Week 10...slacking on the blog!

10 weeks already! Brennen is growing and changing so much everyday. He showed us his first social smile around 7-8 weeks. I was anxiously waiting this day. Each day since I love seeing this little guy happy and smiling. He truly melts me!
Little guy has been on a schedule for many weeks now. We have established a 930-10pm bedtime. Last night he did awesome. Down at 10, woke up at 4:30 only gave him 2oz and right back to sleep to 7:15. I think he is ready and getting very close to sleeping thru the night. Can't wait until all the hard work pays off!
Brennen still loves paci to soothe him. He enjoys Mommy singing and dancing for him. Anything with bright colors, light or moving is going to catch his eye. Glow worm is a Mommy & B favorite. He enjoys bath time, can't wait to get the fishy in the pool. I'm happy to report homeboy loves to shop. Car rides are his thing! Loves cuddle time with Mommy, Daddy and big sis Uma! All in all truly just a lil G....as Auntie Lo refers to him!
We are all looking forward to Grams being with us for the month of May. I'm sad to report I return to work May 4th. I will be working per diem on Sat & Sun nights. Mondays will be rough after Grams leaves, but we will all adjust. We are also looking forward to Auntie Mary coming down in June to meet B. I know he is going to melt her heart on arrival. July we are taking Brennen's 1st ever flight to Mommy's home the Mitten. Can't wait to get this guy there and meet all the rest of the clan. Lots to look forward. Lots to be thankful for. We are blessed to have such a beautiful boy!

Week 5

The last 5 weeks have been filled with memories that will last a lifetime. Watching Brennen grow and change everyday has been the best experience ever.
Today Grams leaves to head back home to the Mitten. Unless you live out of state away from your family, you truly won't understand how hard it is to say see ya later. Plain & simple it sucks. Although we are so very grateful that she was able to spend the past month bonding with her 1st grandson.
Brennen is "talking" and making all sorts of new sounds each day. He loves laying on his left side, never on his back. Enjoying tummy time and lifting his head. Hates diaper changes, would rather sit in pee and poopski. Socks are not his thing. Loving bath time. Loves being in his car seat. Still going crazy over his paci.

All the sleepless nights, poopy diapers and cries are worth it for this lil guy. I love him to the moon and back. This baby is our greatest accomplishment yet in life.

Week 4

1 month old already, that went too fast! Brennen is growing like a weed, his face and body are really starting to fill out. He is eating like a lil piggy :)
Brennen made his first of many trips to the mall with Mommy & Grams. He met the Easter Bunny for the 1st time and didn't even realize what was happening! I'm sure next year may not be as easy.
We only have a few days left with Grams. She has been so much help to us....I really hate to see her leave. But she will be back down before we know it! She has a iPhone now so at least we can FaceTime everyday!
Brennen met his great grandma Candusso this week. She is visiting from New York. With her accent all she kept saying is "he is cute, he looks like a doll." I must agree with her!
Brennen is making all sorts of new sounds. Grunting, snorting, cooing all so damn cute I can't stand it! He still is loving paci, farting like a man, makes stinky code browns, loves to cuddle, is a lil swimmer and loves his baths, our lil Florida boy prefers to be naked, will not wear socks, poses well for photo sessions, and squirms around like a worm in his crib.
Overall just a handsome, lovey, adorable baby boy! I can't get enough of him, and love him to pieces!

Week 3!

Can't believe Brennen is 3 weeks old already! We are cherishing each second of everyday with this baby, because before we know it he will be crawling!
We had our 2 week check up with Dr. Aqua and Brennen is healthy & gained 1 pound since his last visit. He received his 1st shot, and didn't like that one bit. Scared the crap out of me bc he held his breath and got red as a tomato. Not looking forward to our 2 month check up that will consist of more shots. Poor lil guy!
Grams is here for 2 more weeks! She has been such a great help. Running to grocery store, cleaning, cooking, helping with feedings day & night, and loving her grandson everyday! We are all so blessed to have my Mom in our lives. Dreading the day of departure back to the Mitten. That will be a very sad day!
Brennen is still loving on paci! Shakes his head & mouth like a mad man when paci gets close to his mouth. He is full of gas and farts like a grown man his father. When he makes poopski in his pants, the smell has made me gag. Still getting him use to tummy time. Has proven to love baths. Loves loves loves to shop...my new shopping partner :). Enjoys cuddle time and hearing our voices. Overall just a lovey, cuddly, adorable, perfect baby boy!

Brennen is loved by so many and truly is a lucky lil guy! We have received some awesome gifts in the mail, and appreciate each one of them. Looking forward to our visitors from Michigan over the next few months. I can't wait for my family/best friends to meet him!

Week 2

Well we made it to week 2! So far things are going very smoothly. We have changed Brennen's feeding schedule around a bit. For now we are feeding every 3 hours around the clock and increased to 3 oz for each feeding. He is satisfied and back to a happy lil babe. Trying to get a routine in place, so in the weeks to come we can get him sleep trained.
Brennen got his 1st bath on Saturday 2/23/13. He did really good up until the end when we took him out of the water. Grams assisted me as I was a bit nervous about the bath and a lil tiny squirmy baby!

We are learning so much about this baby boy. He is still loving his paci, farting like his daddy, sleeps on his side, doesn't like being on his back, hates his feet being covered, loves his swing, enjoying tummy time on his monkey play mat, loves being nakie, moving his arms and legs like a gymnast, loving his soothing Mr. giraffe!

Anthony & I are blessed to have this handsome baby boy! We couldn't be happier! I am loving on this lil guy all day everyday, and so happy to be his mommy! Can't imagine life without Baby B!

1 week!

We were discharged home from hospital on 2/15/13. Longest 2 days ever for me, I wanted out of that hospital badly. Overall it was a great labor/delivery experience.

When we went to dress Brennen in his going home outift, we laughed bc all the newborn outfits I brought and ALL were wayyy to big. So we managed to dress him, but he was drowning in his clothes. Put lil guy into the car seat and then realized how tiny this baby really was. Snapped a bunch of pics and off to the car we went.

Got home, I waited in garage with baby while Ant went in and greeted Big sis Uma who was going to be overly excited since she was at Nana's house for past couple days. Ant then brought Uma out to garage and we brought the baby inside. Uma was excited and sniffing everything baby! We took Brennen into his nursery, put him in his crib for 1st time and Miss Uma started jumping up to see in the crib. Hands down cutest thing ever! 1 week later she is sniffing and loving her baby bro. It took Uma a couple days to warm up to Brennen. Soon I know she will be the protector of this baby!

1 week in we are managing very well. My mom is here to help, and Ant's parents have been very helpful through it all! We have Brennen on a 3 hr feed during the day and 4hr at night. He is doing very well. So far he has been a very good baby and we are hoping it stays that way.

So far he is full of gas and farting like his father. Peeing and popping tons. Loving his paci. Found his thumb or fingers or whole hand in his mouth! Doesn't like his feet and hands covered, so the swaddle isn't for this lil guy. Prefers to be nude. And hates diaper changes, but can be soothed during with paci.

Ant has proven to be an awesome Daddy. Soooo very helpful. He is changing diapers, feeding, and playing with our new bundle of joy! We couldn't be happier!

I'm going to try to continue my blog weekly, we will see how I do!

Didn't make it to week 39!

Well folks the weekly pregnancy blog is officially over for now! I'm glad I documented my journey so I can look back on the memories.

Baby Brennen's expected date of arrival was 2/24/13. He made his grand entrance early on 2/13/13. Weighing 6lb 4oz & 19 inches long. Moment I laid my eyes on him I fell in love all over again!
My Mom/Gram booked her flight long ago to come to FL 2/18 to be here for the delivery of her 1st grandchild. I thought this was plenty of time before my due date. Didn't think I would go early. Unfortunately things happened differently and this broke both our hearts. I wanted my Mom to be here and I know how much she wanted the same. The positive is she will be here soon and all the rest will be history! Brennen will soon realize how lucky he is to have his Grams!

The labor & delivery?!? Oh man! Early Tuesday 2/12 @1am is when it all started. I started feeling discomfort but at this point was thinking Braxton hicks. In my mind I'm thinking I'm only 38 weeks, first baby, I can't be going into labor. For hours and I mean hours the contractions came and went, getting stronger and closer. I was running back and forth to bathroom and walking around house all night. I went that night, all day into the next night dealing with the pain that came and went. Finally on Wednesday 2/13 @ 03am I called my MD and made my way to hospital. At this point I'm thinking I hope I don't go there to find out I'm being sent home. I was triaged to find out I was in active labor. Yes!!!! Today is the day!!! Still in tons of pain I opted for an epidural. Nervous wreck about it bc the nurse in me over thinks it all. Although the E was a lifesaver for a few hours. It effected my contractions so had to be stopped prior to pushing. This scared the crap out of me. Without too many details, the epidural wore off, I felt a lot of pressure/discomfort, pushed for about 35-40 mins total and baby Brennen was on my chest. My birthing experience was a very positive and good experience. My husband, awesome nurse and MD helped me through it all. Very grateful I didn't have to have a c-section, if you don't know that was my biggest fear. Again being a nurse, I know a lot, and did NOT want to be cut.

We are overly joyed with our new lil love bug! Everyone is agreeing baby Brennen looks like his mama! I will agree with that! He is perfect and we love him to pieces.

I can't wait for Uncle Danny, Auntie Lo, and the rest of my family & friends to meet him! Until then I will send them pics everyday! This baby is lucky to be loved by 2 families. The Candusso/Michalski clan!

38 weeks! Holy crap the end is near!

How far along? 38 weeks!

Maternity clothes? If I leave my comfy pants then yes it's maternity. Can't wait to start working on a new spring/summer non maternity wardrobe.

Sleep? Sucks! Feels impossible to get a good nights sleep.

Best moment of the week? Finding out I'm dilated at 1cm. Hey something better then nothing. Next week ultrasound to find out estimate weight of Brennen.

Miss anything? I miss sleep. I miss energy. I miss seeing my pretty pedicured toes. Ha!

Movement? Still jumping, kicking, and playing in my belly!

Food cravings? Never had any cravings.

Have you started to show yet? Of course!

Gender? Brennen = will be here very soon!

Wedding rings on or off? Off. Only a couple more weeks without them.

Happy or Moody? Happy as ever to meet my new lil love! Moody as ever bc I'm ready for pregnancy to end!

Looking forward to? Anxious to hear estimate weight of my lil guy. Even though I know it's not accurate, gives me some idea of what is to come. I just can't wait to have this baby in my arms.

Stretch Marks? None. Still lathering up daily with my mama bee belly butter.

Few days shy of 37 weeks!

How far along? Almost 37 weeks

Maternity clothes? More like yoga pants and tanks!

Sleep? Feeling so exhausted this week! Waking up very frequently and having trouble finding a comfortable position.

Best moment of the week? Hearing my LiL mans strong heart beat at the doctor. This is something I'll truly miss!

Miss anything? I miss being comfortable. I miss being able to put on my shoes and socks.

Movement? Strong kicks and throwing punches.

Food cravings? Never had any cravings.

Have you started to show yet? Of course!

Gender? Brennen = waiting patiently for his arrival!

Wedding rings on or off? Off. Only a couple more weeks without them. I miss my bling!

Happy or Moody? Little of both. Some days are better then others.

Looking forward to? The end of pregnancy and the beginning of Mommy-hood!

Stretch Marks? None. Still lathering up daily with my mama bee belly butter.

36 weeks! 4 to go!

How far along? 36 weeks tomorrow!

Maternity clothes? I prefer lounging cloths now in days. Getting dressed is a project!

Sleep? Just can't get comfortable anymore. Waking up at least every 2 hours to visit my BFF the bathroom.

Best moment of the week? Baby shower! What a great time! This baby has everything and then some. Lucky mommy and spoiled LiL guy.

Miss anything? I miss all the same. Can't wait to have a ice cold adult beverage.

Movement? More like jabs to the body.

Food cravings? Never had any cravings.

Have you started to show yet? Of course!

Gender? Brennen = hurry up LiL man

Wedding rings on or off? Off. Going to take Meg's advice and take them for a cleaning. That way they will be nice and sparkly when they return to my finger.

Happy or Moody? Happy! Very excited for the next few weeks to fly by!

Looking forward to? Tomorrow night being my last shift for a long while :)

Stretch Marks? None. Still lathering up daily with my mama bee belly butter.

Week 35! Getting so close!

How far along? 35 weeks

Maternity clothes? All the time. Can't wait to get back to my regular wardrobe.

Sleep? Getting less and less sleep. Waking up very often to use my best friend the bathroom. Can't get comfortable, tossing and turning all night long.

Best moment of the week? Hearing Brennen's strong heart beat at my weekly appointment.

Miss anything? I have nothing new to report.

Movement? I have what I think may be a butt in my right upper quad area, at times it feels it may break through.

Food cravings? Never had any cravings.

Have you started to show yet? Of course!

Gender? Brennen = lucky LiL man

Wedding rings on or off? Off. I look forward to the day they can return to my finger.

Happy or Moody? Up and down. They say the last few weeks can be emotional, I agree with that!

Looking forward to? Finishing up the last couple weekends of work. And super excited for my maternity photo shoot next week!

Stretch Marks? None. Still lathering up daily with my mama bee belly butter.

Week 34....time is flying friends!

How far along? 34 weeks

Maternity clothes? All day everyday.

Sleep? Sleep is good. I wake up frequently to visit the bathroom. Still using my snoogle pillow to help with side sleeping.

Best moment of the week? My preggo Bestie Megan had her baby girl Olivia Ann Laws 1-9-2013. This was a super special delivery as we didn't know her sex until she was born. I can't wait to get back to Michigan to meet this precious girl.

Miss anything? I miss sleeping on my stomach. I miss being able to bend over.

Movement? Lots of movement. Love every minute of it.

Food cravings? Nah

Have you started to show yet? Yep! People say I'm small for 34 weeks, but I beg to differ.

Gender? Brennen = lucky love child

Wedding rings on or off? Off :( I attempted to wear them, huge mistake. I thought I was going to cry trying to get them off.

Happy or Moody? Happy as ever! 6 more weeks to go! I can not wait until the day is here I can meet my new little stud!

Looking forward to? Finishing my last 4 weekends of work. Yep that's all folks! Also looking forward to my maternity photo shoot and FL baby shower! Lots happening these next few weeks!

Stretch Marks? None. Still lathering up daily with my mama bee belly butter.

33 weeks! Diaper week!

How far along? 33 weeks

Maternity clothes? That's all I know now in days. Officially done adding to the wardrobe.

Sleep? Sleep is pretty good. It's getting tough sleeping only on my side. Can't wait until I can have my tummy time back. Ha!

Best moment of the week? Brennen's nursery is 100% complete and ready and waiting for him! Everything is organized and we are ready!

Miss anything? I miss all the same things I've been blogging about. Nothing new to add.

Movement? Feeling tons of movement. He is getting stronger and kicking away.

Food cravings? Nah

Have you started to show yet? Yep! Continuing to grow!

Gender? Brennen = my new love

Wedding rings on or off? Off :( can't wait until they can return to my finger. Feels so weird not wearing my rings.

Happy or Moody? Emotional. Nuff said!

Looking forward to? The last 7 weeks to fly by. I've had an awesome pregnancy, but I'm ready to meet this baby boy.

Stretch Marks? None. Still lathering up daily with my mama bee belly butter.

Week 32

Maternity clothes? Pretty much all the time! Starting to feel like I'm running out of things to wear.

Sleep? Since I've reunited with my own bed and Snoogle, I've been getting some solid sleep.

Best moment of the week? Unpacking all Brennen's new stuff. Still going through and organizing stuff, which we all know I love to do!

Miss anything? I miss being able to bend over. Putting socks on is becoming more of a chore. Not to mention the swelling in my ankles has hit me full force.

Movement? Kicking away!

Food cravings? Nada.

Have you started to show yet? This is obvious!

Gender? Brennen = Best dressed Baby

Wedding rings on or off? OFF! Feels weird to not wear them, but those suckers are so tight it hurts.

Happy or moody? I have to say I'm happy. Moody at times, but nothing too extreme.

Looking forward to? My 2 week appt with my MD...always reassuring to know things are going well. More importantly I'm looking forward to these last 8 weeks to fly by. I'm ready to meet Brennen and become Mommy!

Week 30/31

How far along? 31 weeks

Maternity clothes? Pretty much all the time! Able to wear some pre maternity shirts & sweaters. Pants have to be maternity though, the stretchy band makes life much easier.

Sleep? Sleeping pretty good. Missing my snoogle pillow, wasn't able to pack that bad boy for my trip home.

Best moment of the week? Being in Michigan tops the list! Baby Brennen's baby shower was fabulous! Feeling blessed that this little guy is already loved by so many family and friends.  This baby has a pretty pimp clothing selection in the making! 

Miss anything? I miss alcoholic beverages.  Especially with the holidays here, wish I could just crack open an ice cold bud light.

Movement? Moving all over the place. Causing me some discomfort in my rib area, nothing I can't deal with though.

Food cravings? None at all. Just eating! Can't wait for Aunt Kar's peanut butter balls! 

Have you started to show yet? This is obvious!

Gender? Brennen = Loved child

Wedding rings on or off? On....but I see them leaving my finger very soon.

Happy or Moody? Happy! Tis the season to be jolly!

Looking forward to? Christmas Eve & Day! Also look forward to unpacking all my new baby stuff when I get back home to FL.

*The shower in Michigan was absolutely amazing.  The decorations made by Auntie Lo were so cute and I loved everything about the way it all turned out.  The cake and cookies made by Aunt Kar were the bomb! Nobody can make a cake like that lady. Huge thanks to all my family and friends that were present and for showering Brennen & I with such awesome gifts. Thanks to Grams for taking care of it all! We had a great time and appreciate you all!

Week 29!

How far along? 29 weeks, 4 days

Maternity clothes? Either maternity clothes or pajamas is what I'm rocking now in days.

Sleep? That feeling of exhaustion is slowly coming back. Sleep isn't really an issue. I'm getting as much as possible now, bc once baby is here my sleep will never be the same again.

Best moment of the week? My awesome glider came in for the nursery. So comfy, I love it. The ottoman was broke, so that I have to wait another 8 weeks for. Another fun moment this week was spending some time with our niece Madison. I love hearing her talk about "my cousin Brennen", really is the sweetest thing ever. I think she is as excited as we are for this baby to arrive.

Miss anything? I miss my pre pregnancy body. If one more person tells me my face is fat, I may punch somebody!

Movement? Kicking, punching, and playing! Love these moments!

Food cravings? None at all.

Have you started to show yet? This is obvious!

Gender? Brennen = My heart. Love this baby so much!

Wedding rings on or off? On! Off at night, getting extremely tight.

Happy or Moody? Happy! No complaints from this lady. Little over 2 months to go and I can't wait!

Looking forward to? 1 week until the Mitten! Can't wait to get some cooler weather in my life! Looking forward to the holiday season, love this time of year! Also can't wait for my baby shower with all my favorite people! Anxious to see all the hard work Auntie Lo put into this event!

I will post a 29 week pic tomorrow. Today I appear to look like a hot mess. Cleaning and nesting all day long people!

3rd trimester!

How far along? 28 weeks, 5 days

Maternity clothes? All day everyday! It's all about comfort at this point.

Sleep? Sleep has been rough this week. I have bronchitis, so it has been hard sleeping. Using a lot of pillows to prop myself so I can breath.

Best moment of the week? Passing glucose test! Hearing Brennen's heartbeat at my 28 week appt. I can now hear his heartbeat with my stethoscope which is pretty awesome!

Miss anything? I miss sleeping on my stomach and/or back. Side to side is getting old.

Movement? Busy baby like his Mommy. We won't be having no lazy boy ;). Anthony felt his movement this week. He was trying to listen for heartbeat with my stethoscope and the LiL guy punched at him! It was a pretty awesome experience!

Food cravings? None at all.

Have you started to show yet? Yep! Loving my baby bump, hating the extra lbs. All worth it in the end.

Gender? Brennen = Blessed Baby

Wedding rings on or off? On! Definitely off at night, getting tighter.

Happy or Moody? Moody! Been sick twice in past 3 weeks. Not a happy camper.

Looking forward to? 2 weeks until Michigan! Can. Not. Wait!

Stretch Marks? None. Please stay this way!



Jen Candusso at 6:24 PM

27 weeks

How far along? 27 weeks, 5 days. Sunday marks the third trimester! Yay!

Maternity clothes? Rocking Mommy clothes all day everyday! Loving my wardrobe. Have some really cute sweaters I haven't been able to wear. Michigan weather is 3 weeks away!

Sleep? Sleep is my best friend. No problems here. Changing positions frequently and using lots of pillows to help get comfortable.

Best moment of the week? Worse moment this week. Failing that damn 1hr glucose test. My number was 140 and the cutoff is 130. Needless to say today I spent 3 hours doing the test again. Please let me pass!

Miss anything? Since it is Friday night, I'll say I miss bud light in a ice cold bottle. I really miss being able to order a cocktail when out to dinner. Soon I will reunite with above!

Movement? This LiL man is moving and kicking like crazy. Starting to experience some rib pain, not so much fun! But I love feeling him play and move around. Best feeling ever. This is one part of pregnancy I will miss.

Food cravings? Nada. The whole food cravings idea is nonsense.

Have you started to show yet? Growing & Glowing. When I look at myself in mirror I don't feel that big. But when I look at pics I'm think I look pretty large!

Gender? Brennen = spoiled loved LiL man

Wedding rings on or off? On but tight.

Happy or Moody? This week I've had a LiL of both. Couple of emotional break downs. It's the hormones people!

Looking forward to? 3 weeks until Michigan! Can. Not. Wait!

Stretch Marks? None. And believe me I exam daily for these bad boys. Crossing fingers I have good genes.



Jen Candusso at 6:24 PM
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Week 26!

Maternity clothes?  Pretty much all I'm wearing now in days.  Loving the cooler weather and being able to wear my maternity sweaters!  It's all about comfort!

Sleep? Sleep hasn't really been an issue thus far.  Waking up less frequently to pee, but I also stopped drinking so much water in middle of the night.

Best moment of the week? Seeing our lil guy in action on the 3d/4d ultrasound. What an amazing experience.  Highly recommend to all my prego friends!

Miss anything? The ability to bend over easily.  Thank God I never tie my sneakers, because at this point I'm not sure I would be able to. 

Movement? This is one active baby.  I can only imagine how this is going to feel as he continues to grow.  

Food cravings? Not at all, I think the cravings thing is a bunch of crap. 

Have you started to show yet? My belly seems to be growing so fast now.  I am starting to feel a lil large and in charge. 

Gender? Baby Boy Brennen

Wedding rings on or off? Still on.  But they are getting tight.  By the end of the day, getting hard to remove. 

Happy or Moody? This week I've been extremely happy.  All good things happening, no complaints from this Mommy.

Looking forward to? 4 weeks until we are in the Mitten!!! Can't express how excited I am to be with my family and friends over the holidays!  I'm hoping for lots of snow when I'm there.

Stretch Marks? None.  Continuing to lather up day and night with Burt's Bees Mama belly butter.

Week 25

Maternity clothes?  Pretty much always wearing my Mommy clothes.  Although I am still able to fit into some pre-maternity shirts and most of my dresses. 

Sleep?  Sleeping pretty good. Really miss being able to sleep on my stomach.  Tossing and turning a lot trying to get comfortable.  

Best moment of the week? Scoring some great deals on diapers! Mommy talk people! 

Miss anything? Missing a nice cold bud light!  

Movement? This lil guy is getting stronger! Love feeling he move around....pretty awesome!

Food cravings? I haven't had one craving during this pregnancy. 

Have you started to show yet? Growing each day! 

Gender? Baby Boy Brennen

Wedding rings on or off? Still on but off at night.  Don't want to wake up and not be able to remove them.

Happy or Moody? Lil of both. I get frustrated at times with stupid crap.  I am a busy body and get annoyed when I can't complete all the tasks on my lists. Trying to teach myself to slow down and RELAX!

Looking forward to? Thanksgiving this week! Also our 3d/4d ultrasound is the day after.....can't wait!

Stretch Marks? Nope. Please let it stay this way!