Since Madison's arrival we have had a few visitors... I think they all missed Patrick and me... or they just really wanted to meet Madison. Either way... we will take it. We have LOVED having family and friends out here! I think in some ways it has made the transition a little easier, but at the same time, each visit makes us a little home sick.
Here is the run down:
1) Ginnie's parents - My mom was here for 2 weeks. She got here 3 days after we came home from the hospital. Perfect timing because we made it through one week, but I don't know how week 2 would have gone without her here. I don't know what we would have done without her. Honestly, I had no idea what to do with a newborn. She had to teach me how to bathe Madison (I planned on just waiting until her umbilical cord fell out because I was so afraid of getting it wet), play with her, she forced me to rest and did all the house cleaning and cooking. She was a super star! My dad came for a long weekend in the middle of my mom's visit. Patrick and him had some fun "bonding". Sarah (Mathias) Brodine had a little shower for Madison while my mom and dad were here, so Patrick took my dad to show him the Tesla dealership and then they went to the hardware stores. You know "man" things!! It was a great visit. Patrick's work sent him on a business trip during the second week my mom was here - PRO mom was here, CON Patrick was not. We couldn't believe they sent him away, but we didn't have a choice. (If you are keeping count this is business trip number 2). He was suppose to get back the same day my mom left, but of course that didn't quite work out - I ended up with her alone for my first night when she was 2 weeks old. PTL though because Maddie was so good that whole day. Not a lot of crying, took good naps and went back to sleep easily during the night.
2) Patrick's sister Hannah - We planned for Hannah to get here right after my mom left. She got here the same day Patrick got back from his business trip. She was a huge help! Did laundry, cleaned, took care of Madison, and most of all kept me company. Madison took her first bottle from Aunt Hannah when she was 3 weeks old. SO - this meant Hannah sent us on a date and took care of Maddie and gave her a bottle. It was our first BIG date! We got out a couple times while mom was here for coffee or a short walk, but this date was really nice.
3) Patrick's parents - They came for a week when Madison was about 6 weeks old for Patrick's birthday. Maddie had just started smiling and getting more expressive and chatty! They were in heaven, and actually tried to steal Maddie a couple of times :) She would talk to Mike - trying to mimic him. It was super cute! There timing was also perfect because it meant we had free babysitters for valentines day. Patrick and I had a big date to PF Changs. It was delicious and so relaxing. My sweet in-laws also gave me a whole afternoon off and luckily Maddie took a bottle. I went to the doctor and then did some shopping at IKEA and then off to a coffee shop to read and relax (I was on book 3 of the Hunger Games and didn't want to put it down).
4) Ginnie's sister Carrie - Carrie was here for the week of her spring break. She got here the day after Madison got her 2 month old shots so we spent a lot of time out and about - especially in the city (San Fran) sight seeing. Madison did great with all the traveling around. We went to Alcatraz, Pier 39, Fisherman's Warf, Ghirardelli Square, Sausalito, the Bridge, Lombard St, Half Moon Bay, Stanford, Facebook, put Maddie's feet in the sand for the first time and her feet in the Pacific for the first time. The three of us had a great time together. It was a fun trip! We were so ready to get out and about, but Maddie and I crashed after :)
5) Beth and Jason came a week after Carrie left. It was so fun having them out here. We did some of the city with them but since it was rainy part of the time they were here we did a little more just hanging out and relaxing. We saw Muir Woods, the Bridge, Sausalito, Ghirardelli Square, Lombard St, Half Moon Bay, Pinterest, Facebook and Google. Google was me and Beth's favorite cause they had bikes that we could ride. HA! Jason did a lot of exploring by himself (while Pat was at work) leaving Beth and I to catch up and play with Madison. They did some cooking for us and cleaned before they left. It was so great having them here!
In between these visits Patrick had 2 business trips - count them ONE TWO. The first one he was barely gone for 24 hours, but the second one he was gone for 4 days. UNBELIEVABLE! I am so thankful for our friends and church community out here. Everyone came around me and helped. They kept me company and kept me sane. Madison is such a great baby and luckily has been sleeping through the night since 7 weeks. So, I feel like I can't complain, but still it is just really sad to not have him here at night. I know he didn't enjoy leaving at all, so I do NOT blame him at all. It is good his company likes him and is impressed with him, but COME ON - he has an infant at home!!! Again, it really wasn't that bad thanks to our friends out here.
6) Lee and Emily Drummond came right after Madison turned 3 months. We had a good time with them. We spent some time in the City and Sausalito, but spent a little more time around Menlo Park. Patrick and Lee built a smoker and they smoked some delicious ribs. Lee also got to spend some time with the Woods. Madison loved having them here - they were both great with her. I know Patrick especially loved having Lee out here.
I CANNOT wait for number 7... Kayleigh, Alice and KTJ come at the end of May for Memorial Day Weekend! WOOT!! THis is going to be a crazy time. I am SOoooOoOooo excited!!! It has been a while since we were all together. Was it Hawaii or Christmas 2 years ago? Anyways... California will not know what hit them!
So, since our last post a few things have changed.....
WE HAD A BABY!!!
Madison Leigh Pollock arrived in this world on January 2, 2012 (cool birthday- 1.2.12) at 1:51pm, 8lbs 3ozs, 20in. We praise the Lord for the uncomplicated birth of Madison and for her good health.
A synopsis of her birth... I woke up on New Years Day around 8am (before church) to what I thought might be contractions. I tried not to think much about it because there had been many days before this that I thought "might be the day". On New Years Eve day I was afraid my water bag was leaking, so I had been in contact with the OB on call. We were trying to decide if we wanted to swing by the hospital on the way to church to have them check to see if it was leaking, but we decided to wait until after church. After church we decided to just go home and see how I felt because the contractions had continued and we still thought "this might be it". We spent the afternoon hanging out, playing cards, cleaning, baking, finishing thank you cards, etc (trying to distract ourselves). I had been watching Craigslist for a BOB stroller and finally found one that afternoon - we called and arranged to pick it up that evening. So we ate dinner and then headed to San Jose to look at/ purchase the Bob stroller. On the way to San Jose I started timing my contractions and realized that this really might be it (still skeptical). We bought the stroller, came home and then headed to the Westervelt's (neighbors and new friends) to play games. When we got there we told Melody that we thought I was in labor, so we started playing games, but she was watching me and keeping track of my contracts with me. We all began to agree that tonight was the night and Patrick wasn't going to work the next day, so we decided it was a good idea to stay up playing games until it was time for us to go to the hospital.
It was around 1:45am when we decided it was time to go to the hospital. So, Patrick and I walked home, packed the car and headed to the hospital. Once we got to the hospital they checked me - I was about 3-4cm dialated and everything was going fine. So, Patrick and I walked around the hospital for a little bit longer before we officially checked in. For some reason I was freezing, so I spent most of labor in bed half asleep under blankets. Patrick sat in a chair next to me half asleep. Every time a contraction came I squeezed Patrick's hand, he talked me through it and then we both closed our eyes again. I had an awesome nurse who made suggestions like "it is really nice to do this part of labor in the shower" or "it would be good to move around or get on your ball". We officially checked in the hospital around 2am, started pushing around 12pm, and Madison was born right before 2pm - it seemed like forever before we actually got to look at Maddie's face. Right after she came out they put her on my tummy - it was the best thing ever - except the fact that I could barely open my eyes.
They let us stay in the delivery room for an hour over what we were suppose to stay because they were pretty slow, so I got to order food and eat in there (I had a steak dinner)- I was STARVING!! I had not eaten since dinner the night before around 6:30. We couldn't stop staring at Madison and we were so thankful that we got 2 hours with her before anyone took her away to the nursery to clean her.
My biggest complaint about the whole thing is that I think it is CRAZY that as soon as you get to your room the nurse comes in giving you all of this information and telling you about all this paperwork, etc. I was exhausted and all I wanted to do was go to sleep - Patrick wasn't even in there to listen - so I just said yeah, uh-huh until she left me alone, and as soon as I got to lay my head back Madison and Patrick came back and then they nurse was back to check my temp, BP, etc. It was a few hours before I got to take a nap. Then our sweet friend Melody brought us In and Out Burgers for dinner! Just what anyone wants after pushing out a baby!! :)
Our second night in the hospital our pastors wife, Mindi, brought us a milkshake, cupcakes and Indian food for dinner. It was the best milkshake I have ever had in my life! We thought it was because of the whole baby thing, but I still go to that milkshake place all the time and it still tastes just as good (maybe not AS good as that day, but still, really good!!!)
The day we left we had more friends come and visit once we got home. Patrick had to go back to work the day after we got home from the hospital (he went in later than normal), so it was nice to have friends want come by to hold Madison and let me take a shower or just to give me a break. It nice to have moms around to ask questions or just sympathize and encourage me through all the transitions. We had our first pediatricians appointment on Friday. It was quite the adventure leaving the house the first time with a baby - lots of planning and THINGs that go along with it. I got to the pediatricians office and had forgotten how to get her car seat out of the base - pretty hilarious looking back, but not at the time. I was late and stressed out and had no clue what I was doing still! They wanted to double check her jaundice so I had to walk over to the lab for them to draw blood (just adding a little bit more stress on my day). Overall the appointment was good and encouraging! I mean Madison was still alive, that in itself is a W for us.
My mom came that weekend on Saturday and her timing couldn't have been better. I was just starting to feel completely overwhelmed, realizing I had no clue what to do with a newborn baby, when she swooped in to California to rescue us!! She was AWESOME! She forced me to take naps, she cooked, cleaned, did laundry and taught us how to care for our new baby. It was a sad day when she left, but she left us feeling more comfortable and confident.
We are so thankful for our friends and community here! They were so sweet in coming along side of us through this, and being so willing to help, visit and bring us meals.
1) Ginnie's parents - My mom was here for 2 weeks. She got here 3 days after we came home from the hospital. Perfect timing because we made it through one week, but I don't know how week 2 would have gone without her here. I don't know what we would have done without her. Honestly, I had no idea what to do with a newborn. She had to teach me how to bathe Madison (I planned on just waiting until her umbilical cord fell out because I was so afraid of getting it wet), play with her, she forced me to rest and did all the house cleaning and cooking. She was a super star! My dad came for a long weekend in the middle of my mom's visit. Patrick and him had some fun "bonding". Sarah (Mathias) Brodine had a little shower for Madison while my mom and dad were here, so Patrick took my dad to show him the Tesla dealership and then they went to the hardware stores. You know "man" things!! It was a great visit. Patrick's work sent him on a business trip during the second week my mom was here - PRO mom was here, CON Patrick was not. We couldn't believe they sent him away, but we didn't have a choice. (If you are keeping count this is business trip number 2). He was suppose to get back the same day my mom left, but of course that didn't quite work out - I ended up with her alone for my first night when she was 2 weeks old. PTL though because Maddie was so good that whole day. Not a lot of crying, took good naps and went back to sleep easily during the night. 
3) Patrick's parents - They came for a week when Madison was about 6 weeks old for Patrick's birthday. Maddie had just started smiling and getting more expressive and chatty! They were in heaven, and actually tried to steal Maddie a couple of times :) She would talk to Mike - trying to mimic him. It was super cute! There timing was also perfect because it meant we had free babysitters for valentines day. Patrick and I had a big date to PF Changs. It was delicious and so relaxing. My sweet in-laws also gave me a whole afternoon off and luckily Maddie took a bottle. I went to the doctor and then did some shopping at IKEA and then off to a coffee shop to read and relax (I was on book 3 of the Hunger Games and didn't want to put it down). 
4) Ginnie's sister Carrie - Carrie was here for the week of her spring break. She got here the day after Madison got her 2 month old shots so we spent a lot of time out and about - especially in the city (San Fran) sight seeing. Madison did great with all the traveling around. We went to Alcatraz, Pier 39, Fisherman's Warf, Ghirardelli Square, Sausalito, the Bridge, Lombard St, Half Moon Bay, Stanford, Facebook, put Maddie's feet in the sand for the first time and her feet in the Pacific for the first time. The three of us had a great time together. It was a fun trip! We were so ready to get out and about, but Maddie and I crashed after :) 
6) Lee and Emily Drummond came right after Madison turned 3 months. We had a good time with them. We spent some time in the City and Sausalito, but spent a little more time around Menlo Park. Patrick and Lee built a smoker and they smoked some delicious ribs. Lee also got to spend some time with the Woods. Madison loved having them here - they were both great with her. I know Patrick especially loved having Lee out here.
