What's In A Name?

We kept Addison's name a secret while we were expecting because we didn't want to hear people's opinions on the name and everyone always has an opinion. My experience has been that people are a little better at keeping their opinions to themselves when they see the precious baby in front of them. I did slip up and let a few people know the name and these were the responses I received:

1) From my sister: "you can't name your baby Addison because I want her to call me Addy." When I was a baby I had a hard time pronouncing her name and called my sister, Alison, Addy and since she decided that was what she wanted Addison to call her then I couldn't name her Addison...too bad! Just so you know, we aren't calling Addison Addy...if that's what we wanted her to be called, we would have named her Addy. I'm sure as she gets older she will choose to be called Addy just to spite me! :)

2) From my cousin: "you can't name your baby Addison it sounds like a hotel...yea the Radisson!"

So, from then on it was mums the word on the name until she arrived. We did let people know her initials because I got so much lip about friends and family wanting to have gifts monogrammed. Brandon's nieces were the worst cluprits when it came to trying to guess the name and the guessing game was elevated when they found out the initials. They asked what each inital stood for and we denied the first A and the E, then when they asked about the last A, we told them Abadie. It was so cute, one of them (I think it was Rachel) said, "Hey, that's our last name!" I thought it was so funny!

Even in the hospital we didn't tell any of the staff her name until her birth because I was afraid someone would spill the beans and then the opinions would flow. Since her arrival and the announcement of her name, I've had no complaints or differing opinions, everyone agrees her name is just as beautiful as she is.

A few people have asked how we chose her name and that's an easy one. We wanted to pick a name that reminded us of our trip to Chicago, where she was conceived. We did a little research and a lot of discussion and realized that Wrigley Field is on Addison street in Chicago...hence Addison. I loved it right away and loved it even more since it was significant to our trip. Her middle name, Elaine was an agreed upon family name - my mother's middle name and Brandon's grandmother's name. So...Addison Elaine Abadie she it, most of the time!

At other times she is many different names. I have found it quite complicated to call her by her name after 9 months of loving her in utero without using her name. I mostly called her baby girl A, baby girl, bump, etc. never using her name so as not to ruin the surprise. Now I mostly call her baby girl but have also mistakenly called her Millie on more than on occasion and embarrassingly enough have even called her a "good puppy" when she gives a good burp or takes a good nap. It's strange how when you are accustomed to having a four-legged baby, it takes some getting use to a real baby.

I'm pretty sure she will be confused too since I don't too often call her by her own name. If you ask her she'd probably tell you her name is Pretty Princess since that is what I call her the most! It could be worse, I guess?!?

Pretty Princess

Don't forget your green on Thursday...have a happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

Back to School

Six weeks into my journey of motherhood and I've learned so much, I thought I'd share a few of the lessons Addison has taught me.

1) Sleep is overrated - I've always said I'm "an 8-hour a night kind of girl" and I was really worried about how having a baby would effect me and my lack of sleep. I'm proud to say I have learned I can function on less than 8 hours of sleep but with that being said, there are rare days that I get a lot less than 8 hours of sleep. I've often times been accused of being anal and I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing. I've been keeping track of how much sleep I'm getting and I usually average 6-7 hours in a 24-hour period but in 3-4 hour increments. I've also learned that even if you sleep 12 hours a day, if it's in 2-3 hour increments, it feels like you haven't slept much at all. With that being said, you can function like that...just so you know.


2) Mylicon drops are a mom's best friend - when we went for Addison's first visit with the pediatrician, we mentioned some fussiness at night time and we thought it was gas. Dr. Bankston suggested we get some mylicon drops. Once we got home I sent Brandon to Walgreens to pick up some mylicon drops but didn't use them, didn't even open the package for a few weeks. I was hesitant to give my newborn medicine and just wasn't convinced that's what she needed. I wanted to think I could console her and make her happy with time, patience and persistence. Well, about five weeks in and after a few conversations with friends who are moms I cracked open the mylicon drops and it is a lifesaver. My two friends both said they were told you can not overdose your baby on mylicon drops and one of my friends gave it to her very colicky son before and after each feeding! So, now I don't even hesitate to give her the mylicon after a little while of fussiness...after she's been fed, has a clean diaper and won't go to sleep...break out the mylicon drops and within a few minutes there is peace and quiet again and how can you not love that!!!


3) Huggies diapers suck - we've been using Pampers diapers from day one, that is what was recommended, that's what the hospital used and sent us home with and that's all I have purchased. I made it a point to purchase diapers on each trip to the store during my pregnancy and while I haven't had to buy any diapers since Addison's arrival, when I do I will not be buying Huggies. My cousin visited from Australia in the fall and while she was here with her baby, Wesley, she purchased a good bit of basics, instead of packing and lugging all of that to and from Australia and during her visit, she just purchased what she needed while she was here. She left some diapers for me and while I greatly appreciate her generosity, I'm on the verge of tossing all of the Huggies she left. Addison is 6 weeks old and had not had one leaky or blow out diaper until we tried the Huggies. With the Huggies just about every other diaper change there has been a leak. My friend, Brooke said that she liked Huggies for her son and Pampers for her daughter and that may have something to do with it but regardless, Huggies get two thumbs down from me.


4) It takes some time to get to know your baby - just like meeting a new friend or love interest, you need to give yourself time to get to know your baby. It was so fabulous when I finally felt like I was getting to know what Addison wanted based on her cries. At first it was hit or miss, guessing what she may need but I now feel, six weeks into it, I can pretty much guess what she needs based on her cry. A constant, whiny cry translates to I need a diaper change. A weak, hoarse cry means she's tired and needs to go to sleep. After a full belly, clean diaper, refusal to sleep, and she's still inconsolable, that is gas and that's where the mylicon drops come in (see #2).

5) Pregnancy brain is a misleading term - so many people talk about pregnancy brain and how you are so forgetful while you're pregnant but I'm here to tell you that is misleading. Being educated on pregnancy brain while I was pregnant I was lead to believe that it would end once Addison arrived and boy was that wrong. I'm still just as forgetful if not worse than when I was pregnant, I think because you have so much going on. Brandon asks when was the last time she ate...I have no idea, when was her last diaper change...not real sure, did the dog get fed today...probably not since she is standing over her bowl looking into the vast emptiness with longing. Thank goodness there's an app for that...the Total Baby app for the iPhone has made it easier for me to not have to remember and of course there's Millie to remind me to feed her. Other than that, there isn't much I really need to remember. Now, when I return to work in 6 more weeks, there may be a few obstacles to functioning without any memory but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

6) Love at first sight does exist - before having a baby I would have argued that there is no such thing as love at first sight. After having a baby, I have learned that love at first sight does exist, I had just never experienced it before. I do believe having a baby is truly love at first sight!

To loosely quote my friend Meredith who gave birth to her son Jackson the day before Addison...I'm learning so much! I wanted to be a lifelong student and of the hundreds of classes I've taken, I'm enjoying this course the most!

Addison (one month old)

Ready for my close up!

It's been quite some time but I really, really, really wanted to share some of the pictures from Addison's newborn photo session. My friend Keri and I went to graduate school together and while I continue to work for peanuts as a social worker, Keri has gone on to be an extremely talented and gifted photographer, specializing in maternity and newborn photography.

Keri and I scheduled her newborn session weeks before Addison's arrival, knowing she'd be here by the 29th of January whether Addison liked it or not. Keri prefers to photograph newborns between 5 and 10 days and since we had an induction scheduled for the 24th, we figured the 29th would work either way. Luckily for us, Addison arrived right on time, on her due date and was one week old for her newborn session.

Our appointment was scheduled for 9am and I was quite proud of us for actually making it to the session on time. Keri said she always gives parents of newborns a little room for their appointments but we were right on time and the fun got started right away. We received about 40 beautiful photographs and here are just a few of my favorites.

Please check out Keri's website and blog and tell all your friends and family about her...anyone you know interested in having such wonderful memories of their newborn should contact her!

Our Birth Story

For those of you who may not have heard the story and also for me because I like to reminisce, I'm sharing our birth story for my return to blogging...and here it is, it's kind of long just to warn you!

Addison's due date was January 22nd and when I went to the ob/gyn for my weekly appointment on Wednesday, January 19th I was only 2-3 cm dilated which was not much progress from the week before. Brandon and I had agreed that we wanted to give Addison until her due date to come on her own but she would be evicted from the womb shortly after that if she didn't head out on her own. So, we discussed with the ob/gyn and selected Monday, January 24th for our induction which was the perfect date. Brandon and I went on our first date on October 24, 2002, we were engaged on May 24, 2005 and were married on June 24, 2006...so the 24th was a very special date for us and I was quite happy that she would come on that date. Of course, she had another idea.

On Friday, January 21st I worked a full day and Brandon was standing in a wedding that night. I was pretty tired after a long day at work and after being out later than normal the night before at the rehearsal dinner for the wedding on Friday. I debated whether or not I wanted to go to the wedding but decided to make it. Brandon had to be there at 6pm to take pictures before the ceremony that started at 7:30pm. I dropped Brandon off at the church for 6pm then headed to the outlet mall to do a little shopping before the wedding started. I got such a kick out of the repeated questioning from other shoppers and store clerks about my due date...when I replied my due date was the next day, let's just say I got a lot of raised eyebrows and guffaws. After a little shopping, I headed to the church for the wedding and reception. We left the reception pretty early, after all of the obligatory pictures Brandon needed to be there for, I started complaining that I was tired and ready to head home...so that's what we did. We got home around 10:30pm, washed the face, brushed the teeth, put on the pj's and got into bed. Just before falling asleep, I decided to go to the bathroom one more time. I used the last of the toilet paper and knowing I'd more than likely be getting up in the middle of the night to use it again, I leaned over to the cabinet to refill the toilet paper...and gush! When I say gush, I mean gush! I was told over and over again, I'd know when my water broke and didn't get it but I get it now. My response was an expletive because I'd said all along, I don't want to work all day then have a baby because that is tiring. How about working all day, going shopping, going to a wedding and reception, then going into labor. If I wasn't so freaked out at that point, I probably would have burst into tears from sheer exhaustion...little did I know!

I called the hospital and was told I needed to call my doctors office, I called my doctors office and received a callback from the on call doctor who instructed me to head to the hospital if I was certain my water had broke. No contractions or labor pains yet but still a lot of leaking...and I mean a lot! I was seriously worried I'd ruin my car seat on the way to the hospital. We arrive at the hospital and I'm admitted with little questioning or assessment...I'm pretty sure my face convinced them that my water was broken and gushing as we spoke. I'm admitted about midnight and am told we would give it time to see how my labor progresses and if no progression they would start pitocin around 4am (which I assume was a convenient time for the doctor). So from midnight to 4am we hang out, trying to sleep but having a hard time due to the excitement. At 4am I'm checked and have not progressed much, only minor contractions and pain so the pitocin begins. The nurse explains the pitocin would allow them to manipulate the frequency and strength of the contractions which ideally would encourage my body to dilate and efface on it's own. An hour into the pitocin drip, I'm experiencing frequent, strong contractions. I thought I could hang and while the contractions were extremely uncomfortable, I could have tolerated it longer if they weren't right on top of each other. I kept telling myself to hang in, the contraction would be over in a few seconds but as soon as one was over, another would start moments later and that's when I caved. Epidural please!!!

The epidural was no biggie, although prior to this time it was my biggest concern but compared to the contractions, it was a walk in the park. Honestly, they could have said we are going to cut off your pinkie finger and it will stop the pain from the contractions and I would have been okay with it at that point! The epidural kicked in pretty quickly then it was smooth sailing for a while. At the nurse's encouragement, I tried to rest as much as I could, slept a little bit but had a hard time with Brandon. He was so excited and had a lot of nervous energy. He couldn't sleep and couldn't sit still, so he was in and out of the room a lot.

It was about 10am when I was told that things were progressing nicely, cervix is dilating and effacing. The on call doctor, Dr. Lisa Gautreau, came in, checked me out and said she wasn't leaving the hospital until I had a baby so I took that as a good sign. About 11am I was checked again and was dilated to 10cm and fully effaced...ready to start pushing? I guess...

So we start pushing with the nurse and it was quite a chore, especially when a) I don't know what I'm doing and b) I can't feel what I'm doing. We push for a while and it seems like Addison is crawfishing...she's not coming down, even though I've been told by every Tom, Dick and Harry for the last three weeks that my baby is so low. Now it's as if she is up in my ribs and I can feel it and that is making if very uncomfortable to push, seeing as how they expect me to curl up and grab either the back of my knees or the grab bars, but there is a baby in the way!

After pushing for an hour and repeated checks that find she seems to be headed the wrong way, Dr. Gautreau declares that she's just not fitting through my pelvis and will need a cesearan section. I'm really okay with this. So many people were sending their condolences when they found out I was having a section but truth be told, I was exhausted. It's about noon on Saturday at this point and I had been up since 6:30am on Friday and I need not remind you of just how restful my Friday was! Dr. Gautreau says "you'll have a baby in about 10 minutes once we get into the OR"...yay! She also adds, "next time you do this, you should just schedule a c-section, you're pelvis is too small" to which I respond with hysterical laughter...next time, who is she kidding?!?

The anesthesiologist was called in to give me some more juice...I needed to be numb from the chest down for the section. This posed a bit of a problem and I never really got numb after repeated attempts, pinching, poking, prodding even ice on my top half which I could still feel, even when we got to the OR. I remember the CRNA saying, tell Dr. Gautreau we are on our way but she won't be able to cut just yet because I can't get her numb. We get to the OR and Brandon waits outside while they prep me. After they have my belly dosed in betadine, I hear one of the scrub techs say, look how her baby is all on one side at this point I touch my right side to indicate she's been over there the whole nine months and everyone freaks out because I just ruined their sterile environment and the whole process begins again.

Brandon is invited into the OR and the nurse tells him to ready the camera, he turns it on and it flashes dead battery! Fabulous...so all the pictures we have are from his iPhone, thankfully he had it in his pocket. Dr. Gautreaux makes the incision and it smells like burning flesh, would have loves a heads up on that! Then she starts pulling and pushing and it does not feel well. I flinch and she stops and says "Carol, can you feel that" to which I reply "yes".

"What does it feel like?" she asks.

"Like you're ripping me open and pulling a baby out of me." to which she responded by giving the nurse anesthetist a thumbs up, who pushes some more medicine into my epidural and at that point my memory of events is pretty hazy. Brandon tells me they had to pull her back then out and she came with her arms spread and her mouth open wide. Once I feel that she's here, I basically passed out, I'm beyond exhausted and heavily medicated at this point.

Once they get me all situated and the baby ready to go, they start asking all kinds of questions.

Carol, do you want to see your family?

Carol, do you want the baby to go to recovery with you?

Carol, do you want to hold her?

I'm so overwhelmed at this point, I say no because all I want to do is sleep for 10 days. Brandon tells them that is not what I want and reassures them I would want to see my family and have the baby stay with me. One last time, before we roll out the nurse looks me in the eye and asks me again and I say, after multiple times denying her request, of course I want to see my family, hold my baby and bring her to recover with me, as if, why would you even ask?!?!

We are rolled into a small conference room where the family is waiting, they meet Addison and act like the paparazzi...I couldn't even open my eyes, all I could hear over their oohs and ahhs were cameras going off. We are taken to recovery, Addison gets her first bath, Brandon changes her first diaper and we nurse for the first time and we are totally in love!

Addison Elaine Abadie

January 22, 2011

8 lbs 13.1 oz ~ 20.25 in

Sleeping peacefully after her first bath

Brandon changing her (and his) very first diaper

Thank you so much to everyone for all the well wishes, prayers and love...we are truly blessed!

Baby Watch 2011 (part 2)

I hope there aren't too many more baby watch 2011 posts...but here is part two. We went to the doctor on Friday and while there was some progress, not as much as I'd hoped for.

First we listened to the heartbeat, nice and strong at 147-150, she's still enjoying herself in there!

Second for the examination, 60% effaced (thinning of the cervix), very soft cervix and 2cm dilated. She compared the cervix to a tomato ripening, starts off firm like a green tomato and as you get closer to delivery it becomes more soft like a red ripe tomato and apparently my cervix is very soft (or like a ripe tomato!).


Third, we discussed options and again she offered to induce but Brandon and I have decided we would really like her to come when she's ready...within reason. You all don't have to worry, I'm not going to be one of those crazy girls who is still pregnant at 45 weeks! As miserable as I've been, I'm still surprised at myself for saying no and know that a lot of people don't understand our decision. Not that it is up to anyone else, but just to explain our decision, we really would like her to fully developed and come when she's ready. Also, for personal reasons I'd rather a natural onset of labor than an induction. I've read that being induced causes stronger, harder contractions and a longer labor and there has been some research that indicates a correlation between inductions and cesareans. Inductions cause longer labors that don't progress which lead to cesareans, and my doctor agreed with this. Now if I have to have a c-section, so be it but I'd rather it be for some other reason than I got impatient, so we are giving her until her due date, but not much father after that, rest assured! With that being said, the ob/gyn said she'd see us next week...scheduled our next appointment on Wednesday when I'll be 39 weeks 4 days and a it's a full moon that day!!! Fingers crossed...

False Alarm

As I was getting into the shower this morning, I noticed a lot of moisture on my inner thighs...what the? Did my water just break? It was a clear, viscous liquid with no odor, no it was not urine, no it was not sweat, but I have no idea what it was. Going with the possibility that my water may have just broke, I went ahead and got in the shower, fixed my hair, put on my makeup and was about to get dressed when I decided to call my coworker who has had three children and is a nurse. "It sounds like your mucus plug" she says, "but you should call your doctor."


I call my ob/gyn, they don't open until 9am...it's only 7:45am at this point, so I decided to get dressed and go to work but have Brandon put my bag in my car before I send him to work, just in case. I get to work but am not feeling well, lots of back pain and some mild cramping in my lower abdomen. Nine o'clock rolls around, I haven't got much done anyway because I'm telling everyone I see that I think my water broke, and I call my ob/gyn, talk to the nurse who says, she wants to see you! Yay...I'm thinking, I must have given her the correct answers to think something is happening, even told her I have an appointment scheduled tomorrow, can it wait until then...no, she wants you to come in..NOW! Okay, I got the message!


So, I leave work and head to her office around 9:30am...wait to see her until about 10:30am. I am weighed and my blood pressure measured twice, both times it was fairly elevated. When I see her, she first listens to the baby's heartbeat with the doppler. She's fine, nothing new for her, in there moving and shaking as usual. The nurse takes a manual blood pressure and it's a lot better, after I've been laying on the table for a while. She takes a swab sample to test the "fluid" I felt and said I've progressed to 1.5cm dilated. She does not think it was my water, she also thinks it was my mucus plug.


To be safe, she will test the fluid and sent me to the lab for a HELLP panels which will test for HELLP syndrome which features a combination of "H" for hemolysis (breakage of red blood cells), "EL" for elevated liver enzymes, and "LP" for low platelet count (an essential blood clotting element). She recommends I take it easy, asked that I monitor my blood pressure, taking it every 3-4 hours, and let her know tomorrow what it has been running. If it stays elevated, she may want to induce. Apparently, the cause of HELLP syndrome is unknown, and the only treatment for is delivery...so off I go to the lab.


But, before I leave her office, she offers to schedule an induction next week...which was very tempting. I really want our baby to come when she is ready but have been feeling so crummy lately, just tired and really READY for her, none the less, I declined. I had joked with Brandon last week that he would need to come to all of my appointments from now on to prevent me for taking her up on any offers to induce, but much to my amazement, I declined this mornings offer. She decided our time together today would be my visit for the week (which was originally scheduled for tomorrow) and said she'd see me at my appointment next week. When I originally scheduled that appointment, I was hoping I wouldn't need it, I guess we shall see!


I go to the lab and wait and wait and wait, finally have a blood sample drawn and am told it will take 4 hours to result, stop at Subway and head home to "take it easy". I received a call from the nurse about 3:30pm and am told the swab sample was negative so my water did not break and the consensus is still that it was my mucus plug and the HELLP panel was negative. Good news, bad news I guess. I've been on the couch/napping all day but plan on going to work tomorrow. My coworkers seem to believe one or two more days at work should do the trick, after all being on my feet all day is pure torture lately. I'll keep you all posted...as much as I can, of course if she comes, I won't be blogging about! I hope you all have a great week!

Baby Watch 2011

Just a quick update to let everyone know I had a doctors appointment on Wednesday and a sonogram. Based on the measurements on the sonogram, they are estimating she is about 6lbs 6 ozs, has some hair and is still a girl (I had her double check, just to be sure).

After our sonogram, the doctor examined me and found me to be 1cm dilated and seemed to be surprised how low she was...she could feel her head during the exam. As she is pushing on her head, saying "can you feel that?", I'm thinking how uncomfortable it is. She said she didn't like that too much and it was making her mad to which Brandon responded, "if she's anything like her mom, it won't take much!" too true!

All in all it was a good visit, she said I was ahead of the game and thought she'd probably make an early appearance since I'm still working and am on my feet most of the day. I see the doctor again next week and will try to make the time to post an update. Hope everyone had a merry Christmas and a happy new year, may 2011 bring you all many blessings!