You Call this Healthcare?

As most of you know, Aiden Christopher was born on August 19 at 0609. He weighed in at 8lb 9oz and 22 inches long (definitely gets his height from his daddy!). Being active duty I had to deliver him at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda (about 45 minute away, on a GOOD day). Within my 9 months of pregnancy I've come to realize that Military medical stinks! Want some reasons? No worries, I've come prepared :-)

1. In the 9 months of my pregnancy (of which I was only seen for 7 months since they won't even SEE you until you're 9-12 weeks) I was seen 12+ times and saw 8+ doctors. This is absurd to me! If I can see the same doctor for the entire pregnancy out in town, why not in the military? Is the military that understaffed? Do they not think continuation of care is important? Or do they just think it's humorous to have a pregnant lady tell the different doctors the same information over and over again because none of them know the issues that have been going on? None of these are acceptable reasons to me.

2. Aiden was seen 3 times at NNMC within his first week of life. How many different doctors did he see? Two. Now again, is it not important for the SAME doctor to see the my child continuously? Would make more sense to me... especially since they don't appear to put the information that was discussed in his record or on the computer.

3. When discharged from the hospital the pediatrician said that Aiden had an appointment the following Monday at 1030. We get up, get ready and are about to leave the house when we get a call from the hospital saying that the only opening the actually had was for 1530! Then please tell me why I was told to be there at 1030... we live 45 MINUTES AWAY! This is now in the middle of rush hour... not acceptable.

4. All babies are required to have a 2 week follow-up with the doctor after birth. This is to ensure that their weight is going up, jaundice is non-existent and that circumcisions and such all healed properly. While at his third appointment at NNMC (he's 1 week old at this point) I tell them I need to make his 2 week follow-up in a week (they wouldn't allow me to make it earlier because he was still coming in to be seen), this SHOULD have been on either 1 or 2 September. What does the receptionist tell me? We have 7 September open. ummm... that's 3 weeks... it should be his 2 week follow-up, is that ok? Sure, as long as it's not before 2 weeks... THEN WHAT'S THE POINT OF IT BEING A 2 WEEK FOLLOW-UP????

Do I need to go on at this point? I didn't think so. Here's to hoping things get better in the healthcare department! :-)

Aiden - 1 week

I follow this blog. One of the most unique things they posted about was taking weekly photos of their little bean. Basically they take a new photo every week on a different yard of fabric and superimpose the week on a plain white onsie.

I thought this was a fantastic idea and decided to do the same with Aiden. After his first year we'll take the 52 photos and create a photo book. Who knows what we'll do with the fabric... I'm thinking maybe a quilt (YHL actually made a runner and some pennants for bean's first birthday). No matter what we decide to do with it, I think it's a fabulous way to track Aiden's growth in his first year. :-)

Enjoy!

Life With Baby - Week 1

For those that aren't aware; we have had our baby boy! Aiden Christopher Gronde was born Friday, 19 August at 0609. He weighed in at 8lb 9 oz and 22 inches long! He's absolutely precious, and perfect, and wonderful, and stunning... and well... I could go on and on... haha!

Anyway, things around Casa de la Gronde have definitely changed... but I'm not sure I'd have it any other way. There's less sleep, more noise, more stuff and definitely more smiles going around these parts! I'm absolutely in LOVE! *swoon*

Aiden is still trying to figure out the whole sleep pattern thing. One night he'll sleep for 6 hours at night and the next he'll be up every 3. The good thing is that he usually goes back to sleep pretty easily. He's currently sleeping in our room in this. It's truly been a blessing! We tried letting him sleep in his crib the second night we were home but that didn't go over too well (he was literally up almost every HOUR!); this just wouldn't do... Rock and Play it is! :-)

Chris started back to school tonight (technically he started yesterday but he/we lost track of the day and he missed his class... oops!); it's the first time just baby and mommy... he decided to sleep through most of it... haha!

OK, time for bed since monkey is out... will post pics soon! :-)

Photography for a Photographer...

Being photographers, it was a no brainer for Chris and I to get maternity photos done prior to Aiden arriving. But the prices for maternity shoots in our area are RIDICULOUS! $500 and you DON'T give me a CD? Chris and I love the fact that we offer reasonable prices to our clients; and with some minor research we've realized that clients WANT their pictures... to post, to print, to share. How do we accommodate both of these aspects? We charge a little more than we did without offering a CD while still remaining in a good price range and giving our clients what they want. Problem solved! But alas, that is not what this post is about... it's about our hunt for a photographer.

So how does a photographer find a photographer they love without having to pay an arm and a leg? They pray... A LOT! lol... We asked around our studio and had a few people say that they would be happy to take some for us, but I really wanted someone who had done some before... and that shared our type of artistic eye; so the hunt was on!

A few weeks ago Chris found an ad on Craigslist for a photographer that was looking to do a photo swap. Talk about answered prayers! We exchanged a few emails and our websites to ensure we had what the other was looking for and decided to meet up. Andrea was absolutely wonderful! We met, we talked, we bonded. We decided to go through with the photo swap.

Last weekend we shot Andrea and her lovely daughter for a few hours. We got some great shots and hope she loved them as well. Tomorrow it's our turn! We're off to Leesylvania State Park in Woodbridge to shoot some maternity photos and I couldn't be more excited to work with Andrea on this! I'll put up some photos as soon as I can! Until then, here's some pics the hubby took of me last weekend!




Did ya'll have maternity photos done? Does anyone else find it difficult to find a decently priced photographer?

Happy 4th of July

*ok, so I had this written yesterday morning and then we got busy with the day :-( Better late then never!*

As I sit here this morning, I ponder many things. Mostly, the many men and women that have given their lives or are willing to do so for our Country. I come from a family of many service members (grandpa, mom, dad, aunt, sister, me) as does my hubby. It's amazing to me to think of all the people in our country that get angry with our military or that blame them for the wars that we fight. It is not our military, they are only following orders, they are doing their job; and by doing so are willing to lay down their lives in order to protect the liberties of this country (to INCLUDE freedom of speech). So on this day I would like to say Thank you to all the military; past, present and future and the sacrifices that they are willing to give.

Wide World of Diapers!

Over this past weekend I've come to the realization that our beautiful baby boy will be here in 9 WEEKS! Perhaps, less than that... EEEEK! Can you say freaking out over the stuff that still needs done? So here I am, sitting at work and trying to research diaper options, ideas and figure out what they're all about. I've pretty much convinced the hubby that I would really LIKE to cloth diaper. Mostly because it's better for the environment and it's apparently better for babies bums... so that's where I'm at. Now onto the decision of brand, type, etc. Is there truly a difference between bumgenius, fuzzibunz or any other cloth diaper out there? And what's the difference in pocket, prefolds, fitted and all in ones? Talk about confusing! So far I'm comparing cloth diapers to photography... it's all a matter of preference... Nikon vs. Cannon... does it REALLY matter?
So while I sit here and contemplate the complexity that is cloth diapering any advise is welcomed!

To See... or Not To See...

That seems to be the question lately...
Lots of people have been asking me to upload baby bump pictures on Facebook so they can see my progress. We'll I'm not going to do that... mostly because I think that although 10% of the people on FB want to see photos, the other 90% have no desire to see me gaining baby weight :-) So, the decision has been made to post them on my lovely blog instead! Aren't ya'll happy?

So I'm 21 weeks (yesterday). So far I've gained a whole 13 pounds. Now, this is based on MY scale, at MY house, that I weighed myself on prior to getting pregnant so I consider this pretty accurate (the Navy scale shows SEVEN pounds more than mine). I have yet to feel him kick (boo). I have felt him a time or two (he's not a fan of me laying on my stomach to watch TV lol) and I can feel him when he's laying on the front of my tummy but that's about it. I can not WAIT to feel my little boy moving about... :-)

Right now baby Aiden is about the size of a banana. Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch. Hmm... perhaps McDonald's wasn't a good idea for dinner ;-)

But enough stalling, here's some pics :-)

8 Weeks


21 Weeks



Don't really see much of a difference if you ask me!