Stress

Edit: Just an update to my comments below...Grant is going away for one of his best friends Bachelor parties next weekend to Charleston, and he leaves early on Friday, and he won't be home until Sunday afternoon. So, I'm hoping that a weekend away with his "guys" will cheer him up! :)

It's been a busy few weeks in the Harvey household, and it's really caused some tension lately. I feel like we've been running from one place to the other nonstop for the past two weeks, so it's been pretty stressful, and I don't see the situation improving much until after the end of June.

Ultimately, the stress hasn't gotten to me much, because I'm so Type A that I've been very organized and gotten everything completed with little to no issues; however, it really seems to be affecting Grant. He is constantly aggravated at the dog, quick to anger and just moody. I asked him last night what was going on, and he said that he thought that once I finished my MBA (last Wednesday) that things would calm down for us, and we wouldn't be so busy. He thought we would have more time in the evenings, and he would have more time to do things. Unfortunately, he feels like we've become more busy since I finished.

I can't wave a magic wand and grant us more time to do the things that we want, but I am trying to encourage G to embrace our hectic schedules and know that we'll always be more busy now, but if we work together, we can make it through. It's frustrating, because he takes out his stress on me sometimes. I try not to let it get to me, because I know how he is feeling, but sometimes it's tough. I know that together will make it through these next few months where we've got something going on every single weekend and often times during the week, as well. I hate to wish away the time, but I'm SO ready for the end of June!

Questions Answered - Part 3

I think that this will be the final post of Questions Answered. If anyone thinks of any additional questions to ask, please feel free to ask at anytime! :)

What is the hardest "thing" for you to handle since Weston joined your family?

The hands down toughest thing for me to handle is the crying...I want my baby to be happy all of the time, and I hate when he cries, and I can't make him feel better. I just don't know what's wrong, and it makes me so sad. It's the worst at night...Weston cries himself to sleep, and it's not just a whimper, it's a full on cry. If we go in his room to comfort him, it only makes it worse, so we leave him to put himself to sleep. But it completely breaks my heart! The other hard thing is making time for myself...I used to be able to run to the grocery store real quickly or run errands or shower, etc. Now, I have to more carefully plan those things based on his naps or his schedule. It's tough, but it's SO worth it!

What has been the easiest "thing" for you to handle since Weston joined your family?

The easiest "thing" for me to handle has just been being a mom...we've easily fallen into the routine of working and spending time together, and I feel like it's been so smooth for our family. I love being a mom...absolutely love it!

Talk about your diagnosis with PCOS and your positive pregnancy test / experience...

So, as most of you know, Grant and I will have only be married for a year this upcoming weekend, and we got pregnant with Weston on our honeymoon. I can't imagine life being any different, and it worked out perfectly. We love our little boy, but he was definitely a huge surprise.

Here is my story: I had been on birth control since I was in the 8th grade due to irregular cycles, so I was anxious to get off of BC to see what would happen. So, I talked to Grant about it, and we agreed that I would get off birth control in September just to see what would happen, but we would use other forms of birth control in the interim. I only ovulated once on my own and once with help from the doctor by taking some pills from September to January, so I went to the doctor, and she did an ultrasound and blood tests, and she diagnosed me with PCOS. She told me that when we were ready, that we would go the route of using Clomid. I had 14 cysts on one ovary and 10 on the other. I was devastated, and I cried and cried thinking that it would be difficult to get pregnant, and I might never have a child.

Since we weren't ready yet, the doctor told me that to avoid additional cysts that I should get back on BC until we were ready to start trying, so I agreed and got back on birth control in late February. I took it regularly, but I didn't always take it at the same time everyday, and I sometimes missed a pill and took two in one day, because I didn't think that it was possible to get pregnant or to ovulate without medical assistance based on my diagnosis. So, Grant and I moved forward with our plans, got married, went on our honeymoon and a week after returning from our honeymoon, I got a positive pregnancy test.

I couldn't believe it...I had been diagnosed with PCOS, so this wasn't possible! I was shocked, and I was confused. It was an emotional time, and I felt like God had given me a miracle, because I had been told that getting pregnant was going to be difficult. Even though it's not how we planned it, I feel like God knew what he was doing, and he knew that the time was right. So, I'm anxious just thinking about the diagnosis and wondering whether it will be so easy next time or if it will be difficult. I'm scared that though we want two children, we may only have one. If that's the case, that's okay. God blessed us with a beautiful, healthy, happy baby boy, and we are SO lucky!

What are your favorite - hair/skin products?

My favorite hair products are Bumble & Bumble. I love it!! Specific products that I use regularly are Spray de Mode, Brown Hair Powder, Tonic Lotion, Warm Brunette Shampoo & Conditioner. As far as skin products go, I use a variety of products. I use a moisturizer, under eye cream and anti-wrinkle cream in the evenings. I use a sunscreen and general moisturizer, as well as, anti-puff eye roller in the mornings before leaving the house.

What is one thing you can do to make you feel pretty?

Take time to myself...in the evenings after work, I spend time with Weston, get him ready for bed and do his bedtime routine, then I prepare everything for the next day. We wash bottles, eat dinner, prepare bottles for the next day, etc. It's very busy, and I often just have a quick rushed shower. I love the weekends when I just have time to take a LONG shower, fix my hair, put on make-up slowly and do any other things to feel good about myself. Just taking my time and getting ready and not being rushed makes me walk out of the house feeling pretty! :)

Favorite drink?

My favorite non-alcoholic drink is Diet Coke. My favorite alcoholic drink is Margarita's especially on the beach with friends.

Have you chosen not to drink at all while breastfeeding?

No. I haven't chosen not to drink while breastfeeding. I try to avoid drinking large amounts, because I just don't know that it's good for him, though I don't think that it'll necessarily hurt him. There are so many mixed opinions and thoughts on the subject. I didn't drink a whole lot before I was pregnant. I drink socially...at parties, tailgates, etc. I also have the occasional glass or two (or three) of wine in the evenings, but never an abundance. I do not drink within two hours of the next feeding, so if I'm going to do it, it has to be after he goes to bed when I won't be feeding him for awhile, when I'm gone for a few hours, and he'll be getting a bottle or at the beginning of awake time after he has just eaten.

How many more kids do you want to have?

Now that I've had Weston, and I've had such a great experience from the time I got the positive pregnancy test to the present that I told Grant the other day that I would be happy having four kids total, but in all reality, we are planning on having two. We don't want Weston to be an only child, because we want him to have that experience of having a sibling, but we also want to be able to provide for them financially as best as possible without having financial worries or stress. So, we've agreed to stop at two babies. :)

What is the best thing about being a mommy?!

I don't know if there is one best thing, because I feel like everything right now is just awesome! I really love when I go to get Weston from his crib in the morning, and he just looks up at me and grins this huge wide smile! I love it, and it makes the job SO easy. I also love cuddling with him and just holding him close. I love knowing that he relies on me, and I take care of him and would do anything for me. I don't have a "best" thing, because it's all so rewarding, and I'm SO lucky to be the mom to such an awesome little boy!

Weston with Aunt Amanda (my sister)

Questions Answered - Part 2

Here are the remainder of the responses to the questions that were asked...Enjoy!

How tall are you? I'm 5 feet tall and I'm thinking it's going to be tough (uncomfortable!) carrying a baby with my super short torso! Was this an issue for you at all?

I'm only 5 feet tall, as well, and I too have a short torso. It wasn't an issue for me carrying Weston. I didn't have any additional issues aside from the normal pregnancy problems, such as, sore hips and back, etc. I feel like his growth was restricted a little bit, because I'm so small, and he has grown so quickly since he's been an outside baby, but it wasn't a problem for me or didn't cause me any discomfort.

What is your job and do you have any tips for staying focused on your work during the work day while you leave your baby with someone else?

I am a Project Manager for Software Development, so I develop project timelines and write documentation, as well as, manage a project team and management expectations. My tips for staying focused are as follows:
1.) Bring pictures of your little one to the office, so you can take a few moments during the day and just look at them and smile wondering what he is doing and if he is having a good time at daycare.
2.) Enjoy what you do...enjoying your job and the adult interaction has made the transition go very smoothly for us.
3.) Know your daycare provider...as I mentioned before, we love our daycare provider, and she is so open, upfront and honest with us. I always trust that Weston is in good hands, and I never worry about what he is doing. I can text her or email her throughout the day, if necessary.
4.) Find a daycare that's close to where you work...this has been great for me, because on days when it's tough, I'm able to go over and play during lunch, and it's fun for both of us!
5.) Most importantly, be confident in your decision to go back to work, as well as, confident in yourself as a whole. Know that you made a decision that will benefit you all and don't second guess yourself.

Do you find it challenging to have time with your husband after having a baby? What fun things do you do for each other to keep the romance alive?

Actually, no...we had committed to going on dates at least once a month prior to Weston's birth, and we actually go more often than that, and it's fun. We can reconnect and have adult conversation, as well as, let Gram & Gramps (my parents) play with Weston. He has stayed overnight at their house probably 5 nights now, and it's great. They only live 20 minutes away, so if they need me I can be there pretty quickly. So, we go to dinner, have been to the movies and just talk together. It's been fun and so rewarding and built our relationship even stronger! We also eat dinner, at the table, together every night, even if it's after Weston is in bed. And we also try to spend at least 5-10 minutes just sitting down and talking in the evenings about our days, things that we need to do, etc. It's rewarding, and it's made our relationship so much stronger!

And I think I have more questions, but for some reason, I can only see three questions showing up right now in my comment section for the post. I'll check back and update this post later!

Celebrating Mommy & Daddy's Birthday at Ted's Montana Grill

Questions Answered - Part 1

I'm going to answer as many of your questions as I can before I have to get back to work...it's been a busy week, so I haven't had a chance to post my responses. I will finish the responses that I don't get to early next week!

Did you have any girls names picked out? If so, what were they?

We really struggled with girls names, but we wanted to be completely prepared if we found out we were having a girl. It's really funny, because we both really have always wanted two boys, so we have had a boys name picked out since we first started dating. We started trying to think of girls names, and we came up with all the really popular girls names that we loved, such as, Abigail and Madison. We had settled upon Madison if it was a girl, but some of our best friends have decided to name their little girl, due next week, Madison. So, it looks like we'll be going with Abigail or something entirely different if our next child is a girl.

On another note, I've always wanted to have two boys, but now that we have one boy, I think I'd kind of like to have a girl next time, but I'd be so happy either way, and I'd love a boy or a girl! :)

How did you choose daycare for Weston? Did you have the option of leaving him with a family member or having a full time "nanny"? How did you choose that particular daycare?

I am completely Type A and OCD, so I started looking for Daycare Providers early on...I didn't go to a regular daycare when I was a baby, because my mom chose an "In Home" daycare provider. I knew that this was something that I wanted to look into, because I had a great experience. I still get Christmas and Birthday cards from my daycare lady, and she attended my high school graduation. The State of Georgia has a website that you can enter your zip code, and it gives you all of the daycare providers, in-home and commercial, within a certain radius from the zip code that you entered. It also allows you to see the reports on each of these individuals and the most recent licensing study. I made a detailed spreadsheet that included information on each of these individuals, location, contact information, distance from home and office, cost, etc. I then set-up meetings with five different women, and I made notes after the visits about what I liked and didn't like, etc. I then made a decision based on all the information that I had compiled, and it is the best decision that I have made. We LOVE her! She even cleaned the cradle cap out of his head yesterday, because I was too afraid to do it! Ha-Ha! :)

I didn't have the option of having a family member stay with Weston, because both Grandma's still work, and I didn't want to have a Nanny, because I felt like if I wasn't home, and he wasn't with a relative, then I would prefer him to be with other kids for the interaction and to build his immunity.

Any plans for more babies in [near or not] future?

Definitely...I had such a great experience both in pregnancy and birth, as well as, following birth with care, sleeping and breastfeeding. So, I'm actually really excited about having another one. We aren't ready yet, because Weston is still so young, but I'm planning to wean him before a year, so I can get my cycle and body back under control and then hopefully, start trying again when he is about a year old.

What's the one item in your closet that you just can't live without?

I can live without every item in my closet right now...I just hate my wardrobe right now, and while I can fit into a lot of my clothes, my boobs are too big, so I can't fit into my favorite tops! :( And I can't fit into my "skinny" jeans yet! I'd love to go out and buy a new wardrobe, but that's not happening right now, so I'll just live with what I have. I always thought that I'd get breast implants after a baby, but now, not so much. I don't want to have to buy all new shirts, and I want to fit back into some of my favorites!

How did you pick out your adorable furbaby?

Grant saw a Vizsla when he was in college, and he fell in love with his personality. I had never heard of them before until I met Grant. He had never had a family pet growing up, so he was nervous about getting one, but I really wanted one, so he said, that he was up for it, but he wanted a Vizsla. I did the research, and I gathered information about them and about breeders in our area. I set up a visit with one of the breeders who I had heard good things about, and we met her when she had puppies available. We agreed to purchase one, and it's been tons of fun! He is our 1st child, and we love him. He's great with Weston, and I recommend a Vizsla to everyone! :)

Are we related? We have the same last name!

I don't think so...I think that Harvey is a pretty common last name. :)

What breeder did you get Banks from?

We got Banks from Vizcaya Vizslas in Winder, GA. She has some beautiful dogs, and Banks is featured on the home page slide show twice...once in the dryer and once with Weston. He is also featured on the "In the Field" page and the "Up and Coming Titles" page. Check him out! I'm one proud mom!

How did you and your hubs meet? How did he propose?

Grant and I met at work, and we both still work for the same employer. I was managing a project, and he was selected as one of the tester's for the application. I had spoken to him on the phone, but I had never seen him. He walked into my office that day, and we never looked back. I explained testing to him, then I emailed him and asked if he wanted to go to lunch. We enjoyed lunch at Loco's, and we had a great time talking and getting to know one another. I was going to see Milledgeville to see Luke Bryan over the weekend, and we were really anxious to see one another again, so I asked if he wanted to come with me. He ended up coming, and we spent the whole weekend together. We've spent every weekend since together except for one...he lived four hours away in Jesup, GA when we first met, and he got transferred to Athens after we had been dating almost a year.

He proposed on the 4th of July. I wanted to hang out with friends, and he kept saying that we shouldn't worry about it, and we should just do something fun together. So, I set-up dinner with my parents instead. We had dinner with my parents, and I could tell he was a little frustrated, but I didn't think much about it. We then went to see the fireworks afterwards at the park, and we were laying on our blanket, and I went to get up, so we could leave before the crowds during the finale, and he stopped me and asked me to marry him. I started crying, and I thought he was joking! It was the best day, and it was perfect for us! We waited until the next day to call all of our friends and family to let them know the news, and we spend an enjoyable night basking in our newly engaged status! :)

Alright, I've got to get back to work...I'll post some additional responses, hopefully, on Monday!

Weston & Gramps

Playing with Daddy

Grant came home last night, and he and Weston had a great time playing together. Weston enjoys sitting in his bumbo seat now that he can really hold his head up, and he is getting the hang of pressing the buttons on his toys and looking at them in awe as they light up or make noises.

Here are the highlights of the evening:

Mom, why are you flashing that bright light at me? We are trying to play!

Look, Dad...if I turn the key, it makes noise!

This thing is interesting...I've never seen anything like it!

It's so entertaining that I've got drool dripping down my face!

Now, I've had enough...I'm exhausted! No more playing, no more pictures...I'll just show you my bald spot! :)

Someone has a birthday tomorrow...

...that's right, it's ME!!

I'll be driving three hours tomorrow to go to my cousin's wedding and spending the night in a hotel with the husband and baby! It won't be his longest car ride, but he will be staying up significantly past his bedtime, and it'll be his first stay in a hotel. It could be chaotic! I'm hoping that the weekend turns out great, at least I'll be spending it with my family. If only I could have one of the drinks from the picture above, as well as, be that tan and thin...one can dream, right?

And if you've got any questions for me, please feel free to ask (see post below)! :)

Question and Answers

So, I recently reached a little over 100 Followers, and I thought that it might be fun to do a Question & Answer post, but I'm not sure anyone would even have any questions for me, because I'm not sure that my life is that interesting, but I'm going to go for it anyways.

Please feel free to ask me anything that you can think of...anything at all, and I'll post my responses to your questions next week.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! And what post is complete without a photo of this little guy?!

My Heart

I can't believe how crazy in love I am with this little guy...he's my heart and everything that I do is for him!

Today was the craziest day, and he was an angel through it all! My car battery died, and I had to get jumped three times. Once I finally made it home, it wouldn't start at all. We had to buy and install a new battery this evening, so I could get to work tomorrow. Also, Grant is sick, so I'm parenting all alone until he gets back to normal. We don't want him anywhere near us, because he is sick to his stomach, and I don't think I could be a good mom and breastfeed if I was nauseous and throwing up, but I'm not sure that I'd get a break. He is sleeping on the couch tonight, in hopes that we don't get sick! :( I definitely am grateful that I have his help most of the time!

Disgusted

I'm feeling totally disgusted and sick to my stomach right now...I'm not going to go into details, but it really sucks when loved ones let their temper get the best of them and make a decision that they'll regret and will ultimately hurt their family.

As I say my prayers tonight, I'll be sure to say an extra special prayer that when people out there get angry that instead of doing something that they regret, that they'll walk away from the situation, count to ten or whatever else makes them feel better and come back ready to make the right decision and be rational about the situation.

A bad temper is a nasty thing, and it can truly hurt those that you love and cause serious regret! :(

Our Schedule

So, everyone has been posting about their daily schedules lately, so I thought that I would share mine and Weston's daily schedule. It can get a bit hectic and chaotic, but I love it, and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Daily Schedule
5:45 AM - Wake up & prepare for work
6:15 AM - Weston up, dressed & nurse
6:45 AM - Play with Weston & finish packing the car for daycare
7:00 AM - Leave for Daycare
7:20 AM - Drop W off at Daycare
7:30 AM - Arrive at the office
10:30 AM - W eats and I pump at the office
12:00 PM - Run errands
2:30 PM - W eats and I pump at the office
4:00 PM - Leave office
4:10 PM - Pick up W from Daycare
4:45 PM - Arrive at Home, W finishes up nap in crib while I start dinner
5:15 PM - W wakes up, and we play, Dad arrives home, and we eat dinner or go on a walk if it's nice out and save dinner until after W goes to bed
6:00 PM - Play with W, sing, read books, bath-time, etc.
6:30 PM - Nurse Weston
6:45 PM - Play, read, sing, say our prayers, etc. before W goes to bed
7:00 - 7:15 PM - W goes to bed
7:15 PM - Straighten up house, prepare W's things for daycare the following day, make bottles, do laundry, iron clothes, get clothes prepared for following day, run out to the store for emergency items, if necessary.
9:00 PM - Shower, Dry and Straighten hair
10:00 PM - Dreamfeed for Weston
10:30 PM - Bed

So, that's how our day goes, and I haven't watched TV since I went back to work. We are going to cut off our cable, because it's a waste of time and money. I'd rather spend my time playing with W rather than watching TV and when he goes to bed, I don't have time for it anyways! It's a busy life, and I often feel tired, and I don't typically get in bed by 10:00 PM. I'm not sure what I do that takes so long, but it is usually more like 10:30 - 11:00 PM, but Weston is sleeping pretty well, so I'm getting good sleep. I love our busy schedule, and I wouldn't change anything about it!