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Post Postpartum Energy

Since March of '08, I have been dragging, sleepy, tired, exhausted, worn-out any every other form of tired you can imagine. Today, however, something very rare occurred---I was actually productive. Whether it is the lack of caffeine over these last 11 months or the toll pregnancy/new motherhood takes on a body, I have no way of knowing. I'm going to call it Post postpartum energy -- a strange phenomenon!

I was amazed by all of the things I actually did today. Normally, I wouldn't waste time actually listing all of my minor daily accomplishments. In honor of renewed energy (Was today just a lucky day or will I retain this new found energy?, here's a list of what I accomplished today:

- woke up (has become much more difficult than it sounds as most of night is spent in/out of sleeping, snoozing to the sound of a wailing baby)

- took Catie to pediatrician and arrived on time (another feat that is much more difficult with a child, I'm still in awe of all the "stuff" that we have to bring along with the baby)

- picked up her prescription

- sipped a Starbucks Grande Americano with 1 inch of soy (one of my favorite treats, may be one of the reasons for today's productivity)

- worked on lesson plans and school related tasks (I am determined to become more efficient when I return to work because Catie is my number one priority, the minute work is over I want to be with her. If I can get some work done before Feb. 9th (the day I return to work) and save myself time later, I am going to do it. Also, this task was more challenging than normal because I had a hefty almost 8 pounder cradled in my right arm, rendering it sore and slightly numb.)

- returned emails

- changed multiple dirty diapers while the baby screamed inconsolably and my smallest dog attempted to fish the dirty diapers out of the trash WITHOUT breaking a sweat

- gave my middle pup her medicine for the pain inflicted by an ailment entitled "limp tail" by the vet at yesterday's late-afternoon unplanned visit

- cleaned house and I mean CLEANED. ( Showing off my new found strength I heaved the couch away from the wall to sweep, dust, and mop. This couch has been beside this particular wall for the almost four year duration of our living here. I knelt down on the floor to clean up certain dirty spots on the floor. I even re-vacuumed after Abby brought in bark from a tree and scattered all over the newly cleaned carpet. Tree bark littered throughout the house is a regular occurrence, especially after the carpet has been cleaned. The rarity is that I actually cared enough to vacuum the carpet a second time to clean up the mess.)

-updated wall calendar (After suffering from a bit of nostalgia and taking a photograph of the old one. We use a dry erase calendar in our kitchen. Didn't I want to remember the days leading up to the birth of my daughter? Won't Catie want to see the actual calendar that had her birthday recorded on it reading "Catie Rose!")


- did multiple loads of laundry and put them away (A particularly momentous event for two reasons. Firstly, during the span of time from August-Catie's birth, I only used the clothes I had in my laundry basket. I NEVER put any article of clothing in my closet or deigned to fold a single shirt. Secondly, I actually sorted Catie's laundry into the baskets by type of outfit. Having separate spaces for clothes is becoming more important as Catie tends to soil multiple outfits a day and people continue (thanks!) to send us more an more baby clothes and we need to know where to find the clothes we want on our late-night jaunts into the nursery with the aforementioned screaming little girl.)

- updated my blog (What I'm doing now as I sip one of my other favorite treats--a diet Dr. Pepper AND watching my fingers actually skitter across the keyboard as I produce more writing and less pictures. I always include more pictures THAN writing because it takes me less time. Not today!)

Wow, am I proud of myself today! Here's to post postpartum energy or overly caffeinated coffee, whichever the case may be.


P.S. Court--since I still believe you're my one and only reader, how boring is this post without pictures. I just viewed the published post and renewed my belief that you are my only faithful reader when I saw the long lines of text, sans photos , sprawling across my blog.

A Car Ride to Remember

The Cox Family made the journey from San Antonio to Austin last week, a car ride we have made many times. However, this car ride marked the first time we traveled with three dogs and a baby. The ride consisted of several memorable moments...

Abby can't decide where to sit, so she decides to jump all over the car while barking and whining. At one point, she leaps on top of Lily.








Catie screams as her hat falls over her face.



Abby decides she would rather sit next to mom and Catie. She'll do whatever it takes to get there.






Brian and Lily share a bonding moment in the front seat.





A moment of peace as Sadie and Abby relax in the trunk.



Mommy sips Starbucks and pumps, hoping there are no curious onlookers.



Abby throws up and cleans up her own mess.




After experiencing this car ride, mommy and daddy can only laugh and try to nap as often as possible.

Baby Pictures

I am so blessed with a wonderful family. I adore my husband, who supports me in every way imaginable. I never knew it was possible to love someone as much as I love my daughter, Catie. I can spend hours just looking at her. Here are pictures of one of the most life-altering and wondrous experiences in our lives----the birth of our baby girl.

Brian and Megan, the night before.


First Family Photo


Finally, I'm a mommy!


Daddy's Little Girl



I Don't Quite Fit in this Seat


A Happy Baby!


I'm Itty Bitty


Pretty in Pink

Overly Anxious Mommy

So... It's 5:25 am. I've been up since 1:30 am. Now doubt this is the result of dozing off at 5 pm and sleeping until 11pm. My sleep schedule has been pretty wild since the day little Catie was born. I find myself constantly wanting to make sure she is okay.

Brian has finally convinced me that she will make noise if something is wrong. Point being...I don't need to watch her every minute. I don't know how well I'm really doing with that, since she's on the baby monitor right now as I write. Every few seconds, I glance at the monitor to make sure I see some flicker of movement. Hopefully, this anxious behavior will subside by the time my little darling enters school:)

I've been avoiding blogging because I don't have my pictures uploaded from my camera, yet. I don't have them uploaded yet because my daily life has been altered considerably. Everything I do revolves around little miss Catie Rose. I can go through an entire day without doing anything but Catie-related tasks. It's crazy. I realized how "selfish" I've been for so many years. I took for granted simple tasks like taking a shower. With a newborn around, I have realized the true meaning of caring for someone else.

For fear of writing anything more in my sleepy state, I will end this entry. I'm going to see if I can post a copy of my favorite hispital picture of Catie. As her mommmy, I think she looks beautiful in this picture. She looks so innocent and content with her new arrival into the world.

P.S. I'm so excited because my feet are returned to their normal size. I became so accustomed to looking at my tubby feet, I can barely recognize my old feet. They look emaciated. At some point, I might have to post before and after foot pics.

Too Tired To Post

Brian and I have arrived home with our little Catie. We are adapting to a completely new lifesytle. If you want to hear more about Catie's story, check out my sister's blog at http://www.childressdogs.blogspot.com.


More to come when my eyes will stay open.

The Day Has Arrived

Courtney told me to update my blog today, so I decided to do a short entry. Brian and I will be leaving for the hospital in a couple hours. I feel like I should be doing something productive, but everything I need to do is done. I'm hanging out with my three pups and reading a book as the minutes tick away. I'm very nervous and excited. I'm dreading the hospital and the needles, pain etc. that come with the experience. I keep reminding myself to focus on the positive instead. I keep trying to think of Catie and how ecstatic I will be when I meet her.

Well, this marks my last blog as a pregger person. We'll see what life has in store for me next.