How did it get to be November already?

I am late on adding Griffin's 6 month stats but as usual it is hard for me to get much done when I have a baby to hold way more than I should. Especially as heavy as he is-coming in at a solid 18.5 lbs and 26 3/4 in.; according to the dr. As of 7 months and our at home scale we have him at 19.5 lbs. and over 27" but the length is pretty rough since Griffin thought I was being mean by trying to make him lie still for measurements.

This picture was taken on Oct.10, 2010 in the park behind our house. He has been busy sitting up since he was 5 months old, trying to pull up and in general scooting around in a circle when on his tummy or back. He doesn't really want to roll over but does seem interested in crawling from a sitting position so we have to watch that he doesn't bang his head on the floor when he launches himself forward. When he is on his tummy he goes backwards and screams about that too, which really makes me laugh and I hope it doesn't hurt his feelings.

Halloween was short but sweet due to Griffin and I having a bit of a cold though he recovered much quicker than I - thankfully so! His costume was a dragon and did get cool enough for him to wear it even if we have been blessed with a warm October. This is Griffin's first friend, Eva, who is exactly a month older than him. We try to have weekly play dates more for her mom and I than for the kids. Although the last couple have been more fun as Griffin and Eva attempt to talk and touch each other.


Happy belated anniversary to my parents, my brother and sister in law, and happy belated birthdays to my college roomie, Christina, and the newest 40 year old on the block, Brennon! :)
Among other reasons that blog updates take so long, it is the constant question about our living situation. Most of you know that the move to KY was possibly temporary and ELAN allowed us to stay here longer when I was pregnant with Griffin. After Griffin was born and changes occurred within ELAN, it was time to move back into the territory and we had many debates about whether that would be back to San Diego or Denver. After really deciding that San Diego was where we wanted to be, G was offered a position in a different company and he has decided to take that job which now means we are headed a different direction, towards the East Coast and will make our new home in Charlotte, NC. This move will still happen quickly as G begins his new job after Thanksgiving and hopefully Griffin and I will join him shortly after Christmas. Our house has been on the market for just over a week with several showings just today but we already have a deal on the table so keep all fingers crossed that inspections go well. It would be nice to have this settled before the holidays because I can't keep a house clean with Hana, Griffin and the holidays coming up.
I would expect the next update to be around the holidays once we know where in Charlotte we are moving and lots of pictures with Griffin's 1st Thanksgiving and Christmas.

4 month update

Griffin was 4 months last week but we just went to the Dr. today for official weight and height.
He is still in the 90th percentile for both- weighing in at 17.8 lbs. and 26"; whew! I was beginning to think he was already 20 lbs.

He celebrated his 4 month birthday by finally pushing up on his arms when doing tummy time as opposed to just making his neck do all the work. Tummy time has become more fun and he seems quite determined to figure out how to move. Griffin loves to stand in his exersaucer and on my arm, you can see on his face how proud he is to be so independent.

We went to our first music class last night and although he is the youngest by far (even though it is for 0-18 months most are closer to the end of the spectrum) he had a good time and was exhausted when we left. I like having someone else come up with ways for me to entertain him one evening a week.

I am going back to teaching one yoga class a week and while G travels, Linda will help watch him on those nights. G's work has been very stressful the past couple of weeks with layoffs. We will have more about our future in regards to that in the next couple of weeks so check back. We are heading to OH this weekend to see sorority sisters and going to a birthday party so we will have lots of pictures to post next week. Hopefully I can get to it- I am so thankful Linda took Griffin this afternoon so I could write this update and vacuum :)

Griffin is 3 months old

It is taking a lot longer these days to get a chance to post. Imagine that with a three month old. He is getting bigger at 16 lbs. and 6 oz. but actually eating less frequently, which is good news for me. He is the champion of fighting sleep still and chooses about every 4th day to get a good night's sleep or nap well. This week he has started to squeal more and really test how loud he can get!

Happy belated birthdays, Mother's day and Father's day to all I missed in the last few months. Sleep deprivation causes memory loss among a host of other issues :)

I have only been to one yoga class and subbed one class since Griffin came along, went to a movie with Cara, G got to go biking once and we have had three dinners when New or friends babysit. That pretty much sums up the last 3 months. I was so excited to get a visit from my friend Mona and her little Maya who is just one week older than Griffin- she lives in London so we rarely get to see each other! Griffin also got to attend his first Riverbats baseball game in style when my friend Valerie came to visit- her dad invited us to his suite and it was a beautiful evening for a ball game.

Hana still seems to be adjusting to Griffin but now thinks that if he is getting in the car seat it might mean a walk for her; she still tries to lick him all over but now that his hands are going in his mouth we have to be extra vigilant about her sneaking in kisses. She also tries to steal certain plush toys or pacifiers if they are left out- no damage has been done yet because we have always caught her but I am sure one day it will happen.

Griffin River Hess is here!

The story of Griffin's arrival: I decided that the night before his due date we would eat Mexican food in hopes that the myth of spicy foods setting off labor might actually work. Well it did or he is just a very punctual boy! By 11:30 that night I was having contractions but not sure if they were still Braxton Hicks until they became quite steady and by 3 a.m. they were coming every five minutes and increasingly uncomfortable. We headed to the hospital where they proceeded to tell me that I had not made any progress since my dr. visit on Wed.- I did not appreciate this news so they gave me the opportunity to get up and walk to see if that would move me along.
Well it made the contractions come quicker and stronger but still no progress so they sent me home with an Ambien to let me get some rest. HAHAHAHAHAHA

Within another two hours I was in the worst pain imaginable and the contractions were about 2 1/2 minutes apart. Off we went to the hospital again (Linda came to get Hana who was very worried about me and spent several minutes licking my hands- sweet puppy) and still no further progress- I told them to give me an epidural because I couldn't take the pain if it was going to last indefinitely. I hated to do it but there was no way to go on not knowing when it would stop. This of course slowed my labor and they added Pitocin to the mix to get me going again. The labor nurse was so great and by 6 p.m. I was ready to push. G. Paul was with me and parents plus Aunt Cara waited outside.

Griffin River arrived at 6:54 p.m. 8 lbs. 15 oz. and 21 in. long- beautiful but apparently big for me according to all the nurses and the doctor (who was not my dr. because mine was on vacation but you don't really care once it all starts happening). He is gorgeous and we love him to pieces. I am still in recovery mode and of course sleep deprived. G. Paul has already been the best dad doing a lot of diaper changing and soothing when I can't and he is the best husband for encouraging me to rest when I can and soothing me when I am hormonal, tired and frustrated.
Thanks to everyone for the lovely notes and gifts- it is nice to know this little boy has so much love.

2 posts in 1 day

Granted the shower pictures were promised awhile ago, but since G is working on projects before the baby gets here- I thought I better get caught up too.

So we are almost 38 weeks pregnant and as of last week, I had dilated to 1 cm and 60% effaced. Since then lots of Braxton Hicks contractions but not much else, however I am hoping when I go to the Dr. this week that there will be more progress. I really think he is getting too big as I am starting to have back ache and lower abdomen pain when I walk. Hana's walks are getting longer and longer because I am basically strolling at this point- it is very hard for G to slow down his usual pace too- he was secretly glad when I was at work yesterday that he could get Hana walked in under an hour.

The nursery is essentially ready. We just need to add some fun decorations. Also the Great Room is almost complete now that the wall is painted with matching speaker screens, a brand new shade (that of course upset Hana for a few days because it seems to move on its own), and our curtains are being made this week! whew. Now G is on to shelves in the garage for his tools and future kids toys.

Our bags are packed for the hospital and we think we are ready as we will ever be. I have no idea what to expect if and when labor should start on its own but it will be an adventure and I am sure a long blog post will follow once I get a chance to tell you all about the experience. In the meantime check your e-mail for an announcements! :)