Peanut's 1st Christmas

Peanut's 1st Christmas was so fun! We got a family tree together, and I bought an ornament to commemorate his first Christmas. I even put lights on him and took a picture!! Christmas was really about Gilbert and I, and the Grandma's because Nicolas didnt really know what was going on, but he still had fun.

Gilbert and I bought him the Crawl and Cruise jungle and he seemed to love it a lot! My parents got him his first credit card an American Express gift card with $500.00 on it to spend on clothes and necessities. Gilbert made a lot of "stand up comedy jokes" about Peanut's credit card, about how we should just use his credit card for our things, and then I would say "we can't do that!", and then Gilbert would reply, "he uses my credit card, but Lord forbid we use his for anything!" haha Needless to say we would make fun that he was the youngest kid we knew with his own credit card!!!

Santa Claus and getting sick!

Today we took Peanut to see Santa Claus at the mall (haha), and he was so good! When he first got onto his lap you could tell he was like "who the hell is this guy?" Then Peanut blew a bubble out of his nose which should have been an indication that he was getting sick, but of course I am a new mom and I did not know any better!! Anyway, he seemed to be okay with Santa Claus, so we took the picture as seen above. I don't think he was feeling too well because he never really looked at the camera, and he did not really smile much, so this is the best we could get, but I love it, and I think it captures his curiosity for looking at what everything is!

Now he is sick with a cold or something like that, and he is so congested and snotty, and I feel so helpless because there is nothing I can really do. This is his first illness believe it or not! The Dr. was amazed at the fact that he has never been sick. I guess me being a germ-a-phobe has paid off! haha

Peanut is Baptized

Today we finally baptized the baby. It was such a wonderful day. We had all our family and some close friends there to help celebrate such a special occasion. This was not a good picture of the preist above, but it'll do. Anyway, he did not seem to mind the water or the church or music at all, he was quiet the entire time (I thought he was going to be all chatty like he normally is!). Yes, he is wearing a shorts baptismal outfit because that was the only one big enough to fit him!! This child is so long it's not even funny!

Christmas tree shopping

Today we took peanut to the Christmas tree lot and shopped for a Christmas tree. It was cold and the perfect day to do it since it felt like a Christmasy day (I know that's not really a word but work with me people!) Anyway, he seemed to be very curious looking around at all the big trees and he really didn't know what to think about it all! He reached out to touch the tree and he yanked his hand back quickly because he had never felt the prickly trees before. It was the cutest thing!!

1st Thanksgiving

Peanut experienced his first Thanksgiving, and he seemed to enjoy the day. We had my parents bring his high chair to my aunts house so that he could sit at the table like a big boy. The picture above is him at the table, and he seemed to be enjoying himself as you can see. Overall, he was great considering the lack of sleep that he had that day. Then we had to go to Gilbert's family Thanksgiving, so I had to take the baby home to let him have a nap and then go join the festivities. He was not a happy camper for the rest of the night! But I guess that's just babies!

Baby food.....

Peanut is finally eating baby food! It was such a proud day for us! I started him on carrots and he seemed to really like those a lot! The next food he tried was bananas and he seems a little unsure of those, but overall he seems to enjoy the new foods a lot!! The other good news is that he has 2 teeth! They are showing their little white tips through the gums! It's so cute! I can't wait to share what his next foods are!!

Peanut is 6 months old!

Hey everyone, today Peanut is 6 months old! I CANNOT believe it! Time has just flown by so fast it's scary! He is just growing and growing so too fast it's almost making me sad. Anyway, we had a little BBQ at my house for his 6 month birthday, again cheesy I know, but you know what...I don't care because it was a special day for us all! I even bought a cake from Publix and cut it in half and had them put Happy 1/2 Birthday on it! lol Peanut had one taste of the icing and of course he was trying to get his hand in the cake for more, but he was already not wanting to go to sleep, so I figured sugar was not a good thing! lol Now he's out like a light until it's time to eat again!

Peanut's 1st Halloween (2008)

Well Nicolas celebrated his 1st Halloween tonight, and he was so cute! I couldn't believe how good he was despite the fact that he was tired! He even had a little song for his trick or treating..."Trick or treat smell P's feet give him Similac to eat...." lol Cheesy I know, but these are moments I'll never get back! We took him to my mom's house and she actually gave him a can of Similac for his little trick or treat pumpkin...too funny! Anyway, after we went to her house, my family all went to dinner, and it was late and Peanut just say in his stroller and talked to us all the whole time!

So much has changed!

Wow! I have not written in awhile, so I have a lot of updates!! Peanut aka Monkey is 5 months old already!! I cannot even believe it!! He is doing so much, rolling over onto his stomach, which he hated before....and I mean HATED!! Now he loves it! He went to his Dr's appt. a few weeks ago for his shots and a skin check...the Dr. said that he is 27 1/2 inches long, which she said was in the 90 percentile for height! Which means that he's tall right now! I just laughed at that because Gilbert and I already joke about how we want him to play sports and help us retire early! haha
We recently started him on rice cereal so that he'll sleep better through the night because he was waking up in the night time acting all hungry, so we decided to give it a try and it seems to be working out really well. He's still talking more than ever...and I mean talking!! He jabbers in the car all the time especially when we are traveling to my mom's house (which is about a half hour drive), he loves to chat with me in the mornings!
I also started back to school, and got a new job finally. Not by choice on that one though, as you all see the market tanking...so is our savings since I have not been working, so I got a job. It's at a law firm in Orlando which is what I wanted, but I am away from Peanut when I am working, but the plus is, they are flexible with school, and my schedule, plus I get Wednesday's off work!! So that is more time for me to spend with the little guy!!
I am going to try to do a better job at posting regularly, so that I won't have to write so much as once, but we all see how far that's gotten me, so I promise that I'll try to work on that!! Until next time....

3 Months Old!

I cannot believe how quickly time has flown by for us! Nicolas is 3 months old today (technically). He looks much older than he is, but that's okay because he's probably going to play football...we call him our little linebacker. haha He is already wearing some clothes in 6 months...can you believe that?! Gilbert and I can't! He is starting to roll over one way...not sure if that's ahead of schedule or behind, but we don't care because he acts smart to us!

Also, I ask for your prayers for my friend Barbie's newest addition (Allison...Peanuts girlfriend). She is in the hospital right now for bacteria in her blood...I know that everything is going to be okay, but prayers always help. I'll keep you posted on what happens with little Allie.

2 Month Check-Up

Today Peanut had his 2 month check-up at the pediatricians office. She said he was doing great! He already weighs 13.8 lbs! So he is ahead of schedule to double his weight by 4 months! LOL Anyway, he had to have his 1st real set of shots today, and it was really emotional for me, as well as the baby. I was crying when he was crying! Totally traumatic. Gilbert couldn't understand why I was crying....MEN! they never get it do they? I tried to explain to him that seeing my baby in pain and not being able to do anything for him was awful!!!

Anyway, his little leg bled from each poke, it just broke my heart....but overall he is doing well tonight. No reactions so far. I have been giving him baby Tylenol as a precautionary measure today so he doesn't get a fever, and he seems to be doing really well. He was a little fussy this afternoon, but again, I think that was him being hungry....as usual! haha

First July 4th

Nicolas with his Baby's First 4th bib on

Yesterday we celebrated Nicolas' first 4th of July! I can't believe that he is growing so fast! I know I said that in the last entry but he is! He's pretty much sleeping through the night, and he still doesn't cry unless he's hungry! Which is great, because he could just be crying just to cry, but luckily so far we got a good one! haha

My parents came over and we cooked out. My dad is obsessed with the baby, so he wants to see him anytime he can! Before I had the baby we hardly talked, now he calls just to see how the baby is doing...not so much me, or Gilbert...just the baby! Some people....

Anyway, Peanut looks like he's going to be a TV watcher! Oh no! Yet another characteristic like his mommy...you can put him in his little chair in front of the TV and put on a Tom and Jerry cartoon and he's just loving life! He also loves his swing more than anything. I put him in there at night to rock him to sleep, and he'll sleep in the thing! I don't have the heart to move him when he looks so peaceful. Besides...I was always told let sleeping babies lie. So that is what I do....

Nicolas is 8 weeks old!

I can't even believe how fast he is growing!! Everyone told us that he would grow so fast and to cherish the moments, but I never in my wildest dreams imagined that he would be growing so fast....but maybe that's just him because he eats so much! He'd eat all day if he could! Some days I wish I could hook him right up to the Similac bottle so I could have my hands free! haha

We weighed him the other day and he was like 12 lbs already! I mean does anyone but me think this is crazy?! He's hefty...and to top that off whenever I take him places in his carrier it's like 22 lbs! Talk about getting a free workout!

He is already smiling and doing things that normal babies usually don't do according to my mother-in-law. He laughs and giggles at nothing. It's amazing to see him change a little each day. I look forward to the times when he starts crawling and we can chase him around the house!

1st Fathers Day

Gilbert had his first Fathers day! It was so exciting, I gave him one of those photo books you make on line. Kinda pathetic considering I am a scrapbooker, but who had time to create a whole scrapbook in time for Fathers day?! Anyway, he loves the book, I also gave him an iPod Nano because he wanted one, he was just jealous of mine.

Anyway, we went to my parents house to see my dad, and then we went to Tampa to visit his family and grandparents. It was nice to see everyone, and it was Peanuts first "semi-road trip" He was sleeping most of the ride and then he woke up just to look around. I had to ride in back with him in case he dropped his paci. I hate those damn things, but if it soothes him who am I to take away his comfort?! We got back around 10ish and he went right to sleep after he pigged down some food!!

All in all, Gilbert had a great first Fathers day with his new son!

6 week check-up

Dr. White who delivered Nicolas

Today I had my 6 week check up with Dr. White, and she said that my incision looks great, no complications and I can start to work out again. I even got the all clear to swim! I am so excited because it's been so hot and I have been wanting to swim forever, and it seems like when you can't do something you want to do it even more!! The pool has been at almost 80 this year which it's never been in the past couple of years. So finally I can go swimming I am so excited that we are cooking out tonight and swimming!

So, it appears that I am healing really good, and I am starting to feel a little better each day. Still have a little of the Postpartum depression, but that is getting better each day too. I completely understand where Brooke Shields was coming from now! It sucks, because really you have this wonderful little baby in your arms looking up at you and just starting as if they love you more than anyone else in the world, and on the other hand, you feel sad and want to cry. But I'm sure when I start exercising again, it will all go away!

Peanut is 4 weeks old!

I cannot belive that Nicolas is 4 weeks old today. It seems like just yesterday that I had him....except the healing part! That part has really sucked! Gilbert and I agreed that this might be our only child! LOL He is getting so big, I weighed him and he is like 11 lbs now! Of course he is eating like a pig! He's eating almost 5oz at a time, which is not usual for a baby of 4 weeks, but the Dr. said feed him more less often and it should be fine.
So far he is an exceptional baby! He only cries when he is hungry...which is great. When he is pee pee, he doesn't cry, but when he is poopy, he makes the funniest sound...I'm trying to get it on video to post, but it's like he inhales through his chest (you know when you make an OMG sound), it's the funniest thing. He does it like 3-4 times and then we know he is poopy. It's a good alert system actually. I think that what he is thinking is OMG I am sitting in poop....get me out of it! Then comes the fun part...when changing his diaper it's like the human play doh factory, it just keeps coming out and coming out, it's ridiculous! Sometimes it takes like 10-15 wipes, and even then I end up giving him a bath!
My funny story of the day was when Gilbert and I were changing his poopy diaper he peed (saw that one coming!) and it went all over his clothes, back and into the back of his hair!!! Yuck! We had to rush him out and give him a bath! What a character he is already.
He tries to reach up and play with anything dangling in his face...his mobile...the hanging things on his play mat...he's really advanced for his age. He also moves his shoulder forward when his pacifier falls out onto it trying to get it back into his mouth! Not bad for 4 weeks old huh?!

My 1st Mothers Day

Today was my 1st Mothers Day. It was really special because my grams from Melbourne came over to see the baby for the first time. It was nice to have my family come over and see the baby. Then we went to see some of Gilbert's family. Everyone got to see the baby and hold him. He was being passed around from person to person which I soon learned he is NOT a big fan of that!!

Other than that he did really well. I felt so emotional celebrating my 1st Mothers Day, it's hard to explain really, but it was really special!

Peanut is here!!!

Well, I finally did it! I had the baby! Nicolas Alexander Cotto was born Friday May 2, 2008 at 9:32am. He was 8lbs and 3oz and he was 20 3/4 inches long. Gilbert and I checked into Winnie Palmer at 5:30pm on Thursday 5/1, and I was hoping to have the baby that day because Gilbert's birthday is April 1, but no such luck! Dr. White broke my water and then it was time to wait (Thank God for baseball on in the room for Gilbert! haha). I wanted to hold out on getting the epidural for as long as I could just so I could continue to walk around and let gravity help run its course. I got to about 6cm or so and decided that it was time to get the epidural because I was in pain and I was wussing it up! Then the Dr. checked me at like 5ish and said that I had progressed to about 8 cm but that she would come back in a couple of hours and check me again. I needed to get more drugs because the pain was too much! I got more epidural and then I got sick to my stomach and threw up all over my bed!!! I know TMI....but anyway, at about 7am or so, it was time to start pushing! I pushed for an hour and a half and he just did not want to come out at all, so the Dr. told me that I was going to have to have a C-Section.

By that point, I was already freaked out enough, but the Dr. had given me something to help me relax several hours earlier, and it made me really sleepy! Thank God for that one too! Gilbert and I went into the OR and the baby was delivered via C-Section at 9:32am. He is absolutely perfect! Not one single thing wrong with him in my eyes!!! I love this little guy.

He has my face definitely...my cheeks, my eyes (which I think will stay blue!), he had Gilbert's hair color and seems to have his skin tone as well. He also has Gilbert's feet and hands. But in the face, he's a spitting image of me! Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing yet! haha

1 day left!!

Taken the day before I was going to the hospital (I look so gross!!!)

Well, I have 1 day left until I check into the hospital for my induction for the little peanut! We are getting excited, yet nervous at the same time! I had the sonogram last week which confirmed that the baby was 8lbs 6ozs. The Dr. I spoke with (since mine was on vacay) said that I would probably have to have a C-Section since the baby was so big! Of course I started freaking out and crying my eyes out!

I saw Dr. White today and told her what the other Dr. said, and she said that ultimately, it's my decision on what I want to do. This did not help me make my decision any easier. I wanted her to make a suggestion on what she thought I should do. After talking it over with her, and Gilbert, we decided that I was going to try regular delivery and not just elect the C-Section. Gilbert's theory is that it's been a normal pregnancy, so it should be a normal delivery. So we'll see how that theory pans out! haha

My induction date is scheduled!

So I went to the Dr. today, and I am going to be induced next Thursday 5/1/08. I am already 2cm dilated, so the Dr. said I am doing really good! That is good news. Now I am getting nervous! I am not scared about the epidural, or the IV, or even taking the baby home...I am worried about the pushing! It's scary the unknown aspect! Oh well, what went in must come out! hahaha

I have a sonogram this afternoon to confirm the baby's weight, so I will post that too to keep everyone updated.

I'm getting closer.....

So just wanted to provide an update...I went to the Dr. last Weds., and she said that at my next appointment (this Weds.) we could talk about inducing me in 3 weeks!!! I am very excited not only because I can get this over with, but that she will be delivering my baby and not some other Dr. in the practice!!! I am really pleased by this fact! I will keep my blog updated with the information on the exact date!!!

Confessions

These are my confessions:

1. I am tired of being pregnant
2. I would love to take afternoon naps like I used to, but then I can't sleep at night!
3. I am obsessed with having stretch marks forming on my belly
4. I'm disgusted with the stretch marks on my belly
5. I have gained waaaay too much weight and it makes me mad
6. I am NOT breastfeeding just so I can have a beer as soon as this kid pops out
7. When I went to the beach this past weekend I felt like a "beached whale"
8. I would love for this baby to be born tomorrow but I don't want him to be dumb later in life!
9. I think I'm starting to get PUPPP in my stretch marks and wow it itches
10. I am freaking out about the delivery of this baby
11. I'm praying that he has a small head....but not a small brain!
12. I have THE worst back pain I have ever had and it's lasted all 9 months
13. If one more person says "it'll all be over before you know it" I am going to scream!
14. I'm not as strong as I thought I was
15. Did I mention I am tired being pregnant?!
16. I use pregnancy as an excuse to not do ANYTHING!
17. I play Justin Timberlake really loud so the baby will move around during the day
18. When he is moving and shaking at night I get up and rock back and forth to get him to sleep!
19. I crave cran-grape juice like there is no tomorrow!
20. I can't wait until May 10th

Baby Nicolas Update

We finally decided on a middle name, it's going to be Alexander, and the first name will not have the traditional "h" in it. So Nicolas instead of Nicholas.

I had a Non-Stress test last week on Wednesday at Winnie Palmer because I felt like the fetal movements should be more frequent, and then wouldn't ya know...as soon as I was strapped down, he was moving up a storm! Nice work baby! He's already being defiant!! Everything is good though, he has been moving pretty actively.

The baby room is painted!! I love it! Gilbert is finishing the touch ups this weekend to the baseboards, but otherwise it looks awesome! We are going with the Winnie the Pooh theme, and I know it's a common theme, but I loved it when I saw it at Target, and had to have it, so the room matches perfectly!

We had the baby shower this past Saturday...I didn't get all the stuff on the list that I NEEDED, but that's okay, we are going to buy it sometime soon.

I can't wait for all this to be O-V-E-R!!!

Come on May!!

Wow....May cannot get here soon enough lemme tell you!!! I have been having the worst lower back issues...really since I have been pregnant! It sucks. Last night I started getting back pain in the middle of my back, in addition to the lower back pain that I already had all along!! Geez, I haven't really enjoyed 1 day of my pregnancy!

I have been trying to steer clear of those baby shows because they are making me re-think this whole baby thing, (even though it's too late), but anyway, they are freaking me out....I actually saw a birth today on the Discovery Health channel on pregnancy...talk about not wanting to have this kid!!

Anyway, we have a name picked out, it's Nicholas, but we don't have a middle name yet! We disagree on all the middle names we each come up with! I like Alexander, Gilbert likes Antonio, I like Aaron, he likes Anthony...so whatever...at least we have a first name!!