Better grab some tissues...

Yesterday we had a newborn portrait session with Rachel from RPM Entertainment. She and her husband David shot our wedding photos almost three years ago. (I can't believe we've been married for three years. Time really does fly when you're having fun.) We love their style and really enjoyed working with them during our wedding as well as our engagement portrait session, so when I saw on Rachel's blog that she offers a "baby's first year" portrait package, we jumped at the chance to have her take Milo's first professional photos.

Rachel put together a session story with a bunch of photos from the shoot, and it is absolutely wonderful. I don't know how she knew, but she set it to a song that has really meant a lot to me and Andrew over the last few months as we prepared to meet our little man. The moment I clicked the play button and heard those first few notes, tears filled my eyes. I'm not saying you're going to cry, too—but don't say I didn't warn you.

Baby Milo - Newborn Session Story from Rachel Moore on Vimeo.

Hello, world.

Milo Jones Langford was born on Sunday, March 21 at 6:54pm. He's absolutely perfect. More about his birth and first week later, but for now, enjoy these photos of our little man.

Milo weighed 8 pounds, 4.9 ounces. He was 20.5 inches long.

Milo clearly enjoyed his first bath.

He looked adorable in his going-home outfit, even though the sweater was enormous.

Look! Little dinosaur feet! (also way too big for his tiny little feet)

The new Langford family of three, home at last.

Milo loved his hooded duckie towel after his first bath at home.

Lots of Good News

1. I'm three centimeters dilated. That means only seven centimeters to go! And I'm not even in labor yet!
2. I managed to NOT have the baby on St. Patrick's Day!
3. The baby feels so low that I'm fairly certain that when I do go into labor, he will pretty much just fall out with a push or two.
4. Today is my last day of work before I go on maternity leave, so I can forget about stressing over all these work details, like books and editing them and such.
5. I got a call from my dear friend Christy this morning, and she and her husband will be moving back to Kansas City in just a couple of weeks. Two weeks! I couldn't be more excited about this.

My doctor says it'll definitely be this month.

Week 39

There's No Going Back

This weekend I discovered something magical. Something that may have changed my life forever.

Crunchy tacos from Chipotle.

Mmmmm... So good.

I like Chipotle in general, but usually I go for the burrito. I do like that soft tortilla. But the ingredients often don't mix together properly, and I end up with a bite that's all rice, then a bite that's all guacamole, etc. You get the idea. But I'd never tried the tacos. But a few days ago, the closest thing I've had to pregnancy cravings struck.

I've been wanting tacos. Tacos at home, tacos from a restaurant, it doesn't really matter. I just can't get them off my mind. Andrew and I were discussing what to eat for dinner, and I immediately thought "tacos." Since we were short on time, we decided to grab a quick bite to eat out. I suggested Chipotle (because the founder was on Oprah and everything about Chipotle looked good at the time) and let me tell you—those tacos were delicious. Crispy, light shell and quality ingredients—and they weren't at all stingy with the sour cream.

The next night we went out for Mexican/spicy food in order to urge the baby to come out (which, BTW = FAIL). And I ordered tacos. Then yesterday we went back to Chipotle so I could get more crunchy tacos. They were just that good.

Go, go to Chipotle. Let the tacos change your life, too.

Noteworthy Thursday #30

Dear Baby,

Oh, I so want to call you by your name. It fits you so well, I think. Even when it's just your daddy and me talking, I still only call you by your name about half the time. I'm afraid that if I get too used to it, I'll let it slip when I'm talking to someone else. And we want it to be a surprise. Since everyone already knows you are a boy (and thanks for showing us your bits, by the way. Aunt Courtney had some trouble with your future cousin and still isn't sure whether she can expect a daughter or another son), we want to have something fun to anticipate. As if the date you show up isn't enough.

Which brings me to my main point. When do you plan to arrive, Baby? While I'm sure my womb is nice and cozy, winter is pretty much over, and the world is a lovely place. Daddy even told me that the tulips I planted last year are coming up. You don't want to miss seeing the tulips, do you? I'm pretty sure the deer will eat them in a matter of days, so better hurry! But you're too smart for that, aren't you? It isn't really about the tulips at all. I just want to meet you. (Okay, okay, I am also ready to not be pregnant anymore.)

A few days ago I had a little breakdown. "How am I going to do this?" I cried. "I have no idea how to take care of a baby." As the tears ran down my cheeks, Daddy said all the right things. He told me that of course I could do this, that I would be a great mom. He said that we have everything ready, and that we'll figure it out. And of course we will. I still feel totally and completely unprepared, but somehow that doesn't matter. I don't think I ever will be ready. You might show up tonight or tomorrow or the next day. Whenever you get here, I'll hold you and kiss you and keep you warm. It'll be like my arms were made for holding you. And nothing could possibly be any better than that.

"Ugh, Mom," I can already hear future you saying. I know, I know. I was about to get a little mushy there. Even now, as I sit here at my desk at work, I feel a little choked up just thinking about you. My whole life is about to change because of you, one tiny little seven-ish pound person. And right now, I still have no idea just how much.

I'd like to go ahead and find out, though, so if you wouldn't mind hurrying it up a bit, that would be great. Thanks.

See you soon.

Love,
Momma

Future Plans

It's kind of shame I'm going to have a baby in a week or two, because I just thought of an awesome party I'd like to throw: A book swap.

I read a lot, and tend to accumulate books. I rarely read them more than once, and while I do like having some books on the shelf (mostly so I look like a reader for the company), it's better if the books go to a good home. But donating them or selling them is a pain in the ass. Hence, a book swap.

I'd invite people over—people who have good taste in reading materials, anyway—and ask them to bring any books they're finished with. Not old college textbooks or anything, just the books they read for pleasure. Then we'd swap. If you brought over five books, you'd go home with five brand-new-to-you books. If you brought one book, you'd only get to choose one to take home. Books would be sorted into categories for easy browsing: mysteries, chick-lit, non-fiction, children's books, etc. Guests would take turns selecting books, so it'd be fair (because I know everyone would be fighting over my copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting).

And of course there would be snacks. Possibly even literary snacks, if I could think of any. Also wine. Because a book swap just wouldn't be a book swap without wine, don't you think?

Now, doesn't that sound like fun?

Let's get this over with already.

Since about the mid-point of my pregnancy, I've gotten a lot of cramps in my calves and feet, often in the middle of the night. Usually my leg will start to cramp up, the discomfort wakes me up, and I point and flex my foot until the cramp goes away. No big deal, really.

But last night was a different story. I woke up at 5:00am with a terrible, horrible charley horse that Would. Not. Go. Away. AT ALL. FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

I literally woke up shrieking in pain, which woke Andrew up. He tried to help me by suggesting I drink some water, then getting up and going to the bathroom. Very helpful. He did later help me massage my leg and foot, which had also cramped up. But it seemed like forever before the pain went away, even though it was probably about two minutes, tops.

This wouldn't seem like THAT big a deal normally. After all, what's a little leg cramp now and then? But Emily just told me that labor contractions were sort of like bad charley horses, except in your belly instead of your legs. So last night as my leg is freaking out, that's all I could think about. This terrible, horrible, awful pain is sort of like labor, except it will last for HOURS AND HOURS?? It all sounds so fun, I can hardly stand it.

Have I ever mentioned that I don't handle pain well?