Lisa Marie & Gail have arrived!!! They got in Monday night and we started the deluge of old college hang outs. After they met Thane, we got him in the carrier and headed off to J. Alexander’s for some yummy spinach dip and some even yummier salmon and, oh wow, did I mention the carrot cake. I think I just gained back all my pregnancy weight. It was worth it though, just to hang out and chat and see them at the same time. Phone calls just are not the same and we have not seen them since we were out in Cali in 2004!

After dinner, G & LM headed to Gail’s brother’s house, also in Franklin, and I headed to bed. Tuesday morning came, I got a bunch of work done in the morning, and met them and Gail’s mom for lunch at O’Charley’s and more time loving on the baby! Gail’s mom even mentioned how calm the baby was, which was clearly “a reflection on how relaxed you (meaning me) are.” I think Auntie LM and Aunt Gail almost choked when they eavesdropped on that one. Fani…calm…ha!

Gail’s mom headed back to BG and the girls left for awhile so I could get some work done. They came back a little after Jay and after much discussion we decided on yet another old time fave… (I am so gaining more weight this week than during the pregnancy) Papa John’s. I ordered on line, it took forever, and then we got it free. Gotta love free.

While waiting for the pizza (forever), Jay broke out the new Miller Lite beer. Being from California (’cause they are all crazy ), LM’s flip flops had a bottle opener on them (I kid you not!). I requested assistance in opening my bottle, which she gladly obliged, never having done it before. She started to while standing but that pose did not seem good as the bottle was almost upside down. She sat down at the kitchen table instead. Gail instructed, “Do it fast!” She did.

I THOUGHT THE NECK BROKE OFF THE BOTTLE. There was beer EVERYWHERE! We were laughing so hard, I swear if I had a natural birth I would have peed my pants! They all, of course, accused me of shaking the bottle before giving it to her, which I had not done (C’mon people, it was my own house and now there was beer on the WALL!) LM had beer all over her, it soaked the floor and got on the walls (pretty far from the site too) and my oil painting (scary!). We did manage to clean it up but I wish we caught it on tape. LM earned the beer, so she drank it and I was forced to open mine with a boring opener from my kitchen drawer.

We tried two bottles again later OUTSIDE. It had to be the speed she did it with. The first she did super slow and it was fine, the second was not as aggressive as the one inside but speedier than the previous and it caused some bubblage (yep, that’s a word today).

NEVER A DULL MOMENT!

After they left, we fed the baby (9:40 pm). He slept for FIVE HOURS! That means he missed a feeding, so I only got up once during the whole night. It was wonderful!

Friday night board games are my favorite thing ever! Becky and Tom came over and we grilled out some steaks, drank 3 bottles of wine, and played my new favorite game, Apples to Apples (Thanks MB).

I had my 6 week follow up visit (at 5 weeks) yesterday and it went very well. Everything has healed nicely, including the scar. I attribute that to her skill as a surgeon and Bacitracin, so anyone who has a C-Section, use that on the scar, I did every day and still do until the red goes away. I generally don’t heal well (scar-wise) so this is a welcome change.

I also have the green light for everything, woooo hoooo! It is weird to not have any restrictions anymore. She and I talked about the breast feeding and she could not believe I stuck with it this long. She said, her advice was to stop. She said I am risking mastitis by pumping with little result and that he has not only reaped the biggest benefit now but that she cannot imagine, with how screwy our diets are today, that formula is not better for him now. (She does BF her kids, so she is not against BF, she was just trying to help me). I think I am going to stick with it a little longer…

I left the appointment feeling weird. I was there once a month up to once a week for the last 10 months. Now I don’t go back until next year. People told me that after the wedding, I would feel a little deflated, but I never did, was happy to have that whole thing behind me. Yesterday, I missed being pregnant a little, even with all the ups and downs I had, it was fun and relatively easy. I got a great little guy sitting next to me though, so I think I can give up the spotlight for him!

When Jay got home, I headed to the Rec Center and, being the avid swimmer that I am (yes, LM and Gail), tried out my no-restriction with a very nice swim. It was exhilirating. I only did 30 minutes but I was pretty aggressive with the laps and I figure that was a good start.

Jay rewarded my efforts with an awesome curry dinner he cooked. Better than Sitar, I swear! Positive reinforcement of positive behavior, I LOVE IT!

Yesterday morning working with Thane was a little rough, he was fidgety and pretty vocal, which may be a pretty recurring theme as he becomes more awake and alert. I went ahead and put him in the swing while I was on a call and that worked wonders! (Thanks Aunt Becky and Mr. B!)

Sleeping went well too! I woke up at 11:30, 2:30 and 6:30 for the morning. Had I not gone to sleep at 10, that would have meant only 1 wake up last night! Thane is now eating 4-4.5 oz a feeding. We are making progress.