonde -- there is nothing to worry about.  I really like having a date scheduled, it is a relief knowing when he is coming (of course assuming he doesn't come on his own).

Three more days of work -- last day is Tuesday!

Furry Balls

You'd think that since this breed can swim in freezing water they would be fine sleeping in a 68 degree room. They are curled up like it is 40F!  Poor things, they have no idea that they will soon be demoted on the totem pole of priority.

Surprise Baby Shower

My co-workers surprised me with a baby shower this afternoon at work.  They did a great job keeping it a secret because I had no idea!  It was so much fun and thoughtful of everyone.  I got a collective gift card to Babies R Us as well as clothes and other baby items!  It is a good start to the weekend!

My tentative last day at work is Tuesday, 12/13, which is super soon.  I went to the doc yesterday for my 36 week check up and discussed having the baby before Christmas.  The doctor is happy to induce the week before my due date which is what I want.  I want to avoid the baby coming on the 24th or 25th. Also my doctor is out of town the week after Christmas and I don't want someone else delivering the baby.   The earliest you are allowed to schedule an induction is 1 week before your due date so 12/20 will be the earliest we can have him (unless he comes on his own).  You also can't schedule the induction with the hospital until 1 week in advance so I won't be able to schedule anything until 12/13 for a 12/20 induction.  Even then it is not guaranteed because the hospital could be too busy the day of and not allow me to come in. However, my doctor said that my hypothyroidism may make my induction moderately medical which would just mean I would have a higher chance of the hospital taking me as opposed to saying they are too busy.  We shall see, I will keep you all posted.



Surprise Shower today at work!



The cake was really tasty!



Thanksgiving and Birthday

We had a nice Thanksgiving at my parents' house with Rachel's family. My birthday was Saturday but we celebrated on Thursday with Jack Daniels pie and pumpkin pie.

On my actual birthday my mom, sister and I went and saw the Nutcracker ballet at the theater in the afternoon.  It was a crappy, rainy day all day long.  Ryan and I just ordered a pizza for dinner that night and stayed in.  I didn't want anything for my birthday because I couldn't think of anything I needed, but Ryan suprised my with some GORGEOUS earrings.

Enjoy the pics!

Happy Birthday to me!




Changing pad cover and Baby's First Christmas stocking (hopefully!)



Me and sweet, sweet Hunter



Cutie Haley playing



Max and Sonny had fun too!



Buddies



Sonny is really good with kids

Had to take a picture of this -- Steve and Ryan playing beanie babies with Haley



David Yurman blue topaz and diamond earrings.  He got blue for baby boy and because this will most likely be Baby Hummer's birthstone.  I love them!



36 weeks!



Pointy Belly

When I am out and about or at the store, strangers always tend to ask two questions:

1) when are you due? and
2) it's a boy, isn't it?

How does everyone know it is a boy?  I have NEVER EVER, NOT ONCE had someone look at me and guess that I am having a girl.  WEIRD that somehow people can tell.  The lady at Bed Bath & Beyond today said I was having a boy because with boys your belly is more pointy and grows out and with girls you tend to be wider.  I'm sure it is an old wives' tale but it makes me wonder since everyone is right!

Baby Hummer, or Humphrey Ulysses Hummer as my mom calls him, ("HUH") is doing well.  I go in for my 34 week check up today.  He is very active in there doing lots of kicks and somersaults and tends to get the hiccups a lot.  Usually he gets them at least once in the middle of the night.  At first it was cute, now it is just annoying, as it keeps me up.  It is a sign of a healthy baby practicing his breathing.

If he listens to me and comes 2 weeks early, we only have 4 weeks to go.  If he comes on time, 6 weeks.  We shall see.

33 Weeks

I am 33 weeks along now and am getting big!  You know you are getting big when some of your maternity clothes no longer fit!  I have 7 weeks left but am really hoping it is more like 5 if he listens and comes early.

On Saturday, one of my girlfriends got married at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands.  It was a very pretty venue but I didn't last too long because my feet got sore and I get tired easily.

Here is a belly shot at 33 weeks.

I washed all of the baby's bedding and clothes this weekend which needed to be done but not fun to do that much laundry in 1 day.  We have already gotten a few hand-me-downs from Hunter that we appreciate too!

Happy Halloween

My shirt was a big hit at work!

Complete with skull earrings!

Before and After

This post will have a lot of pictures.  The renovations are finally done and I took some pictures so y'all can see the before and after.  Enjoy!  I am not sure if all of these will come through in the email so you may have to go directly to the blog http://julia-hummer.blogspot.com/ to view.

Baby bathroom upstairs:

Upstairs Bathroom Before



After -- New EVERYTHING (lighting, vanity, toilet, floor, etc.)



New Toilet

    

Baby tub

 Nursery:

Hall before (hi Max!)



Hall After



Hall from other end

  

After -- Hall from other end



Gross cabints before



Changing table and dresser where cabinets were



Another after

Nook before



Nook after -- This is where the glider will be.  Coming in 5-7 weeks!



Crib!

Crib take 2

 Master Bathroom:

New travertine in Master bath (no before pic but was original ugly tile)

Cottage Room:

Cottage room vanity (ignore me in the pic). I hate those lights!

After -- updated cabinets, lighting, granite, faucet, etc.

We have made a lot of progress but don't think that we are close to being done.  Our game room is still overtaken with baby stuff:

Shower #2

On Saturday, Ryan's boss and his wife threw us a nice shower at their home.  It was a couples shower which I know most guys hate.  The guests were Ryan's coworkers and significant others.  Ryan works with all males except for 4 female assistants so I am sure they were all looking forward to the party.  It was from 4-6 and we just mingled, drank wine and beer, and ate passed hor dourves.  They had the food catered (it was tasty) and hired two servers -- one to pass out the food and one bartender (fancy, fancy).

I had a nice time but unfortunately I didn't get any pictures at the party. The hosts' 10 year old daughter made a cute baby boy rattle sign that was hanging on the front door.

Since Ryan and I were dressed up I thought it would be a good idea to try to get a family photo for the Christmas card.  If you live in Houston you already know that the mosquitoes hatched from the rain about 2 weeks ago and are, in my opinion, the worst I can ever remember.  We rushed outside and took 1 picture but had to hurry back inside because they were literally swarming around us.  Thankfully that picture is good enough to use.  We took some additional ones inside in front of the fireplace, but I don't like the backdrop for a Christmas card so I will post it for the blog.

NURSERY UPDATE:
The new carpet is in and the contractor has finished up so the nursery is finally coming together.  All of the big stuff is there (crib, dresser, changing table) with the exception of a glider/rocker which I will start shopping for.  I think there is one at Pottery Barn Kids that might work. I will post the before/after pics soon!

Penn State (Trip Post 2 of 2)

Last weekend I got a taste of some serious tailgating in State College, PA as Penn State played Iowa.  Thankfully Penn State won 13-3!

UT likes to tailgate but boy, Penn State takes it seriously.  It is a very organized event.  We had TONS of yummy food and the weather was beautiful.

Wisconsin (Trip Post 1 of 2)

Ryan and I went to Milwaukee over Labor Day weekend to attend a 2 day music festival called Summer Fest (I think).  We went solely because Pearl Jam was headlining both nights and this was their only US performance for the year.  We flew in on Friday and left on Monday as the concert was Saturday and Sunday nights. 

I have family in Milwaukee so on Friday night we went over to my aunt Mary Beth's house for dinner and were joined by my cousin Joel and his family (wife Brenda and kids Christopher and Eva).  Also my great aunt Mary came up from Kenosha too.  It was good to see everyone and have the kids gotten big.  Here are some pictures from Friday below: