What's in a Name?

We have received many compliments on the name Thomas Edward and many people just melt over his moniker "Tommy." We've been asked repeatedly how we came up with that name, so here it goes:

Thomas is my dad and my dad's father's name. So, Thomas is named after his maternal grandfather and great-grandfather.

Edward is Rich's maternal grandfather's name, making him named after his great-grandfather on Rich's side as well. Rich's middle name is also Edward, so this means that Tommy and Daddy get to share a middle name.

Overall, I think it's the perfect name for this little guy. He wears it well and his grandpa and great-grandpa just think it's wonderful and are so proud that he has such a solid, family name.

I personally like how his initials make up the word "TEN." As in, "Tommy is a perfect 10." What was even more appropriate was when I was being wheeled into Labor and Delivery the nurse told the nursing station, "This is Erin Novak," and the other nurse replied, "Take her into room 10." I knew at that moment our surpirse would be a boy! I think Tommy has many angels looking down at him and that was just a sign that everything was turning out like it was meant to be.

Life doesn't get much sweeter than this!

So much for due dates...

Today was Tommy's due date. However, I think we can all agree that we're happier he's outside of mommy's tummy and doing great.

Newborns do the cutest thing when they are startled. This is when you can see the moro reflex take place and I just think it's heartwarming. Tommy shakes his hands and they fly up in the air...it's just so darn cute. It's one of those things I take a guilty pleasure in...I know this reflex means he's been startled or scared, but it's so precious.

The other thing I love about him is when he's crying he actually snorts...it sounds like a cartoon character crying. Again, so precious.

And, the other thing that Tommy's mommy completely loves about him are the piggy snorts he makes when he's being burped. Good lord! I never knew a baby could burp and fart so loudly! How fun it is being a mommy!

One Week Old!

This is for you Tommy:

Today, you are one week old. It breaks mommy's heart already to know that her little boy is already growing up right before her eyes.

These first days have been so precious. I feel like I'm really getting to know who you are, and am loving every second of it.

You love to eat, love to sleep, love to poop, and when you're in our arms, you open your eyes and make all kinds of cute faces. Your eyes try so hard to focus and you end up going cross-eyed, but we just smile and talk about how adorable you are.

You've had quite a week! You had many visitors at the hospital...all of your grandparents came, your Grand-god-mommy, Stephanie and Muk came, Auntie Jenny, Tootie, and Mary all drove a long way to come see you. Your Aunt Jamie and Uncle Brian came and brought us goodies, and Auntie Julie and Erica also came to see you and had a good giggle with moomy about the diaper SHE had to wear after having you. Kristen and her mommy also came to see you. Everyone agrees: you're the sweetest little boy around!

While we were in the hospital we spent lots of time snuggling and eating. Mommy had the biggest chocolate milkshake from DQ right after she had you...it was soooo good and quite a treat after working so hard to bring you into the world. You were born on a Monday, but we came to the hospital on Sunday night at 9:30. So, we spent 3 nights at the hopital. Your Gammie stayed with mommy to help me since I couldnt move and needed lots of extra help getting around. We sent daddy home to get some rest, but he was back bright and early every morning eager to see his Tommy.

We had an 8 ft. stork put up in the front yard announcing your arrival (pictures coming soon) and brought you home Wednesday afternoon. Ever since Wednesday we've been relaxing and recovering, getting into the groove of being at home, and making our rounds.

You met your Great Grandma Krull this week and had a nice visit with her. She said she loved you and enjoyed holding you. You also visited many of the ladies at Hohman Floral and showed them how precious you are! We've taken four walks with Winnie (one with Auntie Julie) and you love your stroller. You fall asleep everytime in it. This afternoon, Gammie and I took you to JC Penney to have your portraits taken. You did great!

You tend to get very fussy around 7:00-9:00 at night. Daddy can't believe how loud a little guy like you can cry! Silly Daddy. Overall, you're a very good baby and are just so peaceful and wonderful to be around. Winnie has gotten used to you. The first day she barked at any sound you made, but now she is glued to our side and follows Mommy and Tommy everywhere. I think the two of you will be best friends.

You have all kinds of new sounds. Tonight you're making sounds like a kitten. You lost your "girly" cry and have replaced it with an outright scream. Definitely more boyish.

Mommy's favorites are the way you love to suck on your hands. You find your hands and suck on them until you'd think they'd fall off. You found your thumb yesterday and had a lot of fun with that. You were sucking on your hands so hard two nights ago, it woke me up. Your hands are also constantly next to your face. You were even like this in my tummy. Every ultrasound showed your hands by your face. Not much has changed!

I think that's everything from Week 1. You are the most precious baby, and mommy and daddy love holding you and are just totally enamored by the fact that you are really our baby, and our dream has come true!

A Quick Update!

I'm sorry...still no pictures yet, I SWEAR they will be posted shortly. It's just rare that I get a few spare minutes to run (ok, turtle crawl/limp) upstairs and update.

This is Tommy's 5 day birthday! I can't believe it's already been almost a week. A week ago today I had two foot reflexology massages, ate spicy wings from Hooters, and drank the castor oil to get things started. Now, he's here and already 5 days old!

He's so precious. We've been getting along very nicely and everything is working out just as I had been dreaming about all these years. Physically, I am doing much better. I'm still VERY sore, and can not sit down/get up really fast, and a 90 year old person could probably walk faster than me right now, but I'm feeling much better.

I must say I really miss being pregnant. It was so wonderful, and I miss that big, round belly. Now it's just deflated and mushy. But, I'm anxious to get back to how I looked pre-Tommy. I'm not in a rush, but I either want that big, round, baby belly back, or a flat tummy. I don't think I'll have the big, round baby belly for a while again, so I'll settle for the flat tummy!

I her Tommy crying and Gammie is changing him...better go help! Mommy is coming Tommy....

IT'S A BOY!

Wonderful News!

Thomas Edward Novak arrived September 29, 2008 at 11:23 a.m.
He weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 20 in. long.
Mom's epidural wore off the last hour and a half of labor, so she delivered him naturally with NO pain medicine and has about 30 stitches to show for it! Needless to say, little Tommy and Mommy are needing lots of recovery and rest. Daddy may need to see a therapist after witnessing the birth of his first son. but, he's already a natural daddy and loves his Tommy so much!

Mom, Daddy, and Tommy arrived home this afternoon with the sun shining and a cool 65 degree breeze blowing. There is an 8 foot stork in our yard announcing his arrival.

We feel so blessed to have him, and we enjoy just staring at him in awe of how truly magical he really is.

There is so much more I can write, but we need our rest, and just wanted to spread our happy news. Please stay tuned for pictures...they'll be arriving in a few days when I can move without wincing.

He's worth everything we had to endure. He's absolutely perfect.

Waiting, and Waiting, and Waiting, and Waiting...

Hi everyone! If you're checking this, you're probably checking to see if I've exploded yet...nope, still pregnant.

My doctor has been out of town since Wednesday (today is Sunday) so I was actually hoping I would hold off until at least today...it would be nice to have my doctor deliver my baby, but it wasn't going to be the end of the world if he didn't. However, I don't think we have to worry about that anymore.

My last appt. was last Monday, and he basically said if I was still pregnant by next Monday (which would be tomorrow) that he would just send me up to Labor and Delivery after my appt. I feel like my body has made more progress. So, I think tomorrow may actually be the day! Perhaps the baby won't be born until Tuesday...but I think the action will start tomorrow. By the way...last week Merg was weighing in at 7.5 pounds. During the last month, it's normal for a baby to gain a pound a week, so Merg could very well be 8.5 pounds already! I'M READY!

Yesterday, I did a few things to help bring on labor naturally. I had two (yes, two) appointments for foot reflexology. This is supposed to bring on labor. At one point yesterday, I had four contractions (not very strong ones) exactly six minutes apart, but then they stopped. However, I think that's progress!

I also have been sitting on one of those big exercise balls...that's supposed to encourage dilation and push the baby farther down the birth canal, so I sit on that whenever possible. And finally, last night and this morning, I made myself a concoction of Castor Oil and Plum Juice. Yes, this will make the toilet my best friend for the next day, but the castor oil is supposed to encourage the start of uterine contractions. So, we shall see. I think I will hanging around close to home today!! At least my body will be cleaned out good before Merg comes. Hey, whatever helps...

It's so surreal to think that this may be the last time I am at home with Rich, cooking our usual Sunday breakfast, playing with Winnie, watching football games, and tomorrow, our lives can be completely different! But how wonderful our lives are about to become!

The Longest Week Ever

Well, I think this has been the longest week of my life, and as I write this, it's only Thursday evening! AHHH! It is WONDERFUL not having to work (I can't imagine being this big and uncomfortable and teaching), but I'm ready for baby....I want the next chapter to start!

I've been doing everything I can to keep myself occupied. I have now taken all of the newborn and 0-3 months little outfits for Merg and hung them up in the closet, because I figured that would be easier to see the size instead of rummaging through drawers. Especially in the middle of the night. So, that's done.

I had our car seat re-installed in our car. I originally had it behind my seat...but when Rich went to get in the driver's side of the car, he didn't fit with the rear-facing car seat, so it had to be moved to the other side. So...for all you new and future moms out there...have the car seat installed either behind the passenger seat, or the middle of the car. Thank God the ladies at the police department were sympathetic and didn't mind reinstalling it for me. They also installed one in my mom's car. She got the same exact car seat as me, so little Mergie will always be in familiar surroundings. And so, that's done.

I have cleaned the house a bit, and tomorrow if I am still home and waiting...I will clean the bathrooms, finish cleaning our bedroom, and then our house is officially clean and ready for baby. I don't want to bring our baby home to a messy, disheveled mess...I want him/her to come home to a clean and tidy house...not like Merg will give a crap, but I will feel better.

Rich BBQ'd burgers tonight for dinner and they were delicious. We've spent the rest of the night on the couch watching my belly move and with Miss Winnie cuddled up between us. She's such a good girl. I can't wait to see her with Merg. I hope they grow to be the best of friends.

SO, this ends Thursday. I've been having more "practice" contractions and much more pressure down below. I am absolutely uncomfortable and feel as big as a walrus. I'm sure I've dilated more...but we still could be a few days away. HURRY UP MERG!