Anti-Shower Doors

Home improvements have been taking place since the day we moved in.  Usually, they are little things like hanging a shelf or putting a piece of furniture together.  With me taking care of Alessia and Kevin at work 9-10 hours a day (or on the road), our home is no where near where I wish it was though. 

I've been trying to do little things around the house when she naps, but sometimes she wakes up and interrupts what I am doing.  So, I have a little helper...or distraction.

This past weekend, Kevin was in Minneapolis and I decided that I wanted to take the shower doors off and put up a curtain.  I had planned on doing it when my mom was here in a week, but I couldn't take it anymore.  I despise shower doors.  They are a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and all kinds of yucky stuff.  And honestly, no matter what I do, I cannot keep them clean.

I started the project while Alessia was asleep, but didn't get far before I heard her high-pitched chatter coming from the other room.  The remainder of the job was completed with her help.  A few hours later and with only one trip to Lowe's, we had a curtain up.

Before

A huge improvement already.

My helper was as grossed out as I was by what was hiding under the doors.

Alessia did not want to give up the shower curtain.

After

Our project isn't entirely complete because we still need to scrape off some glue that was left on the shower walls and we need to fill the holes where the screws were.  But I am so much happier with the curtain and I vow to never put shower doors up.

Luckily, this weekend Kevin is around and I have a serious list of things I want to get done.  I'll be sure to take more pictures of our projects and hopefully some of you can come see them in person soon. 

Walking Until Winter

I love our neighborhood.  It is quiet, yet full of kids.  Our neighbor to the left, to the right, and across the street all have children.  And their neighbors have kids and their neighbors have kids...and so on and so on.  Right now, with Alessia being so young, she obviously doesn't go out and play with them, but I look forward to them "hanging out" in the years to come.

For now, my favorite thing about our neighborhood is the amazing walking/biking trails.  It goes through and around the neighborhood.  It takes you to the playground and pool and around the ponds. Both Alessia and I look forward to our daily walk...sometimes walks.  The weather lately has been gorgeous so I've been taking full advantage of it.  We've been walking 45 minutes to an hour everyday.  It's a win-win situation.  Alessia gets some fresh air, we both get out of the house, and I burn some calories (I say that as I'm downing a Coke).

We love to feed the ducks and geese!

She's gone from hating the stroller to loving it.

All bundled up for a chilly walk.

Sometimes our walk puts Alessia to sleep.

I'm starting to get nervous though.  The weather isn't going to stay gorgeous for long and I obviously can't take her out once winter gets here.  What are we going to do?  I got the idea of swim lessons.  Maybe go once or twice a week.  Perfect...right?  Wrong!  Swim lessons are almost $80 a month.  That's C-R-A-Z-Y!  She's 7 months old.  All we're going to do is float around in the pool while she pees in it.

I'm not trying to be cheap, but doesn't that seem unreasonable?  I thought maybe $50, at the most.  So, for now, we will walk until winter.  Don't worry...I'll bundle her up.

It's Been a Little While

The other night as I was laying in bed, I remembered I had a blog and it occurred to me that maybe I should use some of my free time the time when Alessia is asleep and Kevin is gone to start writing again.  Considering I pretty much spend every waking moment with a 7 month old, it would be nice to "talk" to an audience that actually comprehends what I am saying.

Basically, the last month has been C-R-A-Z-Y!  We packed and moved...again.  But hopefully we are here for awhile.  We've unpacked...almost.  The totes in the garage don't count since they technically are not in the house.  We need about a thousand things, but hopefully we'll get those purchased in the next year or two.  I've learned to manage without a colander and a can opener for now.

Alessia has her own room, which makes both of us happy.  I really do think she likes it since she loves to play with her toys in there.  However, since moving she hasn't started sleeping any better.  It varies day to day.  Before we moved, I was doing so well with the sleep training, but somehow we got away from it.  I no longer nurse her to sleep, but instead we picked up a new habit of patting her bottom and back whenever she wouldn't fall asleep or if she woke up in the middle of the night.  I don't know why it started, who started it, or how it started, but now she wants it.  And I want it to stop because now she can't put herself back to sleep when she wakes up.

So, we started the sleep training again yesterday and it is miserable listening to her cry.  I check on her and try to reassure her that I'm still here, but I feel like the worst person in the world.  I just can't keep getting up two, three times a night.  And sometimes staying up for two to three hours at a time. 

Luckily for us, our horrible sleeper is a great eater.  She LOVES food.  Everything is puréed for now, except for her bananas.  I've tried to give her some chunky stuff, but that really gets her gag reflex going.  The only thing she isn't a fan of is apples, which I thought most babies loved. 

Unfortunately, we haven't really had a chance to venture out and explore our new surroundings.  Since hockey season is in full swing, Kevin is beyond busy.  An adventure for us is hitting up Kroger with a 7 month old or trying to find a stud in the wall to hang a shelf (which we are horrible at).  We are planning a trip to the pumpkin patch soon so I'm super excited for that. 

Sleep Training

After my post last week, I decided something had to be done with Alessia not sleeping. During my late night feeding sessions I got a lot of Googling done and saw an article that said there were three types of sleepers: good sleepers, bad sleepers, and good sleepers with bad habits.  I immediately knew that Alessia was a good sleeper with bad habits.  She had been a good sleeper for almost two months, but then we got into horrible habits to put her to bed and, in turn, created a monster. 

Between me nursing her to sleep, my mom bouncing her to sleep, and Kevin walking/patting her to sleep, she would NEVER go down on her own.  We didn't mean to create these bad habits, but with everything going on with getting ready for the move, it happened.  And I was the one who paying for it.  I knew things needed to change so I decided to start sleep training.

I used to nanny for a family that had seven month old twins and in addition to me, they had another nanny.  The other nanny would always go and get the babies if they started crying in their crib.  I, on the other hand, would let them cry, at least for awhile.  I always told her to just let them cry it out and never understood why she had to go and comfort them after only a few seconds of crying.  Now I get it...but it took me having my own child to figure it out.  

I didn't want to go full steam ahead with just letting her "cry it out" so I went with the progressive waiting approach (kind of).  I always wait for her to show signs that she is tired: gets fussy, rubs her eyes, yawns, or melts into me when I hold her.  Then I tell her what I am doing: It's time for a nap; Mommy will be here when you wake up; I love you...something along those lines.  I turn on her white noise machine, put the fan on, and leave the room. 

As soon as I lay her down, she immediately cries...every time.  I usually let her cry for about ten minutes before going in and reassuring her that I haven't gone anywhere and that it is time for nap.  I usually straighten her out at this time and give her back a rub.  I only stay for about thirty seconds though.  If she continues crying another ten minutes, I go back and do the exact same thing....and so on and so on.

I've gotten really lucky though.  The longest she has cried is nineteen minutes.  And thank goodness because after that long I was starting to make excuses up: Maybe she isn't tired; Maybe she is still hungry; Maybe she has a wet diaper; Maybe her teeth hurt.  I have stuck to my guns though and that is saying a lot.

Do I want to run in there and grab her sometimes?  Absolutely.  Is this one of the hardest things I've ever had to do?  You betcha.  But I am able to get through it because I know she is crying because she is tired.  And when she wakes up, she is so happy to see me so I know that there are no hard feelings between us.

Overall, I think it has been successful, especially at night.  Since we started sleep training, she has slept 7 1/2 twice (one night she woke up for about 10 minutes but I let her put herself back to sleep) and 8 1/2.  She is no longer taking the 20 min naps too.  The naps still aren't where I'd like them to be, but anything is an improvement.  For now, I am not going to worry about a schedule because we still have people coming in and out for visits and are going to have a time change once we move.  But as soon as we are in our home, I have vowed to get on a schedule that works for both of us.

Someone is a much happier baby when they sleep at night.

My Baby Hate Me

It is official...my baby hates me.  OK, maybe not, but sometimes I feel like it.  Alessia went from sleeping 8-11 hours straight every night almost every night for two months to getting up 2-4 times a night.

Up until this Monday, I was able to cope because Kevin and my mom would watch her for an hour or two so I could nap.  Now that Kevin has moved to Ann Arbor and my mom is back at work, I am exhausted.

Of course everyone offers their tips.
 1. Let her put herself back to sleep when she wakes up...I tried that at about 4 o'clock this morning and instead she rolled around for 20 minutes and then wouldn't go back down.
2. Let her cry it out...tried that too, but after five minutes of listening to her gag and scream, I can't take it.
3. Fill her up before bed...I switched to giving her bottles so I know exactly how much she is eating...she still wakes up.
4. Put her to bed earlier...we cut out her suppertime nap and now she goes down at 7:30-8:00.  She wakes up after being asleep for about an hour and I have to put her back down.
5. Don't let her take long daytime naps...she never has and if she does, I never let her sleep over two hours.
 
I am hoping and praying that once we get into our house, things change for the better.  She'll have her own room, she'll be in a crib, and we'll be able to get into a better routine.  If not, I'm going to have to do some serious reading up on sleep training because I can't live like this, especially when Kevin will be traveling so much.

And, as we speak, I am watching Alessia on the monitor eat her blanket after taking a 20 minute nap.  I seriously hope she takes a longer second nap because I'm planning on laying down for that one too. 

News Flash: I'm Still Alive

As you all know, my blog has taken a back seat since we got home from Italy.  Things have just been way too busy and hectic.  I always vow that I'm going to quit slacking and make time to blog at least once a week and then something else comes up or I find something else to do.  But I'm going to make that vow again and seriously try to stick to it.

For now, I'll catch you up to speed on what is going on in our lives in as few words as possible.  We are not going back to Europe, Kevin got a job as the goalie coach for the USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, we bought a house in Ann Arbor outside of Ann Arbor, and we move in on Sept 6.  If  you haven't already seen the release of Kevin's hiring, please check it out: Reiter Tabbed as Goalie Coach for NTDP. 

In Alessia news, she is now rolling and doing the army crawl.  She loves to scream and talk, especially when we are watching movies.  And she started solids last week...right now she is only having sweet potatoes (not a big fan) and bananas. 

Sweet potatoes are not a favorite of Alessia's.

In Tricia news, I'm just trying to stay sane until we move in.  I've learned to function on practically no sleep again since Alessia is waking up multiple times at night and boycotting naps and I'm probably going to leave my parents' house ten pounds heavier than when I came because my Dad won't quit buying candy bars (and I have no willpower).  In all seriousness though, I am SO EXCITED to finally have a place to call home.  I'm already decorating the place in my head and cannot wait to reopen all our wedding gifts to see what we got.


I'll leave you for now with the promise of being back in a few days.  And if I break my promise, which is quite possible, then I'll be back in a few months.  

Catch Us If You Can

I've pretty much been working on this same post for the last 10 days.  It seems like every time I get started Alessia wakes up, wants to eat, or has a poop diaper.  Basically, my life revolves around whatever Alessia wants to do and that is usually be held or eat.  By boobs and back are paying dearly...just saying.

Since we are pretty hard to keep track of I will start by telling you that we are back in Pittsburgh.  Before heading here, we made an overnight stop in Rockford to see my best friends Jana and Barrie.  And then a quick stop in Chicago to see Gabs...and to eat deep dish pizza.  We hadn't seen Gabs since our wedding so our reunion, even though it was short, was amazing.  Alessia was a trooper, like usual and it looks like her sleep schedule hasn't been effected with the traveling.  Knock on wood.  

Love all these people and wish we saw them more often.

We only had a quick stop in Chicago, but it was great to see Gabs and meet Martin.

Alessia doesn't seem to like deep dish pizza nearly as much as her parents. 

Traveling back and forth isn't as easy as it used to be though.  Kevin and I used to be able to pack our bags, jump in the car, and go.  Now we have to make sure we have extra clothes, diapers, milk, the breast pump, hot water, blankets, a white noise maker, and toys.  We stop a lot more often due to diaper changes and feedings.  And unlike most babies that fall asleep as soon as they get put in a car, Alessia isn't really a fan.  Honestly, I think she hates the car seat.  But I would too...those things look so freaking uncomfortable.

Other things Alessia seems to hate are pacifiers, strollers, and naps.  She will take a pacifier once out of about every one hundred tries.  She won't keep it in for long though and she has to be almost completely content to even let you put it in her mouth.  As for the stroller, Kevin and I are those people who push the stroller and carry the baby.  Naps are a tough one since she needs them.  She does nap, but usually they are only cat naps...around 30-40 minutes long.  Occasionally, we get lucky about once a week and she'll lay down for a few hours.  That time is like heaven.  The past few days I've been laying her on her belly for naps and the result has been positive with over 2 hour naps each time.  But I am constantly checking on her to make sure she is still breathing so it isn't a very relaxing time for me.  Fingers crossed that this all changes soon.  I can live without her taking a pacifier, but the other two we have got to work on. 

Shit Is Hard With a Baby

Well, we made it back to the States...but I am sure most of you know that already.  Things have been crazy since we touched down and I still don't feel like we've had a chance to relax.  And unfortunately, things don't look like they will be slowing down anytime soon.  Plus, shit is hard with a baby.  Having Alessia attached to me my boob makes typing impossible. 

Our flight home was great. The day before leaving we received an email saying our flight was overbooked, but if we were willing to take another flight with an additional leg, they would upgrade us to first class.  For us, the extra 45 minute flight and 1 hour layover was worth it to be able to sit in first class for our 9 hour flight.

Overall, Alessia was perfect on the flights with the exception of shitting herself three times.  One time was even before we made it to the airport.  She had shit up her front, back, and side.  Then on our second flight, right after we changed her, she shit up her back again.  We thought we would be okay for the last flight and had our fingers crossed since we were now out of clean clothes, but her wet fart turned into a disaster as we were boarding our last flight from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh.  Since we were out of clothes, we had to put our poor girl in dirty clothes that she had worn the day before.

It took me 31 years to fly first class.

We only had a few bags. Thank you to the baggage guy for photo-bombing our picture.

Since flying into Pittsburgh less than a month ago, we have had party after party  A party for Mother's Day, a Baby Shower, a Baptism, a Baptism party, a graduation party, and a birthday party.  Alessia has made her rounds and met a vast majority of her family in a short amount of time.  She also managed to pick up a cold from someone, but that is going to happen.

Celebrating Mother's Day, Alessia's first trip to Pittsburgh, and the birth of Briggs.  

Alessia's AMAZING baby shower...or "Sip and See"

Getting baptized was hard work.  

Alessia loves her cousins already.

I know I have been a HUGE slacker with the blogging, but I promise I will get better once things slow done.  And hopefully, that is sooner rather than later.  I have tons of topics to blog about and really hope to be able to tell people what our plans are for the next season (once we figure them ourselves).

And We Are Packing!

Well, it is that time again.  Time to pack up all our belongings and head back to the US for the summer.  I started purging things a few weeks ago hoping that I could just throw the rest of our stuff in bags, but the OCD in me won't allow that to happen.  I've been packing a bag a day for the last three days, but that isn't going to cut it now.  I have three more to get done in the next 40 or so hours (plus two carry-ons) and Kevin still needs to pack his two hockey bags.  And after packing comes the cleaning, which is not going to be up to my normal standards.  I'll blame it on Alessia.   

Packing up and preparing to leave here has left me pretty sad.  I've become so attached to this place the past two years and it makes me upset to think we might not be coming back.  In actuality, Vipiteno is more home to me than anywhere in the States.  I know the US is our motherland, but it is hard to call it home when we have only lived there sporadically over the last five years. 

As for next year, things are still up in the air.  I'm pretty sure Kevin has become frustrated with me since I change my mind on what I want on a daily and sometimes hourly basis.  One minute I want to go back to work; the next minute I want to stay at home with Alessia.  One minute I want to settle somewhere and get a house; the next minute I want to continue to travel the world.  I know it sounds crazy, but even I don't know what I want.  I guess time will tell.

For now, I am getting excited to see everyone back in the States and I know they are all looking forward to meeting Alessia.  Regardless of where we end up next season, I know this summer will be amazing.  There's no confusion there. 

The Trail Is Chiusa!

This past week, Kevin and I decided we needed to get out of town for a few days.  The weather forecast was great so we decided to drive to Cinque Terre.  We had never been, but always heard great things so we booked a hotel a few nights before, planned our trip, and headed out on Tuesday.

The drive took us about 4 hours and Alessia slept the whole way.  After checking in and feeding our girl, we hopped on the train and headed to our first village, Vernazza.  Not two minutes after we stepped off the train, it started to rain.  But don't worry, we came prepared with umbrellas.  Or not...they were laying on the bed in our hotel room.  Luckily for us, it was just a light sprinkle and it only lasted about 15 minutes. 

The sky cleared up, the sun came out, and we were able to get some great pictures.  Since Alessia was starting to stir a little in her wrap, we decided to just grab a quick slick of pizza and head back to La Spezia (where we were staying).


Rain, rain, go away
 



Vernazza

The next day, we knew we were in for a full day.  We wanted to check out the remaining four villages, plus the city we were staying in.  We headed out at about 10 am to our first village, Corniglia.  There are 377 stairs you have to walk to get from the train station to the actually village.  Since we had Alessia and were going to be hiking all day, we decided to take the bus up to the village instead of the stairs.

After checking the village out, chatting with old ladies using hand gestures (old ladies love babies), and walking down the 377 stairs, we headed for the start of the trail to the next village.  And we were greeted with a sign that said it was closed due to landslides.  WHAT???  It was okay though because there was another trail we were going to take once we arrived at the next village.  So, we headed to the train station...only to find out we had just missed the train by about five minutes and would have to wait another hour for the next one.  This is where I would insert the f-word. 



Corniglia



The view was amazing.

Our next village was my favorite, Manarola.  Here we had focaccias, a must-have when visiting Cinque Terre, and gelato.  We watched kids swim in the water, which had to be freezing.  And we even saw a little naked girl running around...I never did understand why she was naked.  After all this, we went to take the trail to our next village and, as luck would have it, it was closed too.  Son of a bitch!  



Manarola



The sunbathers were out in full force.



Manarola was definitely my favorite village.



Focaccia

We had to take the train again to the next village, Riomaggiore.  It seemed a lot bigger than the other three villages we had visited.  If we were to have actually stayed in one of the villages of Cinque Terre, I would have probably picked to stay there.   There were a plethora or restaurants, cafes, and little shops.  We grabbed some fruit from one of the places and the mandarin oranges were delicious...the regular oranges were not (Kevin picked those out). 



Riomaggiore

I love all the bright colors.

Once we made it to the train station in Riomaggiore, Alessia was awake.  We decided it was probably best not to go to the last village and just head back to our hotel in La Spezia to feed her.  After showering, we set out to see what our surroundings were all about, but Alessia wanted no part of it.  She didn't want to be in her stroller, she didn't want us to carry her, she wasn't hungry...she was just pissed (and a little gassy).  So instead of a nice Italian meal, Kevin and I ate at a kebab shop.  For you Americans, you probably have no idea what this is...Google it.  Needless to say, Alessia's tantrum lasted for a few hours and Kevin and I were actually almost on the verge of jumping in the car and driving back to Vipiteno that night.  But eventually, she fell asleep and woke up being her normal self...not the devil baby that possessed her the night before.

We had planned on going to the last village that next day, but after the night before, we decided it was probably best to play it safe and head back home.  We made a quick stop at the pier to check out the water and then made the four hour drive back with a sleeping baby in the backseat.



A quick trip to the pier before heading home.



La Spezia

Even with the trails being closed, we had an amazing trip.  And despite the one night of hell with Alessia, we would have to say she was an angel, especially when it mattered.  And who knows?  Maybe one day we can take Alessia back and she'll actually remember it.

Family Stroll

With the season over and the weather getting warmer, Kevin and I have been trying to get outside more.  I feel like all I've done for the past 6 weeks since Alessia was born is sit on the couch, watching tv, with my boob hanging out.

She is starting to get on a better feeding and sleeping schedule now so it's easier to do things.  This past week we either walked the trails around Vipiteno or walked into town everyday.  Usually she is pretty good...usually.

Yesterday, it was beautiful outside.  It was 70 degrees and sunny, but there was a nice breeze so we decided to put on our trainers and hit the trails.  I would say it was perfect; Kevin would probably say it was too hot.  We parked at the ice rink and headed to where the trail starts and before we even got to the trail, Miss Alessia started getting fussy.  We spent a majority of the walk carrying her, which gets a bit tiresome now that our fat girl is over 9 pounds.  But, all-in-all, she was good and it was nice to just get outside and get some fresh air and vitamin D.  My pasty white body also got a little tan too.

The Eisack River that runs through town.

  Reifenstein Castle

Taking a break to enjoy the view

Someone was not very happy to be in her stroller.

I got my cardio and weights in on the walk.

What Alessia wants, Alessia gets. 

View of Vipiteno

Right now, we still haven't planned any trips, but we are hoping to get out of town next week for a couple of days.  Stay tuned.

Another Season Down

While most leagues in the United States are still playing, the 2012-2013 hockey season has officially come to an end for us (and most of Europe).  Kevin's team, the Broncos, played really well throughout the season, finishing at the top of the standings.  Unfortunately, they lost in the Finals so the season didn't exactly end the way we would have wanted. 

Most of our North American friends here have headed home already, with the last of them leaving tomorrow.  On one hand, I am jealous; on the other hand, I'm glad we still have another month here.  I'm definitely looking forward to getting home so everyone can meet Alessia.  I also cannot wait for my breast pump, a bouncer, a swing, and a car seat that actually passes safety standards.  Of course, I am looking forward to all the amazing American food...Chipotle, hot dogs on the grill, Marzetti Ranch Dressing, and hot wings.  And I'm counting down the days until I get to go to Target. 

We are excited to get home for an amazing baby shower that my cousin, Steph, has planned for us.  She's been working on it for months and I know it is going to be the best.thing.ever!  And what's more exciting than coming home to a new niece or nephew?  Kevin's sister, Melany, and her husband, Brett, are expecting their third child right around the time we get home.  Maybe our first stop will be the hospital to meet the new little peanut.   

I'm not looking forward to the flight home.  We are going to be "those people."  The people no one wants to sit next to because they have a newborn.  The people who have a million bags.  The people who take 30 minutes to get everything together so they can walk through security.  I'm having nightmares about our travel day already. 

Our living situation is also something I dread.  Like most hockey players and couples, we live with our parents in the summer.  While we are beyond thankful that our parents allow us to do this, it sucks to lose your privacy and space.  Plus, we are throwing a baby into the mix and that is definitely going to make things ten times harder.  Kevin and I are just getting to a place where we have a routine with Alessia and are used to the way the other does things.  I don't want to mess that up.  Our living situation is also going to require us to travel back and forth.  Nine hours in a car from Pittsburgh to Springfield will be a real treat.  Kevin and I have already made the executive decision that we will be driving overnight.

The end of the season also brings the off-season...the time where we must make tough decisions about where we will be and what we will be doing next season.  For me, the off-season is the hard part.  Traveling and living somewhere new and unknown is easy for me.  Deciding where that is going to be is tricky.  And, again, this is going to be a lot harder now that we have a little person to think about.  I know Kevin and I will make the decision that we feel is best for our family, but getting to that decision is always tough.  One thing is for certain, there is never an easy answer. 

Parents Of The Year

Babies are supposed to like music...right?  So Kevin and I downloaded Baby Einstein's Lullabies a few weeks ago.  Alessia seems to like the music and we usually put it on during bedtime, but I wouldn't go as far as saying it puts her to sleep. 

However, throw on some rap or R&B and the girl is out.  During the day, we usually put a music channel on the TV because most everything else is in German or Italian.  I think she heard so many of the songs when she was in my belly that they bring her comfort...I am serious.  She is a sucker for 50 Cent and Nicki Minaj.  Does it make us bad parents if we let her listen to this type of music?  Probably not, but we definitely aren't going to get the "Parents of the Year" award.  But if it lets us get an hour or so of time to ourselves or allows us to hop in the shower, then we will keep on playing it.

Here are a few of Alessia's favorites at the time...she told me.

Join Us For The Ride

When I decided to start blogging, I wanted to use it as a means to keep our family and friends posted on our lives over here in Italy.  It mainly revolved around traveling and new discoveries here in Italy.  Then this past year, it transitioned into a "baby blog."  I would say 90% of my posts this season (hockey season, that is) have had to do with something baby or pregnancy. 

Last night during one of Alessia's feedings, I was trying to think of blog topics I could write about that don't contain the word "baby" and I kept coming up blank.  I have nothing and I'm disappointed by that.  I know that this is partly due to the fact that, right now, I have a one track mind.  I eat, sleep, pee, and shower on Alessia's schedule.  Most of my day consists of me sitting on a couch in my pajamas feeding, changing, or entertaining a one month old.

Besides taking care of a baby, I'm still trying to hold things together here at the house.  Hockey is just wrapping up so things have been crazy.  Over the last seven days, Kevin has probably spent 80 hours at the ice rink between tournaments, practices, meetings, and games.  Then he comes home and relieves me so I can shower or nap. 

Things are about to change though.  Once hockey is over, the Reiter's are getting out of here.  Whether we're discover new things in Vipiteno, taking a day trip to a nearby town, or traveling for a few days, we are going to take advantage of our last month here in Italy.  And I promise to take everyone along for the ride. 

Olive Oil in the Bathroom

When I was in the hospital it seemed like no matter what question I had, the answer was always "olive oil."  Apparently, olive oil isn't just for cooking.  It's used for a plethora of baby things.

I knew we weren't going to use baby wipes from the beginning.  They are expensive and most contain way too many unnecessary ingredients.  We decided we would use water and a cotton ball, which is just as effective.  At the hospital, the nurses informed us that olive oil is also great to use to clean a baby's bum.  It takes poop off easily and moisturizes at the same time.

Everything I read prior to delivery said newborn babies should only be bathed a few times a week.  I asked a few friends what they used and most indicated they only used water for the first few months.  It's not like babies really get dirty.  During Alessia's first bath at the hospital, I thought the nurse was making soup when she started adding salt and olive oil to the water.  But our girl came out squeaky clean and smelling good enough to eat.  Kevin and I have kept up with this routine here at home and so far, everything is good.

Alessia enjoys a nice olive oil bath.

 And what do you put on baby's when they get out of the bath?  Olive oil, of course.  No lotions are going on our baby girl...at least not right now.  We rub her down with olive oil to moisturize and massage her skin.  Surprisingly, the skin absorbs most of the oil so she isn't a greasy mess.


Looks like Kevin and I will be keeping a bottle of olive oil in our bathroom from here on out. 

Alessia's Birth Story

I promised a birth story so I thought I better deliver.  The past two weeks have been crazy with my parents here and taking care of a newborn so I'm posting this a little later than I had intended.  Besides family and a few friends, not many people know all of the details of Alessia's arrival.  Throughout my entire pregnancy, Alessia proved she was going to do things her way and my labor and delivery were no exception. 

On the morning of March 4, Kevin and I went to the doctor for one last appointment to see if Alessia had turned.  I knew she hadn't and didn't need an ultrasound to confirm it.  But the doctor did it anyway and it just confirmed what I had told him.  Since I was almost 39 weeks and running out of room, he decided to have me schedule a csection.  Kevin and I decided we would go with March 5, the next day.

For the most part, we were all ready.  The only thing I wanted to do was to make Kevin some meals before I went to the hospital because I knew he would be busy between work and visiting us.  After going to the store, we had a big lunch (before I started my fast) and took a nap (because who knew when the next nap we would get would be).  Kevin left for work and I got to cooking.  In the midst of doing all of this, I was also sending out Facebook messages and emails to some family and friends informing them of the scheduled csection.  I had just sent out one, when I had to go to the restroom.  What started out as a regular pee, ended with my water breaking.  It wasn't a slow leak or a little bit either.  It was like some took a gallon of water and poured it into the toilet.  I couldn't help but laugh at the fact that my water just broke 12 hours before my scheduled csection.

Since Kevin was at work, I had to call him to come home, but he wasn't answering.  I called the other two coaches too, but still no one picked up.  Looking at his schedule, I knew all three of them were on the ice so I called the assistant coach's wife.  Guess what?  She wasn't answering either.  Finally, I called the youth coach, praying he would pick up, and he did.  At first he didn't know what I was saying (damn language barrier), but then it hit him and he went into panic mode.  He wanted to take me to the hospital right away, but I told him just to go get Kevin.  From Kevin's account, he made a very dramatic entrance by shouting over the boards that Kevin had to get home right now (ice skates on and everything) because I was in labor.  Kevin called though and I told him to take his time. 

Kevin made it home about 45 minutes after my water broke.  I was having mild contractions at that point and was leaking water like a faucet. In case you didn't know, when your water breaks, it just keeps on coming.  I had finished packing already and had taken the last bit of food out of the oven.  Kevin ate since we knew we were in for a long night and we headed to the hospital. 

We arrived at the hospital at 9:00pm and were greeting by an amazing midwife, Sara.  She immediately got me on a monitor so they could see how far apart my contractions were and she contacted my doctor.  At that point, she wasn't sure whether they would let me labor through the night or take me into surgery right away.  My doctor didn't want to wait and was there within 15 minutes.  Once he arrived, we all got ready.  I put on my hospital gown, Kevin got his scrubs, and Dr. Guiliani got prepped to rip me open and get this baby.

Holy water weight!  Look at that fat face!

The stethoscope was just a prop.  I have no idea where he got it. 

Once we made it to the OR, I met my anesthesiologist and nurse...both very nice and both spoke decent English.  Kevin had to wait outside while they got me prepped.  Everything went smoothly until the epidural.  They stuck that needle in my back and I'm pretty sure I jumped about 15 feet in the air.  Then it caused my blood pressure to drop, which made me vomit.  And it isn't easy to vomit with no feeling in most of your body, while your arms are strapped down, and you are laying on your back.  Thank goodness for a quick nurse with a bed pan.  Because my blood pressure stayed low, Kevin was not allowed in the room for the delivery.

Everything went really fast after the epidural.  There was a little pressure, which I was told was the nurses pushing the baby down and then the midwife said "you have a girl."  Before I got to see her, they took her out to Kevin.  He brought her in to me and got me my glasses so I could actually see her.  I think we were both in shock that she was a girl.  

Immediately, they put her on my chest and we started "bonding."  After I was stitched up, all three of us went to the recovery room where we started nursing.  We stayed there for about 2 hours and then were moved to what would be our home for the duration of our stay.  The nurses got me fixed up, which means I got the BIG pad and the ugly underwear.  Kevin went with Alessia to get weighed and measured.  When he brought her back I was shocked to see that she still had blood and vernix on her.  Apparently, it is good for the skin so they do not wipe it off.  The skin will absorb it.  Who knew?

That first night all three of us slept together.  Kevin's bed was pushed up against mine and we were told to keep her on one of our chests throughout the night.  And we did as told.  I'm pretty sure there wasn't a lot of sleeping though.

The next morning, I felt like I had been hit by a truck.  My abdomen hurt so bad and despite the fact that I hate taking medicine, I was begging for them to give me more after the first round did nothing.  A midwife came in and told me I had to get up and move and I thought someone was playing a sick joke on me...she wasn't joking though.  Luckily, she also told me she was going to remove my catheter and that made a HUGE difference because those things suck. Kevin was amazing and took diaper duty all day.  He made sure I was comfortable and took care of Alessia as much as he could.

One hurting mommy...

one proud poppy...

and one sweet baby. 

Overall, everything was great.  Alessia's entrance into the world was quick and definitely unexpected.  I have a feeling this little girl is going to keep us on our toes in the years to come and Kevin and I can't wait.  

Introducing Alessia Jane

Alessia Jane was born on March 4, 2013 at 10:19pm.  She weighed 6 lbs 14 oz and was 18.75 inches long.  The story of her arrival will be posted in the coming days.  For now, you can just stare at her sweet face. 

One of Alessia's first pictures.

Please Note

Just to clarify, my last post was not geared towards one particular person or meant to leave you questioning whether or not you might have said one of these things to me.  It was simply a post about phrases I found annoying during my pregnancy and why I found them annoying.  When writing the post, I was being half humorous/sarcastic and half serious.

It doesn't state that these things were said by individuals intending to be mean-spirited.  And, in reality, I'm not going to punch anyone in the face.  I wouldn't even know how to throw a punch without breaking my own hand.

But since we are on the subject of phrases that I hate and find terribly annoying, here are a few more to not say to me.

1.  "Everything happens for a reason."  It actually pains me to even type this phrase.  That is how much I absolutely hate it!  My hatred for this phrase is as strong as my hatred for Ann Coulter (and that is saying a lot). 
2.  "If it's meant to be, it will be."  I would just like to know who exactly is going to decide if it is meant to be.  
3.  "Good things come to those who wait."  Actually, good things come to those who work their asses off to make good things happen.  Not the ones who are laying on the couch waiting. 

How Rude!

Throughout my pregnancy, people have said some annoying and sometimes inappropriate things to me.  Most of the time, I brush them off.  There are a few phrases that I cannot stand though.  I know that I am easily annoyed while pregnant, but I'm not sure if I can blame my hormones for wanting to punch people in the face when they say these things.  But please make a note to never say these to me in my next pregnancy.

1. "You have to do what is best for the baby."  I know I talked about this in a previous post, but I've heard this at least a hundred times this pregnancy and I hate it.  It usually was in regards to Baby Reiter's breech position and what we were going to do about it.  People didn't understand why we would consider anything other than a csection because "I should do what is best for the baby."  Don't assume that you know what is best for our baby just because that is the way it is done in the US....thank you very much.

But regardless of what the doctors, Internet, books, or others say, why would you even use this phrase.  Do you think I'm going to carry a baby for 9 months and then make a decision that I don't think is best for the baby? 

2. "I really hope you have a boy" or "I really hope you have a girl."  Just so you know, we don't give a shit what you want us to have.  We didn't ask you and believe us, we wouldn't ask you.  The whole phrase is rude.   The fact that this is our first child and we are having the gender be a surprise makes the phrase ten times worse.

source

3. "I know the baby is a girl" or "I know the baby is a boy."  Umm...I'm pretty sure you don't know what I am carrying.  I don't care how I am carrying, what symptoms I have, or what the Chinese Pregnancy Calendar says, whatever you say is a guess.  We don't care when people say what they think I'm having.  Having people guess is half the fun in not finding out the gender.  When they change the word from "think" to "know" is when I have a problem. 

Looking back, maybe I should have done this post a long time ago.  But now people have it for future reference for not only me, but other pregnant women they come across.

There Will Be One More Picture!

As I sit here chugging a 2 liter bottle of water, I can (almost) confidently say that there will be a 38 week pregnancy picture. When the bell chimes midnight, which is in about 6 hours, I will be two weeks away from my due date. At that time, I will also be four days away from finding out whether or not they are going to make me have a scheduled c-section. And all signs were pointing to "yes" at my last appointment. 

Overall, I am feeling great. The past few days even Kevin has commented on how much energy I have. I haven't napped, I've been out and about walking, and besides the unavoidable aches and pains, my body is hanging in there. I'm hoping this is the calm before the storm and I go into labor here in the next couple days. That might be wishful thinking, but stranger things have happened.

Like most women do near the end of their pregnancy through their entire pregnancy, I'm thinking of things I can't wait to do, foods I can't wait to eat, and drinks I want to chug once I'm no longer pregnant. Do I want a glass of Italian red wine or a nice German beer first? What kind of lunchmeat am I going to order at the deli...and eat cold? How many over easy eggs can I request they put on my pizza (don't knock it until you try it)? 

Seriously...it is so good! 

The one thing I am looking most forward to is sleeping on my belly. I know with a c-section, this one is going to take time, but I can't wait. I am so sick of sleeping on my side and I've never been much of a back sleeper so I could care less about being able to do that again.

For now, I'll continue to dream, but I know these things are within reach. 

Full Term!

Now that the time has come for my pregnancy to be over, I'm starting to feel like it just began.  I remember when I first found out and how surreal it all felt.  Now, I know there will be a baby in this house in less than three weeks.  I couldn't wait for people to start noticing my belly and now there is no way to avoid it (and my massive belly button).

We met with the doctor this past week for my 37 week appointment and the baby is still breech.  While it took time, I came to terms with the fact that the baby will be delivered c-section.  NOTE: Please don't tell me that people do it all the time...I know that.  And if you tell me it is for the best, I will be inclined to quit talking to you.  That is one phrase that I never want to hear again after this pregnancy.  Imagine prepping for a new job for 9 months...you read all the manuals, watch the videos, and train your body.  Then you get in there the first day and they tell you that you won't be doing the job you prepared for.  Yes, you still get the same outcome (a new job and a salary), but you can't help but be disappointed.  That is how I feel.  Regardless, Kevin and I will be having a baby, but it just isn't the way that we pictured it.

There is a small chance that the baby can turn, but I am running out of room.  Also, factor in that I have a bicornuate uterus and the chances go down.  The baby has started to drop so instead of the head engaging (like in most cases), the feet are resting in my pelvis.  The great news is that the head is no longer right up against my ribcage, which is such a relief.  My heartburn has greatly decreased and I can breathe so much easier.

Unfortunately, I am still gaining weight.  And now it is water weight.  My ankles are cankles, my fingers and toes are little sausages, and I have even noticed my face is puffier.  I'm following everything they say to do to avoid edema, but it isn't working.  Just another glamorous symptom of pregnancy.

Everything in the apartment is ready.  We have the diapers stocked (we should be good for 3-4 weeks) and we have wipes (or cotton squares since we aren't using wipes).  The clothes are washed and the crib (pack and play) is set up.  I did some serious cleaning the other day and Kevin did all the laundry.  We'll still have to do some things here and there, but if the baby comes tomorrow, we are prepared.

We both got our hair cut and I managed to shave my legs this week (let me tell you, it isn't easy).  Kevin does need to paint my toenails because that is one task that I cannot do without pulling something and he is a good sport to help me out.  We've almost decided on names.  We have it narrowed down to two for a girl and two for a boy.  I think it might come down to deciding once the baby is born.

Since Operation Turn Baby Reiter was a bust, I have now moved on to Operation Get Baby Reiter Out.  I'm hoping to go into labor naturally and avoid a scheduled c-section.  I'm bouncing around on my birthing ball, eating fresh pineapple, taking my vitamins, and drinking my teas to help move things along.  Fingers crossed Baby Reiter makes an appearance before my next appointment on March 4.

Here are the last three weeks of my pregnancy pictures.  These could be the last ones.

Just got back from my hair appointment so Baby Reiter isn't embarrassed of his/her Mommy. 

Next year, Daddy will have two Valentines.

FULL TERM!  We are so close!